Life Sciences Commons^™

Characterization Of The Role Of Transcriptional Regulator Of Arac/Xyls Family In Tularemia Pathogenesis, Dina Marghani

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

The Tier 1 Select Agent, Francisella tularensis causes an acute and fatal disease known as tularemia. Many studies have devoted enormous efforts to understand how F. tularensis avoids host defense mechanisms, replicates within an extremely secure immune system, and eventually causes the deadly disease tularemia. The extremely high virulence of Francisella depends on its ability to manipulate gene expression according to the surrounding environment. This process requires the involvement of unique transcriptional regulators. Francisella possesses very few transcriptional regulators, and a majority of them characterized to-date have been shown to regulate genes involved in virulence and cellular functions. The role …

A Role Of Ubiquitin Regulatory X-Domain Containing Proteins (Ubxn6) In Antiviral Immunity, Harshada Ketkar, Harshada Ketkar

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

The roles of UBXNs in the regulation of antiviral immune responses have not been much explored. Previous work in our lab identified UBXN1 as a negative regulator of the retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) like receptors (RLR) pathway and UBXN3B as a positive regulator of stimulator-of-interferon Genes (STING) -mediated immune responses. In this study, I aimed to determine the member of UBXNs as a positive regulator of ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus infection-induced innate immune responses. By using an interferon stimulated response element (ISRE)-driven luciferase reporter assay that monitors the activity of type I/III interferon (IFN)-induced janus kinase (JAK) - signal transducer …

Rig-I-Like Receptors Direct Inflammatory Macrophage Polarization Against West Nile Virus Infection., Amy E. L. Stone, Richard Green, Courtney Wilkins, Emily A. Hemann, Michael Gale Jr.

College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUN) Publications and Research

RIG-I-Like Receptors (RLRs) RIG-I, MDA5, and LGP2, are vital pathogen recognition receptors in the defense against RNA viruses. West Nile Virus (WNV) infections continue to grow in the US. Here, we use a systems biology approach to define the contributions of each RLR in the innate immune response to WNV. Genome-wide RNAseq and bioinformatics analyses of macrophages from mice lacking either RLR reveal that the RLRs drive distinct immune gene activation and response polarization to mediate an M1/inflammatory signature while suppressing the M2/wound healing phenotype. While LGP2 functions to modulate inflammatory signaling, RIG-I and MDA5 together are essential for M1 …

Anti-Human Cd9 Antibody Fab Fragment Impairs The Internalization Of Extracellular Vesicles And The Nuclear Transfer Of Their Cargo Proteins., Mark F. Santos, Germana Rappa, Jana Karbanová, Cheryl Vanier, Chikao Morimoto, Denis Corbeil, Aurelio Lorico

College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUN) Publications and Research

The intercellular communication mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) has gained international interest during the last decade. Interfering with the mechanisms regulating this cellular process might find application particularly in oncology where cancer cell-derived EVs play a role in tumour microenvironment transformation. Although several mechanisms were ascribed to explain the internalization of EVs, little is our knowledge about the fate of their cargos, which are crucial to mediate their function. We recently demonstrated a new intracellular pathway in which a fraction of endocytosed EV-associated proteins is transported into the nucleoplasm of the host cell via a subpopulation of late endosomes penetrating …

Weight Loss Following Use Of A Smartphone Food Photo Feature: Retrospective Cohort Study., Daniela Ben Neriah, Allan Geliebter

Lander College of Arts and Sciences Publications and Research

BACKGROUND: Tracking of dietary intake is key to enhancing weight loss. Mobile apps may be useful for tracking food intake and can provide feedback about calories and nutritional value. Recent technological developments have enabled image recognition to identify foods and track food intake.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the effectiveness of using photography as a feature of a smartphone weight loss app to track food intake in adults who were overweight or obese.

METHODS: We analyzed data from individuals (age, 18-65 years; body mass index≥25 kg/m²; ≥4 days of logged food intake; and ≥2 weigh-ins) who used a …

Stalking Flu: Development And Characterization Of A Broadly Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody Targeting The Influenza Hemagglutinin Stem, Elizabeth Newman

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Seasonal epidemics caused by influenza A viruses (IAV) result in an estimated 290,000- 650,000 deaths worldwide each year (17). While antivirals targeted to influenza exist, resistance to these drugs is increasing and regular vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection (26, 73, 99). However due to the persistence of antigenic drift and shift, influenza vaccines must be updated each season and antigenic mismatches can reduce efficacy (24, 118). Immunity to influenza either from vaccination or infection is principally mediated by antibodies generated to one of its major surface proteins, Hemagglutinin (HA). HA is a homotrimer, each monomer HA0 …

Transcriptome And Physiological Analyses For Revealing Genes Involved In Wheat Response To Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress., Xing Yu, Tanchun Wang, Meichen Zhu, Liting Zhang, Fengzhi Zhang, Enen Jing, Yongzhe Ren, Zhiqiang Wang, Zeyu Xin, Tongbao Lin

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Middletown) Publications and Research

BACKGROUND: Wheat production is largely restricted by adverse environmental stresses. Under many undesirable conditions, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress can be induced. However, the physiological and molecular responses of wheat to ER stress remain poorly understood. We used dithiothreitol (DTT) and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) to induce or suppress ER stress in wheat cells, respectively, with the aim to reveal the molecular background of ER stress responses using a combined approach of transcriptional profiling and morpho-physiological characterization.

METHODS: To understand the mechanism of wheat response to ER stress, three wheat cultivars were used in our pre-experiments. Among them, the cultivar with a …

Extracellular Vesicles As Biological Shuttles For Targeted Therapies., Stefania Raimondo, Gianluca Giavaresi, Aurelio Lorico, Riccardo Alessandro

College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUN) Publications and Research

The development of effective nanosystems for drug delivery represents a key challenge for the improvement of most current anticancer therapies. Recent progress in the understanding of structure and function of extracellular vesicles (EVs)-specialized membrane-bound nanocarriers for intercellular communication-suggests that they might also serve as optimal delivery systems of therapeutics. In addition to carrying proteins, lipids, DNA and different forms of RNAs, EVs can be engineered to deliver specific bioactive molecules to target cells. Exploitation of their molecular composition and physical properties, together with improvement in bio-techniques to modify their content are critical issues to target them to specific cells/tissues/organs. Here, …

Dna Double Strand Breaks: To Repair, Or Not To Repair, Susiyan Jiang

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

DNA damages that cause double-strand breaks (DSBs) to the chromosome are most harmful. Subsequent choices have critical consequences for cell fate. Without repair, cells will face certain death. Low-fidelity repair will introduce mutations that could transform the cells, leading to carcinogenesis.

How cells make the decision is not well-understood. A single DSB can lead to apoptosis for some cells, whereas others can repair up to 25 DSBs and survive. It has been postulated that decision to repair DSBs is a stochastic process.

In the nucleus, DSBs elicit a cascade of signaling events that require the recognition, protection, processing, and subsequent …

Sarcoid-Like Reaction Associated With Renal Cell Carcinoma - A Case Report., Asma Iftikhar, Muhammad A I Cheema, Preethi Ramachandran, Sonu Sahni

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (New York) Publications and Research

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a highly vascular tumor, which may spread to the lungs and other organs. It often presents with localized or systemic manifestation, including paraneoplastic syndromes. Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease characterized by non-caseating granulomas that typically afflicts the respiratory system. In the absence of any evidence of systemic sarcoidosis they are referred to as sarcoid-like reactions. Non-caseating epithelioid granulomas, also regarded to sarcoid-like granulomas have been described in association with certain malignancies such as carcinomas of the breast, colon, seminoma, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, sarcoid like reaction associated with renal cell carcinoma is uncommon. …

A Bird's-Eye View Of The Multiple Biochemical Mechanisms That Propel Pathology Of Alzheimer's Disease: Recent Advances And Mechanistic Perspectives On How To Halt The Disease Progression Targeting Multiple Pathways., Caleb Vegh, Kyle Stokes, Dennis Ma, Darcy Wear, Jerome Cohen, Sidhartha D. Ray, Siyaram Pandey

Touro College of Pharmacy (New York) Publications and Research

Neurons consume the highest amount of oxygen, depend on oxidative metabolism for energy, and survive for the lifetime of an individual. Therefore, neurons are vulnerable to death caused by oxidative-stress, accumulation of damaged and dysfunctional proteins and organelles. There is an exponential increase in the number of patients diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (AD) as the number of elderly increases exponentially. Development of AD pathology is a complex phenomenon characterized by neuronal death, accumulation of extracellular amyloid-β plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, and most importantly loss of memory and cognition. These pathologies are most likely caused by mechanisms including …

Energy Drinks: Cardiovascular Effects And The Specific Components Responsible, Malka B. Gelbfish

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Energy drink usage as a stimulant is on the rise among adolescents and young adults. While these drinks have positive energizing effects, they pose significant health concerns. This paper examines the adverse cardiovascular effects of energy drinks and the components that could possibly be responsible. Analysis was conducted by reviewing and comparing many studies available in this area of research. Studies of energy drinks in general and energy drinks versus drinks containing caffeine alone were analyzed. Additionally, this review investigated studies of the specific ingredients in energy drinks such as caffeine, taurine, guarana, and sugar. This review found that energy …

Changes In Expression Of The Autophagy-Related Genes Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3Β And Autophagy Related 7 In Skeletal Muscle Of Fattening Japanese Black Cattle: A Pilot Study, Tomonori Nakanishi, Tadaaki Tokunaga, Takafumi Ishida, Ikuo Kobayashi, Yuta Katahama, Azusa Yano, Laurie Erickson, Satoshi Kawahara

Hebrew Theological College Publications and Research

Objective

Autophagy is a bulk degradation system for intracellular proteins which contributes to skeletal muscle homeostasis, according to previous studies in humans and rodents. However, there is a lack of information on the physiological role of autophagy in the skeletal muscle of meat animals. This study was planned as a pilot study to investigate changes in expression of two major autophagy-related genes, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3β (MAP1LC3B) and autophagy related 7 (ATG7) in fattening beef cattle, and to compare them with skeletal muscle growth.

Methods

Six castrated Japanese Black cattle (initial body weight: 503±20 kg) were enrolled in …

Car T-Cell Therapy For Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Esther Langner

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Despite all the available therapies, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) remains extremely difficult to eradicate. Current available therapies, which include chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell transplants, tend to be more successful in treating children than adults. While adults are more likely than children to relapse after treatment, the most common cause of treatment failure in children is also relapse. Improved outcomes for all ALL patients may depend upon new immunotherapies, specifically CAR T-cell therapy. CAR T-cell therapy extracts a patient’s own T-cells and modifies them with a CD19 antigen. This modification allows the new T-cells to recognize and kill cancer cells …

The Effects Of Aging On Skeletal Muscle Atp Production, Chaya Abboudi

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The study of the aging process and its prevention is an incredibly popular field; the natural course of the human body is to age and theories abound on how to avoid it. Age affects every system and pathway of the body and alters many of the bodily functions. This paper, using articles from Touro’s library database examines the different areas in which aging negatively affects ATP production. The multifaceted process associated with the production of ATP in the human body was analyzed. Several features such as the mitochondria, physical activity, and hormones are linked to ATP production and the relationship …

Full Issue: Volume 12, Number 2

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

No abstract provided.

Triggers Of Spermatogenesis, Moses Bibi

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Of the 7% of men affected with infertility, about 54% suffer from pre-testicular and/or testicular factor induced azoospermia/ oligospermia. This agenesis of spermatozoa has been the subject of much andrology research over the past 50 years, with a particular focus in the triggers of spermatogenesis. While much of their work is limited to murine populations, researchers have put a lot of emphasis on the spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) niche as the source of the trigger(s). By following physiological patterns exhibited in the seminiferous epithelium, researchers have been able to detect distinct morphological stages that correlate with spermatogonial germ-line action. Different …

Dentistry: Are Stem Cells The Future?, Tova Zemel

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Stem cell research is currently advancing in every area of medicine. New information about regenerating stem cells is being uncovered on a daily basis. An area of stem cells that has not been focused on until recently is the use of dental stem cells. The objective of this paper is to elucidate the most current research about dental stem cells. Much of what is discussed in this paper has not been implemented yet, and is still in clinical trials. Dental stem cells are important because they could be an alternative way of treating caries, performing root canals, and other traumas …

Full Issue: Volume 13, Number 1

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Complete .pdf file of Volume 13, Number 1 of The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences.

Is There A Correlation Between Epstein - Barr Virus (Mononucleosis) And Hodgkin’S Lymphoma?, Rooth Cohen

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Symptoms of acute Infectious Mononucleosis (IM), which develops after Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in half the cases, is strikingly like those of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL). This, combined with the findings that many patients with HL had a history of EBV and/or IM, triggered an interest in scientists to learn if the two were biochemically related. Many studies in this field unanimously concluded that the development of IM after EBV infection presented a higher risk of developing HL. However, whether this relationship is coincidental or pathological remains a matter of controversy until this day. In the last decade, there has been a …

The Biophysical Study Of The Efficacy Of Various Phospholipid Membranes On Daptomycin, Chaya Shor, Tamar Itzkowitz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Daptomycin is an important lipopeptide antibiotic used in the treatment of systematic and life-threatening infections of the skin and underlying tissue caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Calcium and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) must be present on the target cell membrane for daptomycin’s mechanism of action to proceed. Calcium and PG also promote oligomerization, a formation that has been assumed to aid in the bactericidal process. The purpose of the experiments conducted was to understand the basic biophysical properties of membrane phospholipids as they exist in their pure and mixed monolayer forms. Furthermore, the experiments conducted attempted to discern how daptomycin penetrates the different …

Capsacin And Analgesia, Mimi Kornwasser

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Capsaicin is the active compound responsible for the pungency of hot chilli. Research has discovered its ability to desensitize peripheral nociceptive fibers which is useful in treating chronic pain disorders, specifically neuropathic pain syndromes. Capsaicin treatment comes in a variety of mediums including patches and creams and has been clinically proven to bring relief to patients with disorders such as post herpetic neuralgia, chronic regional pain syndrome and HIV related neuralgia. Exciting new forms of treatment are also in development and promise breakthroughs in the near future in this relatively young field of capsaicin-based analgesia.

Do Humans Possess The Capability To Regenerate?, Chasha Wuensch

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Urodele amphibians, including newts and salamanders, are amongst the most commonly studied research models for regeneration. The ability to regenerate, however, is not limited to amphibians, and the regenerative process has been observed in mammals as well. This paper discusses methods by which amphibians and mammals regenerate to lend insights into human regenerative mechanisms and regenerative potential. A focus is placed on the urodele and murine digit tip models, both of which share critical regenerative stages including wound healing, histolysis, and blastema formation. Formation of the blastema proved to be a crucial process necessary for regeneration, and is responsible for …

Does In-Vitro Fertilization Increase The Risk For Birth Defects?, Tehila Tropper

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Since 1978 when the first “petri dish” baby was born, In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has been used as a tool to give couples struggling with infertility the opportunity to have children. Using this method of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), the woman is given medication to stimulate her ovaries for the maturation of multiple eggs, which are then retrieved via needle aspiration, fertilized in a petri dish, and inserted in the uterus with the hopes of achieving a successful pregnancy. Many times IVF is completed with another technique known as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), where the sperm is injected straight into the …

The Effects Of Rf-Emf On The Child Brain, Aaron Skaist

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

It has long been debated whether or not cell phones have a deleterious effect on the brain. Recent studies indicate that the electro-magnetic field emitted by cell phones called RF-EMF is linked to cancer. Guidelines created to limit the exposure have not been changed since 1981 and do not consider children. The mechanism thought to cause cancer is reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause the creation of micronuclei. RF-EMF poses a greater threat to children than adults. This is due to the major anatomical differences between the head of a child and an adult. The skull of a child is …

Degeneration Of Rods And Cones In Retinitis Pigmentosa, Rachel Stern

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Retinitis Pigmentosa, most commonly characterized by night blindness and loss of peripheral vision, is a rare genetically inherited group of diseases affecting the retina of the eye. It is estimated that 1 in 4000 people in the USA are affected by some form of the disease. Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), is caused by a mutation or change in one or more of 55 genes. There are many causes to this disease as RP presents with many different symptoms and biological effects on the eye. These are then grouped together because they share a common result, deterioration of vision. Presently, there is …

Should Subclinical Hypothyroidism Be Treated?, Rachel Kaufman

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Subclinical Hypothyroidism, SCH, has been detected with increasing frequency in recent years and has brought about major controversies regarding management and treatment [Meier et al., 2001]. The condition is characterized as having a high concentration of thyroid stimulating hormone, yet normal thyroid hormone levels and is often asymptomatic. Scientific articles retrieved from various databases helped determine some of the long term risk factors associated with SCH, including progression to overt hypothyroidism, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease, neuropsychiatric complications and reproductive malfunctions. Studies determining the clinical and metabolic effects of L-thyroxine hormone replacement therapy on symptoms and potential risks of SCH …

Are There Any Viable Treatments For Age Related Macular Degeneration?, Michael Radparvar

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Stem cells seem to offer an alternative venue for treating many cell related diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). ARMD is a progressive neurodegenerative medical condition, which primarily affects the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), resulting in degeneration of photoreceptors. Scientists have been successful in implanting stem cells into the eyes of rats. These injected cells sustained visual function and photoreceptor integrity without any cancerous cell formation. There are numerous treatments available to slow down the progression of ARMD. Depending on the type of ARMD, doctors may either recommend leading a healthier lifestyle or that one should undergo surgery. Numerous …

Are Health Problems In Adulthood Linked To Our Experiences In The Womb? An Epigenetic Approach, Simone Tendler

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The origins of adult disease have been a prime topic for research, as deciphering causes can lead to strategies for preventions and cures. There has been recent intrigue focused on the environment in the womb. Records from England and Wales in 1911 show that those who suffered from cardiovascular disease were geographically correlated with regions high in infant mortality in the past, seventy years before the study. When looking into the cause of the neonatal death rates, low birth weight, poor maternal health, and high maternal death rates during childbirth were clearly associated. Barker inferred that there is much happening …

Impact Of Physical Activity On Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Marshall Schwartz

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Type 2 diabetes mellites has become an increasingly prevalent worldwide epidemic. The tremendous economic burden, coupled with the numerous secondary risks associated with the disease, have encouraged researchers to search for causes as well as treatment methods. This research paper focuses on the effect of physical activity as a preventative measure for those at risk for diabetes and as a treatment method for those already diagnosed with the disease. The articles collected included meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, surveys, etc. The studies that were analyzed have indicated an inverse relationship between physical activity and type 2 diabetes. Since there …