| 1. |
- Björkander, Sofia, et al.
(författare)
-
Childhood allergy is preceded by an absence of gut lactobacilli species and higher levels of atopy-related plasma chemokines
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Clinical and Experimental Immunology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0009-9104 .- 1365-2249. ; 202:3, s. 288-299
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alterations in the composition and reduced diversity of the infant microbiome are associated with allergic disease in children. Further, an altered microbiota is linked to immune dysregulation, including skewing of different T helper (Th) subsets, which is also seen in atopic individuals. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the associations between gut lactobacilli and Th‐related plasma factors in allergy development during childhood. A total of 194 children with known allergy status at 1 year of age were followed to 10 years of age. We used real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate the presence of three lactobacilli species (Lactobacillus casei, L. paracasei, L. rhamnosus) in infant fecal samples (collected between 1 week and 2 months of age) from a subgroup of children. Plasma chemokines and cytokines were quantified at 6 months and at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years of age with Luminex or enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fractional exhaled nitrogen oxide (FeNO) was measured and spirometry performed at 10 years of age. The data were analysed by non‐parametric testing and a logistic regression model adjusted for parental allergy. An absence of these lactobacilli and higher levels of the chemokines BCA‐1/CXCL13, CCL17/TARC, MIP‐3α/CCL20 and MDC/CCL22 in plasma at 6 months of age preceded allergy development. The presence of lactobacilli associated with lower levels of atopy‐related chemokines during infancy, together with higher levels of interferon (IFN)‐γ and lower FeNO during later childhood. The results indicate that the presence of certain lactobacilli species in the infant gut may influence allergy‐related parameters in the peripheral immune system, and thereby contribute to allergy protection.
|
|
| 2. |
- Bronge, Mattias, et al.
(författare)
-
Identification of four novel T cell autoantigens and personal autoreactive profiles in multiple sclerosis
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 8:17
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS), in which pathological T cells, likely autoimmune, play a key role. Despite its central importance, the autoantigen repertoire remains largely uncharacterized. Using a novel in vitro antigen delivery method combined with the Human Protein Atlas library, we screened for T cell autoreactivity against 63 CNS-expressed proteins. We identified four previously unreported autoantigens in MS: fatty acid-binding protein 7, prokineticin-2, reticulon-3, and synaptosomal-associated protein 91, which were verified to induce interferon-gamma responses in MS in two cohorts. Autoreactive profiles were heterogeneous, and reactivity to several autoantigens was MS-selective. Autoreactive T cells were predominantly CD4(+) and human leukocyte antigen-DR restricted. Mouse immunization induced antigen-specific responses and CNS leukocyte infiltration. This represents one of the largest systematic efforts to date in the search for MS autoantigens, demonstrates the heterogeneity of autoreactive profiles, and highlights promising targets for future diagnostic tools and immunomodulatory therapies in MS.
|
|
| 3. |
- Carvalho-Queiroz, Claudia, et al.
(författare)
-
Associations between EBV and CMV Seropositivity, Early Exposures, and Gut Microbiota in a Prospective Birth Cohort : A 10-Year Follow-up
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Pediatrics. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-2360. ; 4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Early-life infections with persistent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are delayed in affluent countries, probably due to alterations in early environmental exposures, such as maternal age, siblings, and day-care attendance. We have previously reported that the timing of EBV and CMV contraction is related both to allergic sensitization and changes in functional competence of immune cells, while the presence/absence of lactobacilli [Lactobacillus (L.) casei, L. paracasei, and L. rhamnosus] or Staphylococcus (S.) aureus in feces is related to the risk for allergy. Here, we used the same prospective longitudinal birth cohort of children to investigate early-life environmental exposures and their influence on EBV and CMV contraction over time. Since gut microbes also belong to this category of early exposures, we investigated their association with herpesvirus contraction. Our results show that these two viruses are acquired with different kinetics and that EBV and CMV seroprevalence at 10 years of age was 47 and 57%, respectively. We also observed that a delayed EBV or CMV infection was associated with older maternal age [time ratio (TR) 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.21, P-adj < 0.001 and TR 1.09, CI 1.03-1.16, P-adj = 0.008, respectively]. Further, we present the novel finding that S. aureus colonization reduced the time to CMV acquisition (TR 0.21, CI 0.06-0.78, = 0.02). Together, these findings suggest that there is a relationship between timing of herpesvirus acquisition and early-life immune modulating exposures, which interestingly also includes the early infant gut microbiota.
|
|
| 4. |
- Householder, John Ethan, et al.
(författare)
-
One sixth of Amazonian tree diversity is dependent on river floodplains
- 2024
-
Ingår i: NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION. - 2397-334X.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Amazonia's floodplain system is the largest and most biodiverse on Earth. Although forests are crucial to the ecological integrity of floodplains, our understanding of their species composition and how this may differ from surrounding forest types is still far too limited, particularly as changing inundation regimes begin to reshape floodplain tree communities and the critical ecosystem functions they underpin. Here we address this gap by taking a spatially explicit look at Amazonia-wide patterns of tree-species turnover and ecological specialization of the region's floodplain forests. We show that the majority of Amazonian tree species can inhabit floodplains, and about a sixth of Amazonian tree diversity is ecologically specialized on floodplains. The degree of specialization in floodplain communities is driven by regional flood patterns, with the most compositionally differentiated floodplain forests located centrally within the fluvial network and contingent on the most extraordinary flood magnitudes regionally. Our results provide a spatially explicit view of ecological specialization of floodplain forest communities and expose the need for whole-basin hydrological integrity to protect the Amazon's tree diversity and its function.
|
|
| 5. |
- Kehoe, Laura, et al.
(författare)
-
Make EU trade with Brazil sustainable
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 364:6438, s. 341-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 6. |
- Lasaviciute, Gintare, et al.
(författare)
-
Epstein-Barr Virus, but Not Cytomegalovirus, Latency Accelerates the Decay of Childhood Measles and Rubella Vaccine Responses-A 10-Year Follow-up of a Swedish Birth Cohort
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-3224. ; 8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are ubiquitous and persistent herpesviruses commonly acquired during childhood. Both viruses have a significant impact on the immune system, especially through mediating the establishment of cellular immunity, which keeps these viruses under control for life. Far less is known about how these viruses influence B-cell responses. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of latent EBV and CMV infection on rubella- and measles-specific antibody responses as well as on the B-cell compartment in a prospective birth cohort followed during the first 10 years of life. Methods: IgG titers against rubella and measles vaccines were measured in plasma obtained from the same donors at 2, 5, and 10 years of age. Peripheral B-cell subsets were evaluated ex vivo at 2 and 5 years of age. Factors related to optimal B-cell responses including IL-21 and CXCL13 levels in plasma were measured at all-time points. Results: EBV carriage in the absence of CMV associated with an accelerated decline of rubella and measles-specific IgG levels (p = 0.003 and p = 0.019, respectively, linear mixed model analysis), while CMV carriage in the absence of EBV associated with delayed IgG decay over time for rubella (p = 0.034). At 5 years of age, EBV but not CMV latency associated with a lower percentage of plasmablasts, but higher IL-21 levels in the circulation. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that EBV carriage in the absence of CMV influences the B-cell compartment and the dynamics of antibody responses over time during steady state in the otherwise healthy host.
|
|
| 7. |
- Luize, Bruno Garcia, et al.
(författare)
-
Geography and ecology shape the phylogenetic composition of Amazonian tree communities
- 2024
-
Ingår i: JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY. - 0305-0270 .- 1365-2699.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: Amazonia hosts more tree species from numerous evolutionary lineages, both young and ancient, than any other biogeographic region. Previous studies have shown that tree lineages colonized multiple edaphic environments and dispersed widely across Amazonia, leading to a hypothesis, which we test, that lineages should not be strongly associated with either geographic regions or edaphic forest types. Location: Amazonia. Taxon: Angiosperms (Magnoliids; Monocots; Eudicots). Methods: Data for the abundance of 5082 tree species in 1989 plots were combined with a mega-phylogeny. We applied evolutionary ordination to assess how phylogenetic composition varies across Amazonia. We used variation partitioning and Moran's eigenvector maps (MEM) to test and quantify the separate and joint contributions of spatial and environmental variables to explain the phylogenetic composition of plots. We tested the indicator value of lineages for geographic regions and edaphic forest types and mapped associations onto the phylogeny. Results: In the terra firme and v & aacute;rzea forest types, the phylogenetic composition varies by geographic region, but the igap & oacute; and white-sand forest types retain a unique evolutionary signature regardless of region. Overall, we find that soil chemistry, climate and topography explain 24% of the variation in phylogenetic composition, with 79% of that variation being spatially structured (R-2 = 19% overall for combined spatial/environmental effects). The phylogenetic composition also shows substantial spatial patterns not related to the environmental variables we quantified (R-2 = 28%). A greater number of lineages were significant indicators of geographic regions than forest types. Main Conclusion: Numerous tree lineages, including some ancient ones (>66 Ma), show strong associations with geographic regions and edaphic forest types of Amazonia. This shows that specialization in specific edaphic environments has played a long-standing role in the evolutionary assembly of Amazonian forests. Furthermore, many lineages, even those that have dispersed across Amazonia, dominate within a specific region, likely because of phylogenetically conserved niches for environmental conditions that are prevalent within regions.
|
|
| 8. |
- Magalhaes, Isabelle, et al.
(författare)
-
Facing the future : challenges and opportunities in adoptive T cell therapy in cancer
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1471-2598 .- 1744-7682. ; 19:8, s. 811-827
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: In recent years, immunotherapy for the treatment of solid cancer has emerged as a promising therapeutic alternative. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), especially T cell-based, has been found to cause tumor regression and even cure in a percentage of treated patients. Checkpoint inhibitors further underscore the potential of the T cell compartment in the treatment of cancer. Not all patients respond to these treatments; however, many challenges remain.AREAS COVERED: This review covers the challenges and progress in tumor antigen target identification and selection, and cell product manufacturing for T cell ACT. Tumor immune escape mechanisms and strategies to overcome those in the context of T cell ACT are also discussed.EXPERT OPINION: The immunotherapy toolbox is rapidly expanding and improving, and the future promises further breakthroughs in the T cell ACT field. The heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment and the multiplicity of tumor immune escape mechanisms pose formidable challenges to successful T cell immunotherapy in solid tumors, however. Individualized approaches and strategies combining treatments targeting different immunotherapeutic aspects will be needed in order to expand the applicability and improve the response rates in future.
|
|
| 9. |
- Petursdottir, Dagbjort H., et al.
(författare)
-
Early-Life Human Microbiota Associated With Childhood Allergy Promotes the T Helper 17 Axis in Mice
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-3224. ; 8
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The intestinal microbiota influences immune maturation during childhood, and is implicated in early-life allergy development. However, to directly study intestinal microbes and gut immune responses in infants is difficult. To investigate how different types of early-life gut microbiota affect immune development, we collected fecal samples from children with different allergic heredity (AH) and inoculated germ-free mice. Immune responses and microbiota composition were evaluated in the offspring of these mice. Microbial composition in the small intestine, the cecum and the colon were determined by 16S rRNA sequencing. The intestinal microbiota differed markedly between the groups of mice, but only exposure to microbiota associated with AH and known future allergy in children resulted in a T helper 17 (Th17)-signature, both systemically and in the gut mucosa in the mouse offspring. These Th17 responses could be signs of a particular microbiota and a shift in immune development, ultimately resulting in an increased risk of allergy.
|
|
| 10. |
- Saghafian-Hedengren, Shanie, et al.
(författare)
-
Epstein-Barr Virus Co-infection in Children Boosts Cytomegalovirus-induced Differentiation of Natural Killer Cells
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- During childhood, infections with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can occur in close temporal proximity. Active as well as latent CMV infection is associated with enlarged subsets of differentiated NK- and cytotoxic T cells. How EBV infection may influence CMV-driven immune differentiation is not known. Here we found that EBV co-infection selectively influenced the NK-cell compartment of CMV-seropositive (CMV+) children. Co-infected children had significantly higher proportions of peripheral-blood NKG2C+ NK cells than CMV+EBV– children. Ex vivo NK-cell degranulation after target cell stimulation and plasma IL-15 levels were significantly higher in CMV+ children. EBV co-infection related with the highest levels of plasma IL-15 and IL-12p70. Remarkably, in vitro EBV infection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from EBV–CMV+ children increased NKG2C+ NK-cell proportions. A similar tendency was seen in co-cultures of PBMC with EBV+ lymphoblastoid B-cell lines (LCL) and IL-15. Following K562 challenge, NKG2C+ NK cells excelled in regards to degranulation and production of IFN-g, regardless of previous co-culture with LCL. Taken together, our data suggest that herpesvirus interplay during childhood could contribute to an in vivo environment supporting differentiation and maintenance of distinct NK-cell populations. This viral imprint may affect subsequent immune responses through altered distributions of effector cells.
|
|
