My current project work involves analysing the results of a trial investigating how a Bifidobacterium probiotic can shape the developing infant gut microbiota in premature babies. These infants are vulnerable to severe infections as their gut becomes colonised by bacteria in the hospital environment. This project is looking at how early colonisation with Bifidobacterium can alter this process to improve premature infant health.
I have a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Edinburgh followed by MSc in Molecular Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen where I went on to do a PhD studying how the bacteria in the gut can interact with their host to influence bodyweight. I began working at the Hall lab in May 2018 since when I have been using the bioinformatics skills from my PhD to study the infant gut.
Key Publications
Dalby MJ et al. (2018) Diet induced obesity is independent of metabolic endotoxemia and TLR4 signalling, but markedly increases hypothalamic expression of the acute phase protein, SerpinA3N. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33928-4
Dalby MJ et al. (2017) Dietary uncoupling of gut microbiota and energy harvesting from obesity and glucose tolerance in mice. Cell Reports. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.10.056
Related Case Studies
Targeting a life-threatening gut condition in preterm babies