# Optimization of Antibiotics in Mothers and their Breastfed Infants Using Pharmacomicrobiomic and Metabolomic Analyses

> **NIH NIH P50** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $1,250,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The UC San Diego MPRINT CET, entitled “Optimization of Antibiotics in Mothers and Their Breastfed Infants
Using Pharmacomicrobiomic and Metabolomic Analyses”, brings together a team of highly experienced and
proven collaborative investigators with leadership roles in maternal and pediatric clinical pharmacology,
fundamental research methods and technologies. Across its highly integrated and synergistic components, the
UCSD MPRINT CET addresses critical barriers in maternal-infant pharmacology regarding (1) the
pharmacokinetics of infant exposure to maternal antibiotic treatment via breastmilk or close contact, (2) the
impact of maternal antibiotic therapy or prophylaxis on establishment of the normal infant microbiome and gut
metabolome, (3) potential downstream effects of such antibiotic exposure on infant immune function and hepatic
cytochrome P450 drug metabolizing enzymes, and (4) the pivotal role of breast milk both as a conduit for
antibiotic transfer and source of beneficial human/mammalian milk oligosaccharides (HMOs/MMOs) that may
support microbiome and immune integrity in face of antibiotic stress. The successful operation and outcome of
our MPRINT CET is accomplished through 3 Projects (Clinical, Basic Science and Data Science) an
Administrative Core and two Technology Cores, the Milk Analytics Core (MAC) and Pharmacometrics and
Analytical Chemistry Core (PACC). In the Clinical Project “Antibiotic Treatment in Breastfeeding Mothers: Effects
on Milk, Microbiome, and Infant Outcomes”, we have proven expertise and infrastructure and access to a high
enrolling maternal-infant clinical cohort to study how maternal antibiotics alter breast milk composition and
impact infant outcomes in clinical meaningful ways. In the Basic Science Project “The Impact of Ampicillin and
Breast Milk Oligosaccharides on the Infant Microbiome and Immune Functions”, we leverage extensive
experience in mouse models of neonatal host-pathogen interactions to probe functional effects of ampicillin and
MMOs on infant immune function, including a novel cross-fostering strategy with wild-type and MMO-deficient
mothers. In our Data Science Project “Impact of Maternal Antibiotics on the Breastfeeding Infant Microbiome and
Metabolome”, we deploy advanced MS technology, non-invasive sampling and innovative molecular networking
analytics in a cutting-edge study of the impact of breast milk antibiotic exposure on the infant microbiome,
metabolome and hepatic Cyp enzymes. The MAC provides milk collection protocols and kits, near infrared
spectroscopy and HPLC, HMO/MMO and nutritional composition analysis, and new assay validation expanding
our MPRINT CET analytical capabilities, while the PAC develops and validates novel quantitative assays and
physiologic and semi-physiologic models to describe and predict maternal and infant antibiotic PK during
breastfeeding. Our Administrative Core oversees integration and performance of our research projects/cores
and thei...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10309708
- **Project number:** 1P50HD106463-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Lars Bode
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,250,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-10 → 2026-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10309708

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10309708, Optimization of Antibiotics in Mothers and their Breastfed Infants Using Pharmacomicrobiomic and Metabolomic Analyses (1P50HD106463-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10309708. Licensed CC0.

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