The Quinn lab at Michigan State University aims to understand how dynamic microbial communities contribute to health and disease. We use multi-omics methods, such as metagenomics and metabolomics, supported by animal and laboratory models, to peer into various microbiomes and elucidate their function. We focus our research on the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung, human gut, and marine systems. We are particularly interested in characterizing the chemistry of the microbiome. To do this, our laboratory uses advanced mass spectrometry bioinformatic tools to illuminate the ‘dark matter’ in the microbial metabolome.

30,000+

People living with CF in North America. CF patients are courageous people who fight this disease their entire lives. Our lab’s science directly aims at prolonging and improving the lives of CF patients.

40,000; 600,000

Species of bacteria and individual genes from bacteria on and in the human body. The number of genes from the microbiome outnumbers our own 30:1. There is immense potential in improving human life if we can understand what these genes do and which microorganisms are best for our health.

6%; 6,000; 160,000

Percent of molecules identified, number of molecules, and number of spectra generated in a typical microbiome experiment. Mass spectrometers are incredible machines with an almost limitless ability to accurately measure metabolites. However, we have only identified a handful of these molecules.

Metabolomics of
the Microbiome

We use molecular networking and the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking Database (gnps.ucsd.edu) developed by the Dorrestein lab https://dorresteinlab.ucsd.edu/ to analyze the metabolome of the microbiome. There is a mosaic of cross phyla chemical communication between the host and its microbiome. New advances in mass spectrometry and bioinformatic tools are beginning to allow us to translate this language into biological insights of health and disease.