Award details

To quantify the effect of broccoli consumption on the diversity and metabolism of the gut microbiota, with focus on sulphate reducing bacteria

Reference	BBS/E/F/00044437
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Arjan Narbad
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Quadram Institute Bioscience
Department	Quadram Institute Bioscience Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	213,613
Status	Current
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2012
End date	31/03/2018
Duration	71 months

Abstract

The human gut microbiota is extremely complex with more than 1000 different bacterial species composition and metabolic activity of which has significant impact on the host health. Consumption of cruciferous vegetables has been correlated with numerous health benefits. The bioavailability of the chemicals present in such foods and the nature of the impact on the host is dependent on their absorption but also their biotransformation by gut microbiota to products which may be more bioactive. In addition, the metabolism of many of the dietary components that reach the colon will impact on the composition and activities of the gut microbiota. In this project we aim to focus on consumption of broccoli that is rich in sulphates and sulphur containing bioactives particularly the glucosinolates. The key questions we will address are (a) What is the impact of broccoli consumption on the composition and metabolic activity of gut microbiota? The faecal samples collected during human intervention studies will be assessed using culture independent microbial profiling methods (FISH, QPCR, pyrosequencing) and metabolomics using proton NMR to obtain a comprehensive information on modulation and metabolic activity of total gut bacteria and (b) What is the response of gut microbiota to sulphates and defined sulphur containing dietary components? In vitro colon model systems that replicate the microbial and physiological condition of the large intestine will be utilised to assess the biotransformation of sulphur compounds. We will measure the effect of such chemicals on the diversity and metabolic activity of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) which are an important component of the gut microbiota associated with production of toxigenic hydrogen sulphides that adversely affect the gut health.

Summary

unavailable

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