Kristin Wickens, Wellington Asthma Research Group, Our people, University of Otago, Wellington

PhDSenior Research Fellow

Contact details

Department of Medicine
University of Otago Wellington
PO Box 7343
Wellington 6242
New Zealand

Tel 64 4 918 6780
Fax 64 385 5489

Research expertise and interest

Currently my main research interest involves the role of probiotics in the prevention of eczema and allergy (Studies of Probiotics and Allergic Disease).

I have expertise in the epidemiology of asthma, eczema and other allergic disease, including study design, preparing funding applications, study management, quality control of protocol adherence, data analysis and manuscript preparation. Over the years, my research interest has evolved from case-control, observational and cohort studies looking at risk factors for asthma to randomized controlled trials of probiotic interventions for the primary and secondary prevention of eczema and allergy in infants and children through to age 6 years.

Publications

Wickens, K., Barthow, C., Murphy, R., Abels, P., Maude, R., Stone, P., Mitchell, E., Stanley, T., Purdie, G., Kang, J., Hood, F., Rowden, J., Barnes, P., Fitzharris, P., Crane, J., (2017). Early pregnancy probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 may reduce the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus: A randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition, 1-10. doi:10.1017/S0007114517000289

Wickens Kristin, Black Peter, Stanley Thorsten, Mitchell Edwin, Barthow Christine, Fitzharris Penny, Purdie Gordon, Crane Julian A protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 against eczema in the first 2 years of life persists to 4 years. Clin Exp Allergy 2012 Clin Exp Allergy 2012;42:1071-9.

Crane J, Lampshire P, Wickens K, Epton M, Siebers R, Ingham T, Pattemore P, Town GI; Year Six New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group. Asthma, atopy and exhaled nitric oxide in a cohort of six year old New Zealand children. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2012;23:59-64 doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2011.01227.x.

Wickens K, Beasley R, Town I, Epton M, Pattemore P, Ingham T, Crane J The effects of early and late paracetamol exposure on asthma and atopy: a birth cohort Clin Exp Allergy 2011;41:399-406 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03610.x

Julie Gillespie-Bennett, Nevil Pierse, Kristin Wickens, Julian Crane, Philippa Howden-Chapman and the Housing, Heating and Health Study Research Team. The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in children with asthma. ERJ doi: 10.1183/09031936.00115409 Eur Respir J 2011;38: 303-9

Camargo CA Jr, Ingham T, Wickens K, Thadhani R, Silvers KM, Epton MJ, Town GI, Pattemore PK, Espinola JA, Crane J, New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group. Cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of respiratory infection, childhood wheezing, and asthma. Pediatrics 2011, 127:e180-7 doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-0442

Dekker JW, Wickens K, Black P, Stanley T, Mitchell E, Fitzharris P, Tannock GW, Purdie G, Crane J Safety aspects of probiotic bacterial strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis subs. lactis HN019 in human infants aged 0 to 2 years. International Dairy Journal 2009;19:149-154

Silvers K, Frampton C, Wickens K, Epton M, Pattemore P, Ingham T, Fishwick D, Crane J, Town I, and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group. Breast feeding protects against adverse respiratory outcomes at 15 months of age. Mat and Child Nut 2009;5:243-50

Wickens K, Black P, Stanley TV, Mitchell E, Fitzharris P, Tannock G, Purdie G, Crane J A differential effect of 2 probiotics in the prevention of eczema and atopy: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Allergy Clin Immunolog 2008;122:788-94

Wickens K, Ingham T, Epton M, Pattemore P, Fishwick D, Crane J The association of early life exposure to antibiotics and the development of asthma, eczema and atopy in a birth cohort: confounding or causality? Clin Exp Allergy 2008; 38:1318-24.

Susan L. Prescott, Kristin Wickens, Lauren Westcott, Wiebke Jung, Helen Currie Peter N. Black, Thorsten V. Stanley, Edwin A. Mitchell, Penny Fitzharris, Rob Siebers, Lian Wu, Julian Crane and the Probiotic Study Group. Supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Bifidobacterium lactis probiotics in pregnancy increases cord blood IFN and breast milk TGF and IgA detection. Clin Exp Allergy 2008;38:1606-14

Publications

Wickens, K., Black, P., Stanley, T. V., Mitchell, E., Barthow, C., Fitzharris, P., Purdie, G., & Crane, J. (2012). A protective effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 against eczema in the first 2 years of life persists to age 4 years. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 42(7), 1071-1079. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2012.03975.x Journal - Research Article

Wickens, K., Stanley, T. V., Mitchell, E. A., Barthow, C., Fitzharris, P., Purdie, G., Siebers, R., … Crane, J. (2013). Early supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 reduces eczema prevalence to 6 years: Does it also reduce atopic sensitization? Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 43(9), 1048-1057. doi: 10.1111/cea.12154 Journal - Research Article

Wickens, K. L., Barthow, C. A., Murphy, R., Abels, P. R., Maude, R. M., Stone, P. R., … Stanley, T. V., Purdie, G. L., Kang, J. M., Hood, F. E., … Barnes, P. K., … Crane, J. (2017). Early pregnancy probiotic supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 may reduce the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus: A randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition, 117(6), 804-813. doi: 10.1017/S0007114517000289 Journal - Research Article

Slykerman, R. F., Hood, F., Wickens, K., Thompson, J. M. D., Barthow, C., Murphy, R., Kang, J., … Crane, J., Stanley, T., Abels, P., Purdie, G., … the Probiotic in Pregnancy Study Group. (2017). Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 in pregnancy on postpartum symptoms of depression and anxiety: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial. EBioMedicine, 24, 159-165. doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.09.013 Journal - Research Article

Wickens, K., Black, P. N., Stanley, T. V., Mitchell, E., Fitzharris, P., Tannock, G. W., Purdie, G., Crane, J., and the Probiotic Study Group, including Jones, B., Lampshire, P., & Munro, K. (2008). A differential effect of 2 probiotics in the prevention of eczema and atopy: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 122(4), 788-794. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.07.011 Journal - Research Article

Wickens, K., Beasley, R., Town, I., Epton, M., Pattemore, P., Ingham, T., Crane, J., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group, including Duignan, M., Irvine, V., Lampshire, P., Leadbitter, P., & Siebers, R. (2011). The effects of early and late paracetamol exposure on asthma and atopy: A birth cohort. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 41(3), 399-406. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03610.x Journal - Research Article

Wickens, K., Ingham, T., Epton, M., Pattemore, P., Town, I., Fishwick, D., Crane, J., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group, including Duignan, M., Irvine, V., Lampshire, P., Leadbitter, P., & Siebers, R. (2008). The association of early life exposure to antibiotics and the development of asthma, eczema and atopy in a birth cohort: Confounding or causality? Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 38, 1318-1324. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03024.x Journal - Research Article

Weinmayr, G., Weiland, S. K., Björkstén, B., Brunekreef, B., Büchele, G., Cookson, W. O. C., … Wickens, K., … and the ISAAC Phase Two Study Group, including Beasley, R., & Crane, J. (2007). Atopic sensitization and the international variation of asthma symptom prevalence in children. American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, 176(6), 565-574. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200607-994OC Journal - Research Article

Wilson, N., Howden-Chapman, P., Wickens, K., & Crane, J. (2009). Indoor mould exposure and health. In P. Howden-Chapman, J. Bennett & R. Siebers (Eds.), Do damp and mould matter? Health impacts of leaky homes. (pp. 19-23). Wellington, New Zealand: Steele Roberts. Chapter in Book - Research

Crane, J., Lampshire, P., Wickens, K., Epton, M., Siebers, R., Ingham, T., Pattemore, P., Town, I., and the Year Six New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group, (NZAACS6) . (2012). Asthma, atopy and exhaled nitric oxide in a cohort of 6-yr-old New Zealand children. Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, 23(1), 59-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2011.01227.x Journal - Research Article

Camargo, Jr, C. A., Ingham, T., Wickens, K., Thadhani, R., Silvers, K. M., Epton, M. J., Town, G. I., Pattemore, P. K., … Crane, J., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group, including Duignan, M., Irvine, V., Lampshire, P., Leadbitter, P., & Siebers, R. (2011). Cord-blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and risk of respiratory infection, wheezing, and asthma. Pediatrics, 127(1), e180-e187. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-0442 Journal - Research Article

Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Howden-Chapman, P., and the Housing Heating and Health Study Research Team, including Viggers, H., & Lloyd, B. (2011). The respiratory health effects of nitrogen dioxide in children with asthma. European Respiratory Journal, 38, 303-309. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00115409 Journal - Research Article

Free, S., Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Viggers, H., the Housing, Heating, and Health Study Research Team, including Nicholls, S., Bennett, J., Shields, D., Lloyd, B., Wickens, K., Baker, M., & Crane, J. (2010). More effective home heating reduces school absences for children with asthma. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 64(5), 379-386. doi: 10.1136/jech.2008.086520 Journal - Research Article

Camargo, Jr, C. A., Ingham, T., Wickens, K., Thadhani, R. I., Silvers, K. M., Epton, M. J., Town, G. I., … Crane, J., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group, including Leadbitter, P., Pattemore, P., & Siebers, R. (2010). Vitamin D status of newborns in New Zealand. British Journal of Nutrition, 104(7), 1051-1057. doi: 10.1017/S0007114510001674 Journal - Research Article

Silvers, K. M., Frampton, C. M., Wickens, K., Epton, M. J., Pattemore, P. K., Ingham, T., … Crane, J., Town, G. I., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group, including Duignan, M., Irvine, V., Lampshire, P., Leadbitter, P., & Siebers, R. (2009). Breastfeeding protects against adverse respiratory outcomes at 15 months of age. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 5(3), 243-250. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2008.00169.x Journal - Research Article

Dekker, J. W., Wickens, K., Black, P. C., Stanley, T. V., Mitchell, E. A., Fitzharris, P., Tannock, G. W., Purdie, G., & Crane, J. (2009). Safety aspects of probiotic bacterial strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis HN019 in human infants aged 0-2 years. International Dairy Journal, 19(3), 149-154. doi: 10.1016/j.idairyj.2008.10.004 Journal - Research Article

Gehring, U., Strikwold, M., Schram-Bijkerk, D., Weinmayr, G., Genuneit, J., Nagel, G., Wickens, K., Siebers, R., Crane, J., … and the ISAAC Phase Two Study Group, including Beasley, R. (2008). Asthma and allergic symptoms in relation to house dust endotoxin: Phase Two of the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC II). Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 38(12), 1911-1920. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03087.x Journal - Research Article

Howden-Chapman, P., Pierse, N., Nicholls, S., Gillespie-Bennett, J., Viggers, H., Cunningham, M., … Free, S., … Lloyd, B., Wickens, K., Shields, D., Baker, M., Cunningham, C., … Crane, J. (2008). Effects of improved home heating on asthma in community dwelling children: Randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 337, 852-855. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1411 Journal - Research Article

Gillespie-Bennett, J., Pierse, N., Wickens, K., Crane, J., Nicholls, S., Shields, D., … Viggers, H., Baker, M., … Howden-Chapman, P. (2008). Sources of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) in New Zealand homes: Findings from a community randomized controlled trial of heater substitutions. Indoor Air, 18(6), 521-528. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2008.00554.x Journal - Research Article

Prescott, S. L., Wickens, K., Westcott, L., Jung, W., Currie, H., Black, P. N., Stanley, T. V., … Fitzharris, P., Siebers, R., … Crane, J., and the Probiotic Study Group, including Jones, B., Lampshire, P., Nicholson, A., & Purdie, G. (2008). Supplementation with Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Bifidobacterium lactis probiotics in pregnancy increases cord blood interferon-γ and breast milk transforming growth factor-β and immunoglobin A detection. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 38(10), 1606-1614. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2008.03061.x Journal - Research Article

Pike, A. J., & Wickens, K. (2008). The house dust mite and storage mite fauna of New Zealand dwellings. New Zealand Entomologist, 31, 17-22. Journal - Research Article

Flohr, C., Weiland, S. K., Weinmayr, G., Björkstén, B., Bråbäck, L., Brunekreef, B., … and the ISAAC Phase Two Study Group, including Crane, J., Wickens, K., & Beasley, R. (2008). The role of atopic sensitization in flexural eczema: Findings from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase Two. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 121, 141-147. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2007.08.066 Journal - Research Article

Erwin, E. A., Rönmark, E., Wickens, K., Perzanowski, M. S., Barry, D., Lundbäck, B., Crane, J., & Platts-Mills, T. A. E. (2007). Contribution of dust mite and cat specific IgE to total IgE: Relevance to asthma prevalence. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 119, 359-365. Journal - Research Article

Epton, M. J., Town, G. I., Ingham, T., Wickens, K., Fishwick, D., Crane, J., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study Group, including Duignan, M., Fitzharris, P., … Lampshire, P., Leadbitter, P., Nicholson, A., Pattemore, P., Siebers, R., Silvers, K. M., & Withell, K. (2007). The New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Cohort Study (NZA²CS): Assembly, demographics and investigations. BMC Public Health, 7, 26. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-7-26 Journal - Research Article

Gillespie, J., Wickens, K., Siebers, R., Howden-Chapman, P., Town, I., Epton, M., Fitzharris, P., … Crane, J., and the New Zealand Asthma and Allergy Birth Cohort Study Group, including Ingham, T., Irvine, V., Lampshire, P., Leadbitter, P., & Silvers, K. M. (2006). Endotoxin exposure, wheezing, and rash in infancy in a New Zealand birth cohort. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 118, 1265-1270. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2006.07.051 Journal - Research Article

Siebers, R., Wickens, K., & Crane, J. (2006). House dust mite allergens and allergic diseases: The Wellington Asthma Research Group studies. New Zealand Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, 60(2), 49-58. Journal - Research Other

Sistek, D., Kelly, R., Wickens, K., Stanley, T., Fitzharris, P., & Crane, J. (2006). Is the effect of probiotics on atopic dermatitis confined to food sensitized children? Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 36, 629-633. Journal - Research Article

Sistek, D., Wickens, K., Armstrong, R., D'Souza, W., Town, I., & Crane, J. (2006). Predictive value of respiratory symptoms and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to diagnose asthma in New Zealand. Respiratory Medicine, 100, 2107-2111. Journal - Research Article

Peters, S., Siebers, R., Wickens, K., & Crane, J. (2006). Prevalence of mouse allergen (Mus m 1) in homes of New Zealand rural children. Asian Pacific Journal of Allergy & Immunology, 24, 81-84. Journal - Research Article

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Research expertise and interest

Publications

Publications