Djalma de Souza Lima-Junior, Ph.D.

Research

The Belkaid lab studies the link between obesity and diseases of the skin. The metabolic changes that accompany obesity affect more than just body fat: They alter the immune system, the composition of the microbial community found in the gut, and even the development of certain skin conditions, including dermatitis and psoriasis. Using a sophisticated array of microbiological, immunological, molecular genetic, and sequencing techniques, I will determine whether obesity also alters the makeup of the microbes that inhabit the skin—and whether this change affects the skin’s susceptibility to infection or inflammation. These findings could reveal a novel approach to the treatment of skin conditions, particularly in individuals who are also affected by obesity.