The General Objective of the Project SULFOBIOMERISK is to establish models and methodologies for risk evaluation of Sulfonated Food Additives (SFAs) comprising the involved keystone species of the human gut microbiome and the identification of health-related biomarkers to determine mechanisms and causality of SFAs in health risk.
The accomplishment of the general objective requires the multidisciplinary participation of the research and working groups involved in the three Subproyects that, structured under an interactive framework of collaborations, will address the following Specific Objectives:
Identify and characterize keystone species of the human gut microbiome involved in the interaction with SFAs to decipher their functional role in risk assessment of the food additives.
Informing keystone species of the human gut microbiota reactive to the consumption of SFAs.
Isolation and identification of keystone species
Gene mining of functions related to SFAs metabolism.
Establishing in vitro models with intestinal epithelial and immune cells to determine biomarkers for SFAs risk assessment and to unravel the involved gut microorganisms.
Identification of biomarkers of the SFAs-microbiota interaction on epithelial barrier.
Evaluation of cellular internalization and/or paracellular transport of keystone species interacting with SFAs.
Specific in vitro mechanisms of action of hydrolized CGN.
Establish in vivo models to determine immune, oxidative, and behavioural health-related biomarkers for SFAs risk assessment and evaluate long-term effects.
Identification of in vivo mechanisms underlying the effects of κ-carrageenan (CGN).
Evaluation of the effect of acesulfame-K (ACEK) and allura red AC (ARAC) on intestinal microbiome and health.
Develop a mouse model for the transfer of human gut microbiota to determine health-causality in the risk assessment of SFAs.
Young mouse model of human gut microbiota
Microbiota biomarkers for SFAs risk assessment in humans.
Evaluation of the effect of exposure to CGN in children microbiome.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biomarkers in the risk assessment of SFAs
Isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs)
Evaluation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as mediators of health-risk effects of CGN.