Uncovering “blockbuster T cells” in the gut wins NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize

In the gut, dozens of strains of bacteria exert different effects on the immune system that in turn impact our health – fending off pathogens, helping digest food and maybe even influencing behavior. But pinpointing which bacteria exert which effects has been challenging. Better understanding this process could lead to a powerful way to treat a host of diseases. For developing a method by which to zero in on individual gut bacterium’s impacts on T cells, Kazuki Nagashima, a senior research scientist at Stanford University, is the winner of this year’s NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize, which rewards innovative research by young investigators working on attributes of the microbiota with potential to guide therapeutic interventions. Nagashima’s work showed that – contrary to what has been thought – some T cells in the gut can interact with multiple bacteria. Nagashima dubbed these T cells “blockbuster” T cells. “This discovery presents a therapeutic opportunity to skew gut immune reaction [in therapeutically useful ways],” said Nagashima in his prize-winning essay.