Life Sciences Commons^™

Home-Site Advantage For Host Species–Specific Gut Microbiota, Daniel D. Sprockett, Jeff Price, Anthony Juritsch, Robert J. Schmaltz, Madalena V. F. Real, Samantha L. Goldman, Michael Sheehan, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Andrew H. Moeller

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Mammalian species harbor compositionally distinct gut microbial communities, but the mechanisms that maintain specificity of symbionts to host species remain unclear. Here, we show that natural selection within house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) drives deterministic assembly of the house-mouse gut microbiota from mixtures of native and non-native microbiotas. Competing microbiotas from wild-derived lines of house mice and other mouse species (Mus and Peromyscus spp.) within germ-free wild-type (WT) and Rag1-knockout (Rag1^−/−) house mice revealed widespread fitness advantages for native gut bacteria. Native bacterial lineages significantly outcompeted non-native lineages in both WT and Rag1 …

Genome Mining For Anti-Crispr Operons Using Machine Learning, Bowen Yang, Minal Khatri, Jinfang Zheng, Jitender S. Deogun, Yanbin Yin

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Motivation: Encoded by (pro-)viruses, anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins inhibit the CRISPR-Cas immune system of their prokaryotic hosts. As a result, Acr proteins can be employed to develop more controllable CRISPR-Cas genome editing tools. Recent studies revealed that known acr genes often coexist with other acr genes and with phage structural genes within the same operon. For example, we found that 47 of 98 known acr genes (or their homologs) co-exist in the same operons. None of the current Acr prediction tools have considered this important genomic context feature. We have developed a new software tool AOminer to facilitate the improved …

The Effects Of Anchor Schemes On Performance Fatigability, Neuromuscular Responses And The Perceived Sensations That Contributed To Task Termination, Robert Smith, Terry J. Housh, Jocelyn E. Arnett, John Paul V. Anders, Tyler J. Neltner, Dolores G. Ortega, Richard J. Schmidt, Glen O. Johnson

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The present study examined the effect of anchor schemes on the time to task failure (TTF), performance fatigability, neuromuscular responses, and the perceived sensations that contributed to task termination following the sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks. Eight women completed sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks anchored to RPE = 8 (RPEFT) and the torque (TRQFT) that corresponded to RPE = 8. The subjects performed pre-test and post-test maximal isometric contractions to quantify performance fatigability and changes in electromyographic amplitude (EMG AMP) and neuromuscular efficiency (NME). In addition, the subjects completed a post-test questionnaire (PTQ) to quantify the contributions of perceived sensations …

The Rna Cargo In Small Extracellular Vesicles From Chicken Eggs Is Bioactive In C57bl/6j Mice And Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Ex Vivo, Deborah Fratantonio, Javaria Munir, Jiang Shu, Katherine Howard, Scott R. Baier, Juan Cui, Janos Zempleni

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and their RNA cargo in milk are bioavailable in humans, pigs, and mice, and their dietary depletion and supplementation elicits phenotypes. Little is known about the content and biological activity of sEVs in foods of animal origin other than milk. Here we tested the hypothesis that sEVs in chicken eggs (Gallus gallus) facilitate the transfer of RNA cargo from an avian species to humans and mice, and their dietary depletion elicits phenotypes. sEVs were purified from raw egg yolk by ultracentrifugation and authenticated by transmission electron microscopy, nano-tracking device, and immunoblots. The miRNA profile …

Perspectives On Certification Of Community Health Workers: A Statewide Mixed-Methods Assessment In Nebraska, Jessica Ernmph1, Virginia Chaidez, Kate E. Trout, Kathy Karsting, Dejun Su

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objectives: While the Community Health Worker (CHW) workforce in the United States has been growing, so far only 19 states certify CHWs. This study sought to identify perspectives on CHW certification among stakeholders in Nebraska, a state that has not established official certification for CHWs yet.

Design: A concurrent triangulation mixed methods design.

Sample: Study data came from a survey of 142CHWs in Nebraska and interviews with 8 key informants employing CHWs conducted in 2019.

Methods: Logistic regression was used to identify significant factors associated with favoring CHW certification, supplemented by thematic analysis of qualitative data …

Site-Specific Analysis Of The Incidence Rate Of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli Infection Elucidates An Association With Childhood Stunting, Wasting, And Being Underweight: A Secondary Analysis Of The Mal-Ed Birth Cohort, Md Ahshanul Haque, Sabiha Nasrin, Parag Palit, Rina Das, Barbie Zaman Wahid, Md. Amran Gazi, Mustafa Mahfuz, Abu Syed Golam Faruque, Tahmeed Ahmed

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Asymptomatic infection by fecal enteropathogens is a major contributor to childhood malnutrition. Here, we investigated the incidence rate of asymptomatic infection by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and assessed its association with childhood stunting, wasting, and being underweight among children under 2 years of age. The Malnutrition and Enteric Disease birth cohort study included 1,715 children who were followed from birth to 24 months of age from eight distinct geographic locations including Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Peru, Tanzania, Pakistan, Nepal, and South Africa. The TaqMan array card assay was used to determine the presence of ETEC in the nondiarrheal stool samples collected …

Exploring Modern Trends And Prevention Strategies For Childhood Obesity: A Comprehensive Literature Review, Anya E. Bogen

Honors Theses

This literature review seeks to provide an overview of the current research on childhood obesity. The study examines the prevalence and causes of childhood obesity, including genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors. The review also discusses the health consequences associated with childhood obesity, such as the increased risk for chronic diseases and psychological and social problems. Additionally, the review explores the effectiveness of interventions designed to prevent childhood obesity, including individual lifestyle modifications, education from health practitioners and school programs, and global, national, and state programs to promote wellness. The literature review concludes that childhood obesity is a complex and multifactorial …

Food And Nutrition Education: A Tool To Help Combat Growing Food Insecurity, Sy Lim

Honors Theses

Food insecurity is an escalating issue often overlooked and stigmatized in the United States, affecting about 1 in 10 households. This issue is a threat that can increase stress and anxiety, which is believed to further negatively impact academic and daily performance. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln community is no exception. To combat local food insecurity, the Husker Pantry has served almost a third of the Husker community, aiming to assist by offering food items, school supplies, personal hygiene products, and additional services. This project was made in collaboration with the Husker Pantry, designed to further help combat the ever-growing issue …

Multilingual Zambia - Language Issues In Primary/Secondary Schools Of The Eastern/Southern Provinces, Kenzie Steiner

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Introduction: Zambia is a multilingual country that uses 8 different languages for instruction including English and 7 other indigenous languages.

Methods: Survey research conducted between May-June 2022 on 6-7th graders within 9 Zambian schools. Classroom observations made and teachers interviewed.

Results: In Eastern and Southern Provinces, Zambian teachers speak an average of 5 languages while students speak an average of 2. Both teachers and students say English remains the most important language followed by first languages.

Conclusion: Continued research on language-in-education policies and impacts on student performance must be conducted if “One Zambia, One Nation” is meant to promote all …

Evaluation Of Peroxyacetic Acid, Liquid Buffered Vinegar, And Cultured Dextrose Fermentate As Potential Antimicrobial Interventions For Raw Chicken Livers, Leslie Pearl M. Cancio, Mary-Grace C. Danao, Gary Sullivan, Byron D. Chaves

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

This study aimed to evaluate the use of peroxyacetic acid (PAA), buffered vinegar (BV), and cultured dextrose fermentate (CDF) to reduce Salmonella on artificially inoculated raw chicken livers, one of the most consumed offal around the world. Samples were inoculated with a 5-strain cocktail of poultry-borne Salmonella to obtain 10⁶ CFU/g and immersed for 90 s with agitation in one of the following treatments: distilled water (control), 450 ppm PAA, 2.0% (w/v) BV, or 1.5% (w/v) CDF, prior to storing at 4^oC. Salmonella was enumerated on XLD agar and monitored for 14 days. Data were analyzed using …

Editorial: Inter-Organ Crosstalk During Exercise In Health And Disease: Extracellular Vesicles As New Kids On The Block, Kenneth Verboven, Ivan Jose Vechetti Jr

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Within exercise physiology, the study of factors potentially mediating interorgan crosstalk during and after exercise is a fascinating field of research. As exercise activates a plethora of metabolic pathways in several tissues, organs and systems, examining the underlying biological mechanisms contributing to exercise related metabolic benefits is imperative. Since two decades, the skeletal muscle is known to secrete humoral factors into the circulation in response to exercise, originally described as “myokines” by Pedersen et al. (2003). These myokines are now well known and extensively studied in the field of exercise science (Pedersen and Febbraio, 2012). Interestingly, exercise also triggers other …

Evidence For A Causal Role For Escherichia Coli Strains Identified As Adherent-Invasive (Aiec) In Intestinal Inflammation, Hatem Kittana, Joao Carlos Gomes-Neto, Kari Heck, Anthony Juritsch, Jason Sughroue, Yibo Xian, Sara Mantz, Rafael R. Segura Muñoz, Liz Cody, Robert J. Schmaltz, Christopher L. Anderson, Rodney A. Moxley, Jesse M. Hostetter, Samodha C. Fernando, Jennifer Clarke, Stephen D. Kachman, Clayton E. Cressler, Andrew K. Benson, Jens Walter

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Enrichment of adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) has been consistently detected in subsets of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Although some AIEC strains cause colitis in animal models, these studies did not systematically compare AIEC with non-AIEC strains, and causal links between AIEC and disease are still disputed. Specifically, it remains unclear whether AIEC shows enhanced pathogenicity compared to that of commensal E. coli found in the same ecological microhabitat and if the in vitro phenotypes used to classify strains as AIEC are pathologically relevant. Here, we utilized in vitro phenotyping and a murine model of intestinal inflammation to systematically compare …

Advertising Sports Nutrition Practices To Adolescent Athletes: A Poster Series, Emma Hansen

Honors Theses

Sports nutrition is an important aspect of an athlete’s training and improvement, yet it is often overlooked when it comes to younger competitors. Four posters were created with the intent of providing adolescent athletes, their parents, and their coaches with information about important topics in sports nutrition including a general overview of nutrition goals, hydration strategies, recovery nutrition, and nutritional considerations for vegetarian and vegan youth athletes. The posters were designed to appeal to adolescents from the ages of 13 to 18, and each poster covers its designated topic in detail appropriate for middle and high school-aged athletes. The accompanying …

Encouraging Or Guilt-Inducing? An Analysis Of Fitspiration Content And Its Effect On Body Image And Lifestyle Changes, Brenna Mazour

Honors Theses

More people are acquiring their nutrition and exercise information from social media accounts called fitspiration. Analyses of fitspiration content have found the focus to be on restrictive diets and excessive exercise that’s appearance driven. Although its intent is to inspire its consumers to change their lifestyle, many speculate that it brings upon negative body image and induces guilt. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) has been used to determine why people take part in certain health behaviors, such as diets or exercise regimens posted on fitspiration. TPB shows how the characteristics of social media discourage people to use fitspiration as …

Utilizing The Rpe‑Clamp Model To Examine Interactions Among Factors Associated With Perceived Fatigability And Performance Fatigability In Women And Men, Robert W. Smith, Terry J. Housh, Jocelyn E. Arnett, John Paul V. Anders, Tyler J. Neltner, Dolores G. Ortega, Richard J. Schmidt, Glen O. Johnson

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to examine the interactions between perceived fatigability and performance fatigability in women and men by utilizing the RPE-Clamp model to assess the fatigue-induced effects of a sustained, isometric forearm flexion task anchored to RPE = 8 on time to task failure (TTF), torque, and neuromuscular responses.

Methods Twenty adults (10 men and 10 women) performed two, 3 s forearm flexion maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) followed by a sustained, isometric forearm flexion task anchored to RPE = 8 using the OMNI-RES (0–10) scale at an elbow joint angle of 100°. Electromyographic amplitude …

Type Ii Taste Cells Participate In Mucosal Immune Surveillance, Yumei Qin, Salin Raj Palayyan, Xin Zheng, Shiyi Tian, Robert F. Margolskee, Sunil Kumar Sukumaran

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The oral microbiome is second only to its intestinal counterpart in diversity and abundance but its effects on taste cells remains largely unexplored. Using single-cell RNASeq, we found that mouse taste cells, in particular, sweet and umami receptor cells that express taste 1 receptor member 3 (Tas1r3), have a gene expression signature reminiscent of Microfold (M) cells, a central player in immune surveillance in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) such as those in the Peyer’s patch and tonsils. Administration of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 11 (TNFSF11; also known as RANKL), a growth factor required for differentiation …

Something Smells Fishy: How Lipid Mediators Impact The Maternal–Fetal Interface And Neonatal Development, Maranda Thompson, Arzu Ulu, Maheswari Mukherjee, Ana G. Yuil-Valdes, Melissa Thoene, Matthew Van Ormer, Rebecca Slotkowski, Teri Mauch, Ann Anderson-Berry, Corrine K. Hanson, Tara M. Nordgren, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Normal pregnancy relies on inflammation for implantation, placentation, and parturition, but uncontrolled inflammation can lead to poor maternal and infant outcomes. Maternal diet is one modifiable factor that can impact inflammation. Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids obtained through the diet are metabolized into bioactive compounds that effect inflammation. Recent evidence has shown that the downstream products of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids may influence physiology during pregnancy. In this review, the current knowledge relating to omega-3 and omega-6 metabolites during pregnancy will be summarized.

Something Smells Fishy: How Lipid Mediators Impact The Maternal–Fetal Interface And Neonatal Development, Maranda Thompson, Arzu Ulu, Maheswari Mukherjee, Ana G. Yuil-Valdes, Melissa K. Thoene, Matthew Van Ormer, Rebecca Slotkowski, Teri Mauch, Ann Anderson-Berry, Corrine K. Hanson, Tara M. Nordgren, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Normal pregnancy relies on inflammation for implantation, placentation, and parturition, but uncontrolled inflammation can lead to poor maternal and infant outcomes. Maternal diet is one modifiable factor that can impact inflammation. Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids obtained through the diet are metabolized into bioactive compounds that effect inflammation. Recent evidence has shown that the downstream products of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids may influence physiology during pregnancy. In this review, the current knowledge relating to omega-3 and omega-6 metabolites during pregnancy will be summarized.

Scavenger Receptor B1 Facilitates The Endocytosis Of Escherichia Coli Via Tlr4 Signaling In Mammary Gland Infection, Qamar Taban, Syed Mudasir Ahmad, Peerzada Tajamul Mumtaz, Basharat Bhat, Ehtishamul Haq, Suhail Magray, Sahar Saleem, Nadeem Shabir, Amatul Muhee, Zahid Amin Kashoo, Mahrukh Hameed Zargar6, Abrar A. Malik, Nazir A. Ganai, Riaz A. Shah

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

SCARB1 belongs to class B of Scavenger receptors (SRs) that are known to be involved in binding and endocytosis of various pathogens. SRs have emerging role in regulating innate immunity and host–pathogen interactions by acting in co-ordination with Toll-like receptors.Query Little is known about the function of SCARB1 in milk-derived mammary epithelial cells (MECs). This study reports the role of SCARB1 in infection and its potential association in TLR4 signaling on bacterial challenge in Goat mammary epithelial cells (GMECs). The novelty in the establishment of MEC culture lies in the method that aims to enhance the viability of the cells …

Maize, Fish, And Leafy Greens: Agricultural Diversity In Rural Zambia, Claire Gillespie

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

In Zambia, where 40% of children are stunted, there is limited interest in farming among primary school children as they consider their future. As grocery stores replace open-air markets, access to indigenous foods will become more difficult. Although 73 different types of foods were found in open-air markets, Zambian diets tend to be monotonous. Maize is the staple food and maize-based foods such as nshima are consumed daily, perpetuating low nutritional intake. Increasing crop diversity can increase balanced diets in Zambian school children and better support a growing population.

Running From Malnutrition: Zambian Children And Growth In The Eastern And Southern Provinces, Cole Murphy

NUTR/GLST 498b: Global Research Experiences in Nutrition and Health

Although malnutrition rates remain high in Zambia, there are limited data for primary school children on factors that contribute to poor growth. This study was designed to examine one factor rarely considered in research about stunting, i.e., energy expenditure among primary school children and its contribution to short stature. § §Historically, stunting has been a major public health issue in much of sub-Saharan Africa and continues to yield severe consequences for physical and mental development throughout the lifespan (Iversen et al., 2022). §Both household food insecurity and dietary diversity are significantly associated with stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa (Gassara et al., …

Site-Specific Incidence Rate Of Blastocystis Hominis And Its Association With Childhood Malnutrition: Findings From A Multi-Country Birth Cohort Study, Barbie Zaman Wahid, Ahshanul Haque, Amran Gazi, Shah Mohammad Fahim, Abu Syed Golam Faruque, Mustafa Mahfuz, Tahmeed Ahmed

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

In this study, we investigated the potential association between the burden of asymptomatic Blastocystis spp. (Blastocystis hominis) infection and nutritional status among children under 2 years of age using the data collected from 1,715 children from eight distinct geographic locations, including Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Peru, Tanzania, Pakistan, Nepal, and South Africa. Childhood stunting, wasting, and underweight were the outcome variables, and B. hominis infection was the exposure variable of this present study. The presence of B. hominis in nondiarrheal stools was evaluated by TaqMan Array Cards. Site-specific incidence rates were estimated using Poisson regression, and multiple generalized estimating …

The Paradox Of Child Poverty And Welfare, Tirna Purkait

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The United States confronts persistent child welfare issues rooted in poverty. The age-old debate vacillates between advocating personal responsibility and bolstering social safety nets. Current welfare programs, aiming to mitigate child poverty, often fall short given the deep nexus of poverty and child maltreatment. This paper probes the intricate ties between child poverty and welfare, emphasizing state legislative variances, inherent system paradoxes, and potential policy enhancements. Exploring historical contexts, existing societal frameworks, and future reforms, this research emphasizes the urgency for all-encompassing solutions. These should tackle poverty’s core while fortifying child welfare, safeguarding the well-being of forthcoming American generations.

Site-Specific Analysis Of The Incidence Rate Of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia Coli Infection Elucidates An Association With Childhood Stunting, Wasting, And Being Underweight: A Secondary Analysis Of The Mal-Ed Birth Cohort, Ahshanul Haque, Sabiha Nasrin, Parag Palit, Rina Das, Barbie Zaman Wahid, Amran Gazi, Mustafa Mahfuz, Abu Syed Golam Faruque, Tahmeed Ahmed

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Asymptomatic infection by fecal enteropathogens is a major contributor to childhood malnutrition. Here, we investigated the incidence rate of asymptomatic infection by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and assessed its association with childhood stunting, wasting, and being underweight among children under 2 years of age. The Malnutrition and Enteric Disease birth cohort study included 1,715 children who were followed from birth to 24 months of age from eight distinct geographic locations including Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Peru, Tanzania, Pakistan, Nepal, and South Africa. The TaqMan array card assay was used to determine the presence of ETEC in the nondiarrheal stool samples collected …

Palatability, Consumption, And Physiological Effects Of The Green Microalgae Chlorella Sp. As A Feed Substitute For The Western Honey Bee Apis Mellifera In A Laboratory Setting, Benjamin J. Nichols

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Western honey bees Apis mellifera are vital pollinators which play a significant role in global food security. Honey bees are faced by numerous environmental pressures including lack of forage which lead to large losses annually of managed honeybee colonies. To offset these pressures, many beekeepers manage colonies with the addition of artificial diets, many of which contain products that do not meet the nutritional requirements needed by honey bees or require large amounts of resources to grow. Recent literature has indicated that algae may be a viable nutritional resource for honey bees, meeting the nutritional requirements needed, requiring less resources, …

Novel Therapeutic Nutrients Molecules That Protect Against Zika Virus Infection With A Special Note On Palmitoleate, Philma Glora Muthuraj, Chandan Krishnamoorthy, Ann Anderson-Berry, Corrine K. Hanson, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a Flavivirus from the Flaviviridae family and a positive-sense single strand RNA virus. ZIKV infection can cause a mild infection to the mother but can be vertically transmitted to the developing fetus, causing congenital anomalies. The prevalence of ZIKV infections was relatively insignificant with sporadic outbreaks in the Asian and African continents until 2006. However, recent epidemic in the Caribbean showed significant increased incidence of Congenital Zika Syndrome. ZIKV infection results in placental pathology which plays a crucial role in disease transmission from mother to fetus. Currently, there is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved …

Extracellular Vesicle Characteristics And Micro Rna Content In Cerebral Palsy And Typically Developed Individuals At Rest And In Response To Aerobic Exercise., Ivan Jose Vechetti Jr, Jessica Norrbom, Björn Alkner, Emma Hjalmarsson, Alexandra Palmcrantz, Eva Pontén, Jessica Pingel, Ferdinand Von Walden, Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalo

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

In this study, the properties of circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) were examined in cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developed (TD) individuals at rest and after aerobic exercise, focusing on the size, concentration, and microRNA cargo of EVs. Nine adult individuals with CP performed a single exercise bout consisting of 45 min of Frame Running, and TD participants completed either 45 min of cycling (n = 10; TD EX) or were enrolled as controls with no exercise (n = 10; TD CON). Blood was drawn before and 30 min after exercise and analyzed for EV concentration, size, and microRNA …

Predicting Personalized Responses To Dietary Fiber Interventions: Opportunities For Modulation Of The Gut Microbiome To Improve Health, Car Reen Kok, Devin J. Rose, Robert Hutkins

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Inadequate dietary fiber consumption has become common across industrialized nations, accompanied by changes in gut microbial composition and a dramatic increase in chronic metabolic diseases.The human gut microbiome harbors genes that are required for the digestion of fiber, resulting in the production of end products that mediate gastrointestinal and systemic benefits to the host. Thus, the use of fiber interventions has attracted increasing interest as a strategy to modulate the gut microbiome and improve human health. However, considerable interindividual differences in gut microbial composition have resulted in variable responses toward fiber interventions. This variability has led to observed nonresponder individuals …

A Prophylactic Subcutaneous Dose Of The Anticoagulant Tinzaparin Does Not Influence Qpcr-Based Assessment Of Circulating Levels Of Mirna In Humans, Abraham Nilsson, Anna Maria Nerhall, Ivan Jose Vechetti Jr, Lotta Fornander, Simon Wiklund, Björn Alkner, Jörg Schilcher, Ferdinand Von Walden

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have become increasingly popular biomarker candidates in various diseases. However, heparin-based anticoagulants might affect the detection of target miRNAs in blood samples during quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)- based analysis of miRNAs involving RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and the polymerase catalyzed reaction. Because low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) are widely used in routine healthcare, we aimed to investigate whether a prophylactic dose of the LMWH tinzaparin influences qPCR-based quantification of circulating miRNAs. A total of 30 subjects were included: 16 fracture patients with tinzaparin treatment and 14 non-fracture controls without anticoagulation therapy. To control for the effect of tinzaparin …

Evaluation Of Wheat-Specific Peptide Targets For Use In The Development Of Elisa And Mass Spectrometry-Based Detection Methods, Jessica Humphrey

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Individuals with IgE-mediated wheat allergy and celiac disease must avoid the consumption of wheat. Those with celiac disease must also avoid rye and barley in addition to wheat as these make up the gluten-containing grains. To ensure products are accurately labeled, ELISA methods may be used to monitor compliance with food allergen and gluten-free regulations. Currently, available ELISA methods for wheat detection utilize monoclonal antibodies that target peptides from the gluten fraction of proteins, and therefore, also detect rye and barley. Limitations such as differing antibody reactivity and unequal gluten content among wheat, rye, and barley have led to inconsistent …