The Wesener Research Group at The Ohio State University

Microbial Glycobiology at the Host-Microbe Interface

All humans are associated with a community of microbial guests that inhabits our gut. Termed our 'gut microbiota', this community influences many of the biological functions that help us to live healthy and vibrant lives. Within the Wesener Research Group, we are interested in gut microbiota assembly and function, and how our microbiota communicates with and is regulated by our immune system. 

Central to our research is the role of carbohydrates in both of these processes. Carbohydrates, or glycans, are a versatile class of biomolecules that perform critical functions ranging from energy regulation and metabolism to cellular communication.  Within the gut, these carbohydrates are everywhere: in the food we consume, attached to the mucus that lines our gut, and covering the surface of every bacterial symbiont. We employ microbiology, biochemistry, chemical biology, bioinformatics, and research models to mechanistically reveal how carbohydrate utilization and recognition in the gut contribute to beneficial symbiosis.

Wesener Lab Mission Statement 

Together, we strive to uncover principles from microbial carbohydrates that govern human gut microbiota assembly and host interaction that can be leveraged to improve human health in an environment that values inquisitive, growth-oriented, collaborative, and inclusive trainees and honors each individual’s journey in science.

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