Genetics Linked to Vunerablility of SIDS

A recent study performed looked into if the genetics of an infant influenced their chances of succumbing to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS or crib death). The study showed a link between SIDS and a genetics mutation involving SCN4A, which leads to impairment of the muscles involved in breathing. The study involved 278 infants who died of SIDS and 729 other who acted as the control. While the mutated SCN4A was linked to SIDS it was only found in four of the affected individuals and was not cited as the cause of SIDS (which is believed to be caused by multiple factors). Unfortunately the study did not go into minorities as all involved individuals were white and hailed from Europe.
SIDS is a frightening concept, due to both its unexpected nature and unexplainable cause; if we are able to know via genetics if an infant is more susceptible or not then more caution can be taken with the child.

Study Finds:Food Allergy Linked to Skin Exposure and Genetics

Newborn child and youth nourishment sensitivity has now been connected to a blend of ecological and hereditary variables that must exist together to trigger the hypersensitivity, reports another investigation. Those variables incorporate hereditary qualities that adjust skin retentiveness, utilization of newborn child purifying wipes that leave cleanser on the skin, skin introduction to allergens in tidy and skin presentation to nourishment from those giving baby mind. The uplifting news is factors prompting sustenance sensitivity can be changed in the home condition.

Nourishment hypersensitivities are on the ascent and influence an expected 4 to 6 percent of youngsters in the U.S., as indicated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The pervasiveness of revealed nourishment sensitivity expanded 18 percent among youngsters under age 18 years from 1997 to 2007. Late information additionally demonstrate hospitalizations with analyze identified with nourishment hypersensitivities have expanded among youngsters.

To peruse the total article look at the connections appended beneath :) 

Links: 1 & 2

Food Allergy is Linked to Skin Exposure and Genetics

This article focuses on the physical and genetic factors that have been discovered to have a large role in causing food allergies in infants and children. The physical factors include: The use of baby wipes that leave behind large amounts of soap-residue, exposure to allergens that are found in dust, and exposure to food particles coming from caregivers. The genetic side lies in genes that may alter skin absorbency. When these physical factors occur in the presence of a child that also expresses the skin absorbency-altering gene, a "perfect storm" is created that can trigger food allergies. Animal studies were carried out using mice to confirm this very interesting discovery.

In today's world it seems as though more and more children (and adults) are discovered to have food allergies and in many cases these allergies are very dangerous and have altered school policy. I think this research seems valid and very vital because of these factors. As someone who is studying to be a teacher and has worked as a substitute teacher, children's allergies have become something handled with strong caution, and anything we can do to prevent those allergies is huge as we push into the future.

Link: https://news.northwestern.edu/index.php/stories/2018/april/food-allergy-is-linked-to-skin-exposure-and-genetics/

Additional link: https://www.sciencealert.com/dust-food-and-baby-wipes-linked-to-infant-allergies

Relationship Between Physical Contact and Genetics of an Infant

In this article, it was mentioned that the amount of physical contact an infant gets from their caregivers can affect the child at a molecular level that can be detected 4 years after birth. This study's findings have been similar to studies on rodents, but this is the first study to show in humans that touching, early in life, can have possible consequences on genetic expression. The researchers of this study predicted that children with less physical contact with their caregivers will result in underdeveloped cells for their age (epigenetic aging), which can cause an inability to thrive. 94 healthy children in British Colombia were involved and researchers have asked the parents of 5-week-old infants to keep track of their child's behavior that include crying, fussing, sleeping, and feeding. The parents were also asked to record the duration of bodily contact with their child. When the child is about 4 1/2 years of age, their DNA was taken by swabbing the inside of their cheeks. By analyzing a biochemical modification called DNA methylation in 5 specific DNA sites, researchers found consistent methylation differences between high-contact and low-contact children. The effects of the epigenetic changes on a child's development and health are unknown, but some recent studies have shown that children who experienced higher distress and little contact were linked to poor health.

I found this study very interesting because I work at a daycare in my hometown and they talk about how important physical contact is with infants and children at a very young age. I never understood why, but this study opened my eyes to giving a little more TLC (tender, love, and care) to help with their molecular development. This study is a huge stepping stone to better understand children and help improve their development in every way, genetically or psychologically. I feel that there's a lot more that needs to be done to further confirm these findings. These kinds of studies can help new parents better understand their child and be more involved in the child's overall development.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171127094928.htm
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/infant-touch/

A DNA-based Vaccine for the Zika Virus

The infamous Zika Virus has been on the rise ever since the recent outbreak which began in 2015. Ever since, it has spread around the globe through Africa, Asia, South America, and North America. The Zika Virus is transmitted by mosquito bites. Further, the virus is sexuallytransmitted. The symptoms of the Zika Virus are headaches, fever, bloodshot eyes, rashes, muscle pain, and joint pain. In pregnant women, the child can be born with an abnormally small-sized head and will show the same symptoms previously listed. The infant can be tested for Zika using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction or serologic testing. Serologic testing is a method that looks to see if there are antibodies present in the blood.

Primarily, scientists studied animals that were naturally resistant to the virus. Then, they decided to work with animals that were susceptible to the virus. Scientists first injected these animals with the virus to ensure they were infected.  Next, the scientists gave the animals a synthetic, DNA-based vaccine that they developed. The vaccine has shown to produce antigen-specific antibodies and T cell responses that prevented the virus from infecting the organism. The virus was neutralized by the vaccine and caused no damage to the organism. Through this vaccine, the virus was unable to spread to the animal’s brain. This is what causes the abnormally small-sized head in infants infected with Zika. These animals were then injected with the virus again and still no change was observed. This result was seen in one hundred percent of the animals used in the study.

Currently, the DNA-based vaccine is being administered in two human clinical studies. It is so great to see what the power of genetic engineering can accomplish. The scientists were able to produce a synthetic strain of DNA to use in the vaccine produced. It is very interesting to me how they knew which base pairs to use and what DNA sequence would fight against the virus. Additionally, I am curious if they used a desired DNA sequence that codes for a specific protein needed to inhibit the virus from attacking the organism. Zika has, and still is, affecting so much of the population around the world. Scientists being successful with the vaccine on the human studies will help many individuals to be safe from the destructive disease. 

5 reasons to think the Zika Virus causes Microcephaly

The World Health Organization believes that the Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and other neurological disorders. Microcephaly is an abnormal smallness of the head, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development in infants. Scientist are currently conducting a study with 5,000 pregnant women that have been infected with Zika previously and women who have not. There goal is to see if the pregnant women have more children with microcephaly. Scientist have evidence that can link the Zika virus to microcephaly. First, in Brazil there have been cases of infants born with microcephaly. As early as August the numbers have been going up from the usual one or two babies with it to now five or more. Many of these mothers previously had the Zika infection. In Brazil theres normally an average of 163 cases and now there are 944 cases. Second, French Polynesia is now experiencing an increase in microcephaly cases. Third, the virus crosses the placenta and can reach the fetus. Zika virus has been found in amniotic fluid surrounding microcephalic babies and it has been found in the brain of fetuses that died in the womb. Fourth, it also attacks the brain cells. Studies have shown that the virus is neurotropic, targeting nerve cells, including the ones that eventually become the baby's brain. Lastly, a small study found a big difference in birth defects. The outcomes included fetal death, tiny heads, shrunken placentas, and fetal nerve damage that suggested blindness. 

Its great that scientists are beginning to discover the effects of the zika virus and the damage it can cause to not only the individual but also to a child given birth by someone who has had it. This virus needs all the research that can possibly be done for it. It is now affecting infants and that is scary because it is presenting to their life a lot of abnormalities as well as multiple disorders. This study demonstrates evidence that Zika virus is in fact a cause of microcephaly in infants.

Original Article

Genes and Learning How to Talk.

In the article I read it discusses the relationship between learning to talk and the ROBO2 gene. The gene is located on chromosome 3, which is also related to dyslexia and some speech related disorders. This gene codes for the ROBO2 protein, which helps direct chemicals to brain and other neuronal cells. These cell formations help to develop language and produce sounds. The researchers who were apart of this project found the link between the ages of 15-18 months. At this time the toddlers know about 200 words but are not yet speaking in phrases. Finding this discovery made sense of infants who had no other health issues, but were falling behind with learning to communicate.
Personally, I think this discovery is great because there is many infants who do not learn to talk or communicate at an average pace. There seemed to be, up until now no explanation as to why a perfectly healthy infant with no other apparent problems would not be able to talk. This discovery may not be as important as a lot of other things, but people with a child who seemed to be delayed with communication now have some answers to questions they may have had. I think any discovery big or small, is a great one!

Amniotic Stem Cells and Cardiac Birth Defect Repair

Amniotic Stem Cells 

            A team at the University of Michigan Department of Surgery has revealed that amniotic stem cells could repair cardiac birth defects. Every year, 40,000 babies are diagnosed with cardiac birth defects. These babies must undergo numerous surgeries, maybe even transplants, in the first year of their life. The solution is to form new tissue or rid the heart of the damaged cells; amniotic stem cells may provide said solution.

            Amniotic stem cells are promising as an alternative to other stem cell options. Embryonic stem cells are obtained by destroying the embryo, thus causing public opposition. Bone marrow stem cells are not meant to act like cardiac muscle and the infant’s immune system has to be suppressed to accept the cells. Cardiac stem cells have a minute supply of stem cells. In contrast, amniotic stem cells are easily accessible by amniocentesis and the cells will be accepted by the body of the infant.

            In the study, mesenchymal stromal cells were obtained from amniotic fluid samples. The cells were transformed to have the ability to morph into any body cells. The cells transformed into heart muscle cells after three weeks in the culture! In a matter of only twelve weeks, the team successfully made heart muscle cells from amniotic stem cells. Starting in 2014, Dr. Kuniska, the leader of the project, hopes to apply the study to mice. One day, he hopes to apply the work to a human baby. Dr. Kuniska plans on being able to administer the amniotic stem cells to affected children soon after birth. The procedure will help supplement heart surgeries or totally create a healthy heart.

            Earlier this year, a team from Rice University and Texas Children’s Hospital revealed the potential for amniotic stem cells in communicating with heart cells. This earlier study showed that amniotic stem cells were able to communicate with rat heart cells. Yet, the leader of the project stated that the amniotic stem cells could not become cardiac cells, a statement that the team at the University of Michigan proved incorrect.

“Amniotic stem cells show promise in repair of cardiac birth defects” reassured me of the sheer power of science! The use of amniotic stem cells to repair cardiac defects can improve the quantity and quality of life of thousands of children. As discussed in the article, a birth is an event to be cherished and celebrated, not an event that is to cause heartache and stress. Such a treatment will provide hope and relief for parents who only wish for the best for their child. These families may also be able to avoid surgery all together, saving time and money, but also avoiding the fear of putting a child “under the knife.” I found it incredible that in May, one study claimed that amniotic stems cells could not morph into cardiac cells, and only months later, it was revealed that the transformation was possible! I hope that in the near future, we will be able to see amniotic stem cells being used on human babies, not merely on a culture. 

Primary Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131009125951.htm

Secondary Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/05/130502142700.htm

Picture: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/bigphotos/6224392.html

Potent Virus Threatens Babies' Breathing

An article in the New York Times, written by Holcomb B. Noble, discusses the increased spread of the respiratory syncytail virus in babies.  This is a very common virus that almost all babies will experience throughout their life.  It show symptoms of a common cold and is normally left untreated by a doctor and will go away on its own.  However, this can be extremely harmful with babies who have lung or heart disorders, were born premature, or born as a twin.  Twins have lungs that are not as developed as a single baby being born, which causes them to be more at risk of high negative effects.  The high volume of outbreak is more than likely due to the increase of infants at day care centers.  There is a new injection that can be given to high risk infants once a months, but it is very expensive, about $1000 per injection.

Ribosmoal Protein Causing New Borne Disease Discovered

And article on Science Daily referencing a journal published in sciencemag explains how the protein causing isolated congenital asplenia (ICA) causes this disorder.  This condition is very rare and has be officially documented in less than 100 cases in medical literature.  These scientists sequenced 23 exomes (the part of the genome formed by exons that get transformed into proteins).  After proper testing and filtering, researchers narrowed down to 4,200 possible genes.   Next, researchers hypothesized which exomes would be more likely to house these gene therefore, deciding to focus on ICA exomes.  The gene RPSA responsible for coding for a protein found in the cell’s protein-synthesizing ribosome was found to be the culprit.  Every individual with a coding mutation in this gene is developed with out a spleen.  These results are puzzling because this ribosome is present in every organ in the body but only seems to effect the spleen. 

                This discovery may make it possible to develop new diagnostic test for ICA and lead to more research on this specific protein-making machinery.

Infant DNA Tests Speed Diagnosis of Rare Diseases

An article in the New York Times written by Gina Kolata, discusses a new test that can be done on newborns to sequence their DNA and be able to determine if the infant carries any diseases and if it was by mutation.  This technique was first published in the magazine Science Translational Medicine. Doctors and scientists are able to take blood and pinpoint within hours any serious diseases and which chromosome they are on.  The article discusses an infant who from the second she was born, has seizure after seizure.  After keeping the baby sedated and intubated for five weeks, the family decided to take the baby off the machines and let her pass.  The doctors took samples of the infant's blood and ran this new test on it.  They were able to detect a very rare disease, only reported one other time, within 50 hours.  There was nothing doctors could have done to change the outcome, but they could have be able to counsel the family and prepared them for the inevitable.  With this test, early detection may be the key to saving lives or cushioning the families loss.