Project description:We used a DNA microarray chip covering 369 resistance types to investigate the relation of antibiotic resistance gene diversity with humans’ age. Metagenomic DNA from fecal samples of 123 healthy volunteers of four different age groups, i.e. pre-school Children (CH), School Children (SC), High School Students (HSS) and Adults (AD) were used for hybridization. The results showed that 80 different gene types were recovered from the 123 individuals gut microbiota, among which 25 were present in CH, 37 in SC, 58 in HSS and 72 in AD. Further analysis indicated that antibiotic resistance genes in groups of CH, SC and AD can be independently clustered, and those ones in group HSS are more divergent. The detailed analysis of antibiotic resistance genes in human gut is further described in the paper DNA microarray analysis reveals the antibiotic resistance gene diversity in human gut microbiota is age-related submitted to Sentific Reports
Project description:Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by episodic airway obstruction resulting in cough, episodic shortness of breath. It is, and is clinically and physiologically heterogeneous. It is estimated that around 300 million people worldwide have the diseaseare diagnosed with asthma, including up to 20% of children (Asher et al, 2006), with 5–10% of these children believed to have severe or difficult-to-treat asthma. Asthma has often been classified in terms of severity and based on clinical diagnostic criteria, but it is now apparent that the heterogeneity that exists at the physiological level is also a feature of the underlying pathological mechanisms (Lotvall et al, 2011). The aim of this study was to identify blood transcriptomics profiles for children diagnosed with asthma or wheeze, and establish whether these profiles suggested endotypes or mechanisms that could underlie disease, or be related to disease severity, in these children. Importantly, given that children are currently treated with the same medicines as adults, we also aimed to compare profiles of children to those of adults with asthma to help determine whether efforts should be directed to the development of medicines targeting pathways and mechanisms that may be unique to children. To this end, we used gene transcriptome data generated from blood samples from adults and children from the U-BIOPRED consortium to ask how similar or different the differential gene expression profiles were between groups of adults and pre-school or school-aged children with severe or mild-moderate asthma (or wheeze for the pre-school aged children) using current definitions. The Unbiased Biomarkers for the Prediction of Respiratory Disease Outcomes (U-BIOPRED) project was set up as a public-private partnership within the framework of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), engaging academia, the pharmaceutical industry and patient groups. The goal of this investigation was to identify transcript fingerprints in whole blood that characterize patients with severe asthma and to determine whether subgroups of severe asthmatics can be identified.
Project description:We used a DNA microarray chip covering 369 resistance types to investigate the relation of antibiotic resistance gene diversity with humansM-bM-^@M-^Y age. Metagenomic DNA from fecal samples of 123 healthy volunteers of four different age groups, i.e. pre-school Children (CH), School Children (SC), High School Students (HSS) and Adults (AD) were used for hybridization. The results showed that 80 different gene types were recovered from the 123 individuals gut microbiota, among which 25 were present in CH, 37 in SC, 58 in HSS and 72 in AD. Further analysis indicated that antibiotic resistance genes in groups of CH, SC and AD can be independently clustered, and those ones in group HSS are more divergent. The detailed analysis of antibiotic resistance genes in human gut is further described in the paper DNA microarray analysis reveals the antibiotic resistance gene diversity in human gut microbiota is age-related submitted to Sentific Reports The antibiotic resistance gene microarray is custom-designed (Roche NimbleGen), based on a single chip containing 3 internal replicated probe sets of 12 probes per resistance gene, covering the whole 315K 12-plex platform spots.
Project description:Urine sampled from preterm-born (<34 weeks gestation) school-aged (7-12yrs) children and term born (>/=37 weeks gestation). Spirometry, exercise testing and cardiovascular assessment performed at time of sampling. Preter-born children with low lung function entered a randomised placebo controlled trial of inhaler therapies.
Project description:Background: In asthma, airway epithelium remodeling can already be detected during childhood, and epithelial cells are more susceptible to virus and oxidative stress. Their exact role in natural history and severity of children allergic respiratory disease remains however surprisingly unexplored. Aim: To analyze dysfunctions of epithelium in dust mite allergic respiratory disease (rhinitis ± asthma) in children. Methods: Expression profilings of nasal epithelial cells collected by brushing were performed on Affymetrix Hugene 1.0 ST arrays. All allergic patients were sensitized to dust mite. 19 patients had an isolated allergic rhinitis (AR). 14 patients had AR associated with asthma. Patients were compared to 12 controls, their severity and control being assessed according to NAEPP and ARIA criteria. Infections by respiratory viruses were excluded by real-time PCR measurements. Results: 61 probes were able to distinguish allergic rhinitis children from healthy controls. A majority of these probes was under the control of Th2 cytokines, as evidenced by parallel experiments performed on primary cultures of nasal epithelial cells. In uncontrolled asthmatic patients, we observed not only an enhanced expression of these Th2-responsive transcripts, but also a down-regulation of interferon-responsive genes. Conclusion: Our study identifies a Th2 driven epithelial phenotype common to all dust mite allergic children. Besides, it suggests that epithelium is involved in the severity of the disease. Expression profiles observed in uncontrolled asthmatic patients suggest that severity of asthma is linked at the same time to atopy and to impaired viral response. Nasal epithelium gene expression profiling of dust mite allergic children with isolated rhinitis, rhinitis associated with asthma and controls.
Project description:Background: In asthma, airway epithelium remodeling can already be detected during childhood, and epithelial cells are more susceptible to virus and oxidative stress. Their exact role in natural history and severity of children allergic respiratory disease remains however surprisingly unexplored. Aim: To analyze dysfunctions of epithelium in dust mite allergic respiratory disease (rhinitis ± asthma) in children. Methods: Expression profilings of nasal epithelial cells collected by brushing were performed on Affymetrix Hugene 1.0 ST arrays. All allergic patients were sensitized to dust mite. 19 patients had an isolated allergic rhinitis (AR). 14 patients had AR associated with asthma. Patients were compared to 12 controls, their severity and control being assessed according to NAEPP and ARIA criteria. Infections by respiratory viruses were excluded by real-time PCR measurements. Results: 61 probes were able to distinguish allergic rhinitis children from healthy controls. A majority of these probes was under the control of Th2 cytokines, as evidenced by parallel experiments performed on primary cultures of nasal epithelial cells. In uncontrolled asthmatic patients, we observed not only an enhanced expression of these Th2-responsive transcripts, but also a down-regulation of interferon-responsive genes. Conclusion: Our study identifies a Th2 driven epithelial phenotype common to all dust mite allergic children. Besides, it suggests that epithelium is involved in the severity of the disease. Expression profiles observed in uncontrolled asthmatic patients suggest that severity of asthma is linked at the same time to atopy and to impaired viral response. Nasal epithelium gene expression profiling of dust mite allergic children with isolated rhinitis, rhinitis associated with asthma and controls. 38 samples classified in 4 categories : 14 isolated rhinitis (R), 6 rhinitis with uncontrolled asthma (UA), 7 rhinitis with controlled asthma (CA) and 11 healthy subjects (C )