# Microbiome, Pesticides and Parkinsons in Latinos

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2021 · $148,161

## Abstract

Abstract. This is a supplement to the Microbiome, Pesticides and Parkinson’s (MEP; PI: Dr Ritz) study with the goal to
enroll a larger number of highly pesticide-exposed Latino community members. The MEP study hypothesized that a) the
human microbiome is affected by chronic environmental exposures, specifically pesticides; and b) an altered gut
microbiome composition or function contributes to the progression of neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD
is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and has important non-motor features including gastro-intestinal (GI)
symptoms such as constipation and gastroparesis. The human microbiome has a major role in the uptake and handling of
nutrients, medications, and toxins; and affects the immune system. Evidence that the microbiome affects neurologic
function, brain activity, and behavior via the ‘gut-brain-axis’ is growing. MEP proposed that pesticides also influence the
microbiome and the human immune system in PD. The role of the gut microbiome in PD is underexplored and no study
has addressed whether toxins influence neurodegeneration via the microbiome. The MEP study uses a geographic
information system (GIS) model-based pesticide exposure model based on records from the California state pesticide use
reporting (PUR) system that has been developed in on our previous Parkinson's Disease Susceptibility Genes and
Pesticides Study (PEG; R01 ES-010544). Along with the UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases, MEP proposed to
analyze the gut microbiome of 400 PD patients and 600 (200 age-matched household & 400 age-sex matched community)
controls using 16S ribosomal RNA to assess relative abundance of microbiota with the goal to assess microbiome
composition and function in pesticide exposed vs. non-exposed controls and PD patients. In 200 new-onset PD patients, of
these 100 medication naïve (MN) PD patients, we collect data on exposures, gut motility indicators, and fecal samples for
metabolomics and culture based experiments (before and after starting PD medications); assess differences in relative
abundances of microbes over time using 16S ribosomal RNA and shotgun metagenomics and conduct metabolomics
(blood or stool) analyses for new onset PD patients (twice, longitudinally) and their household controls. We are now
proposing to make a targeted effort to enroll more Latino participants in our study as they are the most highly exposed to
pesticides. Latinos live and work in the farming communities of California’s Central Valley and experience unjust
disparities in environmental exposures and health care access. It is very important to build trust in these diverse
communities to be able to enhance recruitment of Latino participants. Dr. Flores is a member of the Latino community
and is familiar with the local health care settings in the central valley. She is uniquely qualified to address the goals of this
supplement in order to help increase the participation of Latinos in this important study. She w...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10415745
- **Project number:** 3R01ES031106-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Beate R. Ritz
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $148,161
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-08-15 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10415745

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10415745, Microbiome, Pesticides and Parkinsons in Latinos (3R01ES031106-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10415745. Licensed CC0.

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