Novel biomarkers of nutrition-related diseases
Are there key host factors (metabolites or metabolomic profiles, microbiome, nutritional status indicators) linked with infectious diseases? Could these provide earlier indicators prior to disease onset and of specific clinical phenotype subgroups?
Previously I evaluated the extent that novel immunological and microbiome indicators were associated with active TB disease. I found that in response to an ex vivo Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with active TB disease and latent TB infection had distinct transcriptional profiles, as compared to PBMCs of healthy controls [3]. We also considered the human microbiome and micronutrient status, which could represent key modifiable host factors in active tuberculosis disease. In a systematic review, we found that prior evidence showed decreased gastrointestinal microbial diversity was associated with active tuberculosis disease and M. tb infection, though available data were very limited [4]. In a pilot study among adults with active tuberculosis disease in India, low serum vitamin D concentration (< 75 nmol/L of 25[OH]D) was associated with the relative abundance of Oscillospira spp., which is a butyrate-producing genus associated with anti-inflammation (16S rRNA) [2].
Selected Publications
1. Yu EA, Hu PJ, Mehta S. 2018. Plasma fatty acids in de novo lipogenesis pathway are associated with diabetogenic indicators among adults: NHANES 2003-2004. Am J Clin Nutr, 2018. 108: 622-632.
2. Huey SH,* Yu EA,* Finkelstein JL, Glesby MJ, Bonam W, Russell DG, Mehta S. Gut microbiota and micronutrient status differ by inflammation among outpatients with active tuberculosis disease in India. Am J Trop Med Hyg. In press.
3. Yu EA, John SH, Tablante EC, King CA, Kenneth J, Russell DG, Mehta S. Host transcriptional responses following ex vivo re-challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis vary with disease status. PLoS One, 2017. 12(10): e0185640.
4. Wood MR,* Yu EA,* Mehta S. The Human Microbiome in the Fight Against Tuberculosis. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2017. 96(6): 1274-1284.
* Authors contributed equally
Figure modified from DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185640