Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Asthma is the most common childhood disease within developed countries. Asthma occurs when the immune system mistakenly targets lung tissue with an inflammatory response. Typically, asthma symptoms do not arise until 3-5 years of age, however, growing evidence suggests that events that happen much earlier in life play a pivotal role. Immediately after birth, infants are colonized by a diverse set of microbes that collectively make up the microbiota, and early colonizers have a profound effect on the developing immune system. Four members of the microbiota, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Veillonella, and Rothia (FLVR), are present within the first 100 days in infants who are protected from asthma. These microbes can also provide similar protection in mouse models of asthma. Introducing FLVR to children at risk of developing asthma has the potential to be an effective preventative treatment, however it is important to first understand how these microbes are influencing the developing immune system. Microbes interact with the immune system by producing proteins and metabolites that act as messages. I aim to determine which messages FLVR are sending to immune cells to prevent harmful targeting of lung tissue. Additionally, children with asthma often develop allergies as well. I aim to determine whether FLVR therapies can be expanded to protect against two common food allergies, egg and peanut. By understanding how FLVR is able to confer lifelong protection against asthma and allergies, we can begin to realize FLVR's potential as a preventative therapy.