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Immune-related disorders have increased in developedcountries, largely due to lifestyle changes that disrupt the balance betweenthe body and its microbiota. These microbes guide immune development, but howthey influence systemic organs like the CNS remains unclear. Evidence suggeststhat a diverse microbiota supports healthy immune and neurological development,especially during a critical early-life window when microbial changes canstrongly affect long-term disease risk.
Study Aim
To evaluate how the intestinal microbial signals (such asmetabolites) can be sensed by the host and shape the CNS cells (nervous andimmune cells), through the activation of innate immune pathway, and therefore alterationof intestinal microbial composition early in life will have a strong impact onthe CNS function.
Scientific Approach
Animal models to manipulate the intestinal flora atdifferent animal life ages (using GF, gnotobiotic mouse model, and the SPFmice, untreated or treated with antibiotics). Microbiota composition and microbialmetabolites detected in the CNS will be analysed. CNS functions will be testedperforming short- and long-term memory and learning behavioural tests.
Expected Outcomes
The results coming from this project will reveal newmechanisms on how the microbiota and in particular, the maternal and early lifemicrobiota’s impact on the function of the central nervous system. This will pavethe way for diet interventions to facilitate the blooming of certain bacterialcandidates producing certain bacterial metabolites that could favor the normal CNSdevelopment and function
