Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jennifer DuBoisCoe, Genevieve Lea2021-07-132021-07-132019https://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/16365Iron is an essential nutrient for mammals 1. It is involved in multiple redox reactions that are essential for the survival of most organisms 2. There are two main types of iron that are absorbed from the diet: inorganic iron and heme 3. Dietary iron ingested by mammals is mostly absorbed in the small intestine; however, it is unclear whether the gut microbiome is involved in iron homeostasis or whether iron in the diet influences the microbiome. The goal of this project is to characterize the change in microbial composition in response to iron deficiency and iron repletion in conventional mice and define a baseline model for future studies involving the more complex human gut microbiome.enGastrointestinal systemMicrobial ecologyIronMiceNutritionThesisCopyright 2019 by Genevieve Lea Coe