Animal model to investigate postprandial metabolism

• Grant number: 23/11351-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nutrition - Nutrition Biochemistry
• Principal Investigator: Jarlei Fiamoncini
• Grantee: Gustavo Miguel Carneiro de Lima
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/02941-6 - Bile acids as determinants of postprandial metabolism and intestinal microbial colonization in newborns, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

This project seeks to characterize an animal model to study postprandial metabolic changes and investigate possible associations between the increase in plasmatic concentration of bile acids after ingestion of a meal with the other metabolic and inflammatory changes observed in this period.The main functions of the undergraduate student will be:a) Assist in the maintenance of animals in the animal facility: perform daily activities such as weighing the animals, training the animals to eat test meals, etc.b) Preparation of the test meals: the test meals used for the dietary challenges have a defined chemical composition and are specific for each experiment.c) Execution of the dietary challenges and sample collection: the intern will participate in the dietary challenges and will assist the other researchers responsible for conducting this study in the euthanasia of the animals, when many tissues and biofluids must be collected and stored .d) Preparation of samples: the intern will participate in the preparation of samples for different analyses. Procedures include tissue grinding, lyophilization of samples, weighing of samples, extraction of metabolites of interest for metabolomic analysis and other dosages.e) Execution of different protocols: after due training, the student is expected to be able to carry out experiments such as gene expression analysis, colorimetric dosages, western blotting, etc.