R01AI164712

Targeting the Intestinal Mucosa and Microbiome to Prevent Neonatal Late-Onset Sepsis - Project Summary

Targeting the Intestinal Mucosa and Microbiome to Prevent Neonatal Late-Onset Sepsis. Late-onset sepsis (LOS) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants and is thought to be caused by the systemic spread of commensal microbes. Perturbation in the developing intestinal microbiome (dysbiosis) is far more common in premature infants than in full-term infants and is thought to underlie their heightened susceptibility to LOS, although the mechanisms that predispose to this are not well understood.

We recently developed a new murine model of neonatal LOS, which has confirmed the long-held clinical suspicion of a direct link between dysbiosis and LOS. We discovered that, by altering the developing microbiome to prevent dysbiosis, we were able to prevent LOS. This protection correlated with the abundance of endogenous Ligilactobacillus (formerly Lactobacillus) murinus, some isolates of which proved to be effective in preventing LOS when administered as probiotics.

Remarkably, however, even closely-related L. murinus isolates differed considerably in their probiotic efficacy, as did other strains of Lactobacilli—including a number of strains that are components of commercial probiotics. Moreover, we have found that probiotic strains of L. murinus that prevented dysbiosis and LOS altered the oxygen status of the intestinal epithelium, suggesting that these strains may modulate intestinal redox status to prevent the outgrowth of facultative anaerobes that can respire oxygen or other respiratory terminal electron acceptors.

Although a major mechanism driving dysbiosis in adults is increased availability of substrates of bacterial respiration that allows facultative anaerobes to outcompete the obligate anaerobes that predominate in a healthy microbiome, our preliminary studies indicate that mechanisms that predispose the adult intestine to dysbiosis under conditions of inflammation or infection are at least partially disparate with those in the immature neonatal intestine. We therefore posit that the neonatal intestine is susceptible to dysbiosis via mechanisms distinct from those previously characterized in adults, reflecting developmental immaturity of the intestines and early instability of the developing intestinal microbiome.

Here, we will take a team science approach to elucidate both host and microbial determinants of neonatal dysbiosis that predispose to LOS, marrying the efforts of two labs with complementary expertise in intestinal biology and immunity (Weaver), and microbial genetics and bacterial respiration (Gray) with collaborators who are leaders in microbial genomics (Julie Segre), inflammation-associated gut dysbiosis (Sebastian Winter), and neonatology (Namasivayan Ambalavan).

Through the identification of mechanisms of dysbiosis unique to the developing intestines and microbiome, we will provide a foundation for more rational design of probiotics and prebiotics for therapeutic interventions that prevent LOS in premature infants.

University Of Alabama At Birmingham

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

Birmingham, Alabama 352053701 United States

Single Zip Code

NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-20-185)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 400% from $705,223 to $3,526,115.