Evaluation of the immunomodulatory potential of the Akkermansia muciniphila probiotic as preventive/therapeutic strategy in T1D

• Grant number: 20/05514-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2020
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Daniela Carlos Sartori
• Grantee: Vanessa Fernandes Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/14815-0 - Evaluation of the intestinal microbioma profile and of the therapeutic potential of intervention strategies in the immunopathogeny of type 1 and 2 Diabetes, AP.JP2

Abstract

Probiotics are defined as living microorganisms that have several beneficial effects in the intestine, but also systemic through the release of soluble factors or secretion of metabolites such as Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFA), which play proliferative, immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory properties. Our group noted that the pretreatment with broad spectrum antibiotics caused resistance to T1D due to the decline of pathobiont bacteria and an increase in A. muciniphila in feces, indicating that the prevalence of this bacterium in the intestine induced a protective effect against the development of experimental T1D. Therefore, we believe that oral administration of this intestinal probiotic bacterium will promote local immunoregulatory mechanisms (intestine), as well as induce a regional protolerogenic response mediated by Treg cells in PLNs and pancreatic islets, thus providing protection against T1D. (AU)