Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Rachel Bernard, Irtiqa Fazili, Seesandra V. Rajagopala, Suman R. Das, Girish Hiremath
Summary: Further research is necessary to uncover the mechanisms by which the oral microbiome impacts the development and progression of esophageal diseases, as well as to explore if changes in the oral microbiome can influence the natural course of different esophageal conditions.
DIGESTIVE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Allergy
Christian Rosas-Salazar, Zheng-Zheng Tang, Meghan H. Shilts, Kedir N. Turi, Qilin Hong, Derek A. Wiggins, Christian E. Lynch, Tebeb Gebretsadik, James D. Chappell, R. Stokes Peebles, Larry J. Anderson, Suman R. Das, Tina Hartert
Summary: The study found that the upper respiratory tract (URT) microbiome during RSV ARI in infancy is associated with the acute local immune response, disease severity, and number of wheezing episodes in the fourth year of life. The diversity of the URT microbiome is related to the course of RSV ARI, and there are complex interactions between the URT microbiome and the immune system.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Charles R. Esther, Kyle S. Kimura, Yu Mikami, Caitlin E. Edwards, Suman R. Das, Michael H. Freeman, Britton A. Strickland, Hunter M. Brown, Bronson C. Wessinger, Veerain C. Gupta, Kate Von Wahlde, Quanhu Sheng, Li Ching Huang, Daniel R. Bacon, Adam J. Kimple, Agathe S. Ceppe, Takafumi Kato, Raymond J. Pickles, Scott H. Randell, Ralph S. Baric, Justin H. Turner, Richard C. Boucher
Summary: This study assessed the efficacy of a detergent-based virucidal agent in SARS-CoV-2-infected subjects and found that it had no impact on viral load or symptom scores in the clinical trial. Complementary in vitro studies confirmed this lack of efficacy, indicating a failure in drug absorption.
INTERNATIONAL FORUM OF ALLERGY & RHINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Meghan H. Shilts, Christian Rosas-Salazar, Britton A. Strickland, Kyle S. Kimura, Mohammad Asad, Esha Sehanobish, Michael H. Freeman, Bronson C. Wessinger, Veerain Gupta, Hunter M. Brown, Helen H. Boone, Viraj Patel, Mali Barbi, Danielle Bottalico, Meaghan O'Neill, Nadeem Akbar, Seesandra V. Rajagopala, Simon Mallal, Elizabeth Phillips, Justin H. Turner, Elina Jerschow, Suman R. Das
Summary: This study aims to investigate the association between COVID-19 severity and the upper respiratory tract microbiome. The study found that as the severity of COVID-19 increased, the bacterial load, bacterial richness, and within-group microbiome composition dissimilarity in the upper respiratory tract also increased, while the relative abundance of a specific amplicon sequence variant decreased.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jesse O. Wrenn, Suman B. Pakala, Grant Vestal, Meghan H. Shilts, Hunter M. Brown, Sara M. Bowen, Britton A. Strickland, Timothy Williams, Simon A. Mallal, Ian D. Jones, Jonathan E. Schmitz, Wesley H. Self, Suman R. Das
Summary: The clinical outcomes of infections caused by the Omicron variant were compared to those caused by the Delta variant. It was found that infections caused by the Omicron variant were less severe, with significantly lower morbidity and mortality rates, compared to those caused by the Delta variant.
INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
(2022)
Article
Allergy
Christian Rosas-Salazar, Meghan H. Shilts, Zheng-Zheng Tang, Qilin Hong, Kedir N. Turi, Brittney M. Snyder, Derek A. Wiggins, Christian E. Lynch, Tebeb Gebretsadik, R. Stokes Peebles, Larry J. Anderson, Suman R. Das, Tina V. Hartert
Summary: Exclusive breast-feeding has a protective causal role in reducing the risk of lower respiratory tract infections, asthma, and allergic rhinitis in childhood. This association may be mediated through its impact on the early-life upper respiratory tract and gut microbiome, as well as the immune response in infancy.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Archana Gopalakrishnan, John Joseph, Kari Ann Shirey, Achsah D. Keegan, Marina S. Boukhvalova, Stefanie N. Vogel, Jorge C. G. Blanco
Summary: Many respiratory viruses can cause acute lung injury, cytokine storm, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and death. This study reveals that the PPARγ/RXR heterodimers, which control macrophage differentiation, can affect lung damage caused by influenza infection. Treatment with PPARγ/RXR agonists inhibits inflammation and enhances resistance to influenza in mice and cotton rats.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stefanie N. Vogel, Katharina Richard, Kari Ann Shirey, Fatoumata Y. D. Sylla, Marina S. Boukhvalova, Jorge C. G. Blanco
Summary: This article pays tribute to Howard Young, a scientist who has provided exceptional mentorship in molecular biology. The author expresses gratitude for his guidance and hopes to continue sharing a passion for learning and mentoring others.
JOURNAL OF INTERFERON AND CYTOKINE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Britton A. Strickland, Seesandra Rajagopala, Arash Kamali, Meghan H. Shilts, Suman B. Pakala, Marina S. Boukhvalova, Shibu Yooseph, Jorge C. G. Blanco, Suman R. Das
Summary: This study generated comprehensive transcriptomes from multiple tissues of two species of cotton rats and compared gene expression changes and immune responses to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection between the two species. The transcriptomes serve as resources for future gene expression analysis studies and provide gene sequences for mechanistic characterization of molecular pathways. The results provide insights into the effect of host genetics on host-virus interactions and identify new host therapeutic targets for RSV treatment and prevention.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Akihiro Nakajima, Satoru Mitomo, Haruhito Yuki, Makoto Araki, Lena Marie Seegers, Iris McNulty, Hang Lee, David Kuter, Midori Ishibashi, Kazuna Kobayashi, Jouke Dijkstra, Hirokazu Onishi, Hiroto Yabushita, Satoshi Matsuoka, Hiroyoshi Kawamoto, Yusuke Watanabe, Kentaro Tanaka, Shengpu Chou, Toru Naganuma, Masaaki Okutsu, Satoko Tahara, Naoyuki Kurita, Shotaro Nakamura, Suman Das, Sunao Nakamura, Ik-Kyung Jang
Summary: This study identified gut bacteria associated with vulnerable coronary plaque and greater plaque burden, which were also associated with elevated inflammatory or prothrombotic biomarkers.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marina S. Boukhvalova, Emma Mortensen, Jessica Caple, John Joseph, Fatoumata Sylla, Arash Kamali, Daniel Stylos, Diego Lopez, Thomas March, Kevin Matthew Byrd, Gregory A. Prince, Ariel Arndt, Adriana Kajon, Jorge C. G. Blanco
Summary: Research shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection in cotton rats affects multiple organs and systems, targeting species- and age-specific biological processes. The virus may disrupt regulatory mechanisms, posing a devastating impact on individuals with underlying conditions and the elderly.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jorge C. G. Blanco, Lori M. Cullen, Arash Kamali, Fatoumata Y. D. Sylla, Zenab Chinmoun, Marina S. Boukhvalova, Trudy G. Morrison
Summary: Maternal immunization with RSV virus-like particles (VLPs) can enhance protection against RSV and impact the immune and inflammatory response in offspring's lungs.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Stephanie Goya, Maria Florencia Lucion, Meghan H. Shilts, Maria del Valle Juarez, Angela Gentile, Alicia S. Mistchenko, Mariana Viegas, Suman R. Das
Summary: Globally, the human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children. This study sequenced the complete genomes of RSV from pediatric patients in Buenos Aires and found that RSV-B was dominant from 2014 to 2016 before being abruptly replaced by RSV-A in 2017. The decrease in RSV genomic diversity observed in Buenos Aires in 2016 may have allowed the RSV-A predominance switch in 2017.
Article
Virology
Kevin C. Yim, Jarrod J. Mousa, Jorge C. G. Blanco, Sonnie Kim, Marina S. Boukhvalova
Summary: This study used an immunosuppressed animal model to study human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection. The results showed that immunosuppressed animals had prolonged viral replication in the respiratory tract, delayed pathological changes, and increased chemokine expression. Additionally, prophylactic and therapeutic administration of an anti-hMPV antibody showed protective effects. These findings suggest that immunosuppressed animal models are useful for studying hMPV pathogenesis and evaluating therapeutic approaches.
Article
Virology
Jorge C. G. Blanco, Lori M. Cullen, Arash Kamali, Fatouomata Y. D. Sylla, Marina S. Boukhvalova, Trudy G. Morrison
Summary: This study compared immune responses after virus-like particle (VLP) immunization in elderly and young cotton rats previously infected with RSV. The results showed that the VLP vaccine was equally effective in activating protective responses in both elderly and young populations. Therefore, VLPs containing F and G proteins can be an effective vaccine for the elderly.
