Digital Commons Network^™

Stomoxys Flies (Diptera, Muscidae) Are Competent Vectors Of Trypanosoma Evansi, Trypanosoma Vivax, And Other Livestock Hemopathogens, Julia W. Muita, Joel L. Bargul, John Mark O. Makwatta, Ernest M. Ngatia, Simon K. Tawich, Daniel K. Masiga, Merid N. Getahun

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Stomoxys flies are widely distributed and economically significant vectors of various livestock pathogens of veterinary importance. However, the role of Stomoxys spp. in pathogen transmission is poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the feeding patterns of these blood feeders collected from specific locations in Kenya to identify various vertebrate hosts they fed on, the livestock hemopathogens they carried, and to elucidate their role in pathogens transmission. Our findings show that field-collected Stomoxys flies carried several pathogens, including Trypanosoma spp., Anaplasma spp., and Theileria spp., which were also detected in the blood of sampled livestock, namely camels and cattle. The findings on …

Histomorphology Of Sharp-Force Trauma On Partially Cremated Remains, Horaceena Findley

Student Theses

Identifying sharp-force trauma in thermally altered human remains presents a significant challenge in forensic investigations, particularly in arson-related deaths where traditional autopsy techniques may be limited. This study explores the efficacy of histological methods in detecting sharp-force trauma on partially cremated remains using pig ribs (Sus scrofa) as a human analog. Simulated tool marks from a knife, screwdriver, and flathead screwdriver were inflicted at varying angles (60° and 90°) and subsequently exposed to high temperatures in an open fire setting. Histological analyses, including Hematoxylin and Eosin Y (H&E) and Gomori’s Prussian Blue staining, were employed to assess tissue structure and …

Useful Measures Of Adult Attachment And Object Relations In Psychotherapy, Matilde A. Torallas Huerta

Dissertations

This is a literature review of objective and projective measures of attachment and object relations in adults, with the objective of reviewing outstanding research to identify the key factors for adult attachment assessment considered within attachment and object relations theories, what measures of adult attachment styles and dysfunction work best, and to provide key themes of assistance in the measurement of attachment and object relations in adult clients in psychotherapy. Theoretical foundations of attachment and object relations theory are reviewed as well as objective and projective instruments grouped by format. The 10 themes found to be useful in the assessment …

Host Genetics Role In Viral Disease Susceptibility, Christian Willis Eaton

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Viruses and their hosts exist in an evolutionary arms race, with evolutionary promotion of host genetic-based defense mechanisms and evolution of virus genetic-based mechanisms to overcome host defenses. Viruses are capable of much more rapid evolution and adaptation than their hosts, often leading to the use of host cellular mechanisms to promote viral infection and replication. In this study, we describe the generation of a detection assay for atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV), designed to target the viral 5’ UTR, a region of the viral genome which sees less mutations than the protein coding regions. This assay was generated to be …

Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 In Interferon Gamma Receptor Signaling And Cancer Immunology, Zachary P. Guinn

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Every year millions of people die from cancer throughout the world, and tens of millions of people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. When surgery is not an option, treatment options commonly rely on the host immune system for optimal treatment efficacy. The expression of Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) by host immune cells is often associated with favorable antitumor immune responses. How IFN-γ is optimally induced in immune cells, and how IFN-γ promotes the transcription of genes downstream of the Interferon gamma receptor (IFNGR) is incompletely understood. Understanding how to induce immune cells to express optimal IFN-γ …

Long-Term Changes In Bolus Parameters During Swallowing Post-Chemoradiation Treatment., Brittany Rebecca Smiley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current treatment for oropharyngeal cancer involves chemoradiation, which can have profound effects on swallowing function. Submental muscle activity is critical for airway protection and bolus transit but is highly susceptible to radiation-related swallowing impairments. This study examined whether chemoradiation targeting the submental muscles leads to measurable changes in esophageal distension during swallowing in a rodent model. We hypothesized that rats receiving chemoradiation would exhibit aberrant esophageal distension compared to chemotherapy-only controls. Twenty male rats underwent four cycles of cisplatin concurrently with either radiation or sham radiation. High-speed videofluoroscopy swallow studies were conducted pre- and post-treatment with thin liquids to analyze …

Advancing Research On Retinitis Pigmentosa: An Investigation Of Natural History, Visual System Plasticity, And Mutation-Independent Treatment., Cecilia A. Attaway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal disease characterized by rod and then cone photoreceptor degeneration. ~25% of cases are caused by a genetic mutation that results in autosomal dominant RP (adRP). There has been a lack of exploration of the progression of degeneration in adRP models. In Chapter Two, I examined visual acuity (VA) changes, retinal structure, and function from early to late-stage disease in a murine P23H Rho ‘knock-in’ mouse model (Rho^P23H/+), the most common form of adRP in North America. To establish a natural history, I evaluated behavioral VA, using the visual water task, …

The Effect Of Administered Animal-Assisted Therapy On University Students' Anxiety And Stress, Chloe Penton

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effects of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) on undergraduate student anxiety and stress, comparing the effectiveness between an individual AAT session to a group study session without AAT. Animal-assisted therapy is a type of canine therapy that may be a helpful tool to decrease student test anxiety, and potentially, a meaningful stress-reducing intervention for university students. Our results sought to examine differences in traditional study practices vs the use of AAT prior to exams, and support or refute animal-assisted therapy as a low-cost, minimal-risk, effective solution for undergraduate student anxiety. …

Improving Brain Health: Exercise As A Tool For Enhancing Executive Function And Reducing Stress In Older African Americans, Destiny Ellise Ramos

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Older African American (AA) adults face disproportionately higher risk of stress and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) compared to other racial and ethnic groups, yet they remain underrepresented in intervention-based research. Previous research has suggested aerobic exercise may reduce stress and benefit executive functioning, which is among the first cognitive domains to be affected in ADRD; however, no studies to date have directly tested the impact of aerobic vs. non-aerobic exercise in older AAs at high risk for developing ADRD. The current study evaluated the effects of a group-based cardio dance fitness (CDF) exercise intervention versus a strength, flexibility, …

In Vitro And In Vivo Evaluation Of The Effect Of A Commercial-Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product As Quorum Sensing Inhibitors Of Salmonella Enterica Typhimurium, Ileana Loeza

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate Enterococcus faecium fermentation peptides (EFP) for antibacterial activity, inhibition of biofilm formation, and anti-quorum sensing properties against Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) in in vitro trials and individual body weight and ST organ colonization in therapeutic and prophylactic models in broiler chickens. Ninety-six day-of-hatch Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomized and assigned to one of four treatments: NC) Negative Control, no EFP treatment and no ST challenge; NC+EFP) Negative Control, EFP treatment and no ST; PC) Positive Control, no EFP treatment and ST challenge, and PC+EFP) EFP treated and ST challenged. Independent trials …

Functional Analysis Of Chromatin Remodeler Csb In Parp1/2- Mediated Oxidative Dna Lesion Repair, Rabeya Bilkis

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

The ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler Cockayne syndrome protein B (CSB) is essential for maintaining genome integrity. Mutations in CSB are the primary cause of Cockayne syndrome (CS), a premature aging disorder with severe sun sensitivity and neurodevelopmental symptoms. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the disease etiology remain poorly understood. Given the critical roles of oxidative stress in aging and neurodegenerative disorders, this research sought to determine the mechanisms of CSB’s functions in oxidative DNA damage repair.

In the first aim, we investigated how CSB participates in PARP1/2-mediated oxidative DNA repair. We showed that PARP1 and PARP2 recruit CSB to oxidized chromatin …

Intratumoral Fibrin As A Novel Immunomodulatory Factor In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Mazharul Karim

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In-situ coagulation is a common clinical feature of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) that presents a highly thrombotic and crosslinked insoluble fibrin (x-fibrin)-laden tumor stroma (FibTS). However, the specific impact of FibTS on immune cells behavior remains largely unexplored in this poorly infiltrated tumor. We aimed to elucidate how FibTS in PDAC regulates immune cell infiltration, polarization, and crosstalk that favors immunosuppressive microenvironment and tumor growth. We characterized human PDAC tissues by multiplex immunostaining and checked the spatial distribution of immune cells based on the presence of x-fibrin. We investigated how FibTS influences the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) and T-cell …

Natural Killer T Cell-Mediated Control Of Francisella Tularensis-Induced Cytokine Storm Syndrome, Cameron M. Torres

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Inflammation is critical for the effective clearance of viral and bacterial challenges, while simultaneously a mechanism utilized by many highly infectious pathogens to cause disease. The bacterium Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of human tularemia, elicits a cytokine storm, wherein the immune system over-responds to the presence of the bacterium causing a dysregulated release of proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines. Without treatment, tularemia mortality can be as high as 30%, with inhalation of as few as 10 CFUs inducing respiratory tularemia. Natural Killer T (NKT) cells are innate-like T lymphocytes with a diverse array of regulatory functions. Unlike conventional T cells, …

In Vivo Assessment Of Cardiac Radiofrequency Ablation In A Large-Animal Model Using Photoacoustic-Ultrasound Imaging, Nilesh Mathuria, Krithik Vishwanath, Blake C Fallon, Antonio Martino, Giorgio Brero, Richard C Willson, Miguel Valderrabano, Carly S Filgueira, Richard R Bouchard

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite advancements in catheter technology, intraoperative assessment of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesions remains elusive. Prior ex vivo data suggest photoacoustic imaging (PAI) can provide RFA lesion characteristics, but in vivo data are lacking. PAI involves delivering near-infrared light to tissue, leading to transient acoustic waves that can be detected by clinically available ultrasound transducers, providing optically based tissue characterization at depth. Three epicardial RFA lesions were delivered in an open-chest porcine model. In vivo PAI-based measurements of RFA lesion dimensions matched (< 0.7-mm error) gross pathologic assessment, yielding in vivo feasibility data of PAI to provide intraoperative RFA lesion dimensions.

Chd1 Loss Reprograms Srebp2-Driven Cholesterol Synthesis To Fuel Androgen-Responsive Growth And Castration Resistance In Spop-Mutated Prostate Tumors, Feiyu Chen, Haoyan Li, Yin Wang, Ximing Tang, Kevin Lin, Qidong Li, Chenling Meng, Wei Shi, Javier Leo, Xin Liang, Jie Zhang, Vivien Van, Iqbal Mahmud, Bo Wei, Philip L Lorenzi, Maria G Raso, Ana Aparicio, Yue Lu, Daniel E Frigo, Boyi Gan, Di Zhao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite undergoing castration, most individuals with prostate cancer (PCa) experience progression to castration-resistant PCa (CRPC), in which the androgen receptor (AR) remains an important driver. Concurrent genetic alterations in SPOP and CHD1 define a unique subtype of PCa, but their interactions in tumor progression and therapy response remain unclear. Here, we provide genetic evidence supporting that CHD1 loss accelerates disease progression and confers resistance to castration in males with SPOP-mutated PCa. By leveraging genetic engineering and multiomics, we uncovered a noncanonical function of CHD1 in lipid metabolism reprogramming via repressing the SREBP2 transcriptome. Loss of CHD1 induces cholesterol production, supplies …

Glutamate Gating Of Ampa-Subtype Iglurs At Physiological Temperatures, Anish Kumar Mondal, Elisa Carrillo, Vasanthi Jayaraman, Edward C Twomey

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) are tetrameric ligand-gated ion channels that mediate most excitatory neurotransmission1. iGluRs are gated by glutamate, where on glutamate binding, they open their ion channels to enable cation influx into postsynaptic neurons, initiating signal transduction1,2. The structural mechanics of how glutamate gating occurs in full-length iGluRs is not well understood. Here, using the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid subtype iGluR (AMPAR), we identify the glutamate-gating mechanism. AMPAR activation by glutamate is augmented at physiological temperatures. By preparing AMPARs for cryogenic-electron microscopy at these temperatures, we captured the glutamate-gating mechanism. Activation by glutamate initiates ion channel opening that involves all ion …

Unveiling The Intercompartmental Signaling Axis: Mitochondrial To Er Stress Response (Mersr) And Its Impact On Proteostasis, Jeson J Li, Nan Xin, Chunxia Yang, Bo G Kim, Larissa A Tavizon, Ruth Hong, Jina Park, Travis I Moore, Rebecca George Tharyan, Adam Antebi, Hyun-Eui Kim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Maintaining protein homeostasis is essential for cellular health. Our previous research uncovered a cross-compartmental Mitochondrial to Cytosolic Stress Response, activated by the perturbation of mitochondrial proteostasis, which ultimately results in the improvement of proteostasis in the cytosol. Here, we found that this signaling axis also influences the unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum (UPRER), suggesting the presence of a Mitochondria to ER Stress Response (MERSR). During MERSR, the IRE1 branch of UPRER is inhibited, introducing a previously unknown regulatory component of MCSR. Moreover, proteostasis is enhanced through the upregulation of the PERK-eIF2α signaling pathway, increasing phosphorylation of eIF2α and …

Nanoparticle Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography And Magnetic Resonance Imaging Of Vascularization Of A Subcutaneous Niche For Islet Transplantation, Simone Capuani, Jocelyn Nikita Campa-Carranza, Nathanael Hernandez, Renuka T R Menon, Rohan Bhavane, Gabrielle E Rome, Laxman Devkota, Ketan B Ghaghada, Ananth V Annapragada, Corrine Ying Xuan Chua, Andrew A Badachhape, Alessandro Grattoni

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Revascularization plays a critical role in the successful engraftment of transplanted pancreatic islets, which are inherently rich in capillaries to meet their high metabolic demands. Innovative islet encapsulation strategies such as the NICHE (neovascularized implantable cell homing and encapsulation), generate a prevascularized transplantation site that allows for direct integration of the graft with the systemic circulation. Timing the transplantation is key to maximizing islet engraftment and survival, especially in diabetic individuals, who exhibit impaired wound healing. Therefore, in this study, we explored different methods to assess vascular development within NICHE in vivo in a non-invasive fashion. We effectively tracked neoangiogenesis …

Cross-Tissue Coordination Between Slc Nucleoside Transporters Regulates Reproduction In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Youchen Guan, Yong Yu, Shihong M Gao, Lang Ding, Qian Zhao, Meng C Wang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Metabolism is fundamental to organism physiology and pathology. From the intricate network of metabolic reactions, diverse chemical molecules, collectively termed metabolites, are produced. In multicellular organisms, metabolite communication between different tissues is vital for maintaining homeostasis and adaptation. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating these metabolite communications remain poorly understood. Here, we focus on nucleosides and nucleotides, essential metabolites involved in multiple cellular processes, and report the pivotal role of the SLC29A family of transporters in mediating nucleoside coordination between the soma and the germline. Through genetic analysis, we discovered that two Caenorhabditis elegans homologs of SLC29A transporters, Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter …

Recommendations For Design, Execution, And Reporting Of Studies On Experimental Thoracic Aortopathy In Preclinical Models, Alan Daugherty, Dianna M Milewicz, David A Dichek, Ketan B Ghaghada, Jay D Humphrey, Scott A Lemaire, Yanming Li, Ziad Mallat, Yvan Saeys, Hisashi Sawada, Ying H Shen, Toru Suzuki, Zhen Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

There is a recent dramatic increase in research on thoracic aortic diseases that includes aneurysms, dissections, and rupture. Experimental studies predominantly use mice in which aortopathy is induced by chemical interventions, genetic manipulations, or both. Many parameters should be deliberated in experimental design in concert with multiple considerations when providing dimensional data and characterization of aortic tissues. The purpose of this review is to provide recommendations on guidance in (1) the selection of a mouse model and experimental conditions for the study, (2) parameters for standardizing detection and measurements of aortic diseases, (3) meaningful interpretation of characteristics of diseased aortic …

Clinical, Immunologic, And Genetic Characteristics Of 148 Patients With Natural Killer Cell Deficiency, Manar Abdalgani, Evelyn R Hernandez, Luis A Pedroza, Ivan K Chinn, Lisa R Forbes Satter, Nicholas L Rider, Pinaki P Banerjee, M Cecilia Poli, Sanjana Mahapatra, Debra Canter, Tram Cao, Linda M Shawver, Sarada L Nandiwada, James R Lupski, Jennifer E Posey, Rajasekhar Ramakrishnan, Emily M Mace, Jordan S Orange

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Natural killer (NK) cell deficiency (NKD) is an immunodeficiency phenotype in which abnormality of NK cells is the major clinically relevant immune defect.

Objective: We sought to define the clinical, immunologic, and genetic characteristics of patients with NKD to aid in the understanding of these individuals and this cell type and guide future research and clinical practice.

Methods: During 2006-2022, 168 individuals with a suspected diagnosis of NKD were enrolled, with comprehensive clinical, immunologic, and genetic data collected and analyzed. Research exome sequencing was performed to identify both known and novel genetic associations.

Results: NK cell abnormalities consistent with …

Temporal Dynamics Of Bmp/Nodal Ratio Drive Tissue-Specific Gastrulation Morphogenesis, Alyssa A Emig, Megan Hansen, Sandra Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Nathan D Lord, Margot Kossmann Williams

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Anteroposterior elongation of the vertebrate body plan is driven by convergence and extension (C&E) gastrulation movements in both the mesoderm and neuroectoderm, but how or whether molecular regulation of C&E differs between tissues remains an open question. Using a zebrafish explant model of anteroposterior axis extension, we show that C&E of the neuroectoderm and mesoderm can be uncoupled ex vivo, and that morphogenesis of individual tissues results from distinct morphogen signaling dynamics. Using precise temporal manipulation of BMP and Nodal signaling, we identify a critical developmental window during which high or low BMP/Nodal ratios induce neuroectoderm- or mesoderm-driven C&E, respectively. …

Tau Depletion Diminishes Vascular Amyloid-Related Deficits In A Mouse Model Of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Nur Jury-Garfe, Enrique Chimal-Juárez, Henika Patel, Jonathan Martinez-Pinto, Kathryn Vanderbosch, Muriel D Mardones, Abigail Perkins, Gonzalo Viana Di Prisco, Yamil Marambio, Ruben Vidal, Brady K Atwood, Cristian A Lasagna-Reeves

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Tau is essential for amyloid beta (Aβ)-induced synaptic and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease (AD), making its downregulation a therapeutic target. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a major vascular contributor to cognitive decline, affects over 90% of patients with AD. This study explores the impact of tau downregulation on CAA pathogenesis.

Methods: We crossed the Familial Danish Dementia mouse model (Tg-FDD), which develops vascular amyloid, with tau-null (mTau-/-) mice to generate a CAA model lacking endogenous tau (Tg-FDD/mTau-/-). Behavioral, electrophysiological, histological, and transcriptomic analyses were performed.

Results: Tau depletion ameliorated motor and synaptic impairments, reduced vascular amyloid deposition, and prevented …

The Influence Of The American Association For Thoracic Surgery On Clinical Trial Development By Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Adishesh K Narahari, Taylor M Horgan, Anirudha S Chandrabhatla, Abhinav Kareddy, Ajami Gikandi, Marco A Zenati, David Harpole, David Jones, Leora T Yarboro, Bryan Burt, A Sasha Krupnick, J Hunter Mehaffey

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: Clinical trials play a critical role in the rapidly evolving field of cardiothoracic surgery and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery Clinical Trials Methods Course has provided a biannual symposium led by preeminent surgeons with vast experience in planning, conducting, and analyzing surgical clinical trials. This study hypothesizes that participation in the course is associated with future success in clinical trial leadership.

Methods: A list of course attendees (2014-2022) was queried in ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of clinical trials funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health. The type of clinical trial …

The Central Role Of Cytochrome P450 Reductase (Cpr) In Hyperoxic Lung Injury, Deven Narke, Bhagavatula Moorthy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Hyperoxic lung injury results from excessive supplemental oxygen therapy in conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adults. This review explores the role of cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) in hyperoxic lung injury.

Areas covered: Hyperoxia induces the production of reactive oxygen species in excessive amounts, overwhelming the body's antioxidant defenses and exacerbating lung injury in ARDS/BPD. This review examines the differential roles of CPR-dependent enzymes in the context of hyperoxic lung injury. Additionally, we highlight the potential of targeting CPR to study mechanisms of lung injury and leverage gene-editing technologies …

User Actions Within A Clinical Decision Support Alert For The Management Of Hypertension In Chronic Kidney Disease, Lipika Samal, Sarah W Chen, Stuart Lipsitz, Heather J Baer, John L Kilgallon, Michael Gannon, Ryan Dunk, Weng Ian Chay, Richard Fay, Michael Sainlaire, Chenxi Gao, Matthew Wien, Pamela M Garabedian, Edward Wu, Hojjat Salmasian, David W Bates, Patricia C Dykes, Adam Wright, Allison B Mccoy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This study aimed to examine user actions within a clinical decision support (CDS) alert addressing hypertension (HTN) in chronic kidney disease (CKD).A pragmatic randomized controlled trial of a CDS alert for primary care patients with CKD and uncontrolled blood pressure included prechecked default orders for medication initiation or titration, basic metabolic panel (BMP), and nephrology electronic consult (e-consult). We examined each type of action and calculated percentages of placed and signed orders for subgroups of firings.There were firings for medication initiation (813) and medication titration (430), and every firing also included orders for nephrology e-consult (1,243) and BMP (1,243). High …

Investigating The Role Of The Hypocretin/Orexin System In A Novel Model Of Polysubstance Dependence, Tyler Zarin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Substance use disorders (SUD) in the United States are steadily increasing. Potent and dangerous substances such as methamphetamine (MA) and fentanyl (FEN) are often co-used as a polysubstance (POLY), either intentionally or unknowingly as FEN is a common adulterant. SUD is characterized by physiological and psychological dependence involving the negative reinforcement of anhedonia and withdrawal which drive hypermotivated drug-taking behaviors. Current theory suggests that recruitment of hypocretin/orexin (HCRT) neuropeptide in reward and stress associated brain regions contributes to drug dependence. Despite strong evidence for HCRT’s role in mono-drug dependence, a relevant model for POLY dependence has yet to be developed, …

Investigating The Effect Of Fasting On Senescent Cells In Nothobranchius Furzeri Fish, Israel A. Akinola

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Senescent cells (SCs) have been documented to accumulate with age in the organism. Recent studies have shown that reducing the number of SCs in an organism result in tissue rejuvenation and extension of life expectancy. Intermittent fasting is reported to have multiple health benefits and is speculated to reduce the burden of SCs. Nothobranchius furzeri are a new model organism for studying aging and for which there are short- and long-lived strains available. We hypothesize that long- and short-lived strains of N. furzeri will accumulate SCs at different rates; and that fasting will reduce the burden of SCs.

The results …

Repeat Ascaris Challenge Reduces Worm Intensity Through Gastric Cellular Reprograming, Yifan Wu, Charlie Suarez-Reyes, Nina L Tang, Alexander R Kneubehl, Jill E Weatherhead

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Ascariasis (roundworm) is the most prevalent parasitic nematode infection worldwide, impacting approximately 500 million people predominantly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While people of all ages are infected with Ascaris, infection intensity (defined by worm burden) paradoxically peaks in pre-school and school-aged children but then declines with age. The cause of age-dependent Ascaris worm intensity is not well understood but may be dependent on cellular changes in mucosal barrier sites. We have previously found that the gastric mucosa is a critical barrier site for Ascaris infection as ingested Ascaris larvae use acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) secreted by gastric chief …

The Contribution Of De Novo Coding Mutations To Meningomyelocele, Yoo-Jin Jiny Ha, Ashna Nisal, Isaac Tang, Chanjae Lee, Ishani Jhamb, Cassidy Wallace, Robyn Howarth, Sarah Schroeder, Keng Ioi Vong, Naomi Meave, Fiza Jiwani, Chelsea Barrows, Sangmoon Lee, Nan Jiang, Arzoo Patel, Krisha Bagga, Niyati Banka, Liana Friedman, Francisco A Blanco, Seyoung Yu, Soeun Rhee, Hui Su Jeong, Isaac Plutzer, Michael B Major, Béatrice Benoit, Christian Poüs, Caleb Heffner, Zoha Kibar, Gyang Markus Bot, Hope Northrup, Kit Sing Au, Madison Strain, Allison E Ashley-Koch, Richard H Finnell, Joan T Le, Hal S Meltzer, Camila Araujo, Helio R Machado, Roger E Stevenson, Anna Yurrita, Sara Mumtaz, Awais Ahmed, Mulazim Hussain Khara, Osvaldo M Mutchinick, José Ramón Medina-Bereciartu, Friedhelm Hildebrandt, Gia Melikishvili, Ahmed I Marwan, Valeria Capra, Mahmoud M Noureldeen, Aida M S Salem, Mahmoud Y Issa, Maha S Zaki, Libin Xu, Ji Eun Lee, Donghyuk Shin, Anna Alkelai, Alan R Shuldiner, Stephen F Kingsmore, Stephen A Murray, Heon Yung Gee, W Todd Miller, Kimberley F Tolias, John B Wallingford, Spina Bifida Sequencing Consortium, Sangwoo Kim, Joseph G Gleeson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Meningomyelocele (also known as spina bifida) is considered to be a genetically complex disease resulting from a failure of the neural tube to close. Individuals with meningomyelocele display neuromotor disability and frequent hydrocephalus, requiring ventricular shunting. A few genes have been proposed to contribute to disease susceptibility, but beyond that it remains unexplained1. We postulated that de novo mutations under purifying selection contribute to the risk of developing meningomyelocele2. Here we recruited a cohort of 851 meningomyelocele trios who required shunting at birth and 732 control trios, and found that de novo likely gene disruption or …