Pollen-Based Assays of Intestinal Mucus Water Content and Rheology

Carson Meredith from Georgia Tech in the U.S. will determine whether pollen can measure gut function by assessing mucus qualities, which vary along the gastrointestinal tract particularly in children with enteric diseases. Gastrointestinal mucus prevents pathogens entering the body and promotes the absorption of nutrients and medicines. Therefore, its physical properties are relevant for gut health and the development of effective treatments. Pollen particles vary widely in size and shape, and can survive the harsh environment of the gastrointestinal tract. He will test the ability of a selection of pollen to probe properties such as water content and viscosity of synthetic and porcine intestinal mucus using an established technique known as particle tracking microrheology to track pollen motion.