Inflammation is a common feature of many diseases, ranging from malignancies, cardiovascular disorders, infectious diseases, to mood disorders. Intestinal microbiome composition and metabolism affect the general homeostasis, with a strong cause-and-effect relationship between changes in the microbiome and the onset of inflammatory states. Changes in the microbiota favor the gut colonization or infections by multi drug-resistant organisms (MDRO) in humans, pets and livestock. These organisms represent a global threat for the healthcare system, causing serious, difficult to treat infections. Many factors impact on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microbiome, including dietary habits, psychological stress and anxiety, and physical activity.

This pilot project on aims to study different inflammation-related diseases in terms of patients’ gut MDRO colonization, microbiome, metabolites and inflammatory signature. General psychophysical conditions and lifestyle habits of patients will be also monitored to obtain, by means of a well-defined workflow, a detailed picture of all these features to be correlated with each specific pathology. The above approach will be explored starting from patients with heart failure, cancer, and depressive disorders. Next, we will generate and manage a biobank of biological samples from patients suffering from other inflammatory-related diseases and matched controls. Anamnestic, demographic and clinical data, and findings on MDRO colonization will be added in a database linked to the biobank, with the perspective of extending the comprehensive study to all. With a view to pursuing an ever more precise and personalized medicine, this pilot project represents the development of a system useful for the prevention and prognosis of multiple types of inflammatory-related pathologies, and for the prediction of MDRO colonization and infections, based on the characteristics of the microbiome. 

Università degli Studi di Perugia:
Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia - Antonella Mencacci (PI), Erbeto Carluccio, Giovanni Cochetti, Claudio Costantini, Giulia Menculini, Laura Muzi, Emilia Nunzi, Matteo Pirro, Claudia Volpi
Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie - Laura Goracci
Other departiments - Economia, Filosofia, Scienze Sociali, Umane e della Formaione, Giurisprudenza, Ingegneria, Matematica e Informatica, Medicina Veterinaria, Scienze Farmaceutiche

Azienda Ospedaliera di Perugia:
Microbiologia, Scienze Cardio-Toraco-Vascolari, Urologia, Neuroscienze ed Organi Sensoriali, Medicina Interna

Fondo Ricerca di Ateneo 2021