We use a variety of in vitro and animal models to explore how probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri impacts human health. Our overall goals are to identify strains that can be used to prevent or ameliorate disease and to develop a platform for the delivery of biotherapeutics. Our work with one strain, L. reuteri ATCC PTA 6475, demonstrated efficacy in reducing bone loss in a murine model of osteoporosis, which paved the way for human clinical trials and translation into a therapeutic product for osteoporosis. Current work is focused on using L.reuteri to investigate gut microbiome-brain interactions and using intestinal organoids to elucidate host responses to microbially secreted factors.
Select Publications
Di Rienzi SC, Danhof HA, Forshee MD, Roberts A, Britton RA. Limosilactobacillus reuteri promotes the expression and secretion of enteroendocrine- and enterocyte-derived hormones. FASEB J. 2025 Mar 31;39(6):e70408. doi: 10.1096/fj.202401669R. PMID: 40098558; PMCID: PMC11914943.
Danhof HA, Lee J, Thapa A, Britton RA, Di Rienzi SC. Microbial stimulation of oxytocin release from the intestinal epithelium via secretin signaling. Gut Microbes. 2023 12; 15(2):2256043. PMID: 37698879; PMCID: PMC10498800.
Sgritta M, Dooling SW, Buffington SA, Momin EN, Francis MB, Britton RA, Costa-Mattioli M (2019). Mechanisms Underlying Microbial-Mediated Changes in Social Behavior in Mouse Models of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Neuron. 2019;101(2):246-259.e6. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2018.11.018
Quach D, Parameswaran N, McCabe L, Britton RA. Characterizing how probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri 6475 and lactobacillic acid mediate suppression of osteoclast differentiation. Bone Rep. 2019;11:100227. Published 2019 Nov 2. doi:10.1016/j.bonr.2019.100227
Britton RA, Irwin R, Quach D, Schaefer L, Zhang J, Lee T, Parameswaran N, McCabe LR (2014). Probiotic L. reuteri Treatment Prevents Bone Loss in a Menopausal Ovariectomized Mouse Model. J Cell Physiol. 2014 Mar 27. doi: 10.1002/jcp.24636