Microbiology Commons^™

Amp-Activated Protein Kinase Knockdown In Labyrinthine Trophoblast Cells Results In Altered Morphology And Function, Erica Ashton Kayleigh Carey

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The placenta is a transient organ that develops upon initiation of pregnancy and is essential for fetal development and survival. The rodent placenta consists of three layers with predominantly analogous cell types in the human placenta. The labyrinth layer, which lies closest to the fetus, facilitates nutrient and waste exchange between mother and baby. Abnormalities of the placenta may occur as a result of cellular stress and have been associated with the pregnancy-associated disorders, intrauterine growth restriction and placental insufficiency. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a master sensor of cellular stress and changes in AMPK expression or activation could be …

Novel Approaches For The Eradication Of Hiv Latently Infected Cells, Sally Al Ali

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The development of a suitable experimental cell model to study HIV latency in primary cells could have a massive effect on the current approaches to eradicate virus in latently infected cells. The main proposal of this paper is to develop an in vitro HIV cell model that represents HIV latency in vivo, then to create a more effective viral vector in order to target HIV reservoirs. For this goal, a directed evolution method is suggested to be used in order to mutate the AAV cap gene to generate a recombinant AAV vector that is capable of infecting primary resting CD4+ …

Hpai H5n1: A Global Pandemic Concern, With Implications For Pandemic Preperation And Public Health Policy, Lauren M. Koontz

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Research on highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 has gained much attention in recent years due to its devastating impact within the bird population. While transmission to humans is rare, infections are fatal in more than half of the cases. One of the main concerns among the scientific community is the ability for this virus to mutate in a way much like seasonal influeanza that would allow it to be transmitted efficiently among the human population. Two researchers were able to separately create mutant isolates of H5N1 influenza A virus that could be transmitted via the respiratory route between …

Type I Interferon Activation Of Natural Killer (Nk) Cells By Cytomegalovirus (Cmv) And Their Interaction With Dendritic (Dc) And Nkt Cells, Howaida A. Oulad Abdelati

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In our current study the roles of natural killer (NK) cells in regulation of the acute phase of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection were demonstrated. NK cells utilize perforin and gamma interferon to kill MCMV infected cells. Activation of NK cells is controlled by the balance between inhibitory and activation receptors and modulated by cytokines produced from the infected cells. Type I interferons are produced mainly by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs). Type I interferons have a substantial role in enhancing NK cells cytotoxic activity and NK cells proliferation and maintain cell survival through STAT mediated signaling pathway. IL-12 produced by dendritic …

Conversion Of The U937 Monocyte Into "Macrophage-Like" Populations Exhibiting M1 Or M2 Characteristics, Bradley M. Sharp

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The U937 cell line is an oncogenic human monocyte cell line. These monocytes have the potential of differentiating into either macrophages or dendritic cells (Lawrence et al., 2011). This differentiation pattern depends on the characteristics of the tissue microenvironment (Kigerl et al., 2009). PMA (Phorbol 12-Myristate 13-Acetate) is a phorbol ester capable of transforming monocytic cells toward the macrophage pathway. Upon treatment with PMA, U937 cells under-go a series of morphological and functional changes. Traditionally monocytic cell lines are used as a model of macrophage function, because current human macrophage cell lines require a T-cell conditioned growth medium and contact …

Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Alpha (Hif-1a): A Major Regulator Of Placental Development, Renee E. Albers

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Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1a) is a critical component of the cellular oxygen-sensing machinery and is essential for placental formation and embryonic survival. In this study, we promoted prolonged expression of HIF-1a, by using a form that is insensitive to oxygen, denoted as CA-HIF-1a. In order to have continual placental specific expression of the CA-HIF-1a, lentiviral infection was performed on embryos at the blastocyst stage of development and transferred into pseudo-pregnant mothers. Placental analysis was performed via in situ hybridization on embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) to determine the effects of CA-HIF-1a prolonged expression. Data indicate that prolonged activity of CA-HIF-1a restricted …

Establishment Of A Quiscence Herpes Simplex Type 1 Infection In L929 Fibroblasts And Neuro-2a Cells By A Nucleoside Analogue Acyclovir, Noura Shaklawoon

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Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) quiescent infection was established in L929 cells, murine fibroblasts, and in Neuro-2A (N2A) cells, mouse neuroblastoma, by treating them with the nucleoside analogue acyclovir (ACV) 24 hours before infection. Subsequent release of virus from the non-productive state was accomplished by treating the cells with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA). Treatment of both L929 and N2A cell lines with ACV 24 hours before infection induced protection from HSV-1 cytopathic effect. A quiescent state was confirmed by absence of virus plaques when supernatant fluids from ACV-treated HSV-1 infected cultures were titered on Vero cell monolayers. …

The Effect Of Hsv-1 Infection On Differentiated And Polarized U937 Cells, Allolo Dreiwish Aldreiwish

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Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) challenges the host immune system through several mechanisms (Frey, et al., 2009). In vitro, U937 cells (human macrophage-like precursor cell line) are not susceptible to HSV-1 infection when they are not differentiating (Lopez-Guerrero and Alonso, 1997). Differentiation of these cells resistance can abrogates their resistance to HSV-1 (Tenney and Morahan, 1991). In this study, we examined the effect of HSV-1 infection on differentiated and polarized U937 cells. U937 cells are differentiated to M0 cells.

Then, M0 cells are polarized to distinct phenotypes, M1 or M2. M1 are proinflammatory macrophages while M2 are anti-inflammatory cells. …

N-Glycosylation, Localization And Trafficking Of Endogenous Nkcc1 In Cos7 Cells, Richa Singh

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The Na+K+2Cl^- co-transporter-1 (NKCC1) effects the electroneutral movement of Na+, K+ and 2Cl^- ions across plasma membranes. NKCC1 is considered a widely distributed, highly N-glycosylated ion transporter involved in the regulation of the intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl^-]i), cell volume and salt secretion. NKCC1 locates in the plasma membrane of all cells studied so far, particularly on the basolateral side of most polarized cells. However, the majority of immunoreactive NKCC1 distributes in intracellular compartments of unknown nature whereas a small proportion of the transporter appears to be located in the plasma membrane. Here, we identified and characterized …