Awards and Grants
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
The Role of Microbial Metabolism in Food Intolerances associated with IBD (2022-2025)
Metabolism of Dietary Tryptophan by Intestinal Microbiota in IBD (2021-2025)
Role of Commensal Microbiota on Dietary Tryptophan Metabolism (2018-2019)
This grant was awarded to Dr. Alberto Caminero by The Biocodex Microbiota Foundation. This foundation is a non-profit which aids research in host-microbe interactions and pathologies related to the human microbiota. Support from this grant allowed for exploration into dietary tryptophan metabolism by gut microbiota and the ability of tryptophan metabolites to activate aryl hydrocarbon receptor. For more information, click here.
Exploiting Intestinal Microbiota Dietary Protein Metabolism to Treat IBD (2018)
This grant is a start-up grant provided by the Douglas Family Chair of McMaster University. Funding from this grant has made it possible for Dr. Alberto Caminero to take on his role as an Assistant Professor. The grant also supported investigation in one of the research interests of the Caminero Lab, protein metabolism and IBD.
Dr. Alberto Caminero collaborates with co-principal investigator Dr. Neeraj Narula (McMaster University) for this grant awarded by Crohn's and Colitis Canada. Using both wet lab and clinical research, this project focuses on various food intolerances present in ulcerative colitis and Crohns's disease patients. Collaborators on this grant include Prof. Detlef Schuppan (Harvard Medical School, USA; University of Mainz, Germany), Dr. Stephen M. Collins (McMaster University), and Dr. Elena F. Verdu (McMaster University). Learn more here.
This grant was awarded to Dr. Alberto Caminero by Canadian Institutes of Health Research. This project utilizes a variety of techniques including cell culture and gnotobiotic mouse models. Working together with co-principal investigator and metabolomics expert Dr. Harry Sokol (Sorbonne University, France), this project aims to learn more about the various targets of dietary tryptophan and how its metabolism can be altered by host microbiota. Collaborators on this grant include Dr. Stephen M. Collins (McMaster University), Dr. Elena F. Verdu (McMaster University), Dr. Giada De Palma (McMaster University), and Dr. Premysl Bercik (McMaster University).
Food Allergy and Intolerance
Allergen Processing by Human Gastrointestinal Microbiota (2022)
Prevention of Peanut-Induced Anaphylaxis through Bacterial Metabolism (2020-2023)
Immunomodulation of Peanut-Induced Anaphylaxis Through Bacterial Metabolism (2021-2022)
Dr. Alberto Caminero serves as a co-principal investigator on this grant awarded by Nutricia Research Foundation. This foundation is an independent charity which supports young investigators in the field of nutrition and health. Alongside type 2 immunity and allergy researcher Dr. Rodrigo Jimenez-Saiz (McMaster University; National Center for Biotechnology, Spain), this grant investigates unknown roles of commensal bacteria in peanut allergy.
This NSERC funded project awarded to Dr. Caminero explores the human gastrointestinal tract and its interaction with dietary allergens. Before interacting with the immune system, food allergens need to resist harsh conditions in the gut lumen such as low pH, bile acids, and digestive and microbial enzymes. While the gastrointestinal digestion of allergens by mammalian enzymes has been extensively characterized, the metabolic processing by human microbiota, and how this influences its ability to access the immune system, has yet to be elucidated. This project seeks to further our understanding of fundamental microbial processes involved in the metabolism of allergens. This will contribute to a better understanding of food allergies, which affect >2.5 million people in Canada.
Tri-agency Institutional Programs Canada awarded this grant to Dr. Alberto Caminero to learn more about the role of host-microbe interactions in peanut allergy. Techniques such as mouse monocolonizations and Ussing chambers give insight to the role of bacterial metabolism of peanut antigen into forms which more easily transverse the gut barrier. This project aims to reveal a role in bacterial metabolism to alter peanut immunogenicity. Collaborators for this project include co-principal investigator Dr. Rodrigo Jimenez-Saiz (McMaster University; National Center for Biotechnology, Spain), Dr. Yolanda R Carrasco (National Center for Biotechnology, Spain), Dr. Javier F. Moreno (Institute of Food Science Research-CIAL, Spain), Dr. Elena F. Verdu (McMaster University), Dr. Sarita U. Patil (Massachusetts General Hospital, USA), and Dr. Wayne G. Shreffler (Massachusetts General Hospital, USA).
Funding for Equipment
Diet-microbiota Lab for Treatment of IBD and Food Sensitivities (2020-2023)
Funding from Canada Foundation for Innovation has allowed the Caminero Lab to purchase various exciting equipment to aid our present and future research. This equipment includes an anaerobic chamber, incubator, cell imaging system, ultra-performance liquid chromatography system, and more! We are very excited to move this equipment into our new lab space.
Publications
Research Papers
2021
Galipeau HJ, Caminero A*, Turpin*, Bermudez-Brito* M, Santiago A, Libertucci J, Rueda G, Gentle S, Clarizio A, Bedrani L, Smith MI, Madsen K, Bercik P, The CCC GEM Project Research Consortium, Croitoru K, Verdu EF. Novel fecal biomarkers that precede clinical diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology 2021. *Authors contributed equally
Zhen Z, Stefanolo JP, Temprano MP, Tedesco S, Seiler C, Caminero A, de-Madaria E, Montoro Huguet M, Vivas S, Niveloni S, Bercik P, Smecuol E, Uscanga L, Trucco E, Lopez V, Olano C, Mansueto P, Caroccio A, Green PH, Day AS, Tye-Din JA, Bai JC, Ciacci C, Verdu EF, Lebwohl B, Pinto-Sanchez MI. The risk of contracting COVID-19 is not increased in patients with celiac disease. Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2021 Feb;19(2):391-393.
2020
Constante M, De Palma G, Lu J, Jury J, Rondeau L, Caminero A, Collins SM, Verdu EF, Bercik P. Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 modulates the microbiota-gut-brain axis in a humanized mouse model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Neurogastroenterology & Motility 2020 Sep 21;e13985.
Tuck CJ, De Palma G, Takami K, Brant B, Caminero A, Reed DE, Muir JG, Gibson PR, Winterborn A, Verdu EF Bercik P, Vanner S. Nutritional profile of standard rodent chows impacts experimental reproducibility in microbiome preclinical research. Scientific reports 2020.
Lamas B, Hernandez-Galan L, Constante M, Clarizio A, Jury J, Galipeau HJ, Breyner NM, Caminero A, Rueda G, Hayes CL, McCarville JL, Bermudez Brito M, Planchais J, Murray JA, Langella P, Loonen LMP, Wells JM, Emond P, Bercik P, Sokol H, Verdu EF. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand production by the gut microbiota: a new therapeutic target in celiac disease. Science Translational Medicine 2020 Oct 21;12(566):eaba0624.
Pinto Sanchez MI, Pigrau M, Nardelli A, Borojevic R, De Palma G, Causada Calo N, McCarville J, Caminero A, Basra B, Morhost A, Ignatova K, Hansen S, Uhde M, Gary N, Smecuol E, Armstrong D, Moayyedi P, Alaedini A, Collins SM, Bai JC, Schuppan D, Verdu EF, Bercik P. Gluten-free diet reduces symptoms in a large subset of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and antigliadin IgG. Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2020 Aug 19;S1542-3565(20)31149-6.
2019
Tuck CJ, Caminero A, Jiménez-Vargas NN, Soltys CL, Jaramillo Polanco JO, Lopez-Lopez CD, Constante M, Lourenssen SR, Verdu EF, Muir JG, Reed DE, Vanner SJ. Dietary fermentable carbohydrate content modulates fermentation patterns but do not affect inflammation in preclinical models of IBD. Neurogastroenterology & Motility 2019 Jul 9:e13675.
Caminero A, McCarville JL, Galipeau HG, Deraison C, Bernier S, Meisel M, Murray J, Yu B, Alaeidini A, Coombes BK, Sanz Y, Ruf W, Jabri B, Casqueiro J, Surette MG, Vergnolle N, Verdu EF. Duodenal bacterial proteolytic activity determines sensitivity to dietary antigen through protease-activated receptor-2. Nature Communication 2019 Mar 13;10(1):1198.
Caminero A, McCarville JL, Zevallos V, Pigrau M, Yu B, Jury J, Galipeau HJ, Casqueiro J, Murray J, Collins MC, Alaedini A, Bercik P, Verdu EF, Schuppan D. Lactobacilli degrade wheat amylase trypsin inhibitors to reduce intestinal dysfunction induced by immunogenic wheat proteins. Gastroenterology 2019 Jun;156(8):2266-2280.
2017
McCarville JL, Dong J, Caminero A, Bermudez-Brito M, Jury J, Murray JA, Duboux S, Steinmann M, Delley M, Tangyu M, Langella P, Mercenier A, Bergonzelli G, Verdu EF. A commensal Bifidobacterium longum strain improves gluten-related immunopathology in mice through expression of a serine protease inhibitor. Applied Environmental Microbiology 2017 Aug; 83(19):1-13.
Herrán AR, Pérez-Andrés J, Caminero A, Nistal E, Vivas S, Ruiz de Morales JM, Casqueiro J. Gluten-degrading bacteria are present in the human small intestine of healthy volunteers and celiac patients. Research in Microbiology 2017 Sep;168(7):673-684.
2016
Caminero A, Galipeau HJ, McCarville JL, Johnston CW, Bernier SP, Russell AK, Jury J, Herran AR, Casqueiro J, Tye-Din JA, Surette MG, Magarvey NA, Schuppan D, Verdu EF. Duodenal bacteria from patients with celiac disease and healthy subjects distinctly affect gluten breakdown and immunogenicity. Gastroenterology 2016 Oct;151(4):670-83.
Nistal E, Caminero A, Herrán AR, Pérez-Andres J, Vivas S, Ruiz de Morales JM, Sáenz de Miera LE, Casqueiro J. Study of duodenal bacterial communities by 16S rRNA gene analysis in adults with active celiac disease vs non-celiac disease controls. Journal of Applied Microbiology 2016 Jun;120(6):1691-700.
2015
Caminero A, Nistal E, Herrán AR, Pérez-Andrés J, Ferrero MA, Vaquero L, Vivas S, Ruiz de Morales JM, Albillos SM, Casqueiro J. Differences in gluten metabolism among healthy volunteers, coeliac disease patients and first-degree relatives. J. British Journal of Nutrition 2015 Oct 28;114(8):1157-67.
Nistal E, Pérez-Andrés J, Herrán AR, Caminero A, Vivas S, Ruiz de Morales JM, Ullan RV, Casqueiro J. Analisis molecular de la microbiota duodenal de niños y adultos con y sin enfermedad celiaca (Spanish- Molecular analysis of the duodenal microbiota from children and adults with or without celiac disease). Revista ACAD 2015;31(3):41-48.
2014
Caminero A, Herrán AR, Nistal E, Pérez-Andrés J, Vaquero L, Vivas S, Ruiz de Morales JM, Albillos SM, Casqueiro J. Diversity of the cultivable human gut microbiome involved in gluten metabolism: Isolation of microorganisms with potential interest for celiac disease. FEMS Microbiology and Ecology 2014 May;88(2):309-19.
Vaquero L, Caminero A, Hernando M, Iglesias C, Casqueiro J, Vivas S. Coeliac disease screening in first-degree relatives based on biopsy and genetic risk. European Journal Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2014 Mar;26(3):263-7.
2012
Nistal E, Caminero A, Vivas S, Ruiz de Morales JM, Sáenz de Miera LE, Rodriguez- Aparicio LB, Casqueiro J. Differences in fecal bacteria populations and fecal bacteria metabolism in healthy adults and celiac disease patients. Biochimie 2012; 94 (8):1724-9.
Comino I, Real A, Vivas S, Síglez MA, Caminero A, Nistal E, Casqueiro J Rodríguez- Herrera A, Cebolla A, Sousa C. Monitoring of gluten-free diet compliance in celiac patients by assessment of gliadin 33-mer equivalent epitopes in feces. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2012; 95 (3):670-7.
Nistal E, Caminero A, Herrán AR, Arias L, Vivas S, Ruiz de Morales JM, Calleja S, Saenz de Miera L, Arroyo P, Casqueiro J. Differences of small intestinal bacteria populations in adults and children with/without celiac disease: effect of age, gluten diet and disease. Inflammatory Bowel Disease 2012; 18 (4):649-56.
Caminero A, Nistal E, Arias L, Vivas S, Sousa C, Ruiz de Morales JM, Ferrero MA, Rodríguez-Aparicio LB, Casqueiro J. A gluten metabolism study in healthy individuals shows the presence of a fecal glutenasic activity. European Journal of nutrition 2012 Apr; 51 (3):293-9.
Reviews & Other
2022
Rondeau LE, De Palma G, Caminero A. The food, the bug, and the ugly: A recipe for food-induced gut pain. Allergy 2022 Jan;77(1):334-336 (News and Views).
2020
Kivelä L, Caminero A, Leffler DA, Pinto-Sanchez MA, Tye-Din JA, Lindfors K Current and emerging therapies for celiac disease. Nature Review Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2020 (Review).
Pinto-Sanchez MI & Caminero A. Host immune interactions in chronic inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology 2020 Nov;36(6):479- 484 (Review).
De Palma G, Caminero A, Jiménez‐Saiz R. The neuroimmunological toll of nutrient absorption. Allergy 2020 Sep;75(9):2415-2417 (News and Views).
2019
Caminero A & Verdu EF. Celiac disease: Should be care about microbes? American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 2019 Aug 1;317(2):G161- G170.
Caminero A & Verdu EF. Metabolism of wheat proteins by intestinal microbes: Implications for wheat related disorders. Gastroenterologia y Hepatologia 2019 Aug-Sep 2019;42(7):449-457.
Caminero A, Meisel M, Jabri B, Verdu EF. Mechanisms by which gut microorganisms influence food sensitivities. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2019 16, 7– 18 (Review).
2017
Verdu EF, Caminero A. How infection can incite sensitivity to food. Science 2017 Apr 7;356(6333):29-30. (Editorial).
2016
McCarville JL, Caminero A, Verdu EF. Novel perspectives on therapeutic modulation of the gut microbiota. Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology 2016 Jul;9(4):580-93. (Review).
Caminero A, Verdu EF. Novel Players in coeliac disease pathogenesis: Role of the gut microbiota. Gastroenterologia y Hepatologia 2016 Vol-39 Special SEEC congress 2: 1-3. (Review).
2015
McCarville JL, Caminero A, Verdu EF. Pharmacological approaches in celiac disease. Current Opinion in Pharmacology 2015 Dec; 25:7-12. (Review).
Vivas S, Vaquero L, Rodríguez-Martín L, Caminero A. Age-related differences in celiac disease: Specific characteristics of adult presentation. World Journal Gastroenterology Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2015 Nov 6;6(4):207-12. (Review).