The human milk oligosaccharide 3'sialyllactose reduces low-grade inflammation and atherosclerosis development in mice.

Macrophages contribute to the induction and resolution of inflammation and play a central role in chronic low-grade inflammation in cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex unconjugated glycans unique to human milk that benefit infant health and act as innate immune modulators. Here, we identify the HMO 3'sialyllactose (3'SL) as a natural inhibitor of TLR4-induced low-grade inflammation in macrophages and endothelium.

Putting computational models of immunity to the test - an invited challenge to predict vaccination outcomes.

Systems vaccinology studies have been used to build computational models that predict individual vaccine responses and identify the factors contributing to differences in outcome. Comparing such models is challenging due to variability in study designs. To address this, we established a community resource to compare models predicting booster responses and generate experimental data for the explicit purpose of model evaluation.

Dietary Neu5Ac Intervention Protects Against Atherosclerosis Associated With Human-Like Neu5Gc Loss-Brief Report.

Objective: Species-specific pseudogenization of the CMAH gene during human evolution eliminated common mammalian sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) biosynthesis from its precursor N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). With metabolic nonhuman Neu5Gc incorporation into endothelia from red meat, the major dietary source, anti-Neu5Gc antibodies appeared. Human-like Ldlr-/-Cmah-/- mice on a high-fat diet supplemented with a Neu5Gc-enriched mucin, to mimic human red meat consumption, suffered increased atherosclerosis if human-like anti-Neu5Gc antibodies were elicited.

Bactericidal activity of tracheal antimicrobial peptide against respiratory pathogens of cattle.

Tracheal antimicrobial peptide (TAP) is a β-defensin produced by mucosal epithelial cells of cattle. Although effective against several human pathogens, the activity of this bovine peptide against the bacterial pathogens that cause bovine respiratory disease have not been reported. This study compared the antibacterial effects of synthetic TAP against Mannheimia haemolytica, Histophilus somni, Pasteurella multocida, and Mycoplasma bovis.