GIUV2026-057
DietBiome is a recently established research group at the University of Valencia focused on how diet shapes the composition and function of the gut microbiome and influences human health. We aim to understand how gut bacteria, particularly those with beneficial effects such as bifidobacteria, utilize dietary components to colonize the gut and exert probiotic effects in the host. In addition, we study how microbially derived metabolites modulate the gut microbiome and host interactions across the gastrointestinal, immune, and nervous systems. We apply an integrated, multidisciplinary approach that combines microbiology and molecular biology techniques, omics technologies, preclinical assays (cell cultures and animal models), and human studies. Thus, DietBiome final goal is to drive the development of innovative microbiome-based nutritional and therapeutic strategies to prevent diseases and improve health and well-being.
- - Caracterizar el impacto de la dieta sobre la composición y función del microbioma intestinal y su relación con la salud, especialmente en la infancia. - Elucidar cómo las bacterias probióticas intestinales y sus metabolitos interaccionan con el hospedador y regulan los sistemas inmune y nervioso. - Desarrollar estrategias nutricionales y nuevos bióticos para modular el microbioma intestinal, con el fin de prevenir enfermedades y mejorar la salud. - Promover la transferencia de conocimiento a los estudiantes, la sociedad y el sector empresarial.
- Bifidobacteria and early-life development.Study of the role of bifidobacteria in early gut microbiome colonization and their impact on child development.
- Microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.Development of novel nutritional strategies and precision biotics for the targeted modulation of the gut microbiome, with a focus on personalized health.
- Diet, microbiome and health.Advancing nutrition science to understand the metabolic activity of the gut microbiome and its relationship with human health and well-being.
- Microbiome-host interactions.Analysis of interactions between the gut microbiota and its metabolites with the host at the gastrointestinal, immunological, and neuronal levels.
| Name | Nature of participation | Entity | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARIA DEL MAR ESTEBAN TORRES | Director | Universitat de València | |
| Research team | |||
| MARIA ASUNCION OBIOL SAIZ | Collaborator | Universitat de València | |
| ALESSANDRA CIMBALO | Collaborator | Universitat de València | |
| VERONIKA PETTERSEN | Collaborator | Arctic University of Norway - University of Trompø | Adjunct professor |
| NELE BRUSSELAERES | Collaborator | Karolinska Institutet | Adjunct professor |
| SETH RAKOFF-NAHOUM | Collaborator | Harvard University | Adjunct professor |
| MARÍA ÁNGELES NÚÑEZ SÁNCHEZ | Collaborator | Instituto Murciano de Invetigación Biosanitaria Pascual Parrilla | Postdoctoral researcher |
| ROBERTA PRETE | Collaborator | Universita degli Studi di Teramo | Professor |
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- Prev. Medicine, Public Health, Food Sc.,Toxic. and For. Med.






