Gut microbiota of individuals with diverse dietary patterns and metabolic profile: combining the Brazilian and American research experiences

• Grant number: 14/27221-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: March 31, 2015
• End date: June 29, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Sandra Roberta Gouvea Ferreira Vivolo
• Grantee: Ana Carolina Franco de Moraes
• Supervisor: Volker Mai
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Florida, Gainesville (UF), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 12/12004-8 - Analysis of intestinal microbiota in adults with different dietary patterns and possible associations with the inflammatory status, insulin sensitivity and body adiposity, BP.DR

Abstract

Human gut microbiota is mainly composed by phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Its composition affects the physiologic metabolism and may influence inflammation and the pathogenesis of obesity and comorbidities. Several studies but not all found increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, as well as elevated Actinobacteria proportion in obese individuals. This phenotype is influenced by diet, which could also alter the gut microbiota and induce endotoxemia. This cross-sectional study compares gut microbiota composition among strict vegetarian, lacto-ovo vegetarian and omnivorous Adventists and associations with inflammatory and metabolic parameters. In particular, this sandwich training aims to: 1) detect similarities and contrasts between bioinformatics analysis performed in U.S. and in Brazil; 2) improve our analyses on the impact of diet in terms of diversity and quantity of bacteria in the gut and consequences to inflammatory and metabolic responses; 3) discuss their approach for metagenomic data analysis and to purpose novel strategies for the analyses of the association of microbiota composition with our circulating biomarkers of inflammation; 4) improve the understanding on pathophysiological pathways linking diet to NCCDs mediated by the microbiota; 5) identify possible differences in microbiota attributed to genetic and environmental factors between the populations. (AU)