Difference Between Coastal and Inland Populations
Conditions
Keywords
Oceans and human health
Brief summary
The research aims to understand oceans as crucial contributors to human health in coastal environments. Oceans produce marine spray aerosols that contain a mixture of microbiota and natural biological molecules (biogenics).
Detailed description
The primary outcome envisioned consists of 2 goals. 1. In this study, the first objective is to determine whether the microbiota and biogenic molecules found in sea air are also found in the nasal swabs of the participants. In this way, the investigators will gain an understanding of which sea air components are inhaled by humans and how this changes over time. Besides, the difference in microbiome between the inland and coastal population will be investigated. 2. Second, the investigators want to get an idea of whether these inhaled sea air components have an effect on certain pathways in the human body. In the in vitro study with cell lines, effects were already seen of sea air exposure on certain pathways in the body. Now the second goal of this study, is to see if changes in immunity biomarkers are seen in vivo in humans. The Investigators will do this by taking VAMS blood samples from the participants.
Interventions
OTHERno intervention
no intervention, people just indicate if they spend time inland or at the coast
Sponsors
University Ghent
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
three groups: one group that lives at the coast all year round, one group that lives inland all year round and one group that live inland but spend a lot of time at the coast in the summer. The participants will not get any treatment, they just live in different regions.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* healthy participants between 18 and 50 years old
Exclusion criteria
* people with a medical condition * people younger than 18 and older than 50
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| nose swabs: respiratory microbiome and biogenics profile | 4 times during the 8 week study period | DNA from the nose swabs will be analysed using sequencing for analyzing the microbiome. Biogenics on the swabs will be analysed as well, to get an idea of what molecules and microbiota from the sea air are inhaled. This will happen with UPLC-QTOF-MS. |
| VAMS blood samples: cytokines | 4 times during the 8 week study period | Cytokines will be measured in blood samples to link the sea air exposure to the human health. A multiplex kit will be used to measure 20 cytokines. |
| GPS | during the 8 week study period, if more than 15 minutes spend outside | via sensorlogger app on their phone, to collect GPS data when outside. |
| questionnaires | at the start, in the middle and at the end of the 8 weeks. | Filling in a questionnaire via qualtrics |
Countries
Belgium
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHannelore Denys
University Ghent
Outcome results
None listed