AngioPhenol

 

Targeting angiogenesis is a promising strategy against chronic diseases such as cancer or atherosclerosis. In this regard, (poly)phenols have emerged as an interesting option regarding angiogenesis modulation thanks, in part, to the lack of side-effects associated with their consumption. After decades of intense research, the evidence supporting the role of the microbial metabolites as the active principle of dietary (poly)phenols remains elusive. An attractive theory invokes gut microbiota as a key variable in the “complex” equation “(poly)phenols/health”. The (poly)phenols/gut microbiota interaction perspective offers a novel paradigm for understanding how, through the consumption of PPs-rich foodstuff, processes such as angiogenesis could be modulated. This idea is addressed through different objectives:

- Identification of the angiogenesis-related receptors targeted by the microbial polyphenols

- Study of the role of the gut microbiota as mediator of the effects of the consumption of (poly)phenols-rich foodstuffs on angiogenesis in vivo

- Study of the direct effect of the microbial metabolites

- Investigation of the “prebiotic-like effect” of dietary (poly)phenols/microbial metabolites consumption on microbiota ecology

- In vitro study of the molecular mechanisms modulated by microbial-derived metabolites involved in the vascular endothelial function

AngioPhenol will be carried out via innovative research at one of the epicenters of (poly)phenols research (CEBAS-CSIC). This will allow a more differentiated characterization of the biological role of the gut microbiota as mediator of the biological activity of PPs and their microbial metabolites as well as the identification of the actual active principal ultimately responsible for the health effects after PPs consumption.

Project Coordinator

 

• 📧 jgbastida@cebas.csic.es
• 📞 +34 968-396200 (ext. 6249)
• 🏢 Campus Universitario de Espinardo,
  
  Espinardo, Murcia, E-30100 (Spain)
• Giménez-Bastida, Ph.D - CV

Scientific career                                                                        

During my Ph.D. period, I acquired multidisciplinary knowledge and experience in metabolic and molecular biology studies on cell and animal models of inflammation, resulting in 8 publications in high-impact factor journals, 4 posters and 1 oral presentation (international conferences). As a result, I received the cum laude distinction, the Extraordinary Doctorate Award and one Outstanding poster award in the 5th International Conference in Polyphenols and Health (Sitges, Spain). 

The EU-funded Refresh project allowed me to work at the Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research (Olsztyn, Poland), where I studied the anti-inflammatory effects of buckwheat. I also mentored one pre-doctoral student and designed and managed my own experiments, publishing 2 papers as corresponding author, indicating ability to work without close supervision and independent thinking. I also attended the 252ND American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition (Philadelphia, EEUU) as invited speaker. 

In 2014, I took a step in a new direction and joined Dr Schneider´s lab at Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN, USA). Based on the objectives of the project I worked on, I produced quantitative data regarding the biochemical/chemical synthesis of eicosanoids and the study of their biological activity from a pharmacological approach. I also grew into many fruitful collaborations with many of the world leaders of eicosanoid research (Drs. John Oates, Stokes Peebles, and Ambra Pozzi). Thanks to the hard worked performed, I was awarded with one of the prestigious Postdoctoral Grants of the American Heart Association. This grant resulted in 7 publications in high-impact factor journals and numerous oral/poster presentations in international conferences, where I received 2 Travel and 1 Outstanding Poster awards. Besides, I also supervised 2 rotation students, established permanent international collaborations and acquired a background in nutrition and food science as well as in (clinical) pharmacology. 

This multidisciplinary knowledge led me to be awarded with a Juan de la Cierva Fellowship to work at CEBAS-CSIC. The results obtained described novel roles of urolithins as pro-senescence molecules against cancer cells and new anti-inflammatory effects (targeting 5-LOX pathway) in leukocytes. The excellent results at the completion of this fellowship are reflected by 7 publications in high-impact factor journals and the obtained funding within the European Marie Curie program. 

The EU-funded PolyBiota project (Grant Agreement ID: 838991) was a before and an after in my research career. It was an excellent bridge to continure the research line I started at CEBAS-CSIC, thus allowing me to branch out my research and knowledge base to the field of microbiology. The underlying thesis of PolyBiota was to consider the gut microbiota as mediator of the biological activity of (poly)phenols and their microbial metabolites. Hitherto, the project has provided interesting outcomes (i.e., celular and molecular mechanisms) about the essential role of the interaction between the gut microbiota and the dietary (poly)phenols to understand the beneficial effects related to their consumption. These results laid the foundation of different projects including (i) the CSIC-funded PolyBiota extension (18 months; 104,000€), (ii) the MCIU-funded Oxdyssey (36 months, 100,000€) and (iii) AngioPhenol (24 months; 146,000€) projects.

The AngioPhenol project puts angiogenesis in the spotlight of the tandem gut microbiota/(poly)phenols interaction to determine how their interaction targets this intrincate process related to the formation of new blood vessels from preexinting ones.

2024 - International Conference in Polyphenols Applications (Milan, Italy)

The Polyphenols Applications conference has become one of the most important events related to knowledge exchange in the study of (poly)phenols from multiple approaches, including health effects, metabolism, interaction with the gut microbiota and(or) new metabolites among others. Every year, some of the world leaders in the field attend this conference to share the lastest advances, new perspectives and discuss about future trends.

In 2024, the conference will be held on September 19-20 at Universitá degli Studi di Milano Statale. This year, Dr. Giménez-Bastida has been invited to participate as a major speaker. His presentation entitled "Angiogenesis as a target of dietary (poly)phenols and derived metabolites" will describe the results produced within the AngioPhenol project.

Diego José López Cánovas

 

My name is Diego and I am from Totana (Murcia, Spain). Ever since I was a little child, I have enjoyed doing experiments anywhere. What started as a hobby has taken me to finish my studies and get my degrees in Pathological Anatomy and Cytopathology (IES Ramón y Cajal) and Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory (CIFP Politécnico de Murcia). At this point, I decided to give a step forward and gain experience in cellular and molecular biology techniques. The Culture Cell training course (600 h) and short stays at IMIDA-ITUM (2 months) and Reina Sofia hospital in Murcia (4 months) allowed me to learn a wide range of in vitro techniques as well as how to manage biological samples (e.g., urine, blood, etc). The Spanish Ministry-funded AngioPhenol project is the cherry on top of my career (at least so far). I will enlarge my knowledge to the field of food science and contribute to understanding how natural compounds modulate endogenous processes focusing on angiogenesis and related receptors. Furthermore, my contribution to the preparation of the manuscripts, participation in outreach activites and collaboration in other ongoing projects carried out in the laboratory will boost my CV, thus opening up new opportunities in my career.

 

Dr. Diana García Moreno

I completed my Bachelor's degree in Biology at the University of Murcia in 2003. Subsequently, I pursued my doctoral studies in the Molecular Biology and Biotechnology program in 2006, achieving distinction. Three years later, under the guidance of Prof. Murillo and Prof. Elías, I successfully earned the title of Doctor at the University of Murcia with the 'CUM LAUDE distinction'. I then started a postdoctoral period working on different Departments, including the Dep. Celular Biology and Histology (University of Murcia) and HUVA-IMIB under the supervision of Prof. Mulero and Prof. Cayuela, respectively. During this period, my investigation focused on the use of zebra fish as an innovative model to study mechanisms via 'editing' or 'correction' of the genome and(or) generation of new transgenic fish. My expertise contributed to reach a significant excellence level to the groups I worked with. This is reflected on the studies published on some of the reference journals in biomedicine field, including Cell (Impact Factor -IF-: 32.2), Immunity (19.734), Nature Communinations (IF 11.3), PNAS (IF 9.4), PLoS Biology (IF 8.7) y PLoS Pathog (IF 7.0). Furthermore, my experience in celular and molecular biology has brought me to collaborate in the AngioPhenol project studying how natural products such as isoflavones are able to modulate the response of human endothelial cells to pro-angiogenic agents.

JAEintro students

 

My name is Beatriz Garay Mayol, and I am from Murcia (Spain). In 2023, I completed a BSc in Biochemistry at the University of Murcia. I gained my first research experience during my Bachelor's Thesis and internship at the Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB), where I learned cellular and molecular biology techniques and deepened my interest in research.

The CSIC-funded JAE Intro fellowship is giving me the opportunity to work for seven months in the Food and Health lab (@Food_Health_LAB) at CEBAS-CSIC, under the supervision of Dr. Giménez Bastida. There, I will be able to continue developing my laboratory skills across a wide range of techniques within the AngioPhenol project.

Additionally, I am pursuing an MSc in Bioinformatics at the University of Murcia. In line with the objectives of the AngioPhenol project, my Master's Thesis will involve bioinformatical analysis of gut microbiota and will be co-supervised by Dr. Giménez Bastida.