Lior Lobel

Congratulation to Assistant Professor Lior Lobel, Zuckerman Faculty Scholar at the Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences at Bar-Ilan University, on the publication of  The yin and yang of bacterial Asn in tumor biology in the January issues of  Cell Host Microbe.

The article highlights emerging research showing that microbiota-derived metabolism of an amino acid (asparagine) can shape the immune system’s ability to fight cancer, with potential implications for understanding and improving cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract
Around 5%–10% of dietary protein reaches the colon, and the gut microbiota contributes to intestinal amino acid availability.  Prior studies have shown that the concentration of most amino acids is reduced in the portal vein of conventional microbiota-harboring mice, compared with germ-free mice.  While catabolism and conversion of dietary amino acids by gut bacteria are essential for bacterial growth, these processes can exert diverse effects on the host.