Award details

Analysis of gene transfer from food plants to human intestinal microflora and intestinal epithelium

Reference	BB/C509782/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Harry Gilbert
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor John Mathers, Professor Tony O'Donnell
Institution	Newcastle University
Department	Inst for Cell and Molecular Biosciences
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	245,817
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/03/2005
End date	30/09/2008
Duration	43 months

Abstract

With the introduction of genetically modified plants (GMPs) into the human diet, gene flow from these foods into the intestinal microflora or to the intestinal epithelium has become an important safety issue. Such gene transfer events could, for example, modify intestinal function either through the genetic modification of the microflora or of the intestinal epithelium. Data accumulated by the applicants have shown that a measurable proportion of DNA from genetically modified soya (GMS), both transgenes and endogenous genes of the plant, survives passage through the small intestines of ileostomists, and thus would be available to be taken up by naturally competent intestinal microbes or possibly become incorporated into human gut epithelial cells. These concerns are heightened by the observation that in three of the ileostomists (patients in which the large bowel had been surgically removed), the microbial population, sampled prior to the feeding experiment, was shown to contain a component of the GMS-derived transgene. Thus, gene transfer from GMS to the microflora of the small bowel of these ileostomists had occurred prior to their involvement in these experiments. These data indicate that there is an urgent need to investigate, in detail, the prevalence of such gene transfer events, the nature of the genetic material that has crossed Kingdom barriers and the mechanism of genome incorporation. Thus, the primary objective of this project is to determine the extent and mechanisms of gene transfer from GMPs into both human intestinal epithelial cells and the microbial community of the human small bowel. The project will address not only a food issue that is highly relevant to human health, but will also make an important contribution to our understanding of the extent and mechanism of gene transfer from eukaryotes to prokaryotes. This information may be particularly important in guiding the construction of future plant transgenes that are less likely to integrate into intestinal microbial populations.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	Crop Science, Diet and Health, Microbiology, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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