Research Project: Early Life Factors and Microbiota Impact on Healthy Development

Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Dietary methionine depletion and hydrogen sulfide producing genes in perivascular adipose tissue of male wistar rats - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Corken, A., Davis, L., Wahl, E.C., Sikes, J.D., Thakali, K.M. 2025. Dietary methionine depletion and hydrogen sulfide producing genes in perivascular adipose tissue of male wistar rats. Physiological Reports. 13(24): article e70702. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70702.

White matter functional networks in the developing brain - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Huang, Y., Glasier, C.M., Na, X., Ou, X. 2025. White matter functional networks in the developing brain. Frontiers in Neuroscience. 18(2025):1-9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1467446.

Can Maternal Dietary Components or Supplements be the Answer to Mitigate Heat-Related Effects to Mothers and Offspring in Mammalian Species? - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Cardiometabolic Markers and Physical Fitness in Children: the MI-Energy Study - (Abstract Only)

Shared and distinct adaptations to early-life exercise training based on inborn fitness - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Sadler, D., Treas, L., Ross, T., Sikes, J., Britton, S., Koch, L., Borsheim, E., Porter, C., Barre, M. 2025. Shared and distinct adaptations to early-life exercise training based on inborn fitness. American Journal of Physiology. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.12.04.626895.

Impact of short-term housing temperature alteration on metabolic parameters and adipose tissue in female mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Paz, H.A., Shashank, C., Buddha, L., Lam, T., Zhang, T., Zhong, Y., Sikes, J., Porter, C., Landes, R., Morello, R., Wankade, U. 2025. Impact of short-term housing temperature alteration on metabolic parameters and adipose tissue in female mice. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 16(2025). https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1617262.

Maternal high-fat diet-induced obesity in offspring: unraveling adipose tissue dysfunction mediated by increased heat shock proteins - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Paz, H.A., Buddha, L., Lam, T., Zhong, Y., Sikes, J.D., Shankar, K., Andres, A., Wankhade, U.D. 2025. Maternal high-fat diet-induced obesity in offspring: unraveling adipose tissue dysfunction mediated by increased heat shock proteins. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 186(2025). ARticle 106812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2025.106812.

Enhanced mitochondrial respiration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from young children with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Carvalho, E., Landes, R.D., Cotter, M., Delhey, L.M., Børsheim, E., Rose, S. 2025. Enhanced mitochondrial respiration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from young children with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance. European Journal of Clinical Investigation. https://doi.org/10.1111/eci.70090.

Maternal undernutrition exacerbates effects of ambient heat during pregnancy in mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ruebel, M., Gilley, S.P., Jambal, P., Dado-Fox, J.M., Yazza, D.N., Nakra, N., Ulson, C., Sian, L., Kode, S., Read, Q.D., Yeruva, V., Westcott, J.L., Maclean, P.S., Krebs, N.F., Shankar, K. 2025. Maternal undernutrition exacerbates effects of ambient heat during pregnancy in mice. Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2025.05.021.

Microbes matter: exploring the connection between infant gut microbiota and bone development - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Caviness, P., Mulakala, B., Lorenzo, O.P., Lindemann, S.R., Rosa, F., Yeruva, V., Chen, J., Yao, T. 2025. Microbes matter: exploring the connection between infant gut microbiota and bone development. Calcified Tissue International. 116(2025). Article 90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-025-01395-5.

Fueling the fire: colonocyte metabolism and its effect on the colonic epithelia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Martinez-Ruiz, M., Robeson, M.S., Piccolo, B.D. 2025. Fueling the fire: colonocyte metabolism and its effect on the colonic epithelia. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2025.2507701.

Xenometabolomics reveals metabolic functional guilds unique to specific inulin subtypes in human gut microbiota cultures - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Piccolo, B.D., Chen, M., Lan, R.S., Moody, B., Yao, T., Huang, T., Pack, L., Adams, S.H., Lindemann, S.R. 2025. Xenometabolomics reveals metabolic functional guilds unique to specific inulin subtypes in human gut microbiota cultures. mSystems. https://doi.org/10.1128/msystems.01031-25.

The role of fermented foods in maternal health during pregnancy and infant health during the first 1,000 days of life - (Review Article)
Pandiyan, A., Gurung, M., Mulakala, B.K., Ponniah, S.K., Yeruva, V. 2025. The role of fermented foods in maternal health during pregnancy and infant health during the first 1,000 days of life. Frontiers in Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2025.1581723.

Stress during lactation: a hidden link to offspring bone health - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Chandrashekar, R., Mulakala, B.K., Gurung, M., Venna, G., Rearick, J.R., Onyekweli, B.I., Ruebel, M., Dado-Fox, J.M., Zeledon, J.A., Talatala, R., Rodriguez, K., Bishop, L., Smith, B., Stephens, K., Lucas, E., Yeruva, V. 2025. Stress during lactation: a hidden link to offspring bone health. Calcified Tissue International. 116(2025).Article 79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00223-025-01378-6.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals that human milk feeding shapes neonatal immune cell interleukin signaling pathways in a nonrandomized clinical trial - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Salinas, M.L., Mulakala, B.K., Davidson, L.A., Cai, J.J., Donovan, S.M., Chapkin, R.S., Yeruva, V. 2025. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals that human milk feeding shapes neonatal immune cell interleukin signaling pathways in a nonrandomized clinical trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.04.024.

Effect of maternal miRNAs and milk oligosaccharides on regulating the growth behavior of Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Yao, T., Tuncil, Y.E., Bhattarai, S., Gurung, M., Bode, L., Yeruva, V., Lindemann, S.R. 2025. Effect of maternal miRNAs and milk oligosaccharides on regulating the growth behavior of Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis. Journal of Functional Foods. 128(2025):106800. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2025.106800.

Breastfeeding beyond infancy supports - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Crimmins, M.R., Sims, C.R., Williams, D.K., Andres, A., Sobik, S. 2025. Breastfeeding beyond infancy supports. Pediatric Research. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04111-z.

The association between hepatic steatosis, vitamin D status, and insulin resistance in adolescents with obesity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tas, E., Flint, A., Libman, I., Muzumdar, R., Ou, X., Williams, D.K., Borsheim, E., Diaz, E. 2025. The association between hepatic steatosis, vitamin D status, and insulin resistance in adolescents with obesity. Obesity Pillars. 14(2025):100173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obpill.2025.100173.

The effect of diet on the development of EEG microstates in healthy infant throughout the first year of life - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Gilbreath, D., Hagood, D., Andres, A., Larson-Prior, L.J. 2025. The effect of diet on the development of EEG microstates in healthy infant throughout the first year of life. NeuroImage. 311(2025). ARticle 121152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121152.

Evaluation of ion source parameters and liquid chromatography methods for plasma untargeted metabolomics using orbitrap mass spectrometer - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Assress, H.A., Ferruzi, M.G., Hameed, A., Pack, L.M., Lan, R.S. 2025. Evaluation of ion source parameters and liquid chromatography methods for plasma untargeted metabolomics using orbitrap mass spectrometer. Journal of Chromatography B. 1257:124564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2025.124564.

A comparison of derivatives of alanine and d-alanine used in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis for protein kinetics - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Kaufmann, Y., Williams, R., Cotter, M., Ferrando, A., Børsheim, E. 2025. A comparison of derivatives of alanine and d-alanine used in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis for protein kinetics. Journal of Proteome Research. 24(4). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c01004.

Effect of pinto bean supplementation on pregnancy outcomes and metabolic markers of obese mice - (Abstract Only)

Platelets modulate leukocyte population composition within perivascular adipose tissue - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Corken, A., Weinkopff, T., Wahl, E.C., Sikes, J.D., Thakali, K.M. 2025. Platelets modulate leukocyte population composition within perivascular adipose tissue. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 26(4):1625. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041625.

The associations of body composition, fitness, and physical activity with balance in children: The Arkansas Active Kids study - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Diniz-Sousa, F., Edwards, T., Diaz, E., Weber, J.L., Børsheim, E. 2025. The associations of body composition, fitness, and physical activity with balance in children: The Arkansas Active Kids study. Gait and Posture. 118:61-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2025.01.081.

Placental PFAS concentrations are associated with perturbations of placental DNA methylation - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Everson, T., Sehgal, N., Campbell, K., Boyd Barr, D., Panuwet, P., Yakimavets, V., Chen, K., Perez, C., Eick, S.M., Shankar, K., Pearson, K., Andres, A. 2025. Placental PFAS concentrations are associated with perturbations of placental DNA methylation. Environmental Pollution. 368(2025). Article 125735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125737.

Protective Effects of Sulforaphane Preventing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress to Enhance Metabolic Health: A Narrative Review - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Alves, I., Queiroz Araújo, E., Dalgaard, L.T., Singh, S., Børsheim, E., Carvalho, E. 2025. Protective Effects of Sulforaphane Preventing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress to Enhance Metabolic Health: A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 17(3):428. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030428.

Abnormal Exercise Gas Exchange Before Pulmonary Emboli Diagnosis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Edwards, T., Børsheim, E., Tomlinson, A. 2024. Abnormal Exercise Gas Exchange Before Pulmonary Emboli Diagnosis. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 8(6):530-535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2024.10.001.

Impact of maternal high-fat diet on offspring gut microbiota during short-term high-fat diet exposure in mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Paz, H., Buddha, L., Zhong, Y., Sikes, J.D., Wankhade, U.D. 2024. Impact of maternal high-fat diet on offspring gut microbiota during short-term high-fat diet exposure in mice. Physiological Reports. 12(21):e70111. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70111.

Excessive Gestational Weight Gain, Independent of Body Mass Index, Is Associated With Child Fat Mass Index at Age 2 Years in the Growing life, Optimizing Wellness Study - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ballard, M., Saben, J., Krukowski, R.A., Borsheim, E., Sims, C., Samuel, H., Jansen, L., Andrres, A. 2025. Excessive Gestational Weight Gain, Independent of Body Mass Index, Is Associated With Child Fat Mass Index at Age 2 Years in the Growing life, Optimizing Wellness Study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 125(6):806-816. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2024.10.011.

Dietary soy protein reverses obesity-induced liver steatosis and alters fecal microbial composition independent of isoflavone level - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hakkak, R., Korourian, S., Li, W., Spray, B., Twaddle, N., Randolph, C., Børsheim, E., Robeson, .S. 2024. Dietary soy protein reverses obesity-induced liver steatosis and alters fecal microbial composition independent of isoflavone level. Frontiers in Nutrition. 11(2024):1487859. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1487859.

Dietary modulation of human milk bioactives is associated with maternal FUT2 secretor phenotype: An exploratory analysis of carotenoids and polyphenol metabolites - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Fiecke, C., Crimmins, M., Hameed, A., Sims, C., Williams, D., Bode, L., Martinez, A., Andres, A., Ferruzzi, M. 2024. Dietary modulation of human milk bioactives is associated with maternal FUT2 secretor phenotype: An exploratory analysis of carotenoids and polyphenol metabolites. Frontiers in Nutrition. 11(2024):Article 1463969. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1463969.

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and offspring brain development: insights from neuroimaging - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Na, X., Mackean, P.P., Cape, G.A., Johnson, J.W., Ou, X. 2024. Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and offspring brain development: insights from neuroimaging. Nutrients. 16:3337. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16193337.

Exploring the relationship between child temperament, maternal psychiatric symptoms, family environment and infant feeding - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mccorkle, G., Andres, A., Sims, C.R., Casey, P.H., Sorensen,, S.T., Durey, T., Bellando, J. 2024. Exploring the relationship between child temperament, maternal psychiatric symptoms, family environment and infant feeding. Maternal and Child Nutrition. 21(1).Article e13728. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13728.

Western Diet Modifies Platelet Activation Profiles in Male Mice - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Corken, A., Wahl, E.C., Sikes, J.D., Thakali, K.M. 2024. Western Diet Modifies Platelet Activation Profiles in Male Mice. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 25(15):8019. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158019.

Bone tissue specific delivery of dietary metabolite phenolic acids using Clostridial collagenase collagen binding domain - (Abstract Only)

Bone tissue specific delivery of Cystatin E/M proteins using Clostridial collagenase collagen binding domain - (Abstract Only)

Diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography in hepatosteatosis in youth with obesity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tas, E., Sundararajan, D., Lo, J.S., Morelli, N., Garcia-Reyes, Y., Ware, M.A., Rahat, H., Ou, X., Na, X., Sundaram, S. 2024. Diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography in hepatosteatosis in youth with obesity. Journal of Endocrine Society. 8(7). Article bvae110. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvae110.

Maternal and postnatal factors role on child health and development: lessons learned from animal models and clinical studies - (Abstract Only)

Phenolic Metabolite Profiling in Children's Plasma and Urine Following Short-Term Supplementation with Wild Blueberry Powder - (Abstract Only)