Bridging Clinical and Basic Research in Schistosomiasis-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Circulating Microbial Metabolites

• Grant number: 25/02289-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Rudolf Krawczenko Feitoza de Oliveira
• Grantee: Rudolf Krawczenko Feitoza de Oliveira
• Principal researcher abroad: Suellen Darc dos Santos Oliveira
• Institution abroad: University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), United States
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Brian B Graham ; Cláudia Lúcia Martins da Silva

Abstract

Schistosomiasis-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (Sch-PAH) is the leading cause of PAH worldwide, yet it remains a neglected disease with no targeted therapies or specific early biomarkers. Emerging evidence suggests that gut-lung microbiome dysbiosis plays a critical role in Sch-PAH pathogenesis, contributing to endothelial dysfunction and pulmonary vascular remodeling. This proposal aims to establish a bilateral collaboration between the University of Illinois System (UI) and the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) to enhance capacity building in infectious translational research through knowledge exchange, structured training programs, research mobility, and joint symposiums. By integrating clinical and basic science perspectives, we will investigate the role of microbial metabolites and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in disease progression to identify potential microbial/antigenic-associated biomarkers of inflammatory pulmonary vascular dysfunction. The initiative will foster early-career researcher training in state-of-the-art cardiopulmonary-related techniques, initiate pilot studies comparing microbiome signatures in Sch-PAH patients and preclinical models and lay the foundation for long-term collaborative research. Ultimately, this effort will strengthen institutional commitment, promote sustainable academic exchange, and support future large-scale grant applications aimed at developing microbiome-targeted interventions for Sch-PAH. (AU)