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 | Medical News Releases > Faculty Experts at Washington University in St. Louis >

The Dr. Robert J. Glaser Distinguished University Professor and Head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology and Professor of Medicine
Expertise: molecular biology, pharmacology, gut biology, microbes, bacteria, intestines, gastrointestinal development, gut microorganisms, bacterial genome sequencing, comparative microbial genomics, microbial ecology, gastrointestinal diseases, gut stem cells, mouse models
Bio:
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| Gordon |
Gordon is internationally known for his research on gastrointestinal development and how gut bacteria affect normal intestinal function and predisposition to health and to certain diseases.
Education:
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M.D. at University of Chicago
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B.A. in Biology at Oberlin College

| News Stories & Tip Sheets: |
Showing Stories 1 through 5 of 19.
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Finding the roots of starvation
 $5.5 million from Gates Foundation funds major study of childhood malnutrition

March 31,
2009 -- Scientists who first established a link between obesity and the trillions of friendly microbes that live in the intestine now are investigating whether the organisms can contribute to the converse: severe malnutrition. Researchers at the School of Medicine, led by microbiologist Jeffrey Gordon, M.D., will study whether severely malnourished infants living in Malawi and Bangladesh have a different mix of intestinal microbes than healthy infants in the same areas, and whether those microbes might account for their illness. This three-year, $5.5 million project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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To each his own bacteria
 Research in twins defines shared features of the human gut microbial communities: variations linked to obesity

Dec. 2,
2008 -- Trillions of microbes make their home in the gut, where they help to break down and extract energy and nutrients from the food we eat. Yet, scientists have understood little about how this distinctive mix of microbes varies from one individual to the next. Now, researchers at the School of Medicine have discovered that each individual carries a unique collection of bacteria, although the communities are more similar among family members.

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High honors for WUSM scientists
 Gordon, Holtzman elected to Institute of Medicine

Oct. 13,
2008 -- Two faculty members at the School of Medicine have been elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors medical scientists in the United States can receive. Jeffrey Gordon and David Holtzman were recognized for their major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, health care and public health and commitment to service.

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Differences in gut bacteria
 'Obese bacteria' harvest calories better, may cause weight gain

Dec. 28,
2006 --
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| Gordon |
The trillions of bacteria living within the human digestive tract have a great effect on an individual's weight. The genetic makeup of that bacteria can determine how well a person breaks down food in the gut. Listen to WUSM scientist Jeffrey Gordon, a leading researcher on gut bacteria and obesity, as he explains in an NPR segment how different types of bacteria can affect a person's weight.

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Obese or lean
 Relative abundance of common microbes living in the gut may contribute to obesity

Dec. 20,
2006 -- A link between obesity and the microbial communities living in our guts is suggested by new research at the School of Medicine. The findings indicate that our gut microbes are biomarkers, mediators and potential therapeutic targets in the war against the worldwide obesity epidemic.

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Showing Stories 1 through 5 of 19.
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Bug genes are the key to human digestion
New Scientist (UK)

Dec. 10,
2008 -- Knowing that gut bacteria are key to digestion and metabolism, WUSTL pathologist Jeffrey Gordon and his colleagues went in search of a core group of bacterial species that aid digestion.

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Bacterial mix and match is the key to good digestion
New Scientist (UK)

Dec. 8,
2008 -- Knowing that gut bacteria are key to digestion and metabolism, WUSTL pathologist Jeffrey Gordon and his colleagues went in search of a core group of bacterial species that aid digestion. They expected to find these species living in the guts of most healthy people.

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Bacteria Thrive in Inner Elbow; No Harm Done
The New York Times
and 2 others

May 23,
2008 -- WUSTL researchers Ruth E. Lay and Jeffrey I. Gordon, along with colleagues, comment on different kinds of bacteria that do not harm the human body, but in fact help it.

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Additional Background: Gordon is known for his research on gastrointestinal development and how bacteria that normally reside inside the human body affect intestinal function. By using germ-free mice colonized with normal gut microbes and tools developed during the current revolution in genomics, Gordon has begun to illuminate the complex interaction between microbes, the lining of the intestine and the immune system. His group also studies the molecular features of gut stem cells, which fuel the perpetual renewal of the interior lining of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, his group is characterizing the enzyme N-myristoyltransferase (Nmt). Nmt is critical for the function of many proteins involved in cell signaling and growth and is the target for development of new drugs to kill fungal pathogens that infect humans whose immune systems are compromised.
Affiliated with Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's Hospital, members of BJC HealthCare.
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