A5071649103- Diet and metabolism studies
- Gut microbiota and health
- Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Barrier Structure and Function Studies
- Metabolism, Diabetes, and Cancer
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
- Estrogen and related hormone effects
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Dietary Effects on Health
- Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- Hormonal Regulation and Hypertension
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
- Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Biochemical effects in animals
- Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Saffron Plant Research Studies
University of East Anglia
2018-2024
Norwich Research Park
2022-2023
University of Liverpool
2018
Michigan State University
2017
RELX Group (Netherlands)
2017
Altered intestinal microbiota composition in later life is associated with inflammaging, declining tissue function, and increased susceptibility to age-associated chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative dementias. Here, we tested the hypothesis that manipulating influences development of major comorbidities aging and, particular, inflammation affecting brain retina.
Communication between the gut microbiota and brain is primarily mediated via soluble microbe-derived metabolites, but details of this pathway remain poorly defined. Methylamines produced by microbial metabolism dietary choline L-carnitine have received attention due to their proposed association with vascular disease, effects upon cerebrovascular circulation hitherto not been studied.
Over recent decades, dietary patterns have changed significantly due to the increasing availability of convenient, ultra-processed refined foods. Refined foods are commonly depleted key bioactive compounds, which been associated with several deleterious health conditions. As gut microbiome can influence brain through a bidirectional communication system known as 'microbiota-gut-brain axis', consumption has potential affect cognitive health. In this study, multi-omics approaches were employed...
Ruminococcus gnavus is a prevalent member of the human gut microbiota, which over-represented in inflammatory bowel disease and neurological disorders. We previously showed that ability R. to forage on mucins strain-dependent associated with sialic acid metabolism. Here, we mice monocolonized ATCC 29149 (Rg-mice) display changes major derivatives their cecum content, blood, brain, accompanied by significant decrease percentage sialylated residues intestinal relative germ-free (GF) mice....
Ageing is highly associated with cognitive decline and modifiable risk factors such as diet are believed to protect against this process. Specific dietary components in particular, (poly)phenol-rich fruits berries have been increasingly recognised for their protection age-related neurodegeneration. However, the impact of cranberries on function neural functioning older adults remains unclear.A 12-week parallel randomised placebo-controlled trial freeze-dried cranberry powder was conducted 60...
The impact of sex and menopausal status in Alzheimer's disease remains understudied despite increasing evidence greater female risk, particularly APOE4 carriers. Utilizing APOE-TR mice maintained on a high-fat diet background we induced ovarian failure through repeated VCD injections, to mimic human menopause. At 12 months age, recognition memory spatial were assessed using object recognition, Y-maze spontaneous alternation, Barnes maze. A VCD*genotype interaction reduced the (P < .05), with...
Sleep disorders may increase neurodegenerative diseases risks and alter gut microbiota composition. Saffron (Crocus sativus) supplementation has been linked to sleep improvements microbiome changes, but its effect on quality through microbiota-brain axis modulation remains unexplored. A randomised, placebo-controlled pilot study of saffron (30mg/day for 4-weeks) was conducted with 52 older adults (55-85 years) experiencing complaints. Subjective objective were measured using validated...
Anthocyanin-rich foods, such as berries, reportedly ameliorate age-related cognitive deficits in both animals and humans. Despite this, investigation into the mechanisms which underpin anthocyanin-mediated learning memory benefits remains relatively limited. The present study investigates effects of anthocyanin intake on a spatial working paradigm, assessed via cross-maze apparatus, relates behavioural test performance to underlying molecular mechanisms. Six-week supplementation with pure...
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) continues to be a major health problem. A ketogenic diet (KD), characterized by very low carbohydrate and high fat composition, has gained attention for its anti-tumor potential. We evaluated the effect mechanisms of feeding strict KD alone or in combination with gemcitabine autochthonous LSL-KrasG12D/+; LSL-Trp53 R172H/+; Pdx1-Cre (KPC) mouse model. For this purpose, both male female pancreatic tumor-bearing KPC mice were allocated control (CD; %kcal:...
The complete molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain to be elucidated. Recently, microRNA-455-3p has been identified as a circulating biomarker early AD, with increased expression in post-mortem brain tissue AD patients. MicroRNA-455-3p also directly targets and down-regulates APP, overexpression miR-455-3p suppressing its toxic effects. Here, we show that decreases age brains wild-type mice. We generated miR-455 null mouse utilising CRISPR-Cas9...
Treatment of anxiety and depression predominantly centres around pharmacological interventions, which have faced criticism for their associated side effects, lack efficacy low tolerability. Saffron, is reportedly well tolerated in humans, has been recognised its antidepressant anti-anxiety properties. Indeed, we previously reported upon the saffron extract supplementation healthy adults with subclinical anxiety. However, molecular aetiology remains unclear. In a rodent model low-grade...
The Mediterranean diet (MD) and its bioactive constituents have been advocated for their neuroprotective properties along with capacity to affect gut microbiota speciation metabolism. Mediated through the brain axis, this modulation of may partly contribute MD. To explore potential interaction, we evaluated a novel blend (Neurosyn240) resembling in rodent model chronic low-grade inflammation. Behavioral tests cognition, proteomic analysis, 16S rRNA sequencing, 1H NMR metabolomic analyses...
The antiepileptic drug ethosuximide has recently been shown to be neuroprotective in various Caenorhabditis elegans and rodent neurodegeneration models. It is therefore a promising repurposing candidate for the treatment of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. However, high concentrations are required its protective effects animal models, which may impact on translational potential impede identification molecular mechanism action. Therefore, we set out develop more potent lead compounds...
Refined foods are commonly depleted in certain bioactive components that abundant ‘natural’ (plant) foods. Identification and addition of these ‘missing’ bioactives the diet is, therefore, necessary to counteract deleterious impact convenience food. In this study, multiomics approaches were employed assess popular supplementary soluble dietary fibers inulin psyllium, both isolation combination with a refined animal feed. A 16S rRNA sequencing 1H NMR metabolomic investigation revealed that,...
Alterations in intestinal mucin glycosylation have been associated with increased permeability and sensitivity to inflammation infection. Here, we used mice lacking core 3-derived O-glycans (C3GnT-/-) investigate the effect of impaired gut-brain axis. C3GnT-/- showed altered microbial metabolites caecum brain function such as dimethylglycine N-acetyl-L-tyrosine profiles compared C3GnT+/+ littermates. In brain, polysialylated-neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM)-positive granule cells an...
The dynamic protective capacity of (poly)phenols, attributed to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has been consistently reported. Due alter gut microbiome composition, further actions (poly)phenols may be exerted through the modulation microbiota-gut-brain axis. However, underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here, we investigated effect a (poly)phenol-rich grape blueberry extract (Memophenol™), on axis in model chronic low-grade inflammation (0.5 mg/kg/wk...
Female APOE4 carriers have a greater predisposition to developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared their male counterparts, which may partly be attributed menopause. We previously reported that combination of menopause and led an exacerbation cognitive neurological deficits, were associated with reduced brain DHA DHA:AA ratio. Here, we explored whether DHA-enriched fish oil (FO) supplementation mitigated the detrimental impact these risk factors. Whilst improved recognition memory (NOR) in...
The apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype is predictive of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). brain highly enriched with the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n3-PUFA), docosahexaenoic (DHA). DHA’s metabolism defective in APOE4 carriers. Flavanol intake can play a role modulating DHA levels. However, impact flavanol co-supplementation fish oil on uptake, status and partitioning, according to APOE currently unknown. Here, using humanised APOE3 targeted replacement transgenic mouse model, interactive...