Award details

BBSRC Studentship: Developing nanoparticulate oligonucleotides as a selective tool for modulation of complex gut microbiota

Reference	BBS/E/F/00042693
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Arjan Narbad
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	10,054
Status	Current
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/2013
End date	30/09/2017
Duration	47 months

Abstract

Our gut is a home to trillions of bacteria that play a critical role in the health and disease. Recent studies have indicated the association of the gut microbiota with inflammatory disorders such as ulcerative colitis, obesity, the ability to resist gut pathogens, diabetes and even with the development of brain functions. While our knowledge of the bacterial composition and metabolic capabilities is increasing rapidly with the advent modern New Generation Sequencing technologies, we do not yet have defined tools in place for manipulating or altering the gut bacterial composition to optimise the benefits imparted by the gut bacteria. Diet and antibiotics can modulate the composition of the gut bacteria to improve health, but this non- targeted approach can be difficult to control. The aim of this project is to develop novel oligonucleotide-based nanoparticulate antibacterial technologies to target specific groups of harmful gut bacteria. This can be used as a focussed treatment to rebalance the microbiota, removing harmful bacteria without compromising the ecology of the gut. We will use in vitro human colon models to test the effectiveness of these nanoparticles in reducing the levels of specific bacteria found to be abundant in microbiotas associated with a diseased state to levels found in healthy people. Advanced molecular profiling, metagenomics and metabolomics will be used to assess the effect of nanoparticle administration on the composition and metabolic function of the gut microbiota.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Diet and Health, Microbiology, Pharmaceuticals
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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