In a study of children with symptomatic or asymptomatic C. diff, symptom status loomed as the strongest association with differences in gut microbial abundance and diversity.

Byndloss, who joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2018, studies the links between the gut microbiota (the microorganisms that reside in the intestines), host metabolism and disease.

Researchers used whole-metagenome sequencing to assess the composition, diversity and functional enrichment of the preterm infant gut microbiome — the microorganisms that aid digestion, immune function and metabolism.

Goal is to inform the design of microbiome-based therapeutics that can help deliver antibiotics safely during early life and reduce the burden of childhood asthma.

The research may lead to new treatments for diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and mucositis, a severe complication of chemotherapy.

The discovery could point to novel strategies for treating food poisoning and other types of gastroenteritis.

The annual awards highlight outstanding achievements by women in the biological sciences.