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Dr. Frédéric Raymond's projects

Dr. Raymond and his team combine microbiology and data analysis to better understand the interaction between microbes in the gut and the human body. Discover their projects!

Recent advancements have found that bacteria can produce analogs to endocannabinoids and therefore could use these molecules to communicate with the human body. Our goal is to mine gut microbiome populations for organisms or portions of DNA that differ in certain health conditions related to the endocannabinoid system using artificial intelligence.

Diet is undoubtedly an important effector in changes of intestinal microbial populations. Due to the importance of trace minerals for the biological functions of both humans and bacteria, we want to understand how dietary variations of trace metals will affect the composition of intestinal microbiome and how these variations could alter the endocannabinoid tone and contribute to metabolic changes. Thus, through this study, we want to establish microbial signatures to phenotypes such as obesity through changes in the endocannabinoid system when dietary concentrations of trace metals are altered.

Intestinal microbial community participate to numerous biological functions of the host. Alteration of this community, named dysbiosis, can be associated with specific disease as obesity and diabetes. Even if some specific species have been pointed out to be correlated to those specific diseases, biological mechanisms need to be clarified. The aim of this project is to have a better understanding of the complex network interaction between microorganisms and the host. Our project is to identify potential strains which could influence the host endocannabinoid system by the analysis of their secretomes.

Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota is a key determinant of metabolic health. This project aims to understand the interactions between diet, microbiota and host metabolism. By using metagenomics and metabolomics, we will associate microbiota and metabolites profiles to dietary components. Also, to address the causal relationship between the microbiota and the host’s circulating metabolites, we will identify key bacterial species or metabolic pathways and validate their ability to produce the targeted metabolites in vitro. Hopefully, this work will contribute to the establishment of biomarkers, which are an important tool for disease detection, prevention and treatment. (In collaboration with professor Alain Veilleux.)

We investigate the impact of diet composition (mediterranean and westernized) on two megasystems deeply involved in metabolism control, the endocannabinoid system and the gut microbiome, among active women. The main focus of this project is the time-dependent fluctuations of endocannabinoid-related molecules depending on diet after maximal running. Our results could lead to the identification of specific physical activity and nutritional parameters that shape both endocannabinoidome and gut microbiome to enhance health and athletic performance.