Gut microbiota, inflammation, and adolescent depressive symptoms

项目总结/摘要 这位候选人在儿科护理和公共卫生方面有很强的背景， 青少年健康独立研究员，专注于肠道微生物群（微生物）的影响 在肠道中）对青少年抑郁症状的影响。青少年抑郁症是一个世界性的现象， 3%至5%的青少年被诊断患有抑郁症。青少年抑郁症的患病率 症状甚至更高，估计为7%至28%，因此确定相关的风险因素至关重要。肠道 微生物群可能参与调节青少年抑郁症状的机制。 该建议旨在阐明肠-脑轴的过程，包括 免疫途径K 01指导研究科学家发展奖将提供必要的 支持和培训候选人建立一个研究计划，旨在促进青少年 通过减少青少年抑郁症状的风险因素来改善健康状况。 这项拟议的研究将研究一个研究不足的风险因素，即肠道微生物群的破坏。支持和 通过K 01的培训将有助于实现几个具体目标：目标1 -表征肠道微生物群 目的2 -确定抑郁症状的严重程度是否与青少年的多样性有关， 肠道微生物群组成，目的3 -确定抑郁症状的严重程度是否与较低的 水平的有益细菌和更高水平的致病细菌，以及目标4 -确定是否 炎性细胞因子介导抑郁症状和有益或有害的 致病菌 拟议的指导研究计划包括个人指导，专业培训和课程，以： 1)设计和进行临床研究，旨在检查抑郁症状的生物风险因素，以及 2)学习和应用专门的生物信息学方法来分析和解释肠道微生物群。梁博士 将管理和进行从项目设计到完成的跨学科研究， 加州大学旧金山弗朗西斯科的一群导师。桑德拉韦斯博士，她有广泛的 与研究的经验，重点是青少年健康，生物标志物和抑郁症，将提供 全面指导和指导。Susan Lynch博士将提供微生物群收集和分析方面的指导。 最后，马克·鲁宾斯坦博士将提供额外的培训，在招募，跟踪和维护青少年 参与者拟议的职业发展活动和研究将提供知识、技能和 经验，将最终在梁博士的成功申请R 01奖，独立进行 一项纵向研究，以进一步研究肠道微生物组，即居住在肠道中的微生物的遗传物质。 肠道群落和与青少年抑郁症状相关的免疫途径。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The candidate, who has a strong background in pediatric nursing and public health, seeks to become an independent researcher in adolescent health with a focus on the influences of the gut microbiota (the microbes in the intestine) on adolescent depressive symptoms. Adolescent depression is a worldwide phenomenon, with 3% to 5% of adolescents diagnosed with depression. The prevalence of adolescents with depressive symptoms is even higher, estimated at 7% to 28%, so it is crucial to identify the associated risk factors. The gut microbiota may be involved in mechanisms underlying the modulation of adolescent depressive symptoms. This proposal seeks to elucidate the processes of the gut-brain axis, including the mediating role of the immune pathway. The K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award will provide the necessary support and training to the candidate to establish a program of research that aspires to promote adolescent health by reducing risk factors for adolescent depressive symptoms. The proposed study will examine an understudied risk factor, the disruption of the gut microbiota. Support and training through the K01 will aid in accomplishing several specific aims: Aim 1 - characterize the gut microbiota of adolescents, Aim 2 - determine whether severity of depressive symptoms is associated with the diversity of gut microbiota composition, Aim 3 - determine if severity of depressive symptoms is associated with lower levels of beneficial bacteria and higher levels of pathogenic bacteria, and Aim 4 - determine whether inflammatory cytokines mediate the relationship between depressive symptoms and levels of beneficial or pathogenic bacteria. The proposed mentored research plan includes individual mentorship, specialized training, and coursework to: 1) design and conduct clinical studies aimed at examining biological risk factors of depressive symptoms, and 2) learn and apply specialized bioinformatics methods to analyze and interpret the gut microbiota. Dr. Leung will manage and conduct a cross-sectional study from project design to completion with a multi-disciplinary group of mentors at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Sandra Weiss, who has extensive experience with research studies focusing on adolescent health, biomarkers and depression, will provide overall direction and mentorship. Dr. Susan Lynch will provide mentorship in microbiota collection and analysis. Lastly, Dr. Mark Rubinstein will provide additional training in recruiting, tracking and maintaining adolescent participants. The proposed career development activities and research will provide the knowledge, skills, and experience that will culminate in Dr. Leung’s successful application for a R01 award to independently conduct a longitudinal study to further examine the gut microbiome, the genetic material of the microbes that inhabit the gut community, and immune pathways associated with adolescent depressive symptoms.