| 1. |
- Kazemi Rashed, Salma, et al.
(författare)
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English dictionaries, gold and silver standard corpora for biomedical natural language processing related to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19
- 2020
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Here we present a toolbox for natural language processing tasks related to SARS-CoV-2. It comprises English dictionaries of synonyms for SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19, a silver standard corpus generated with the dictionaries and a gold standard corpus of 10 Pubmed abstracts manually annotated for disease, virus, symptom and protein/gene terms. This toolbox is freely available on github and can be used for text analytics in a variety of settings related to the COVID-19 crisis. It will be expanded and applied in NLP tasks over the next weeks and the community is invited to contribute.
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| 2. |
- Roswall, Josefine, et al.
(författare)
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Developmental trajectory of the healthy human gut microbiota during the first 5 years of life
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cell Host & Microbe. - : Elsevier BV. - 1931-3128 .- 1934-6069. ; 29:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The gut is inhabited by a densely populated ecosystem, the gut microbiota, that is established at birth. However, the succession by which different bacteria are incorporated into the gut microbiota is still relatively unknown. Here, we analyze the microbiota from 471 Swedish children followed from birth to 5 years of age, collecting samples after 4 and 12 months and at 3 and 5 years of age as well as from their mothers at birth using 16S rRNA gene profiling. We also compare their microbiota to an adult Swedish population. Genera follow 4 different colonization patterns during establishment where Methanobrevibacter and Christensenellaceae colonize late and do not reached adult levels at 5 years. These late colonizers correlate with increased alpha diversity in both children and adults. By following the children through age-specific community types, we observe that children have individual dynamics in the gut microbiota development trajectory.
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| 3. |
- Khamzeh, Arsham, et al.
(författare)
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High levels of short-chain fatty acids secreted by Candida albicans hyphae induce neutrophil chemotaxis via free fatty acid receptor 2
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Leukocyte Biology. - : Oxford University Press. - 1938-3673 .- 0741-5400. ; 115:3, s. 536-546
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Candida albicans belongs to our commensal mucosal flora and in immune-competent individuals in the absence of epithelial damage, this fungus is well tolerated and controlled by our immune defense. However, C. albicans is an opportunistic microorganism that can cause different forms of infections, ranging from superficial to life-threatening systemic infections. C. albicans is polymorphic and switches between different phenotypes (e.g. from yeast form to hyphal form). C. albicans hyphae are invasive and can grow into tissues to eventually reach circulation. During fungal infections, neutrophils in particular play a critical role for the defense, but how neutrophils are directed toward the invasive forms of fungi is less well understood. We set out to investigate possible neutrophil chemoattractants released by C. albicans into culture supernatants. We found that cell-free culture supernatants from the hyphal form of C. albicans induced both neutrophil chemotaxis and concomitant intracellular calcium transients. Size separation and hydrophobic sorting of supernatants indicated small hydrophilic factors as responsible for the activity. Further analysis showed that the culture supernatants contained high levels of short-chain fatty acids with higher levels from hyphae as compared to yeast. Short-chain fatty acids are known neutrophil chemoattractants acting via the neutrophil free fatty acid receptor 2. In line with this, the calcium signaling in neutrophils induced by hyphae culture supernatants was blocked by a free fatty acid receptor 2 antagonist and potently increased in the presence of a positive allosteric modulator. Our data imply that short-chain fatty acids may act as a recruitment signal whereby neutrophils can detect C. albicans hyphae.
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| 4. |
- Zilg, Brita, et al.
(författare)
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A Rapid Method for Postmortem Vitreous Chemistry - Deadside Analysis
- 2022
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Ingår i: Biomolecules. - : MDPI. - 2218-273X. ; 12:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vitreous fluid is commonly collected for toxicological analysis during forensic postmortem investigations. Vitreous fluid is also often analyzed for potassium, sodium, chloride and glucose for estimation of time since death, and for the evaluation of electrolyte imbalances and hyperglycemia, respectively. Obtaining such results in the early phase of a death investigation is desirable both in regard to assisting the police and in the decision-making prior to the autopsy. We analyzed vitreous fluid with blood gas instruments to evaluate/examine the possible impact of different sampling and pre-analytical treatment. We found that samples from the right and left eye, the center of the eye as well as whole vitreous samples gave similar results. We also found imprecision to be very low and that centrifugation and dilution were not necessary when analyzing vitreous samples with blood gas instruments. Similar results were obtained when analyzing the same samples with a regular multi-analysis instrument, but we found that such instruments could require dilution of samples with high viscosity, and that such dilution might impact measurement accuracy. In conclusion, using a blood gas instrument, the analysis of postmortem vitreous fluid for electrolytes and glucose without sample pretreatment produces rapid and reliable results.
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| 5. |
- Aaseth, Jan, et al.
(författare)
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The Aging Kidney-As Influenced by Heavy Metal Exposure and Selenium Supplementation
- 2021
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Ingår i: Biomolecules. - : MDPI. - 2218-273X. ; 11:8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aging process in the kidneys has been well studied. It is known that the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) declines with age in subjects older than 50-60 years. However, there is still insufficient knowledge regarding the response of the aged kidney to environmental toxicants such as mercury, cadmium, and lead. Here, we present a review on the functional decline and proposed mechanisms in the aging kidney as influenced by metal pollutants. Due to the prevalence of these toxicants in the environment, human exposure is nearly unavoidable. Further, it is well known that acute and chronic exposures to toxic metals may be detrimental to kidneys of normal adults, thus it may be hypothesized that exposure of individuals with reduced GFR will result in additional reductions in renal function. Individuals with compromised renal function, either from aging or from a combination of aging and disease, may be particularly susceptible to environmental toxicants. The available data appear to show an association between exposure to mercury, cadmium and/or lead and an increase in incidence and severity of renal disease in elderly individuals. Furthermore, some physiological thiols, as well as adequate selenium status, appear to exert a protective action. Further studies providing improved insight into the mechanisms by which nephrotoxic metals are handled by aging kidneys, as well as possibilities of therapeutic protection, are of utmost importance.
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| 6. |
- Abbas, Zaheer, et al.
(författare)
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In Situ Growth of CuWO4 Nanospheres over Graphene Oxide for Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Immunosensing of Clinical Biomarker
- 2020
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Ingår i: Sensors. - : MDPI. - 1424-8220. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Procalcitonin (PCT) protein has recently been identified as a clinical marker for bacterial infections based on its better sepsis sensitivity. Thus, an increased level of PCT could be linked with disease diagnosis and therapeutics. In this study, we describe the construction of the photoelectrochemical (PEC) PCT immunosensing platform based on it situ grown photo-active CuWO4 nanospheres over reduced graphene oxide layers (CuWO4@rGO). The in situ growth strategy enabled the formation of small nanospheres (diameter of 200 nm), primarily composed of tiny self-assembled CuWO4 nanoparticles (2-5 nm). The synergic coupling of CuWO4 with rGO layers constructed an excellent photo-active heterojunction for photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing. The platform was then considered for electrocatalytic (EC) mechanism-based detection of PCT, where inhibition of the photocatalytic oxidation signal of ascorbic acid (AA), subsequent to the antibody-antigen interaction, was recorded as the primary signal response. This inhibition detection approach enabled sensitive detection of PCT in a concentration range of 10 pgmL(-1) to 50 ng.mL(-1) with signal sensitivity achievable up to 0.15 pgmL(-1). The proposed PEC hybrid (CuWO4@rGO) could further be engineered to detect other clinically important species.
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| 7. |
- Abdel-Haleem, Alyaa M., et al.
(författare)
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Integrated Metabolic Modeling, Culturing, and Transcriptomics Explain Enhanced Virulence of Vibrio cholerae during Coinfection with Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
- 2020
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Ingår i: mSystems. - 2379-5077. ; 5:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gene essentiality is altered during polymicrobial infections. Nevertheless, most studies rely on single-species infections to assess pathogen gene essentiality. Here, we use genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) to explore the effect of coinfection of the diarrheagenic pathogen Vibrio cholerae with another enteric pathogen, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Model predictions showed that V. cholerae metabolic capabilities were increased due to ample cross-feeding opportunities enabled by ETEC. This is in line with increased severity of cholera symptoms known to occur in patients with dual infections by the two pathogens. In vitro co-culture systems confirmed that V. cholerae growth is enhanced in cocultures relative to single cultures. Further, expression levels of several V. cholerae metabolic genes were significantly perturbed as shown by dual RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis of its cocultures with different ETEC strains. A decrease in ETEC growth was also observed, probably mediated by nonmetabolic factors. Single gene essentiality analysis predicted conditionally independent genes that are essential for the pathogen's growth in both single-infection and coinfection scenarios. Our results reveal growth differences that are of relevance to drug targeting and efficiency in polymicrobial infections. IMPORTANCE Most studies proposing new strategies to manage and treat infections have been largely focused on identifying druggable targets that can inhibit a pathogen's growth when it is the single cause of infection. In vivo, however, infections can be caused by multiple species. This is important to take into account when attempting to develop or use current antibacterials since their efficacy can change significantly between single infections and coinfections. In this study, we used genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs) to interrogate the growth capabilities of Vibrio cholerae in single infections and coinfections with enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), which cooccur in a large fraction of diarrheagenic patients. Coinfection model predictions showed that V. cholerae growth capabilities are enhanced in the presence of ETEC relative to V. cholerae single infection, through cross-fed metabolites made available to V. cholerae by ETEC. In vitro, cocultures of the two enteric pathogens further confirmed model predictions showing an increased growth of V. cholerae in coculture relative to V. cholerae single cultures while ETEC growth was suppressed. Dual RNAseq analysis of the cocultures also confirmed that the transcriptome of V. cholerae was distinct during coinfection compared to single-infection scenarios where processes related to metabolism were significantly perturbed. Further, in silico gene-knockout simulations uncovered discrepancies in gene essentiality for V. cholerae growth between single infections and coinfections. Integrative model-guided analysis thus identified druggable targets that would be critical for V. cholerae growth in both single infections and coinfections; thus, designing inhibitors against those targets would provide a broader spectrum of coverage against cholera infections.
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| 8. |
- Abdel-Shafi, Seham, et al.
(författare)
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The Association between icaA and icaB Genes, Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Formation in Clinical Isolates of Staphylococci spp.
- 2022
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Ingår i: Antibiotics. - : MDPI. - 0066-4774 .- 2079-6382. ; 11:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sixty-six (66) Staphylococcus bacterial isolates were withdrawn from separate clinical samples of hospitalized patients with various clinical infections. Conventional bacteriological tests identified the species of all isolates, and standard microbiological techniques differentiated them into CoPS or CoNS. Their biofilm development was followed by an analysis via the MTP (microtiter tissue culture plates) technique, and we then investigated the presence/absence of icaA and icaB, which were qualified in the top-30 potent biofilm-forming isolates. Thirteen isolates (46.7%) showed the presence of one gene, six (20%) isolates exhibited the two genes, while ten (33.3%) had neither of them. The formation of staphylococci biofilms in the absence of ica genes may be related to the presence of other biofilm formation ica-independent mechanisms. CoPS was the most abundant species among the total population. S. aureus was the sole representative of CoPS, while S. epidermidis was the most abundant form of CoNS. Antibiotic resistance was developing against the most frequently used antimicrobial drugs, while vancomycin was the least-resisted drug. The totality of the strong and medium-strength film-forming isolates represented the majority proportion (80%) of the total investigated clinical samples. The biochemical pattern CoPS is associated with antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation and can be an alarming indicator of potential antibiotic resistance.
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| 9. |
- Abdellah, Tebani, et al.
(författare)
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Integration of molecular profiles in a longitudinal wellness profiling cohort.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An important aspect of precision medicine is to probe the stability in molecular profiles among healthy individuals over time. Here, we sample a longitudinal wellness cohort with 100 healthy individuals and analyze blood molecular profiles including proteomics, transcriptomics, lipidomics, metabolomics, autoantibodies andimmune cell profiling, complementedwith gut microbiota composition and routine clinical chemistry. Overall, our results show high variation between individuals across different molecular readouts, while the intra-individual baseline variation is low. The analyses show that each individual has a unique and stable plasma protein profile throughout the study period and that many individuals also show distinct profiles with regards to the other omics datasets, with strong underlying connections between the blood proteome and the clinical chemistry parameters. In conclusion, the results support an individual-based definition of health and show that comprehensive omics profiling in a longitudinal manner is a path forward for precision medicine.
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| 10. |
- Abdelrahim, Nada A., et al.
(författare)
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Human herpes virus type-6 is associated with central nervous system infections in children in Sudan
- 2022
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Ingår i: African Journal of Laboratory Medicine. - : AOSIS. - 2225-2002 .- 2225-2010. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Human herpes virus type-6 (HHV-6) is increasingly recognised as a febrile agent in children. However, less is known in sub-Saharan African countries, including Sudan.Objective: We investigated the involvement of HHV-6 in paediatric central nervous system (CNS) infections in Khartoum, Sudan.Methods: Febrile patients aged up to 15 years with suspected CNS infections at Omdurman Hospital for Children from 01 December 2009 to 01 August 2010 were included. Viral DNA was extracted from leftover cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens and quantitatively amplified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at Umeå University in Sweden.Results: Of 503 CSF specimens, 13 (2.6%) were positive for HHV-6 (33.0% [13/40 of cases with proven infectious meningitis]). The median thermal cycle threshold for all HHV-6-positive specimens was 38 (range: 31.9-40.8). The median number of virus copies was 281.3/PCR run (1 × 105 copies/mL CSF; range: 30-44 × 103 copies/PCR run [12 × 103 - 18 × 106 copies/mL CSF]). All positive patients presented with fever and vomiting; 86.0% had seizures. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1; 50.0% were toddlers, 42.0% infants and 8.0% teenagers. Most (83.0%) were admitted in the dry season and 17.0% in the rainy season. Cerebrospinal fluid leukocytosis was seen in 33.0%, CSF glucose levels were normal in 86.0% and low in 14.0%, and CSF protein levels were low in 14.0% and high in 43.0%.Conclusion: Among children in Sudan with CNS infections, HHV-6 is common. Studies on the existence and spread of HHV-6 chromosomal integration in this population are needed.
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