Nathan Crook
Bio
Bio
The Crook Lab develops new high-throughput experimental and computational genetic engineering techniques. In doing so, we hope to uncover novel biological phenomena and accelerate applied research and development in the broad areas of metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and microbial ecology.
Our current application focus is the human gut microbiota. The ability of the gut microbiota to influence health has recently been uncovered, enabled by high-throughput DNA sequencing and animal models in which community composition is precisely controlled. The ultimate goal of this focus is the development of foundational technologies by which engineered gut commensal ecosystems can be designed and assembled as a matter of practice, enabling the conversion of food into a healthy mixture of energy, nutrients, and therapeutics.
Video not working? Use this link: Research Video
Publications
- Chips, guts, and gas: unraveling volatile microbial mysteries in real time! , TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY (2024)
- An integrated chemical engineering approach to understanding microplastics , AICHE JOURNAL (2023)
- Breakdown of polyethylene therepthalate microplastics under saltwater conditions using engineered Vibrio natriegens , AICHE JOURNAL (2023)
- Carotenoids and Their Health Benefits as Derived via Their Interactions with Gut Microbiota , ADVANCES IN NUTRITION (2023)
- Carotenoids in Health as Studied by Omics-Related Endpoints , ADVANCES IN NUTRITION (2023)
- Cellulose Acetate-Stabilized Pickering Emulsions: Preparation, Rheology, and Incorporation of Agricultural Active Ingredients , ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING (2023)
- Design of 8-mer Peptides that BlockClostridioides difficileToxin A in Intestinal Cells , (2023)
- Design of 8-mer peptides that block Clostridioides difficile toxin A in intestinal cells , COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY (2023)
- Engineering the Maize Root Microbiome: A Rapid MoClo Toolkit and Identification of Potential Bacterial Chassis for Studying Plant-Microbe Interactions , ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY (2023)
- Engineering the Maize Root Microbiome: A Rapid MoClo Toolkit and Identification of Potential Bacterial Chassis for studying Plant-Microbe Interactions , (2023)