Project

The general aim of the research project is to develop innovative strategies based on probiotics and synbiotics products to prevent non-communicable diseases with an underlying chronic inflammation in the gut and peripheral tissues. The specific aims of the line of investigation are: i) to disclose new potential probiotic strains, different than classical lactic acid bacteria (LAB), that can be individually or collectively administrated to subjects with diet-related disorders or at risk, with a prior demonstration of their effectiveness and safety in vitro and in vivo, in order to ameliorate or prevent these conditions; ii) the application of the most advanced massive genomic analyses to disclose the entire repertoire of genes present in these new probiotic strains to further dissect genetic features of interest from the metabolic point of view that help contributing to reduce disease risk; iii) the genomic survey of traits in microbial strains used as potential probiotics, based on the finding of functional genes and genome-wide expression patterns, in both symbionts and host, which could reveal genetic signatures of co-evolution among bacterial species and host; iv) the study on the modulation for the production of central metabolites by the gut microbiota, and to study the response of the human immune system against other components of the microbiome (pathobionts) or components of the diet either adverse (e.g. saturated fat that triggers metabolic inflammation) or beneficial (fibres).