To mark World Microbiome Day, the France 2030 Research Program “Food Systems, Microbiomes and Health” (PEPR SAMS) takes a look at the crucial role of microbiome research.
At the heart of the “One Health” approach, microbiome research provides a better understanding of complex health mechanisms, particularly in terms of food-health relationships, but also in the fields of agriculture and the environment. They cover a wide range of fields and bring together researchers from all over the world to:
-
- Develop new approaches to prevent pathologies
- Improve the efficacy of treatments
- Clarify the relationships between physiology (including microbiomes) and dietary behavior
A year ago, the PEPR SAMS launched a call for projects, led by the ANR (National Research Agency), to support the scientific community in its exploration of issues related to the two pillars of the PEPR SAMS: “microbiomes and health” and “food systems,” and the interface between the two.
The projects selected through this call bring together the expertise and skills of researchers, engineers, clinicians, microbiologists, physiologists, chemists, bioinformaticians, agronomists, economists, sociologists, and behaviorists from various institutes and organizations to:
-
- Unpack the mechanisms and molecules involved in the dialogue between microbes and their host, in order to better characterize a healthy microbiome compared to a dysfunctional one, paving the way for the prevention and treatment of dysregulation.
- Characterize the molecular patterns associated with bacteria that cause biological effects on host tissues and organs and its immune system.
- Understand the role and impact of nutrition and food additives on the human microbiome, as well as that of addictions.
- Elucidate the compositions and functions of the small intestine and duodenum microbiome, which are still understudied.
- Understand the relationships between microbiota composition, immune and metabolic variables, and their modulation in different pathological contexts and during aging.
- Document how we react to market offerings and nutritional recommendations, and the consequences of our food preferences on our health.
- Understand the role of traditional foods in local food systems.
These researches should help fill knowledge gaps, propose new solutions for preventing and treating chronic diseases, and help us understand how to organize food systems to facilitate healthy and sustainable choices for consumers.
This year, World Microbiome Day focuses on a key issue: awareness.
This aspect, fundamental to the sustainable advancement of scientific research, is a core priority of PEPR SAMS. We contribute to this effort by sharing news about our research projects and many others through our website and LinkedIn account.
We also organize annual conferences that bring together stakeholders in research on food systems, microbiomes, and health.
Finally, we will soon be organizing summer schools, again with the goal of raising awareness and bringing together stakeholders around microbiome research.