# Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS)

> **NIH NIH P01** · HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM · 2020 · $65,682

## Abstract

This application builds on the findings of our initial P01 designed to examine relationships between
environmental factors, especially pets, the infant gut microbiota and pediatric allergic asthma. We have shown
that: 1) dogs alter the microbial composition of dust in homes, 2) children born into homes with dogs have
different developmental patterns of gut microbiota and of IgE, 3) a distinct pattern of gut microbial composition
at 1 month of age is related to heightened risk of sensitization to multiple allergens at 2 years and of asthma at
4 years, and this pattern is influenced by numerous maternal characteristics, 4) sensitization to multiple food
and inhalant allergens at 2 years is strongly related to asthma at 10 years, 5) the metabolic profiles of stools
are related to later allergic sensitization 6) 12,13-DiHOME, a metabolite in stool, promotes development of Th2
lymphocytes and lowers development of Treg lymphocytes in an in vitro assay, and 7) in another study, the
meconial microbiota is distinct in neonates born to mothers with asthma. Our complementary mouse studies
have shown that: 1) gavaging with dust from homes with dogs reduces lung inflammation from allergen
sensitization and from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, 2) dog dust gavaged mice have increases in
Lactobacillus johnsonii in their ceca 3) oral administration of live L. johnsonii confers protection against
pulmonary inflammation induced by allergen and RSV, 4) L. johnsonii alters the function of bone marrow-
derived dendritic cells, 5) mice orally supplemented with L. johnsonii have altered serum metabolic profiles,
and 6) mouse pups born to L. johnsonii-supplemented mothers are protected against allergen challenge and
RSV infection. Collectively these findings showing the influence of maternal factors provide the basis for this
application's focus on the maternal gut and vaginal microbiotas during pregnancy, and how these relate to
infant gut microbial development and risk of allergic asthma. Project 1 focuses on the relationship of maternal
environmental and dietary factors, including maternal and infant gut microbiotas, to the child's developing a
high-risk for asthma phenotype by age 2 years. Project 2 proposes a detailed examination of relationships
between maternal and child microbiota, breast milk composition and IgE development amongst a cohort of
pregnancies in which the mother has current allergic asthma. Project 3 synergistically interacts with Projects 1
& 2 and also uses specimens from 10-year-old allergic asthma cases and controls in the initial P01 birth cohort
to examine gut microbes producing metabolites associated with a lowered risk of allergic inflammation and how
they are transferred from mother and established in offspring. Project 4 will use mouse models to examine the
relationships between manipulation of maternal microbiota and immune development in offspring. We
anticipate that together these studies will show that interventions direc...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10167014
- **Project number:** 3P01AI089473-07S1
- **Recipient organization:** HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Christine C Johnson
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $65,682
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-05-18 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10167014

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10167014, Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS) (3P01AI089473-07S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10167014. Licensed CC0.

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