Plant-Based Alternatives for Microbiome Modulation in a Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Model: Sex-Dependent Impacts of Microbial Metabolites

• Grant number: 25/11374-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: February 01, 2026
• End date: January 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Aparecida Ferraz da Silva Torres
• Grantee: Brendo Araujo Gomes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Saúde Pública (FSP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to investigate the immunomodulatory potential of phenolic compounds derived from six Brazilian plant species on the gut microbiota and colonic inflammation, with a specific focus on ulcerative colitis. The proposal integrates chemical, computational, biological, and statistical approaches to characterize the plant extracts, predict their active metabolites, and evaluate their effects in murine models, with biological sex highlighted as a critical experimental variable. Segmental digestion along the gastrointestinal tract will be mapped through advanced chemical analyses, associated with microbiota profiling and gene expression data. The local and systemic effects of microbial metabolites will be assessed using histological, molecular, and immunological techniques to understand their modulation of intestinal barrier integrity, inflammatory cytokines, and regulatory immune responses. In silico predictions will allow the integration of experimental data into metabolite-receptor interaction networks, followed by functional validation. The proposed international mission will strengthen multi-omics integration and the use of systems biology tools. The project is expected to generate innovative and applicable knowledge to address critical gaps in the fields of functional foods, microbiota science, and immunonutrition, by identifying bioactive microbial-derived metabolites with functional properties, therapeutic potential, and biotechnological value. These findings should contribute to the development of personalized nutritional strategies, innovation in functional food products, and the promotion of a more precise, sustainable, and evidence-based nutritional medicine grounded in natural compounds from Brazilian biodiversity. (AU)