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A systems biology investigation of the interplay between gut microbes and blood metabolites in the development of malarial anemia

Award Number: K01HL143112
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/20/2018
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2024

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A systems biology investigation of the interplay between gut microbes and blood metabolites in the development of malarial anemia - Project Summary/Abstract Anemia causes significant disease worldwide, and disproportionally affects Africans and African-Americans. Among the top causes of anemia are nutrient deficiency, hemoglobinopathy, and the parasitic disease malaria. Malarial anemia is multi-factorial and is affected by host physiology, including blood metabolite levels and gut microbiota composition. While gut microbes are known to affect hematopoiesis, there is very little data on the role of gut microbes in the development or recovery from different types of anemia, and this is therefore a worthwhile area of investigation. Systems biology offers the opportunity to decipher complex processes and computationally identify biological factors that are associated with the onset or recovery from anemia. The goal of this research is to determine how blood metabolites and gut microbes are linked to the hematological changes that occur during malarial anemia. The central aims of this research project are to 1) identify associations between blood metabolites and gut microbes in the development of malarial anemia and 2) determine the extent to which bacterial translocation and bacteremia are associated with hematological changes in malaria. Both aims will involve the analysis of samples from longitudinal infection studies of nonhuman primates infected with the malaria parasite Plasmodium. High-throughput `omic technologies such as metabolomics and metagenomics, computational approaches such as data integration and network analyses, and detailed immunofluorescence studies on tissue will all be used for the multi-omic profiling of host and commensal microbial factors in the context of malarial anemia. The applicant, Dr. Regina Joice Cordy, is a junior faculty member at Emory University and has a background in parasitology, host-pathogen interactions, and computational biology. She also has experience in managing the logistics of a large transdisciplinary multi- institutional systems biology program. Building upon her current skills, and adding new complementary skills in metagenomics and network analysis, experimental hematology, and immunofluorescence imaging, Dr. Cordy aims to identify specific blood metabolites and/or gut microbes that are associated with the development of, or recovery from malarial anemia, toward the goal of identifying prognostic biomarkers and metabolic or probiotic drug targets. Prof. Mary R. Galinski of Emory University will serve as the Primary Mentor and Dr. Cordy will have access to a state-of-the-art infrastructure based at Emory for performing longitudinal multi-omic systems biology studies in nonhuman primates. Further, Dr. Cordy has assembled a diverse team of mentors, collaborators and career advisors who will provide mentorship and advising for her research and career development objectives. The experience gained through the proposed training and research experience will prepare Dr. Cordy for initiating a long-term research program focused on investigating the systems biology of anemia.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2022	WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY	1834 WAKE FOREST RD	WINSTON SALEM	NC	27109	FORSYTH	USA	Blood Diseases and Resources Research	000	5	12/16/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $153,702 )
2022	2022	WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY	1834 WAKE FOREST RD	WINSTON SALEM	NC	27109	FORSYTH	USA	Blood Diseases and Resources Research	000	5	7/8/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$153,702
														Subtotal = $153,702

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $151,325 )
2021	2021	WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY	1834 WAKE FOREST RD	WINSTON SALEM	NC	27109	FORSYTH	USA	Blood Diseases and Resources Research	000	4	8/14/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$151,325
														Subtotal = $151,325

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $148,992 )
2020	2020	WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY	1834 WAKE FOREST RD	WINSTON SALEM	NC	27109	FORSYTH	USA	Blood Diseases and Resources Research	001	3	7/22/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$148,992
2020	2019	WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY	1834 WAKE FOREST RD	WINSTON SALEM	NC	27109	FORSYTH	USA	Blood Diseases and Resources Research	000	2	11/29/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $148,992

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $146,705 )
2019	2019	WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY	1834 WAKE FOREST RD	WINSTON SALEM	NC	27109	FORSYTH	USA	Blood Diseases and Resources Research	000	2	7/29/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$146,705
														Subtotal = $146,705

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $144,465 )
2018	2018	WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY	1834 WAKE FOREST RD	WINSTON SALEM	NC	27109	FORSYTH	USA	Blood Diseases and Resources Research	001	1	8/23/2018	NEW	$0
2018	2018	WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY	1834 WAKE FOREST RD	WINSTON SALEM	NC	27109	FORSYTH	USA	Blood Diseases and Resources Research	000	1	8/20/2018	NEW	$144,465
														Subtotal = $144,465

Grand Total All Awards = $745,189

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A systems biology investigation of the interplay between gut microbes and blood metabolites in the development of malarial anemia

Award Number: K01HL143112

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/20/2018

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2024

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