dwell on and inside the human body. The tool will allow researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the significant challenges faced by malnourished children, such as the impact on cognitive development and increased susceptibility to infections. This new approach aims to address the issues surrounding childhood undernutrition, which is a major contributing factor to nearly half of all deaths among children under the age of 5. The innovative research model, developed by Carrie A. Cowardin, PhD, and her team at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, offers a more advanced method for examining the effects of undernutrition on the microbiome. This will enable researchers to delve into the complexities of how undernutrition affects the microbes that inhabit the human body and the potential consequences.The microbiome naturally resides in the gut and plays a role in growth and the immune system. Scientists typically study the complex interactions within the microbiome by transferring samples from the human microbiome to lab mice. However, Cowardin and his team discovered that they could enhance the accuracy of this model by introducing the microbes to the mice at a very young age, before they were weaned. This new model, known as “intergenerational colonization,” more accurately replicates the effects of undernutrition during early childhood. The team believes that this new model will aid in the investigation of major changes in the microbiome.”Undernourished children face various challenges, such as increased infection rates and changes in cognitive development,” explained Cowardin, a member of UVA’s Department of Pediatrics. “Our current research is utilizing this model to identify specific microorganisms that affect development, with the aim of using these microorganisms as treatments to support healthy growth.”
Undernutrition and the Microbiome
Through Cowardin’s new model, UVA researchers discovered that unweaned mice that received microbes from children with impaired growth also experienced stunted growth. In addition, the young mice exhibited immune system responses similar to those seen in undernourished children.The findings of the study indicated that the effects of introducing microbial communities to mice early in life were similar to those observed in human children. However, when the microbes were introduced to mice at a later stage, the effects were significantly different from those seen in humans. The researchers believe that Cowardin’s new approach provides a more effective way to investigate childhood undernutrition and is in line with previous studies indicating that infancy plays a crucial role in shaping the long-term health and resilience of the immune system. The researchers suggest that this new model will aid in gaining a better understanding of the biological causes of stunted growth and other negative effects of undernutrition.The research aims to improve the understanding of the role of the microbiome in children’s development. This knowledge will help in developing new methods to prevent negative impacts and improve the overall health and longevity of children in developing countries. The hope is that this work will provide insights into how the microbiome interacts with human cells and contributes to child development. Cowardin, an expert in the field, was brought to UVA to contribute to this important research.The Crobiome Initiative (TUMI) is a collaboration of researchers from different departments at the university who are dedicated to studying the microbiome and its impact on human health. TUMI is the main center for advanced microbiome research at the university, with the goal of increasing our knowledge of the microbiome in order to improve disease prevention and treatment.
Her laboratory is part of the UVA Health Children’s Child Health Research Center, which supports cutting-edge research aimed at enhancing the well-being of children worldwide.
