Regenerating Lung Homeostasis to Treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Humanized Mice

We have generated a novel expeditious model of cigarette smoke-induced COPD in mice that expresses human immune genes and mimics human immune response. Our main goal is to treat emphysema in mice with a novel human oral bacterium (isolated in our laboratory), which is known to be lacking in COPD patients. We believe that this treatment will improvement lung function altered by smoking. Since the bacteria are present in healthy individuals, if proven, this can be used for treating COPD.

Research Focus: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)