Molecular diagnostics using the QIAstat-Dx syndromic device for covering avian influenza pandemic preparedness.

Introduction: A key factor in influenza pandemic preparedness is the ability to detect zoonotic influenza virus strains as they emerge in humans through spillover events, ideally before human-to-human transmission occurs.

Design: In this study, the utility of the QIAstat-Dx syndromic device for influenza surveillance was evaluated. Bioinformatic analysis was performed on all WHO-recommended influenza Candidate Vaccine Viruses (CVVs), including the common strains recommended for the 2023-2024 influenza vaccine composition in the northern hemisphere, and 16 different H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and two H9N2 low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) strains.

Diet prevents the expansion of segmented filamentous bacteria and ileo-colonic inflammation in a model of Crohn's disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is associated with changes in the microbiota, and murine models of CD-like ileo-colonic inflammation depend on the presence of microbial triggers. Increased abundance of unknown Clostridiales and the microscopic detection of filamentous structures close to the epithelium of Tnf mice, a mouse model of CD-like ileitis pointed towards segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB), a commensal mucosal adherent bacterium involved in ileal inflammation.

Results: We show that the abundance of SFB strongly correlates with the severity of CD-like ileal inflammation in two mouse models of ileal inflammation, including Tnf and SAMP/Yit mice.

Generation of human colon organoids from healthy and inflammatory bowel disease mucosa.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) of unknown cause characterized by a relapsing-remitting behavior. Growing evidence supports the idea that the epithelial barrier plays a central role in the pathogenesis of IBD as well as in its evolution over time, thus representing a potential target for novel therapeutic options. In the last decade, the introduction of 3D epithelial cultures from ex vivo-expanded intestinal adult stem cells (ASCs) has impacted our ability to study the function of the epithelium in several gastrointestinal disorders, including IBD.

A Novel Strategy to Study the Invasive Capability of Adherent-Invasive by Using Human Primary Organoid-Derived Epithelial Monolayers.

Over the last decades, Adherent-Invasive (AIEC) has been linked to the pathogenesis of Crohn's Disease. AIEC's characteristics, as well as its interaction with the gut immune system and its role in intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction, have been extensively studied. Nevertheless, the currently available techniques to investigate the cross-talk between this pathogen and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are based on the infection of immortalized cell lines.

Multi-omic modelling of inflammatory bowel disease with regularized canonical correlation analysis.

Background: Personalized medicine requires finding relationships between variables that influence a patient's phenotype and predicting an outcome. Sparse generalized canonical correlation analysis identifies relationships between different groups of variables. This method requires establishing a model of the expected interaction between those variables.

Microbial Metabolites, Postbiotics, and Intestinal Epithelial Function.

Chronic inflammatory disorders are rising worldwide. The implication of the microbiota in persistent inflammation has been studied for years, but a direct causal relationship has not yet been stablished. Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) form a protective barrier against detrimental luminal components.

Integrated microbiota and metabolite profiles link Crohn's disease to sulfur metabolism.

Gut microbial and metabolite alterations have been linked to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. Here we perform a multi-omics microbiome and metabolite analysis of a longitudinal cohort of Crohn's disease patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and investigational therapy that induces drug free remission in a subset of patients. Via comparison of patients who responded and maintained remission, responded but experienced disease relapse and patients who did not respond to therapy, we identify shared functional signatures that correlate with disease activity despite the variability of gut microbiota profiles at taxonomic level.

Intestinal Inflammation Modulates the Epithelial Response to Butyrate in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Butyrate-producing gut bacteria are reduced in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), supporting the hypothesis that butyrate supplementation may be beneficial in this setting. Nonetheless, earlier studies suggest that the oxidation of butyrate in IBD patients is altered. We propose that inflammation may decrease epithelial butyrate consumption.

Differences in Peripheral and Tissue Immune Cell Populations Following Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Crohn's Disease Patients.

Background And Aims: Recent studies have shown the efficacy of autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation [HSCT] in severely refractory Crohn's disease [CD] patients. HSCT is thought to eliminate auto-reactive cells; however, no specific studies of immune reconstitution in CD patients are available.

Methods: We followed a group of CD patients [n = 18] receiving autologous HSCT, with 50% of them achieving endoscopic drug-free remission.