scholarly journals Exploring the microbiome in health and disease

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 239784731774188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Scotti ◽  
Stéphanie Boué ◽  
Giuseppe Lo Sasso ◽  
Filippo Zanetti ◽  
Vincenzo Belcastro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Skin Diseases ◽  
Human Microbiome ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Dynamics And Function ◽  
And Function

The analysis of human microbiome is an exciting and rapidly expanding field of research. In the past decade, the biological relevance of the microbiome for human health has become evident. Microbiome comprises a complex collection of microorganisms, with their genes and metabolites, colonizing different body niches. It is now well known that the microbiome interacts with its host, assisting in the bioconversion of nutrients and detoxification, supporting immunity, protecting against pathogenic microbes, and maintaining health. Remarkable new findings showed that our microbiome not only primarily affects the health and function of the gastrointestinal tract but also has a strong influence on general body health through its close interaction with the nervous system and the lung. Therefore, a perfect and sensitive balanced interaction of microbes with the host is required for a healthy body. In fact, growing evidence suggests that the dynamics and function of the indigenous microbiota can be influenced by many factors, including genetics, diet, age, and toxicological agents like cigarette smoke, environmental contaminants, and drugs. The disruption of this balance, that is called dysbiosis, is associated with a plethora of diseases, including metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, periodontitis, skin diseases, and neurological disorders. The importance of the host microbiome for the human health has also led to the emergence of novel therapeutic approaches focused on the intentional manipulation of the microbiota, either by restoring missing functions or eliminating harmful roles. In the present review, we outline recent studies devoted to elucidate not only the role of microbiome in health conditions and the possible link with various types of diseases but also the influence of various toxicological factors on the microbial composition and function.

scholarly journals Predicting the risk of atherosclerosis in patients with cystic fibrosis – rationale and design of a prospective cohort study

2015 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-128
Author(s):  
Edyta Mądry ◽  
Jan Nowak ◽  
Andrzej Wykrętowicz ◽  
Ewa Wenska-Chyży ◽  
Anna Miśkiewicz-Chotnicka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Science Center ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Endogenous Factors

The project “Risk of atherosclerosis in cystic fibrosis in relation to the exogenous and endogenous factors that influence the course of the disease” ranked first in the OPUS2 Competition, as announced in May 2012 by the Polish National Science Center. The total value of the grant is 198,580 PLN (ca. 50,000 EUR). The grant was awarded jointly to the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases and to the Department of Cardiac Intensive Care at Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland. The project will be focused on conducting a prospective cohort study in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and healthy controls. Cases of symptomatic and asymptomatic forms of coronary heart disease in patients with CF were reported [1, 2]; however, no data on the epidemiology of atherosclerosis in patients with CF were published so far. In the past, cardiovascular disease in patients with CF used to be limited to pulmonary heart disease as a consequence of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [3]. Although hypertension has not yet been officially recognized as a major problem in this population [4], there are reports indicating that it is found in 20% of patients in adult CF care centers [5]. The project is innovative in nature and necessitates close co-operation between cardiology and basic science units.

scholarly journals Peripheral blood microbial signatures in current and former smokers

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarrett D. Morrow ◽  
Peter J. Castaldi ◽  
Robert P. Chase ◽  
Jeong H. Yun ◽  
Sool Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Interaction Analysis ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Human Microbiome ◽  
Independent Set ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Dyspnea Score ◽  
Former Smokers

AbstractThe human microbiome has a role in the development of multiple diseases. Individual microbiome profiles are highly personalized, though many species are shared. Understanding the relationship between the human microbiome and disease may inform future individualized treatments. We hypothesize the blood microbiome signature may be a surrogate for some lung microbial characteristics. We sought associations between the blood microbiome signature and lung-relevant host factors. Based on reads not mapped to the human genome, we detected microbial nucleic acids through secondary use of peripheral blood RNA-sequencing from 2,590 current and former smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from the COPDGene study. We used the Genome Analysis Toolkit (GATK) microbial pipeline PathSeq to infer microbial profiles. We tested associations between the inferred profiles and lung disease relevant phenotypes and examined links to host gene expression pathways. We replicated our analyses using a second independent set of blood RNA-seq data from 1,065 COPDGene study subjects and performed a meta-analysis across the two studies. The four phyla with highest abundance across all subjects were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. In our meta-analysis, we observed associations (q-value < 0.05) between Acinetobacter, Serratia, Streptococcus and Bacillus inferred abundances and Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score. Current smoking status was associated (q < 0.05) with Acinetobacter, Serratia and Cutibacterium abundance. All 12 taxa investigated were associated with at least one white blood cell distribution variable. Abundance for nine of the 12 taxa was associated with sex, and seven of the 12 taxa were associated with race. Host-microbiome interaction analysis revealed clustering of genera associated with mMRC dyspnea score and smoking status, through shared links to several host pathways. This study is the first to identify a bacterial microbiome signature in the peripheral blood of current and former smokers. Understanding the relationships between systemic microbial signatures and lung-related phenotypes may inform novel interventions and aid understanding of the systemic effects of smoking.

scholarly journals Immunoproteasomes as a novel antiviral mechanism in rhinovirus-infected airways

2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (15) ◽  
pp. 1711-1723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kris Genelyn Dimasuay ◽  
Amelia Sanchez ◽  
Niccolette Schaefer ◽  
Jorge Polanco ◽  
Deborah A. Ferrington ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
Antigen Processing ◽  
Lower Airway ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Deficient Mouse ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Tracheal Epithelial Cells ◽  
And Function

Rhinovirus (RV) infection is involved in acute exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RV primarily infects upper and lower airway epithelium. Immunoproteasomes (IP) are proteolytic machineries with multiple functions including the regulation of MHC class I antigen processing during viral infection. However, the role of IP in RV infection has not been explored. We sought to investigate the expression and function of IP during airway RV infection. Primary human tracheobronchial epithelial (HTBE) cells were cultured at air–liquid interface (ALI) and treated with RV16, RV1B, or interferon (IFN)-λ in the absence or presence of an IP inhibitor (ONX-0914). IP gene (i.e. LMP2) deficient mouse tracheal epithelial cells (mTECs) were cultured for the mechanistic studies. LMP2-deficient mouse model was used to define the in vivo role of IP in RV infection. IP subunits LMP2 and LMP7, antiviral genes MX1 and OAS1 and viral load were measured. Both RV16 and RV1B significantly increased the expression of LMP2 and LMP7 mRNA and proteins, and IFN-λ mRNA in HTBE cells. ONX-0914 down-regulated MX1 and OAS1, and increased RV16 load in HTBE cells. LMP2-deficient mTECs showed a significant increase in RV1B load compared with the wild-type (WT) cells. LMP2-deficient (compared with WT) mice increased viral load and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid after 24 h of RV1B infection. Mechanistically, IFN-λ induction by RV infection contributed to LMP2 and LMP7 up-regulation in HTBE cells. Our data suggest that IP are induced during airway RV infection, which in turn may serve as an antiviral and anti-inflammatory mechanism.

scholarly journals Computational Modeling of the Human Microbiome

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 197
Author(s):  
Shomeek Chowdhury ◽  
Stephen S. Fong
Keyword(s):  
Computational Modeling ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Human Microbiome ◽  
Human Microbiome Project ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Microbiome Research ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact

The impact of microorganisms on human health has long been acknowledged and studied, but recent advances in research methodologies have enabled a new systems-level perspective on the collections of microorganisms associated with humans, the human microbiome. Large-scale collaborative efforts such as the NIH Human Microbiome Project have sought to kick-start research on the human microbiome by providing foundational information on microbial composition based upon specific sites across the human body. Here, we focus on the four main anatomical sites of the human microbiome: gut, oral, skin, and vaginal, and provide information on site-specific background, experimental data, and computational modeling. Each of the site-specific microbiomes has unique organisms and phenomena associated with them; there are also high-level commonalities. By providing an overview of different human microbiome sites, we hope to provide a perspective where detailed, site-specific research is needed to understand causal phenomena that impact human health, but there is equally a need for more generalized methodology improvements that would benefit all human microbiome research.

scholarly journals The Gut Microbiome and Xenobiotics: Identifying Knowledge Gaps

2020 ◽  
Vol 176 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vicki L Sutherland ◽  
Charlene A McQueen ◽  
Donna Mendrick ◽  
Donna Gulezian ◽  
Carl Cerniglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Gut Microbiome ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Breakout Group ◽  
Data Gaps ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
And Function

Abstract There is an increasing awareness that the gut microbiome plays a critical role in human health and disease, but mechanistic insights are often lacking. In June 2018, the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) held a workshop, “The Gut Microbiome: Markers of Human Health, Drug Efficacy and Xenobiotic Toxicity” (https://hesiglobal.org/event/the-gut-microbiome-workshop) to identify data gaps in determining how gut microbiome alterations may affect human health. Speakers and stakeholders from academia, government, and industry addressed multiple topics including the current science on the gut microbiome, endogenous and exogenous metabolites, biomarkers, and model systems. The workshop presentations and breakout group discussions formed the basis for identifying data gaps and research needs. Two critical issues that emerged were defining the microbial composition and function related to health and developing standards for models, methods and analysis in order to increase the ability to compare and replicate studies. A series of key recommendations were formulated to focus efforts to further understand host-microbiome interactions and the consequences of exposure to xenobiotics as well as identifying biomarkers of microbiome-associated disease and toxicity.

Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation: A New Therapeutic and Rehabilitation Strategy in the ICU

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Gerovasili ◽  
Serafim N Nanas
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Critical Illness ◽  
Critically Ill ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Early Mobilization ◽  
Alternative Form ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
And Function

Many critically ill patients undergo a period of immobilization with detrimental effects on skeletal muscle, effects which seem most pronounced in the first days of critical illness. Diagnosis of intensive care unit muscle weakness (ICUAW) is often made after discontinuation of sedation when significant nerve and/or muscle damage may already have occurred. Recently, there has been interest in early mobilization during the acute phase of critical illness, with the goal of preventing ICUAW. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NEMS) is an alternative form of exercise that has been successfully used in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure. NEMS is a rehabilitation tool that can be used in critically ill, sedated patients, does not require patient cooperation, and is therefore a promising intervention to prevent muscle dysfunction in the critically ill. When applied early during the course of critical illness, NEMS can preserve muscle morphology and function. Available evidence suggests that NEMS may have a preventive role in the development of ICUAW and could even contribute to a shorter duration of weaning from mechanical ventilation. Studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effect of NEMS and to explore NEMS settings and delivery characteristics most appropriate for different subgroups of critically ill patients.

Brain Structure and Function in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

2012 ◽  
Vol 186 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Dodd ◽  
Ai Wern Chung ◽  
Martin D. van den Broek ◽  
Thomas R. Barrick ◽  
Rebecca A. Charlton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Brain Structure And Function ◽  
And Function

scholarly journals Health effects of long-term exposure to air pollution: An overview of major respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and diabetes

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (4-2) ◽  
pp. 617-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zorana Jovanovic-Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Convincing Evidence ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Public Health Burden

Large number of studies provided convincing evidence for adverse effects of exposure to outdoor air pollution on human health, and served as basis for current USA and EU Air Quality Standards and limit values. Still, new knowledge is emerging, expanding our understanding of vast effects of exposure to air pollution on human health of this ubiquitous exposure affecting millions of people in urban setting. This paper focuses on the studies of health effects of long-term (chronic) exposures to air pollution, and includes major chronic and acute diseases in adults and especially elderly, which will present increasing public health burden, due to improving longevity and projected increasing numbers of elderly. The paper gives overview over the most relevant and latest literature presented by different health outcomes: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

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