I'm a PhD student in Mike Stratton's group, researching on the mutational processes in colorectal cancer development.
The role of microbiome-derived mutagenic exposures of the normal colorectal epithelium in causation of colorectal cancer
Somatic mutations are caused by multiple mutational processes, each of which generates a characteristic mutational signature. Recent studies have identified novel mutational signatures (SBS88 and ID18) in colons. These signatures have been experimentally linked to colibactin, a genotoxic compound generated by certain strains of pks+ Escherichia coli. The latest Mutographs CRC study related varying CRC incidence globally to varying SBS88 and ID18 mutation burdens, and found their enrichment in early-onset CRC cases, suggesting a role for colibactin exposure in CRC development. I’m conducting a case-control study to explore the role of colibactin in causation of colorectal cancer.