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Articles 1 - 30 of 60
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Systemic And Microcirculatory Effects Of Hboc-201: A Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carrier, Bjorn Song
Systemic And Microcirculatory Effects Of Hboc-201: A Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carrier, Bjorn Song
Theses and Dissertations
Top-loading This study compared the effects on oxygen (O2) transport of four fluids: 5.9% human serum albumin (HSA) a non-O2 carrying iso-oncotic solution (volume control);HBOC-201 (Hemopure, Biopure Corp., Cambridge, MA); MP50, HBOC-201 with a P50 of 18 mmHg; and lastly LP50, an HBOC-201 with P50 of 17 mmHg and higher viscosity (4 cP). It has been proposed that HBOC with a higher O2 affinity and a viscosity closer to that of whole blood will cause less vasoconstriction and thus a lower MAP than Hemopure (P50 = 40 mmHg and 2.2 cP). Intravital microscopic measurements were made on the spinotrapezius muscle …
Distribution And Molecular Analysis Of Avian Malaria Vectors On Four Central Virginia Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria Citrea) Breeding Sites, Catherine Wallace
Distribution And Molecular Analysis Of Avian Malaria Vectors On Four Central Virginia Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria Citrea) Breeding Sites, Catherine Wallace
Theses and Dissertations
Avian malaria is a devastating disease that has decimated numerous bird species. This study sought to identify the vectors of avian malaria at four central Virginia Prothonotary warbler breeding sites. Twenty one thousand mosquitoes were collected and Culex salinarius, Cx. erraticus, and Cx. pipiens/restuans were found to be the dominant species at these sites. Geographic factors, such as crop land and forest type, were determined to be potential indicators for species abundance variation between sites. Of the mosquitoes collected, ninety one (0.4%) were identified as blood fed. The blood fed mosquitoes were found to have fed on avian, mammalian, amphibian, …
A Novel Method To Detect Functional Subgraphs In Biomolecular Networks, Sterling Thomas
A Novel Method To Detect Functional Subgraphs In Biomolecular Networks, Sterling Thomas
Theses and Dissertations
Several biomolecular pathways governing the control of cellular processes have been discovered over the last several years. Additionally, advances resulting from combining these pathways into networks have produced new insights into the complex behaviors observed in cell function assays. Unfortunately, identification of important subnetworks, or “motifs”, in these networks has been slower in development. This study focused on identifying important network motifs and their rate of occurrence in two different biomolecular networks. The two networks evaluated for this study represented both ends of the spectrum of interaction knowledge by comparing a well defined network (apoptosis) with and poorly studied network …
Depth And Time Related Variations Of Microbial Communiites In An Emergent Freshwater Wetland, Amy Jenkins
Depth And Time Related Variations Of Microbial Communiites In An Emergent Freshwater Wetland, Amy Jenkins
Theses and Dissertations
Soils, and the microbial communities contained within them, are vital for most chemical, physical, and biological processes. This study investigated how microbial community structure responded to environmental changes, such as hydrology, across vertical space (depth) and time in an emergent fresh water wetland. Research was conducted in a non-tidal freshwater wetland along the James River (Charles City County, Virginia) by establishing plots in two areas that experienced different hydrologic regimes and plant communities. Soil cores (30 cm) were collected monthly from January 2008 to February 2009, and then every two to three months thereafter until October 2009, for a total …
Network Analysis And Comparative Phylogenomics Of Micrornas And Their Respective Messenger Rna Targets Using Twelve Drosophila Species, M Ryan Woodcock
Network Analysis And Comparative Phylogenomics Of Micrornas And Their Respective Messenger Rna Targets Using Twelve Drosophila Species, M Ryan Woodcock
Theses and Dissertations
MicroRNAs represent a special class of small (~21–25 nucleotides) non-coding RNA molecules which exert powerful post-transcriptional control over gene expression in eukaryotes. Indeed microRNAs likely represent the most abundant class of regulators in animal gene regulatory networks. This study describes the recovery and network analyses of a suite of homologous microRNA targets recovered through two different prediction methods for whole gene regions across twelve Drosophila species. Phylogenetic criteria under an accepted tree topology were used as a reference frame to 1) make inference into microRNA-target predictions, 2) study mathematical properties of microRNA-gene regulatory networks, 3) and conduct novel phylogenetic analyses …
Genetic Evaluation Of American Shad Alosa Sapidissima Restoration Success In James River, Virginia, Aaron Aunins
Genetic Evaluation Of American Shad Alosa Sapidissima Restoration Success In James River, Virginia, Aaron Aunins
Theses and Dissertations
The American shad Alosa sapidissima has experienced severe declines throughout its native range due to habitat degradation, fragmentation, and over-fishing. Hatchery supplementation is often used for stock restoration, but the effects of supplementation on population structure and genetic diversity are rarely assessed. This study employed molecular markers to evaluate how supplementation of the James River American shad population with Pamunkey River origin larvae since 1994 has impacted genetic diversity and population structure. Population genetic parameters of other major Chesapeake Bay tributaries (Susquehanna, Rappahannock, Potomac, and Nanticoke) also were characterized. Prior to stocking, the James and Pamunkey populations exhibited subtle genetic …
Adenovirus-5 Infection Affects Lipid Metabolism In Hepatic And Adipose Tissues, Marianna Sukholutsky
Adenovirus-5 Infection Affects Lipid Metabolism In Hepatic And Adipose Tissues, Marianna Sukholutsky
Theses and Dissertations
Our recent studies have shown a link between Adenovirus-5 (Ad-5) and elevated lipids, which prompted the hypothesis that Ad-5 infection might augment hepatic and/or adipose tissue lipid metabolism. To test our hypothesis, mice were infected with Ad-5 and screened for changes in lipogenesis and plasma markers associated with the metabolic syndrome. We observed increased expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) in infected liver tissues, but not in adipose tissues and this correlated with elevated plasma and hepatic triglyceride levels. Elevated expression of adiponectin was seen in Ad-5 infected adipose tissues and this correlated with phosphorylated AMPK in …
The Expression Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 And -2 In Olfactory Injury And Recovery, Stephen Bakos
The Expression Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 And -2 In Olfactory Injury And Recovery, Stephen Bakos
Theses and Dissertations
The olfactory system has the remarkable capacity for neurogenesis following injury. However, the molecular mechanisms important for reinnervation of the olfactory bulb (OB) remain unknown. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are important components in many central nervous system (CNS) injury paradigms, yet remain unexplored in olfactory injury and recovery. To address the role of MMPs, the temporal expressions of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were examined in 3 olfactory injury models: nerve transection (NTx), methyl bromide gas (MeBr) exposure, and nerve transection with Teflon barrier (NTx-TB). Each injury model represents a different degree of olfactory injury and neuronal recovery. In NTx, sensory axons …
The Regulation Of The Alternative Splicing Of Caspase 9, Rachel Goehe
The Regulation Of The Alternative Splicing Of Caspase 9, Rachel Goehe
Theses and Dissertations
The pro-apoptotic, caspase 9a, and the anti-apoptotic, caspase 9b, are derived from the caspase 9 gene by alternative splicing. This study demonstrates that the alternative splicing of caspase 9 is dysregulated in a large percentage of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumors of the adenocarcinoma type. Furthermore, modulation of the levels of splice variants of caspase 9 had dramatic effects on the anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenic capacity of NSCLC cells. Due to these findings, the molecular mechanisms regulating the post-transcriptional processing of caspase 9 were therefore examined and an exonic splicing silencer (ESS) regulating the pre-mRNA processing of caspase 9 …
Specificity Determinants Of Arma, A Ribosomal Rna Methyltransferase That Confers Antibiotic Resistance, Tamara Zarubica
Specificity Determinants Of Arma, A Ribosomal Rna Methyltransferase That Confers Antibiotic Resistance, Tamara Zarubica
Theses and Dissertations
Bacterial resistance to 4,6-type aminoglycoside antibiotics, which target the 30S ribosomal subunit, has been traced to the arm/rmt family of rRNA methyltransferases. These plasmid-encoded enzymes transfer a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to N7 of the buried G1405 in the aminoglycoside binding site of 16S rRNA in the 30S ribosomal subunit. Neither 16S rRNA alone nor intact 70S ribosome is an efficient substrate for armA methyltransferase. To more fully characterize this family of enzymes, xiii we have investigated the substrate requirements of ArmA. We determined the Mg2+ dependence of ArmA activity and found that the enzyme could recognize both translationally active …
In Vivo Measurement Of Rat Skeletal Muscle Oxygen Consumption Following Brief Periods Of Ischemia With Reperfusion As Assessed By Phosphorescence Quenching Microscopy, William Nugent
Theses and Dissertations
Brief periods of skeletal muscle ischemia (ischemic pre-conditioning) alter cellular metabolism in a way that confers protection over subsequent ischemic episodes. The mechanisms behind this effect have been studied indirectly through assays for the byproducts of ATP synthesis and in vitro studies of cellular signaling cascades and ROS generation. There have been no direct, in vivo assessments of the changes in respiration during reperfusion. We employed phosphorescence quenching microscopy in conjunction with a flow-arrest technique to assess the influences of external, pressure-induced 1- to 10-min focal ischemia on interstitial oxygenation (PISFO2) and the consumption of oxygen (VO2) in spinotrapezius muscles …
Canopy Disturbance And Reproduction In Cornus Florida L., Daniel Carr
Canopy Disturbance And Reproduction In Cornus Florida L., Daniel Carr
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined aspects of local reproductive variation in the flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.) coincident with recent differences in primary canopy architecture. The dogwood trees in this study were impacted by a hurricane that created numerous treefall gaps, which created fine scale heterogeneity in the primary canopy. Fine scale disturbances in a forest can result in changes for multiple members of the forest community, including the reproductive responses of the trees and interspecific pollination mutualisms. Previously determined differences in offspring genetic structure suggested that pollen movement among genetically unstructured maternal individuals was significantly impacted between open, or disturbed, canopy …
Effect Of Ph On The Transcriptional Profile Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis W83, Nathan Maietta
Effect Of Ph On The Transcriptional Profile Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis W83, Nathan Maietta
Theses and Dissertations
Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium, is widely recognized as a causative agent for periodontal disease. Despite sequencing of the complete genome, no research exists examining gene regulation response in P. gingivalis to shifts in pH. Previous studies have shown that P. gingivalis is capable of surviving in the variety of micro- environmental niches found within the oral cavity, including basic and acidic pH conditions. However, the underlying mechanisms of this survival are not well understood. This study examined P. gingivalis by comparing bacteria shocked at three acidic to neutral pH conditions (5.5, 6.5 and 7.0) to bacteria vii shocked …
Variation In Sound Production Of The Blue Catfish, Ictalurus Furcatus., Zachary Ghahramani
Variation In Sound Production Of The Blue Catfish, Ictalurus Furcatus., Zachary Ghahramani
Theses and Dissertations
The blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus, is an invasive species introduced to Virginia in 1974 and is the largest catfish in the United States. Like other Ictalurids, they are capable of producing disturbance calls via stridulation of the pectoral spine. These sounds can be made in air and water, and catfish can be preyed upon by both aerial and underwater predators. I characterized these putative distress calls by recording them in air and in the fish’s natural habitat. Sounds exhibited a wide variation in acoustic parameters relative to fish ontogeny: larger fish produced higher amplitude sounds with lower frequency bands. Sweep …
Contribution Of Nuceliec Acids On The Structure Of Recombinant Hepadnavirus Core Antigens, Maimuna Bruce
Contribution Of Nuceliec Acids On The Structure Of Recombinant Hepadnavirus Core Antigens, Maimuna Bruce
Theses and Dissertations
The Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) has been proposed to be an ideal candidate for use as an adjuvant due to its immunogenicity, and tolerance to manipulations such as insertions of epitopes or covalent attachment of ligands. HBcAg is a complex macromolecule containing protein and nucleic acid. We investigated the effect of the removal and reconstitution of nucleic acids upon its structure. It’s been shown that the RNA content of hepadnavirus core antigens can be reduced significantly, but not be completely removed. Following removal of some of the RNA, antigens retain the ability to bind added nucleic acids, in particular, …
Discovery Of A Novel Ccr5 Antagonist As An Effective Therapeutic Agent For Prostate Cancer, Tasrif Ahmed
Discovery Of A Novel Ccr5 Antagonist As An Effective Therapeutic Agent For Prostate Cancer, Tasrif Ahmed
Theses and Dissertations
Previously, the CCR5 receptor was found to be a good target for treating prostate cancer (PCa). Dr. Yan Zhang’s laboratory designed several CCR5 antagonists, which were screened for their inhibitory effect on the growth and invasion of the M12, DU145 and PC-3 PCa cell lines. Primary in vitro screening showed one compound (Drug 17) significantly inhibited the proliferation of PCa cells at 1μM concentration, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 237.68 nM. Further in vitro assays including a proliferation, cytotoxicity and invasion assay confirmed the inhibitory effect of drug 17. The physiological effect of drug 17 was tested by the …
Characterization And Crystallization Of The Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Trmd, Zohal Hamidi
Characterization And Crystallization Of The Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Trmd, Zohal Hamidi
Theses and Dissertations
One third of the world’s population is affected by Tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtB). The emergence of multidrug-resistant MtB makes this disease a major public health concern. New agents are needed to treat TB infections in a manner that circumvents existing pathways of resistance. One strategy is to target the organism at the translational level by inhibiting vital modifications of RNA. One gene responsible for these modifications is the tRNA (guanosine-1)-methyltransferase, trmD, which has been shown to be essential in several bacteria. The eukaryotic and bacterial m1G methyltransferases are structurally dissimilar, making this enzyme …
Function And Regulation Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 In Glioblastoma Multiforme, Monika Anand
Function And Regulation Of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 In Glioblastoma Multiforme, Monika Anand
Theses and Dissertations
Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive and fatal cancer of the brain. It is characterized with augmented morbidity and elusion to therapies due in part to the incessant infiltration and spread of tumor cells in normal brain. We investigated the function of Matrix metalloproteinase-1, an important enzyme noted to be responsible for invasion in other cancers, in GBM and its regulation by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated elevated levels of MMP-1 in GBM. Further studies indicated the involvement of MMP-1 in GBM invasion. The GBM cell lines T98G, U251MG and U87MG were used …
Role Of Xrcc3 In Acquisition And Maintenance Of Invasiveness Through Extracellular Matrix In Breast Cancer Progression, Siddharth Saini
Role Of Xrcc3 In Acquisition And Maintenance Of Invasiveness Through Extracellular Matrix In Breast Cancer Progression, Siddharth Saini
Theses and Dissertations
Acquisition of invasiveness through extracellular matrix is a crucial characteristic of transition to malignancy in the breast. It was previously shown that Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1), a mitotic kinase and genome stability regulator, is involved in acquisition of invasiveness in a breast cell model (HMT-3522 cell line) of pre-invasive to invasive transition. This and other data led to the suggestion that a new class of genes called GISEM for Genome Instability and Extracellular Matrix Invasiveness may exist. Previous lab data show that XRCC3 is found downregulated in progression from preinvasive to invasive phenotype. This led to the hypothesis that XRCC3 …
Evolutionary Relationships In Afro-Malagasy Schefflera (Araliaceae) Based On Nuclear And Plastid Markers, Morgan Gostel
Evolutionary Relationships In Afro-Malagasy Schefflera (Araliaceae) Based On Nuclear And Plastid Markers, Morgan Gostel
Theses and Dissertations
The genus Schefflera is the largest in Araliaceae, with approximately 900 species. Recent studies have shown that Schefflera is polyphyletic and represents no fewer than five distinct clades, each corresponding to a specific geographic region including Asia, continental Africa and Madagascar, Melanesia, the Neotropics, and a small clade distributed throughout several islands in the insular Pacific Ocean. The Afro-Malagasy clade contains nearly 50 species distributed throughout tropical, sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, the Comoros, and the Seychelles islands. Previous studies have suggested that this group is monophyletic, identifying two smaller subclades within Afro-Malagasy Schefflera corresponding roughly to informal groups identified as “Meiopanax” …
The Effects Of Hydrology And Vegetation On Microbial Community Structure And Soil Function In The Sediments Of Freshwater Wetlands, Christine Prasse
The Effects Of Hydrology And Vegetation On Microbial Community Structure And Soil Function In The Sediments Of Freshwater Wetlands, Christine Prasse
Theses and Dissertations
In wetland soils, hydrology is considered to be one of the primary factors shaping wetland function and microbial community structure, but plant-soil interactions are also important mechanisms affecting microbial nutrient transformations. The research presented here considered the interactive effect to describe how hydrology and the presence of plants alter the soil profile, the development of the bacterial community, and their associated functions. To achieve this goal, plots were established in three hydrologically-distinct regimes (Wet, Intermediate, and Dry) within a non-tidal freshwater wetland along the James River (Charles City County, Virginia). Inside each main plot, ten subplots were cleared of all …
Effects Of Alternative Prey As A Buffer To Predation Of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) By Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides), Shelley Nellis
Effects Of Alternative Prey As A Buffer To Predation Of Channel Catfish (Ictalurus Punctatus) By Largemouth Bass (Micropterus Salmoides), Shelley Nellis
Theses and Dissertations
Channel catfish have pectoral spines that lock to defend against gape-limited predators such as largemouth bass. Previous work indicated that spines increase survival of channel catfish exposed to bass but did not determine whether bass avoid catfish if less dangerous species are available. We presented bass with channel catfish and two alternatives, bluegill and goldfish, and compared order of ingestion, ingestion time, percent of successful strikes, and time spent chasing each prey species. We also presented the three species in a jar study that standardized position in the water column as well as in a net-pen study. The order of …
The Effect Of Cobalt Protoporphyrin And Cobalt Chloride On Heme Oxygenase Expression And Protection From Deoxycholate-Induced Apoptosis, Tina Lawson
Theses and Dissertations
The inner surface of the stomach is lined by a mucous membrane known as the gastric mucosa. The integrity of the gastric mucosa is critical for protecting the stomach from the low pH and proteolytic environment within the lumen. Both clinically and experimentally, exposure of gastric mucosal cells to bile salts is known to cause injury. Bile salts present in duodenogastric reflux are thought to play a significant role in gastric ulcer formation and alkaline gastritis. In vitro, studies using physiologic concentrations of the secondary bile salt, deoxycholic acid, indicate that bile salts can induce apoptosis in cultured human gastric …
Double-Strand Break Repair Mechanisms In Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Bret Adams
Double-Strand Break Repair Mechanisms In Human Embryonic Stem Cells, Bret Adams
Theses and Dissertations
Central to the progression of all organisms is the maintenance of a stable genome despite continuous insults arising from genotoxic and environmental stresses. Embryonic stem cells show promise for treatment of a variety of diseases as well as for providing normal human tissue to conduct scientific research. A major obstacle for their application is that genomic instability arises in stem cells after prolonged cell culture. The most detrimental form of DNA damage is the DNA double-strand break (DSB), which is managed by cells through complex mechanisms, designated the DNA damage response. There are two major types of DSB repair; homologous …
Strategies To Employ Androstenediol To Reverse Steroid Inhibited Healing In A Rat Model Of Trauma, Francis Diskin
Strategies To Employ Androstenediol To Reverse Steroid Inhibited Healing In A Rat Model Of Trauma, Francis Diskin
Theses and Dissertations
Much of our current understanding regarding trauma, mechanisms of healing, and treatment strategies have evolved as a result of injuries suffered during armed conflict. While our understanding of these processes has advanced during and since these conflicts, treatment methods of traumatic wound healing have failed to progress significantly in the last forty years. The overall objective of this research was to test the hypothesis that the immune regulating hormone Androstenediol (AED) modulates the host’s immune system to promote wound healing under conditions where it has been inhibited by stress and infection. In an effort to characterize the effects of Androstenediol …
Factors Influencing The Abundance, Community Composition And Activity States Of Bacterioplankton From The Tidal Freshwater James River, Catherine Luria
Factors Influencing The Abundance, Community Composition And Activity States Of Bacterioplankton From The Tidal Freshwater James River, Catherine Luria
Theses and Dissertations
Aquatic bacteria respond to changing environmental conditions through a variety of mechanisms including changes in abundance, shifts in community composition and variable activity states. In the tidal-freshwater James River, variation in bacterial abundance was linked to nutrient availability and autochthonous production with highest bacterial densities associated with low-nutrient, high-chlorophyll a conditions. Laboratory experiments revealed that bacterial growth rates were nutrient limited at the low-nutrient site, while co-limitation (nutrients, glucose, light) was apparent at the high nutrient site. Despite large differences in abundance, community composition was similar based on TRFLP and 16S rDNA pyrosequencing. Community similarity was lower among rRNA libraries …
Pathogenic Role Of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Upregulation In Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Daniel Hobbs
Pathogenic Role Of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Upregulation In Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Daniel Hobbs
Theses and Dissertations
Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are cardioprotective against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, it remains uncertain if I/R affects PDE5. We hypothesized that generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during I/R leads to upregulation of PDE5, which contributes to pathological changes following acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Adult male ICR mice were subjected to 30 minutes of in vivo or ex vivo I/R. To examine the role of ROS, a subset of hearts were perfused with 100 µM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Expression and activity of PDE5, pPDE5, and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) were measured by Western blots and spectrophotometric assay. The results …
Molecular Mechanisms Involved Involved In The Interaction Effects Of Hcv And Ethanol On Liver Cirrhosis, Ryan Fassnacht
Molecular Mechanisms Involved Involved In The Interaction Effects Of Hcv And Ethanol On Liver Cirrhosis, Ryan Fassnacht
Theses and Dissertations
The leading causes of liver disease are Hepatitis C virus infection and chronic alcohol abuse. Alcohol accelerates liver disease in HCV but the mechanisms are poorly understood. The identification of molecular gene expression profiles on human liver tissue was performed using microarrays. Samples were obtained from alcoholic-cirrhotic, HCV-cirrhotic, HCV/alcohol-cirrhotic and control non-cirrhotic liver tissue. Probe set expression summaries were calculated using RMA. Probe set level linear models were fit where probe set expression was modeled by HCV status, alcohol status, and the interaction between HCV and Alcohol. HCV cirrhosis was associated with up-regulation of genes related to viral and immune …
Novel Mechanism In Astrocyte Gene Regulation And Function, Sandeep Singh
Novel Mechanism In Astrocyte Gene Regulation And Function, Sandeep Singh
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation sheds light on several novel mechanistic findings in astrocyte specific gene regulation and function by the NFI-X transcription factor which can be further extrapolated to astrocyte differentiation and glial tumor invasion. First, we cloned and analyzed human NFI-X3, a novel splice variant of the nfix gene, which contains a unique transcriptional activation (TA) domain completely conserved in primates. In contrast to previously cloned NFI-X1, overexpression of NFI-X3 potently activates NFI reporters, including GFAP reporter, in astrocytes and glioma cells. The expression of NFI-X3 is dramatically upregulated during the differentiation of neural progenitors to astrocytes and precedes the expression …
Role Of Capsule In The Interaction Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis With Host, Amrita Singh
Role Of Capsule In The Interaction Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis With Host, Amrita Singh
Theses and Dissertations
Periodontal disease is a chronic oral disease that is triggered by bacteria. One of these bacteria is Porphyromonas gingivalis. Some strains of P. gingivalis produce capsule, however, so far the role of capsule in the interactions with host cells in P. gingivalis is not well understood. Here, we investigated the contribution of capsule to triggering host response as well as its protective role on bacterial internalization by host cells with subsequent killing. qRT-PCR analysis showed more upregulation of expression of various groups of genes in macrophages challenged with the non-capsulated strain than in those challenged with the capsulated one with …