# Effects of selected climate change-affected pathogens and pollutants on Critical Organs, Inflammation and Human disease

> **NIH NIH P01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA · 2020 · $264,553

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
This project is specifically responsive to the following aspects of the scope of the Centers for Oceans and
Human Health 3: Impacts of Climate Change on Oceans and Great Lakes (COHH3) (P01): 1) determine
impacts of climate change on increasing incidence of harmful algal bloom (HAB) events; (2) understand
mechanisms of toxicity underlying health impacts linked to climate change; (3) address populations in US
coastal and Great Lakes regions (e.g., those with existing health or social disparities) that will be more
vulnerable to human health risks that are associated with or exacerbated by climate change. The goal of this
project is to understand and quantify the impacts of exposure Vibrio species (V. vulnificus and V.
parahaemolyticus) and increased toxin production in Cyanobacteria such as Microcystis aeruginosa. The
effects of climate change are likely to increase the incidence of these microbes leading to potentially greater
exposure through the food chain and via other exposure routes. Specifically, this Project will assess the
effects of climate change-altered Vibrio bacteria and Microcystin toxin on mammalian model exposure systems
individually and in combination. In addition, exposures will include microplastics, a major contaminant of
emerging concern in coastal and aquatic ecosystems, correlated with increased urbanization, which is
increasing as the effects of climate change are being felt. The effects of the mixture of these components will
be investigated through appropriate experimental design and statistical analysis. Effects on critical organ
systems (liver, kidney and gut), alterations in inflammation and increased disease states (non-alcoholic liver
disease including human non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH),
along with and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)), will be quantified. We have preliminary data that shows
the exposure of microcystins in rodent models of existing chronic nonalcoholic fatty liver disease exacerbate
liver pathology leading to bridging fibrosis in both kidney and livers. We also found significant alterations in the
gut microbiome following microcystin exposure that led to gut leaching and portal endotoxemia, a recipe for
systemic inflammation and organ damage via pattern recognition receptors (TLRs and P2X7rs). In addition,
microplastics can contain multiple endocrine disrupting chemicals and microcystins have recently been
reported to exhibit endocrine disrupting effects, both of which potentially lead to reproductive dysfunctions.
Lastly, effects of microplastics on seafood safety will be evaluated. The emerging role of microplastics, their
consumption by bivalve molluscs (oysters), fish and other marine organisms and theuir ability to act as vectors
for other pollutants such as the microcystin toxins, pose a serious threat to the human health, in particular
owing to increasing reliance on these foods around the world. This Project clearly under...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9977214
- **Project number:** 5P01ES028942-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Saurabh Chatterjee
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $264,553
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** — → —

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9977214

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9977214, Effects of selected climate change-affected pathogens and pollutants on Critical Organs, Inflammation and Human disease (5P01ES028942-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9977214. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*