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Epigenomic research at The Kids explores the links between childhood disease and the molecular hallmarks of epigenetic control.
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From Local to Systemic: The Journey of Tick Bite Biomarkers in Australian PatientsTick bites and tick-related diseases are on the rise. Diagnostic tests that identify well-characterised tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) possess limited capacity to address the causation of symptoms associated with poorly characterised tick-related illnesses, such as debilitating symptom complexes attributed to ticks (DSCATT) in Australia. Identification of local signals in tick-bitten skin that can be detected systemically in blood would have both clinical (diagnostic or prognostic) and research (mechanistic insight) utility, as a blood sample is more readily obtainable than tissue biopsies.
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Food Allergy Genetics and Epigenetics: A Review of Genome-Wide Association StudiesIn this review, we provide an overview of food allergy genetics and epigenetics aimed at clinicians and researchers. This includes a brief review of the current understanding of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, inheritance of food allergy, as well as a discussion of advantages and limitations of the different types of studies in genetic research.
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Epigenome-Wide Association Studies of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Function: A Systematic ReviewChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) results from gene-environment interactions over the lifetime. These interactions are captured by epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation.
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DNA Methylation signatures underpinning blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio during first week of human lifeUnderstanding of newborn immune ontogeny in the first week of life will enable age-appropriate strategies for safeguarding vulnerable newborns against infectious diseases. Here we conducted an observational study exploring the immunological profile of infants longitudinally throughout their first week of life.
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Early moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal diet impact offspring DNA methylation across speciesAlcohol consumption in pregnancy can affect genome regulation in the developing offspring but results have been contradictory. We employed a physiologically relevant murine model of short-term moderate prenatal alcohol exposure resembling common patterns of alcohol consumption in pregnancy in humans.
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Respiratory infection- and asthma-prone, low vaccine responder children demonstrate distinct mononuclear cell DNA methylation pathwaysnfants with frequent viral and bacterial respiratory infections exhibit compromised immunity to routine immunizations. They are also more likely to develop chronic respiratory diseases in later childhood. This study investigated the feasibility of epigenetic profiling to reveal endotype-specific molecular pathways with potential for early identification and immuno-modulation.
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Immuno-epigenomic analysis identifies attenuated interferon responses in naïve CD4 T cells of adolescents with peanut and multi-food allergyIgE-mediated food allergies have been linked to suboptimal naïve CD4 T (nCD4T) cell activation in infancy, underlined by epigenetic and transcriptomic variation. Similar attenuated nCD4T cell activation in adolescents with food allergy have also been reported, but these are yet to be linked to specific epigenetic or transcriptional changes.
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Ancestral SARS-CoV-2, but not Omicron, replicates less efficiently in primary pediatric nasal epithelial cellsChildren typically experience more mild symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) when compared to adults. There is a strong body of evidence that children are also less susceptible to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with the ancestral viral isolate.
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Do exposures before conception influence the risk of asthma in the offspring?David Martino BSc PhD Head, Chronic Diseases Research David.Martino@thekids.org.au Head, Chronic Diseases Research Assoc. Prof David Martino is the