Descripción del proyecto
Microbiota de la leche materna y salud infantil
La microbiota de la leche materna representa la principal fuente postnatal de microbios para el neonato y podría reducir el riesgo de enfermedades no transmisibles, como la obesidad, las alergias y las afecciones inflamatorias, que también están asociadas a alteraciones microbianas. Sin embargo, los conocimientos sobre los factores que determinan la composición de la leche materna y su impacto en la salud de los lactantes son limitados. En el proyecto AMMI, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, se estudiará la influencia de los factores ambientales y del hospedador en la microbiota materna, se explorarán las interacciones entre los compuestos bioactivos de la leche materna y se ofrecerá información sobre su papel en la salud infantil. El equipo de AMMI se centrará en identificar los principales organismos microbianos y compuestos bioactivos transferidos a través de la lactancia materna, dilucidando cómo afectan los microbios maternos al sistema inmunitario del lactante. Otro objetivo es identificar estrategias y terapias dietéticas novedosas que impliquen la sustitución y modulación microbianas.
Objetivo
Recent reports suggest that early microbial colonization has an important role for in promoting health. This may contribute to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, allergies and inflammatory conditions. Advances in understanding host-microbe interactions imply that maternal microbiota plays a crucial role on health programming. This process begins in utero and it is modulated by mode of delivery and diet. My research has shown that i) specific shifts in milk microbial composition are associated with lactation time and mode of delivery, ii) milk microbes drive the infant microbiota composition; iii) maternal microbiota dysbiosis may be transferred to the infant. However, factors defining maternal microbiota and its biological role upon infant’s health are not yet fully understood. Hence, this project aims to characterize maternal microbes to be transferred to neonates and determine their function in infant health programming. The specific aims are:(1) understanding how the maternal microbiome is influenced by host and environmental factors;(2) characterizing the microbial core and bioactive compounds transmitted to the offspring mainly via breastfeeding and their key roles in the microbial modulation and host response;(3) understanding the interactions among breast milk bioactive compounds and their role in infant health;(4) shedding light on how maternal microbes influence the infant immune system & (5)development of new dietary strategies and therapies based on microbial replacement and modulation. To achieve these objectives, a systems biology approach by means of state-of-the-art techniques and new methodologies based on subpopulation enrichment by flow cytometer-sorter to study host–microbe interactions will be used. Results obtained will demonstrate the interaction between infant nutrition, microbes and host response in early life and its key role in health programming, enabling new applications in the field of personalized nutrition & medicine.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
28006 Madrid
España