The goals of the Salomon lab are to understand how the intestinal microbiome and intestinal metabolite profiles of pediatric patients with congenital heart disease influence and are influenced by cardiopulmonary bypass and how existing dysbiosis and metabolite profiles in these patients exacerbate the inflammatory response with bypass. We are also evaluating how the microbiome and metabolites activate inflammatory signaling in this patient population.

We currently focus on evaluating the microbiome, intestinal barrier dysfunction and permeability, and intestinal metabolite profiles, such as short chain fatty acids and inflammatory lipid mediators, in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. We evaluate inflammation with cytokine profiling, immune cell activation, and RNA sequencing of inflammatory pathways. Additionally, we are implementing a piglet model of bypass to evaluate interventions on the microbiome and intestinal metabolites and observe how this affects changes in inflammatory activation after cardiopulmonary bypass. This can also involve the use of gnobiotic piglets to transplant the microbiome of patients with congenital heart disease to even further recapitulate the human experience.

We hope to develop therapeutic interventions, through inflammation and intestinal barrier regulating metabolites or a symbiotic taken prior to surgery, aimed to reduce the amount of inflammation experienced after surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and promote improved wound healing and recovery after surgery. This fragile population is subject to poor nutrition, chronic inflammation, and heart failure, all which greatly impact the microbiome and chronic health.