ORCID Profile
0000-0001-5670-7169
Current Organisation
University of California, San Diego
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-05-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-022-13009-3
Abstract: Although development of microbiota in childhood has been linked to chronic immune-related conditions, early childhood determinants of microbiota development have not been fully elucidated. We used 16S rRNA sequencing to analyse faecal and saliva s les from 83 children at four time-points during their first 2 years of life and from their mothers. Our findings confirm that gut microbiota in infants have low ersity and highlight that some properties are shared with the oral microbiota, although inter-in idual differences are present. A considerable convergence in gut microbiota composition was noted across the first 2 years of life, towards a more erse adult-like microbiota. Mode of delivery accounted for some of the inter-in idual variation in early childhood, but with a pronounced attenuation over time. Our study extends previous research with further characterization of the major shift in gut microbiota composition during the first 2 years of life.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-12-2019
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-019-54702-0
Abstract: Early life determinants of the oral microbiota have not been thoroughly elucidated. We studied the association of birth and early childhood characteristics with oral microbiota composition using 16 S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing in a population-based Swedish cohort of 59 children s led at 6, 12 and 24 months of age. Repeated-measurement regression models adjusted for potential confounders confirmed and expanded previous knowledge about the profound shift of oral microbiota composition in early life. These alterations included increased alpha ersity, decreased beta ersity and alteration of bacterial composition with changes in relative abundance of 14 of the 20 most common operational taxonomic units (OTUs). We also found that birth characteristics, breastfeeding and antibiotic use were associated with overall phyla distribution and/or with the relative abundance of specific OTUs. Further, we detected a novel link between morning salivary cortisol level, a physiological marker of neuroendocrine activity and stress, and overall phyla distribution as well as with decreased abundance of the most common OTU mapped to the Streptococcaceae family. In conclusion, a major part of the maturation of the oral microbiome occurs during the first two years of life, and this development may be influenced by early life circumstances.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 13-04-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FENDO.2021.615446
Abstract: Asperuloside is an iridoid glycoside found in many medicinal plants that has produced promising anti-obesity results in animal models. In previous studies, three months of asperuloside administration reduced food intake, body weight, and adipose masses in rats consuming a high fat diet (HFD). However, the mechanisms by which asperuloside exerts its anti-obesity properties were not clarified. Here, we investigated homeostatic and nutrient-sensing mechanisms regulating food intake in mice consuming HFD. We confirmed the anti-obesity properties of asperuloside and, importantly, we identified some mechanisms that could be responsible for its therapeutic effect. Asperuloside reduced body weight and food intake in mice consuming HFD by 10.5 and 12.8% respectively, with no effect on mice eating a standard chow diet. Fasting glucose and plasma insulin were also significantly reduced. Mechanistically, asperuloside significantly reduced hypothalamic mRNA ghrelin, leptin, and pro-opiomelanocortin in mice consuming HFD. The expression of fat lingual receptors (CD36, FFAR1-4), CB1R and sweet lingual receptors (TAS1R2-3) was increased almost 2-fold by the administration of asperuloside. Our findings suggest that asperuloside might exert its therapeutic effects by altering nutrient-sensing receptors in the oral cavity as well as hypothalamic receptors involved in food intake when mice are exposed to obesogenic diets. This signaling pathway is known to influence the subtle hypothalamic equilibrium between energy homeostasis and reward-induced overeating responses. The present pre-clinical study demonstrated that targeting the gustatory system through asperuloside administration could represent a promising and effective new anti-obesity strategy.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 18-10-2022
DOI: 10.3390/ENDOCRINES3040055
Abstract: Obesity produces a systemic low-grade inflammation associated with many adverse health conditions and, as we recently learned, with complications of COVID-19. Functional studies in animal models have demonstrated that asperuloside, an iridoid glycoside found in many medicinal plants, has produced promising anti-obesity results. However, the safety profile and the anti-inflammatory properties of asperuloside remain unknown. Here, we confirmed the previously reported anti-obesity properties of asperuloside, and, importantly, we performed toxicity studies assessing cell viability providing a dose reference for future animal experiments. Asperuloside significantly reduced blood levels of leptin and the mRNA levels of orexigenic peptides, such as NPY and AgRP in mice consuming HFD, with no effect on mice eating a standard chow diet. In addition, our results indicate that ASP reduced both hypothalamic and hepatic mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α as well as the blood levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which are known to play a major role in the development of insulin resistance and cardiovascular complications. Collectively, our findings suggest that asperuloside is a safe compound for long-term use in animal models and that it reduces the elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines occurring in obesity.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-07-2020
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-020-68567-1
Abstract: A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified eight loci that are associated with heart rate variability (HRV), but candidate genes in these loci remain uncharacterized. We developed an image- and CRISPR/Cas9-based pipeline to systematically characterize candidate genes for HRV in live zebrafish embryos. Nine zebrafish orthologues of six human candidate genes were targeted simultaneously in eggs from fish that transgenically express GFP on smooth muscle cells (Tg[ acta2:GFP ]), to visualize the beating heart . An automated analysis of repeated 30 s recordings of beating atria in 381 live, intact zebrafish embryos at 2 and 5 days post-fertilization highlighted genes that influence HRV ( hcn4 and si:dkey-65j6.2 [KIAA1755] ) heart rate ( rgs6 and hcn4 ) and the risk of sinoatrial pauses and arrests ( hcn4 ). Exposure to 10 or 25 µM ivabradine—an open channel blocker of HCNs—for 24 h resulted in a dose-dependent higher HRV and lower heart rate at 5 days post-fertilization. Hence, our screen confirmed the role of established genes for heart rate and rhythm ( RGS6 and HCN4 ) showed that ivabradine reduces heart rate and increases HRV in zebrafish embryos, as it does in humans and highlighted a novel gene that plays a role in HRV ( KIAA1755 ).
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 09-08-2018
DOI: 10.1101/385500
Abstract: A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified eight loci that are associated with heart rate variability (HRV), but candidate genes in these loci remain uncharacterized. We developed an image- and CRISPR/Cas9-based pipeline to systematically characterize candidate genes for HRV in live zebrafish embryos. Nine zebrafish orthologues of six human candidate genes were targeted simultaneously in eggs from fish that transgenically express GFP on smooth muscle cells (Tg[ acta2:GFP ]), to visualize the beating heart. An automated analysis of repeated 30s recordings of beating atria in 381 live, intact zebrafish embryos at 2 and 5 days post-fertilization highlighted genes that influence HRV ( hcn4 and si:dkey-65j6.2 [KIAA1755] ) heart rate ( rgs6 and hcn4 ) and the risk of sinoatrial pauses and arrests ( hcn4 ). Exposure to 10 or 25µM ivabradine – an open channel blocker of HCNs – for 24h resulted in a dose-dependent higher HRV and lower heart rate at 5 days post-fertilization. Hence, our screen confirmed the role of established genes for heart rate and rhythm ( RGS6 and HCN4 ) showed that ivabradine reduces heart rate and increases HRV in zebrafish embryos, as it does in humans and highlighted a novel gene that plays a role in HRV ( KIAA1755 ).
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-05-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-11-2019
DOI: 10.1186/S40478-019-0835-Y
Abstract: In the original version of this article [1], there was 1 error in the affiliation of the European Institute of Oncology (affiliation 3). In this correction article the updated affiliation is shown for clarification.
Location: United States of America
No related grants have been discovered for Silvia Vicenzi.