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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Microcystin Aids In Cold Temperature Acclimation: Differences Between A Toxic Microcystis Wildtype And Non-Toxic Mutant, Gwendolyn F. Stark, Robbie M. Martin, Laura E. Smith, Bofan Wei, Ferdi L. Hellweger, George S. Bullerjahn, R. Michael L. Mckay, Gregory L. Boyer, Steven W. Wilhelm Nov 2023

Microcystin Aids In Cold Temperature Acclimation: Differences Between A Toxic Microcystis Wildtype And Non-Toxic Mutant, Gwendolyn F. Stark, Robbie M. Martin, Laura E. Smith, Bofan Wei, Ferdi L. Hellweger, George S. Bullerjahn, R. Michael L. Mckay, Gregory L. Boyer, Steven W. Wilhelm

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

For Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806, temperature decreases from 26 °C to 19 °C double the microcystin quota per cell during growth in continuous culture. Here we tested whether this increase in microcystin provided M. aeruginosa PCC 7806 with a fitness advantage during colder-temperature growth by comparing cell concentration, cellular physiology, reactive oxygen species damage, and the transcriptomics-inferred metabolism to a non-toxigenic mutant strain M. aeruginosa PCC 7806 ΔmcyB. Photo-physiological data combined with transcriptomic data revealed metabolic changes in the mutant strain during growth at 19 °C, which included increased electron sinks and non-photochemical quenching. Increased gene expression was observed for …

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A Colonial-Nesting Seabird Shows Limited Heart Rate Responses To Natural Variation In Threats Of Polar Bears, Erica A. Geldart, Oliver P. Love, Andrew F. Barnas, Christopher M. Harris, H. Grant Gilchrist, Christina A.D. Semeniuk Oct 2023

A Colonial-Nesting Seabird Shows Limited Heart Rate Responses To Natural Variation In Threats Of Polar Bears, Erica A. Geldart, Oliver P. Love, Andrew F. Barnas, Christopher M. Harris, H. Grant Gilchrist, Christina A.D. Semeniuk

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Several predator-prey systems are in flux as an indirect result of climate change. In the Arctic, earlier sea-ice loss is driving polar bears (Ursus maritimus) onto land when many colonial nesting seabirds are breeding. The result is a higher threat of nest predation for birds with potential limited ability to respond. We quantified heart rate change in a large common eider (Somateria mollissima) breeding colony in the Canadian Arctic to explore their adaptive capacity to keep pace with the increasing risk of egg predation by polar bears. Eiders displayed on average higher heart rates from baseline when polar bears were …

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Rapidly Developed, Optimized, And Applied Wastewater Surveillance System For Real-Time Monitoring Of Low-Incidence, High-Impact Mpox Outbreak, Chandler H. Wong, Zhihao Zhang, Walaa Eid, Julio Plaza-Diaz, Pervez Kabir, Shen Wan, Jian Jun Jia, Elisabeth Mercier, Ocean Thakali, Lakshmi Pisharody, Nada Hegazy, Sean E. Stephenson, Wanting Fang, Tram B. Nguyen, Nathan T. Ramsay, R. Michael Mckay, Ryland Corchis-Scott, Alex E. Mackenzie Sep 2023

Rapidly Developed, Optimized, And Applied Wastewater Surveillance System For Real-Time Monitoring Of Low-Incidence, High-Impact Mpox Outbreak, Chandler H. Wong, Zhihao Zhang, Walaa Eid, Julio Plaza-Diaz, Pervez Kabir, Shen Wan, Jian Jun Jia, Elisabeth Mercier, Ocean Thakali, Lakshmi Pisharody, Nada Hegazy, Sean E. Stephenson, Wanting Fang, Tram B. Nguyen, Nathan T. Ramsay, R. Michael Mckay, Ryland Corchis-Scott, Alex E. Mackenzie

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Recent MPOX viral resurgences have mobilized public health agencies around the world. Recognizing the significant risk of MPOX outbreaks, large-scale human testing, and immunization campaigns have been initiated by local, national, and global public health authorities. Recently, traditional clinical surveillance campaigns for MPOX have been complemented with wastewater surveillance (WWS), building on the effectiveness of existing wastewater programs that were built to monitor SARS-CoV-2 and recently expanded to include influenza and respiratory syncytial virus surveillance in wastewaters. In the present study, we demonstrate and further support the finding that MPOX viral fragments agglomerate in the wastewater solids fraction. Furthermore, this …

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A Combined Microscopy And Single-Cell Sequencing Approach Reveals The Ecology, Morphology, And Phylogeny Of Uncultured Lineages Of Zoosporic Fungi, Kensuke Seto, D. Rabern Simmons, C. Alisha Quandt, Thijs Frenken, Alden C. Dirks, Rebecca A. Clemons, Katelyn M. Mckindles, R. Michael L. Mckay, Timothy Y. James Aug 2023

A Combined Microscopy And Single-Cell Sequencing Approach Reveals The Ecology, Morphology, And Phylogeny Of Uncultured Lineages Of Zoosporic Fungi, Kensuke Seto, D. Rabern Simmons, C. Alisha Quandt, Thijs Frenken, Alden C. Dirks, Rebecca A. Clemons, Katelyn M. Mckindles, R. Michael L. Mckay, Timothy Y. James

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Environmental DNA analyses of fungal communities typically reveal a much larger diversity than can be ascribed to known species. Much of this hidden diversity lies within undescribed fungal lineages, especially the early diverging fungi (EDF). Although these EDF often represent new lineages even at the phylum level, they have never been cultured, making their morphology and ecology uncertain. One of the methods to characterize these uncultured fungi is a single-cell DNA sequencing approach. In this study, we established a large data set of single-cell sequences of EDF by manually isolating and photographing parasitic fungi on various hosts such as algae, …

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Mitocans Induce Lipid Flip-Flop And Permeabilize The Membrane To Signal Apoptosis, Stuart R. Castillo, Michael H.L. Nguyen, Mitchell Dipasquale, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt Jun 2023

Mitocans Induce Lipid Flip-Flop And Permeabilize The Membrane To Signal Apoptosis, Stuart R. Castillo, Michael H.L. Nguyen, Mitchell Dipasquale, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Pancratistatin (PST) and narciclasine (NRC) are natural therapeutic agents that exhibit specificity toward the mitochondria of cancerous cells and initiate apoptosis. Unlike traditional cancer therapeutic agents, PST and NRC are effective, targeted, and have limited adverse effects on neighboring healthy, noncancerous cells. Currently, the mechanistic pathway of action for PST and NRC remains elusive, which in part inhibits PST and NRC from becoming efficacious therapeutic alternatives. Herein, we use neutron and x-ray scattering in combination with calcein leakage assays to characterize the effects of PST, NRC, and tamoxifen (TAM) on a biomimetic model membrane. We report an increase in lipid …

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Boron Neutron Capture Therapy In The New Age Of Accelerator-Based Neutron Production And Preliminary Progress In Canada, Dominik Dziura, Sana Tabbassum, Amanda Macneil, Dalini D. Maharaj, Robert Laxdal, Oliver Kester, Ming Pan, Hiroaki Kumada, Drew Marquardt Jun 2023

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy In The New Age Of Accelerator-Based Neutron Production And Preliminary Progress In Canada, Dominik Dziura, Sana Tabbassum, Amanda Macneil, Dalini D. Maharaj, Robert Laxdal, Oliver Kester, Ming Pan, Hiroaki Kumada, Drew Marquardt

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Each year more than 3000 Canadians are diagnosed with brain cancers like glioblastoma multiforme or recurrent head and neck cancers, which are difficult to treat with conventional radiotherapy techniques. One of the most clinically promising treatments for these cancers is boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). This procedure involves selectively introducing a boron delivery agent into tumor cells and irradiating them with a neutron beam, which kills the cancer cells due to the high-linear energy transfer radiation produced by the 10B(n,α)7Li capture reaction. The theory of BNCT has been around for a long time since 1936, but has historically been limited …

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Heightened Heart Rate But Similar Flight Responses To Evolved Versus Recent Predators In An Arctic Seabird, Erica A. Geldart, Oliver P. Love, H. Grant Gilchrist, Andrew F. Barnas, Christopher M. Harris, Christina A.D. Semeniuk Jun 2023

Heightened Heart Rate But Similar Flight Responses To Evolved Versus Recent Predators In An Arctic Seabird, Erica A. Geldart, Oliver P. Love, H. Grant Gilchrist, Andrew F. Barnas, Christopher M. Harris, Christina A.D. Semeniuk

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Predator-prey dynamics in the Arctic are being altered with changing sea ice phenology. The increasing frequency of predation on colonial nesting seabirds and their eggs by the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a consequence of bears shifting to terrestrial food resources through a shortened seal-hunting season. We examined antipredator responses in a colony of nesting Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) on East Bay Island, Nunavut, Canada, which is exposed to established nest predators, such as arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), but also to recent increases in polar bear nest predation due to the bears’ lost on-ice hunting opportunities. Given eiders’ limited eco-evolutionary …

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Sulfolipid Substitution Ratios Of Microcystis Aeruginosa And Planktonic Communities As An Indicator Of Phosphorus Limitation In Lake Erie, Robbie M. Martin, Maddie K. Denney, Helena L. Pound, Justin D. Chaffin, George S. Bullerjahn, R. Michael L. Mckay, Arthur Zastepa, Katarina A. Jones, Hector F. Castro, Shawn R. Campagna, Steven W. Wilhelm May 2023

Sulfolipid Substitution Ratios Of Microcystis Aeruginosa And Planktonic Communities As An Indicator Of Phosphorus Limitation In Lake Erie, Robbie M. Martin, Maddie K. Denney, Helena L. Pound, Justin D. Chaffin, George S. Bullerjahn, R. Michael L. Mckay, Arthur Zastepa, Katarina A. Jones, Hector F. Castro, Shawn R. Campagna, Steven W. Wilhelm

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Phosphorus (P) availability frequently limits primary production in lakes, influences the physiology of phytoplankton, shapes community structure, and can stimulate or constrain the formation of cyanobacterial blooms. Given the importance of P, numerous methods are available to assess P stress in phytoplankton communities. Marine phytoplankton are known to substitute sulfolipids for phospholipids in response to P limitation. We asked whether sulfolipid substitution might serve as an additional indicator of P stress in freshwater phytoplankton communities. The question was addressed using cultures of Microcystis aeruginosa, Lake Erie microcosms, and surveys of lipid profiles in Lake Erie during a Microcystis spp. bloom. …

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Investigating The Effect Of Medium Chain Triglycerides On The Elasticity Of Pulmonary Surfactant, Maksymilian Dziura, Stuart R. Castillo, Mitchell Dipasquale, Omotayo Gbadamosi, Piotr Zolnierczuk, Michihiro Nagao, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt Apr 2023

Investigating The Effect Of Medium Chain Triglycerides On The Elasticity Of Pulmonary Surfactant, Maksymilian Dziura, Stuart R. Castillo, Mitchell Dipasquale, Omotayo Gbadamosi, Piotr Zolnierczuk, Michihiro Nagao, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

In recent years, vaping has increased in both popularity and ease of access. This has led to an outbreak of a relatively new condition known as e-cigarette/vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI). This injury can be caused by physical interactions between the pulmonary surfactant (PS) in the lungs and toxins typically found in vaping solutions, such as medium chain triglycerides (MCT). MCT has been largely used as a carrier agent within many cannabis products commercially available on the market. Pulmonary surfactant ensures proper respiration by maintaining low surface tensions and interface stability throughout each respiratory cycle. Therefore, any impediments to this system …

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Spatio-Temporal Connectivity Of The Aquatic Microbiome Associated With Cyanobacterial Blooms Along A Great Lake Riverine-Lacustrine Continuum, Sophie Crevecoeur, Thomas A. Edge, Linet Cynthia Watson, Susan B. Watson, Charles W. Greer, Jan J.H. Ciborowski, Ngan Diep, Alice Dove, Kenneth G. Drouillard, Thijs Frenken, Robert Michael Mckay, Arthur Zastepa, Jérôme Comte Feb 2023

Spatio-Temporal Connectivity Of The Aquatic Microbiome Associated With Cyanobacterial Blooms Along A Great Lake Riverine-Lacustrine Continuum, Sophie Crevecoeur, Thomas A. Edge, Linet Cynthia Watson, Susan B. Watson, Charles W. Greer, Jan J.H. Ciborowski, Ngan Diep, Alice Dove, Kenneth G. Drouillard, Thijs Frenken, Robert Michael Mckay, Arthur Zastepa, Jérôme Comte

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Lake Erie is subject to recurring events of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs), but measures of nutrients and total phytoplankton biomass seem to be poor predictors of cHABs when taken individually. A more integrated approach at the watershed scale may improve our understanding of the conditions that lead to bloom formation, such as assessing the physico-chemical and biological factors that influence the lake microbial community, as well as identifying the linkages between Lake Erie and the surrounding watershed. Within the scope of the Government of Canada’s Genomics Research and Development Initiative (GRDI) Ecobiomics project, we used high-throughput sequencing of the …

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Interactions Between Chytrids Cause Variable Infection Strategies On Harmful Algal Bloom Forming Species, Katelyn M. Mckindles, R. Michael L. Mckay, George S. Bullerjahn, Thijs Frenken Feb 2023

Interactions Between Chytrids Cause Variable Infection Strategies On Harmful Algal Bloom Forming Species, Katelyn M. Mckindles, R. Michael L. Mckay, George S. Bullerjahn, Thijs Frenken

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Cyanobacteria have a great diversity of natural enemies, such as herbivores and pathogens, including fungal pathogens within the Chytridiomycota (chytrids). While these pathogens have been previously described on a select number of cyanobacterial hosts and are suspected to play a significant ecological role, little is understood about species interactions and how competition between parasites can affect epidemic development and bloom formation. Here, three Planktothrix agardhii isolates from Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie (OH, USA) were challenged in monoculture and polyculture against infection by three isolates (C1, C2, C10) of their obligate chytrid fungal pathogen, Rhizophydiales sp. The chytrid isolates were inoculated …

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Comparative Metabolomic Analysis Of Exudates Of Microcystin-Producing And Microcystin-Free Microcystis Aeruginosa Strains, Yuan Zhou, Jun Xu, Hugh J. Macisaac, Robert Michael Mckay, Runbing Xu, Ying Pei, Yuanyan Zi, Jiaojiao Li, Yu Qian, Xuexiu Chang Jan 2023

Comparative Metabolomic Analysis Of Exudates Of Microcystin-Producing And Microcystin-Free Microcystis Aeruginosa Strains, Yuan Zhou, Jun Xu, Hugh J. Macisaac, Robert Michael Mckay, Runbing Xu, Ying Pei, Yuanyan Zi, Jiaojiao Li, Yu Qian, Xuexiu Chang

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa threaten the ecological integrity and beneficial uses of lakes globally. In addition to producing hepatotoxic microcystins (MC), M. aeruginosa exudates (MaE) contain various compounds with demonstrated toxicity to aquatic biota. Previously, we found that the ecotoxicity of MaE differed between MC-producing and MC-free strains at exponential (E-phase) and stationary (S-phase) growth phases. However, the components in these exudates and their specific harmful effects were unclear. In this study, we performed untargeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to reveal the constituents in MaE of a MC-producing and a MC-free strain at …

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Investigating The Cut-Off Effect Of N-Alcohols On Lipid Movement: A Biophysical Study, Michael H.K. Nguyen, Dominik Dziura, Mitchell Dipasquale, Stuart R. Castillo, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt Jan 2023

Investigating The Cut-Off Effect Of N-Alcohols On Lipid Movement: A Biophysical Study, Michael H.K. Nguyen, Dominik Dziura, Mitchell Dipasquale, Stuart R. Castillo, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Cellular membranes are responsible for absorbing the effects of external perturbants for the cell’s survival. Such perturbants include small ubiquitous molecules like n-alcohols which were observed to exhibit anesthetic capabilities, with this effect tapering off at a cut-off alcohol chain length. To explain this cut-off effect and complement prior biochemical studies, we investigated a series of nalcohols (with carbon lengths 2-18) and their impact on several bilayer properties, including lipid flip-flop, intervesicular exchange, diffusion, membrane bending rigidity and more. To this end, we employed an array of biophysical techniques such as time-resolved small angle neutron scattering (TRSANS), small angle X-ray …

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Targeting A Free Viral Fraction Enhances The Early Alert Potential Of Wastewater Surveillance For Sars-Cov-2: A Methods Comparison Spanning The Transition Between Delta And Omicron Variants In A Large Urban Center, Liang Zhao, Qiudi Geng, Ryland Corchis-Scott, Robert Michael Mckay, John Norton, Irene Xagoraraki Jan 2023

Targeting A Free Viral Fraction Enhances The Early Alert Potential Of Wastewater Surveillance For Sars-Cov-2: A Methods Comparison Spanning The Transition Between Delta And Omicron Variants In A Large Urban Center, Liang Zhao, Qiudi Geng, Ryland Corchis-Scott, Robert Michael Mckay, John Norton, Irene Xagoraraki

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Introduction: Wastewater surveillance has proven to be a valuable approach to monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Recognizing the benefits of wastewater surveillance as a tool to support public health in tracking SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens, numerous wastewater virus sampling and concentration methods have been tested for appropriate applications as well as their significance for actionability by public health practices. Methods: Here, we present a 34-week long wastewater surveillance study that covers nearly 4 million residents of the Detroit (MI, United States) metropolitan area. Three primary concentration methods were compared with respect …

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Multi-Year Molecular Quantification And ‘Omics Analysis Of Planktothrix-Specific Cyanophage Sequences From Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, Katelyn M. Mckindles, Makayla Manes, Michelle Neudeck, Robert Michael Mckay, George S. Bullerjahn Jan 2023

Multi-Year Molecular Quantification And ‘Omics Analysis Of Planktothrix-Specific Cyanophage Sequences From Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, Katelyn M. Mckindles, Makayla Manes, Michelle Neudeck, Robert Michael Mckay, George S. Bullerjahn

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Introduction: Planktothrix agardhii is a microcystin-producing cyanobacterium found in Sandusky Bay, a shallow and turbid embayment of Lake Erie. Previous work in other systems has indicated that cyanophages are an important natural control factor of harmful algal blooms. Currently, there are few cyanophages that are known to infect P. agardhii, with the best-known being PaV-LD, a tail-less cyanophage isolated from Lake Donghu, China. Presented here is a molecular characterization of Planktothrix specific cyanophages in Sandusky Bay. Methods and Results: Putative Planktothrix-specific viral sequences from metagenomic data from the bay in 2013, 2018, and 2019 were identified by two approaches: homology …

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Actionable Wastewater Surveillance: Application To A University Residence Hall During The Transition Between Delta And Omicron Resurgences Of Covid-19, Ryland Corchis-Scott, Qiudi Geng, Abdul Monem Al Riahi, Amr Labak, Ana Podadera, Kenneth K.S. Ng, Lisa A. Porter, Yufeng Tong, Jess C. Dixon, Sherri Lynne Menard, Rajesh Seth, R. Michael Mckay Jan 2023

Actionable Wastewater Surveillance: Application To A University Residence Hall During The Transition Between Delta And Omicron Resurgences Of Covid-19, Ryland Corchis-Scott, Qiudi Geng, Abdul Monem Al Riahi, Amr Labak, Ana Podadera, Kenneth K.S. Ng, Lisa A. Porter, Yufeng Tong, Jess C. Dixon, Sherri Lynne Menard, Rajesh Seth, R. Michael Mckay

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Wastewater surveillance has gained traction during the COVID-19 pandemic as an effective and non-biased means to track community infection. While most surveillance relies on samples collected at municipal wastewater treatment plants, surveillance is more actionable when samples are collected “upstream” where mitigation of transmission is tractable. This report describes the results of wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 at residence halls on a university campus aimed at preventing outbreak escalation by mitigating community spread. Another goal was to estimate fecal shedding rates of SARS-CoV-2 in a non-clinical setting. Passive sampling devices were deployed in sewer laterals originating from residence halls at a …

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On Validating A Generic Camera-Based Blink Detection System For Cognitive Load Assessment, Francesco Biondi, Frida Grad, Prarthana Pillai, Balakumar Balasingam Dr. Jan 2023

On Validating A Generic Camera-Based Blink Detection System For Cognitive Load Assessment, Francesco Biondi, Frida Grad, Prarthana Pillai, Balakumar Balasingam Dr.

Human Kinetics Publications

Detecting the human operator's cognitive state is paramount in settings wherein maintaining optimal workload is necessary for task performance. Blink rate is an established metric of cognitive load, with a higher blink frequency being observed under conditions of greater workload. Measuring blink rate requires the use of eye-trackers which limits the adoption of this metric in the real-world. The authors aim to investigate the effectiveness of using a generic camera-based system as a way to assess the user's cognitive load during a computer task. Participants completed a mental task while sitting in front of a computer. Blink rate was recorded …

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Anthropogenic Land Uses Influence Stream Dissolved Organic Matter Quality More Than Decomposition Rates And Macroinvertebrate Diversity, Shayenna Nolan, Alyssa Alves Frazao, J D. Hosen, Catherine Febria Jan 2023

Anthropogenic Land Uses Influence Stream Dissolved Organic Matter Quality More Than Decomposition Rates And Macroinvertebrate Diversity, Shayenna Nolan, Alyssa Alves Frazao, J D. Hosen, Catherine Febria

Integrative Biology Publications

In the era of the Anthropocene, streams and rivers are among the most heavily impacted ecosystems due to the influence of catchment land use on stream water quality and ecological condition. In practice, structural and functional indicators collected by biomonitoring programs are underused and thus limited in their ability to offer practical insight into functional-based restoration approaches. Here we applied a novel combination of indicators—cotton strip decomposition, benthic invertebrate sampling together with dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition — to determine if streams highly impacted by urbanized and agricultural land use across Windsor-Essex (southwestern Ontario, Canada) were consistent across season, anthropogenic …

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Guanidinium–Amino Acid Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions In Protein Crystal Structures: Implications For Guanidinium-Induced Protein Denaturation, Indu Negi, Raman Jangra, Amit Gharu, John F. Trant, Purshotam Sharma Dec 2022

Guanidinium–Amino Acid Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions In Protein Crystal Structures: Implications For Guanidinium-Induced Protein Denaturation, Indu Negi, Raman Jangra, Amit Gharu, John F. Trant, Purshotam Sharma

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

In the present work, 86 available high resolution X-ray structures of proteins that contain one or more guanidinium ions (Gdm+) are analyzed for the distribution and nature of noncovalent interactions between Gdm+ and amino-acid residues. A total of 1044 hydrogen-bonding interactions were identified, of which 1039 are N–H⋯O, and five are N–H⋯N. Acidic amino acids are more likely to interact with Gdm+ (46% of interactions, 26% Asp and 20% Glu), followed by Pro (19% of interactions). DFT calculations on the identified Gdm+–amino acid hydrogen-bonded pairs reveal that although Gdm+ interacts primarily with the backbone amides of nonpolar amino acids, Gdm+ …

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A Colonial-Nesting Seabird Shows No Heart-Rate Response To Drone-Based Population Surveys, Erica A. Geldart, Andrew F. Barnas, Christina A.D. Semeniuk, H. Grant Gilchrist, Christopher M. Harris, Oliver P. Love Dec 2022

A Colonial-Nesting Seabird Shows No Heart-Rate Response To Drone-Based Population Surveys, Erica A. Geldart, Andrew F. Barnas, Christina A.D. Semeniuk, H. Grant Gilchrist, Christopher M. Harris, Oliver P. Love

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Aerial drones are increasingly being used as tools for ecological research and wildlife monitoring in hard-to-access study systems, such as in studies of colonial-nesting birds. Despite their many advantages over traditional survey methods, there remains concerns about possible disturbance effects that standard drone survey protocols may have on bird colonies. There is a particular gap in the study of their influence on physiological measures of stress. We measured heart rates of incubating female common eider ducks (Somateria mollissima) to determine whether our drone-based population survey affected them. To do so, we used heart-rate recorders placed in nests to quantify their …

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A Nanodiamond Chemotherapeutic Folate Receptor-Targeting Prodrug With Triggerable Drug Release, Jiangtao Wu, Xiangbin Du, Dongmei Zhang, Jicheng Cui, Xiaoxia Zhang, Xine Duan, John F. Trant, Yingqi Li Nov 2022

A Nanodiamond Chemotherapeutic Folate Receptor-Targeting Prodrug With Triggerable Drug Release, Jiangtao Wu, Xiangbin Du, Dongmei Zhang, Jicheng Cui, Xiaoxia Zhang, Xine Duan, John F. Trant, Yingqi Li

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

No abstract provided.

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Vitamin E Does Not Disturb Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Lipid Domains, Mitchell Dipasquale, Michael H.L. Nguyen, Stuart R. Castillo, Isabelle J. Dib, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt Nov 2022

Vitamin E Does Not Disturb Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Lipid Domains, Mitchell Dipasquale, Michael H.L. Nguyen, Stuart R. Castillo, Isabelle J. Dib, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

The function of vitamin E in biomembranes remains a prominent topic of discussion. As its limitations as an antioxidant persist and novel functions are discovered, our understanding of the role of vitamin E becomes increasingly enigmatic. As a group of lipophilic molecules (tocopherols and tocotrienols), vitamin E has been shown to influence the properties of its host membrane, and a wealth of research has connected vitamin E to polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) lipids. Here, we use contrast-matched small-angle neutron scattering and differential scanning calorimetry to integrate these fields by examining the influence of vitamin E on lipid domain stability in …

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Technoscience And The Modernization Of Freshwater Fisheries Assessment And Management, S. J. Cooke, M. F. Docker, N. E. Mandrak, N. Young, D. D. Heath, K. M. Jeffries, A. Howarth, J. W. Brownscombe, J. Livernois, C. A.D. Semeniuk, P. A. Venturelli, A. J. Danylchuk, R. J. Lennox, I. Jarić, A. T. Fisk, C. S. Vandergoot, J. R. Britton, A. M. Muir Nov 2022

Technoscience And The Modernization Of Freshwater Fisheries Assessment And Management, S. J. Cooke, M. F. Docker, N. E. Mandrak, N. Young, D. D. Heath, K. M. Jeffries, A. Howarth, J. W. Brownscombe, J. Livernois, C. A.D. Semeniuk, P. A. Venturelli, A. J. Danylchuk, R. J. Lennox, I. Jarić, A. T. Fisk, C. S. Vandergoot, J. R. Britton, A. M. Muir

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Inland fisheries assessment and management are challenging given the inherent complexity of working in diverse habitats (e.g., rivers, lakes, wetlands) that are dynamic on organisms that are often cryptic and where fishers are often highly mobile. Yet, technoscience is offering new tools that have the potential to reimagine how inland fisheries are assessed and managed. So-called “technoscience” refers to instances in which science and technology unfurl together, offering novel ways of spurring and achieving meaningful change. This paper considers the role of technoscience and its potential for modernizing the assessment and management of inland fisheries. It first explores technoscience and …

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Partial Volumes Of Phosphatidylcholines And Vitamin E: Α-Tocopherol Prefers Disordered Membranes, Mitchell Dipasquale, Michael H.L. Nguyen, Georg Pabst, Drew Marquardt Sep 2022

Partial Volumes Of Phosphatidylcholines And Vitamin E: Α-Tocopherol Prefers Disordered Membranes, Mitchell Dipasquale, Michael H.L. Nguyen, Georg Pabst, Drew Marquardt

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Despite its discovery over 95 years ago, the biological and nutritional roles of vitamin E remain subjects of much controversy. Though it is known to possess antioxidant properties, recent assertions have implied that vitamin E may not be limited to this function in living systems. Through densitometry measurements and small-angle X-ray scattering we observe favorable interactions between α-tocopherol and unsaturated phospholipids, with more favorable interactions correlating to an increase in lipid chain unsaturation. Our data provide evidence that vitamin E may preferentially associate with oxygen sensitive lipids-an association that is considered innate for a viable membrane antioxidant.

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Innovating Transcriptomics For Practitioners In Freshwater Fish Management And Conservation: Best Practices Across Diverse Resource-Sector Users, C. A.D. Semeniuk, K. M. Jeffries, T. Li, C. M. Bettles, S. J. Cooke, B. A. Dufour, E. A. Halfyard, J. W. Heath, K. Keeshig, N. E. Mandrak, A. J. Muir, L. Postma, D. D. Heath Sep 2022

Innovating Transcriptomics For Practitioners In Freshwater Fish Management And Conservation: Best Practices Across Diverse Resource-Sector Users, C. A.D. Semeniuk, K. M. Jeffries, T. Li, C. M. Bettles, S. J. Cooke, B. A. Dufour, E. A. Halfyard, J. W. Heath, K. Keeshig, N. E. Mandrak, A. J. Muir, L. Postma, D. D. Heath

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Thriving freshwater fish populations contribute to people’s economic prosperity and wellbeing. Yet, freshwater fish populations are in critical condition around the globe. Most stressors to freshwater fishes, fisheries, and culture stem from habitat impacts, water-quality issues, and aquatic invasive species. Logistical difficulties of monitoring fish health are compounded by the limitations of conventional (capture-based) sampling methods, which provide only a temporal “snapshot” and generate data lacking in sensitivity and prognostic ability. Here, we propose an innovative genomics approach to develop a health toolkit that will allow resource-sector users to determine the health status of freshwater fishes, including their coping capacity, …

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The Total Synthesis Of Glycolipids From Streptococcus Pneumoniae And A Re-Evaluation Of Their Immunological Activity**, Seyed Iraj Sadraei, Greg Yousif, S. Maryamdokht Taimoory, Maryam Kosar, Samaneh Mehri, Raghd Alolabi, Emmanuel Igbokwe, Jason Toma, Mir Munir A. Rahim, John F. Trant Jul 2022

The Total Synthesis Of Glycolipids From Streptococcus Pneumoniae And A Re-Evaluation Of Their Immunological Activity**, Seyed Iraj Sadraei, Greg Yousif, S. Maryamdokht Taimoory, Maryam Kosar, Samaneh Mehri, Raghd Alolabi, Emmanuel Igbokwe, Jason Toma, Mir Munir A. Rahim, John F. Trant

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Invariant natural killer (iNK) T cells, Type I iNKTs, are responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines which induce a systemic immune response. They are distinctive in possessing an semi-invariant T-cell receptor that recognizes glycolipid antigens presented by CD1d, a protein closely related to the class I major histocompatibility complex, conserved across multiple mammalian species in a class of proteins well-renowned for their high degree of polymorphism. This receptor's first potent identified antigen is the α-galactosylceramide, KRN7000, a synthetic glycosphingolipid closely related to those isolated from bacteria that were found on a Japanese marine sponge. A corresponding terrestrial antigen remained …

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The Interaction And Orientation Of Peptide Kl4 In Model Membranes, Drew Marquardt, Brad Van Oosten, Maksymilian Dziura, Joanna R. Long, Thad A. Harroun Jul 2022

The Interaction And Orientation Of Peptide Kl4 In Model Membranes, Drew Marquardt, Brad Van Oosten, Maksymilian Dziura, Joanna R. Long, Thad A. Harroun

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

We report on the orientation and location of synthetic pulmonary surfactant peptide KL4, (KLLLL)4K, in model lipid membranes. The partitioning depths of selectively deuterated leucine residues within KL4 were determined in DPPC:POPG (4:1) and POPC:POPG (4:1) bilayers by oriented neutron diffraction. These measurements were combined with an NMR-generated model of the peptide structure to determine the orientation and partitioning of the peptide at the lipid–water interface. The results demonstrate KL4 adopting an orientation that interacts with a single membrane leaflet. These observations are consistent with past 2H NMR and EPR studies (Antharam et al., 2009; Turner et al., 2014).

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Metatranscriptomic Sequencing Of Winter And Spring Planktonic Communities From Lake Erie, A Laurentian Great Lake, Brittany N. Zepernick, Elizabeth R. Denison, Justin D. Chaffin, George S. Bullerjahn, Christa P. Pennacchio, Thijs Frenken, Daniel H. Peck, James T. Anderson, Derek Niles, Arthur Zastepa, R. L.Michael Mckay, Steven W. Wilhelm Jul 2022

Metatranscriptomic Sequencing Of Winter And Spring Planktonic Communities From Lake Erie, A Laurentian Great Lake, Brittany N. Zepernick, Elizabeth R. Denison, Justin D. Chaffin, George S. Bullerjahn, Christa P. Pennacchio, Thijs Frenken, Daniel H. Peck, James T. Anderson, Derek Niles, Arthur Zastepa, R. L.Michael Mckay, Steven W. Wilhelm

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

Previous reports suggest planktonic and under-ice winter microbial communities in Lake Erie are dominated by diatoms. Here, we report the assembled metatranscriptomes of 79 Lake Erie surface water microbial communities spanning both the winter (28 samples) and spring (51 samples) months over spatial, temporal, and climatic gradients in 2019 through 2020.

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Metagenomics Of Wastewater Influent From Wastewater Treatment Facilities Across Ontario In The Era Of Emerging Sars-Cov-2 Variants Of Concern, Opeyemi U. Lawal, Linkang Zhang, Valeria R. Parreira, R. Stephen Brown, Charles Chettleburgh, Nora Dannah, Robert Delatolla, Kimberly A. Gilbride, Tyson E. Graber, Golam Islam, James Knockleby, Sean Ma, Hanlan Mcdougall, R. Michael Mckay, Aleksandra Mloszewska, Claire Oswald, Mark Servos, Megan Swinwood-Sky Jul 2022

Metagenomics Of Wastewater Influent From Wastewater Treatment Facilities Across Ontario In The Era Of Emerging Sars-Cov-2 Variants Of Concern, Opeyemi U. Lawal, Linkang Zhang, Valeria R. Parreira, R. Stephen Brown, Charles Chettleburgh, Nora Dannah, Robert Delatolla, Kimberly A. Gilbride, Tyson E. Graber, Golam Islam, James Knockleby, Sean Ma, Hanlan Mcdougall, R. Michael Mckay, Aleksandra Mloszewska, Claire Oswald, Mark Servos, Megan Swinwood-Sky

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Publications

We report metagenomic sequencing analyses of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in composite wastewater influent from 10 regions in Ontario, Canada, during the transition between Delta and Omicron variants of concern. The Delta and Omicron BA.1/BA.1.1 and BA.2-defining mutations occurring in various frequencies were reported in the consensus and subconsensus sequences of the composite samples.

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Probing The Link Between Pancratistatin And Mitochondrial Apoptosis Through Changes In The Membrane Dynamics On The Nanoscale, Stuart R. Castillo, Brett W. Rickeard, Mitchell Dipasquale, Michael H.L. Nguyen, Aislyn Lewis-Laurent, Milka Doktorova, Batuhan Kav, Markus S. Miettinen, Michihiro Nagao, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt Jun 2022

Probing The Link Between Pancratistatin And Mitochondrial Apoptosis Through Changes In The Membrane Dynamics On The Nanoscale, Stuart R. Castillo, Brett W. Rickeard, Mitchell Dipasquale, Michael H.L. Nguyen, Aislyn Lewis-Laurent, Milka Doktorova, Batuhan Kav, Markus S. Miettinen, Michihiro Nagao, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Drew Marquardt

Chemistry and Biochemistry Publications

Pancratistatin (PST) is a natural antiviral alkaloid that has demonstrated specificity toward cancerous cells and explicitly targets the mitochondria. PST initiates apoptosis while leaving healthy, noncancerous cells unscathed. However, the manner by which PST induces apoptosis remains elusive and impedes the advancement of PST as a natural anticancer therapeutic agent. Herein, we use neutron spin-echo (NSE) spectroscopy, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and supporting small angle scattering techniques to study PST's effect on membrane dynamics using biologically representative model membranes. Our data suggests that PST stiffens the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) by being preferentially associated with cardiolipin, which would lead to …

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