By Patrick Sherry
Professor Dr. Graciela Lorca at the University of Florida’s Department of Microbiology and Cell Science studies the unknown of genetics and microbiology to uncover the different mechanisms and entities that influence life.
Dr. Lorca’s research focuses on understanding the components that mediate host-microbe interactions. This includes research into the role of the microbiome in autoimmune diseases, specifically Type 1 Diabetes. She also studies how bacteria respond to environmental signals with the goal of identifying new chemicals to kill bacteria that infect plants. Additionally, her research has an emphasis on the potential beneficial types of bacteria that have previously not been studied.
“It's fascinating how our idea of bacteria has changed over the years; originally, we were only focused on bad bacteria or pathogens,” said Lorca. “With the explosion of microbiome information, we realized that pathogens constitute a very small fraction of the microbial world, and that most of the bacteria are good for us. In fact, they are an integral and needed component in all the systems, not only in human systems, but plants, soil, and the environment. They play a very important role in the ecosystem, so I think their value cannot be underestimated.”
Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease, is caused by genetic and environmental factors that cause the pancreas to produce little to no insulin to regulate blood sugar levels in the body. However, the goal of her research is to identify bacteria in the body’s microbiome that can assist in preventing the onset of T1D in at-risk individuals and populations. Her lab has found that in rats, the introduction of a bacteria called Lactobacillus johnsonii N6.2 resulted in a reduction in the incidence of T1D. From this, Dr. Lorca completed a pilot study that tested the effects of L. johnsonii N6.2 in healthy humans. Her lab is currently conducting clinical trials in subjects with T1D to evaluate if this bacterium could be used as a probiotic for T1D prevention.
“[This work] is important because in the context of autoimmune diseases, we may be able to manipulate the microbiome or components in [it] to prevent the onset of a disease,” said Lorca. “So, we have the potential to completely change the lives of people that are susceptible to this disease.”
Besides this research on autoimmune diseases, Dr. Lorca enjoys collaborating with other fields to create a multidisciplinary team to research complex diseases. These collaborations have led to the identification of compounds that can kill plant pathogens in active citrus groves. Currently, her lab is attempting to modify these compounds to make them more stable and active in open conditions in fields.
Furthermore, Dr. Lorca finds that the most interesting aspect of her field is attempting to answer science’s most pressing and unique questions that will eventually either lead to answers or even more questions. While others can find the scientific process slow and frustrating, Dr. Lorca believes that that is how life works and that is what makes scientific inquiry so beautiful.
“I think it's very rewarding to start an idea from scratch in the lab and to be able to translate it into the field or into the clinic,” said Lorca. “Most of us are usually categorized into laboratory scientists or field scientists. The possibility of doing both and being able to carry a project from the initial discovery in the lab into the clinic is very rewarding.”
Dr. Lorca also hopes to give this experience to undergraduate and graduate researchers. Instead of recreating pre-tested experiments, she encourages students to find alternative solutions and hypotheses to learn more about a path of inquiry and how the research process works.
“That's the difficult part because many students get discouraged quickly, when they think ‘it failed’; so, then the world comes crumbling down,” said Lorca. “I think with time they understand that failure is part of the process and if it was easy, everything would have been done and all the problems would have been fixed already.”
No matter what type of research Dr. Lorca pursues, there is always something that needs to be answered or learned about, which will inevitably lead to more questions. But that is what she feels makes the journey of scientific research so gratifying – that you never know what you will find next and what you want to learn more about.
“I think this is a fascinating world, and I think if that’s what really interests you, and you’re willing to make some sacrifices – I think that is very rewarding,” said Lorca.