@article{monfort-lanzas_exonsurfer_2024,

title = {ExonSurfer: a web-tool to design primers at exon–exon junctions},

author = {Pablo Monfort-Lanzas and Elena Cristina Rusu and Lucia Parrakova and Cornelia A. Karg and Dorina-Elina Kernbichler and Dietmar Rieder and Peter Lackner and Hubert Hackl and Johanna M. Gostner},

url = {https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-024-10456-2},

doi = {10.1186/s12864-024-10456-2},

issn = {1471-2164},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-06-01},

urldate = {2026-01-26},

journal = {BMC Genomics},

volume = {25},

number = {1},

pages = {594},

abstract = {Abstract 

 Background 

 Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) with intercalating dyes is one of the main techniques to assess gene expression levels used in basic and applied research as well as in diagnostics. However, primer design for RT-qPCR can be complex due to the high demands on primer quality. Primers are best placed on exon junctions, should avoid polymorphic regions, be specific to the target transcripts and also prevent genomic amplification accurately, among others. Current software tools manage to meet all the necessary criteria only insufficiently. Here, we present ExonSurfer, a novel, user-friendly web-tool for qPCR primer design. 

 Results 

 ExonSurfer combines the different steps of the primer design process, encompassing target selection, specificity and self-complementarity assessment, and the avoidance of issues arising from polymorphisms. Amplification of potentially contaminating genomic DNA is avoided by designing primers on exon-exon junctions, moreover, a genomic alignment is performed to filter the primers accordingly and inform the user of any predicted interaction. In order to test the whole performance of the application, we designed primer pairs for 26 targets and checked both primer efficiency, amplicon melting temperature and length and confirmed the targeted amplicon by Sanger sequencing. Most of the tested primers accurately and selectively amplified the corresponding targets. 

 Conclusion 

 ExonSurfer offers a comprehensive end-to-end primer design, guaranteeing transcript-specific amplification. The user interface is intuitive, providing essential specificity and amplicon details. The tool can also be used by command line and the source code is available. Overall, we expect ExonSurfer to facilitate RT-qPCR set-up for researchers in many fields.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{gietl_laboratory_2024,

title = {Laboratory parameters related to disease severity and physical performance after reconvalescence of acute COVID-19 infection},

author = {Mario Gietl and Francesco Burkert and Stefanie Hofer and Johanna M. Gostner and Thomas Sonnweber and Ivan Tancevski and Alex Pizzini and Sabina Sahanic and Andrea Schroll and Natascha Brigo and Alexander Egger and Rosa Bellmann-Weiler and Judith Löffler-Ragg and Günter Weiss and Katharina Kurz},

url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57448-6},

doi = {10.1038/s41598-024-57448-6},

issn = {2045-2322},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-05-01},

urldate = {2026-01-26},

journal = {Scientific Reports},

volume = {14},

number = {1},

pages = {10388},

abstract = {Abstract 

 Research into the molecular basis of disease trajectory and Long-COVID is important to get insights toward underlying pathophysiological processes. The objective of this study was to investigate inflammation-mediated changes of metabolism in patients with acute COVID-19 infection and throughout a one-year follow up period. The study enrolled 34 patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection admitted to the University Clinic of Innsbruck in early 2020. The dynamics of multiple laboratory parameters (including inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), neopterin] as well as amino acids [tryptophan (Trp), phenylalanine (Phe) and tyrosine (Tyr)], and parameters of iron and vitamin B metabolism) was related to disease severity and patients’ physical performance. Also, symptom load during acute illness and at approximately 60 days (FU1), and one year after symptom onset (FU2) were monitored and related with changes of the investigated laboratory parameters: During acute infection many investigated laboratory parameters were elevated (e.g., inflammatory markers, ferritin, kynurenine, phenylalanine) and enhanced tryptophan catabolism and phenylalanine accumulation were found. At FU2 nearly all laboratory markers had declined back to reference ranges. However, kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (Kyn/Trp) and the phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio (Phe/Tyr) were still exceeding the 95th percentile of healthy controls in about two thirds of our cohort at FU2. Lower tryptophan concentrations were associated with B vitamin availability (during acute infection and at FU1), patients with lower vitamin B12 levels at FU1 had a prolonged and more severe impairment of their physical functioning ability. Patients who had fully recovered (ECOG 0) presented with higher concentrations of iron parameters (ferritin, hepcidin, transferrin) and amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine) at FU2 compared to patients with restricted ability to work. Persistent symptoms at FU2 were tendentially associated with IFN-γ related parameters. Women were affected by long-term symptoms more frequently. Conclusively, inflammation-mediated biochemical changes appear to be related to symptoms of patients with acute and Long Covid.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{wagner_crpneopterin_2024,

title = {CRP/Neopterin Ratio and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Different Forms of Pneumonia: Results of a Pilot Study.},

author = {Katharina Konstanze Lilly Wagner and Daniele Corda and Andreas Steinmayr and Francesco Burkert and Dietmar Fuchs and Johanna Gostner and Stefanie Hofer and Lucia Parrakova and Irina Gasslitter and Günter Weiss and Christian Irsara and Sarah Maier and Andrea Griesmacher and Rosa Bellmann-Weiler and Katharina Kurz},

doi = {10.3390/microorganisms12061099},

issn = {2076-2607},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-05-01},

journal = {Microorganisms},

volume = {12},

number = {6},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is one of the most common infectious diseases, mostly caused by viruses or bacteria. In response to bacteria or viruses which are different but which also are partly overlapping, innate and adaptive immune responses are induced, which can be quantified using the determination of specific biomarkers. Among these, C-reactive protein (CRP) has been established as a marker of innate immune function, whereas Neopterin, which is mainly produced upon stimulation with interferon-gamma, reflects cellular immune activation. AIM: We investigated inflammation markers in patients with microbiologically confirmed viral or bacterial pneumonia, and studied the potential of CRP, Neopterin, and the CRP/Neopterin ratio to distinguish between viral and bacterial pathogenesis. Furthermore, we examined, how often neuropsychiatric symptoms occur in patients suffering from different kinds of pneumonia. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 194 patients diagnosed with either coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (n = 63), bacterial pneumonia (n = 58), Influenza infection (n = 10), Influenza and a bacterial superinfection (n = 9), and COVID-19 patients with a bacterial superinfection (n = 54) were included in our pilot study. Clinical as well as laboratory parameters were determined shortly after admission. RESULTS: We found significantly higher CRP/Neopterin ratios in patients with bacterial pneumonia (median: 0.34) and lower CRP/Neopterin ratios in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection (median: 0.03; p < 0.001). Both in men and in women, the CRP/Neopterin ratio was able to distinguish between viral and bacterial pathogens, but also was able to detect bacterial super-infection (BSI) in subjects with initial viral pneumonia (p < 0.001). Patients with BSI presented with significantly lower CRP/Neopterin ratios (median 0.08) than patients with bacterial infection only (median 0.34; p < 0.001). Interestingly, COVID-19 patients had a decreased physical functioning (as reflected in the ECOG score) and a higher frequency of fatigue (84.1%) and neurological symptoms (54.8%) than patients with pneumonia, due to other underlying pathogens. Patients that reported fatigue during viral and bacterial pneumonia presented with lower CRP concentrations than patients without it. CONCLUSIONS: The CRP/Neopterin ratio is useful to differentiate between viral and bacterial pathogenesis. The occurrence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in pneumonia appears to depend on the kind of pathogen causing the infection. Lower CRP concentrations at admission appear to be related to fatigue during acute viral and bacterial infection.},

note = {Place: Switzerland},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{netzer_oxidative_2024,

title = {Oxidative Stress Reaction to Hypobaric–Hyperoxic Civilian Flight Conditions},

author = {Nikolaus C. Netzer and Heidelinde Jaekel and Roland Popp and Johanna M. Gostner and Michael Decker and Frederik Eisendle and Rachel Turner and Petra Netzer and Carsten Patzelt and Christian Steurer and Marco Cavalli and Florian Forstner and Stephan Pramsohler},

url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/4/481},

doi = {10.3390/biom14040481},

issn = {2218-273X},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-04-01},

urldate = {2026-01-26},

journal = {Biomolecules},

volume = {14},

number = {4},

pages = {481},

abstract = {Background: In military flight operations, during flights, fighter pilots constantly work under hyperoxic breathing conditions with supplemental oxygen in varying hypobaric environments. These conditions are suspected to cause oxidative stress to neuronal organ tissues. For civilian flight operations, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also recommends supplemental oxygen for flying under hypobaric conditions equivalent to higher than 3048 m altitude, and has made it mandatory for conditions equivalent to more than 3657 m altitude. Aim: We hypothesized that hypobaric–hyperoxic civilian commercial and private flight conditions with supplemental oxygen in a flight simulation in a hypobaric chamber at 2500 m and 4500 m equivalent altitude would cause significant oxidative stress in healthy individuals. Methods: Twelve healthy, COVID-19-vaccinated (third portion of vaccination 15 months before study onset) subjects (six male, six female, mean age 35.7 years) from a larger cohort were selected to perform a 3 h flight simulation in a hypobaric chamber with increasing supplemental oxygen levels (35%, 50%, 60%, and 100% fraction of inspired oxygen, FiO2, via venturi valve-equipped face mask), switching back and forth between simulated altitudes of 2500 m and 4500 m. Arterial blood pressure and oxygen saturation were constantly measured via radial catheter and blood samples for blood gases taken from the catheter at each altitude and oxygen level. Additional blood samples from the arterial catheter at baseline and 60% oxygen at both altitudes were centrifuged inside the chamber and the serum was frozen instantly at −21 °C for later analysis of the oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde low-density lipoprotein (M-LDL) and glutathione-peroxidase 1 (GPX1) via the ELISA test. Results: Eleven subjects finished the study without adverse events. Whereas the partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) levels increased in the mean with increasing oxygen levels from baseline 96.2 mm mercury (mmHg) to 160.9 mmHg at 2500 m altitude and 60% FiO2 and 113.2 mmHg at 4500 m altitude and 60% FiO2, there was no significant increase in both oxidative markers from baseline to 60% FiO2 at these simulated altitudes. Some individuals had a slight increase, whereas some showed no increase at all or even a slight decrease. A moderate correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.55) existed between subject age and glutathione peroxidase levels at 60% FiO2 at 4500 m altitude. Conclusion: Supplemental oxygen of 60% FiO2 in a flight simulation, compared to flying in cabin pressure levels equivalent to 2500 m–4500 m altitude, does not lead to a significant increase or decrease in the oxidative stress markers M-LDL and GPX1 in the serum of arterial blood.},

note = {Place: Switzerland},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{snapkow_new_2024,

title = {New approach methodologies to enhance human health risk assessment of immunotoxic properties of chemicals — a PARC (Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals) project},

author = {Igor Snapkow and Nicola M. Smith and Emma Arnesdotter and Karsten Beekmann and Etienne B. Blanc and Albert Braeuning and Emanuela Corsini and Marija Sollner Dolenc and Loes P. M. Duivenvoorde and Gunnar Sundstøl Eriksen and Nina Franko and Valentina Galbiati and Johanna M. Gostner and Nathalie Grova and Arno C. Gutleb and Rita Hargitai and Aafke W. F. Janssen and Solveig A. Krapf and Birgitte Lindeman and Katalin Lumniczky and Ambra Maddalon and Steen Mollerup and Lucia Parráková and Arkadiusz Pierzchalski and Raymond H. H. Pieters and Maria J. Silva and Anita Solhaug and Yvonne C. M. Staal and Anne Straumfors and Tünde Szatmári and Jonathan D. Turner and Rob J. Vandebriel and Ana Claudia Zenclussen and Robert Barouki},

url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1339104/full},

doi = {10.3389/ftox.2024.1339104},

issn = {2673-3080},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-04-01},

urldate = {2026-01-26},

journal = {Frontiers in Toxicology},

volume = {6},

pages = {1339104},

abstract = {As a complex system governing and interconnecting numerous functions within the human body, the immune system is unsurprisingly susceptible to the impact of toxic chemicals. Toxicants can influence the immune system through a multitude of mechanisms, resulting in immunosuppression, hypersensitivity, increased risk of autoimmune diseases and cancer development. At present, the regulatory assessment of the immunotoxicity of chemicals relies heavily on rodent models and a limited number of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guidelines, which only capture a fraction of potential toxic properties. Due to this limitation, various authorities, including the World Health Organization and the European Food Safety Authority have highlighted the need for the development of novel approaches without the use of animals for immunotoxicity testing of chemicals. In this paper, we present a concise overview of ongoing efforts dedicated to developing and standardizing methodologies for a comprehensive characterization of the immunotoxic effects of chemicals, which are performed under the EU-funded Partnership for the Assessment of Risk from Chemicals (PARC).},

note = {Place: Switzerland},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{jaylet_comprehensive_2024,

title = {Comprehensive mapping of the AOP-Wiki database: identifying biological and disease gaps},

author = {Thomas Jaylet and Thibaut Coustillet and Nicola M. Smith and Barbara Viviani and Birgitte Lindeman and Lucia Vergauwen and Oddvar Myhre and Nurettin Yarar and Johanna M. Gostner and Pablo Monfort-Lanzas and Florence Jornod and Henrik Holbech and Xavier Coumoul and Dimosthenis A. Sarigiannis and Philipp Antczak and Anna Bal-Price and Ellen Fritsche and Eliska Kuchovska and Antonios K. Stratidakis and Robert Barouki and Min Ji Kim and Olivier Taboureau and Marcin W. Wojewodzic and Dries Knapen and Karine Audouze},

url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1285768/full},

doi = {10.3389/ftox.2024.1285768},

issn = {2673-3080},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-03-01},

urldate = {2026-01-26},

journal = {Frontiers in Toxicology},

volume = {6},

pages = {1285768},

abstract = {Introduction: 

 The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) concept facilitates rapid hazard assessment for human health risks. AOPs are constantly evolving, their number is growing, and they are referenced in the AOP-Wiki database, which is supported by the OECD. Here, we present a study that aims at identifying well-defined biological areas, as well as gaps within the AOP-Wiki for future research needs. It does not intend to provide a systematic and comprehensive summary of the available literature on AOPs but summarizes and maps biological knowledge and diseases represented by the already developed AOPs (with OECD endorsed status or under validation). 

 Methods: 

 Knowledge from the AOP-Wiki database were extracted and prepared for analysis using a multi-step procedure. An automatic mapping of the existing information on AOPs (i.e., genes/proteins and diseases) was performed using bioinformatics tools (i.e., overrepresentation analysis using Gene Ontology and DisGeNET), allowing both the classification of AOPs and the development of AOP networks (AOPN). 

 Results: 

 AOPs related to diseases of the genitourinary system, neoplasms and developmental anomalies are the most frequently investigated on the AOP-Wiki. An evaluation of the three priority cases (i.e., immunotoxicity and non-genotoxic carcinogenesis, endocrine and metabolic disruption, and developmental and adult neurotoxicity) of the EU-funded PARC project (Partnership for the Risk Assessment of Chemicals) are presented. These were used to highlight under- and over-represented adverse outcomes and to identify and prioritize gaps for further research. 

 Discussion: 

 These results contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the adverse effects associated with the molecular events in AOPs, and aid in refining risk assessment for stressors and mitigation strategies. Moreover, the FAIRness (i.e., data which meets principles of findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability (FAIR)) of the AOPs appears to be an important consideration for further development.},

note = {Place: Switzerland},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{mohyuddin_toxoplasma_2024,

title = {Toxoplasma gondii IgG Serointensity Is Positively Associated With Frailty},

author = {Hira Mohyuddin and Blanca Laffon and João P Teixeira and Solange Costa and Armanda Teixeira-Gomes and Eduardo Pásaro and Niel Constantine and Aline Dagdag and Heidi K Ortmeyer and Boris Tizenberg and Liubov Afram and Poyu Yen and Christopher Marano and Christopher A Lowry and Andrew J Hoisington and Jill A RachBeisel and Vanessa Valdiglesias and Carlota Lema-Arranz and Natalia Fernández-Bertólez and Ana Maseda and José C Millán-Calenti and Elizabeth J Kovacs and Johanna M Gostner and Dietmar Fuchs and Lisa A Brenner and Laura Lorenzo-López and Teodor T Postolache},

editor = {Roger A Fielding},

url = {https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/doi/10.1093/gerona/glad228/7334598},

doi = {10.1093/gerona/glad228},

issn = {1079-5006, 1758-535X},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-03-01},

urldate = {2024-03-01},

journal = {The Journals of Gerontology: Series A},

volume = {79},

number = {3},

pages = {glad228},

abstract = {Abstract 

 Background 

 Persistent inflammation related to aging (“inflammaging”) is exacerbated by chronic infections and contributes to frailty in older adults. We hypothesized associations between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a common parasite causing an oligosymptomatic unremitting infection, and frailty, and secondarily between T. gondii and previously reported markers of immune activation in frailty. 

 Methods We analyzed available demographic, social, and clinical data in Spanish and Portuguese older adults [N = 601; age: mean (SD) 77.3 (8.0); 61% women]. Plasma T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) serointensity was measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Fried criteria were used to define frailty status. Validated translations of Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index were used to evaluate confounders. Previously analyzed biomarkers that were significantly associated with frailty in both prior reports and the current study, and also related to T. gondii serointensity, were further accounted for in multivariable logistic models with frailty as outcome. 

 Results In T. gondii-seropositives, there was a significant positive association between T. gondii IgG serointensity and frailty, accounting for age (p = .0002), and resisting adjustment for multiple successive confounders. Among biomarkers linked with frailty, kynurenine/tryptophan and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II were positively associated with T. gondii serointensity in seropositives (p < .05). Associations with other biomarkers were not significant. 

 Conclusions 

 This first reported association between T. gondii and frailty is limited by a cross-sectional design and warrants replication. While certain biomarkers of inflammaging were associated with both T. gondii IgG serointensity and frailty, they did not fully mediate the T. gondii–frailty association.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{finsterer_cerebrospinal_2024,

title = {Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Neuronal/Glial Damage or Immune Activation Are Unsuitable for Assessing Post-COVID Cognitive Impairment},

author = {Josef Finsterer},

url = {https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/229/3/918/7456373},

doi = {10.1093/infdis/jiad548},

issn = {0022-1899, 1537-6613},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-03-01},

urldate = {2026-01-26},

journal = {The Journal of Infectious Diseases},

volume = {229},

number = {3},

pages = {918–919},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{kanberg_covid-19_2024,

title = {COVID-19 Recovery: Consistent Absence of Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarker Abnormalities in Patients With Neurocognitive Post-COVID Complications},

author = {Nelly Kanberg and Anna Grahn and Erika Stentoft and Daniel Bremell and Aylin Yilmaz and Marie Studahl and Staffan Nilsson and Michael Schöll and Johanna M Gostner and Kaj Blennow and Henrik Zetterberg and Nikhil Padmanabhan and Rachel Cohen and Salvia Misaghian and Daniel Romero and Christopher Campbell and Anu Mathew and Mingyue Wang and George Sigal and Martin Stengelin and Arvid Edén and Magnus Gisslén},

url = {https://academic.oup.com/jid/article/229/2/493/7328977},

doi = {10.1093/infdis/jiad395},

issn = {0022-1899, 1537-6613},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-02-01},

urldate = {2026-01-26},

journal = {The Journal of Infectious Diseases},

volume = {229},

number = {2},

pages = {493–501},

abstract = {Abstract 

 Background 

 To investigate evidence of residual viral infection, intrathecal immune activation, central nervous system (CNS) injury, and humoral responses in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma in patients recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with or without neurocognitive post-COVID condition (PCC). 

 Methods 

 Thirty-one participants (25 with neurocognitive PCC) underwent clinical examination, lumbar puncture, and venipuncture ≥3 months after COVID-19 symptom onset. Healthy volunteers were included. CSF and plasma severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid and spike antigen (N-Ag, S-Ag), and CSF biomarkers of immune activation and neuronal injury were analyzed. 

 Results 

 SARS-CoV-2 N-Ag or S-Ag were undetectable in all samples and no participant had pleocytosis. We detected no significant differences in CSF and plasma cytokine concentrations, albumin ratio, IgG index, neopterin, β2M, or in CSF biomarkers of neuronal injury and astrocytic damage. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA1) analysis did not indicate any significant differences between the study groups in the marker sets cytokines, neuronal markers, or anti-cytokine autoantibodies. 

 Conclusions 

 We found no evidence of ongoing viral replication, immune activation, or CNS injury in plasma or CSF in patients with neurocognitive PCC compared with COVID-19 controls or healthy volunteers, suggesting that neurocognitive PCC is a consequence of events suffered during acute COVID-19 rather than persistent viral CNS infection or residual CNS inflammation.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{lin_investigations_2024,

title = {Investigations Towards Tryptophan Uptake and Transport Across an In Vitro Model of the Oral Mucosa Epithelium},

author = {Grace C. Lin and Julia Tevini and Lisa Mair and Heinz-Peter Friedl and Dietmar Fuchs and Thomas Felder and Johanna M. Gostner and Winfried Neuhaus},

url = {https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11786469241266312},

doi = {10.1177/11786469241266312},

issn = {1178-6469, 1178-6469},

year  = {2024},

date = {2024-01-01},

urldate = {2026-01-26},

journal = {International Journal of Tryptophan Research},

volume = {17},

pages = {11786469241266312},

abstract = {Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and plays an important role in several metabolic processes relevant for the human health. As the main metabolic pathway for tryptophan along the kynurenine axis is involved in inflammatory responses, changed metabolite levels can be used to monitor inflammatory diseases such as ulcerative colitis. As a progenitor of serotonin, altered tryptophan levels have been related to several neurogenerative diseases as well as depression or anxiety. While tryptophan concentrations are commonly evaluated in serum, a non-invasive detection approach using saliva might offer significant advantages, especially during long-term treatments of patients or elderly. In order to estimate whether active transport processes for tryptophan might contribute to a potential correlation between blood and saliva tryptophan concentrations, we investigated tryptophan’s transport across an established oral mucosa in vitro model. Interestingly, treatment with tryptophan revealed a concentration dependent secretion of tryptophan and the presence of a saturable transporter while transport studies with deuterated tryptophan displayed increased permeability from the saliva to the blood compartment. Protein analysis demonstrated a distinct expression of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1), the major transporter for tryptophan, and exposure to inhibitors (2 -amino-2-norbornanecarboxylic acid (BCH), L-leucine) led to increased tryptophan levels on the saliva side. Additionally, exposure to tryptophan in equilibrium studies resulted in a regulation of LAT1 at the mRNA level. The data collected in this study suggest the participation of active transport mechanisms for tryptophan across the oral mucosa epithelium. Future studies should investigate the transport of tryptophan across salivary gland epithelia in order to enable a comprehensive understanding of tryptophan exchange at the blood-saliva barrier.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{hufner_effect_2023,

title = {The effect of inflammation, SARS-CoV-2 infection, age and mental health on serotonin, and kynurenine and catecholamine pathway metabolites.},

author = {Katharina Hüfner and Sophia Vedova and Piotr Tymoszuk and Philipp Nelles and Tobias Bruckner and Eberhard A. Deisenhammer and Jonas Egeter and Matyas Galffy and Johannes M. Giesinger and Jens Lehmann and Maria Oberhammer and Joachim Rockenschaub and Magdalena Sacher and Bernhard Holzner and Johanna M. Gostner and Barbara Sperner-Unterweger},

doi = {10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106334},

issn = {1873-3360 0306-4530},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-10-01},

journal = {Psychoneuroendocrinology},

volume = {156},

pages = {106334},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of mental disorders following COVID-19 has been described. It is therefore essential to elucidate underlying biological mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 infection and mental health. The kynurenine and catecholamine metabolic pathways are modulated by inflammation and can affect systemic levels of serotonin and dopamine. Their activity may hence link physical disorders with mental health. We investigated factors that affect kynurenine and catecholamine pathway activity in SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovery. METHODS: The cross-sectional SIMMUN (n = 165) and longitudinal INCOV cohort (n = 167, Su et al. 2022) were analyzed. Demographic and clinical characteristic, inflammatory markers, SARS-CoV-2 infection, symptoms of depression and anxiety (HADS), and mental stress (PSS-4) served as explanatory variables. Blood serotonin and markers of kynurenine (kynurenine/tryptophan ratio), and catecholamine pathway activity (dopamine 3-O-sulfate, phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio) were modeled by multi-parameter linear regression. RESULTS: In the SIMMUN cohort, the inflammatory marker neopterin (β = 0.47 [95% CI: 0.34-0.61]), SARS-CoV-2-positivity (0.42 [0.16-0.68]), mental stress (0.18 [0.055-0.31]), and age (0.26 [0.12-0.39]) were positively associated with the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio. The phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio was lower in SARS-CoV-2-positive than uninfected participants (-0.38 [-0.68 to -0.08]). In the INCOV cohort, markers of inflammation were associated with lower serotonin (IL6: -0.22 [-0.38 to -0.053]) and dopamine 3-O-sulfate levels (interferon-gamma: -0.15 [-0.26 to -0.036]). Serotonin (0.76 [0.34-1.2]) and dopamine 3-O-sulfate levels (0.63 [0.28-0.99]) were higher during recovery than in acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection, inflammation, age and mental stress are key independent predictors of kynurenine pathway activity, which may influence serotonin availability. The catecholamine pathway was also affected in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Altered activity of these pathways may contribute to impaired mental health following COVID-19.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{prescott_tryptophan_2023,

title = {Tryptophan metabolism and immune alterations in pregnant Hispanic women with chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection.},

author = {Stephanie Prescott and Tina Mutka and Kelley Baumgartel and Ji Youn Yoo and Hailey Morgan and Teodor T. Postolache and Andreas Seyfang and Johanna M. Gostner and Dietmar Fuchs and Kami Kim and Maureen E. Groer},

doi = {10.1111/aji.13768},

issn = {1600-0897 1046-7408},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-09-01},

journal = {American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)},

volume = {90},

number = {3},

pages = {e13768},

abstract = {PROBLEM: Pregnancy markedly modifies women's metabolism and immune functions. We hypothesized that pregnancy might alter the immune and metabolic responses to chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnancy. METHOD OF STUDY: A population of 690 pregnant Hispanic women were screened for antibodies to T. gondii and 158 women were positive (23% positivity) with 83% showing high avidity indices. These seropositive women were followed through their pregnancies with four data collection time points and a postpartum collection at two clinics in Tampa, Florida. A T. gondii seronegative group (N = 128) was randomly selected to serve as a control group and measured along pregnancy in the same way. Serum levels of tryptophan, kynurenine, and their ratio, phenylalanine, tyrosine and their ratio, neopterin, and nitrite were measured through pregnancy and the postpartum. A plasma cytokine panel (IFN-γ, TNFα, IL-2, IL-10, IL-12, IL-6, IL-17) was analyzed in parallel. RESULTS: The major findings suggest that indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO-1) was less activated in T. gondii seropositive pregnant Hispanic women with chronic infection. Evidence for IDO-1 suppression was that tryptophan catabolism was less pronounced and there were lower levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines including IFN-γ, which is the major inducer of IDO-1, and higher nitrite concentration, a surrogate marker for nitric oxide, an inhibitor of IDO. CONCLUSIONS: Latent T. gondii infection was associated with higher plasma tryptophan levels, and lower inflammatory cytokines across pregnancy, suggesting suppression of the IDO-1 enzyme, and possible T cell exhaustion during pregnancy.},

note = {Place: Denmark},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{piater_persistent_2023,

title = {Persistent Symptoms and IFN-γ-Mediated Pathways after COVID-19.},

author = {Talia Piater and Mario Gietl and Stefanie Hofer and Johanna M. Gostner and Sabina Sahanic and Ivan Tancevski and Thomas Sonnweber and Alex Pizzini and Alexander Egger and Harald Schennach and Judith Loeffler-Ragg and Guenter Weiss and Katharina Kurz},

doi = {10.3390/jpm13071055},

issn = {2075-4426},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-06-01},

journal = {Journal of personalized medicine},

volume = {13},

number = {7},

abstract = {After COVID-19, patients have reported various complaints such as fatigue, neurological symptoms, and insomnia. Immune-mediated changes in amino acid metabolism might contribute to the development of these symptoms. Patients who had had acute, PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection about 60 days earlier were recruited within the scope of the prospective CovILD study. We determined the inflammatory parameters and alterations in tryptophan and phenylalanine metabolism in 142 patients cross-sectionally. Symptom persistence (pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, anosmia, sleep disturbance, and neurological symptoms) and patients' physical levels of functioning were recorded. Symptoms improved in many patients after acute COVID-19 (n = 73, 51.4%). Still, a high percentage of patients had complaints, and women were affected more often. In many patients, ongoing immune activation (as indicated by high neopterin and CRP concentrations) and enhanced tryptophan catabolism were found. A higher phenylalanine to tyrosine ratio (Phe/Tyr) was found in women with a lower level of functioning. Patients who reported improvements in pain had lower Phe/Tyr ratios, while patients with improved gastrointestinal symptoms presented with higher tryptophan and kynurenine values. Our results suggest that women have persistent symptoms after COVID-19 more often than men. In addition, the physical level of functioning and the improvements in certain symptoms appear to be associated with immune-mediated changes in amino acid metabolism.},

note = {Place: Switzerland},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{obermoser_positive_2023,

title = {Positive Effects of Probiotic Therapy in Patients with Post-Infectious Fatigue.},

author = {Katharina Obermoser and Natascha Brigo and Andrea Schroll and Pablo Monfort-Lanzas and Johanna M. Gostner and Sabine Engl and Simon Geisler and Miriam Knoll and Harald Schennach and Günter Weiss and Dietmar Fuchs and Rosa Bellmann-Weiler and Katharina Kurz},

doi = {10.3390/metabo13050639},

issn = {2218-1989},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-05-01},

journal = {Metabolites},

volume = {13},

number = {5},

abstract = {Post-infectious fatigue is a common complication that can lead to decreased physical efficiency, depression, and impaired quality of life. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been proposed as a contributing factor, as the gut-brain axis plays an important role in regulating physical and mental health. This pilot study aimed to investigate the severity of fatigue and depression, as well as the quality of life of 70 patients with post-infectious fatigue who received a multi-strain probiotic preparation or placebo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients completed questionnaires to assess their fatigue (fatigue severity scale (FSS)), mood (Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)), and quality of life (short form-36 (SF-36)) at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Routine laboratory parameters were also assessed, including immune-mediated changes in tryptophan and phenylalanine metabolism. The intervention was effective in improving fatigue, mood, and quality of life in both the probiotic and placebo groups, with greater improvements seen in the probiotic group. FSS and BDI-II scores declined significantly under treatment with both probiotics and placebo, but patients who received probiotics had significantly lower FSS (p < 0.001) and BDI-II (p < 0.001) scores after 6 months. Quality of life scores improved significantly in patients who received probiotics (p < 0.001), while patients taking a placebo only saw improvements in the "Physical limitation" and "Energy/Fatigue" subcategories. After 6 months neopterin was higher in patients receiving placebo, while no longitudinal changes in interferon-gamma mediated biochemical pathways were observed. These findings suggest that probiotics may be a promising intervention for improving the health of patients with post-infectious fatigue, potentially through modulating the gut-brain axis.},

note = {Place: Switzerland},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{musiol_dietary_2023,

title = {Dietary digestible carbohydrates are associated with higher prevalence of asthma in humans and with aggravated lung allergic inflammation in mice.},

author = {Stephanie Musiol and Carla P. Harris and Ruth Karlina and Johanna M. Gostner and Birgit Rathkolb and Benjamin Schnautz and Evelyn Schneider and Lisa Mair and Ernesto Elorduy Vergara and Claudia Flexeder and Sibylle Koletzko and Carl-Peter Bauer and Tamara Schikowski and Dietrich Berdel and Andrea Berg and Gunda Herberth and Jan Rozman and Martin Hrabe de Angelis and Marie Standl and Carsten B. Schmidt-Weber and Siegfried Ussar and Francesca Alessandrini},

doi = {10.1111/all.15589},

issn = {1398-9995 0105-4538},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-05-01},

journal = {Allergy},

volume = {78},

number = {5},

pages = {1218–1233},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Dietary carbohydrates and fats are intrinsically correlated within the habitual diet. We aimed to disentangle the associations of starch and sucrose from those of fat, in relation to allergic sensitization, asthma and rhinoconjuctivitis prevalence in humans, and to investigate underlying mechanisms using murine models. METHODS: Epidemiological data from participants of two German birth cohorts (age 15) were used in logistic regression analyses testing cross-sectional associations of starch and sucrose (and their main dietary sources) with aeroallergen sensitization, asthma and rhinoconjunctivitis, adjusting for correlated fats (saturated, monounsaturated, omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated) and other covariates. For mechanistic insights, murine models of aeroallergen-induced allergic airway inflammation (AAI) fed with a low-fat-high-sucrose or -high-starch versus a high-fat diet were used to characterize and quantify disease development. Metabolic and physiologic parameters were used to track outcomes of dietary interventions and cellular and molecular responses to monitor the development of AAI. Oxidative stress biomarkers were measured in murine sera or lung homogenates. RESULTS: We demonstrate a direct association of dietary sucrose with asthma prevalence in males, while starch was associated with higher asthma prevalence in females. In mice, high-carbohydrate feeding, despite scant metabolic effects, aggravated AAI compared to high-fat in both sexes, as displayed by humoral response, mucus hypersecretion, lung inflammatory cell infiltration and T(H) 2-T(H) 17 profiles. Compared to high-fat, high-carbohydrate intake was associated with increased pulmonary oxidative stress, signals of metabolic switch to glycolysis and decreased systemic anti-oxidative capacity. CONCLUSION: High consumption of digestible carbohydrates is associated with an increased prevalence of asthma in humans and aggravated lung allergic inflammation in mice, involving oxidative stress-related mechanisms.},

note = {Place: Denmark},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{eden_residual_2023,

title = {Residual Central Nervous System Immune Activation Is Not Prevented by Antiretroviral Therapy Initiated During Early Chronic HIV Infection.},

author = {Arvid Edén and Frida Rydberg and Aylin Yilmaz and Lars Hagberg and Johanna Gostner and Staffan Nilsson and Dietmar Fuchs and Magnus Gisslén},

doi = {10.1093/ofid/ofad064},

issn = {2328-8957},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-02-01},

journal = {Open forum infectious diseases},

volume = {10},

number = {2},

pages = {ofad064},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiated during acute infection can potentially impact the central nervous system (CNS) reservoir, but the differential long-term effects of ART initiation during early or late chronic infection are unknown. METHODS: We included neuroasymptomatic people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with suppressive ART initiated during chronic (>1 year since transmission) HIV with archived cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples after 1 and/or ≥3 years of ART from a cohort study. CSF and serum neopterin was measured using a commercial immunoassay (BRAHMS, Germany). RESULTS: In total, 185 people with HIV (median, 79 [interquartile range, 55-128] months on ART) were included. A significant inverse correlation was found between CD4(+) T-cell count and CSF neopterin only at baseline (r = -0.28},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{gietl_interferon-gamma_2023,

title = {Interferon-gamma Mediated Metabolic Pathways in Hospitalized Patients During Acute and Reconvalescent COVID-19.},

author = {Mario Gietl and Francesco Burkert and Stefanie Seiwald and Anna Böhm and Stefanie Hofer and Johanna M. Gostner and Talia Piater and Simon Geisler and Guenter Weiss and Judith Loeffler-Ragg and Thomas Sonnweber and Ivan Tancevski and Alex Pizzini and Sabina Sahanic and Dietmar Fuchs and Rosa Bellmann-Weiler and Katharina Kurz},

doi = {10.1177/11786469231154244},

issn = {1178-6469},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-01-01},

journal = {International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR},

volume = {16},

pages = {11786469231154244},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Fatigue, sleep disturbance, and neurological symptoms during and after COVID-19 are common and might be associated with inflammation-induced changes in tryptophan (Trp) and phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism. AIM: This pilot study investigated interferon gamma inducible biochemical pathways (namely Trp catabolism, neopterin, tyrosine [Tyr], and nitrite formation) during acute COVID-19 and reconvalescence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty one patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 admitted to the University Hospital of Innsbruck in early 2020 (March-May) were followed up. Neurotransmitter precursors Trp, Phe, Tyr as well as kynurenine (Kyn), neopterin, nitrite, and routine laboratory parameters were analyzed during acute infection and at a follow-up (FU) 60 days thereafter. Clinical symptoms of patients (neurological symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbance) were recorded and associations with concentrations of laboratory parameters investigated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Almost half of the patients suffered from neurological symptoms (48.4%), the majority of patients experienced sleep difficulties (56.7%) during acute COVID-19. Fatigue was present in nearly all patients. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), neopterin, Kyn, Phe concentrations were significantly increased, and Trp levels depleted during acute COVID-19. Patients with sleep impairment and neurological symptoms during acute illness presented with increased CRP and IL-6 concentrations, Trp levels were lower in patients with sleep disturbance. In general, inflammatory markers declined during reconvalescence. A high percentage of patients suffered from persistent symptoms at FU (neurological symptoms: 17.2%, fatigue: 51.7%, sleeping disturbance: 34.5%) and had higher CRP concentrations. Nitrite and Phe levels were lower in patients with sleeping difficulties at FU and Kyn/Trp ratio, as indicator of IDO activity, was significantly lower in patients with neurological symptoms compared to patients without them at FU. In summary, inflammation induced alterations of amino acid metabolism might be related to acute and persisting symptoms of COVID-19.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{karg_chlorophyll-derived_2022,

title = {A Chlorophyll-Derived Phylloxanthobilin Is a Potent Antioxidant That Modulates Immunometabolism in Human PBMC.},

author = {Cornelia A. Karg and Lucia Parráková and Dietmar Fuchs and Harald Schennach and Bernhard Kräutler and Simone Moser and Johanna M. Gostner},

doi = {10.3390/antiox11102056},

issn = {2076-3921},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-10-01},

journal = {Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)},

volume = {11},

number = {10},

abstract = {Phyllobilins are natural products derived from the degradation of chlorophyll, which proceeds via a common and strictly controlled pathway in higher plants. The resulting tetrapyrrolic catabolites-the phyllobilins-are ubiquitous in nature; despite their high abundance, there is still a lack of knowledge about their physiological properties. Phyllobilins are part of human nutrition and were shown to be potent antioxidants accounting with interesting physiological properties. Three different naturally occurring types of phyllobilins-a phylloleucobilin, a dioxobilin-type phylloleucobilin and a phylloxanthobilin (PxB)-were compared regarding potential antioxidative properties in a cell-free and in a cell-based antioxidant activity test system, demonstrating the strongest effect for the PxB. Moreover, the PxB was investigated for its capacity to interfere with immunoregulatory metabolic pathways of tryptophan breakdown in human blood peripheral mononuclear cells. A dose-dependent inhibition of tryptophan catabolism to kynurenine was observed, suggesting a suppressive effect on pathways of cellular immune activation. Although the exact mechanisms of immunomodulatory effects are yet unknown, these prominent bioactivities point towards health-relevant effects, which warrant further mechanistic investigations and the assessment of the in vivo extrapolatability of results. Thus, phyllobilins are a still surprisingly unexplored family of natural products that merit further investigation.},

note = {Place: Switzerland},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{bichler_climbing_2022,

title = {Climbing as an Add-On Treatment Option for Patients with Severe Anxiety Disorders and PTSD: Feasibility Analysis and First Results of a Randomized Controlled Longitudinal Clinical Pilot Trial.},

author = {Carina S. Bichler and Martin Niedermeier and Katharina Hüfner and Mátyás Gálffy and Johanna M. Gostner and Philipp Nelles and Stefanie E. Schöttl and Barbara Sperner-Unterweger and Martin Kopp},

doi = {10.3390/ijerph191811622},

issn = {1660-4601 1661-7827},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-09-01},

journal = {International journal of environmental research and public health},

volume = {19},

number = {18},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Exercise has considerable effects on physical and psychological health. Anxiolytic effects of climbing exercise have been found in people suffering from depression. However, there are no studies on patients with severe anxiety disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) practicing climbing as add-on treatment. Additionally, many studies on physical therapy fail to use adequate active control groups. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the feasibility of a four-week climbing exercise program for patients with anxiety disorders or PTSD in comparison to a standard exercise treatment and a social control group. METHODS: Outpatients diagnosed with anxiety disorders or PTSD (F 40, F 41, F 43.1 according to ICD-10) were randomly assigned to (a) climbing exercise (n = 27), (b) Nordic walking exercise (n = 23), or (c) control condition (n = 23) providing the same amount of social contact for eight sessions of 90 minutes each. Psychological parameters (symptom severity, worry symptoms, self-efficacy, quality of life) and biological parameters were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the four-week program. Additionally, follow-up assessments were conducted three and six months after the program ended. RESULTS: Sixty outpatients (75% female) aged 18-65 years with a longstanding history of a mental disorder (>10 years) and classified as treatment-resistant (95%) and with averaging 3.8 psychiatric comorbidities completed the pilot trial. After participation, symptoms of anxiety disorders were significantly reduced (p = 0.003), and health-related characteristics significantly improved (depression symptoms: p < 0.001, worry symptoms: p < 0.001, self-efficacy: p < 0.001, quality of life-physical health: p = 0.002, quality of life-psychological health: p = 0.006) in all groups. The feasibility of conducting climbing exercises for the patient groups could be demonstrated, and a general acceptance in the groups was recorded. No significant time-by-group interactions were found. At the completion of the program, psychological parameters improved, while biological parameters remained the same in all three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Participation in the climbing group as well as in Nordic walking and social contact groups demonstrated beneficial results in patients with anxiety disorders and PTSD with severe mental burden. Nevertheless, climbing did not show any additional clinically relevant benefits compared to Nordic walking or social contact. Studies with larger sample sizes and qualitative insights are needed to further evaluate the possible benefits of climbing in this population.},

note = {Place: Switzerland},

keywords = {},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}