Digital Commons Network^™

Downregulation Of Slc40a1 Leads To Iron Accumulation In Fibrotic Lung Fibroblasts, Quanjin Dang, Chaoqun Huang, Yurong Liang, Akshaya Surendran, Dharanya Muthiah, Kishore Vaddadi, Sankha Hewawasam, Tingting W Mills, Lin Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Iron is an essential nutrient for almost all organisms. However, excess iron generates reactive oxygen species and causes tissue injuries. Iron is implicated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In this study, we examined iron accumulation in fibrotic lung fibroblasts and the underlying mechanisms. We hypothesize that the downregulation of Solute Carrier Family 40 Member 1 (SLC40A1) results in iron accumulation in lung fibroblasts of IPF patients. Using a Prussian Blue iron staining, we found that iron accumulated in the fibrotic region of the lungs from IPF patients and bleomycin- and asbestos-induced lung fibrosis mice. Iron was partially co-localized with the …

An Application-Based Ontological Knowledge Base Of Medications To Support Health Literacy And Adherence For The Consumer Population: An Aging Population Use Case, Clifford Chen, Muhammad Amith, Kirk Roberts, Rebecca Mauldin, Renata Komalasari, Cui Tao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

The Origin Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Depends On Metabolic Zonation, Jason Guo, Roger Liang, Andrew Chung, Zhijie Li, Boyuan Li, Eric Chen, Lin Li, Jingjing Wang, Meng-Hsiung Hsieh, Ivy Xiangyi Fang, Benjamin Kroger, Yunguan Wang, Min Zhu, Xiongzhao Ren, Greg Mannino, Yuemeng Jia, Yonglong Wei, Stephen Moore, Daniel J Siegwart, Stephen S Chung, Zixi Wang, Tripti Sharma, Suman Komjeti, Yi Han, Purva Gopal, Guanghua Xiao, Tao Wang, Hao Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The origin of cancer is poorly understood because premalignant cells are rarely followed in their native environments. Although the spatial compartmentalization of metabolic functions is critical for proper liver function, it is unknown whether cancers arise from some zones but not others and whether there are metabolic determinants of cancer risk. Zone-specific, mosaic introduction of Ctnnb1 (catenin beta 1) and Arid2 (AT-rich interaction domain 2) mutations, commonly co-mutated genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), in mouse models showed that position and metabolic context determine clone fates. Ctnnb1/Arid2-driven cancers were much more likely to arise in zone 3. The …

Analysis Of Active Ingredients In Medicinal Herbs With High-Performance Liquid Chromatography And Related Technologies: A Review, T.-H. Tsai, C.-Y. Hong, C.-F. Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

An increasing number of analytical techniques have been brought to bear on the herbal drugs used in traditional Chinese medicine. This in turn has led to improved quality control of medicinal herbs, ingredient stability and shelf-life tests, ensurement of the concentrations of herbal drug ingredients in biological fluids, and pharmacokinetic studies. In the past decades, gas chromatography has been the method of choice for the analysis of volatile compounds, while liquid chromatography is a highly successful separation technique for nonvolatile molecules. Recently, high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with various column and detection systems have become some of the most important techniques …

The Cortico-Cortical And Subcortical Circuits Of The Human Brain Language Centers Including The Dual Limbic And Language Functioning Fiber Tracts, Arash Kamali, Nithya P Narayana, Anastasia Loiko, Anusha Gandhi, Paul E Schulz, Nitin Tandon, Manish N Shah, Vinodh A Kumar, Larry A Kramer, Jay-Jiguang Zhu, Haris Sair, Roy F Riascos, Khader M Hasan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: In recent years, MRI-based diffusion-weighted tractography techniques have uncovered additional white matter pathways that have significant roles in language processing and production. In this review, we aim to outline the major language centers of the brain and major language pathways along with association tracts that serve dual roles in both the language and limbic systems. According to the current dual-stream model of language processing, the brain's language network is organized into a dorsal stream, responsible for mapping sound to articulation, and a ventral stream, which maps sound to meaning.

Materials and Methods: The literature cited in this …

A Robust Convnext-Based Framework For Efficient, Generalizable, And Explainable Brain Tumor Classification On Mri, Kirti Pant, Pijush Kanti Dutta Pramanik, Zhongming Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Accurate and dependable brain tumor classification from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for clinical decision support, yet remains challenging due to inter-dataset variability, heterogeneous tumor appearances, and limited generalization of many deep learning models. Existing studies often rely on single-dataset evaluation, insufficient statistical validation, or lack interpretability, which restricts their clinical reliability and real-world deployment.

Methods: This study proposes a robust brain tumor classification framework based on the ConvNeXt Base architecture. The model is evaluated across three independent MRI datasets comprising four classes-glioma, meningioma, pituitary tumor, and no tumor. Performance is assessed using class-wise and aggregate metrics, including …

Interseeding Cover Crops Into Corn In The Intermountain West, Matt Yost, Jenae Dean, Michael Pace, Tony Richards, Andrew Wallace, Jacob Hadfield, Steven Hines, Cody Zesiger, Jody Gale, Rhonda Miller, Earl Creech, Matt Palmer

All Current Publications

Interseeding cover crops into corn may provide many benefits, such as weed suppression, nitrogen fixation from legume covers, and, most importantly, soil cover and forage for livestock after corn harvest. It also has the potential to negatively impact corn production if competition with covers for water and nutrients is too high. The purpose of this guide is to discuss recent research and experience with interseeding cover crops in the Intermountain West.

Effects Of Leucine Supplementation On Athletic Performance, Central Fatigue, And Serum Metabolism In Endurance Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Trial And Targeted Metabolomics Study, Tieying Li, Wei Xu, Jun Chen, Zhaobo Kan, Xuemei Sui, Zhiguang Zhao, Qirong Wang

Faculty Publications

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effects of 6 weeks of leucine supplementation on athletic performance, central fatigue, and serum metabolome in endurance athletes, and to provide valuable insights into nutritional strategies for endurance athletes. Methods: Twenty cross-country skiers were recruited and randomized into 2 groups: the placebo (PLA) group and the leucine (LEU) group. Subjects were given leucine (8.5 g) + sucrose (14 g) or only sucrose (14 g) supplements twice each day from Monday to Saturday for 6 weeks. Test parameters include body composition, aerobic capacity, isokinetic muscle strength, blood biochemistry, and targeted metabolomics. Results: After intervention, compared …

Early Life Stress Mediates Cardiovascular Disease Risk Through Csf1r And Increases Risk Of Lupus Through Mature B-Cells, Cailin Elizabeth Kellum

ETDs from 2020-2029

The term Early Life Stress (ELS) encompasses traumatic events occurring before the age of 18 such as physical abuse, verbal abuse, household dysfunctions, sexual abuse, childhood neglect, child maltreatment, and adverse childhood experiences. The traumatic psychological and physical experiences in early life are widely known to cause enduring effects on mental and physical health in adulthood. Of note, individuals with ELS have adverse health outcomes earlier in adulthood and with more severity such as in the case of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE), an autoimmune disease. The risk for autoimmunity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases with ELS exposure and CVD is …

Lmod1 Modulates Neointimal Lesion Size After Vessel Injury And Stabilizes Smooth Muscle Cell Gene Regulatory Networks During Atherogenic Stress, Sara Wennersten

ETDs from 2020-2029

Phenotypic switching of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) from a contractile to a synthetic state underlies the pathogenesis of several cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathologies, including restenosis and atherosclerosis. Leiomodin 1 (LMOD1), an SMC-enriched actin-binding protein, has been previously found to regulate SMC phenotypic modulation in vitro. However, its contribution to CVD development and progression, along with its influence on gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that inform underlying responses to stress, remains incompletely defined. Here, I combine a mouse injury model, bulk RNA sequencing, and GRN inference to define how reduced LMOD1 expression perturbs SMC physiology during vascular wall remodeling and lipid stress. …

Nutritional Care For Adults With Obesity Treated With Glp-1and Dual Gip/Glp-1 Receptor Agonists: A Review Of Evidence, Gaps, And Clinical Implications, Carolina Mcguane

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Abstract

Background:

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GIP/GLP-1 RAs) have revolutionized obesity management, producing unprecedented weight loss outcomes. Their widespread use has outpaced research on nutritional implications, adverse events, and evidence-based guidance for dietitians. Given the central role of nutrition practitioners in supporting adults with obesity, understanding the mechanisms, risks, and nutrition-related outcomes of GLP-1 therapies is critical.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted utilizing PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar to identify relevant peer-reviewed articles on the topic of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) use and nutrition-related …

Assessing Mangrove Ecosystem Health And Identifying Optimal Planting Regions Using Remote Sensing And Gis In The Uae, Imen Ben Salem, A. Karthi, Yousef Nazzal

All Works

Mangrove forests play a critical role in carbon sequestration, biodiversity preservation, and coastal resilience, making their conservation and restoration essential in climate change mitigation. This study uses traditional field evaluations and remote sensing and geoinformatics (GIS) methods to examine how mangrove ecosystems in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have changed over time and space. We used Landsat satellite data from 2001 to 2024 and a set of vegetation indices, including SMRI, NDVI, GNDVI, EVI, and NDCI, to examine spatial patterns in biomass distribution, vegetation density, and overall ecosystem health. CO2 sequestration is a bit more climate-impact resilient. Even though the …

Modulation Of The Cgas-Sting Inflammation Pathway In Mouse Models Of Accelerated And Slowed Aging, Benjamin David Heckman

ETDs from 2020-2029

Chronic sterile inflammation (inflammaging) is a core pillar of aging, and the cGAS-STING innate immune pathway has emerged as a key driver of this process. However, how this pathway intersects with systemic endocrine signaling remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the intersection of endocrine signaling and cGAS-STING activation using two complementary mouse models with opposing lifespan phenotypes: a short-lived, liver-specific glucagon receptor knockout (LKO) mouse and a long-lived growth hormone-releasing hormone knockout (GHRH-KO) mouse. We demonstrate that despite presenting with a metabolically healthy phenotype, female LKO mice exhibited a significantly reduced lifespan. We link this premature mortality to a sex …

Amino Acid Pet Tracers For Cancer Imaging And Response Assessment, Ugur Akca

ETDs from 2020-2029

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and high-grade glioma (HGG) pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their aggressive biology and the limitations of [¹⁸F]FDG PET, which suffers from nonspecific uptake in inflammatory tissues, complicating differentiation of viable tumor from treatment-related effects. Computed Tomography, while strong for structural changes, has limited soft tissue contrast for distinguishing tumor from inflammation, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, despite superior soft tissue resolution, struggles with differentiating active tumor from post-treatment changes like edema or necrosis due to nonspecific enhancement. These challenges highlight the necessity for complementary and advanced imaging strategies for improved diagnosis and monitoring. This …

Clinical Decision Support Using Medical Imaging Artificial Intelligence, Yun-Chi Lin

ETDs from 2020-2029

Medical imaging plays a central role in modern clinical decision-making, yet its effective integration with artificial intelligence (AI) remains challenged by real-world clinical constraints. This dissertation investigates how medical imaging-based AI frameworks can be strategically designed to support clinical decision-making for two distinct but clinically critical scenarios: acute pandemic care and chronic neurodegenerative disease management. In acute pandemic settings, such as the COVID-19 crisis, healthcare systems face an urgent need for rapid risk stratification under conditions of data scarcity and operational stress including surges in patient volume and limited medical resources. This work explores strategies for developing deep learning models …

Investigating Stromal Cell-Mediated Biomechanics For Angiogenesis And Reperfusion In A 3d Microfluidic Model For Ischemic Vascular Disease, Vaishali Bala

ETDs from 2020-2029

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects millions worldwide, causing tissue ischemia and impaired healing due to insufficient blood flow. Current therapeutic strategies to promote revascularization remain limited, largely because the mechanical regulation of angiogenesis is poorly understood. While biochemical growth factors like VEGF have been extensively studied, the role of mechanical forces generated by stromal cells in the perivascular matrix remains underexplored. This dissertation investigated how stromal cell contractility drives vascular growth through mechanotransduction pathways and modulation of endothelial cell-cell junctions. Using 3D fibrin or fibrin-collagen-I-based microtissues and compartmentalized microfluidic devices, we characterized the mechanical phenotypes of multiple fibroblast populations and …

Stat-Independent Functions Of Janus Kinases 1 And 2 Are Obligatory For The Postnatal Development Of Mammary Epithelial Ducts, Rayane Dennaoui, Madison N. Wicker, Carson Moen, Michaela Schlederer, Kerry Vistisen, Aleata A. Triplett, Thomas Rülicke, Hallgeir Rui, Lukas Kenner, Emilio Casanova, Kay-Uwe Wagner

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Janus kinases 1 and 2 and STAT transcription factors are critical signaling nodes for numerous growth factors. In the mammary gland, JAK2 and STAT5a/b are essential for alveolar cell differentiation and lactation, but little is known about the cooperative roles of JAKs and STATs before pregnancy. We examined female mice conditionally deficient in JAK1/2 and discovered that both kinases jointly regulate epithelial cell proliferation and ductal morphogenesis. To assess the role of downstream STATs, we generated genetic models co-deficient in STAT3/5a/5b with or without STAT1 or JAK1. Although loss of STAT3/5a/5b leads to a JAK1-dependent upregulation of STAT1, the formation …

Integrated Proteomics To Understand The Role Of Neuritin-1 (Nrn1) As A Molecular Mediator Of Synaptic Resilience In Alzheimer’S Disease, Derian Pugh

ETDs from 2020-2029

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in adults over the age of 65, and currently affects approximately 6.9 million people in the United States. By 2060, the number of people age 65 and older with AD is projected to reach 13.8 million, barring the development of disease-altering therapies to prevent, slow or cure AD. Thus, there is a need for progress in the understanding of AD pathophysiology, as well as in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Approximately one-third of individuals without dementia at the time of death are found to harbor high levels of amyloid-beta …

Cysteine Protease Activity In Allergen Recognition And Initiation Of Th2 Allergic Responses, Audrey Rae Meloun

ETDs from 2020-2029

Allergens are non-infectious environmental proteins that can trigger T helper 2 (Th2) cell-mediated inflammation in atopic individuals. Allergens are structurally diverse and typically lack pathogen-associated molecules patterns (PAMPs), which are recognized by pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs are the canonical sensors of the innate immune system that typically detect PAMPs in microbes, initiating signaling pathways that drive pathogen clearance. Because allergens generally do not activate PRRs in the same way as infectious agents, alternative detection mechanisms are likely responsible for their recognition and the subsequent initiation of Th2 cell-mediated inflammation. House Dust Mite (HDM), a major indoor allergen, and other …

Analysis Of Activated Carbon Fiber (Acf) As Particulate Filtration And Volatile Organic Compound (Voc) Media For The Development Of A Dual-Air Purifying Facepiece Respirator, Brie Mcmahan

ETDs from 2020-2029

Exposure to particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in occupational or public settings poses adverse health outcomes such as respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive, neurological, carcinogenic morbidity and mortality. Many occupational settings expose workers to PM and VOC concurrently, yet most commercially available respirators are designed to address either particulates or vapors alone. This includes air-purifying respirators (APRs), powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), and filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) with nuisance-level vapor protection, often limited by bulk, discomfort, high pressure drop, and misuse. We identified a need for alternative dual-exposure media and a respiratory protection device that is lighter, and more comfortable …

Development Of Human Trophoblast Cell Surface Antigen-2 (Trop-2) Specific Radiopharmaceutical Tracers, Arnav Vipulkumar Patel

ETDs from 2020-2029

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is closely related to the development and progression of triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) and is also being investigated as a pan-cancer biomarker. Trop-2 tumorigenesis is mediated by the calcium ion signaling pathways. By accurately predicting and targeting Trop-2 for immunotherapy, precision therapy is crucial. Trop-2 is overexpressed in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues, which makes it a promising molecular target for cancer-targeted therapy. This thesis reports the development and preclinical evaluation of two novel Trop-2-specific radiopharmaceutical tracers derived from the clinically approved antibody-drug conjugate Sacituzumab Govitecan (SG): a full antibody drug conjugate-based tracer …

Beyond Neurons: Impact Of Cannabidiol On Glial Cells In Ischemic Stroke, Victória Linden De Rezende, Khiany Mathias, Cinara Ludvig Gonçalves, Rafael Mariano De Bitencourt, Tatiana Barichello, Fabricia Petronilho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ischemic stroke triggers a complex cascade of events involving inflammation, oxidative stress, and glial cell dysfunction, all of which contribute to neuronal damage and impaired recovery. Glial cells (e.g., astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes) play key roles in neuroinflammatory responses, making them attractive targets for therapeutic modulation. Cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid from Cannabis sativa, exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Preclinical evidence indicates that cannabidiol attenuates glial reactivity, reduces pro-inflammatory signaling, mitigates oxidative stress, and preserves blood-brain and intestinal barrier integrity in stroke models. Moreover, cannabidiol modulates key molecular pathways (e.g., nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor, and calcium-related signaling), contributing to …

Targeting Interleukin-6 Trans-Signaling To Improve Post-Stroke Inflammation: A Precision Immunotherapy Perspective, Kate Mendoza, Dustin T Nguyen, Anjali Chauhan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Structures Of Invertebrate Pezo-1 Isoforms With A Compact Architecture And A Dispensable Pore-Distal N-Terminal Blade, Briar Bell, Angela M Jaramillo-Granada, Daniel J Orlin, Wei-Hsiang Weng, Haosheng Wen, Marcos Sotomayor, Alexander T Chesler, Matthew L Baker, Julio F Cordero-Morales, Valeria Vásquez

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PIEZO channels are mechanosensitive ion channels conserved from plants to humans, yet structures exist for only a few mammalian orthologs. We define the structural and functional diversity of Caenorhabditis elegans PEZO-1, a single gene with extensive alternative splicing, by determining cryo-electron microscopy structures of three representative isoforms: G (full length), K (lacking the pore-distal N-terminal blade), and L (missing most of the blade). PEZO-1G displays mechanically evoked currents yet adopts a compact, semi-flattened conformation that significantly differs from the mammalian domes. The blades exhibit a three-step slope architecture stabilized by inter-blade latching among transmembrane helical units, yielding a circular, steering-wheel-like …

Structures Of Trpv1 Bound By Hyperthermia-Inducing Analgesics, Yu-Hao Gao, Yi-Zhe Huang, Zhao-Xing Li, Xiao-Ying Chen, Chang-Yan Shao, Han-Wen Li, Bin Liu, Fán Yang, Mei-Rong Chen, Mei-Ling Lu, Michael X Zhu, Fan Yang, Yi-Bei Xiao, Ye Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

TRPV1, a member of the transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily, mediates nociception and thermoregulation. TRPV1-targeting analgesics frequently induce hyperthermia, underscoring the need for structural insights to guide the development of safer compounds. Here, we determined the structures of rat TRPV1 bound to the clinical candidate analgesics AMG517, AMG9810, and SB366791. AMG517 and AMG9810 are deeply situated within the S3-S4 interface of the vanilloid pocket, where they interact with residues from the S3-S6 helices, as well as the S4-S5 linker. These interactions induce local deformations in the TRP-box and lower S6 helix, accompanied by a modest rotation of the S1-S4 bundle, …

Differentiation In The Human Urothelia Is Defined By Distinct Alternative Polyadenylation, Ninh B Le, Surbhi Sona, Briana Santo, Yi Zhang, Rosie Ou, R Allen Schweickart, Veena Kochat, William I Padron, Kunal Rai, Shih-Han Lee, Joo Mi Yi, Oliver Wessely, Byron H Lee, Angela H Ting

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Distinct epithelial cell states arise during differentiation, but mechanisms generating transcriptomic diversity among them remain poorly defined. The human ureter urothelium contains basal progenitor, intermediate cells, and terminally differentiated umbrella cells. Prior single-cell RNA sequencing revealed similar global gene expression profiles across these states, raising the question of how distinct identities emerge. Here, we show that alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) introduces a major layer of transcriptomic diversity during urothelial differentiation, largely independent of changes in mRNA levels. Analysis of 13,544 urothelial cells identified hundreds of differentiation-associated APA events. Single-cell imaging revealed spatially specific APA patterns, and reporter assays demonstrated …

Differentiation In The Human Urothelia Is Defined By Distinct Alternative Polyadenylation, Ninh B Le, Surbhi Sona, Briana Santo, Yi Zhang, Rosie Ou, R Allen Schweickart, Veena Kochat, William I Padron, Kunal Rai, Shih-Han Lee, Joo Mi Yi, Oliver Wessely, Byron H Lee, Angela H Ting

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Distinct epithelial cell states arise during differentiation, but mechanisms generating transcriptomic diversity among them remain poorly defined. The human ureter urothelium contains basal progenitor, intermediate cells, and terminally differentiated umbrella cells. Prior single-cell RNA sequencing revealed similar global gene expression profiles across these states, raising the question of how distinct identities emerge. Here, we show that alternative cleavage and polyadenylation (APA) introduces a major layer of transcriptomic diversity during urothelial differentiation, largely independent of changes in mRNA levels. Analysis of 13,544 urothelial cells identified hundreds of differentiation-associated APA events. Single-cell imaging revealed spatially specific APA patterns, and reporter assays demonstrated …

Conned By The Enemy: The Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium Anisopliae Lures And Kills Drosophila Suzukii, Ibrahim M. Farid, Shepard Ndlela, Paul G. Becher, Christopher W. Weldon, Abdelmutalab Ga Azrag, Helgi B. Schiöth, Samira A. Mohamed, Sunday Ekesi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

BACKGROUND: Drosophila suzukii, commonly known as spotted wing drosophila (SWD), is a highly invasive and economically major pest that inflicts significant damage on soft-skinned fruit crops, including raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, cherries and grapes. The recent invasion of D. suzukii in Africa represents a key impediment to the berry industry on the continent. Conventional control strategies for this pest rely heavily on chemical insecticides, which pose several adverse side effects on biodiversity and environmental health. In this study, we evaluated five Metarhizium anisopliae isolates (ICIPE 7, ICIPE 18, ICIPE 20, ICIPE 30, ICIPE 78) for development as a biopesticide for …

Mechanistic Insights Into The Antimicrobial Effect Of Benzodioxane-Benzamides Against Escherichia Coli, Lorenzo Suigo, Alessia Lanzini, Valentina Straniero, William Margolin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: The bacterial cell division machinery is emerging as an attractive target for antimicrobial compounds. FtsZ, a highly conserved essential division protein, is the target for a number of small molecules such as benzamides. Recent studies show that benzodioxane-benzamides (BDOBs) are among the most potent inhibitors of FtsZ function in Gram-positive bacteria, although their ability to inhibit Gram-negative FtsZ, in particular Escherichia coli FtsZ, has been more controversial.

Methods: Here, we use genetic and cytological methods to demonstrate that FtsZ of efflux pump-disabled E. coli can be efficiently targeted by BDOBs.

Results: We show that engineered mutants …

A Bovine Cell Line Resistant To Japanese Encephalitis Virus Entry But Permissive To Post-Entry Replication, Sang-Im Yun, Young-Min Lee

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic orthoflavivirus that poses a significant global health threat. It causes severe neuroinflammatory disease in humans and reproductive failure in swine. Because of the broad host range and cell tropism of JEV, identifying animal cell lines resistant to infection has been a persistent challenge. In this study, we demonstrate that Madin–Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells are resistant to JEV infection yet remain fully permissive to viral replication when transfected with viral genomic RNA. Using immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry, we show that MDBK cells, unlike the highly susceptible baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells …