Selected Grantee Publications
- Clear All
- 13 results found
- Pediatrics
- 2023
- 2020
Conjugation of HIV-1 Envelope to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Alters Vaccine Responses in Rhesus Macaques
Nettere et al., NPJ Vaccines. 2023.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10673864/
Researchers are interested in developing an HIV-1 vaccine that improves upon the regimen used in the RV144 clinical trial. The authors tested the hypothesis that a conjugate vaccine based on the learned response to immunization with hepatitis B virus could be utilized to expand T-cell help and improve antibody production against HIV-1. Using juvenile rhesus macaques of both sexes, they evaluated the immunogenicity of their conjugate regimen. Their findings suggest that conjugate vaccination can engage both HIV-1 Env– and hepatitis B surface antigen–specific Tcell help and modify antibody responses at early time points. This work may help inform future efforts to improve the durability and efficacy of next-generation HIV vaccines. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011107, K01OD024877) and NIAID.
A Defect in Mitochondrial Fatty Acid Synthesis Impairs Iron Metabolism and Causes Elevated Ceramide Levels
Dutta et al., Nature Metabolism. 2023.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37653044/
Human mitochondrial enoyl coenzyme A reductase (Mecr), required for the last step of mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (mtFAS), is linked to pediatric-onset neurodegeneration, but with unknown mechanisms. Researchers investigated phenotypes of mecr mutants in Drosophila and human-derived fibroblasts. They found that loss of function of Mecr in the whole body resulted in a defect in Fe-S cluster biogenesis and increased iron levels, leading to elevated ceramide levels and lethality in flies. Similar elevated ceramide levels and impaired iron homeostasis were observed human-derived fibroblasts with Mecr deficiency. Neuronal loss of Mecr led to progressive neurodegeneration in flies. This study pointed out a mechanistic link between mtFAS and neurodegeneration through Mecr. Supported by ORIP (R24OD022005, R24OD031447), NICHD, and NINDS.
Large-Scale Production of Human Blastoids Amenable to Modeling Blastocyst Development and Maternal-Fetal Crosstalk
Yu et al., Cell Stem Cell. 2023.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1934590923002850?via%3Dihub=
Human blastoids provide a valuable model to study early human development and implantation with reduced genetic heterogeneity between samples. Investigators reported a protocol for efficient generation of high-fidelity human blastoids from naïve pluripotent stem cells. The similarities between blastoids and blastocysts in signaling activities—demonstrated using single-cell RNA sequencing—support the use of blastoids to model lineage differentiation and cavity formation. Additionally, endometrial stromal effects in promoting trophoblast cell survival, proliferation, and syncytialization during co-culture with blastoids demonstrated the capability to model maternal–fetal crosstalk. The protocol will facilitate broader use of human blastoids as an ethical model for human blastocysts. Supported by ORIP (S10OD028630) and others.
The Contribution of Maternal Oral, Vaginal, and Gut Microbiota to the Developing Offspring Gut
Russell et al., Scientific Reports. 2023.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-40703-7#Ack1
The maturation process of the gut microbiota (GM) is an essential process for life-long health that is defined by the acquisition and colonization of microorganisms in the gut and the subsequent immune system induction that occurs during early life. To address significant knowledge gaps in this area, investigators characterized the neonatal fecal and ileal microbiota of entire litters of mice at multiple pre-weaning time-points. Results indicated that specific-pathogen-free mouse microbiotas undergo a dynamic and somewhat characteristic maturation process, culminating by roughly two to three weeks of age. Prior to that, the neonatal GM is more similar in composition to the maternal oral microbiota, as opposed to the vaginal and fecal microbiotas. Further studies are needed to expand our knowledge regarding the effect of these developmental exposures on host development. Supported by ORIP (U42OD010918, R03OD028259).
Effects of Acute Femoral Head Ischemia on the Growth Plate and Metaphysis in a Piglet Model of Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
Armstrong et al., Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2023.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36696941/
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) can lead to permanent deformity of the femoral head and premature osteoarthritis, but the underlying cause remains unknown. More work is needed to determine optimal treatment methods for LCPD. Using a piglet model for LCPD, researchers assessed the effects of acute femoral head ischemia on the proximal femoral growth plate and metaphysis. They reported that alterations to the growth plate zones and metaphysis occurred by 2 days post-ischemia and persisted at 7 days post-ischemia. These findings suggest that growth disruption may occur sooner after the onset of ischemia than researchers had hypothesized previously. Supported by ORIP (T32OD010993, K01OD021293), NIAMS, and NCATS.
Infection of the Maternal–Fetal Interface and Vertical Transmission Following Low-Dose Inoculation of Pregnant Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) with an African-Lineage Zika Virus
Koenig et al., PLOS ONE. 2023.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284964
Researchers examined transmission of Zika virus to nonhuman primate fetuses during pregnancy. Even with a low dosage of inoculation of the dams, the investigators found that the Zika virus infected fetuses, despite the presence of a “placental fortress,” which normally protects fetuses during gestation. This transmission illustrates the high level of infectivity threat that Zika poses, which may increase if mosquitoes expand their global habitats. Understanding how Zika breaches the placental barrier will help researchers develop strategies to prevent fetal infection during pregnancy and thereby prevent adverse outcomes, such as brain malformation defects. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011106, S10OD023526), NIAID, NCI, and NIGMS.
Giardia Hinders Growth by Disrupting Nutrient Metabolism Independent of Inflammatory Enteropathy
Giallourou et al., Nature Communications. 2023.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38363-2
Giardia lamblia is one of the most common intestinal pathogens among children in low- and middle-income countries. Investigators performed translational investigations using the Malnutrition and Enteric Diseases (MAL-ED) male and female cohort, as well as mice of both sexes, to identify mechanistic pathways that might explain Giardia-induced effects on early childhood growth. They identified signatures in the urinary metabolome of young children, suggesting that host growth restriction during infection is mediated by dysregulated amino acid metabolism. Supported by ORIP (P40OD010995), NIAID, and NIDDK.
The Incompetence of Mosquitoes—Can Zika Virus Be Adapted to Infect Culex tarsalis Cells?
Gallichotte et al., mSphere . 2023.
Zika virus (ZIKV) is transmitted between humans by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. However, the 2015 to 2017 outbreak raised questions regarding the role of Culex species mosquitoes in transmission. Investigators attempted to adapt ZIKV to C. tarsalis by serially passaging the virus on cocultured A. aegypti and C. tarsalis cells to identify viral determinants of species specificity. Next-generation sequencing of cocultured virus passages revealed variants of interest that were engineered into nine recombinant viruses. None of these viruses showed increased infection of Culex cells or mosquitoes. Thus, although ZIKV might infect Culex mosquitoes occasionally, Aedes mosquitoes likely drive transmission and human risk. Supported by ORIP (T32OD010437) and NIAID.
Infant Rhesus Macaques Immunized Against SARS-CoV-2 Are Protected Against Heterologous Virus Challenge 1 Year Later
Milligan et al., Science Translational Medicine. 2023.
https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.add6383
The Moderna and Pfizer–BioNTech mRNA vaccines received emergency use authorization for infants 6 months and older in June 2022, but questions remain regarding the durability of vaccine efficacy against emerging variants in this age group. Using a two-dose vaccine regimen consisting of stabilized prefusion Washington-strain spike protein encoded by mRNA and encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles, the investigators immunized 2-month-old rhesus macaques of both sexes. They found that the immune responses persisted and protected from severe disease after heterologous challenge with the Delta variant 1 year later. The decay kinetics of vaccine-induced neutralizing antibody responses in the infant monkeys are comparable to those observed in adult humans and nonhuman primates. Supported by ORIP (P51OD011107), NIAID, and NCI.
Naturally Occurring Osteochondrosis Latens Lesions Identified by Quantitative and Morphological 10.5 T MRI in Pigs
Armstrong et al., Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 2023.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35716161/
Juvenile osteochondritis dissecans (JOCD) is a pediatric orthopedic disorder that is associated with pain and gait deficits. JOCD lesions form in the knee, elbow, and ankle joints and can progress to early-onset osteoarthritis. In this study, researchers used a noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method to identify naturally occurring lesions in intact knee and elbow joints of juvenile pigs. This work can be applied to noninvasive identification and monitoring of early JOCD lesions and determination of risk factors that contribute to their progression in children. Supported by ORIP (K01OD021293, T32OD010993), NIAMS, and NIBIB.