# Changes in Oral and Gut Microbiota and Incidence and Severity of Patient-Reported Symptoms in Pre- and Post-Kidney Transplant Patients

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO · 2020 · $161,927

## Abstract

Abstract
This novel prospective cohort study will explore the relationship between kidney transplantation (antibiotics,
antivirals, and immunosuppressants), changes in the composition and functional gene content of the
microbiome, and the incidence and severity of patient reported symptoms before and after patients receive a
kidney transplant from a live donor. We have selected living donor recipients to reduce the chance of missing
samples, as these are scheduled surgeries. Thirty-nine subjects will provide stool and sputum samples for shot
gun metagenomic sequencing of the microbiome before transplant, during the first week after transplant prior
to discharge, and at 3 months after the transplant. Demographic (age, gender, race/ethnicity, income,
education) and disease specific data (HT/WT/BMI, creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, basic
metabolic panel, complete blood count), and medication adherence data (electronic medication adherence
monitoring and tacrolimus trough levels) will be collected. Potential confounding variables will include: historical
use of antibiotics, concomitant medications, mode of delivery (vaginal vs. caesarian birth), and nutritional
status (Diet History Questionnaire III). Incidence and severity of symptoms of fatigue, sleep dysfunction, and
anxiety/depression–like symptoms will be measured using the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement
Systems (PROMIS) 57 v2.1. Health related quality of life will be assessed using the Kidney Disease Quality of
Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF v1.3). This research will support the mission of the National Institute of Nursing
Research (NINR) to promote and improve the health and quality of life of individuals, families, and
communities. The proposed study will contribute to the NINR mission by: 1) Exploring the mechanisms
underlying incidence and severity of symptoms after kidney transplantation with the goal of developing
personalized treatments, including pre-probiotics supplementation, lifestyle modification, and dietary
interventions that address these mechanisms through symptom science research; 2) Helping individuals with
chronic kidney disease/kidney transplant recipients better understand and manage these conditions by
engaging individuals as active participants in managing their own health through awareness of modifiable
factors that alter the microbiome; and 3) Promoting the development of innovative, multidisciplinary, nurse-led
teams to advance research on microbiome and health after kidney transplantation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10024086
- **Project number:** 5K23NR018482-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Mark Lockwood
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $161,927
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-25 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10024086

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10024086, Changes in Oral and Gut Microbiota and Incidence and Severity of Patient-Reported Symptoms in Pre- and Post-Kidney Transplant Patients (5K23NR018482-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10024086. Licensed CC0.

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