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NCT Number: NCT06574724

Transfer of Microorganisms Between Green Areas and Humans

The goal of this study is to understand how visiting green areas affects the human microbiome through microbial transfer. Additionally, the project aims to understand which environmental, health and lifestyle factors can influence these microbiome changes. Participants will visit a green area, provide microbiome samples before and after the visit, and complete questionnaires related to environmental, health, lifestyle and demographic factors.

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Key information

Conditions

Microbial Colonization Communicable Diseases Disease Attributes Infections Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Age range

4 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

Several hypotheses propose that the modern surge in immune disorders is related to diminished contact with nature. Specifically, the Biodiversity hypothesis emphasizes that contact with natural environments enriches the human microbiome and is necessary for promoting immune balance. This project aims to investigate whether visiting green areas can contribute to changes in human microbiome composition. Additionally, the investigators aim to explore the environmental, health and lifestyle factors that can influence these microbiome changes. Adults and/or children will be asked to visit a green space (such as an urban park) and perform specific activities (such as walking or pushing a stroller) for a defined time period. Before and after this visit, swabs of their skin and nose will be collected to analyze microbiome changes. In addition, questionnaires will be administered to the participants, with the goal to align microbiome changes with environmental, health, lifestyle and demographic factors.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Children (min. 4 years old) and adult participants (18+) of any gender in generally good health.

No strict exclusion criteria will be set in advance.

Treatment and study plan

Visiting a green space

Other

Participants are asked to visit a green space for a defined time period

Primary outcomes

  1. Microbiome changes

    Time frame: Two time points directly before and after the intervention (on 1 day)

    Microbiome sequencing will be performed to assess changes in microbial community composition of nasal and skin swabs, focusing on abundances and diversity of different microorganisms and their genes

Secondary outcomes

  1. Specific microorganisms within the skin and nasal microbiomes

    Time frame: Two time points directly before and after the intervention (on 1 day)

    Specific microorganisms within the participants' microbiomes will be assessed through culturing of swabs and/or quantification via qPCR

  2. Associations between the human microbiome and environment

    Time frame: Two time points directly before and after the intervention (on 1 day)

    Human microbiome composition and diversity (as assessed in outcome "Microbiome changes") will be correlated with the green space environment characteristics, such as the environmental (microbiome) biodiversity

Other outcomes

  1. Self-reported lifestyle

    Time frame: One time point directly before or after the intervention (on 1 day)

    Lifestyle will be assessed using a short questionnaire to understand how it might impact the microbiome (as assessed in outcome "Microbiome changes"), reflecting lifestyle-related parameters such as weekly time spent outdoors (in hours) and frequency of exposure to green environments (e.g., once a year)

  2. Self-reported health

    Time frame: One time point directly before or after the intervention (on 1 day)

    Self-reported general health will be assessed using a short questionnaire to understand how it might impact the microbiome (as assessed in outcome "Microbiome changes"), reflecting health-related parameters such as a health rating (from very poor to very good)

  3. Self-reported demographic information

    Time frame: One time point directly before or after the intervention (on 1 day)

    Demographic information will be assessed using a short questionnaire to understand how it might impact the microbiome (as assessed in outcome "Microbiome changes"), reflecting demographic parameters such as age (in years), gender, and parent-child relationship (having one or more children)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Irina Spacova, Prof.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+32 3 265 32 89

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universiteit Antwerpen

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Aug 28, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 5, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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