Project description
How diet impacts host-microbiota interactions and human health
Changes in gut microbiota composition and function are associated with increased severity of metabolic disorders and infectious diseases. A diet that is low in fibre and high in fat and simple sugars alters the microbiota, reduces bacterial diversity, and increases host susceptibility to inflammation and infection. Studies show that this diet can select for specific mutations in the gut commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron that may influence the degradation of mucin-derived glycans and adaptation to the intestinal niche. The EU-funded EvoBacNiche project will generate B. theta mutants carrying diet-selected mutations and investigate their ability to degrade mucin-derived glycans, colonise intestinal niches, and affect host susceptibility to inflammation and infection in experimental models. The project’s goal is to identify the molecular mechanisms linking diet, microbiota evolution, and host health.
Objective
Gut microbiota perturbations are associated with increased severity of human pathologies including metabolic disorders and infectious diseases. Diet influences host physiology in a microbiota-dependent manner. In mice, a diet low in fiber and high in fat and simple sugars (western diet: WD) lowers bacterial diversity, alters microbiota functions, and increases host susceptibility to infection and inflammation. This susceptibility is associated with decreased mucus layer thickness that presumably depends on the activity of mucus-degrading species. Within-host evolution experiments show WD-dependent selection of mutations targeting degradative pathways of mucin-derived glycans in the intestinal commensal Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (B.theta). Mutations targeting an uncharacterized starch utilization-like system gene showed the strongest frequency fluctuations between standard and western diet. However, the functional consequences of these mutations remain uncharacterized. We hypothesize that WD-selected mutations contribute to spatial niche acquisition, reduction of mucus layer thickness, and increased host susceptibility to pathogen infections. To address this, I will construct isogenic B.theta mutants carrying diet-selected mutations. The mutants will be tested for their ability to degrade mucin-derived glycans in vitro, in a gut-on-chip and in animal models. Their initial spatial distribution will be monitored in mice with a conventional microbiota fed either a standard or western diet. Long-term niche establishment along the gastrointestinal tract and near the mucosal surface, and host susceptibility to inflammation and Citrobacter rodentium infection, will be evaluated in gnotobiotic mice within a community of human-associated bacteria under the two dietary regimens. This study thereby aims to identify molecular mechanisms by which diet impacts host-microbiota interactions at the mucosal surface and to assess their effects on host health and disease.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.4.1 - Widening participation and spreading excellence
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-TALENTS-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1649-035 LISBOA
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.