Background pattern of a brain with neural connections

Team Schapira

The genome-microbiome axis in the cause of Parkinson disease: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic implications from experimental models and a genetically stratified patient population.

2020-Present

We think that the combination of one’s genetic makeup and microbiome are important in their risk for getting PD. We will look at people with GBA mutations to see if their risk for PD is caused by their gut bacteria, and to see if their bacteria increase alpha-synuclein transport from gut to brain. We will use mouth and fecal samples from people with GBA-PD to identify the bacteria special to them and how these might increase alpha-synuclein and cause PD. We will also use special lab models to study the changes that link the bacteria and inflammation to alpha-synuclein and its spread from the gut to the brain. We will explore methods to change the bacterial composition of the microbiome to see if this can stop alpha-synuclein transport to the brain.

Tags
Alpha-synuclein GBA (Glucocerebrosidase) Genome-microbiome interactions Microbiome

Leadership

Anthony Schapira

Anthony Schapira

Lead PI (Core Leadership)

Mathieu Almeida

Mathieu Almeida

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Fabio Blandini

Fabio Blandini

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Michela Deleidi

Michela Deleidi

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Donato Di Monte

Donato Di Monte

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Sofia Koletsi

Sofia Koletsi

Project Manager

Project Highlights

Microbiome signature of Parkinson disease in healthy and genetically at-risk individuals

Parkinson disease (PD) is a major cause of disability with significant personal and system financial implications[1](https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.19.25327907v1#ref-1),[2](https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.19.25327907v1#ref-2). *GBA1* variants are the commonest genetic risk factor for PD and increase the risk up to 30-fold[3](https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.19.25327907v1#ref-3),[4](https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.19.25327907v1#ref-4). Why only ∼20% of *GBA1* variant carriers develop PD remains unknown. Here, by combining clinical and faecal metagenomics data from PD...

Contributions

Here is an overview of how this team’s article findings have contributed to the PD field as of June 2025. There are two different categorizations of these contributions – one by impact to the PD community and a second by scientific category.

Impact

Category

Accolades

Members of the team have been recognized for their contributions.

Open Science Champions

Michael Hurley

Awards

2023 Collaborative Meeting

COSA Prize Winners 2022

COSA Prize Winners 2024

Network Spotlights

Michela Deleidi, Marco Toffoli, Sofia Koletsi, Mathieu Almeida, Anthony Schapira, Sara Lucas Del Pozo

In the News

Updates will be posted when available.

Our Research Teams

Members of the CRN work diligently to advance our understanding of Parkinson’s disease. Learn more about recent CRN discoveries and achievements.

Explore the Research Community