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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

The role of BCG induced epigenetic changes in the protection from neonatal sepsis

Investigators: Tobi Kollmann Project description Sepsis is a major preventable cause of early life mortality affecting 3 million neonates and 1.2

Immuno-epigenomic analysis identifies attenuated interferon responses in naïve CD4 T cells of adolescents with peanut and multi-food allergy

IgE-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.

Respiratory infection- and asthma-prone, low vaccine responder children demonstrate distinct mononuclear cell DNA methylation pathways

nfants 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. 

Risk Factors for Gut Dysbiosis in Early Life

Dysbiosis refers to a reduction in microbial diversity, combined with a loss of beneficial taxa, and an increase in pathogenic microorganisms. Dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota can have a substantial effect on the nervous and immune systems, contributing to the onset of several inflammatory diseases.

Mapping the landscape of chromatin dynamics during naïve CD4+ T-cell activation

T-cell activation induces context-specific gene expression programs that promote energy generation and biosynthesis, progression through the cell cycle and ultimately cell differentiation. The aim of this study was to apply the omni ATAC-seq method to characterize the landscape of chromatin changes induced by T-cell activation in mature naïve CD4+ T-cells.

Children of Asian ethnicity in Australia have higher risk of food allergy and early-onset eczema than those in Singapore

In Western countries, Asian children have higher food allergy risk than Caucasian children. The early-life environmental exposures for this discrepancy are unclear. We aimed to compare prevalence of food allergy and associated risk factors between Asian children in Singapore and Australia.

Clinical Epigenetics

Epigenomic research at The Kids explores the links between childhood disease and the molecular hallmarks of epigenetic control.

Conservation of gene expression patterns between the amniotic and nasal epithelium at birth

Amniotic epithelial cells are fetal-derived stem cells, capable of differentiating into all three germ layers, including mature epithelial cell populations. Here, we hypothesised that the amniotic epithelium might serve as a surrogate tissue source for investigating transcriptional profiles in the respiratory epithelium of newborns.

Immune Development in Early Life (IDEaL) longitudinal cohort study protocol: Identifying biomarkers of vaccine responsiveness, respiratory infection, and asthma

Early-life immune development is a critical factor in predicting the risk of childhood respiratory infections, asthma, and poor vaccine responses. Identifying immune endotypes that predispose children to these conditions could lead to the development of predictive biomarkers and early interventions, potentially improving long-term health outcomes.