# Prebiotic Regulation of Longevity

> **NIH NIH R01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $331,224

## Abstract

Project Summary
This supplement proposes new studies to advance the goals of the parent R01 grant “Prebiotic Regulation of
Longevity”. In our studies, we have discovered a pro-longevity compound, colanic acid (CA), produced and
secreted from bacteria residing in the host, which regulates mitochondrial activities to exert its beneficial effects
on the host. In the parent R01 grant, we proposed genetic and molecular studies in bacteria, Caenorhabditis
elegans and mice to dissect the regulatory mechanisms underlying this novel longevity-promoting mechanism.
In our recent studies, we also found that CA attenuates age-associated pathologies caused by toxic amyloid-b
accumulation, and discovered a CA inducer, cephaloridine, that promotes the induction of CA from bacteria
and lifespan extension in the host. Therefore, in this supplement, we propose to expand the parent award to
add new studies on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the specific aim 1, we will determine the protective effect of
CA and cephaloridine in C. elegans AD models; in the specific aim 2, we will determine the protective effect of
cephaloridine in mouse AD models; in the specific aim 3, we will develop cephaloridine derivatives with
enhanced CA induction activity. All the experiments are designed for the timeframe of one year. Successful
accomplishment of these studies will significantly expand the scope and impact of the parent award by bridging
aging biology, nutrition science and AD research. These studies will open a new avenue to apply nutraceutical
approaches for the prevention and treatment of AD and will shed light on the extension and improvement of
quality of life for AD patients in our current society and future generations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10123167
- **Project number:** 3R01AT009050-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Meng Carla Wang
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $331,224
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-05-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10123167

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10123167, Prebiotic Regulation of Longevity (3R01AT009050-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10123167. Licensed CC0.

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