Funding outcome

The three first years of life is characterized by a stage of development and growth, in which the maturation and stabilization of the intestine take place. During this time, external factors like diet and antibiotics can induce changes in the intestinal microbiota and consequently alter their capacity to obtain energy from food and protect the host from pathogens invasion. Changes in microbiota caused by antibiotics exposure during early life have been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, today's main public health problem that affects children and adults. The type and doses of antibiotics administrated during infancy can have different effects in intestinal microbiota porpulation and function, however, is not clear how intestine microbiota modulates metabolic responses. Also, is not elucidated the mechanism by which intestinal microbiota alteration has negative effect in the function and maturation of different organs implicated in hormones secretion like the pancreas . This organ is highly related with the regulation of multple metabolic functions like regulating blood tryglicerides and glucose concentration through the secretion of insulin. Alterations in insulin secretion and levels are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, which are risk factors to develop cardiovascular complications. In our lab group we want to understand the effect of antibiotic exposure in the development and function of the pancreas. Also, we want to identify the intestinal microbiota population that is highly affected by antibiotics treatment in early life, and its impact on the regulation of metabolism. Also, we want to recognize critical points in which changes in intestinal microbiota are reversible or permanent in order to propose therapeutic alternatives and prevent the development of abnormal metabolism in adulthood. The outcomes of the project will help to propose therapeutic treatments that can be administrated at the same time with antibiotics administration in order to decrease intestinal microbiota alteration and promote a healthy state that can be established in adulthood.