# Nitrogenous disinfection by-products and their metabolic impact on human gut microbiota

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $35,987

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs) are ubiquitous contaminants in tap water, and form when
chlorine reacts with natural organic matter in tap water. Chronic exposure to these contaminants is linked with
adverse health outcomes, including bladder cancer, miscarriages, and low birthweight. Yet, N-DBPs are
unregulated. Comparative toxicity assessments have suggested that N-DBPs are genotoxic and cytotoxic.
Nevertheless, standard toxicity assessments are limiting because animal studies and in vitro assays do not
always recapitulate human biology. The human gastrointestinal tract microbiome plays an important role in
human health and disease progression. Studies have demonstrated that the gut microbiome can degrade
xenobiotic compounds into biotransformation products with various toxic effects. Furthermore, xenobiotic
exposure has the potential to change microbiome composition and gene expression, which can play a role in
adverse health outcomes in humans. In an effort to understand the health effects of N-DBP exposure, this
project investigates the interactions between N-DBPs and the human gastrointestinal tract microbiome. The
central hypothesis of this study is that microbiome and N-DBP interactions play a role in adverse health effects
after exposure. The long-term objective of this project is to investigate the chemical and biological interactions
between N-DBPs and the human gut microbiome to elucidate potential mechanisms of adverse effects. The
specific aims will test the hypotheses that (1) gut microbiota degrade N-DBPs into biotransformation products
with various toxic effects, and (2) environmentally-relevant N-DBP exposure can perturb gut community
structures and functional activities. Aim 1 will identify N-DBP biotransformation products in the presence of gut
microbiota. We will measure N-DBP degradation and biotransformation products using liquid chromatography
(LC) – mass spectrometry (MS). Using a computational toxicology approach, we will predict biotransformation
product toxicities based on chemical structure to determine if gut microbiota change N-DBP toxic effects. Aim 2
will determine microbial community gene expression changes in the gut following N-DBP exposure. For this
work, we will perform metatranscriptomics to determine differential gene expression changes after N-DBP
exposure. We will identify a subset of statistically-significant upregulated or downregulated genes that are
relevant to biotransformation or cell stress. To ensure successful completion of this project, state-of-the-art
resources, mentorship and training at the University of Michigan will be readily available. These aims will
provide a key first step in the long-term goal of defining the relationship between N-DBP exposure, the gut
microbiome, and human health risks. Overall, this interdisciplinary study will have a significant impact on
understanding N-DBP toxicity mechanisms post-ingestion, and implications of N-DBP exposure on he...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10312390
- **Project number:** 1F31ES033512-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Hollie Adeola Adejumo
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $35,987
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10312390

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10312390, Nitrogenous disinfection by-products and their metabolic impact on human gut microbiota (1F31ES033512-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10312390. Licensed CC0.

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