Notice NOT-HL-17-506 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts

Funding Opportunity RFA-DA-18-004 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. Avenir means future in French, and the Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS looks toward the future by supporting early stage investigators (ESI) proposing highly innovative studies that address NIH HIV/AIDS Research Priorities https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-15-137.html. The Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS will support creative individuals who wish to pursue innovative research at the nexus of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. The nexus with drug abuse should be clearly described. The Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS will support research approaches, both basic and clinical, which have the potential to benefit substance using populations with or at risk for HIV/AIDS by reducing HIV incidence, improving therapies for HIV, reducing the impact of comorbid conditions, and ultimately, eradicating HIV.

6 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"Rare Diseases"[Mesh] OR "orphan disease"

These pubmed results were generated on 2017/03/31

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

18 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

"systems biology"

These pubmed results were generated on 2017/03/31

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

11 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results:

("drug-induced" OR "drug-related") AND ("adverse events" OR "side effects" OR "side-effects")

These pubmed results were generated on 2017/03/31

PubMed comprises more than millions of citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

Pharmacogenomics study on cadherin 2 network with regard to HIV infection and methadone treatment outcome.

PLoS One. 2017;12(3):e0174647

Authors: Kuo HW, Shih CL, Tsung JH, Liu SW, Chu SK, Yang HC, Tsou HH, Wang ZH, Chen AC, Liu YL

Abstract
Heroin dependent patients have a high incidence of HIV infection. In contrast to the gene expression method, we developed a systemic correlation analysis method built upon the results of pharmacogenomics study in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) cohort consisting of 344 Taiwanese heroin dependent patients. We identified genetic variants and their encoding proteins that may be involved with HIV infection and MMT treatment outcome. Cadherin 2 (CDH2) genetic determinants were identified through the genome-wide pharmacogenomic study. We found significant correlations among HIV infection status, plasma levels of CDH2, cytokine IL-7, ADAM10, and the treatment responses to methadone. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms located within CDH2 gene showed associations with blood pressure and plasma CDH2 concentration. Plasma concentration of CDH2 showed correlations with the level of cytokine IL-7, status of HIV infection, and urine morphine test result. Plasma level of IL-7 was correlated with corrected QT interval (QTc) and gooseflesh skin withdrawal symptom score, while level of ADAM10 was correlated with plasma concentrations of vitamin D metabolite, nicotine metabolite, and R-methadone. The results suggest a novel network involving HIV infection and methadone treatment outcome.

PMID: 28358908 [PubMed - in process]

Pharmacogenetics in the treatment of pre-eclampsia: current findings, challenges and perspectives.

Pharmacogenomics. 2017 Mar 30;:

Authors: Luizon MR, Palei AC, Cavalli RC, Sandrim VC

Abstract
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is defined as pregnancy-induced hypertension and proteinuria, and is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. A large subgroup of pregnant women with PE is nonresponsive to antihypertensive drugs, including methyldopa, nifedipine and hydralazine. Pharmacogenomics may help to guide the individualized therapy for this nonresponsive subgroup. However, just a few pharmacogenetic studies examined the effects of genetic polymorphisms on response to antihypertensive drugs in PE, and the criteria of responsiveness used to define responsive or nonresponsive subgroups to antihypertensive therapy should be replicated by others. We review these gene-drugs interactions, novel approaches to pharmacogenomics research and potential novel drugs for PE therapy. Finally, we discuss the challenges and perspectives of pharmacogenetics in the treatment of PE.

PMID: 28358601 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Common genetic polymorphisms of adenosine A2A receptor do not influence response to regadenoson.

Pharmacogenomics. 2017 Mar 30;:

Authors: Berlacher M, Mastouri R, Philips S, Skaar TC, Kreutz RP

Abstract
AIM: Hemodynamic response to regadenoson varies greatly, and underlying mechanisms for variability are poorly understood. We hypothesized that five common variants of adenosine A2A receptor (ADORA2A) are associated with altered response to regadenoson.
METHODS: Consecutive subjects (n = 357) undergoing resting regadenoson nuclear stress imaging were enrolled. Genotyping was performed using Taqman-based assays for rs5751862, rs229838, rs3761422, rs2267076 and rs5751876.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference in heart rate or blood pressure between different genotypes following regadenoson administration. There was also no significant difference in myocardial ischemia detected by nuclear perfusion imaging as defined by summed difference score, or in self-reported side effects among the genotypes tested.
CONCLUSION: The common A2A variants studied are not associated with variability in hemodynamic response to regadenoson or variability in detection of ischemia with nuclear perfusion stress imaging.

PMID: 28358597 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

HLA-B*15:21 and carbamazepine-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome: pooled-data and in silico analysis.

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 30;7:45553

Authors: Jaruthamsophon K, Tipmanee V, Sangiemchoey A, Sukasem C, Limprasert P

Abstract
HLA-B*15:02 screening before carbamazepine (CBZ) prescription in Asian populations is the recommended practice to prevent CBZ-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome (CBZ-SJS). However, a number of patients have developed CBZ-SJS even having no HLA-B*15:02. Herein, we present the case of a Thai patient who had a negative HLA-B*15:02 screening result but later developed CBZ-SJS. Further HLA typing revealed HLA-B*15:21/B*13:01. HLA-B*15:21 is a member of the HLA-B75 serotype and is commonly found in Southeast Asian populations. Based on this case, we hypothesised that if all HLA-B*15:02 carriers were prevented from CBZ prescription, another common HLA-B75 serotype marker would show its association with CBZ-SJS. To test this hypothesis, we pooled data from previous association studies in Asian populations, excluded all cases with HLA-B*15:02, and analysed the association significance of HLA-B75 serotype markers. A significant association was found between CBZ-SJS and HLA-B*15:21 and HLA-B*15:11. We also applied an in silico analysis and found that all HLA-B75 serotype molecules shared similar capability in binding the CBZ molecule. In summary, this report provides the first evidence of a positive association between HLA-B*15:21 and CBZ-SJS and the first in silico analysis of CBZ binding sites and details of the molecular behaviour of HLA-B75 molecule to explain its molecular action.

PMID: 28358139 [PubMed - in process]

Related Articles

NLRP3 and CARD8 Polymorphisms Influence Higher Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

J Med Biochem. 2016 Sep;35(3):319-323

Authors: Jenko B, Praprotnik S, Tomšic M, Dolžan V

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The activation of NLRP3-inflammasome may contribute to inflammatory processes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Functional polymorphisms in the genes coding for its components NLRP3 and CARD8 were associated with a proinflammatory phenotype. Our aim was to investigate the influence of these polymorphisms on RA susceptibility and disease activity at the time of diagnosis and after six months of treatment.
METHODS: A group of 128 RA patients treated with methotrexate and 122 healthy controls were genotyped for NLRP3 rs35829419 (p. Q705K) and CARD8 rs2043211 (p. C10X) polymorphisms.
RESULTS: RA susceptibility was not influenced by the investigated polymorphisms or their interaction. The investigated polymorphisms explained 8% of variability in DAS28 at the time of diagnosis. Carriers of NLRP3 rs35829419 or CARD8 rs2043211 polymorphisms had significantly higher DAS28 at the time of diagnosis (p=0.003; p=0.022; respectively). Polymorphic CARD8 rs2043211 TT genotype was also associated with higher DAS28 after six months of treatment (p=0.033).
CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variability of inflammasome components may contribute to higher disease activity at the time of diagnosis and after 6 months of methotrexate treatment in RA patients. Better understanding of the immunological mechanisms behind a more active course of RA may suggest novel treatment approaches in a subset of patients with a proinflammatory phenotype.

PMID: 28356883 [PubMed - in process]

Related Articles

Drug-screening and genomic analyses of HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines reveal predictors for treatment response.

Breast Cancer (Dove Med Press). 2017;9:185-198

Authors: Jernström S, Hongisto V, Leivonen SK, Due EU, Tadele DS, Edgren H, Kallioniemi O, Perälä M, Mælandsmo GM, Sahlberg KK

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Approximately 15%-20% of all diagnosed breast cancers are characterized by amplified and overexpressed HER2 (= ErbB2). These breast cancers are aggressive and have a poor prognosis. Although improvements in treatment have been achieved after the introduction of trastuzumab and lapatinib, many patients do not benefit from these drugs. Therefore, in-depth understanding of the mechanisms behind the treatment responses is essential to find alternative therapeutic strategies.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen HER2 positive breast cancer cell lines were screened with 22 commercially available compounds, mainly targeting proteins in the ErbB2-signaling pathway, and molecular mechanisms related to treatment sensitivity were sought. Cell viability was measured, and treatment responses between the cell lines were compared. To search for response predictors and genomic and transcriptomic profiling, PIK3CA mutations and PTEN status were explored and molecular features associated with drug sensitivity sought.
RESULTS: The cell lines were divided into three groups according to the growth-retarding effect induced by trastuzumab and lapatinib. Interestingly, two cell lines insensitive to trastuzumab (KPL4 and SUM190PT) showed sensitivity to an Akt1/2 kinase inhibitor. These cell lines had mutation in PIK3CA and loss of PTEN, suggesting an activated and druggable Akt-signaling pathway. Expression levels of five genes (CDC42, MAPK8, PLCG1, PTK6, and PAK6) were suggested as predictors for the Akt1/2 kinase-inhibitor response.
CONCLUSION: Targeting the Akt-signaling pathway shows promise in cell lines that do not respond to trastuzumab. In addition, our results indicate that several molecular features determine the growth-retarding effects induced by the drugs, suggesting that parameters other than HER2 amplification/expression should be included as markers for therapy decisions.

PMID: 28356768 [PubMed]

Related Articles

Overview of BioBank Japan follow-up data in 32 diseases.

J Epidemiol. 2017 Mar;27(3S):S22-S28

Authors: Hirata M, Nagai A, Kamatani Y, Ninomiya T, Tamakoshi A, Yamagata Z, Kubo M, Muto K, Kiyohara Y, Mushiroda T, Murakami Y, Yuji K, Furukawa Y, Zembutsu H, Tanaka T, Ohnishi Y, Nakamura Y, BioBank Japan Cooperative Hospital Group, Matsuda K

Abstract
BACKGROUND: We established a patient-oriented biobank, BioBank Japan, with information on approximately 200,000 patients, suffering from any of 47 common diseases. This follow-up survey focused on 32 diseases, potentially associated with poor vital prognosis, and collected patient survival information, including cause of death. We performed a survival analysis for all subjects to get an overview of BioBank Japan follow-up data.
METHODS: A total of 141,612 participants were included. The survival data were last updated in 2014. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed after categorizing subjects according to sex, age group, and disease status. Relative survival rates were estimated using a survival-rate table of the Japanese general population.
RESULTS: Of 141,612 subjects (56.48% male) with 1,087,434 person-years and a 97.0% follow-up rate, 35,482 patients died during follow-up. Mean age at enrollment was 64.24 years for male subjects and 63.98 years for female subjects. The 5-year and 10-year relative survival rates for all subjects were 0.944 and 0.911, respectively, with a median follow-up duration of 8.40 years. Patients with pancreatic cancer had the least favorable prognosis (10-year relative survival: 0.184) and patients with dyslipidemia had the most favorable prognosis (1.013). The most common cause of death was malignant neoplasms. A number of subjects died from diseases other than their registered disease(s).
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report to perform follow-up survival analysis across various common diseases. Further studies should use detailed clinical and genomic information to identify predictors of mortality in patients with common diseases, contributing to the implementation of personalized medicine.

PMID: 28190660 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Related Articles

Cross-sectional analysis of BioBank Japan clinical data: A large cohort of 200,000 patients with 47 common diseases.

J Epidemiol. 2017 Mar;27(3S):S9-S21

Authors: Hirata M, Kamatani Y, Nagai A, Kiyohara Y, Ninomiya T, Tamakoshi A, Yamagata Z, Kubo M, Muto K, Mushiroda T, Murakami Y, Yuji K, Furukawa Y, Zembutsu H, Tanaka T, Ohnishi Y, Nakamura Y, BioBank Japan Cooperative Hospital Group, Matsuda K

Abstract
BACKGROUND: To implement personalized medicine, we established a large-scale patient cohort, BioBank Japan, in 2003. BioBank Japan contains DNA, serum, and clinical information derived from approximately 200,000 patients with 47 diseases. Serum and clinical information were collected annually until 2012.
METHODS: We analyzed clinical information of participants at enrollment, including age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, and smoking and drinking status, across 47 diseases, and compared the results with the Japanese database on Patient Survey and National Health and Nutrition Survey. We conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusting for sex and age, to assess the association between family history and disease development.
RESULTS: Distribution of age at enrollment reflected the typical age of disease onset. Analysis of the clinical information revealed strong associations between smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, drinking and esophageal cancer, high body mass index and metabolic disease, and hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Logistic regression analysis showed that individuals with a family history of keloid exhibited a higher odds ratio than those without a family history, highlighting the strong impact of host genetic factor(s) on disease onset.
CONCLUSIONS: Cross-sectional analysis of the clinical information of participants at enrollment revealed characteristics of the present cohort. Analysis of family history revealed the impact of host genetic factors on each disease. BioBank Japan, by publicly distributing DNA, serum, and clinical information, could be a fundamental infrastructure for the implementation of personalized medicine.

PMID: 28190657 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Related Articles

Overview of the BioBank Japan Project: Study design and profile.

J Epidemiol. 2017 Mar;27(3S):S2-S8

Authors: Nagai A, Hirata M, Kamatani Y, Muto K, Matsuda K, Kiyohara Y, Ninomiya T, Tamakoshi A, Yamagata Z, Mushiroda T, Murakami Y, Yuji K, Furukawa Y, Zembutsu H, Tanaka T, Ohnishi Y, Nakamura Y, BioBank Japan Cooperative Hospital Group, Kubo M

Abstract
BACKGROUND: The BioBank Japan (BBJ) Project was launched in 2003 with the aim of providing evidence for the implementation of personalized medicine by constructing a large, patient-based biobank (BBJ). This report describes the study design and profile of BBJ participants who were registered during the first 5-year period of the project.
METHODS: The BBJ is a registry of patients diagnosed with any of 47 target common diseases. Patients were enrolled at 12 cooperative medical institutes all over Japan from June 2003 to March 2008. Clinical information was collected annually via interviews and medical record reviews until 2013. We collected DNA from all participants at baseline and collected annual serum samples until 2013. In addition, we followed patients who reported a history of 32 of the 47 target diseases to collect survival data, including cause of death.
RESULTS: During the 5-year period, 200,000 participants were registered in the study. The total number of cases was 291,274 at baseline. Baseline data for 199,982 participants (53.1% male) were available for analysis. The average age at entry was 62.7 years for men and 61.5 years for women. Follow-up surveys were performed for participants with any of 32 diseases, and survival time data for 141,612 participants were available for analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: The BBJ Project has constructed the infrastructure for genomic research for various common diseases. This clinical information, coupled with genomic data, will provide important clues for the implementation of personalized medicine.

PMID: 28189464 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Direct monitoring of pulmonary disease treatment biomarkers using plasmonic gold nanorods with diffusion-sensitive OCT.

Nanoscale. 2017 Mar 30;:

Authors: Blackmon RL, Kreda SM, Sears PR, Chapman BS, Hill DB, Tracy JB, Ostrowski LE, Oldenburg AL

Abstract
The solid concentration of pulmonary mucus (wt%) is critical to respiratory health. In patients with respiratory disease, such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), mucus hydration is impaired, resulting in high wt%. Mucus with high wt% is a hallmark of pulmonary disease that leads to obstructed airways, inflammation, and infection. Methods to measure mucus hydration in situ and in real-time are needed for drug development and personalized therapy. We employed plasmonic gold nanorod (GNR) biosensors that intermittently collide with macromolecules comprising the mucus mesh as they self-diffuse, such that GNR translational diffusion (DT) is sensitive to wt%. GNRs are attractive candidates for bioprobes due to their anisotropic optical scattering that makes them easily distinguishable from native tissue using polarization-sensitive OCT. Using principles of heterodyne dynamic light scattering, we developed diffusion-sensitive optical coherence tomography (DS-OCT) to spatially-resolve changing DT in real-time. DS-OCT enables, for the first time, direct monitoring of changes in nanoparticle diffusion rates that are sensitive to nanoporosity with spatial and temporal resolutions of 4.7 μm and 0.2 s. DS-OCT therefore enables us to measure spatially-resolved changes in mucus wt% over time. In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of DS-OCT on well-differentiated primary human bronchial epithelial cells during a clinical mucus-hydrating therapy, hypertonic saline treatment (HST), to reveal, for the first time, mucus mixing, cellular secretions, and mucus hydration on the micrometer scale that translate to long-term therapeutic effects.

PMID: 28358158 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles

Characterization and genome comparisons of three Achromobacter phages of the family Siphoviridae.

Arch Virol. 2017 Mar 29;:

Authors: Dreiseikelmann B, Bunk B, Spröer C, Rohde M, Nimtz M, Wittmann J

Abstract
In this study, we present the characterization and genomic data of three Achromobacter phages belonging to the family Siphoviridae. Phages 83-24, JWX and JWF were isolated from sewage samples in Paris and Braunschweig, respectively, and infect Achromobacter xylosoxidans, an emerging nosocomial pathogen in cystic fibrosis patients. Analysis of morphology and growth parameters revealed that phages 83-24 and JWX have similar properties, both have nearly the same head and tail measurements, and both have a burst size between 85 and 100 pfu/cell. In regard to morphological properties, JWF had a much longer and more flexible tail compared to other phages. The linear double-stranded DNAs of all three phages are terminally redundant and not circularly permutated. The complete nucleotide sequences consist of 81,541 bp for JWF, 49,714 bp for JWX and 48,216 bp for 83-24. Analysis of the genome sequences showed again that phages JWX and 83-24 are quite similar. Comparison to the GenBank database via BLASTN revealed partial similarities to Roseobacter phage RDJL phi1 and Burkholderia phage BcepGomr. In contrast, BLASTN analysis of the genome sequence of phage JWF revealed only few similarities to non-annotated prophage regions in different strains of Burkholderia and Mesorhizobium.

PMID: 28357512 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles

New approach for cystic fibrosis diagnosis based on chloride/potassium ratio analyzed in non-invasively obtained skin-wipe sweat samples by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductometric detection.

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2017 Mar 29;:

Authors: Ďurč P, Foret F, Pokojová E, Homola L, Skřičková J, Herout V, Dastych M, Vinohradská H, Kubáň P

Abstract
A new approach for sweat analysis used in cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis is proposed. It consists of a noninvasive skin-wipe sampling followed by analysis of target ions using capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductometric detection (C4D). The skin-wipe sampling consists of wiping a defined skin area with precleaned cotton swab moistened with 100 μL deionized water. The skin-wipe sample is then extracted for 3 min into 400 μL deionized water, and the extract is analyzed directly. The developed sampling method is cheap, simple, fast, and painless, and can replace the conventional pilocarpine-induced sweat chloride test commonly applied in CF diagnosis. The aqueous extract of the skin-wipe sample content is analyzed simultaneously by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductometric detection using a double opposite end injection. A 20 mmol/L L-histidine/2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid and 2 mmol/L 18-crown-6 at pH 6 electrolyte can separate all the major ions in less than 7 min. Skin-wipe sample extracts from 30 study participants-ten adult patients with CF (25-50 years old), ten pediatric patients with CF (1-15 years old), and ten healthy control individuals (1-18 years old)-were obtained and analyzed. From the analyzed ions in all samples, a significant difference between chloride and potassium concentrations was found in the CF patients and healthy controls. We propose the use of the Cl(-)/K(+) ratio rather than the absolute Cl(-) concentration and a cutoff value of 4 in skin-wipe sample extracts as an alternative to the conventional sweat chloride analysis. The proposed Cl(-)/K(+) ion ratio proved to be a more reliable indicator, is independent of the patient's age, and allows better differentiation between non-CF individuals and CF patients having intermediate values on the Cl(-) sweat test. Figure New approach for cystic fibrosis diagnosis based on skin-wipe sampling of forearm and analysis of ionic content (Cl(-)/K(+) ratio) in skin-wipe extracts by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductometric detection.

PMID: 28357484 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles

Effect of Anaerobiasis or Hypoxia on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Inhibition of Aspergillus fumigatus Biofilm.

Arch Microbiol. 2017 Mar 29;:

Authors: Anand R, Clemons KV, Stevens DA

Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) and Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) are the major bacterial and fungal pathogens in the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. This is likely related to their ability to form biofilms. Both microbes have been associated with CF disease progression. The interplay between these two pathogens has been studied under aerobic conditions, though accumulating data indicates that much of the CF airway is hypoxic or anaerobic. We studied the microbial interaction in these latter environments. Pa is an aggressor against Af forming biofilm or as established Af biofilm, whether Pa is cultivated in aerobic, hypoxic, or anaerobic conditions, or tested in aerobic or hypoxic conditions. Pa cells are generally more effective than planktonic or biofilm culture filtrates. Pa growth is less in anaerobic conditions, and filtrates less effective after anaerobic or hypoxic growth, or against hypoxic Af. These, and other comparisons shown, indicate that Pa would be less effective in such environments, as would be the case in a CF mucus plug. These observations would explain why Pa becomes established in CF airways before Af, and why Af may persist during disease progression.

PMID: 28357473 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Related Articles

Concordance between upper and lower airway microbiota in infants with cystic fibrosis.

Eur Respir J. 2017 Mar;49(3):

Authors: Prevaes SM, de Steenhuijsen Piters WA, de Winter-de Groot KM, Janssens HM, Tramper-Stranders GA, Chu ML, Tiddens HA, van Westreenen M, van der Ent CK, Sanders EA, Bogaert D

Abstract
Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples are commonly used to direct therapy for lower respiratory tract infections in non-expectorating infants with cystic fibrosis (CF).We aimed to investigate the concordance between the bacterial community compositions of 25 sets of nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from 17 infants with CF aged ∼5 months (n=13) and ∼12 months (n=12) using conventional culturing and 16S-rRNA sequencing.Clustering analyses demonstrated that BAL microbiota profiles were in general characterised by a mixture of oral and nasopharyngeal bacteria, including commensals like Streptococcus, Neisseria, Veillonella and Rothia spp. and potential pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella spp. Within each individual, however, the degree of concordance differed between microbiota of both upper respiratory tract niches and the corresponding BAL.The inconsistent intra-individual concordance between microbiota of the upper and lower respiratory niches suggests that the lungs of infants with CF may have their own microbiome that seems seeded by, but is not identical to, the upper respiratory tract microbiome.

PMID: 28356374 [PubMed - in process]

Related Articles

Production and characterization of a PEGylated derivative of recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I for cystic fibrosis therapy.

Int J Pharm. 2017 Mar 26;:

Authors: Guichard MJ, Patil HP, Koussoroplis SJ, Wattiez R, Leal T, Vanbever R

Abstract
Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (rhDNase) is the mucolytic agent most widely used for the treatment of respiratory disease in cystic fibrosis. However, rhDNase is rapidly cleared from the lungs which implies a high dosing frequency and limited patient adherence. The aim of this study was to produce a long-acting PEGylated derivative of rhDNase presenting a preserved enzymatic activity. Site-specific PEGylation on the N-terminal (N-ter) leucine residue of rhDNase was achieved by reductive alkylation at acidic pH using linear 20kDa, linear 30kDa or two-arm 40kDa polyethylene glycol (PEG) propionaldehydes. Yields of mono-PEGylated products ranged between 45% and 61%. Conjugation to PEG fully preserved the secondary structure and the in vitro enzymatic activity of the native protein. These properties offer interesting perspectives for in vivo inhalation studies of the PEGylated enzyme.

PMID: 28356227 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]