The gut microbiota, the constellation of microorganisms inside of our intestines, exerts powerful influences on health and disease. Most research on the gut microbiota focuses on the bacteria, but this microbial community also contains viruses, fungi, archaea, and protists, Recent work has highlighted the keystone role that protists have in the microbiota ecosystem and their dominant impact on host immunity, health, and disease. Our research focuses on mechanistically understanding these commensal protists and how they influence the intestinal environment in order to leverage these microbes to advance health.
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA
Postdoc - Microbiology and Immunology
2024
Harvard University
Boston, MA
Ph.D. - Microbiology
2018
University of California, Irvine
Irvine, CA
B.S. - Microbiology and Immunology
2013
Contiguous and complete assemblies of Blastocystis gut microbiome-associated protists reveal evolutionary diversification to host ecology.
Contiguous and complete assemblies of Blastocystis gut microbiome-associated protists reveal evolutionary diversification to host ecology. Genome Res. 2025 Jun 02; 35(6):1377-1390.
PMID: 40262895
The Lost Kingdom: commensal protists in the gut microbiota.
The Lost Kingdom: commensal protists in the gut microbiota. Trends Microbiol. 2025 Jun; 33(6):603-618.
PMID: 39952813
Contiguous and complete assemblies of Blastocystis gut microbiome-associated protists reveal evolutionary diversification to host ecology.
Contiguous and complete assemblies of Blastocystis gut microbiome-associated protists reveal evolutionary diversification to host ecology. bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 15.
PMID: 38045412
Metabolic diversity in commensal protists regulates intestinal immunity and trans-kingdom competition.
Metabolic diversity in commensal protists regulates intestinal immunity and trans-kingdom competition. Cell. 2024 01 04; 187(1):62-78.e20.
PMID: 38096822
Hybrid assemblies of microbiome Blastocystis protists reveal evolutionary diversification reflecting host ecology.
Hybrid assemblies of microbiome Blastocystis protists reveal evolutionary diversification reflecting host ecology. bioRxiv. 2023 Nov 20.
PMID: 38045412
Commensal protists in reptiles display flexible host range and adaptation to ectothermic hosts.
Commensal protists in reptiles display flexible host range and adaptation to ectothermic hosts. mBio. 2023 12 19; 14(6):e0227323.
PMID: 37962346
Tuft cells mediate commensal remodeling of the small intestinal antimicrobial landscape.
Tuft cells mediate commensal remodeling of the small intestinal antimicrobial landscape. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 06 06; 120(23):e2216908120.
PMID: 37253002
Commensal protists in reptiles display flexible host range and adaptation to ectothermic hosts.
Commensal protists in reptiles display flexible host range and adaptation to ectothermic hosts. bioRxiv. 2023 May 25.
PMID: 37292851
Transcriptional profiling identifies novel regulators of macrophage polarization.
Transcriptional profiling identifies novel regulators of macrophage polarization. PLoS One. 2018; 13(12):e0208602.
PMID: 30532146
Small RNA profiling in Mycobacterium tuberculosis identifies MrsI as necessary for an anticipatory iron sparing response.
Small RNA profiling in Mycobacterium tuberculosis identifies MrsI as necessary for an anticipatory iron sparing response. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018 06 19; 115(25):6464-6469.
PMID: 29871950