Award
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 5R01NS128421-05
Dissecting the role of gut microbial-derived metabolites on epilepsy
Recipient
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Award Amount
$352,978.00
Ceiling
$352,978.00
Awarded
July 24, 2026
Identifier
5R01NS128421-05
NIH funded research project investigating the role of gut microbial metabolites, specifically S-equol, in epilepsy using mouse models to identify potential neuroprotective mechanisms and therapeutic targets.
Description
This project explores the gut-brain axis, focusing on how gut microbiota and their metabolites influence seizure activity. It uses the Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) model of temporal lobe epilepsy in mice to study the neuroprotective effects of the metabolite S-equol produced by gut bacteria. The research aims to determine if depletion of S-equol increases seizure susceptibility and if microbial species producing S-equol provide neuroprotection. The project employs EEG, electrophysiology, mass spectrometry, and 16S RNA sequencing and examines other epilepsy models to assess broader applicability.