Cellular and Molecular Biology

Fecal microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as biomarkers for the non-invasive diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases.

Despite the increasing number of evidence on the relevance of specific fecal miRNAs, more extensive analyses are needed to further explore the role of these molecules, in particular in relation to the individual gut microbiota composition.

Fecal miRNA-gut microbiota relationships can be investigated by the integrative analysis of fecal small RNA-Seq and shotgun metagenomics data. The candidate will analyze sRNA-Seq and metagenomic data of samples from healthy subjects and patients with gastrointestinal diseases.

The analysis will be performed using bioinformatic methods to integrate sequencing data with clinical and anamnestic characteristics of the recruited subjects.