Transfer of Microorganisms Between Green Areas and Humans
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Visiting a green space.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Microbial Colonization. Basic parameters: from 4 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Belgium
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Overview
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
- Other Visiting a green space
Participants are asked to visit a green space for a defined time period
Primary outcome measures
- Microbiome changes [Time frame: Two time points directly before and after the intervention (on 1 day)]
Secondary outcome measures (2)
- Specific microorganisms within the skin and nasal microbiomes [Time frame: Two time points directly before and after the intervention (on 1 day)]
- Associations between the human microbiome and environment [Time frame: Two time points directly before and after the intervention (on 1 day)]
Eligibility criteria
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.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- N/A
- Model
- Single group
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
Study locations
Belgium · 1 center
- Universiteit Antwerpen — Antwerp
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06574724 · B3002024000110