# Functional Microbiomics Core

> **NIH NIH P20** · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · 2024 · $758,125

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
In this Phase 2 of the Functional Microbiomics, Inflammation and Pathogenicity COBRE, the primary goal of the
Functional Microbiomics Core (FMC) is unchanged. We will sustain and enhance the well-established integrated
service center that functions as a critical resource for the Research Project Leaders (RPLs) as a priority, and
secondarily for all investigators of the Center. Since all new COBRE projects also utilize mouse models to explore
the inter-relationships between inflammation and pathogenesis, and the contribution of microbiota to this
process, our well-established germ-free and gnotobiotic mice facility (GMF) will continue to play a central role in
services provided by the FMC. We will continue to provide anaerobic culturing of mixed and/or mono bacterial
strains to facilitate the specific colonization of the germ-free mice. 16S ribosomal DNA will be profiled with the
in-house developed Oxford nanopore sequencing as well as PacBio-long read sequencing tools, and
bioinformatic support provided. Our most extensively used resource; multiplex-based analysis of inflammatory
mediators in biological samples, will continue to function using the Bio-Plex 200 (Bio-Rad) multiplex system. In
addition, several recent advances allow us to augment the services provided by the FMC. First, the recently
developed, highly successful rederivation service of transgenic and KO mouse models as germ-free, will greatly
expand the scope and utility of the GMF. Related to this service is the development of a new area of research
on the role of microbiota in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) supported by an administrative supplement to the FMC
from NIA/NIGMS. The GMF has already rederived several AD mouse models. For this project, the FMC also
developed a suite of mouse behavior analysis models including the Morris Water Maze and Novel Object
Recognition tests. These services will support all future ageing related research at the center including a new
project on the role of edible-plant derived exosomes in restoring the integrity of the Blood Brain Barrier. We also
now include imaging support, in particular Multiphoton Intravital Microscopy for imaging of live tissue and an In
Vivo Imaging System (IVIS) for live mouse imaging. Besides functioning as a service center, another major goal
of the FMC is to promote the education and training of researchers, primarily the RPLs. The FMC will also interact
with other Core facilities at the University of Louisville, such as the Genomics, Metabolomics and Bioinformatics
core facilities established with the support of other highly successful COBRE/INBRE programs. In particular, the
newly funded Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy COBRE-operated Functional Immunomics Core (FIC)
facility also directed by Dr. Bodduluri has several joint initiatives with the FMC including the establishment of a
histopathology service center. The FMC will work with these and other UofL resources in order to avoid
duplication of ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10795828
- **Project number:** 5P20GM125504-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** HARIBABU BODDULURI
- **Activity code:** P20 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $758,125
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-03-01 → 2028-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10795828

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10795828, Functional Microbiomics Core (5P20GM125504-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10795828. Licensed CC0.

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