Directory Entry For: James Collins
Biography
James Collins, D. Phil, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the School of Medicine. He earned his BSc (Hons) in Biology from the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom, in 2001. After gaining industry experience, he completed his D. Phil at the University of Oxford in 2009. Dr. Collins then pursued postdoctoral research at University College Cork in Ireland, Michigan State University, and Baylor College of Medicine in the USA.
Research Interests
Composed of hundreds of coexisting species, the intestinal microbiota is shaped by competition within a niche limited by nutrient availability, environmental conditions, competitors, predators, and host genetics. The availability of nutrients within the intestinal tract is fundamentally linked to diet - something that has undergone profound changes in the preceding 100 years. The industrialization of food processing and manufacturing has not only resulted in a significant increase in the consumption of simple carbohydrates, but also resulted in the addition of novel sugars, non-calorific sweeteners, oils, and emulsifiers to the food chain. Despite safety testing in animals, the effect of these nutrients on the microbiota is mostly unknown.
Focusing primarily on the hospital-associated pathogens Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile) and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE), we examine how dietary components can drive infectivity, selection, spread, and virulence of enteric pathogens.
Research Labs
Degrees and Certifications
University of Oxford, 2006-2009
University of Portsmouth, 1998-2001