Join Dr Karina Gutiérrez-García [Twitter/X][LinkedIn] as she tells us about her latest research investigating how gut microbiomes interact with their host!
Karina received her BSc in Chemistry-Biology at Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, her PhD in Biotechnology and Bioengineering at Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, and is currently a research scientist in the Ludington Lab at Carnegie Institution. Ask her anything!
In your opinion what are some key genetic factors that allow bacteria to create a host-specific relationship?
One of the methods that I would like more insight into is the study of siderophore biosynthesis in the gut microbiomes of cycad-feeding insects. I would like to know the challenges that were encountered when trying to figure out these pathways and how you were able to differentiate from other sorts of genomic processes.
Based on your doctoral studies in Mexico and the current position at Carnegie what types of strategies or resources did you look into to be able to study abroad.
Are there possibilities where probiotics can take a niche from an existing bacteria in the human gut? Are there any unintended consequences of probiotics that you are looking out for?
What is your suggested method for testing what tools when analyzing raw data while not taking too much time?
I know it’s briefly mentioned in the spotlight but was there a specific moment you can remember where it cemented that idea that you wanted to become a scientist.
What steps did you take to determine the genes located within the colonization island that led to the discovery of L. plantarium’s niche?
Can you elaborate more on the methods you used to identify antiglycation compounds in your Ph.D project?
You mentioned that it’s possible to combine different types of knowledge into your research. How would you recommend going about that in regards to your field?
What role do the iron-chelating metabolites play in the ability to digest toxin-rich cycads and what other pathways have you found to help with digestion of toxin-rich cycads?
Could CRISPR be used to modify the adhesins found in the Drosophila melanogaster L. plantarum so it could attach in humans?
As an undergrad, what are key skills we should learn to be able to perform our own research?
how much of the research from fruit flies would be applicable to humans? How can we ensure that they are correct? what is the anticipated similar adhesins gene in the human body?
how do you use this technology that allowed you to track a single cell in real-time.
how can I find and take part in microbial research? are there any skills that I need beforehand?
Could you elaborate on how the host-specific adhesins in Lactiplantibacillus plantarum distinguish the foregut niche in Drosophila melanogaster? Are there specific host factors or cues that influence the recognition of this niche, and how might these mechanisms be applicable to other symbiotic or pathogenic bacteria?
What were some of the major challenges you faced in developing this research and how did you troubleshoot to solve them? Is there any advice you could give someone trying to start a research project in terms of getting around these obstacles?
What steps did you take in undergrad that you believe most helped you get to where you are? Do you have any advice for an undergraduate student trying to get into research?
The electrostatic non-specificity of these adhesins is really cool, but is there other ways intermolecular interactions that can also contribute to the effectiveness of binding?
I had a question about your live cell imaging. How was mCherry used in this experiment, is it binded to a protein, or the cell wall of the bacteria? Additionally, how were you able to quantify the binding of the bacteria? Kd = Kon/Koff?
How do you go about creating a feasible research question of your own? And how do you determine if the results is really only this one explanations and no other? And when do you know you’ve tested enough to finish up the story and submit to a journal?
What role do environmental factors play in shaping the genetic differences between L. plantarum strains that successfully colonize different hosts? Or is it more evolutionary?
Could you talk more about the high-resolution imaging technology that’s able to track a single cell in real-time?
What do you think are some common mistakes young researchers make when it comes to the research process(research question, designing experiments, publication, etc.), and how can they be avoided?
Do you plan on continuing your research with the L. plantarum in Drosophila melanogaster and using the genes you discovered in the bacteria to create probiotics for the human gut in the future like you mentioned would be a possibility because of your discovery?
What type of sequencing (Oxford Nanopore, PacBio, Illumina, etc.) have you worked with before? Which did you like best?
How would you recommend getting started and finding a lab for someone with no prior research experience? What was it like for you finding research for the first time?
Besides adhesins, what other factors influence a bacterial species’ ability to colonize and persist in a host’s gut? Do you think we understand the gut microbiome? Are you concerned of potential negative effects of colonizing new bacterial species? How delicate or not is the gut microbiome ecosystem?
How was L. plantarum tracked through the gut? Was this process unique to Dropsophilia, or could it be used for other organisms?
Do you have any recommendations for finding a mentor in a field of interest?
Science Question
Given the host-specific nature of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum colonization, do you think there are evolutionary pressures that drive the divergence of adhesin genes across different host species, and how might this knowledge inform the design of synthetic probiotics for human gut colonization? Method Question
In your research on L. plantarum colonization, you utilized high-resolution live imaging. Could you elaborate on the imaging techniques you used, and how they helped distinguish between transient and long-term colonization in the fruit fly gut? Career Question
As a researcher who transitioned from studying Alzheimer’s disease to soil bioremediation and eventually microbiome research, how did you navigate these shifts in focus, and what advice would you give to early-career scientists interested in exploring interdisciplinary research paths?
Science Question
When you look at insects that feed on toxic plants (like cycads), do you see similar or different strategies in their gut bacteria compared to fruit flies? What do these strategies tell us about how microbes handle harsh conditions?
Method Question
When you study gut bacteria in different insects, how do you figure out which genes (like those for sticking to the gut or breaking down toxins) are truly important for helping the bacteria survive?
Career Question
As someone with experience conducting research internationally, do you think studying or doing research abroad is worthwhile for an aspiring pre-med student who plans to work in the U.S.? Many people say it’s not the best choice since U.S. medical schools prefer domestic experience—what are your thoughts on the value of international research for a future doctor?
