Publications by authors named "John B O'Connor"

Article Synopsis
  • The study explored how a high-fiber/low-fat agrarian diet (AD) affects inflammation and metabolic health in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM).
  • Participants included 36 HIV-positive MSM, with results showing the AD reduced harmful cholesterol and improved immune function, especially in those with specific gut microbiome types.
  • The findings suggest that customizing dietary interventions based on individual microbiomes could enhance metabolic health for HIV-positive MSM.
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Airway microbiota are known to contribute to lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis (CF), but their contributions to pathogenesis are still unclear. To improve our understanding of host-microbe interactions, we have developed an integrated analytical and bioinformatic mass spectrometry (MS)-based metaproteomics workflow to analyze clinical bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from people with airway disease. Proteins from BAL cellular pellets were processed and pooled together in groups categorized by disease status (CF vs.

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Background: Progressive, obstructive lung disease resulting from chronic infection and inflammation is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with cystic fibrosis (PWCF). Metabolomics and next -generation sequencing (NGS) of airway secretions can allow for better understanding of cystic fibrosis (CF) pathophysiology. In this study, global metabolomic profiling on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from pediatric PWCF and disease controls (DCs) was performed and compared to lower airway microbiota, inflammation, and lung function.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the fungal communities in the lungs of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared to those without CF, as traditional methods have not provided a clear understanding of these fungal populations.
  • Using a new genetic sequencing technique, researchers analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples to measure fungal load and characterize the mycobiome.
  • Results showed higher total fungal load and inflammation in CF patients, with notable differences in specific fungal populations, pointing to the need for further studies that include comparisons with bacterial communities in the airways.*
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The leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) is progressive lung disease secondary to chronic airway infection and inflammation; however, what drives CF airway infection and inflammation is not well understood. By providing a physiological snapshot of the airway, metabolomics can provide insight into these processes. Linking metabolomic data with microbiome data and phenotypic measures can reveal complex relationships between metabolites, lower airway bacterial communities, and disease outcomes.

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Rationale: Chronic airway infection and inflammation resulting in progressive, obstructive lung disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis. Understanding the lower airway microbiota across the ages can provide valuable insight and potential therapeutic targets.

Objectives: To characterize and compare the lower airway microbiota in cystic fibrosis and disease control subjects across the pediatric age spectrum.

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Objective: Pathogenic variants in KCNB1, encoding the voltage-gated potassium channel K 2.1, are associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). Previous functional studies on a limited number of KCNB1 variants indicated a range of molecular mechanisms by which variants affect channel function, including loss of voltage sensitivity, loss of ion selectivity, and reduced cell-surface expression.

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