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Research

Food Allergy Genetics and Epigenetics: A Review of Genome-Wide Association Studies

In this review, we provide an overview of food allergy genetics and epigenetics aimed at clinicians and researchers. This includes a brief review of the current understanding of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, inheritance of food allergy, as well as a discussion of advantages and limitations of the different types of studies in genetic research. 

Research

DNA Methylation signatures underpinning blood neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio during first week of human life

Understanding of newborn immune ontogeny in the first week of life will enable age-appropriate strategies for safeguarding vulnerable newborns against infectious diseases. Here we conducted an observational study exploring the immunological profile of infants longitudinally throughout their first week of life. 

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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. 

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Early moderate prenatal alcohol exposure and maternal diet impact offspring DNA methylation across species

Alcohol consumption in pregnancy can affect genome regulation in the developing offspring but results have been contradictory. We employed a physiologically relevant murine model of short-term moderate prenatal alcohol exposure resembling common patterns of alcohol consumption in pregnancy in humans. 

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From Local to Systemic: The Journey of Tick Bite Biomarkers in Australian Patients

Tick bites and tick-related diseases are on the rise. Diagnostic tests that identify well-characterised tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) possess limited capacity to address the causation of symptoms associated with poorly characterised tick-related illnesses, such as debilitating symptom complexes attributed to ticks (DSCATT) in Australia. Identification of local signals in tick-bitten skin that can be detected systemically in blood would have both clinical (diagnostic or prognostic) and research (mechanistic insight) utility, as a blood sample is more readily obtainable than tissue biopsies.

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Genetic determinants of paediatric food allergy: A systematic review

We systematically reviewed the literature on the genetic basis of food allergy, identifying areas for further investigation

Clinical Epigenetics

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

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ARIEL study

This study will test the hypothesis that the mechanisms of childhood asthma begin in the respiratory tract as early as birth.

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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

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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