A5067600745- Gut microbiota and health
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Pelvic floor disorders treatments
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Urinary Tract Infections Management
- Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- RNA modifications and cancer
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare
- Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
- Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Drug-Induced Adverse Reactions
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Chemotherapy-related skin toxicity
- Nosocomial Infections in ICU
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Dietary Effects on Health
University of Auckland
2019-2025
Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
2024
University of Helsinki
2023-2024
King's College London
2019-2020
Malnutrition affects over 30 million children annually and has profound immediate enduring repercussions. Survivors often suffer lasting neurocognitive consequences that impact academic performance socioeconomic outcomes. Mechanistic understanding of the emergence these is poorly understood. Using multi-system SHAP interpreted random forest models network analysis, we show Moderate Acute (MAM) associates with enrichment faecal Rothia mucilaginosa, Streptococcus salivarius depletion...
<h3>Importance</h3> Treatment of pediatric obesity is challenging. Preclinical studies in mice indicated that weight and metabolism can be altered by gut microbiome manipulation. <h3>Objective</h3> To assess efficacy fecal transfer (FMT) to treat adolescent improve metabolism. <h3>Design, Setting, Participants</h3> This randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial (October 2017-March 2019) with a 26-week follow-up was conducted among adolescents aged 14 18 years body mass index (BMI;...
BackgroundBirth by caesarean section (CS) is associated with aberrant gut microbiome development and greater disease susceptibility later in life. We investigated whether oral administration of maternal vaginal microbiota to infants born CS could restore their a pilot single-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled trial (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12618000339257).MethodsPregnant women scheduled for underwent comprehensive antenatal pathogen screening. At birth,...
Abstract Background Donor selection is an important factor influencing the engraftment and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for complex conditions associated with microbial dysbiosis. However, degree, variation, stability strain have not yet been assessed in context multiple donors. Methods We conducted a double-blinded randomized control trial FMT 87 adolescents obesity. Participants were to receive multi-donor (capsules containing four sex-matched lean donors) or placebo...
The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a promising target to alleviate the growing burden of neurologic and mental health disorders. Dietary polyphenols act on multiple components axis, but this complex relationship requires further attention. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial (ACTRN12622000850774) compared 4 wk commercially available flavonoid-rich blackcurrant beverage (FBB; 151 mg anthocyanins, 308 total polyphenols) with placebo in 40 healthy females (18-45 y)....
Abstract Background Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a therapeutic intervention used to treat diseases associated with the gut microbiome. In human microbiome, phages have been implicated in influencing health, successful engraftment of donor correlated FMT treatment efficacy. The impact that gastrointestinal exert on health has primarily connected their ability modulate bacterial communities gut. Nonetheless, how affects recipients’ phage populations, and turn, this influences...
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) describes the transmission of DNA outside direct ancestral lineages. The process is best characterised within bacterial kingdom and can enable acquisition genetic traits that support adaptation to novel niches. bacteria niches has particular relevance for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a therapeutic procedure which aims resolve gut-related health conditions individuals, through transplanted gut from healthy donors. Three hundred eighty-one stool...
Abstract Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a therapeutic intervention used to treat diseases associated with the gut microbiome. In human microbiome, phages have been implicated in influencing health, successful engraftment of donor correlated FMT treatment efficacy. The impact that gastrointestinal exert on health has primarily connected their ability modulate bacterial communities gut. Nonetheless, how affects recipients’ phage populations, and turn, this influences...
Malnutrition affects 195 million children under the age of five worldwide with long term effects that include impaired cognitive development. Brain development occurs rapidly over first 36 months life. Whilst seemingly independent, changes to brain and gut microbiome are linked by metabolites, hormones, neurotransmitters as part gut-brain axis. In context severe malnutrition, composition repertoire biochemicals exchanged via axis vary when compared healthy individuals. These primarily due...
ABSTRACT Escherichia marmotae has been found in animals and the environment. Here, we isolated it from a healthy human fecal sample. The 4.91 Mb circular genome (GC content = 50.34%) is associated with three plasmids: pF12YCO47-2 (89.9 kb, 50.2% GC), pF12YCO47-3 (47.9 44.3% pF12YCO47-1 (95.4 47.2% GC).
There is evidence that caesarean section (CS) associated with increased risk of childhood obesity, asthma, and coeliac disease. The gut microbiota CS-born babies differs to those born vaginally, possibly due reduced exposure maternal vaginal bacteria during birth. Vaginal seeding a currently unproven practice intended reduce such differences, so the similar vaginally. Our pilot study, which uses oral administration as novel form seeding, will assess degree strain transfer overall efficacy...
Abstract Zbtb11 is a conserved transcription factor mutated in families with hereditary intellectual disability. Its precise molecular and cellular functions are currently unknown, precluding our understanding of the aetiology this disease. Using combination functional genomics, genetic biochemical approaches, here we show that plays essential roles maintaining homeostasis mitochondrial function. Mechanistically, find facilitates recruitment nuclear respiratory 2 (NRF-2) to its target...
Introduction Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) harbour distinct gut microbiomes compared healthy individuals, which are sufficient to induce weight loss and anxiety-like behaviours when transplanted into germ-free mice. We hypothesise that faecal microbiome transfer (FMT) from donors would help restore the of individuals AN, in turn, may aid patient recovery. Methods aim conduct an open-label pilot study 20 females aged 16–32 years Auckland, New Zealand who meet Diagnostic Statistical...
Introduction Autism (formally autism spectrum disorder) encompasses a group of complex neurodevelopmental conditions, characterised by differences in communication and social interactions. Co-occurring chronic gastrointestinal symptoms are common among autistic individuals can adversely affect their quality life. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy oral encapsulated faecal microbiome transfer (FMT) improving well-being adolescents adults. Methods analysis double-blind, randomised,...
Abstract Metabolic diseases are increasing among adolescents with obesity. Although the reported prevalence of metabolic syndrome is approximately 30% worldwide, its largely unknown New Zealand adolescents. Therefore, we assessed health obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) enrolled in a randomised clinical trial (Gut Bugs Trial), to identify undiagnosed comorbidities. Assessments included anthropometry, 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, and insulin sensitivity. We report on baseline data...
Abstract The infant gut microbiome contains a portion of bacteria that originate from the maternal gut. In these encounter new metabolic environment differs adult gut, consequently requiring adjustments in their activities. We used pilot community RNA sequencing data (metatranscriptomes) ten mother-infant dyads participating NiPPeR Study to characterize bacterial gene expression shifts following mother-to-infant transmission. Maternally-derived strains exhibited large scale transmission with...
Abstract Background Vaginal seeding is the administration of maternal vaginal bacteria to babies following birth by caesarean section (CS), intended mimic microbial exposure that occurs during birth. Appropriate development infant gut microbiome assists early immune and might help reduce risk certain health conditions later in life, such as obesity asthma. We aimed explore views pregnant women on this practice. Methods conducted a sequential mixed-methods study New Zealand (NZ) seeding....
Abstract Malnutrition affects over 30 million children annually and has profound immediate enduring repercussions, with nearly half of child deaths under five linked to malnutrition. Survivors face lasting consequences, including impaired neurocognitive development, leading cognitive behavioural deficits, impacting academic performance socioeconomic outcomes. Despite extensive literature on malnutrition’s associations infections, metabolism, microbiome, genomics, knowledge gaps persist...
Abstract Characterizing the dynamics of microbial community succession in infant gut microbiome is crucial for understanding child health and development, but no normative model currently exists. Here, we estimate age using taxonomic relative abundances from metagenomes, with high temporal resolution (±3 months) first 1.5 years life. Using 3,154 samples 1,827 infants across 12 countries, trained a random forest model, achieving root mean square error 2.61 months. We identified key predictors...
Abstract Background Donor selection is an important factor influencing the engraftment and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for complex conditions associated with microbial dysbiosis. However, degree, variation, stability strain has not yet been assessed in context multiple donors. Methods We conducted a double-blinded randomised control trial FMT 42 adolescents obesity. Participants were to receive multi-donor (capsules containing four sex-matched lean donors) or placebo...
Introduction Gut microbiome transfer (GMT or faecal transfer) is gaining increasing attention as a potential treatment for range of medical conditions. However, public awareness and acceptance are not well understood. Methods To better understand the perception in New Zealand, we undertook nationwide online survey. The anonymous survey was designed distributed between 2022-2023. Inclusion criteria included being aged 16 years older resident Zealand. Distribution channels social media...