Project acronym:   Psycho_Metabo

Project type:   DIASPORA

Grant agreement No.:   HF-306

Project is funded by:   Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia (Belgrade, Serbia)

Instituions where the research is conducted:

  • Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences (Belgrade, Serbia) – Coordination
  • University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry (Belgrade, Serbia) – Beneficiary
  • Institut za molekularnu genetiku i genetsko inženjerstvo (Belgrade, Serbia) – Beneficiary

Project realization is scheduled from December 25, 2024 till June 15, 2026.

Project staff

Short description of the project

Treatment of depression is an uphill battle due to low efficiency and serious side effects of antidepressants (ADs). Continual growth of clinical, social and economic burden of depression, which affects approximately 330 million people in the world, represents a barrier to sustainable development in all regions. Gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis and changes within the microbiota-gut-brain axis are implicated in depression pathophysiology. Psychobiotics, probiotics with beneficial effects on mental health, emerged as promising allies of ADs. So far, their protective effects against depression-like behaviors, as well as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, characteristic for depression, have been documented. However, their effects on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolome have not been addressed even though changes in CSF biomarkers were detected in patients. One of those biomarkers is γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which was found to be decreased in patients CSF. Dysregulated inhibitory GABA-ergic signalization is one of targets of latest efforts to provide novel AD modalities. Our recent study showed that GABA-producing Phocaeicola vulgatus NGB218 prevents depression-like behavior in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model of depression. Psycho_Metabo aims to further test psychobiotic potential of NGB218 by investigating its effect on CSF in depression-like state, using best practice of cutting edge nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics introduced by Project Partner from Diaspora (PPFD) who has strong, internationally recognized, expertise in metabolomics. Hypothesis that NGB218 will protect CSF metabolome from previously described CUMS-induced changes drives this project. However, the main ambition behind Psycho_Metabo is to help deliver an effective and safe add-on therapy for depressive patients. Interdisciplinary Psycho_Metabo team gather motivated researchers with expertise in (1) neurobiology responsible for modeling depression and CSF sampling; (2) molecular microbiology competent to prepare NGB218 psychobiotic; and (3) analytical chemistry, strengthen with know-how transfer from PPFD, who will analyze CSF samples using NMR metabolomics; all committed to a common purpose to improve research capacities in Republic of Serbia, participate in competitive public calls and create new knowledge and technology, and impact not only scientific development, but society and economy as well.