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Linking the westernised oropharyngeal microbiome to the immune response in Chinese immigrantsHuman microbiota plays a fundamental role in modulating the immune response. Western environment and lifestyle are envisaged to alter the human microbiota with a new microbiome profile established in Chinese immigrants, which fails to prime the immune system. Here, we investigated how differences in composition of oropharyngeal microbiome may contribute to patterns of interaction between the microbiome and immune system in Chinese immigrants living in Australia.
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Zika Virus Changes Methylation of Genes Involved in Immune Response and Neural Development in Brazilian Babies Born With Congenital MicrocephalyThe 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.
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Common and Rare Genetic Variants That Could Contribute to Severe Otitis Media in an Australian Aboriginal PopulationOur goal was to identify genetic risk factors for severe otitis media (OM) in Aboriginal Australians.

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Genetic and functional evidence for a locus controlling otitis media at chromosome 10q26.3Otitis media (OM) is a common childhood disease characterised by middle ear effusion and inflammation.
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Genome-wide association study of IgG1 responses to the choline-binding protein PspC of Streptococcus pneumoniaeDelayed development of antibodies to S. pneumoniae in infancy is associated with the development of atopy and asthma.
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First genome-wide association study in an Australian Aboriginal population provides insights into genetic risk factors for body mass index and type 2 diabetesA body mass index (BMI) >22kg/m2 is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Aboriginal Australians.
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Common variants near ATM are associated with glycemic response to metformin in type 2 diabetesMetformin is the most commonly used pharmacological therapy for type 2 diabetes. We report a genome-wide association study for glycemic response to metformin...
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TLR1/2 activation during Heterologous prime-boost vaccination (DNA-MVA) enhances CD8+ T cell responses providingLeishmania (Viannia) parasites present particular challenges, as human and murine immune responses to infection are distinct from other Leishmania species
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Genetic risk and a primary role for cell-mediated immune mechanisms in multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis is a common disease of the central nervous system in which the interplay between inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes typically...