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Science China. Life Sciences Jun 2021Bats are a potential natural reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 virus and other viruses detrimental to humans. Accumulated evidence has shown that, in their adaptation to a... (Review)
Review
Bats are a potential natural reservoir for SARS-CoV-2 virus and other viruses detrimental to humans. Accumulated evidence has shown that, in their adaptation to a flight-based lifestyle, remodeling of the gut microbiota in bats may have contributed to immune tolerance to viruses. This evidence from bats provides profound insights into the potential influence of gut microbiota in COVID-19 disease in humans. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota helps bats tolerate deadly viruses, and summarize the current clinical evidence on the influence of gut microbiota on the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk of COVID-19 leading to a fatal outcome. In addition, we discuss the implications of gut microbiota-targeted approaches for preventing infection and reducing disease severity in COVID-19 patients.
Topics: Animals; COVID-19; Chiroptera; Disease Reservoirs; Disease Susceptibility; Flight, Animal; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Immunity; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 33521857
DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1847-7 -
Biological embedding of childhood adversity: from physiological mechanisms to clinical implications.BMC Medicine Jul 2017Adverse psychosocial exposures in early life, namely experiences such as child maltreatment, caregiver stress or depression, and domestic or community violence, have... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Adverse psychosocial exposures in early life, namely experiences such as child maltreatment, caregiver stress or depression, and domestic or community violence, have been associated in epidemiological studies with increased lifetime risk of adverse outcomes, including diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and psychiatric illnesses. Additional work has shed light on the potential molecular mechanisms by which early adversity becomes "biologically embedded" in altered physiology across body systems. This review surveys evidence on such mechanisms and calls on researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and other practitioners to act upon evidence.
OBSERVATIONS
Childhood psychosocial adversity has wide-ranging effects on neural, endocrine, immune, and metabolic physiology. Molecular mechanisms broadly implicate disruption of central neural networks, neuroendocrine stress dysregulation, and chronic inflammation, among other changes. Physiological disruption predisposes individuals to common diseases across the life course.
CONCLUSIONS
Reviewed evidence has important implications for clinical practice, biomedical research, and work across other sectors relevant to public health and child wellbeing. Warranted changes include increased clinical screening for exposures among children and adults, scale-up of effective interventions, policy advocacy, and ongoing research to develop new evidence-based response strategies.
Topics: Adult; Animals; Child; Child Abuse; Disease Susceptibility; Humans
PubMed: 28724431
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-017-0895-4 -
Research in Veterinary Science Oct 2022In and around poultry farms, high concentrations of endotoxins are found that have a negative impact on the health of farmers and local residents. However, little is...
In and around poultry farms, high concentrations of endotoxins are found that have a negative impact on the health of farmers and local residents. However, little is known about the effects of chronic exposure to endotoxins on the health of poultry. The aim of this study was to identify effects of chronic exposure to airborne endotoxins (E. coli LPS) on the immune system, respiratory tract, disease susceptibility and welfare of broilers. Effects of high (HE) and low endotoxin (LE) concentrations on natural antibody titers (NAb), performance and behavior of broilers were determined. After treatment with a respiratory virus infection, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), mRNA expression of cytokines and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 in the lung, tracheal ciliary activity and lesions in the respiratory tract were determined. Endotoxin affected the immune system and respiratory tract, where HE broilers tended to have lower IgM NAb binding Phosphorylcholine-conjugated to Bovine Serum Albumin, and higher interferon (IFN)-α mRNA expression and more lesions in the nasal tissue compared to LE broilers. Furthermore, HE broilers had higher TLR4 mRNA expression compared to LE broilers. However, endotoxin did not affect NAb levels binding Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin, IFN-β and interleukin-10 mRNA expression, IBV replication or lesions in the lung and trachea. HE and LE broilers further had similar body weight, but HE broilers showed numerically more passive behavior compared to LE broilers. In conclusion, chronic exposure to high airborne endotoxin concentrations affects components of the immune system and respiratory tract in broilers and could therefore influence disease susceptibility.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Coronavirus Infections; Disease Susceptibility; Endotoxins; Escherichia coli; Infectious bronchitis virus; Lung; Poultry Diseases; RNA, Messenger
PubMed: 35483171
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.04.004 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2022SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus and an etiologic agent for the current global health emergency, causes acute infection of the respiratory tract leading to severe...
SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus and an etiologic agent for the current global health emergency, causes acute infection of the respiratory tract leading to severe disease and significant mortality. Ever since the start of SARS-CoV-2, also known as the COVID-19 pandemic, countless uncertainties have been revolving around the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. While air pollution has been shown to be strongly correlated to increased SARS-CoV-2 morbidity and mortality, whether environmental pollutants such as ground-level ozone affects the susceptibility of individuals to SARS-CoV-2 is not yet established. To investigate the impact of ozone inhalation on the expression levels of signatures associated with host susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, we analyzed lung tissues collected from mice that were sub-chronically exposed to air or 0.8 ppm ozone for three weeks (4 h/night, 5 nights/week), and analyzed the expression of signatures associated with host susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cells is dependent on the binding of the virus to the host cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), and its subsequent proteolytic priming by the host-derived protease, transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). The Ace2 transcripts were significantly elevated in the parenchyma, but not in the extrapulmonary airways and alveolar macrophages, from ozone-exposed mice. The TMPRSS2 protein and Tmprss2 transcripts were significantly elevated in the extrapulmonary airways, parenchyma, and alveolar macrophages from ozone-exposed mice. A significant proportion of additional known SARS-CoV-2 host susceptibility genes were upregulated in alveolar macrophages and parenchyma from ozone-exposed mice. Our data indicate that the unhealthy levels of ozone in the environment may predispose individuals to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given the severity of this pandemic and the challenges associated with direct testing of host-environment interactions in clinical settings, we believe that this ozone exposure-based study informs the scientific community of the potentially detrimental effects of the ambient ozone levels in determining the host susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.
Topics: Animals; COVID-19; Disease Susceptibility; Macrophages, Alveolar; Mice; Ozone; SARS-CoV-2; Serine Endopeptidases; Up-Regulation
PubMed: 35079032
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-04906-8 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Jan 2018The establishment of a sylvatic reservoir of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas is dependent on the susceptibility of primates of sufficient population density, the...
The establishment of a sylvatic reservoir of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the Americas is dependent on the susceptibility of primates of sufficient population density, the duration and magnitude of viremia, and their exposure to the human mosquito-borne transmission cycle. To assess the susceptibility of squirrel ( sp.) and owl monkeys ( sp.) to infection, we inoculated four animals of each species with ZIKV from the current epidemic. Viremia in the absence of detectible disease was observed in both species and seroconversion occurred by day 28. ZIKV was detected in the spleen of three owl monkeys: one at 7 days postinoculation (dpi) and two at 14 dpi. This study confirms the susceptibility to ZIKV infection of two Neotropical primate species that live in close proximity to humans in South America, suggesting that they could support a widespread sylvatic ZIKV cycle there. Collectively, establishment of a ZIKV sylvatic transmission cycle in South America would imperil eradication efforts and could provide a mechanism for continued exposure of humans to ZIKV infection and disease.
Topics: Animals; Aotidae; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Male; Primate Diseases; Saimiri; Viral Load; Viremia; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection
PubMed: 29182145
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0322 -
Journal of Mathematical Biology Sep 2022The Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) equations and their extensions comprise a commonly utilized set of models for understanding and predicting the course of an...
The Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered (SIR) equations and their extensions comprise a commonly utilized set of models for understanding and predicting the course of an epidemic. In practice, it is of substantial interest to estimate the model parameters based on noisy observations early in the outbreak, well before the epidemic reaches its peak. This allows prediction of the subsequent course of the epidemic and design of appropriate interventions. However, accurately inferring SIR model parameters in such scenarios is problematic. This article provides novel, theoretical insight on this issue of practical identifiability of the SIR model. Our theory provides new understanding of the inferential limits of routinely used epidemic models and provides a valuable addition to current simulate-and-check methods. We illustrate some practical implications through application to a real-world epidemic data set.
Topics: Communicable Diseases; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Susceptibility; Epidemics; Epidemiological Models; Humans
PubMed: 36125562
DOI: 10.1007/s00285-022-01804-5 -
Panminerva Medica 2014Large-scale medical sequencing provides a focal point around which to reorganize health care and health care research. Mobile health (mHealth) is also currently... (Review)
Review
Large-scale medical sequencing provides a focal point around which to reorganize health care and health care research. Mobile health (mHealth) is also currently undergoing explosive growth and could be another innovation that will change the face of future health care. We are employing primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) as a model rare condition to explore the intersection of these potentials. As both sequencing capabilities and our ability to intepret this information improve, sequencing for medical purposes will play an increasing role in health care beyond basic research: it will help guide the delivery of care to patients. POI is a serious chronic disorder and syndrome characterized by hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism before the age of 40 years and most commonly presents with amenorrhea. It may have adverse health effects that become fully evident years after the initial diagnosis. The condition is most commonly viewed as one of infertility, however, it may also be associated with adverse long-term outcomes related to inadequate bone mineral density, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism and, if pregnancy ensues, having a child with Fragile X Syndrome. There may also be adverse outcomes related to increased rates of anxiety and depression. POI is also a rare disease, and accordingly, presents special challenges. Too often advances in research are not effectively integrated into community care at the point of service for those with rare diseases. There is a need to connect community health providers in real time with investigators who have the requisite knowledge and expertise to help manage the rare disease and to conduct ongoing research. Here we review the pathophysiology and management of POI and propose the development of an international Clinical Research Integration Special Program (CRISP) for the condition.
Topics: Adult; Biomedical Research; Disease Susceptibility; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Pregnancy; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency; Program Development
PubMed: 25288327
DOI: No ID Found -
Current Opinion in Psychology Feb 2019In this article, we discuss theory and research on how people who have different adult romantic attachment orientations fare across one of life's often happiest, but... (Review)
Review
In this article, we discuss theory and research on how people who have different adult romantic attachment orientations fare across one of life's often happiest, but also most chronically stressful, events-the transition to parenthood. We first discuss central principles of attachment theory and then review empirical research revealing how two types of attachment insecurity-anxiety and avoidance-tend to prospectively predict unique patterns of relational and personal outcomes across this often challenging life event. We also suggest how many of these findings can be understood within a diathesis-stress process model that has guided our own research on the transition to parenthood.
Topics: Adult; Anxiety; Avoidance Learning; Disease Susceptibility; Empirical Research; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Models, Psychological; Object Attachment; Psychological Theory
PubMed: 29547873
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.02.019 -
Trends in Microbiology Nov 2016An individual's microbiome is likely to be an important contributor to certain health disparity diseases and conditions. We present a framework to study the role of the...
An individual's microbiome is likely to be an important contributor to certain health disparity diseases and conditions. We present a framework to study the role of the microbiome and the multiple factors that are likely to influence differences in disease predisposition, onset, and progression at the individual and population level.
Topics: Disease; Disease Susceptibility; Environment; Health Status; Humans; Interdisciplinary Studies; Microbiota; Public Health; Risk Factors; Social Environment
PubMed: 27712950
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2016.08.001 -
Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic... Jun 2007The traditional view that gene and environment interactions control disease susceptibility can now be expanded to include epigenetic reprogramming as a key determinant... (Review)
Review
The traditional view that gene and environment interactions control disease susceptibility can now be expanded to include epigenetic reprogramming as a key determinant of origins of human disease. Currently, epigenetics is defined as heritable changes in gene expression that do not alter DNA sequence but are mitotically and transgenerationally inheritable. Epigenetic reprogramming is the process by which an organism's genotype interacts with the environment to produce its phenotype and provides a framework for explaining individual variations and the uniqueness of cells, tissues, or organs despite identical genetic information. The main epigenetic mediators are histone modification, DNA methylation, and non-coding RNAs. They regulate crucial cellular functions such as genome stability, X-chromosome inactivation, gene imprinting, and reprogramming of non-imprinting genes, and work on developmental plasticity such that exposures to endogenous or exogenous factors during critical periods permanently alter the structure or function of specific organ systems. Developmental epigenetics is believed to establish "adaptive" phenotypes to meet the demands of the later-life environment. Resulting phenotypes that match predicted later-life demands will promote health, while a high degree of mismatch will impede adaptability to later-life challenges and elevate disease risk. The rapid introduction of synthetic chemicals, medical interventions, environmental pollutants, and lifestyle choices, may result in conflict with the programmed adaptive changes made during early development, and explain the alarming increases in some diseases. The recent identification of a significant number of epigenetically regulated genes in various model systems has prepared the field to take on the challenge of characterizing distinct epigenomes related to various diseases. Improvements in human health could then be redirected from curative care to personalized, preventive medicine based, in part, on epigenetic markings etched in the "margins" of one's genetic make-up.
Topics: Acetylation; Animals; DNA Methylation; Disease Susceptibility; Epigenesis, Genetic; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genomic Imprinting; Histones; Humans; Models, Biological
PubMed: 17638084
DOI: 10.1007/s11154-007-9042-4