Articles by Peter Sly
Allergic Sensitization, Respiratory Infections, and Subsequent Lung Function in Preschool Children
Conflicts of Interest M.L.K.T. discloses the following conflicts of interest in the past 36 months: grants or contracts from National Health and Medical Research Council, Porta Therapeutics, Allergy and Immunology Foundation of Australsia, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; royalties from book “Food Allergies for Dummies”; consulting fees from Pfizer: Abrocitinib Advisory Board; support for attending meetings and/or travel for Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical...
Who gets asthma, and why?
Med J Aust 2025; 223 (10): S19-S23. || doi: 10.5694/mja2.70085 Published online: 17 November 2025 Asthma occurs when the normal development or function of the respiratory and immune systems are disturbed by environmental exposures that interact with genetic or biological predispositions. The developmental and early life origins of asthma are increasingly recognised, from the prenatal period through to critical windows in childhood.
Early‐life allergic sensitization and respiratory infection-Two hits on lung function?
BDR bronchodilator responsiveness DAG directed acyclic graph FEF25–75 forced expiratory flows between 25% and 75% of FVC FEV1 forced expiratory volume in 1 s FVC forced vital capacity GLI global lung function initiative MACS Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study SD standard deviation This is the first study to investigate and demonstrate the presence of an interactive relationship between early-life allergic sensitization at age 2 years and respiratory infections up to 2 years of age on lung function...
Emergency department presentations related to asthma and allergic diseases in Central Queensland, Australia: a comparative analysis between First Nations Australians and Australians of other descents
Emergency department presentations related to asthma and allergic diseases in Central Queensland, Australia: a comparative analysis between First Nations Australians and Australians of other descents Statistics from Altmetric.com Request Permissions If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service.
Israel’s opportunity to outfox Iran
Author's Note: Originally published in the American on Jan. 26, 2012. With updated facts, the analysis still applies. We are lucky that Marvin Ott’s biweekly op eds are a regular feature in The American. He has observed that “a wiser Israeli leader could seize the flux in the Arab world to create new political openings … .” One such opening could be an Israeli pursuit of a nuclear-free zone throughout the Middle East.
The Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Antibiotic Residues in Milk from Peri-Urban Dairy Cattle Farms in Kathmandu, Nepal
All articles published by MDPI are made immediately available worldwide under an open access license. No special permission is required to reuse all or part of the article published by MDPI, including figures and tables. For articles published under an open access Creative Common CC BY license, any part of the article may be reused without permission provided that the original article is clearly cited. For more information, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/openaccess.
Viral: Bacterial interactions in childhood asthma
We have learned a lot about the roles of viruses and bacteria in childhood asthma from longitudinal birth cohorts. These include the Childhood Asthma Study (CAS), Perth, Australia; the Childhood Origins of Asthma and Allergies (COAST), Wisconsin, USA; Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC), Copenhagen, Denmark; and Observational Research in Childhood Infectious Diseases (ORCHiD), Brisbane, Australia.
Understanding the role of innate immune training in prevention of respiratory infections
Traditionally, the body defences against infection have been thought of as being divided into two main components: the innate and adaptive immune systems. Major characteristics of each are listed below.
Indoor air pollution and its impact on the lungs
Air pollution represents a global emergency, with 99% of the world's population, including over 600 million children, living with air quality that does not meet current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Annually, air pollution is responsible for over 7 million premature deaths, including over 25% of all deaths in children under 5 years old.
Male autism spectrum disorder is linked to brain aromatase disruption by prenatal BPA in multimodal investigations and 10HDA ameliorates the related mouse phenotype | Nature Communications
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Abstract Male sex, early life chemical exposure and the brain aromatase enzyme have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In the Barwon Infant Study birth cohort (n = 1074), higher prenatal maternal bisphenol A (BPA) levels are associated with higher ASD symptoms at age 2 and diagnosis at age 9 only in males with low aromatase genetic pathway activity scores.
By Christos Symeonides, Sarah L. Thomson, Sam Tanner, Shilpi Dixit, Toby Mansell, Martin O’Hely, Boris Novakovic, Shuang Wang, Jia Guo, Nhi Tran, Kara Britt, Tae hwan Kim, Gabriel B. Bernasochi, Vincent Harley, Deborah Dewey, Chloe J. Love, David P Burgner, Peter Sly, Richard Saffery, Jochen F. Mueller, Nicole Rinehart, Bruce Tonge, Peter Vuillermin, Anne-Louise Ponsonby, Kristina Vacy, Hui Kheng Chua, Sang Eun Hwang
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Nature
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Indoor Air Quality: Bibliometric Analysis of the Published Literature Between 2018 and 2023
1 Introduction Outdoor air pollution has been a significant environmental concern for decades, with various sources such as vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas, power plants, and chemical productions contributing to the degradation of air quality (Bhat and Gaga 2022; Bhat, Eraslan, and Awad 2022; Sciences 2024). Indoor air quality (IAQ) significantly influences the well-being of occupants within and around buildings (Agency 2024; Bhat et al. 2021; Sciences 2023).
Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Childhood Asthma-Are the Risks Appropriately Mitigated in Australia?
All articles published by MDPI are made immediately available worldwide under an open access license. No special permission is required to reuse all or part of the article published by MDPI, including figures and tables. For articles published under an open access Creative Common CC BY license, any part of the article may be reused without permission provided that the original article is clearly cited. For more information, please refer to https://www.mdpi.com/openaccess.
Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Childhood Asthma-Are the Risks Appropriately Mitigated in Australia?
1. Introduction Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children [1] and is a major contributor to the global burden of disease [2]. Air pollution is a major risk factor for childhood asthma, with up to one-third of European cases attributable to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) [3]. Two key pollutants are commonly used to assess TRAP in urban areas—fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)—with the latter being the more specific for TRAP [4].
In utero smoking exposure induces changes to lung clearance index and modifies risk of wheeze in infants
1 INTRODUCTION Fetal exposure to tobacco smoking throughout pregnancy is a predominant and preventable cause of child morbidity and mortality.1-3 A meta-analysis of 10 cohort studies found that smoking during pregnancy was associated with wheezing in infancy (OR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.27–1.77, p = <.01).4 Mechanistically adverse respiratory outcomes are thought to be the consequence of the direct effects of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other harmful chemicals on oxygen and nutrient delivery,...
Sustainable environments for Australian children's and young people's health and wellbeing: our young's welfare is threatened
Med J Aust 2023; 219 (10): S40-S43.
Crucible of change: Palestine and Israel
Marvin Ott’s Oct. 19 “Offshore” column [“Israel: The price of strategic failure”] suggests “If there is any hope in the current situation, it lies in the knowledge that major catastrophes can be the crucible for necessary, historic change — change achievable no other way — for Israel, the Palestinians and the region.” We can only hope that this war leads to historic government changes in both Palestine and Israel.
Trajectories of psychosocial environmental factors and their associations with asthma symptom trajectories among children in Australia
1 INTRODUCTION Asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in children globally and is highly prevalent in Australia.1 This illness is a significant public health burden due to substantial healthcare costs.2 Asthma is a heterogeneous disease,3 and wheezing is the most common symptom in all asthma phenotypes.
Maternal oxidative stress during pregnancy associated with emotional and behavioural problems in early childhood: implications for foetal programming - Molecular Psychiatry
Abstract Childhood mental disorders, including emotional and behavioural problems (EBP) are increasingly prevalent. Higher maternal oxidative stress (OS) during pregnancy (matOSpreg) is linked to offspring mental disorders. Environmental factors contribute to matOSpreg. However, the role of matOSpreg in childhood EBP is unclear.
European and multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of atopic dermatitis highlights importance of systemic immune regulation - Nature Communications
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Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin condition and prior genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 71 associated loci. In the current study we conducted the largest AD GWAS to date (discovery N = 1,086,394, replication N = 3,604,027), combining previously reported cohorts with additional available data.
By Ashley Budu-Aggrey, Anna Kilanowski, Maria K Sobczyk, Suyash Shringarpure, Ruth E. Mitchell, Kadri Reis, Reedik Mägi, Nao Tanaka, Ben M Brumpton, Laurent Thomas, Pol Sole-Navais, Antonio Espuela-Ortiz, Esther Herrera-Luis, Aleix Arnau-Soler, Ayoung Jeong, Katherine Fawcett, Elke Rodríguez, Alexessander Couto Alves, Carolina Medina-Gomez, Cheng-Jian Xu, Sara Kress Verified, Hongmei Zhang, Thomas J. Hoffmann, Hélène Choquet, Pål R. Njølstad, Ole A. Andreassen, Stefan Johansson, Catarina Almqvist, Robert Karlsson, Patrik Magnusson, Esteban G. Burchard, Torben Frøstrup Hansen, Georg Homuth, Markus M Nöthen, Norbert Hubner, Alessia Visconti, Mario Falchi, Pirro G. Hysi, Dorret I. Boomsma, Tarunveer S. Ahluwalia, Jakob Stokholm, Ann-Marie M. Schoos, Mariona Bustamante, Lili Milani, Andres Metspalu, Chikashi Terao, Bo Jacobsson, Maria Pino-Yanes, David P. Strachan, Niels Grarup, Allan Linneberg, Young-Ae Lee, Stephan Weidinger, Marjo-Riitta Järvelin, Erik Melén, Hakon Hakonarson, Alan D. Irvine, Tamar Nijsten, Judith M. Vonk, Keith Godfrey, Bjarke Feenstra, Craig E Pennell, Peter Sly, Patrick G. Holt, Klaus Bønnelykke, Clare Murray, Supinda Bunyavanich, John Holloway, Josine L Min, Marie Standl, Ahla Ghauri, Jouke J. Hottenga, Mari Løset, Gerard H. Koppelmann
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Nature
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Association of rhinovirus and potentially pathogenic bacterial detections in the first 3 months of life with subsequent wheezing in childhood
1 INTRODUCTION Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRIs) are the leading cause of acute wheezing episodes in young children. It is possible that ALRIs in early life may injure the developing lungs, adversely affecting airway structure and function, increasing the risk of recurrent wheezing episodes and a later diagnosis of asthma.
Adverse childhood experiences, the risk of pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Discussion This systematic review and meta-analysis found that maternal ACEs were associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications including GDM, HDP, GWG and mental health during pregnancy. Similarly, this study also found that maternal ACEs were associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth and low birth weight.
LPS binding protein and activation signatures are upregulated during asthma exacerbations in children - Respiratory Research
A feature of the acute phase of asthma exacerbations is the rapid migration of immune cell populations into airways tissues, resulting in transient reduction in circulating numbers of PBMC including T-cells and dendritic cell populations with less impact observed on monocyte and B cell populations.
Palestine, Israel, you and me
“It’s complicated.” That was the report from Congressman Jared Golden when he returned from a 2019 trip to Jerusalem and Ramallah. He is right, but that is no excuse for inaction by a public servant. Golden is a military veteran sitting on the Armed Services Committee with influence over United States Middle East policies and the $4 billion we spend each year for the Israeli military and Palestinian police.
Paediatric respiratory health - the importance of taking an environmental history
Figures © soloviova liudmyla/ stock.adobe.com models used for illustrative purposes only Abstract With asthma and chronic respiratory disease increasingly prevalent in Australia, intervention in early life is imperative to reducing lifelong disease risk. Doctors who treat children should be aware of the consequences of important environmental exposures in childhood and ask about these when appropriate.
Commentary: Family, guns and fear - The Ellsworth American
By Peter Sly We want to keep our families safe. That is a core value for all of us. We sharply differ about the effects of widespread gun ownership on family and community safety. Some fear that Maine families will be at risk unless they can protect themselves with guns if need be. Others fear that the omnipresence of guns is itself causing the epidemic of massacres and suicides. Public servants are essential to ensuring domestic tranquility.
Trajectories of asthma symptom presenting as wheezing and their associations with family environmental factors among children in Australia: evidence from a national birth cohort study
Descriptive analyses of family environmental exposures and their association with asthma symptom trajectories at different time points In this study, we assessed the prevalence of asthma symptom and several family environmental factors at different time points (ages of the participants). The overall prevalence of asthma symptom varied from 9% to 25% at different time points. The prevalence was higher in the first 6/7 years, with a peak of 25% at age 2/3.
Passive smoking, synthetic bedding and gas heating in homes show the strongest links to asthma
Credit: Shutterstock One in every nine people in Australia has asthma. It is a health burden for many children, and expensive for families because of medication, hospital and out-of-hospital expenses. The pandemic has added further stress and extra testing measures to check respiratory symptoms. COVID infection can co-exist with asthma and, although research shows allergic asthma does not increase the risk of COVID infection and death, keeping asthma symptoms under control remains important.
Passive smoking, synthetic bedding and gas heating in homes show the strongest links to asthma
One in every nine people in Australia has asthma. It is a health burden for many children, and expensive for families because of medication, hospital and out-of-hospital expenses. The pandemic has added further stress and extra testing measures to check respiratory symptoms. COVID infection can co-exist with asthma and, although research shows allergic asthma does not increase the risk of COVID infection and death, keeping asthma symptoms under control remains important.
Background Results from recent clinical studies suggest potential efficacy of immune training (IT)-based approaches for protection against severe lower respiratory tract infections in infants, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. Objective We used systems-level analyses to elucidate IT mechanisms in infants in a clinical trial setting.
Characterisation of lung function trajectories and associated early-life predictors in an Australian birth cohort study
Francesca Sanna, Francesca Locatelli, Peter D. Sly, Elisha White, David Blake, Jane Heyworth, Graham L. Hall, Rachel E. Foong ERJ Open Research 2022 8: 00072-2022; DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00072-2022 Abstract Background There is growing evidence that lung function in early-life predicts later lung function. Adverse events over the lifespan might influence an individual's lung function trajectory, resulting in poor respiratory health.
Effect of nusinersen on respiratory function in paediatric spinal muscular atrophy types 1-3
Effect of nusinersen on respiratory function in paediatric spinal muscular atrophy types 1–3 Free Archana Chacko1,2, http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6305-2201Peter D Sly1, Robert S Ware3, Nelufa Begum1, Sean Deegan2, Nicole Thomas4, http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0819-894XLeanne M Gauld2 1 Centre for Children's Research, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2 Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, South Brisbane,...
Effect of nusinersen on respiratory function in paediatric spinal muscular atrophy types 1-3
Effect of nusinersen on respiratory function in paediatric spinal muscular atrophy types 1–3 Archana Chacko1,2, http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6305-2201Peter D Sly1, Robert S Ware3, Nelufa Begum1, Sean Deegan2, Nicole Thomas4, http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0819-894XLeanne M Gauld2 1Centre for Children's Research, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 2Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, South Brisbane, Queensland,...
The intersect of genetics, environment, and microbiota in asthma-perspectives and challenges
Sandford A.J. Pare P.D. The genetics of asthma: the important questions. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2000; 161: S202-S206 Ober C. Asthma genetics in the post-GWAS era. Ann Am Thoracic Soc. 2016; 13: S85-S90 Kauffmann F. Demenais F. Gene-environment interactions in asthma and allergic diseases: challenges and perspectives. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012; 130 (): 1229-1240 von Mutius E. The microbial environment and its influence on asthma prevention in early life. J Allergy Clin Immunol.
Author Correction: Increased susceptibility of airway epithelial cells from ataxia-telangiectasia to S. pneumoniae infection due to oxidative damage and impaired innate immunity
Correction to: Scientific Reports https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-38901-3, published online 22 February 2019 The Acknowledgements section in this Article is incomplete. “We would like to acknowledge Avril Robertson, The University of Queensland, for providing the supply of MCC950.
OM85: How bacteria in a capsule could protect us from coronavirus and other respiratory infections
Credit: Shutterstock Scientists around the world are continuing to test countless vaccines and drugs in the hope of finding effective ways to prevent and treat COVID-19. Among the trials happening in Australia is one my team is about to begin, looking at something called OM85. OM85 is not a conventional drug, but a combination of molecules extracted from the walls of bacteria that commonly cause respiratory infections.
OM85: could bacteria in a capsule protect us from coronavirus and other respiratory infections?
Scientists around the world are continuing to test countless vaccines and drugs in the hope of finding effective ways to prevent and treat COVID-19. Among the trials happening in Australia is one my team is about to begin, looking at something called OM85. OM85 is not a conventional drug, but a combination of molecules extracted from the walls of bacteria that commonly cause respiratory infections.
Maternal carriage of Prevotella during pregnancy associates with protection against food allergy in the offspring
Abstract In mice, the maternal microbiome influences fetal immune development and postnatal allergic outcomes. Westernized populations have high rates of allergic disease and low rates of gastrointestinal carriage of Prevotella, a commensal bacterial genus that produces short chain fatty acids and endotoxins, each of which may promote the development of fetal immune tolerance.
Early Markers of Cystic Fibrosis Structural Lung Disease: Follow-Up of the ACFBAL Cohort
Naomi E. Wijker, Suzanna Vidmar, Keith Grimwood, Peter D. Sly, Catherine A. Byrnes, John B. Carlin, Peter J. Cooper, Colin F. Robertson, R. John Massie, Mariette P.C. Kemner van de Corput, Joyce Cheney, Harm A.W.M. Tiddens, Claire E.
Systems biology and big data in asthma and allergy: recent discoveries and emerging challenges
Howard H.F. Tang, Peter D. Sly, Patrick G. Holt, Kathryn E. Holt, Michael Inouye European Respiratory Journal 2020 55: 1900844; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00844-2019 Abstract Asthma is a common condition caused by immune and respiratory dysfunction, and it is often linked to allergy. A systems perspective may prove helpful in unravelling the complexity of asthma and allergy. Our aim is to give an overview of systems biology approaches used in allergy and asthma research.
Deserters on the atopic march: Risk factors, immune profile, and clinical outcomes of food‐sensitized‐tolerant infants
ORIGINAL ARTICLE Fiona Collier https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5438-480X School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia Barwon Health, Geelong, Vic., Australia The Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Vic., Australia Search for more papers by this author Peter J.
Systems biology and big data in asthma and allergy - recent discoveries and emerging challenges
Howard H.F. Tang, Peter D. Sly, Patrick G. Holt, Kathryn E. Holt, Michael Inouye European Respiratory Journal 2019; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00844-2019 Abstract Asthma is a common condition caused by immune and respiratory dysfunction, and it is often linked to allergy. A systems perspective may prove helpful in unravelling the complexity of asthma and allergy. Our aim is to give an overview of systems biology approaches used in allergy and asthma research.
Primary prevention of severe lower respiratory illnesses in at-risk infants using the immunomodulator OM85
Publication History Published online: June 08, 2019Accepted: May 29, 2019; Received in revised form: May 8, 2019; Received: April 17, 2019;
Statistical Methodology in Studies of Prenatal Exposure to Mixtures of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: A Review of Existing Approaches and New Alternatives | Environmental Health Perspectives | Vol. 127, No. 2
Background: Prenatal exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during critical developmental windows have been implicated in the etiologies of a wide array of adverse perinatal and pediatric outcomes.
Seasonal Association between Ambient Ozone and Hospital Admission for Respiratory in Hanoi, Vietnam
Seasonal Association between Ambient Ozone and Hospital Admission for Respiratory in Hanoi, Vietnam Abstract Background: While the level of air pollutants in Hanoi is frequently above the World Health Organization suggested level, few studies on the effects of ambient air pollution on health have been conducted in Vietnam.
Predicting steroid responsiveness in asthmatic children: are we there yet?
Publication HistoryPublished online: August 28, 2018Accepted: July 27, 2018; Received: July 22, 2018;
Pollution, climate change, and childhood asthma in Australia
Global warming has consequences for our health, and the impact will only be exacerbated by inaction As outlined in the recent Lancet Commission report,1 environmental pollution in its broadest sense is a major contributor to global mortality, morbidity, and burden of disease. One major message of the report was that pollution does not receive the attention, research funding, or policy intervention that it warrants.
Judge Gorsuch believes in the sanctity life. How will that apply to gun suicides?
U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Neil Gorsuch begin on March 20. When questions are posed on abortion, conflicts of interest and deference to administrative agencies, he will avoid direct “litmus test” answers and decline to prejudge hypothetical cases. He will seek to establish his competence and character as reflected in his deep values. The sanctity of life is a deep value for Judge Gorsuch.
Assessing bronchodilator response in preschool children using spirometry
Background Measuring lung function, including bronchodilator response (BDR), is an integral part of asthma management in older children. While spirometry is possible in preschool-aged children, the question remains whether measuring BDR aids in asthma diagnosis in this age group. Methods 431 healthy children and 289 children with asthma, aged 3–5?years, were recruited from kindergartens and the pulmonology clinic in Trelew, Argentina.
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