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Country-level and global burden of diseases caused by group A Streptococcus: protocol for a multicountry epidemiological study

Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) causes a wide spectrum of diseases, ranging from pharyngitis and impetigo to severe invasive infections and immune-mediated conditions such as acute rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease and acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Contemporary data on the global burden of Strep A diseases are lacking.

Exposure to Solar UVR Suppresses Cell-Mediated Immunization Responses in Humans: The Australian Ultraviolet Radiation and Immunity Study

Higher UVR exposure at antigen sensitization was associated with a reduced delayed-type hypersensitivity response and altered T helper type 17 kinetics

Acute rheumatic fever

Acute rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disorder resulting from Group A Streptococcus pharyngitis or impetigo in children and adolescents, which may evolve to rheumatic heart disease (RHD) with persistent cardiac valve damage. RHD causes substantial mortality and morbidity globally, predominantly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, with an interplay of social determinants of health and genetic factors determining overall risk.

Vitamin D C3-epimer levels are proportionally higher with oral vitamin D supplementation compared to ultraviolet irradiation of skin in mice but not humans

The proportion of 25(OH)D3 that undergoes epimerization is greater with oral vitamin D3 supplementation than exposure to UVR in mice, but not in humans

Recovery of culturable Streptococcus pyogenes from swabs stored at different temperatures

Improving our understanding of superficial Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) carriage and transmission necessitates robust sampling methods. Here, we compared the effect of storing swab samples in fridge (+4°C) and freezer (-20°C) conditions on the recovery of laboratory-cultured S. pyogenes.

Ultraviolet irradiation of skin alters the faecal microbiome independently of vitamin D in mice

Skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation alters the faecal microbiome, and further investigations to explore the implications of this in health and disease are warranted

Costs of primary healthcare presentations and hospital admissions for scabies and related skin infections in Fiji, 2018–2019

Scabies and related bacterial skin and soft tissue infections are highly prevalent in many tropical, low- and middle-income settings. These skin conditions contribute to higher healthcare costs and burdens on healthcare systems. 

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of vitamin D in food allergy

Epidemiological evidence from the past decade suggests a role of vitamin D in food allergy pathogenesis

Vitamin D is crucial for maternal care and offspring social behaviour in rats

These data highlight that early life levels of vitamin D are an important consideration for maternal behavioural adaptations as well as offspring neuropsychiatry

Characterization of invasive Group B Streptococcus isolates from Western Australian infants, 2004-2020

Invasive Group B Streptococcus remains a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis has been implemented in many countries with a reduction in early-onset disease, but an effective vaccine may further reduce the disease burden. Candidate vaccines targeting capsular polysaccharides and surface proteins are now in clinical trials. 

Molecular actions of Vitamin D in reproductive cell biology

The aim of this work is to review current metabolic and molecular aspects of the VitD-VitD receptor axis in reproductive medicine

Strep A: challenges, opportunities, vaccine-based solutions and economics

Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe, annually causing hundreds of millions of cases of disease.

Predictors of vitamin D-containing supplement use in the Australian population and associations between dose and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations

The prevalence of vitamin D-containing supplement use was generally low in the Australian population, particularly for single vitamin D supplements

State transitions across the Strep A disease spectrum: scoping review and evidence gaps

The spectrum of diseases caused by Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) ranges from superficial to serious life-threatening invasive infections. We conducted a scoping review of published articles between 1980 and 2021 to synthesize evidence of state transitions across the Strep A disease spectrum. We identified 175 articles reporting 262 distinct observations of Strep A disease state transitions.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents and young adults

Associations between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors from adolescence to young adulthood in the Raine Study

Antibiotic consumption for sore throat and the potential effect of a vaccine against group A Streptococcus: a systematic review and modelling study

Antibiotic consumption can lead to antimicrobial resistance and microbiome imbalance. We sought to estimate global antibiotic consumption for sore throat, and the potential reduction in consumption due to effective vaccination against group A Streptococcus.

Self-Reported Changes in Sun-Protection Behaviors at Different Latitudes in Australia

The strongest determinants of self-reported sun-protection behavior changes due to concerns about vitamin D were attitudes and location