University of South Carolina-Columbia · BiologyEndocannabinoid and Gut Microbiome Lab
Melissa Ellermann · Columbia, South Carolina
Research Focus
Dr. Melissa Ellermann's lab at the University of South Carolina studies how the endocannabinoid system affects gut bacteria, particularly during infections caused by Escherichia coli. The research aims to understand how this signaling system can lower the gut's defenses against harmful bacteria, potentially worsening chronic digestive diseases like Crohn's disease. By using mouse models and advanced genetic techniques, the lab investigates the complex interactions between host signals and microbial behavior.
endocannabinoid signalingEnterobacteriaceaeE. coligut microbiomechronic inflammatory disease
Research Aims
4AIM 01Investigate the role of endocannabinoid signaling in gut microbiome dynamics.
AIM 02Assess how host signals affect Enterobacteriaceae proliferation during infection.
AIM 03Explore the metabolic pathways involved in E. coli pathogenesis.
AIM 04Determine the impact of microbial growth on chronic disease exacerbation.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelsgenetic manipulation16S ribosomal RNA sequencingmetabolomicsbacterial genetics
Output against the department
Publications38bottom 6% of dept.967th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.2kbottom 6% of dept.969th 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.