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Zika Virus Changes Methylation of Genes Involved in Immune Response and Neural Development in Brazilian Babies Born With Congenital Microcephaly

The recent increase in babies born with brain and eye malformations in Brazil is associated with Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in utero. ZIKV alters host DNA methylation in vitro. Using genome-wide DNA methylation profiling we compared 18 babies born with congenital ZIKV microcephaly with 20 controls. We found ZIKV-associated alteration of host methylation patterns, notably at RABGAP1L which is important in brain development, at viral host immunity genes MX1 and ISG15, and in an epigenetic module containing the causal microcephaly gene MCPH1. Our data support the hypothesis that clinical signs of congenital ZIKV are associated with changes in DNA methylation.

Decades-old work picked up by Google’s DeepMind leads to global scientific breakthrough

A researcher's work from 20 years ago has helped to crack one of biology’s biggest mysteries.

FLI1 polymorphism affects susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil

Mapping murine genes controlling cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) identified Fli1 as a candidate influencing resistance to L. major and enhanced wound healing.

A microbiome case-control study of recurrent acute otitis media identified potentially protective bacterial genera

We characterised the nasopharyngeal microbiome of these children in comparison to children with rAOM to identify potentially protective bacteria.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Genetic Risk Factors for Rheumatic Heart Disease in Aboriginal Australians Provides Support for Pathogenic Molecular Mimicry

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) after group A streptococcus (GAS) infections is heritable and prevalent in Indigenous populations. Molecular mimicry between human and GAS proteins triggers proinflammatory cardiac valve-reactive T cells.

Directing immune development to curb sky-rocketing disease

Once upon a time it was infectious diseases like polio, measles or tuberculosis that most worried parents. With these threats now largely under control, parents face a new challenge – sky-rocketing rates of non-infectious diseases such as asthma, allergies and autism.

A genome-wide association study identifies new psoriasis susceptibility loci and an interaction between HLA-C and ERAP1

To identify new susceptibility loci for psoriasis, we undertook a genome-wide association study of 594,224 SNPs in 2,622 individuals with psoriasis...

Classification and regression tree and spatial analyses reveal geographic heterogeneity

Genome wide linkage studies (GWLS) have provided evidence for loci controlling visceral leishmaniasis on Chromosomes 1p22, 6q27, 22q12 in Sudan...

Wound healing genes and susceptibility to cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil

Here we examined single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes as risk factors for cutaneous (CL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML), and leishmaniasis...

Toxoplasma gondii infection is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in-vitro

Our results show perturbation of host mitochondrial function following T. gondii infection that likely impacts on pathogenesis of disease.