Nick Ilott

When attacked by the same virus, individuals produce #antibodies that target different parts of that virus. For a given #virus, some antibodies increase with #age while others decrease, depending on the viral fragment targeted. bit.ly/40kYPzG bit.ly/4rlralr [open access]

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of gut health Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Published online: 18 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s41575-026-01176-xThis Consensus Statement provides a definition of the term ‘gut health’, as well as a discussion of the relevant domains that contribute to gut health and a framework for appropriate use of the term in the context of therapeutic interventions.

New online! The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) consensus statement on the definition and scope of gut health

Discovery of bioactive peptidoglycan fragments from Lactobacillaceae that confer intestinal protection in hosts Liang et al. quantified and profiled natural peptidoglycan fragments (PGNs) released by a panel of bacterial species. They found that prolonged exposure to Lactobacillaceae-derived PGNs induced tolerance in murine macrophages to subsequent TLR stimulation. They demonstrated that the intraperitoneal administration of the natural PGN GM-AQK protected mice against DSS-induced colitis.

Discovery of bioactive peptidoglycan fragments from Lactobacillaceae that confer intestinal protection in hosts

Congratulations again! From a very proud supervisor ❤️

We’re really pleased to share that our excellent DPhil student, Amit, successfully defended his PhD thesis last week! We had a great time celebrating with you and look forward to seeing what your next chapter holds!🎉🧑‍💻🥂

@kiroxford.bsky.social
@amit-halkhoree.bsky.social @nickilott.bsky.social

Genome-wide association analyses highlight the role of the intestinal molecular environment in human gut microbiota variation - Nature Genetics Population-based studies from Sweden with replication in Norway identify associations between host genetic variants and gut microbial composition and implicate short-chain fatty acid chemosensors as m...

Delighted to have contributed to this impressive work led by @tovefall.bsky.social & many others👏 (w/ @gazollavolpiano.bsky.social from our side). This novel microbiome GWAS (n=~16k+12k valid) expands knowledge on genetic factors associated w/ gut microbiota variation.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

🖥️🧬🚀 I am excited to share that our #omnideconv study is finally published on Genome Biology: doi.org/10.1186/s130...

Congratulations to the wonderful Natasha for successfully defending her DPhil thesis! We’re excited to see what comes next for Natasha and her MAIT cell story whilst she continues her project as a postdoctoral researcher🥳👩‍🔬

@kiroxford.bsky.social

Gut E. coli (esp. pks+/colibactin+) have been thought to be a link between CRC & liver metastasis, possibly by translocating via the portal vein. This work explores in-depth causal mol. mechanisms of liver metastasis promotion by E. coli strains enriched in CRC cases
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

DEPower: approximate power analysis with DESeq2 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 🧬💻🧪

Genetic dissection of stool frequency implicates vitamin B1 metabolism and other actionable pathways in the modulation of gut motility Background Genetic studies of stool frequency (SF), an indirect proxy for gastrointestinal transit, may reveal therapeutically tractable pathways relevant to IBS and other dysmotility disorders. Obje...

New GWAS on stool frequency (n=268K) highlights vitamin B1 (thiamine) metabolism as a new modulator of gut motility via SLC35F3/XPR1. In ~98K UKB participants, dietary thiamine intake correlates with stool frequency too w/ these loci + MR predicts causal effects with IBS.
gut.bmj.com/content/earl...

Host factors dictate gut microbiome alterations in chronic kidney disease more strongly than kidney function - Nature Microbiology A covariate-aware analysis reveals that microbiome changes in the gut of patients with chronic kidney disease are better explained by intestinal transit time than by kidney function.

Big congrats to our colleague @krukowskihubert.bsky.social
on the Nature Microbiology paper linking gut transit time and diet to CKD microbiome changes. Another step in microbiome research!🧫
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Do you know someone who needs support returning to research? @macularsociety.org are funding a Daphne Jackson Fellowship to be held at any UK university or research institute.

Please share with your network to get one more #ResearchReturner back to their career. daphnejackson.org/fellowship/m...

In vivo detection of immune responses via cytokine activity labeling Cytokine receptor dimerization, induced by the binding of cytokines, can be converted into a genetically traceable fluorescent signal and engineered into reporter mouse lines to visualize processes in...

Tools
'To address this knowledge gap, we developed “cytokine cellular locating platforms” (CyCLoPs), a reporter system that translates cytokine receptor engagement into a genetically traceable signal.'
#Immunology
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...

The Trust are grateful for the ongoing support from The University of Surrey, who continue to build on the legacy of Professor Daphne Jackson. The Trust spoke with two Daphne Jackson Fellows who were hosted at The University of Surrey about their experience returning to research here.

Glowing bacterial sensors detect gut illness in mice before symptoms emerge UBC researchers have engineered gut bacteria that dim their fluorescent glow in the presence of illness.

Excited to share our latest publication, led by Dr. Ellie McCallum and Juan Burckhardt!
bit.ly/4kfzQaf
You can access the article for free here: authors.elsevier.com/a/1mWb4L7PXu... And more information is available on the updated preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Looking for a tool to estimate abundances of aerobes versus anaerobes directly from metagenomes? Here you go: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Huge thanks to @pscsupport.bsky.social for supporting our work and being a driving force for PSC research! Find out how they have helped us delve into research into a role for the small intestine in PSC pscsupport.org.uk/new-research...

New #PSCSupport research finds high ALP associated with decreased protective genes in the small intestine in #PSC. This suggests the small intestine could be a key target for future treatments, perhaps via the #gutmicrobiome.
Full details: buff.ly/TVpOLd2
#Mission2030

PhD studentships available through our BBSRC-funded doctoral programme.

🦠🧫💻 Contact me if you're interested in using bioinformatics/lab-based approaches with cultivated and uncultivated bacteria of the human microbiome, to identify and characterize novel enzymes with potential biotech applications.

The fate of dietary protein in the gastrointestinal tract and implications for colonic disease Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Published online: 22 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41575-026-01173-0Protein is an essential nutrient in the human diet. This Review explores the fate of dietary protein in the gastrointestinal tract and its influence on colonic health and disease, providing insights into dietary protein metabolism, digestion, absorption, fermentation and the implications for colonic health.

New online! The fate of dietary protein in the gastrointestinal tract and implications for colonic disease

Join #TeamPSCSupport and help us fund vital support and research! Whether you run, cycle, or skydive, every mile brings us closer to a cure.
Grab one of our charity places or create your own event!
👉 buff.ly/7qNG1NN #LetsBeatPSC fundraising@pscsupport.org.uk

Contextualizing TH17 cells in cancer - Nature Reviews Immunology T helper 17 (TH17) cells can have both pro-tumour and antitumour effects. Understanding how they are regulated by environmental and regulatory cues according to context will inform strategies to harne...

New year, new paper! Thrilled to share that our review “Contextualising TH17 cells in cancer” is out now!

Congratulations to Declan & team for a fantastic, in depth overview🥳

Go give it a read here:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...

@natrevimmunol.nature.com
@kiroxford.bsky.social

2025 ISB Microbiome Symposium - YouTube The 2025 ISB Microbiome Symposium was a virtual scientific event hosted by the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) on December 12, 2025. The symposium brough...

If you missed the 2025 @isbscience.org Virtual Microbiome Symposium (theme: how microbial metabolites influence the brain, the immune system, & metabolism), the videos of the talks and the panel discussion are now available here:

youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Thanks to all who helped make it happen!

We’re hiring! Two postdoctoral research positions are available in our lab - one in mucosal immunology, and one in exposome immunology (MRC CoRE)! Apply by December 22nd!🎄

Position 1: tinyurl.com/2mh44tn4
Position 2: tinyurl.com/5ffzxsfb

@kiroxford.bsky.social @exposomeimmunology.bsky.social

Last night was our Lab Christmas party! Special thanks to Claire and Nick for organising some excellent party games for us (guessing the flavour of Skittles whilst blindfolded is much harder than you’d think!) and to Branca for hosting us🎅🎄🌟

@kiroxford.bsky.social
@nickilott.bsky.social

Kennedy Trust for Rheumatology Research (KTRR) Group Leader in Microbiome Studies (183704) We are seeking applications from an outstanding scientist to establish and lead a new research group in human microbiome science, advancing understanding of microbe–microbe and microbe–host interactio...

Hiring: Group Leader in Microbiome Studies! ✨

The successful candidate would establish & lead a new research group in human microbiome science, advancing understanding of microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions in health & disease.

Apply by 22 Dec.

www.ndorms.ox.ac.uk/jobs/kennedy...

Congratulations to our fantastic DPhil student, Henry, for defending his PhD thesis today!! It’s been a pleasure to have Henry in the lab & we miss him already! Go check out the review (linked below) if you’d like to see some of his work🥳🧑‍🔬

@kiroxford.bsky.social

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40252635/

Postdoctoral Research Assistant - MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology (183191) You will lead delivery of a CoRE research project, managing your own research and coordinating project activities to meet deadlines. The role includes developing and adapting scientific techniques, an...

We are hiring a Postdoctoral Research Assistant to study how microbiomes influence barrier biology and shape responses to viral infection!

This post is part of the exciting new MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology.

Apply by December 18 👇

www.kennedy.ox.ac.uk/jobs/postdoc...