I-Corps: Soil-derived mycobacteria for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders

这个I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发用于治疗精神健康障碍的新疗法，特别是创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）。虽然PTSD最常见于军人，但据估计，约有7-8%的美国人在生活中的某个时候会因日常创伤（如车祸和性创伤）而患上PTSD。此外，由于COVID-19大流行，预期PTSD的发病率将大幅增加。所提出的治疗方法作为治疗PTSD的综合方法的一部分将是最有效的。拟议的创新也适合新兴的补充和替代医学行业。该行业补充了大约36%的美国人的健康需求，预计到2027年全球收入将达到2960亿美元。分枝杆菌已被证明可以减少炎症和修改大脑的免疫系统。分枝杆菌的这些特征对心理健康具有重要意义。具体而言，已经表明在应激之前施用热灭活的分枝杆菌增强应激恢复力并防止动物模型中应激诱导的炎症、自发性结肠炎和焦虑的加重。这些效应特别针对PTSD的两个主要症状：回避和兴奋或反应性的改变。这些症状与PTSD患者的常见行为有关，如易怒、睡眠问题、难以集中注意力和避免与创伤有关的经历。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of mental health disorders, specifically, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While PTSD is most commonly associated with military personnel, it is estimated that roughly 7-8% of Americans will suffer from PTSD at some point in their lives resulting from everyday trauma, such as car accidents and sexual trauma. Further, it is anticipated there will be dramatic increases in the incidence of PTSD as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed therapeutics would be most effective as part of an integrative approach to treating PTSD. The proposed innovation is also a fit for the burgeoning complementary and alternative medicine industry. This industry supplements the health needs of roughly 36% of Americans and is estimated to reach $296 billion in global revenues by 2027.This I-Corps project is based on the development and testing of novel strains of mycobacteria that may be incorporated into nutraceuticals for public consumption. Mycobacteria have been shown to reduce inflammation and modify the immune system of the brain. These characteristics of mycobacteria have important implications for mental health. Specifically, it has been shown that administration of heat-killed mycobacteria prior to stress enhances stress resilience and prevents stress-induced exaggeration of inflammation, spontaneous colitis, and anxiety in animal models. These effects specifically address two of the main symptoms of PTSD: avoidance and alterations in excitation or reactivity. These symptoms are associated with well-known behaviors in individuals with PTSD, such as irritability, sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and avoiding experiences associated with trauma.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.