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A Method to Exploit the Structure of Genetic Ancestry Space to Enhance Case-Control StudiesThese results highlight how UNICORN can enable reliable, powerful, and convenient genetic association analyses without access to the individual-level data
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Folate pathway gene polymorphisms, maternal folic acid use, and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemiaSeveral studies suggest that maternal folic acid supplementation before or during pregnancy protects against childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).
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Translating aboriginal genomics — four letters closing the gapEstablishing a genomic reference for Australian Aboriginal populations
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P2X7 receptor-mediated killing of an intracellular parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, by human and murine macrophagesThe P2X7R is highly expressed on the macrophage cell surface, and activation of infected cells by extracellular ATP has been shown to kill intracellular bacte
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Linking the westernised oropharyngeal microbiome to the immune response in Chinese immigrantsHuman microbiota plays a fundamental role in modulating the immune response. Western environment and lifestyle are envisaged to alter the human microbiota with a new microbiome profile established in Chinese immigrants, which fails to prime the immune system. Here, we investigated how differences in composition of oropharyngeal microbiome may contribute to patterns of interaction between the microbiome and immune system in Chinese immigrants living in Australia.
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Zika Virus Changes Methylation of Genes Involved in Immune Response and Neural Development in Brazilian Babies Born With Congenital MicrocephalyThe recent increase in babies born with brain and eye malformations in Brazil is associated with Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in utero. ZIKV alters host DNA methylation in vitro. Using genome-wide DNA methylation profiling we compared 18 babies born with congenital ZIKV microcephaly with 20 controls. We found ZIKV-associated alteration of host methylation patterns, notably at RABGAP1L which is important in brain development, at viral host immunity genes MX1 and ISG15, and in an epigenetic module containing the causal microcephaly gene MCPH1. Our data support the hypothesis that clinical signs of congenital ZIKV are associated with changes in DNA methylation.
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Common and Rare Genetic Variants That Could Contribute to Severe Otitis Media in an Australian Aboriginal PopulationOur goal was to identify genetic risk factors for severe otitis media (OM) in Aboriginal Australians.
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Burkholderia pseudomallei evades Nramp1 (Slc11a1)- and NADPH oxidase-mediated killing in macrophages and exhibits Nramp1-dependent virulence gene expressionHere we show that transfected macrophages stably expressing wild-type Nramp1 (Nramp1+) control the net replication of B. thailandensis, but not B. pseudomallei.
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Toxoplasma gondii infection is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in-vitroOur results show perturbation of host mitochondrial function following T. gondii infection that likely impacts on pathogenesis of disease.