Our efforts are focused on the understanding how the interplay between host and microbiota contributes to disease such as T2D, NASH, IBD, immunodeficiency, and cancer. The key questions are : 1) Which components of microbiota (taxa and genes) drive specific immune and other host functions; 2) Which of those mechanisms play role in diseases we study; 3) Do environmental (e.g. drugs and/or food) or host factors alter microbiota that it acquires properties which are harmful or beneficial to host?