Development of Metaomics-based Innovative Microbiome Indicators of a Healthy Gut Ecosystem and Prediction of Impending Dysbiosis and Disease(s) Upon Exposure to Environmental Pollutant(s): Moving Towa
Abstract
The overall goal of this project to utilize cutting-edge metaomics techniques, such as metagenomics, metaproteomics and metabolomics, to obtain a comprehensive understanding on the structure and functions of bacterial and fungal communities - collectively referred to as the human microbiome, of relevance to warfighter health. We will focus our studies on the gut ecosystem, which has been strongly linked to warfighters health such that dysbiosis caused from environmental stressors can potentially lead to disease(s) and negatively impacting overall health. Moreover, little information exists on warfighter health disparities stemming from inequitable microbial exposure and poorly developed gut microbiota, which is driven by a myriad of factors, to include, nutritious food, clean water and air, and effective medicine- many of which are not readily accessible to people of color. Our overarching hypothesis is that a resilient gut microbiome will have a significantly positive impact on the warfighterÕs health, immunity, cognitive decision-making process, and thus impacting overall success in combat as well as their future wellbeing as veterans. This project, housed in Florida A&M UniversityÕs (FAMU) School of the Environment (SOE), will contribute to our strengths in research activities; note that FAMU is the nationÕs highest-ranked public Historically Black College and University (HBCU), founded in 1887, and is part of the State University System of Florida. Specifically, FAMU faculty participants in consultation with DOD scientists, will advance understanding on integrated issues of microbiomes and their response to stressors, and obtain predictive machine learning-based (ML) models for sustenance of a healthy gut microbiome for warfighter performance. To this end, gut microbiomes will be extracted and/or procured from adult cohorts of African Americans relative to Caucasians to develop sensitive, precise, and innovative bioindicators of a healthy gut ecosystem. Using lab-based and in-silico gut simulation techniques, we will then follow structural and functional changes in the bioindicator microbiotas by exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs)- a typical environmental toxicant that deployed warfighters are exposed to, mainly from burn pit fumes and other anthropogenic sources. We will apply deep machine learning (ML) algorithms to evaluate how microbial dysbiosis correlates to host health biomarkers, such as cytokines and chemokines, and predict impending disease(s) for early intervention/mitigation to sustain warfighters health, mission readiness and combat. This can likely be achieved by fortifying diet with next-generation personalized microbiome therapeutics/probiotics, that will be potentially identified from this research. To test our central hypothesis, we will perform the following intertwined objectives: 1) Use a multi-pronged strategy to collect and extract fecal microbiome samples; 2) Survey microbiomes from above samples using metaomics such that the ÒcoreÓ microbiome indicators of a healthy and resilient gut are identified between African Americans vs. Caucasian cohorts; 3) Conduct gut simulation studies with PAHs as a representative environmental stressor and predict effects to the microbiome-mediated beneficial functions, and by inference, to warfighter health; 4)) Apply multivariate statistical analysis and deep machine learning (ML) tools on data collected from objectives 1-3, to confirm bioindicators of a resilient gut and predict reversal of documented PAH stress; 5) Train a steady stream of students that remain under-represented in STEM using innovative research so they are competitive for possible careers in the DOD.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 28, 2023
- Source ID
- W911NF2310268
Entities
People
- Ashvini Chauhan
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Florida A&M University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense