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News
EUFASD
In September 2024, Dr. Raineki gave a talk at the 7th European FASD Alliance Conference in Madrid, Spain, where he presented findings on how PAE is linked to changes in the gut microbiota that emerge early in development and persist into adulthood. He also discussed how PAE-induced alterations in gut microbiota may serve as a mechanistic pathway through which PAE increases vulnerability to health issues.
Sunny's graduation
Congratulations to Sunny Qureshi on the successful defense of his Master’s thesis, titled "Impact of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure on Cognition and Inflammation in Aging Male and Female Rats: A Longitudinal Approach." Sunny was co-supervised by Drs. Charlis Raineki and Paula Duarte-Guterman and will be continuing his PhD work in both labs.
Well done, Sunny!
New paper in Scientific Reports
Our new paper with Tamara Bodnar, using our rodent model of alcohol exposure during pregnancy to examine its effects on the microbiota of dam-offspring dyads, has been published in Scientific Reports (link).
The findings show a reduction in bacterial diversity among alcohol-consuming dams, with significant differences in microbial community composition in both these dams and their offspring compared to controls (see figure below). These results highlight the potential role of the microbiota in the pathophysiology of FASD and underscore the need for further research into microbiota-based interventions.
RSA Minneapolis
In June 2024, our lab attended and presented at the FASDSG 2024 Annual Meeting and 47th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
New paper in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Our new paper with Donald Wilson, published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, reviews clinical and preclinical literature on the effects of PAE on sleep and explores potential mechanisms underlying PAE-related sleep disturbances. [link].
CNPq grant
The Raineki lab is excited to collaborate with Dr. Carolina Luft on her CNPq-funded grant titled “Identification of Immune Biomarkers Associated with Substance Use Disorder: Modulatory Role of Early-Life Adversity.”
This research aims to identify immune biomarkers that could help distinguish individuals with substance use disorder who are likely to benefit from treatment from those who may be treatment-resistant. A key objective is also to explore the role of early-life adversity in the interplay between the immune system, substance use disorder, and treatment outcomes.
New paper in Frontiers in Neuroscience
Our new paper with Tamara Bodnar, examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immune function and mental health in individuals with FASD, has been published in Frontiers in Neuroscience (link).
The findings indicate no significant differences in depression or anxiety levels between individuals with FASD and unexposed controls at baseline (pre-pandemic) or during the pandemic. However, an analysis of inflammation-to-mood associations revealed distinct patterns in adults with FASD compared to unexposed controls, suggesting a possible role for altered immune function in these differential mental health outcomes.
Holiday party
On December 8, we held the Raineki lab holiday party, which also served as a farewell celebration for Carolina Luft. Carolina, a postdoc in the lab for the past two years, has now returned to Brazil to pursue new and exciting opportunities at PUC-RS!
RSA Bellevue
In June 2023, our lab attended and presented at the FASDSG 2023 Annual Meeting and 46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) in Bellevue, WA, USA.
Victoria's graduation
Congratulations to Victoria Vella on successfully defending her Master’s thesis, titled "Dysregulation of Immune Function, Gut Microbiota Composition, and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production Following Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: A Developmental Perspective." Victoria was the lab’s first Master’s student.
Well done, Victoria!
Azrieli Foundation grant
The Raineki Lab is excited to receive an Azrieli Foundation grant titled “Gut Microbiota and Immune System Alterations in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): Implications for Mental Health”. This grant is a collaborative effort between Drs. Charlis Raineki and Tamara Bodnar.
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With this grant, we will investigate the link between mental health problems, immune function, and gut microbiota changes in children with FASD.
Our overall hypothesis is that PAE disrupts gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acid production. Together, these disruptions may drive an early proinflammatory bias and chronic immune dysregulation, ultimately impacting the mental health of children with FASD.
NIH/NIAAA R01 grant
The Raineki Lab is excited to receive a NIH/NIAAA R01 grant entitled "Prenatal Alcohol and Neuroimmunity". This grant is a collaborative effort between Drs. Charlis Raineki and Tamara Bodnar.
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In this grant we will use a translational approach to investigate whether altered gut structure and function and shifts in microbiota (bacteria) composition, which are known to increase inflammation in both the brain and the body, may underlie the increased susceptibility to mental health problems seen following prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE).
Our overall working hypothesis is that PAE: a) impacts the structure and function of the gut barrier, leading to increased permeability to luminal products; b) causes shifts in gut microbiota composition and alters signaling within the gut-brain axis; and that c) together, these changes may be key drivers in the early-proinflammatory bias and lifelong perturbations in immune function that ultimately negatively impact mental health status.
CIHR grant
We are excited to work with Tamara Bodnar (PI), Parker Holman, and Lori Vitale Cox in the newly awarded CIHR Indigenous Gender and Wellness Development Grant.
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The objective of this grant is to engage Indigenous communities in knowledge exchange to co-create culturally appropriate, hands-on and inquiry-based activities to learn about the effects of alcohol on health and well-being across gender.
New paper in Journal of Neuroinflammation
Our new paper with Tamara Bodnar (first author) and Joanne Weinberg, in collaboration with Tina Chambers and Claire Coles, investigating immune profiles of children prenatally exposed to alcohol was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation (link).
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The exciting results suggest that cytokines may serve as important biomarkers of alcohol-dependent and alcohol-independent changes in neurodevelopment.
We are excited to continue this work in the Collaborative Initiative on FASD (CIFASD) to further refine and validate this novel approach.