São Paulo, Brazil | Boston, MA, USA

The research is being conducted in the United States through a collaboration between academic researchers at Northeastern University and the biotechnology company Holobiome, and aims to develop a next-generation probiotic capable of enhancing human immune resilience against systemic infections.

Corporação Saulo Neto’s involvement reflects its broader mission to support high-impact, experimental scientific research with global relevance, particularly initiatives that bridge fundamental discovery and real-world public health solutions.

About the Research

The project is inspired by a simple but powerful observation: some individuals rarely become ill, even when exposed to common infectious agents such as influenza or the common cold. These individuals, referred to as “Resisters,” exhibit a naturally elevated capacity to fight infections. The research hypothesis proposes that this resistance is strongly linked to unique features of their gut microbiome.

By studying the blood and gut microbiome profiles of these high-immunity individuals, researchers aim to identify specific bacterial strains and microbial metabolites that enhance immune system performance. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings into a broadly applicable prophylactic probiotic that can strengthen immune defenses at the population level.

Scientific Context and Rationale

The human gut microbiome plays a central role in immune regulation, metabolic balance, and inflammatory response. Recent studies have demonstrated direct associations between gut microbiome composition and COVID-19 severity, allergy development, and vaccine responsiveness.

While existing commercial probiotics have demonstrated modest protective effects against respiratory infections, this project seeks to move beyond incremental benefits. By leveraging advanced sequencing technologies, metabolomics, and immunological assays, the research aims to identify a highly specific and synergistic bacterial consortium capable of delivering a substantially stronger immune-support effect.

Public Health Significance

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need for faster, more adaptable immune defense strategies. A general prophylactic probiotic could provide an additional layer of protection during the early stages of future pandemics, reducing disease severity and buying critical time while vaccines and therapeutics are developed.

Beyond pandemic preparedness, such a technology could significantly reduce the burden of common infections, improving quality of life and alleviating healthcare system costs. In the United States alone, influenza-related costs are estimated to exceed $90 billion annually.

Research Methodology and Objectives

The project follows a structured, multi-phase research strategy:

Identification of Resisters
Recruitment of twelve individuals with documented histories of unusually high resistance to common infections. Blood and stool samples are collected under controlled conditions to preserve bacterial viability and DNA integrity.

Microbiome and Immune Profiling

Long-read nanopore sequencing is used to characterize gut microbiome composition and generate metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs).

Plasma samples undergo cytokine multiplexing and untargeted metabolomic analysis to identify immune signaling patterns and microbial-derived metabolites associated with the Resister phenotype.

Isolation and Functional Validation
Target bacterial strains are isolated using advanced culturomics techniques and tested individually and in consortia. Functional validation is performed using human-derived THP-1 macrophage infection models to assess the bacteria’s ability to enhance immune-mediated pathogen clearance.

This integrated approach allows for both mechanistic understanding and translational development of a prototype immune-supporting probiotic.

About the Research Team

The project is led by a multidisciplinary team combining academic excellence and industry expertise:

Daniel Norment, PhD candidate and investigator, specializes in human gut microbiology and translational sequencing analysis, with prior industry experience at Holobiome.

Dr. Kim Lewis, University Distinguished Professor and Director of the Antimicrobial Discovery Center at Northeastern University, is an internationally recognized expert in microbiology, antibiotic discovery, and microbiome research, with over 100 scientific publications.

Dr. Philip Strandwitz, microbiome scientist and CEO of Holobiome, is a pioneer in cultivating previously uncultured gut bacteria and has successfully translated microbiome science into biotech innovation, raising over $20 million in non-dilutive and venture funding.

Role of Corporação Saulo Neto

Corporação Saulo Neto is a Brazilian private initiative dedicated to supporting experimental research, scientific innovation, and advanced technological development. By financially supporting and endorsing this project, the organization reinforces its commitment to globally relevant scientific causes that combine methodological rigor, innovation, and long-term societal impact.

The organization operates independently and does not seek commercial control over the research outcomes, focusing instead on enabling scientific progress and international collaboration.

Additional Information

The research is supported by a strong foundation of peer-reviewed scientific literature, including studies published in Nature Microbiology, Nature Communications, The Journal of Nutrition, and BMJ, among others.