Use of fecal microRNAs as biomarkers for probiotic administration

益生菌是在食物或补充剂中提供的有益微生物。尽管在理解益生菌特性的分子机制方面取得了重大进展，但缺乏可测量的益生菌摄入生物标志物阻碍了它们的充分利用。该项目的目的是确定粪便中的microRNA，这些microRNA在益生菌摄入后发生变化，因此可以用作生物标志物。粪便microRNA是调节基因表达的小分子，来源于肠上皮，并受到细菌暴露的影响。在这项研究中，我们将评估粪便miRNA在使用抗生素或不使用益生菌治疗的个体中的反应。选择的miRNA将是益生菌摄入的候选生物标志物。这将有助于行业合作伙伴筛选和评估自己的益生菌。所产生的知识也将有利于加拿大通过支持新的饮食指南，除了在益生菌研究的前沿。

Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms delivered in foods or supplements. Despite significant progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying probiotics properties, the lack of measurable biomarkers of probiotic intake hampers their full exploitation. The aim of this project is to identify fecal microRNA that change upon probiotic intake and could thus be used as biomarkers. Fecal microRNA are small molecules regulating gene expression that originate from the intestinal epithelium and are affected by bacterial exposure. In this study we will evaluate the response of fecal miRNA in individuals treated with antibiotics with or without probiotics. Selected miRNAs will be candidate biomarkers of probiotic intake. This will help the industry partner to screen and evaluate their own probiotics. The knowledge generated will also benefit Canada through supporting new dietary guidelines besides being at the forefront of probiotic research.