The innovative approach of the PolyBiota project combined traditional and cutting-edge techniques to accomplish the main objectives set in this proposal.
Within the work package (WP)1, during a period of two weeks, the animals were fed a polyphenols-enriched diet and the effect on the modulation of that diet on inflammation modulation and blood vessels formation was measured. The experiment was repeated in animals which consumed antibiotic to determine the role of the gut microbiota. The experiments performed involved analysis of immune cellular populations, analysis of eicosanoids, protein expression and microbial metabolism (microbial metabolites formation) using traditional (e.g. western blot and ELISA assays) and state of the art technologies (e.g. flow cytometry and Q-TOF). The results obtained show an attenuation of the biosynthesis of markers linked to inflammation in animals fed diets enriched with natural products (vegetables or (poly)phenols), whereas these effects were absent in antibiotic-treated animals. The faeces obtained (in sterile conditions) from the animals were processed and analysed (WP2) to determine the modulation of the microbial ecology of the animals that consumed a polyphenols-enriched diet. The Illumina analysis was performed in FISABIO (Valencia) and the groups of microorganisms modulated provide invaluable information about the interaction gut microbiota/(poly)phenols. The knowledge of the role of specific groups of microorganisms will be essential in future studies, including faecal transplant investigation. Besides, we also studied the molecular mechanisms by which the polyphenols exert their effects in a relevant endothelial cellular model. The WP3 included the tubulogenesis assay, endothelial cell migration, cell proliferation, metabolism analysis, western blot, immunofluorescence assays, and in sillico analysis. The results of this WP show the role of important receptors (i.e. VEGFR2) as a target of the dietary polyphenols investigated, and its inhibition as a key mechanism of angiogenesis inhibition. The dissemination and diffusion activities performed through the development of the project targeted the scientific community through the publication of peer-reviewed articles, international seminars, collaboration with other European projects (i.e. PhenolAcTwin #951994), workshops and summer schools’ organization, and attending international conferences (Food Bioactives and Health, Parma, Italy). A wider community was also targeted via press release (local and regional newspapers) and radio interviews, as well as through the participation in the Science Week, mentoring Thesis’ Master students, supervising high school students (IDIES project), etc. The website of the PolyBiota project (polybiota.blogspot.com) prepared within this WP, describes in a comprehensive manner all the activities performed, thus facilitating the follow up of the project. Besides, the preparation of a “career development plan” (i.e. training plan) as well as a “management plan” (open access, financial/risk management) were essential to achieve the objectives of the WP5 and WP6.
