Carnegie Mellon University · BiologyGut Microbiota and Circadian Health Lab
Zheng Kuang · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Zheng Kuang's lab at Carnegie-Mellon University focuses on understanding how gut microbiota influence the body's circadian rhythms and immune functions, particularly in relation to metabolism. The lab explores the interplay between our diet, gut microorganisms, and our internal biological clocks, investigating how these interactions can contribute to diseases in the digestive system. By using a variety of scientific techniques, the goal is to uncover new strategies to improve health by manipulating gut microbiota or epigenetic pathways.
microbial regulationcircadian rhythmsintestinal epitheliumimmune functionmetabolismepigeneticssexual dimorphismdigestive diseasesgnotobioticshost-microbe interaction
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how gut microbiota regulate circadian rhythms in the intestinal epithelium.
AIM 02Examine the temporal coordination between metabolic and immune processes in the gut.
AIM 03Explore the impact of environmental factors on circadian and immune functions.
AIM 04Characterize the epigenetic mechanisms by which microbiota influences metabolism and immunity.
AIM 05Develop computational approaches to understand microbe-host interactions.
Skills the Lab Values
bacteria geneticsmouse modelsgenomicsgnotobiotic techniquescomputational biologyepigenetic analysescell cultureimmunology assaysnutrient absorption studiesdiurnal rhythm assessments
Output against the department
Publications83bottom 26% of dept.764th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.9kbottom 30% of dept.724th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.