CM 793 Presentation Date: September 30, 2021 @ 2:00 PM in Pathology 103

Title: “Compositional changes of the High-Fat Diet-induced Gut Microbiota upon consumption of Common Pulses”

Advisor: Henry Thompson

ABSTRACT:

The gut microbiome is involved in the host’s metabolism, development, and immunity, which translates to measurable impacts on disease risk and overall health. Emerging evidence supports pulses, i.e., grain legumes, as under‑utilized nutrient-dense, culinarily versatile, and sustainable staple foods that promote health benefits through modulating the gut microbiota. Therefore, we studied the effects of pulse consumption on microbial composition in the cecal content of mice. Male mice were fed an obesogenic diet formulation with or without 35% of the protein component comprised by each of four commonly consumed pulses—lentil (Lens culinaris L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), or dry pea (Pisum sativum L.). Mice consuming pulses had distinct microbial communities from animals on the pulse‑free diet, as evidenced by α- and β-diversity analysis. An ecosystem of the common bacteria that were enhanced, suppressed, or unaffected by most of the pulses was identified. These compositional changes are concurrent with previously reported anti-obesogenic physiologic outcomes, suggestive of microbiota-associated benefits of pulse consumption.