Research Interests
Research Interest
My research focuses on Carbohydrate Structure, Function, and Gut Microbiota Interaction, with an emphasis on several key areas: (1) explore novel technologies on the extraction and modulation of bioactive dietary fibers from agro-industrial wastes to produce value-added functional food ingredients, (2) elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which the structural characteristics of complex dietary fibers govern gut microbiota dynamics, where carbohydrates act as the primary ecological drivers, and (3) identify the specific gut species and their enzymes and metabolites associated with dietary fiber fermentation to establish synbiotic pairs for precision nutrition.
Overall, our aim is to establish a strategic and sustainable approach to convert residual dietary fibers, upcycled from byproducts (e.g., wheat bran, fruit pomace, bean dregs), into functional prebiotic fibers capable of effectively and selectively modulating gut microbiota and promoting human health.
Dietary fiber molecular structures and gut microbiome interactions: Dietary fiber supports gut bacteria growth and is fermented into metabolites that interact with the host, promoting health benefits. An abnormal gut microbiota (dysbiosis) can contribute to diseases such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and colon inflammation, often linked to insufficient dietary fiber intake. However, the prebiotic capacity of fibers varies, as not all fibers equally support microbiome diversity or promote beneficial metabolic activity. Studies showed that simple fibers like fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin can reduce gut microbiome diversity in both in vivo and in vitro studies, contributing to the proliferation of potentially harmful bacteria. This effect is likely due to their readily accessible structure and rapid fermentation rate, which fosters competitive exclusion and eliminates slower-growing beneficial species. In contrast, structurally complex fibers create non-competitive niches that support diverse microbial communities. Complex dietary fibers, composed of high molecular weight, branched and heteropolysaccharide structures, require additional processing to be utilized by bacteria. Their breakdown requires carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes), which target specific glycosidic bonds. Since no single enzyme can hydrolyze an entire polysaccharide, microbial communities rely on a synergistic combination of CAZymes for complete degradation. This research aims to elucidate how the gut microbiome responds to complex dietary fibers, focusing on how fiber structure regulates community composition and function and influences diversity and metabolites for beneficial health outcomes.
Dietary fiber molecular structures and gut microbiome interactions:
Dietary fiber supports gut bacteria growth and is fermented into metabolites that interact with the host, promoting health benefits. An abnormal gut microbiota (dysbiosis) can contribute to diseases such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and colon inflammation, often linked to insufficient dietary fiber intake. However, the prebiotic capacity of fibers varies, as not all fibers equally support microbiome diversity or promote beneficial metabolic activity. Studies showed that simple fibers like fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin can reduce gut microbiome diversity in both in vivo and in vitro studies, contributing to the proliferation of potentially harmful bacteria. This effect is likely due to their readily accessible structure and rapid fermentation rate, which fosters competitive exclusion and eliminates slower-growing beneficial species. In contrast, structurally complex fibers create non-competitive niches that support diverse microbial communities. Complex dietary fibers, composed of high molecular weight, branched and heteropolysaccharide structures, require additional processing to be utilized by bacteria. Their breakdown requires carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes), which target specific glycosidic bonds. Since no single enzyme can hydrolyze an entire polysaccharide, microbial communities rely on a synergistic combination of CAZymes for complete degradation. This research aims to elucidate how the gut microbiome responds to complex dietary fibers, focusing on how fiber structure regulates community composition and function and influences diversity and metabolites for beneficial health outcomes.
