Selected Grantee Publications

Reduced Infant Rhesus Macaque Growth Rates Due to Environmental Enteric Dysfunction and Association with Histopathology in the Large Intestine

Hendrickson et al., Nature Communications. 2022.

https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27925-x

Researchers characterized environmental enteric (relating to the intestines) dysfunction (EED) among infant rhesus macaques (n=80, both sexes) naturally exposed to enteric pathogens commonly linked to human growth stunting. Despite atrophy and abnormalities observed in the small intestine, poor growth trajectories and low serum tryptophan (an amino acid needed for protein and enzymes) levels were correlated with increased histopathology (microscopic tissue examination for disease manifestation) in the large intestine. This study provides insight into the mechanisms underlying EED and indicates that the large intestine may be an important target for therapeutic intervention. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011092, P51OD011107) and NIGMS.