Investigating the spatial dynamics of microbiome-induced inflammaging in barrier tissue
The mice used in most aging studies live in ultra-clean laboratories, so their immune systems never face the diverse microbes that humans encounter throughout life. Dr. Williams' lab will study mice born with the natural microbes of wild mice to learn how a lifetime of microbial exposure shapes aging at the mouth, a key barrier between the body and the outside world. Using DNA methylation "aging clocks," high-resolution imaging of gum tissue, and detailed immune profiling of the lymph nodes that drain the mouth, they will determine whether this exposure speeds up biological aging and pushes the oral immune system toward harmful overactivity or exhaustion. The findings could establish a more human-relevant model for aging research and improve how future therapies, such as senolytics and geroprotectors, are tested before they reach patients.
