ABOUT THE PROJECT
Development
of
nutritional
vesicles
for
precision
diagnostics
and
therapeutics
for
metabolic
diseases.
Motivation
Global obesity rates have nearly tripled since 1975, resulting in increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and elevated cancer mortality risks. Obesity can reduce life expectancy by 5 to 20 years and imposes significant economic burdens due to healthcare costs and lost productivity from work absenteeism.
The NutriEV project aims to investigate the role of nutritional extracellular vesicles (nutriEVs) in gut health and the microbiome, presenting nutriEV-based solutions for obesity and metabolic disorders. By leveraging nutriEV molecular data, the project intends to create algorithms that enhance dietary guidelines and test a novel hypothesis regarding the impact of diet on health, particularly through plant-derived EVs.
Challenges
Despite advances in knowledge regarding the digestive system, there remains a challenge in fully understanding how gut microbiome interactions and nutriEVs contribute to metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes.
Characterizing the glycan profiles of nutriEVs is essential, yet complex, as their modifications significantly influence interactions and functionality.
Current food processing techniques may impact the presentation and function of nutriEVs, complicating the analysis of their effect on health.
Developing methods to accurately quantify nutriEVs and their derived components throughout the body presents technical challenges.
Objectives
#01
Biomolecular Composition
Investigate the biomolecular composition of nutritional derived extracellular vesicles (nutriEVs) in raw and fermented food.
#02
Glycosylation
Effects
Explore the glycosylation of nutriEVs and its impact on the gut microbiome, assessing potential influences on metabolic control in obesity.
#03
Non-invasive Diagnostics
Develop novel non-invasive precision technology diagnostics based on nutriEVs.