Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NUTRIMMUNE (Precision Nutrition to optimize immune response for metabolic health)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-09-01 al 2025-08-31
NUTRIMMUNE addresses the challenges of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers, often linked to chronic inflammation and weakened immunity, particularly in people suffering from overweight or obesity. In this context, the project aims to transform nutrition into an immune prevention tool, via Precision Nutrition (PN).
The project aims to identify indicators of good immune health, to verify what types of foods influence immunity, and to understand how our diet interacts with the microbes in our intestine and certain molecules important for the immune system. Novel glyco-immunological strategies shall reveal unprecedented glycomic aspects that determine the interplay between nutrition, bacterial glycans, and the immune system of the host.
NUTRIMMUNE focuses on four main objectives:
1. Find indicators of immune health using digital signatures and advanced clinical data.
2. Study eating habits and their impact on immunity to provide appropriate nutritional advice.
3. Understand how diet, gut microbes and certain molecules interact to influence immune health.
4. Develop nutritional recommendations based on project data, with tools to personalize dietary advice.
The project thus hopes to influence public health policies by providing scientifically validated nutritional recommendations, potentially contributing to the formulation of new food products improving immunity, while engaging social science disciplines to adapt cultural and behavioral recommendations.
By targeting immune prevention for overweight populations, NUTRIMMUNE could reduce the risk of NCD-related complications and improve the quality of life of affected individuals. The use of project data in clinical and industrial applications could benefit the health sector by improving the effectiveness of personalized nutritional interventions on a large scale.
The project aims to identify indicators of good immune health, to verify what types of foods influence immunity, and to understand how our diet interacts with the microbes in our intestine and certain molecules important for the immune system. Novel glyco-immunological strategies shall reveal unprecedented glycomic aspects that determine the interplay between nutrition, bacterial glycans, and the immune system of the host.
NUTRIMMUNE focuses on four main objectives:
1. Find indicators of immune health using digital signatures and advanced clinical data.
2. Study eating habits and their impact on immunity to provide appropriate nutritional advice.
3. Understand how diet, gut microbes and certain molecules interact to influence immune health.
4. Develop nutritional recommendations based on project data, with tools to personalize dietary advice.
The project thus hopes to influence public health policies by providing scientifically validated nutritional recommendations, potentially contributing to the formulation of new food products improving immunity, while engaging social science disciplines to adapt cultural and behavioral recommendations.
By targeting immune prevention for overweight populations, NUTRIMMUNE could reduce the risk of NCD-related complications and improve the quality of life of affected individuals. The use of project data in clinical and industrial applications could benefit the health sector by improving the effectiveness of personalized nutritional interventions on a large scale.
During the first reporting period (M1–M12), the NUTRIMMUNE consortium successfully established the scientific, analytical, and operational foundations of the project. Nearly all planned deliverables were achieved, except two that were postponed due to protocol harmonization and inter-WP coordination needs. Overall, NUTRIMMUNE is progressing well and remains on track, with strong inter-WP integration and a clear transition toward the clinical and translational phas
In WP1, a harmonized multi-cohort dataset (≈690 participants) was created, integrating clinical, dietary, proteomic, and metagenomic data. First in silico models identified candidate immune and nutritional biomarkers, and a validation cohort (comprising a cohort from Europe and from Asia) were assembled. In silico microbiome modelling identified diet-driven metabolic fingerprints relevant to metabolic health.
In WP2, the clinical protocol for the Precision Nutrition randomized controlled trial (RCT) was finalized and submitted to INSERM. Following extensive discussions with clinical partners, the screening and intervention phases were merged into a single streamlined design using routine inflammatory markers (CRP > 3 mg/L and E-DII ≥ 0). The Balanced-Immunity diet was defined as the core intervention model.
In WP3, an advanced immune and glyco-phenotyping was completed, including broad proteomic profiling (Olink) and initiating glycomic analyses in Bern.
In WP4, teams developed CRISPR and glycan-based cell models for future RCT-linked validation, and established mechanistic cellular models to study the effect of nutrients on modulation of immune response.
In WP5, a centralized database and secure analysis pipeline were implemented by SU, integrating all clinical and multi-omics datasets. Initial machine-learning and in silico analyses are ongoing, alsi in link with WP1
In WP6 ensured efficient project management, governance, and communication, with the website and DMP completed.
In WP7 launched anticipated valorisation activities, mapping exploitable assets (biomarkers, algorithms, digital tools) and initiating stakeholder engagement, also in link with EIC portfolio.
In WP2, the clinical protocol for the Precision Nutrition randomized controlled trial (RCT) was finalized and submitted to INSERM. Following extensive discussions with clinical partners, the screening and intervention phases were merged into a single streamlined design using routine inflammatory markers (CRP > 3 mg/L and E-DII ≥ 0). The Balanced-Immunity diet was defined as the core intervention model.
In WP3, an advanced immune and glyco-phenotyping was completed, including broad proteomic profiling (Olink) and initiating glycomic analyses in Bern.
In WP4, teams developed CRISPR and glycan-based cell models for future RCT-linked validation, and established mechanistic cellular models to study the effect of nutrients on modulation of immune response.
In WP5, a centralized database and secure analysis pipeline were implemented by SU, integrating all clinical and multi-omics datasets. Initial machine-learning and in silico analyses are ongoing, alsi in link with WP1
In WP6 ensured efficient project management, governance, and communication, with the website and DMP completed.
In WP7 launched anticipated valorisation activities, mapping exploitable assets (biomarkers, algorithms, digital tools) and initiating stakeholder engagement, also in link with EIC portfolio.