The human intestinal tract is a microbial ecosystem of unparalleled complexity and diversity. These organisms help us digest food, produce essential vitamins and minerals, and resist pathogens. In turn, the gut offers a nutrient-rich, climate-controlled environment ideal for growth. What happens when this relationship is strained? The Clasen Lab studies how our interaction with gut microbes is impacted by infection, nutrient deprivation, and other stressors over our lifespan.