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University College Cork

Investigating the host-microbe dialogue in aging

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis aimed to investigate the role of the gut microbiota and their associated functionality in the context of aging and life stage related diseases. The focus was maintained on key inter-kingdom signalling molecules, host produced but bacterially modified Bile acids (BAs) and on dietary microbially derived Fatty acids (FAs) as key elements to indicate gut microbial potential impactful roles. In the context of Chapter 3, this thesis examined the levels of BAs and FAs, to identify convergence on specific microbially produced, or modified, metabolites in the two neurological disease states representing (1) early life (murine model of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)) and (2) later life (human Parkinson’s Disease (PD)). It further established the potential to redress the balance through microbial intervention, as a cause or consequence in the case of ASD. BAs converged during the healthy aging process, in Chapter 4, to determine the nature of these specific interactions, based on nuclear receptor conservation. The Caenorhabditis elegans nematode model of aging was employed to determine and genetically decipher potential individual BA influences. Chapter 5 built on recognising that gut microbes and the pathobiont Escherichia coli HM605 induced inflammation. This chapter also focused on the mechanisms by which Escherichia coli HM605 could influence the aging process.

Degree

thesis:*
Grantor dc:publisher
University College Cork
Year dc:date.issued
2022

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Killian, Christina
Advisors dc:contributor.advisor
  • Joyce, Susan
  • Clarke, David J.

Subjects

dc:subject × 9

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • © 2022, Christina Killian.
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/10468/14542
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:cora.ucc.ie:10468/14542

Chain of custody

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Harvested from
University College Cork
Base URL
cora.ucc.ie/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Killian, Christina. Investigating the host-microbe dialogue in aging. University College Cork, 2022. https://hdl.handle.net/10468/14542