- Elucidating how the effects of prenatal stress are transmitted to offspring
Prenatal stress stunts both immune development and neurodevelopment; in mouse models, this leads to social and behavioral deficits. We are focusing our efforts on both inflammatory and metabolic pathways through which the effects of stress may be visited upon the offspring.
- Studying the effect of prenatal stress on host tryptophan metabolism
Tryptophan is a key amino acid precursor to multiple molecules thata re involved in neurodevelopment and immunity. We have shown that tryptophan metabolism is dysregulated by prenatal stress and there may be an avenue through which prenatal stress disrupts offspring development.
- The effect of maternal stress on maternal and infant microbiome in humans
As we have seen in mouse studies, clinical analyses show that prenatal stress in humans is associated with behavioral and mood changes, including associations with autism spectrum disorder. We are actively studying how maternal stress during pregnancy has effects on behavior and development in humans, and if these changes in behavior and development are mediated and potentially transmitted by changes in the microbiome.