CSIR to develop non-invasive techniques for detecting Parkinson’s, hepatitis

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched a project to develop non-invasive techniques for detecting several “hard-to-treat” medical disorders by manipulating microorganisms present in the digestive system. This initiative will enable precise and faster therapy more attuned to Indian conditions. Titled “Comprehensive Analysis of Niche Microbial Dysbiosis in Human Diseases”, the project will cover five disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, acne, inflammatory bowel disease, and severe alcoholic hepatitis. The Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, is the nodal laboratory for the project, and five CSIR laboratories are involved in the research work. The project is expected to be completed in about three years.

“Most medical disorders are connected with the gut,” said Dr Rashmi Kumar, who is heading the project at IMTECH. “If we can identify the microbial signatures present in the gut of humans from blood or stool samples and then manipulate or modify them, we will be able to devise more effective remedies,” she added. Artificial intelligence models will be integrated into the analysis tools to create a non-invasive model that can predict the stage and onset of a disease simply by checking the patient’s gut profile.

Microorganisms, commonly called microbes, are microscopic living organisms found everywhere in the environment and within living organisms, including humans. Some are beneficial, aiding in processes like digestion and nutrient release, while others can cause diseases. The aim is to identify a microbial sequence that develops when an ailment or disorder begins to set in a healthy individual. The premise is that an imbalance or change in gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, is a direct cause or a key indicator of these disorders.

Dr Rashmi noted that an individual’s eating habits, probiotics, and other environmental and genetic factors impact gut health. Every individual has a particular microbial population that determines how it changes or associates with disease. “If we can adjust the gut microbiome, it can be easily tolerated and have fewer side effects. This will be very helpful for chronic diseases where traditional therapy is lengthy and has high side effects,” she said.

However, currently, no large medical datasets pertaining to the Indian population are available, and primarily Western standards are being used to determine the cause of disorders and remedial actions. CSIR is already undertaking a wider five-year study to develop indigenous standards for medical diagnosis and treatment that would be more attuned to the Indian population than the Western standards currently being followed. The allopathic system of medicine currently in vogue in India is based on parameters devised by the West.

The scientific and medical fraternity views that the genetic profile, genealogy, environment, living conditions, diet, and level of physical activity of the population in the subcontinent are quite different from those in the West, and hence, the medical parameters devised for the Western populace may not be ideal for Indian conditions.