Targeting autophagy to suppress the deleterious effects of Western diet and pathogenic bacteria on intestinal homeostasis. – RESTOGUT

Polymorphisms in autophagy-related genes, which lead to dysregulated autophagy, Western diet and an abnormal colonization of the ileal mucosa with adherent-invasive E. coli (AIEC) have been revealed as risk factors for Crohn’s disease (CD). This project aims at (i) investigating the effect of Western diet on autophagy, (ii) examining the impact of the combination of Western diet and host genetic susceptibility (with dysregulated autophagy) on intestinal homeostasis, gut microbiota, restriction of CD-associated AIEC, and on inflammatory responses, and (iii) identifying the bacterial species and their metabolites which could exert beneficial effects on intestinal functions via modulating autophagy. Thus, this project will contribute to a better understanding of the etiology of MC and, in the future, to the development of personalized therapies based on the modulation of autophagy.