Virginia Research Day 2022

Medical Student Research Biomedical

17 The Effect Of Disinfectant Exposure On Multigenerational Changes In The Microbiome And Its Influence On Development Of Immune Function

Alan Chiang; Sarah Lowen; Valerie A. McDonald; Terry C. Hrubec Corresponding author: achiang@vt.vcom.edu

VCOM Virginia

in the mouse room (ambient), and those who were not exposed at all (control). Ten pairs of mice in each group were exposed for 10 days and then were bred and produced litters. Exposure of this first generation of offspring was terminated at weaning. Following cessation of exposure, ten pairs of mice in each treatment from this first generation were bred to produce a second generation of progeny. The gut microbiome was analyzed for each mouse in all treatment groups and generations. Analysis was conducted at two timepoints upon initiation of exposure, and also at two timepoints upon termination of exposure. Data analysis, segregated by sex, examined the relative frequency of bacteria at different taxonomic levels starting with phylum down to

With the widespread use of disinfectants in both clinical and non-clinical settings, we are interested in the resulting effect that such use has on the gut microbiome in exposed individuals. Quaternary Ammonia compound disinfectants are commonly used in household and medical settings. While long considered safe, they recently have been shown to cause infertility, birth defects, and alter immune function. Once absorbed into the body, they are eliminated through the gastrointestinal tract, putting an active disinfectant in contact with the gut microbiome. Through a randomized controlled study, mice were separated into three groups – those directly exposed orally through the feed (dosed), those indirectly exposed through normal use of the disinfectant

species, using T-tests to compare control vs. dosed groups, control vs. ambient groups, and ambient vs. dosed groups. A two-way ANOVA analysis was used to compare the interaction of treatment and time. We hypothesize that the presence of an active disinfectant in contact with the gut microbiome in both the dosed and ambient groups will affect the relative frequency of bacteria present at each taxonomic level compared to controls.

This work was funded by the VCOM One Health Program.

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