Article
Microbiology
Rabia Maqsood, Joshua B. Reus, Lily I. Wu, LaRinda A. Holland, Ruth Nduati, Dorothy Mbori-Ngacha, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Emily R. Begnel, Soren Gantt, Ednah Ojee, Dalton Wamalwa, Grace John-Stewart, Jennifer Slyker, Dara A. Lehman, Efrem S. Lim
Summary: Breast milk microbiota is diverse and the virome is dominated by human cytomegalovirus (CMV) in women living with HIV. The microbial communities in breast milk remain resilient despite immunosuppression, and there is no significant association between virome or bacterial microbiome composition and infant mortality.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael J. Tisza, Christopher B. Buck
Summary: Despite the challenges, this study reveals over 45,000 unique virus taxa sequences from thousands of datasets, with historically high per-genome completeness. By reanalyzing large publicly available case-control studies, over 2,200 strong virus-disease associations are found.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Pediatrics
Alessandra Consales, Jacopo Cerasani, Gabriele Sorrentino, Daniela Morniroli, Lorenzo Colombo, Fabio Mosca, Maria Lorella Gianni
Summary: Human milk microbiome (HMM), which includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, and yeasts, may impact the infant's gut microbiome and immune system, and may have evolutionary significance. Understanding the origin, determinants, and impact of HMM on infant health is crucial.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Evelien M. Adriaenssens
Summary: The importance of bacteriophages has been increasingly recognized in the past 20 years, with research showing their significance in various environments globally. Genomic diversity surpasses morphological diversity, and the lack of a complete taxonomic framework results in the loss of crucial information.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Feng Liao, Jing Qian, Ruian Yang, Wenpeng Gu, Rufang Li, Tingting Yang, Xiaoqing Fu, Bing Yuan, Yunhui Zhang
Summary: This study analyzed the gut microbiome of migratory seagulls using metagenomics, DNA virome, and RNA virome approaches. The results showed that the gut microbiome of migratory seagulls is closely related to human activities and poses a potential public health risk.
Review
Immunology
Solveig Runge, Stephan Patrick Rosshart
Summary: The field of microbiome research has rapidly developed and become a major topic of interest for various research fields and industries. The microbiome, including various microorganisms and their genes, plays a crucial role in mammalian physiology, particularly in immune system development and function. Studies should not only focus on the gut bacterial microbiota, but also consider the impact of other microorganisms on host immunity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Amr El-Sayed, Lotfi Aleya, Mohamed Kamel
Summary: The microbiome refers to the community of microorganisms living inside human/animal bodies or on their skin, including trillions of commensals, symbiotics, and even pathogenic microorganisms. It has a significant impact on health and disease, influencing the development of conditions like cancer, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and even psychological disorders. Recent studies have highlighted its dynamic nature and its potential role in the prevention and treatment of various health disorders.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Cristina Sanchez, Cristina Fente, Patricia Regal, Alexandre Lamas, Maria Paz Lorenzo
Summary: Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are an important component of breast milk that play a key role in promoting the growth of beneficial gut microbiota in infants. Variations in HMO composition can be influenced by maternal genetics, among other factors, and impact the microbiota colonization of babies.
Review
Microbiology
Yingying Zhang, Ran Wang
Summary: The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by various microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, viruses, and eukaryotes. While the impact of bacteria on human health is well-studied, the role of viruses, particularly phages, is less understood. Phages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria and have a symbiotic relationship with their host. Although advances in sequencing technology have improved our understanding of the human gut phageome, there is still much uncharacteized data. Prior to investigating phage function, it is necessary to establish a comprehensive sequencing database and understand the impact of phage-bacteria interactions on human health.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Qi Sun, Leqian Li, Hao Zhou, Ying Wu, Yubo Gao, Bingyi Wu, Yifeng Qiu, Zhipeng Zhou, Qixiang Song, Jie Zhao, Peng Wu
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the role of urinary viruses in women with OAB and analyze the relationship between viruses, bacteria, and the disease. The results showed that viruses detected in the urine of OAB patients were associated with more severe symptoms.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Aisha Alamri
Summary: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with a rising global incidence. Factors such as strict hygiene compliance and early exposure to antibiotics are linked to changes in the biological environment within the airways, leading to allergies like asthma. Further research is needed to understand the impact of microbial diversity on asthma pathogenesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Paraskevi C. Fragkou, Dareilena Karaviti, Michael Zemlin, Chrysanthi Skevaki
Summary: The first 1000 days of life, including the intrauterine period, are crucial for human development, with nutrition playing a key role in proper child development and affecting the composition of the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota, comprising various microorganisms, is highly influenced by diet and lifestyle, in turn affecting the immune system in complex ways. Many noncommunicable diseases associated with dysbiosis are programmed during childhood, highlighting the importance of nutrition on microbiota composition and the development of such diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Dae Yong Yi, Su Yeong Kim
Summary: Human breast milk provides essential nutrients for early human growth and development, as well as immunologic components that support infant immunity. Its unique microbiome contributes to infant gut colonization, while extracellular vesicles and microRNA play important roles in infant development. Overall, the various components in human breast milk have significant health effects and potential applications in human health.
Review
Microbiology
Ciara A. Tobin, Colin Hill, Andrey N. Shkoporov
Summary: The gut microbiome consists of a dense and metabolically active community of microorganisms and viruses in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria and their viruses are the most abundant members of the gut microbiome. Investigating their biology and interactions is crucial for understanding their roles in human health and disease. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the taxonomic structure and ecological functions of the gut phageome, discussing the impact of age, diet, and geography on its composition. It also evaluates the potential link between changes in the gut phageome and diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and colorectal cancer, highlighting the need for standardization in research methods.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Joshua M. Borin, Roland Liu, Yanhan Wang, Tsung-Chin Wu, Jessica Chopyk, Lina Huang, Peiting Kuo, Chandrabali Ghose, Justin R. Meyer, Xin M. Tu, Bernd Schnabl, David T. Pride
Summary: The gastrointestinal microbiome plays an important role in modulating host processes including metabolism. Previous studies have shown that fecal transplants from obese donors can lead to obese phenotypes in recipient mice, highlighting the role of gut microbiota in determining lean and obese phenotypes. In this study, researchers investigated the impact of gut viruses on these phenotypes and found that transplanted viruses affected the gut bacterial community and weight gain/loss in mice. The results suggest that virome-mediated perturbations can alter the fecal microbiome and drive lean and obese phenotypes in mice.
Article
Microbiology
Rebecca Yee, Thao Truong, Pia S. Pannaraj, Natalie Eubanks, Emily Gai, Jaycee Jumarang, Lauren Turner, Ariana Peralta, Yesun Lee, Jennifer Dien Bard
Summary: Overall concordances for saliva and NPS were 91.0% and 94.7% respectively, with positive percent agreement (PPA) values of 81.4% and 89.7%. Saliva detected 10 additional positive cases compared to NPS. Both saliva and NPS showed comparable performance for symptomatic and asymptomatic pediatric patients not previously diagnosed with COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Wesley A. Cheng, Lauren Turner, Carolyn J. Marentes Ruiz, Melissa L. Tanaka, Zion Congrave-Wilson, Yesun Lee, Jaycee Jumarang, Stephanie Perez, Ariana Peralta, Pia S. Pannaraj
Summary: Age and obesity status are related to severe outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This study found that children with COVID-19 have fewer and shorter symptoms compared to adolescents and adults, while individuals classified as overweight or obese experience more respiratory symptoms, especially cough and shortness of breath.
INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Stephanie E. Perez, Luis Diego Luna Centeno, Wesley A. Cheng, Carolyn Jennifer Marentes Ruiz, Yesun Lee, Zion Congrave-Wilson, Rebecca L. Powell, Lisa Stellwagen, Pia S. Pannaraj
Summary: The study found that SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in human milk could persist for up to 6 months post-vaccination, potentially benefitting breastfed infants. Furthermore, donor milk from vaccinated mothers retained IgG and neutralizing activity.
Article
Pediatrics
Melissa Lucero Tanaka, Carolyn Jennifer Marentes Ruiz, Sanchi Malhotra, Lauren Turner, Ariana Peralta, Yesun Lee, Jaycee Jumarang, Stephanie E. Perez, Jocelyn Navarro, Jennifer Dien Bard, Aubree Gordon, E. Kaitlynn Allen, Paul G. Thomas, Pia S. Pannaraj
Summary: This study investigates the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in households with children in Los Angeles County, California. It finds that children play important roles as index cases and that household income and pets are significantly associated with the transmission rate.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Zion Congrave-Wilson, Wesley A. Cheng, Yesun Lee, Stephanie Perez, Lauren Turner, Carolyn Jennifer Marentes Ruiz, Shirley Mendieta, Adam Skura, Jaycee Jumarang, Jennifer Del Valle, John Kubale, Emma Kaitlynn Allen, Paul G. Thomas, Aubree Gordon, Pia S. Pannaraj
Summary: This study compared the serological responses following natural infection and vaccination, finding that responses after natural infection were more variable while antibody levels after vaccination remained durable for up to 12 months. Individuals with both infection and vaccination had more robust and slower declining SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jeffrey M. Bender, Yesun Lee, Wesley A. Cheng, Carolyn J. Marentes Ruiz, Pia S. Pannaraj
Summary: A study found that the COVID-19 vaccine booster increases the levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in human milk and provides better protection. This suggests that pregnant or lactating women should receive full COVID-19 vaccine courses with a booster dose.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Louise C. Rowntree, Thi H. O. Nguyen, Lukasz Kedzierski, Melanie R. Neeland, Jan Petersen, Jeremy Chase Crawford, Lilith F. Allen, E. Bridie Clemens, Brendon Chua, Hayley A. McQuilten, Anastasia A. Minervina, Mikhail Pogorelyy, Priyanka Chaurasia, Hyon-Xhi Tan, Adam K. Wheatley, Xiaoxiao Jia, Fatima Amanat, Florian Krammer, E. Kaitlynn Allen, Sabrina Sonda, Katie L. Flanagan, Jaycee Jumarang, Pia S. Pannaraj, Paul Licciardi, Stephen J. Kent, Katherine A. Bond, Deborah A. Williamson, Jamie Rossjohn, Paul G. Thomas, Shidan Tosif, Nigel W. Crawford, Carolien E. van de Sandt, Katherine Kedzierska
Summary: This study explores the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell memory in convalescent children with COVID-19. The results show that unvaccinated convalescent children have similar specific T cell responses as adults, but with lower responses to ORF1a and N. Additionally, children with seroconversion have a stem cell memory phenotype and common T cell receptor motifs in their specific T cells.
Article
Oncology
Rebecca S. Parker, Justin Le, Andrew Doan, Paibel Aguayo-Hiraldo, Pia S. Pannaraj, Teresa Rushing, Jemily Malvar, Maurice R. O'Gorman, Jennifer Dien Bard, Chintan Parekh
Summary: Pediatric oncology patients are at higher risk for hospitalization with COVID-19, but the majority can undergo chemotherapy without delays in treatment. Viral load may be a potential predictor for the outcome of COVID-19 in pediatric cancer patients.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Pia S. Pannaraj, Andre Guilherme da Costa-Martins, Chiara Cerini, Fan Li, Sook-San Wong, Youvika Singh, Alysson H. Urbanski, Patricia Gonzalez-Dias, Juliana Yang, Richard J. Webby, Helder Nakaya, Grace M. Aldrovandi
Summary: Breastfeeding provides protection against mucosal infections in infants. The study investigated the mechanisms of immune response in human milk following maternal infection with mucosal pathogens. It was found that both live attenuated influenza vaccination (LAIV) and inactivated influenza vaccination (IIV) induced the production of influenza-specific IgA in human milk. However, LAIV resulted in a higher upregulation of innate immunity pathways compared to IIV. This innate immunity in human milk may offer timely protection against mucosal infections in breastfed infants until antigen-specific immunity develops.
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Heather Haq, Amos Msekandiana, Mogomotsi Matshaba, Lineo K. Thahane, Jennifer Watts, Reena P. Tam, Nicole E. St Clair, Charles J. Schubert, Amy R. L. Rule, Pia Pannaraj, Michael B. Pitt, David S. Oleson, Brittany Murray, Lee E. Morris, Joanne Mendoza, Megan S. McHenry, Elizabeth M. Keating, Kathy Ferrer, Heather L. Crouse, Tania Condurache, Maneesh Batra, Adelaidee E. Barnes, James H. Conway
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jared Schiff, Anita R. Schmidt, Phung K. Pham, Jocelyn B. Perez, Pia S. Pannaraj, Pradip P. Chaudhari, Danica B. Liberman
Summary: This study examined parental attitudes and willingness towards COVID-19 vaccination in the emergency department using the 4C vaccine hesitancy framework. The results showed higher vaccine hesitancy among Hispanic/Latinx parents compared to non-Hispanic/non-Latinx White parents, which may be attributed to insufficient knowledge about COVID-19 and its vaccine, along with COVID-19 vaccine myths.
Meeting Abstract
Hematology
Rebecca S. Parker, Justin Le, Miguel Villa, Maurice R. G. O'Gorman, Jennifer Dien-Bard, Seon-Jae Yoon, Yesun Lee, Andrew Doan, Paibel Aguayo-Hiraldo, Pia Pannaraj, Chintan Parekh
Review
Immunology
Lauren Hookham, Hillary C. Lee, Divya A. Patel, Mariana Coelho, Norberto Giglio, Kirsty Le Doare, Pia S. Pannaraj
Summary: This article evaluates the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in children through a literature review and survey research. The findings indicate that vaccination in children is safe, efficacious, and effective. The study also highlights the need for further data on the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations in children.
Letter
Infectious Diseases
Adriana Sarmiento Clemente, Sheldon L. Kaplan, William J. Barson, Philana Ling Lin, Jose R. Romero, John S. Bradley, Tina Q. Tan, Pia S. Pannaraj, Laurence B. Givner, Kristina G. Hulten
Summary: Measures taken to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020 have resulted in reduced viral infections, such as invasive pneumococcal disease in children. The limited droplet transmission of pneumococci and preceding viral pathogens may be responsible for this.
JOURNAL OF THE PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES SOCIETY
(2022)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Pia S. Pannaraj, Zion Congrave-Wilson, Yesun Lee
JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
(2022)