Emiliano Salvucci

Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba (ICYTAC-CONICET-UNC)

The study of human microbiome has drawn the attention of many scientists worldwide, who have understood that this complex group of microorganisms play essential functions, such as preserving gut integrity, appropriate working of the immune system, vitamin production, etc. Additionally, the study of microbiome takes on dramatic importance when analysed from an evolutionary point of view. Humans are the result of integrating into their genome and their living together with millions of micro and macro-organisms (bacteria, fungus, helminths, virus) throughout their evolution, and have formed a superorganism with 2.1 microbial cells per each human cell. Social, technological and food consumption changes have caused a partial loss of the microbiome (epidemiological transitions), resulting in the occurrence of a number of allergic, inflammatory and neurodevelopmental diseases. By understanding the relationship between these diseases and the microbiome structure, an opportunity arises for intervention in the modulation of the microbial ecosystem and for compensating for the loss of microbiome, in order to change the course of the disease.
Our research group has made progress in the study of prebiotics (food components such as arabinoxylans and fructooligosaccharides) capable of promoting the growth of groups of beneficial bacteria that are part of the gut microbiome. We have also evaluated the relationship between the gut microbiome and the Rett syndrome in murine models. The researchers involved in these projects are Gabriela Perez, Candela Paesani, Malena Moiraghi, Lorena Sciarini and Romina Lancetti, from ICYTAC, with the collaboration of Dr Alicia Degano (CIQUIBIC).
Personal web page: esalvucci.wordpress.com