Digital Commons Network^™

Soluble Antimicrobial Peptide (Amp) Screening To Rationally Design Amp-Hydrogels That Selectively Prevent Biofilm Formation, Matthias Recktenwald, Muskanjot Kaur, Mohammed M. Benmassaoud, Aryanna Copling, Tulika Khanna, Michael Curry, Denise Cortes, Gilbert Fleischer, Valerie J. Carabetta, Sebastián L. Vega

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that lives on surfaces and skin and can cause serious infections once inside the body. While antibiotics effectively kill bacteria, there are a growing number of infections with antibiotic-resistant strains. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are part of the innate immune system and can eliminate pathogens including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and are a promising alternative to antibiotics. Although studies have reported that AMP-functionalized hydrogels can prevent bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, these materials generally consist of one AMP at an arbitrary concentration, and AMP dosing and the combined effects of multiple AMPs are not well …

The Role Of Med13 In Proteaphagy, John Sauer, Brittany Friedson, Katrina Cooper

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Regulation of proteasomes is important for adaptation to cellular stress. Previous studies have shown that following starvation stress, proteasomes are targeted for destruction by autophagy. However, how cells control proteasomes in response to nitrogen starvation remains unclear. This study delves into the intricate interplay between Med13, proteaphagy, and stress response regulation, aiming to elucidate their roles in cellular survival mechanisms. It focused on the highly conserved Cdk8 kinase module (CKM) of the Mediator complex a that plays a pivotal involvement in cellular signaling and gene regulation under stress conditions. During the investigation, we asked if the degradation of specific proteasome …

Tsyn-Seq: A T-Cell Synapse-Based Antigen Identification Platform, Yimei Jin, Takahiko Miyama, Alexandria Brown, Tomo Hayase, Xingzhi Song, Anand K Singh, Licai Huang, Ivonne I Flores, Lauren K Mcdaniel, Israel Glover, Taylor M Halsey, Rishika Prasad, Valerie Chapa, Saira Ahmed, Jianhua Zhang, Kunal Rai, Christine B Peterson, Gregory Lizee, Jennifer Karmouch, Eiko Hayase, Jeffrey J Molldrem, Chia-Chi Chang, Wen-Bin Tsai, Robert R Jenq

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tools for genome-wide rapid identification of peptide-major histocompatibility complex targets of T-cell receptors (TCR) are not yet universally available. We present a new antigen screening method, the T-synapse (Tsyn) reporter system, which includes antigen-presenting cells (APC) with a Fas-inducible NF-κB reporter and T cells with a nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) reporter. To functionally screen for target antigens from a cDNA library, productively interacting T cell-APC aggregates were detected by dual-reporter activity and enriched by flow sorting followed by antigen identification quantified by deep sequencing (Tsyn-seq). When applied to a previously characterized TCR specific for the E7 antigen …

De Novo Genome Assembly For The Coppery Titi Monkey (Plecturocebus Cupreus): An Emerging Nonhuman Primate Model For Behavioral Research, Susanne P Pfeifer, Alexander Baxter, Logan E Savidge, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Karen L Bales

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The coppery titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) is an emerging nonhuman primate model system for behavioral and neurobiological research. At the same time, the almost entire absence of genomic resources for the species has hampered insights into the genetic underpinnings of the phenotypic traits of interest. To facilitate future genotype-to-phenotype studies, we here present a high-quality, fully annotated de novo genome assembly for the species with chromosome-length scaffolds spanning the autosomes and chromosome X (scaffold N50 = 130.8 Mb), constructed using data obtained from several orthologous short- and long-read sequencing and scaffolding techniques. With a base-level accuracy of ∼99.99% in chromosome-length …

Fam86a Methylation Of Eef2 Links Mrna Translation Elongation To Tumorigenesis, Joel William Francis, Simone Hausmann, Sabeen Ikram, Kunlun Yin, Robert Mealey-Farr, Natasha Mahealani Flores, Annie Truc Trinh, Tourkian Chasan, Julia Thompson, Pawel Karol Mazur, Or Gozani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

eEF2 post-translational modifications (PTMs) can profoundly affect mRNA translation dynamics. However, the physiologic function of eEF2K525 trimethylation (eEF2K525me3), a PTM catalyzed by the enzyme FAM86A, is unknown. Here, we find that FAM86A methylation of eEF2 regulates nascent elongation to promote protein synthesis and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) pathogenesis. The principal physiologic substrate of FAM86A is eEF2, with K525me3 modeled to facilitate productive eEF2-ribosome engagement during translocation. FAM86A depletion in LUAD cells causes 80S monosome accumulation and mRNA translation inhibition. FAM86A is overexpressed in LUAD and eEF2K525me3 levels increase through advancing LUAD disease stages. FAM86A knockdown attenuates LUAD cell proliferation and suppression …

The Role Of Myocardin And Its Effector Proteins In Tgf-Β Induced Cytoskeletal Remodeling Of Ipf Fibroblasts, Khadijat Abolore Olawuyi

Biotechnology Theses

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by thickening and stiffness around the air sacs. Approved treatments like nintedanib and pirfenidone slow disease progression in IPF and often have tolerability issues. More research is needed to fully grasp the mechanisms behind abnormal cytoskeletal changes in lung cells, notably fibroblasts and epithelial cells, and their role in fibrosis progression. Previous studies suggest that myocardin expression and function, traditionally limited to smooth/cardiac development in physiology, become active in pathophysiological conditions like pleural fibrosis. Myocardin's role in liver and kidney fibrosis is known, but its involvement in IPF is unclear. To get more insights, …

Targeted Accurate Rna Consensus Sequencing (Tarc-Seq) Reveals Mechanisms Of Replication Error Affecting Sars-Cov-2 Divergence, Catherine C Bradley, Chen Wang, Alasdair J E Gordon, Alice X Wen, Pamela N Luna, Matthew B Cooke, Brendan F Kohrn, Scott R Kennedy, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Pedro A Piedra, Olivier Lichtarge, Chad A Shaw, Shannon E Ronca, Christophe Herman

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

RNA viruses, like SARS-CoV-2, depend on their RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) for replication, which is error-prone. Monitoring replication errors is crucial for understanding the virus’s evolution. Current methods lack the precision to detect rare de novo RNA mutations, particularly in low-input samples such as those from patients. Here, we introduce a new targeted Accurate RNA Consensus sequencing method (tARC-seq) to accurately determine the mutation frequency and types in SARS-CoV-2, both in cell culture and clinical samples. Our findings show an average of 2.68×10−5 new errors per cycle with a C>T bias that cannot be solely attributed to APOBEC …

Dean's Research Newsletter, May 2024, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Sleep Disturbances In Adults With Tsc: Influences Of Treatment And Clinical Features, Kirstin Risgaard

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic condition caused by pathogenic variants in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes. TSC is characterized by a multisystem, neurocutaneous phenotype including skin lesions, hamartomas, and epilepsy. Additionally, TSC can present with an array of behavioral, psychiatric, academic, psychosocial, intellectual, or neuropsychological difficulties comprehensively known as TAND, or TSC-associated neuropsychiatric disorders. Sleep disorders are a common feature of TAND; however, they are not well characterized in the adult TSC population. Likewise, little is known about how clinical features of the condition and commonly prescribed medications impact sleep. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the …

The Pam-1 Aminopeptidase Protects Against Neurodegeneration In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Caleb Coil

Honors College Theses

The deteriorating effects of neurodegenerative conditions seem inescapable for many as they age. The experimental exploration of the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for neurodegeneration is aided using animal models. For instance, genetic screens have identified the puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA) as a novel effector of neurodegeneration, as mutations in PSA in fruit flies result in perturbations of neuron anatomy and an accelerated onset of neuron death. We have tested the hypothesis that PAM-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of PSA, plays a similar role in governing neurodegeneration in nematodes. Genetic strains were created that express the green fluorescent protein (GFP) in …

Perinatal Buprenorphine Effects On Offspring Growth, Opioid Withdrawal, And Brain Morphology In Rats, Parker Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Opioid use disorder (OUD) impacts 5.6 million people in the US. Buprenorphine (BUP) is a commonly prescribed opioid medication used to treat OUD, including in pregnant women. However, opioid use during pregnancy is associated with poorer infant outcomes including reduced fetal growth, neurodevelopmental deficits, and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Recent clinical data suggests that providing mothers with a lower dose of BUP may result in fewer negative outcomes in infants. Here, a preclinical rodent model of low-dose perinatal BUP exposure was used to study offspring health outcomes in the neonate, juvenile, and adolescent offspring. Dams were given clinically relevant …

Photon Irradation And Cisplatin Enrich Cancer Stem Cells In Ovarian Cancer, Ashley Antonissen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (HGSOC) has a 5-year survival rate of less than 50%. Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest gynecological diseases and the 7th most common female cancer worldwide. Ovarian cancer patients generally have a poor prognosis despite the relatively successful treatments. When conventional cancer treatments, such as cisplatin chemotherapy and photon irradiation, are administered, residual cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) can survive, leading to CSC enrichment. CSCs are a small population of cancer cells that exhibit stem-like characteristics: quiescence (slowing of the cell cycle), differentiation, proliferation, and self-renewal to regenerate new CSCs. We hypothesized that providing cancer …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Opioid Use Disorder In Human Brain Models, Emily Mendez

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a national and global public health crisis with no end in sight. While studies from animal models hint at widespread epigenetic and transcriptomic alterations of opioid drugs, the molecular consequences of long-term exposure to opioid drugs in human brain is still unclear, and human-centered translational models are necessary to discern the human cell type-specific effects of OUD.

Using postmortem brain Brodmann area 9 (BA9) from the UTHealth Brain Collection for Research on Psychiatric Disorders, I identified angiogenic gene networks perturbed in the RNA and protein of OUD subjects, as well as downregulation of many neuron-correlated …

Cord Blood-Derived Invariant Natural Killer T Cells As A Platform For Allogeneic Chimeric Antigen Receptor Cell Therapy, Maison Grefe

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have revolutionized the treatment of hematopoietic malignancies achieving >50% complete response rates in numerous refractory/relapsed B cell malignancies. However, there are challenges that hinder CAR-T efficacy and bar the broader use of this therapy in patients. One approach to address these challenges is to create a safe allogeneic CAR cell product by using cells that do not cause graft versus host disease (GvHD). Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are an ideal candidate as they are restricted to the monomorphic CD1d protein in contrast to HLA restricted αβ-T cells and therefore are safe in …

Epiregulin As A Novel Target For Antibody-Drug Conjugate Development For The Treatment Of Colorectal Cancer, Joan Jacob

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a fast-growing class of molecularly targeted therapies with 13 currently approved and over a 100 in clinical trials. ADCs consist of a monoclonal antibody (mAb) conjugated to a potent cytotoxic payload to selectively target tumor antigens highly expressed on the cell surface. ADC development has been limited in colorectal cancer (CRC) by the lack of novel and effective therapeutic targets. Epiregulin (EREG), is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand that is highly expressed in CRCs of different subtypes and mutational statuses with low expression in normal tissues. Here, we have characterized the role of EREG …

Molecular Basis Of Cell Membrane Adaption Against Daptomycin In Enterococcus Faecalis, April Nguyen

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Daptomycin is a last-resort lipopeptide antibiotic that disrupts cell membrane (CM) and peptidoglycan homeostasis (Grein et al., 2020a; Müller et al., 2016a). Enterococcus faecalis has developed a sophisticated mechanism to avoid daptomycin killing by redistributing CM anionic phospholipids away from the septum. The CM changes are orchestrated by a three-component regulatory system, designated LiaFSR, with a possible contribution of cardiolipin synthase (Cls) (Cesar A Arias et al., 2011a; Khan et al., 2019b; Palmer et al., 2011a; Panesso et al., 2015a; Reyes et al., 2015a). However, the mechanism by which LiaFSR controls the cell membrane response and the role of Cls …

Macrophage Polarization And Colorectal Cancer Immune Checkpoint Protein Expression., Anne Macleod

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The majority of patients with colorectal cancer do not respond to treatment with immunotherapy. Immunotherapy requires the expression of cell surface immune checkpoint proteins (e.g. PDL1) to exert its effect. Most (>85%) of colorectal cancers do not express these proteins and this contributes in part to the poor prognosis and survival in patients with advanced disease. The patients in which immunotherapy is a potential treatment option, are a genetic subtype known as mismatch repair deficient, and have demonstrated an excellent response to anti-PD-1/PDL1 immunotherapy. A key feature of mismatch repair deficient (MMRd) cancers is their immune cell rich tumor …

Light Scattering By Vitreous Of Humans With Vision Degrading Myodesopsia From Floaters, Alba M Paniagua-Diaz, Justin H Nguyen, Pablo Artal, Wei Gui, J Sebag

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Vision-degrading myodesopsia (VDM) from vitreous floaters significantly degrades vision and impacts visual quality of life (VQOL), but the relationship to light scattering is poorly understood. This study compared in vitro measures of light scatter and transmission in surgically excised human vitreous to preoperative indexes of vitreous structure, visual function, and VQOL.

METHODS: Pure vitreous collected during vitrectomy from 8 patients with VDM had wide-angle straylight measurements and dark-field imaging, performed within 36 hours of vitrectomy. Preoperative VQOL assessment with VFQ-25, contrast sensitivity (CS) measurements with Freiburg acuity contrast testing, and quantitative ultrasonography were compared to light scattering and transmission …

Use Of Advanced Diagnostics For Timely Identification Of Travel-Associated Leptospira Santarosai Infection In Four Adolescents Through Plasma Microbial Cell-Free Dna Sequencing With The Karius Test, Hai Nguyen-Tran, Guliz Erdem, P Marcelo Laufer, Lori Patterson, Asim A Ahmed, William A Bower, Renee Galloway, Sara Saporta-Keating

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Leptospirosis is an important zoonotic infection worldwide. Diagnosis of leptospirosis is challenging given its nonspecific clinical symptoms that overlap with other acute febrile illnesses and limitations with conventional diagnostic testing. Alternative advanced diagnostics, such as microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA), are increasingly being used to aid in the diagnosis of infections and can be applied to pathogens with public health importance such as Leptospira , a nationally notifiable disease.

Methods: The Karius Test uses plasma mcfDNA sequencing to detect and quantify DNA-based pathogens. This test offered through the Karius lab detected 4 cases of Leptospira santarosai during a 5-month period …

Use Of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems And Age Of Asthma Onset Among Us Adults And Youths, Adriana Pérez, Sarah Valencia, Pushan P Jani, Melissa B Harrell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: The association of use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) with the age of asthma onset is unknown.

Objective: To explore the association of past 30-day ENDS use with the age of asthma onset in adults and youths who did not have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and never used cigarettes.

Design, setting, and participants: This cohort study was a secondary analysis of waves 1 to 6 of the US nationally representative Population of Tobacco and Health Study (2013-2021). Eligible participants included adults (≥18 years) and youths (12-17 years) who did not have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary …

Simultaneous Hemorrhage And Venous Thrombosis In A Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Binoy Yohannan, Natalie A Montanez, Miguel A Escobar

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

The Contribution Of Micrornas To Rybp Silencing In Glioblastoma Multiforme, Alex B. Lee

Graduate Theses

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive and invasive tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). Survival rates are abysmal, with only 7.2% of patients alive 5-years after diagnosis. Because of this, understanding epigenetic alterations that give GBM tumors their aggressive phenotypes is critical for the development of more targeted and effective therapies. These alterations frequently affect a group of proteins called the Polycomb group proteins, which play important oncogenic and tumor suppressive roles in cancer. One Polycomb protein, the RING1- and YY1-binding protein (RYBP), is downregulated in a majority of GBM patients, suggesting a strong tumor suppressive property. In …

Stabilization Of Interdomain Interactions In G Protein Α Subunits As A Determinant Of Gαi Subtype Signaling Specificity, Tyler J Lefevre, Wenyuan Wei, Elizaveta Mukhaleva, Sai Pranathi Meda Venkata, Naincy R Chandan, Saji Abraham, Yong Li, Carmen W Dessauer, Nagarajan Vaidehi, Alan V Smrcka

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Highly homologous members of the Gαi family, Gαi1-3, have distinct tissue distributions and physiological functions, yet their biochemical and functional properties are very similar. We recently identified PDZ-RhoGEF (PRG) as a novel Gαi1 effector that is poorly activated by Gαi2. In a proteomic proximity labeling screen we observed a strong preference for Gαi1 relative to Gαi2 with respect to engagement of a broad range of potential targets. We investigated the mechanistic basis for this selectivity using PRG as a representative target. Substitution of either the helical domain (HD) from Gαi1 into Gαi2 or substitution of a single amino acid, A230 …

A Randomized Trial Of Two Remote Health Care Delivery Models On The Uptake Of Genetic Testing And Impact On Patient-Reported Psychological Outcomes In Families With Pancreatic Cancer: The Genetic Education, Risk Assessment, And Testing (Generate) Study, Nicolette J Rodriguez, C Sloane Furniss, Matthew B Yurgelun, Chinedu Ukaegbu, Pamela E Constantinou, Ileana Fortes, Alyson Caruso, Alison N Schwartz, Jill E Stopfer, Meghan Underhill-Blazey, Barbara Kenner, Scott H Nelson, Sydney Okumura, Alicia Y Zhou, Tara B Coffin, Hajime Uno, Miki Horiguchi, Allyson J Ocean, Florencia Mcallister, Andrew M Lowy, Alison P Klein, Lisa Madlensky, Gloria M Petersen, Judy E Garber, Scott M Lippman, Michael G Goggins, Anirban Maitra, Sapna Syngal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background & aims: Genetic testing uptake for cancer susceptibility in family members of patients with cancer is suboptimal. Among relatives of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), The GENetic Education, Risk Assessment, and TEsting (GENERATE) study evaluated 2 online genetic education/testing delivery models and their impact on patient-reported psychological outcomes.

Methods: Eligible participants had ≥1 first-degree relative with PDAC, or ≥1 first-/second-degree relative with PDAC with a known pathogenic germline variant in 1 of 13 PDAC predisposition genes. Participants were randomized by family, between May 8, 2019, and June 1, 2021. Arm 1 participants underwent a remote interactive telemedicine session …

Enhanced Ctla-4 Blockade Anti-Tumor Immunity With Apg-157 Combination In A Murine Head And Neck Cancer, Daniel Sanghoon Shin, Saroj Basak, Mysore S Veena, Begoña Comin-Anduix, Arjun Bhattacharya, Tien S Dong, Albert Ko, Philip Han, Jonathan Jacobs, Neda A Moatamed, Luis Avila, Matteo Pellegrini, Marilene Wang, Eri S Srivatsan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: A phase I clinical study for patients with locally advanced H&N cancer with a new class of botanical drug APG-157 provided hints of potential synergy with immunotherapy. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of APG-157 and immune checkpoint inhibitors.

METHODS: CCL23, UM-SCC1 (human), and SCCVII (HPV-), MEER (HPV+) (murine) H&N cancer cell lines were utilized for in vitro and in vivo studies. We measured tumor growth by treating the mice with APG-157, anti-PD-1, and anti-CTLA-4 antibody combinations (8 groups). The tumor microenvironments were assessed by multi-color flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and RNA-seq analysis. Fecal microbiome was analyzed …

Prevalence Of Distal Symmetrical Polyneuropathy By Diabetes Prevention Program Treatment Group, Diabetes Status, Duration Of Diabetes, And Cumulative Glycemic Exposure, Christine G Lee, Adam Ciarleglio, Sharon L Edelstein, Jill P Crandall, Dana Dabelea, Ronald B Goldberg, Steven E Kahn, William C Knowler, Maxwell T Ma, Neil H White, William H Herman, Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: To assess associations between distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) and Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) treatment groups, diabetes status or duration, and cumulative glycemic exposure approximately 21 years after DPP randomization.

Research design and methods: In the DPP, 3,234 adults ≥25 years old at high risk for diabetes were randomized to an intensive lifestyle (ILS), metformin, or placebo intervention to prevent diabetes. After the DPP ended, 2,779 joined the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS). Open-label metformin was continued, placebo was discontinued, ILS was provided in the form of semiannual group-based classes, and all participants were offered quarterly lifestyle classes. Symptoms …

The Role Of Microrna-152 In The Pathogenesis Of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy, Joy Olaoluwa Gbadegoye

Alternative Theses and Dissertations (AETDs)

Diabetes mellitus, one of the world’s fast-growing diseases, is characterized by high death rates from cardiac complications named diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is a heart disease that occurs in both type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Many management options have been explored in the management of DCM, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, etc.; however, limited success has been recorded from these. MicroRNAs, recently discovered gene regulators, have been reported to be associated with various physiology and pathological processes in the mammalian body. These include cell proliferation, cell death, senesis, carcinogenesis, diabetes, and heart failure, among others. Various miRs have been …

Parent-Led Cognitive Behavioral Teletherapy For Anxiety In Autistic Youth: A Randomized Trial Comparing Two Levels Of Therapist Support, Andrew G Guzick, Sophie C Schneider, Minjee Kook, Julia Rose Iacono, Saira A Weinzimmer, Troy Quast, Sean M Olsen, Killian Rainey Hughes, Emily Jellinek-Russo, Amanda Perozo Garcia, Abigail Candelari, Leandra N Berry, Robin P Goin-Kochel, Wayne K Goodman, Eric A Storch

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Parent-led cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficient, promising form of therapy that may be well suited for autistic youth with anxiety disorders, though to date it has been minimally tested. In this study, 87 autistic youth (7 to 13 years old) with anxiety disorders and their parents were randomized to two forms of parent-led CBT in which parents led their child through a guided CBT workbook across 12 weeks: one with low therapist contact (four 30-minute telehealth calls), and one with standard therapist contact (ten 60-minute telehealth calls). Anxiety, functional impairment, and autism features significantly declined across therapy, without …

Family Accommodation In Children And Adolescents With Misophonia, Eric A Storch, Andrew G Guzick, Johann D'Souza, Jane Clinger, Daphne Ayton, Minjee Kook, Conor Rork, Eleanor E Smith, Isabel A Draper, Nasim Khalfe, Catherine E Rast, Nicholas Murphy, Marijn Lijfijjt, Wayne K Goodman, Matti Cervin

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Family accommodation (e.g., reassurance, modifying routines, assisting avoidance) has not been explored among youth with misophonia but may have important clinical and intervention implications. We examined family accommodation in 102 children and adolescents with interview-confirmed misophonia and compared its frequency and content to family accommodation in 95 children and adolescents with anxiety disorders. Findings showed that family accommodation was ubiquitous in pediatric misophonia and may be even more frequent than in youth with anxiety disorders. Assisting the child, participating in misophonia-related behaviors, and modifying family routines were endorsed by more than 70% of parents of children with misophonia. Further, compared …

How Hydrophobicity, Side Chains, And Salt Affect The Dimensions Of Disordered Proteins, Michael C Baxa, Xiaoxuan Lin, Cedrick D Mukinay, Srinivas Chakravarthy, Joseph R Sachleben, Sarah Antilla, Nina Hartrampf, Joshua A Riback, Isabelle A Gagnon, Bradley L Pentelute, Patricia L Clark, Tobin R Sosnick

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Despite the generally accepted role of the hydrophobic effect as the driving force for folding, many intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), including those with hydrophobic content typical of foldable proteins, behave nearly as self-avoiding random walks (SARWs) under physiological conditions. Here, we tested how temperature and ionic conditions influence the dimensions of the N-terminal domain of pertactin (PNt), an IDP with an amino acid composition typical of folded proteins. While PNt contracts somewhat with temperature, it nevertheless remains expanded over 10-58°C, with a Flory exponent, ν, >0.50. Both low and high ionic strength also produce contraction in PNt, but this contraction …