Novel Bacteroides Vulgatus strain protects against gluten-induced break of human celiac gut epithelial homeostasis: a pre-clinical proof-of-concept study.

Background And Aims: We have identified a decreased abundance of microbial species known to have a potential anti-inflammatory, protective effect in subjects that developed Celiac Disease (CeD) compared to those who did not. We aim to confirm the potential protective role of one of these species, namely Bacteroides vulgatus, and to mechanistically establish the effect of bacterial bioproducts on gluten-dependent changes on human gut epithelial functions.

Methods: We identified, isolated, cultivated, and sequenced a unique novel strain (20220303-A2) of B.

COVID-19 booster dose induces robust antibody response in pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant women.

Background: Although emerging data during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have demonstrated robust messenger RNA vaccine-induced immunogenicity across populations, including pregnant and lactating individuals, the rapid waning of vaccine-induced immunity and the emergence of variants of concern motivated the use of messenger RNA vaccine booster doses. Whether all populations, including pregnant and lactating individuals, will mount a comparable response to a booster dose is not known.

Objective: This study aimed to profile the humoral immune response to a COVID-19 messenger RNA booster dose in a cohort of pregnant, lactating, and nonpregnant age-matched women.

Rapid establishment of a COVID-19 perinatal biorepository: early lessons from the first 100 women enrolled.

Background: Collection of biospecimens is a critical first step to understanding the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women and newborns - vulnerable populations that are challenging to enroll and at risk of exclusion from research. We describe the establishment of a COVID-19 perinatal biorepository, the unique challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and strategies used to overcome them.

Methods: A transdisciplinary approach was developed to maximize the enrollment of pregnant women and their newborns into a COVID-19 prospective cohort and tissue biorepository, established on March 19, 2020 at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Intestinal Epithelium Modulates Macrophage Response to Gliadin in Celiac Disease.

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by ingestion of gluten. Although its pathogenesis has been extensively studied and the contribution from both innate and adaptive immune responses has been reported, little is still known about the contribution of macrophages to the onset or maintenance of the disease. Macrophages are extremely plastic immune cells that can be directed toward a pro- or anti-inflammatory phenotype by the surrounding microenvironment.