Background
BIOFANTS is a four-year Academy fellowship research project. In this project, we investigate biodiversity in residential environments and examine how exposure to biodiversity affects the immunological development of infants.
The immunological development of children is a long process influenced by various environmental exposures. These exposures in residential environments consist of physical, chemical, social, and biological elements. The health effects of certain factors, such as air pollution, are already well understood. The development of an infant’s immune system is also shaped by exposure to bacteria acquired from other people, food, and the surrounding environment. In addition to bacteria, infants encounter traces from other species, such as dander, pollen, and various spores. However, the impacts of this biodiversity on human immunological development remain largely unknown.
Research Questions
The aim of the BIOFANTS project is to generate new insights into the factors influencing human immunological development. In this study, we investigate:
- Which DNA-based methods are most suitable for measuring human exposure to biodiversity?
- How is the species composition, representing all six kingdoms of life, linked to the immunological development of infants?
- Can we identify key species that either support or disturb beneficial immune trajectories?
Substudies
The project consists of two substudies:
- Method Comparison: In the first substudy, we compare various DNA-based methods for assessing species composition in yards and indoor environments. Outdoor samples consist of airborne particles, while indoor samples consist of dust. Species composition is analysed using sequencing techniques, including both metagenomics and DNA barcoding. The goal is to determine which method(s) are the most cost-effective for measuring biodiversity across biological kingdoms.
- Immune System Development: The aim of this birth cohort study is to assess the relationship between indoor biodiversity and the development of infants’ immune system. We are establishing the BIOFANTTI birth cohort in the Uusimaa region. During the first year of life, we will repeatedly measure infants’ exposure to biodiversity in their home environments and examine the functioning of their immune system using proteomics.
Impact
In the BIOFANTS project, we utilise and further develop cutting-edge research methods for measuring biodiversity. The study enhances our understanding of species composition in residential environments and its potential connection to the development of infants’ immune system. The project brings together experts from multiple scientific disciplines, fostering interdisciplinary knowledge and collaboration.
Related Research
Contact Information
Principal researcher Jenni Lehtimäki, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), forename.lastname@syke.fi, tel. +358 503 050 007
Research coordinator Nina Ahola, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), forename.lastname@syke.fi, tel. +358 503 318 936
