Digital Commons Network^™

Genome Report: Whole-Genome Assembly Of The Relapsing Fever Tick Ornithodoros Turicata Dugès (Acari: Argasidae), Mackenzie Tietjen, Amanda R Stahlke, David Luecke, Perot Saelao, Sheina B Sim, Scott M Geib, Brian E Scheffler, Anna K Childers, Alexander R Kneubehl, Pete D Teel, Job E Lopez

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The soft tick family Argasidae contains vectors of medical and veterinary importance, but few molecular resources are available compared to hard ticks (Ixodidae). One example is Ornithodoros turicata, a recognized vector of Borrelia turicatae, causal agent of human relapsing fever, and a putative vector of African swine fever virus. To address the current lack of molecular resources for the Argasidae, we generated a chromosome-level genome assembly for O. turicata using PacBio sequencing in conjunction with an Illumina Hi-C library. The resulting reference genome has a total of 1.1 Gb in length and was assembled into 10 chromosomes and 368 unplaced …

Distinct Systemic Impacts Of Aβ42 And Tau Revealed By Whole-Organism Snrna-Seq, Ye-Jin Park, Tzu-Chiao Lu, Tyler Jackson, Lindsey D Goodman, Lindsey Ran, Jiaye Chen, Chung-Yi Liang, Erin Harrison, Christina Ko, Xi Chen, Baiping Wang, Ao-Lin Hsu, Elizabeth Ochoa, Kevin F Bieniek, Shinya Yamamoto, Yi Zhu, Hui Zheng, Yanyan Qi, Hugo J Bellen, Hongjie Li

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Both neuronal and peripheral tissues become disrupted in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, a comprehensive understanding of how AD impacts different tissues across the whole organism is lacking. Using Drosophila, we generated an AD Fly Cell Atlas (AD-FCA) based on whole-organism single-nucleus transcriptomes of 219 cell types from flies expressing AD-associated proteins, either human amyloid-β 42 peptide (Aβ42) or Tau, in neurons. We found that Aβ42 primarily affects the nervous system, including sensory neurons, while Tau induces accelerated aging in peripheral tissues. We identified a neuronal cluster enriched in Aβ42 flies, which has high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) expression. This LDH-high cluster …

Systemic Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors In Common Ophthalmic Diseases: A Scoping Review From A Clinical Standpoint, Shahin Hallaj, Wesam S. Shalaby, Sapna Sinha, Jonathan S. Myers, Reza Razeghinejad

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper provides a detailed overview of systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) and their application in managing ophthalmic conditions, including glaucoma, cystoid macular edema, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Despite their recognized clinical benefits, the potential for severe systemic adverse effects often discourages clinicians from prescribing these agents. By examining the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, safety profile, and clinical indications of systemic CAIs, this review highlights strategies to mitigate treatment challenges, particularly in patients with comorbidities and complex medical backgrounds.

RECENT FINDINGS: New insights into the diverse roles and distribution of carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes have expanded our understanding of …

Modulation Of Redox-Sensitive Cardiac Ion Channels, Rawan S. Orfali, Al Hassan Gamal El-Din, Varnika Karthik, Elisanjer Lamis, Vanna Xiao, Alena Ramanishka, Abdullah Alwatban, Osama Alkhamees, Ali Alaseem, Young-Woo Nam, Miao Zhang

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Redox regulation is crucial for the cardiac action potential, coordinating the sodium-driven depolarization, calcium-mediated plateau formation, and potassium-dependent repolarization processes required for proper heart function. Under physiological conditions, low-level reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated by mitochondria and membrane oxidases, adjust ion channel function and support excitation–contraction coupling. However, when ROS accumulate, they modify a variety of important channel proteins in cardiomyocytes, which commonly results in reducing potassium currents, enhancing sodium and calcium influx, and enhancing intracellular calcium release. These redox-driven alterations disrupt the cardiac rhythm, promote after-depolarizations, impair contractile force, and accelerate the development of heart diseases. Experimental models demonstrate …

Total Synthesis And Biological Activity Of "Carbamorphine": O-To-Ch2 Replacement In The E-Ring Of The Morphine Core Structure, Sota Akiyama, Rohini S Ople, Alexander Kremsmair, Nokomis Ramos-Gonzalez, Thomas Nedungadan, Brandon J Kennedy, Kevin Appourchaux, Shainnel O Eans, Bowen A Tsai, Christina Kraml, Xi-Ping Huang, Jay P Mclaughlin, Susruta Majumdar, Richmond Sarpong

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Morphine is a µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist and potent analgesic. However, it displays several side effects including respiratory depression and addiction. Here, we show that a single heavy atom replacement in the morphine core structure (O to CH

Action-Mode Subnetworks For Decision-Making, Action Control, And Feedback, Carolina Badke D'Andrea, Timothy O Laumann, Dillan J Newbold, Charles J Lynch, Mohammad Hadji, Steven M Nelson, Ashley N Nielsen, Roselyne J Chauvin, Samuel R Krimmel, Abraham Z Snyder, Scott Marek, Deanna J Greene, Marcus E Raichle, Nico U F Dosenbach, Evan M Gordon

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The action-mode network (AMN) is a canonical functional brain network first identified using resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC). Based on animal and human data, we have proposed that AMN supports the brain's action mode by controlling functions required for successful goal-directed behavior. However, task fMRI averaged across groups has associated AMN regions with a variety of behaviors, contributing to uncertainty about AMN function. Here, we investigated the AMN using an inside-out approach, in which the network architecture of the AMN is first precisely mapped within individuals and then associated with behavioral functions. Individual-specific precision functional mapping with >5 h of RSFC …

Mtor Signaling Regulates The Development Of Airway Mucous Cell Metaplasia Associated With Severe Asthma, Katrina M. Kudrna, Luis F. Vilches, Evan M. Eilers, Shailendra K. Maurya, Steven L. Brody, Amjad Horani, Kristina L. Bailey, Todd A. Wyatt, John D. Dickinson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

In asthma, airway epithelial remodeling is characterized by aberrant goblet cell metaplastic differentiation accompanied by epithelial cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy. These pathologic features in severe asthma indicate a loss of control of proliferation, cell size, differentiation, and migration. MTOR is a highly conserved pathway that regulates protein synthesis, cell size, and proliferation. We hypothesized that the balance between MTOR and autophagy regulates mucous cell metaplasia. Airways from individuals with severe asthma showed increased MTOR signaling by RPS6 phosphorylation, which was reproduced using an IL-13-activated model of primary human airway epithelial cells (hAEC). MTOR inhibition by rapamycin led to a decrease …

Extracellular Vesicles In Cancer: From Isolation And Characterization To Metastasis, Drug Resistance, And Clinical Applications, Ancuta Jurj, Doru Paul, George A Calin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer progression, along with other hallmarks of cancer, is sustained through bidirectional cell-to-cell communication. This function is primarily facilitated by lipid-rich nanoparticles expelled into the extracellular matrix by stromal and/or malignant cells. These entities, known as extracellular vesicles, contain a vast repertoire of bioactive molecules and hold promise as potential biomarkers and nanovehicles for drug delivery. Intriguingly, the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the functions of extracellular vesicles remain poorly understood. In the present manuscript, we highlight the intracellular and intercellular journey of extracellular vesicles, from their inception to the present day, their implications in various hallmarks of cancer, and …

Pi(4)P Recruits Cide Proteins To Promote The Formation Of Unilocular Lipid Droplets During Adipogenesis And Hepatic Steatosis, Jin Wu, Mingming Gao, Xiaoqin Wu, Yang Liu, Taiping Zhang, Yan Liang, Haixia Yang, Chengxin Ma, Youpi Ye, Chunmei Chang, Peng Li, Feng-Jung Chen, Hongyuan Yang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lipid droplets (LDs) are evolutionarily conserved organelles that play important roles in metabolism. Each LD is enclosed by a monolayer of phospholipids, distinct from bilayer membranes. The composition of LD surface phospholipids and their impact on LD growth and function remain to be defined. Phosphoinositides mark cellular organelles and regulate organellar function. Here, we demonstrate that PI(4)P decorates a subset of LDs to recruit and activate CIDE proteins. Enhanced expression of ORP2 and ORP5, LD-associated lipid transfer proteins that remove PI(4)P from LDs, abolished the localization and function of CIDE proteins. Blocking the synthesis of PI(4)P on the LD surface …

Opposing Roles For Myeloid And Smooth Muscle Cell Sting In Pulmonary Hypertension, Ann T Pham, Shiza Virk, Aline C Oliveira, Matthew D Alves, Chunhua Fu, Yutao Zhang, Jimena Alvarez-Castanon, Brian B Lee, Keira L Lee, Radwan Mashina, Katherine E Ray, Patrick Donabedian, Elnaz Ebrahimi, Harsh Patel, Reeha Patel, Duncan Lewis, Zhiguang Huo, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Li Chen, Lei Jin, Andrew J Bryant

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

There is an emerging role for stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling in pulmonary hypertension (PH) development. Related to this, prior research has demonstrated the relevance of immune checkpoint protein programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression by immunoregulatory myeloid cells in PH. However, there remains a need to elucidate the cell-specific role of STING expression, and the STING/PD-L1 signaling axis in PH, before readily available disease-modifying therapies can be applied for patients with the disease. Here, through generation of bone marrow chimeric mice, we show that STING-/- mice receiving WT bone marrow were protected against PH secondary to chronic hypoxia. …

The Co-Occurrence Of Autism Spectrum Disorder And Aarskog-Scott Syndrome In An Accomplished Young Man, Raisa S Romanova, Oksana I Talantseva, Katerina V Lind, Victoria A Manasevich, Julia E Kuznetsova, Elena L Grigorenko

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objectives/Background: Aarskog-Scott syndrome (AAS), also known as faciogenital dysplasia, is a rare X-linked genetic disorder primarily characterized by its diverse physical manifestations. Previous evidence suggests a potential association between AAS and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: This case study presents a male adolescent with ASD and a novel genetic variant in FGD1 underlying AAS. We conducted comprehensive clinical, genetic, and behavioral assessments to characterize the neurodevelopmental presentation. Moreover, we examined the existing literature on AAS and comorbid neurodevelopmental disorders.

Results: The patient demonstrated features consistent with both AAS and ASD, presenting with characteristic physical features of AAS …

Involvement Of Microglia In Retinal Ganglion Cell Injury Induced By Iop Elevation In A Rat Ex Vivo Acute Glaucoma Model, Taimu Sato, Makoto Ishikawa, Yukitoshi Izumi, Naoya Shibata, Kota Sato, Michiko Ohno-Oishi, Hiroshi Tawarayama, Hiroshi Kunikata, Charles F Zorumski, Toru Nakazawa

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Psilocybin Treatment Extends Cellular Lifespan And Improves Survival Of Aged Mice, Kosuke Kato, Jennifer M Kleinhenz, Yoon-Joo Shin, Cristian Coarfa, Ali J Zarrabi, Louise Hecker

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Psilocybin, the naturally occurring psychedelic compound produced by hallucinogenic mushrooms, has received attention due to considerable clinical evidence for its therapeutic potential to treat various psychiatric and neurodegenerative indications. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain enigmatic, and few studies have explored its systemic impacts. We provide the first experimental evidence that psilocin (the active metabolite of psilocybin) treatment extends cellular lifespan and psilocybin treatment promotes increased longevity in aged mice, suggesting that psilocybin may be a potent geroprotective agent.

Alpha-Synuclein Dysregulation In Systemic Pathophysiology Of Synucleinopathies, Hallie H. Dolin, Bowen Zhou, Robert W. Maitta

Faculty Scholarship

Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) has long been identified as the etiologic agent of multiple neurodegenerative diseases, the most common and well-known of which are Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD). While it is known that the pathophysiology of these synucleinopathies involves aggregation of improperly-folded α-syn, the mechanisms leading to its accumulation have not been fully identified. However, multiple pathways have been proposed, any or all of which may contribute to synucleinopathies. The role of α-syn in normal homeostasis and in other organ systems, especially the hematopoietic system, has been reported recently. Research within the last decade has shown that α-syn …

An Integrative Genomics Approach For The Discovery Of Potential Clinically Actionable Diagnostic And Prognostic Biomarkers In Colorectal Cancer, Mark Fertel, Duaa Mohammad Alawad, Chindo Hicks

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Despite remarkable progress in clinical management of patients and intensified screening, colorectal cancer remains the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States. The recent surge of next generation sequencing has enabled genomic analysis of colorectal cancer genomes. However, to date, there is little information about leveraging gene expression data and integrating it with somatic mutation information to discover potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Here, we integrated gene expression data with somatic mutation information to discover potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and molecular drivers of colorectal cancer. Methods: We used publicly available gene expression and somatic …

Exploring The Validity Of Vocabulary Assessments In Racially, Dialectically, And Socioeconomically Diverse Preschool Populations, Lauren Betzer

LSU Master's Theses

Recent research has advocated for interactive assessments of vocabulary over more traditional, static assessments, as interactive assessments are more sensitive to linguistic and cultural diversity. Static vocabulary assessments, such as the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), probe existing knowledge, while interactive assessments, such as the Quick Interactive Language Screener (QUILS), examines a child’s language in a wholistic manner by assessing previously learned vocabulary knowledge, syntactic knowledge, and processing when learning a new concept. It remains unclear which assessment more accurately captures children's vocabulary knowledge throughout the Deep South—a region characterized by its unique cultural and linguistic environment, which includes the …

Being Well: Stories Of Coping And Resilience, Simiao Li-Sauerwine, Abbas Husain, Al'ai Alvarez, Gillian Baty, Manish Garg, Ryan Bodkin, Andy Grock, Marc Borenstein, Pamela Dyne

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: The approach to physician well-being has transformed from a focus on identification of distress to embracing a comprehensive model that values vulnerability, growth, self-compassion, and a sense of purpose and community in the profession. This manuscript, a collaborative effort by the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine Well-being Committee and the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Wellness Committee, presents the personal narratives of academic emergency physicians during which they faced challenges and stressors, as well as supportive resources they found helpful. The scenarios are written by the individuals themselves as they experienced them.

Discussion: Through these shared and …

Overexpression Of Tsg101 Causes The Development Of Adenosquamous Mammary Carcinoma, Rayane Dennaoui, Patrick D. Rädler, Madison N. Wicker, Kerry Vistisen, Rosa-Maria Ferraiuolo, Aleata A. Triplett, Hridaya Shrestha, Tessa A. Liner, Karoline C. Manthey, Hallgeir Rui, Robert D. Cardiff, Teresa M. Gunn, Charles M. Perou, Kay-Uwe Wagner

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The mammalian Tumor Susceptibility Gene 101 (TSG101) encodes a protein with diverse functions that control the proliferation and survival of cells, but its role in malignant transformation and cancer development has remained enigmatic.

METHODS: To study the pro-tumorigenic functions of TSG101, we developed a bi-transgenic mouse model that expresses exogenous TSG101 along with a luciferase reporter in a ligand-controlled manner in the mammary gland epithelium. We performed a comprehensive histopathologic, biochemical, and molecular characterization of ductal hyperplasia and mammary tumors. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on 1,723 intrinsic genes of ten TSG101-overexpressing cancers alongside 251 tissue samples representing 31 reference …

From Imaging To Computational Domains For Physics-Driven Molecular Biology Simulations: Hindered Diffusion In Platelet Masses, Catherine House, Ziyi Huang, Kaushik Shankar, Sandra Young, Meghan Roberts, Scott Diamond, Maurizio Tomaiuolo, Timothy Stalker, Lu Lu, Talid Sinno

Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research

When formed in vivo, murine hemostatic thrombi exhibit a heterogeneous architecture comprised of distinct regions of densely and sparsely packed platelets. In this study, we utilize high-resolution electron microscopy alongside machine learning and physics-based simulations to investigate how such clot microstructure impacts molecular diffusivity. We used Serial Block Face - Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) to image select volumes of hemostatic masses formed in a mouse jugular vein, producing high-resolution 2D images. Images were segmented using machine learning software (Cellpose), whose training was augmented by manually segmented images. The segmented images were then utilized as 2D computational domains for Lattice Kinetic …

Disruption Of A Side Portal Pathway Permits Closed-State Inactivation By Bk Β Subunit N Termini, Yu Zhou, Xiao-Ming Xia, Christopher J Lingle

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cytosolic N termini of several BK channel β regulatory subunits mediate rapid inactivation. However, in contrast to Kv channels, inactivation does not occur via a simple, open-channel block mechanism, but involves two steps, an association step in which ion permeation is maintained (O*), then followed by inactivation (I). To produce inactivation, BK β subunit N termini enter the central cavity through a lateral entry pathway ("side portal") separating the transmembrane pore-gate domain and cytosolic gating ring. Comparison of BK conformations reveals an aqueous pathway into the central cavity in the open structure, while in the closed structure, three sequential basic …

The Landscape Of Autosomal-Dominant Alzheimer's Disease: Global Distribution And Age Of Onset, Haiyan Liu, Thomas W Marsh, Xinyu Shi, Kevin M Bowling, Ellen Ziegemeier, Guoqiao Wang, Yuchen Cao, Alexa Dickson, Richard J Perrin, Michelle Doering, Alisha Daniels, Brian A Gordon, Tammie L S Benzinger, Jason Hassenstab, Laura Ibanez, Charlene Supnet-Bell, Chengjie Xiong, John C Morris, Randall J Bateman, Celeste M Karch, Carlos Cruchaga, Eric Mcdade, Jorge J Llibre-Guerra, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

We present a comprehensive global analysis of genetic variants associated with autosomal-dominant Alzheimer's disease (ADAD). A total of 550 variants in the APP, PSEN1 and PSEN2 genes were identified, of which 279 were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic based on American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology criteria, utilizing data from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network (DIAN), literature and public databases. Symptomatic age at onset (AAO) data were estimated for 227 of these variants, allowing detailed characterization of their frequency, pathogenicity and AAO. Importantly, 226 variants met eligibility criteria for inclusion in disease-modifying …

Convergent Reduction Of Olfactory Genes And Olfactory Bulb Size In Mammalian Species At Altitude, Allie M Graham, Elysia Saputra, Bogdan Kirilenko, Jason S Presnell, Arianna Harrington, Chad Huff, Michael Hiller, Nathan Clark

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The invasion of specialized ecological niches can cause drastic changes to selection regimes, resulting in genomic and phenotypic transformation.

N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Antibody And Sensory Gating Deficits In Non-Smoking, Minimal Antipsychotic Medication Exposure, And First-Episode Patients With Schizophrenia, Jinghui Tong, Kebing Yang, Wei Li, Leilei Wang, Yi Yin, Yanfang Zhou, Junchao Huang, Ping Zhang, Yanli Zhao, Song Chen, Hongzhen Fan, Yimin Cui, Xingguang Luo, Shuping Tan, Zhiren Wang, Wei Feng, Baopeng Tian, Chiang-Shan R Li, L Elliot Hong, Yunlong Tan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and hypothesis: Sensory gating deficit is considered a pathophysiological feature of schizophrenia, which has been linked to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction as one of the potential underlying mechanisms. Here, we hypothesize that higher levels of NMDAR antibody (Ab) may contribute to the sensory gating deficits in schizophrenia.

Study design: We enrolled 72 non-smoking inpatients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES), most of them with only a relatively short duration of exposure to antipsychotic medications, and 51 non-smoking healthy controls (HC). Sensory gating was measured by P50 evoked potentials ratio and the difference between the two stimuli in an auditory paired-stimuli paradigm …

Vaccination Against Influenza Viruses Annually: Renewing Or Narrowing The Protective Shield?, Hanover C Matz, Ali H Ellebedy

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Annual vaccines are recommended for the seasonal influenza virus. While yearly updates to the vaccine are necessary due to the constant evolution of influenza viruses, some studies have suggested repeat vaccination may result in a reduction in vaccine effectiveness in subsequent years. This review examines the available evidence that repeated annual influenza virus vaccination may have effects on future vaccine responses, and it synthesizes the available data with studies that may indicate potential immunological mechanisms underlying these effects. The goal is to examine the available literature to determine whether these mechanisms can be subverted to improve seasonal influenza virus vaccine …

Coresh: A Gene Signature-Based Search Engine For Public Gene Expression Datasets, Vladimir Sukhov, Aigul Nugmanova, Yury Vorontsov, Parul Mehrotra, Maksim Kleverov, Kodi Ravichandran, Maxim Artyomov, Alexey Sergushichev

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Public data repositories like Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) contain an extensive amount of data from hundreds of thousands of experiments, making them a valuable resource for researchers. A common scenario for utilizing this resource is to show transcriptional similarity of one's own data to a public dataset as evidence of potentially similar biology. However, when searching for such datasets, researchers are usually limited to keyword-based search, which requires having a specific hypothesis and relies on the presence of high-quality metadata in public datasets. Here, we introduce CORESH, a web server designed to systematically find GEO datasets that match a user-provided …

Sex-Specific Effects Of Early-Life Unpredictability On Hippocampal And Amygdala Responses To Novelty In Adolescents, Elysia Poggi Davis, Bianca T. Leonard, Robert J. Jirsaraie, David B. Keator, Steven L. Small, Curt A. Sandman, Victoria B. Risbrough, Hal S. Stern, Laura M. Glynn, Michael A. Yassa, Tallie Z. Baram, Jerod M. Rasmussen

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Unpredictable childhood experiences are an understudied form of early-life adversity that impact neurodevelopment. The neurobiological processes by which exposure to early-life unpredictability impact development and vulnerability to psychopathology remain poorly understood. In the current study, we investigated the sex-specific consequences of early-life unpredictability on the limbic network, focusing on the hippocampus and the amygdala.

Methods

Participants included 150 youths (54% female). Early-life unpredictability was assessed using the Questionnaire of Unpredictability in Childhood (QUIC). Participants engaged in 1 or more task–functional magnetic resonance imaging scans between the ages of 8 and 17 (223 total observations) measuring blood oxygen level–dependent (BOLD) …

Loss Of Intracellular Fgf14 (Ifgf14) Increases Excitability Of Mature Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons, Joseph L Ransdell, Yarimar Carrasquillo, Marie K Bosch, Rebecca L Mellor, David M Ornitz, Jeanne M Nerbonne

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Mutations in FGF14, which encodes intracellular fibroblast growth factor 14 (iFGF14), have been linked to spinocerebellar ataxia type 27 (SCA27), a multisystem disorder associated with deficits in motor coordination and cognitive function. Mice lacking iFGF14 (Fgf14-/-) display similar phenotypes, and we have previously shown that the deficits in motor coordination reflect reduced excitability of cerebellar Purkinje neurons, owing to a hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage-dependence of voltage-gated Na+ (Nav) current steady-state inactivation. Here, we present the results of experiments designed to test the hypothesis that loss of iFGF14 also attenuates the intrinsic excitability of mature hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Current-clamp recordings …

Highly Sensitive In Vivo Detection Of Dynamic Changes In Enkephalins Following Acute Stress In Mice, Marwa O Mikati, Petra Erdmann-Gilmore, Rose Connors, Sineadh M Conway, Jim Malone, Justin Woods, Robert W Sprung, Reid R Townsend, Ream Al-Hasani

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Enkephalins are opioid peptides that modulate analgesia, reward, and stress. In vivo detection of enkephalins remains difficult due to transient and low endogenous concentrations and inherent sequence similarity. To begin to address this, we previously developed a system combining in vivo optogenetics with microdialysis and a highly sensitive mass spectrometry-based assay to measure opioid peptide release in freely moving rodents (Al-Hasani et al., 2018, eLife). Here, we show improved detection resolution and stabilization of enkephalin detection, which allowed us to investigate enkephalin release during acute stress. We present an analytical method for real-time, simultaneous detection of Met- and Leu-enkephalin (Met-Enk …

Retinal Ganglion Cell Migration And Viability Requires The Kinase Lkb1, Robert D Mackin, Ritika V Bhalla, Viktor Akhanov, Qudrat T Abdulwahab, Courtney A Burger, Melanie A Samuel

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The arrangement of neurons into ordered layers underlies circuit function in many nervous system regions. This is particularly true in the mammalian retina. Here, fate-committed retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) migrate from the apical to the inner retina, where they form connections that enable vision. The mechanisms that permit ganglion cell migration and whether distinct ganglion cell types use different migration modes are unknown. We show that the serine/threonine kinase LKB1 regulates ganglion cell migration and nuclear positioning. In the absence of LKB1, many ganglion cells remain in the apical retina. Misplaced cells show modified morphologies and display altered cytoskeletal proteins. …

Monitoring Of African Horse Sickness Virus-Specific Antibodies In Horses, Northeastern Thailand, Napawan Bunpapong, Kitikhun Udom, Ekkapat Chamsai, Patchara Phuektes, Suphattra Jittimanee, Suphannika Phutthachalee, Supassama Chaiyawong, Kamonpan Charoenkul, Alongkorn Amonsin Prof. Dr.

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

African horse sickness (AHS) is caused by infection with the African horse sickness virus (AHSV). In March 2020, AHS was first reported in Thailand due to the importation of subclinically infected host animals, such as zebras. In this study, we conducted a serological survey for AHSV-specific antibodies across 21 horse farms in the northeastern provinces (n=3) of Thailand. A total of 600 serum samples were collected for cross-sectional (n = 292) and longitudinal serological monitoring (n = 308). A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020, during which serum samples (n = 292) were collected and tested for AHS antibodies using …