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Das A, Ariyakumar G, Gupta N, Kamdar S, Barugahare A, Deveson-Lucas D, Gee S, Costeloe K, Davey MS, Fleming P, Gibbons DL. Identifying immune signatures of sepsis to increase diagnostic accuracy in very preterm babies. Nat Commun 2024; 15:388. [PMID: 38195661 PMCID: PMC10776581 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44387-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial infections are a major cause of mortality in preterm babies, yet our understanding of early-life disease-associated immune dysregulation remains limited. Here, we combine multi-parameter flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing and plasma analysis to longitudinally profile blood from very preterm babies (<32 weeks gestation) across episodes of invasive bacterial infection (sepsis). We identify a dynamically changing blood immune signature of sepsis, including lymphopenia, reduced dendritic cell frequencies and myeloid cell HLA-DR expression, which characterizes sepsis even when the common clinical marker of inflammation, C-reactive protein, is not elevated. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing identifies upregulation of amphiregulin in leukocyte populations during sepsis, which we validate as a plasma analyte that correlates with clinical signs of disease, even when C-reactive protein is normal. This study provides insights into immune pathways associated with early-life sepsis and identifies immune analytes as potential diagnostic adjuncts to standard tests to guide targeted antibiotic prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Das
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - G Ariyakumar
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - N Gupta
- Department of Neonatology, Evelina London Neonatal Unit, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - S Kamdar
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - A Barugahare
- Bioinformatics Platform and Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - D Deveson-Lucas
- Bioinformatics Platform and Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - S Gee
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - K Costeloe
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - M S Davey
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - P Fleming
- Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of Neonatology, Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - D L Gibbons
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
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David P, Claud EC. Necrotizing Enterocolitis and the Preterm Infant Microbiome. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1449:29-41. [PMID: 39060729 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-58572-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Preterm infants differ significantly from their term infant counterparts regarding bacterial colonization patterns related to maternal microbiota diversity, mode of delivery, feeding type, antibiotic exposure, and the environmental influences related to prolonged hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a multifactorial intestinal disorder characterized by ischemic bowel disease, disproportionately impacts preterm infants and has a high disease burden. Recent studies in the basic, translational, and clinical scientific literature have advanced knowledge into this complex disease process. Despite the explosion of research into NEC, however, there is a still a great deal unknown about this devastating illness. Additionally, the disease morbidity and mortality for NEC remain high despite advances in therapy options. This chapter reviews the current literature into the preterm infant microbiome, pathogenesis of NEC, potential targets for altering preterm microbiome, influence of microbiome on other organ systems, long-term implications of microbiome dysbiosis, and future directions of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pyone David
- Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Erika C Claud
- Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Healy DB, Campbell-Green B, Livingstone V, Ryan CA, Ross RP, Stanton C, Dempsey EM. Neonatal outcomes following introduction of routine probiotic supplementation to very preterm infants. Acta Paediatr 2023; 112:2093-2101. [PMID: 37505464 DOI: 10.1111/apa.16923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate the combined outcome of death and/or severe grade necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) in very preterm infants admitted to Cork University Maternity Hospital, Ireland, before and after introduction of routine supplementation with Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotics (Infloran®). METHODS A retrospective study of infants <32 weeks gestation and < 1500 g surviving beyond 72 h of life was performed. Two 6-year epochs; pre-probiotics (Epoch 1: 2008-2013) and with probiotics (Epoch 2: 2015-2020), were evaluated. The primary outcome was defined as death after 72 h or NEC Bell stage 2a or greater. RESULTS Seven-hundred-and-forty-four infants were included (Epoch 1: 391, Epoch 2: 353). The primary outcome occurred in 67 infants (Epoch 1: 37, Epoch 2: 30, p = 0.646). After adjustment, the difference was significant (OR [95% CI]: 0.53 [0.29 to 0.97], p = 0.038). Differences between epochs did not depend on gestational age group (<28 weeks; ≥28 weeks). CONCLUSION There was an associated reduction of the composite outcome of severe grade NEC and/or death, after adjustment for confounding variables, with introduction of routine administration of a B. bifidum and L. acidophilus probiotic at our institution.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Healy
- APC Microbiome Ireland, UCC, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Vicki Livingstone
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - C Anthony Ryan
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | - Catherine Stanton
- APC Microbiome Ireland, UCC, Cork, Ireland
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Ireland
| | - Eugene M Dempsey
- APC Microbiome Ireland, UCC, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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