Digital Commons Network^™

Tombusvirus-Yeast Interactions Identify Conserved Cell-Intrinsic Viral Restriction Factors, Zsuzsanna Sasvari, Paulina Alatriste Gonzalez, Peter D. Nagy

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

To combat viral infections, plants possess innate and adaptive immune pathways, such as RNA silencing, R gene and recessive gene-mediated resistance mechanisms. However, it is likely that additional cell-intrinsic restriction factors (CIRF) are also involved in limiting plant virus replication. This review discusses novel CIRFs with antiviral functions, many of them RNA-binding proteins or affecting the RNA binding activities of viral replication proteins. The CIRFs against tombusviruses have been identified in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which is developed as an advanced model organism. Grouping of the identified CIRFs based on their known cellular functions and subcellular localization in yeast …

Cyclic Di-Gmp-Dependent Signaling Pathways In The Pathogenic Firmicute Listeria Monocytogenes, Li-Hong Chen, Volkan K. Köseoğlu, Zehra T. Güvener, Tanya Myers-Morales, Joseph M. Reed, Sarah E. F. D'Orazio, Kurt W. Miller, Mark Gomelsky

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

We characterized key components and major targets of the c-di-GMP signaling pathways in the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, identified a new c-di-GMP-inducible exopolysaccharide responsible for motility inhibition, cell aggregation, and enhanced tolerance to disinfectants and desiccation, and provided first insights into the role of c-di-GMP signaling in listerial virulence. Genome-wide genetic and biochemical analyses of c-di-GMP signaling pathways revealed that L. monocytogenes has three GGDEF domain proteins, DgcA (Lmo1911), DgcB (Lmo1912) and DgcC (Lmo2174), that possess diguanylate cyclase activity, and three EAL domain proteins, PdeB (Lmo0131), PdeC (Lmo1914) and PdeD (Lmo0111), that possess c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase activity. Deletion of all phosphodiesterase …

Cyclic Di-Gmp-Dependent Signaling Pathways In The Pathogenic Firmicute Listeria Monocytogenes, Li-Hong Chen, Volkan K. Köseoğlu, Zehra T. Güvener, Tanya Myers-Morales, Joseph M. Reed, Sarah E. F. D'Orazio, Kurt W. Miller, Mark Gomelsky

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

We characterized key components and major targets of the c-di-GMP signaling pathways in the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes, identified a new c-di-GMP-inducible exopolysaccharide responsible for motility inhibition, cell aggregation, and enhanced tolerance to disinfectants and desiccation, and provided first insights into the role of c-di-GMP signaling in listerial virulence. Genome-wide genetic and biochemical analyses of c-di-GMP signaling pathways revealed that L. monocytogenes has three GGDEF domain proteins, DgcA (Lmo1911), DgcB (Lmo1912) and DgcC (Lmo2174), that possess diguanylate cyclase activity, and three EAL domain proteins, PdeB (Lmo0131), PdeC (Lmo1914) and PdeD (Lmo0111), that possess c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase activity. Deletion of all …

Evaluating Land Resource Potentials In Kentucky, Edwin L. Ritchey, David C. Ditsch

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications

The most successful land use decisions are those where the intended use matches the capabilities of the land. Determining the capability of the land begins with a visual assessment of the landscape such as topography (percent slope) and surface drainage patterns followed by a closer examination of the soil physical and chemical characteristics. The purpose of this publication is to provide a basic understanding of the relationship between these landscape and soil properties to facilitate wise land use decisions. Topics such as soil testing to determine plant nutrient supply, plant species selection, and management are not covered in this publication. …

Paramyxovirus Glycoprotein Incorporation, Assembly And Budding: A Three Way Dance For Infectious Particle Production, Farah El Najjar, Anthony P. Schmitt, Rebecca Ellis Dutch

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Paramyxoviruses are a family of negative sense RNA viruses whose members cause serious diseases in humans, such as measles virus, mumps virus and respiratory syncytial virus; and in animals, such as Newcastle disease virus and rinderpest virus. Paramyxovirus particles form by assembly of the viral matrix protein, the ribonucleoprotein complex and the surface glycoproteins at the plasma membrane of infected cells and subsequent viral budding. Two major glycoproteins expressed on the viral envelope, the attachment protein and the fusion protein, promote attachment of the virus to host cells and subsequent virus-cell membrane fusion. Incorporation of the surface glycoproteins into infectious …

Novel Synergistic Protective Efficacy Of Atovaquone And Diclazuril On Fetal-Maternal Toxoplasmosis, Helieh S. Oz

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Over 1 billion people globally are estimated to be infected with Toxoplasma gondii with severe or unknown consequences and no safe and effective therapies are available against congenital or persistent chronic infection. We propose that atovaquone and diclazuril synergistically protect against fetal-maternal toxoplasmosis.

METHODS: Programmed pregnant mice were treated with atovaquone and diclazuril monotherapy, or combined (atovaquone + diclazuril) therapy and infected with tachyzoites (0, 300, 600) and the course of infection was studied.

RESULTS: Infected dams with low dose (300) developed moderate toxoplasmosis complications and treatments were similarly effective with minor differences between monotherapies. In contrast, major differences were …

Multiple Account Identity Deception Detection In Social Media Using Nonverbal Behavior, Michail Tsikerdekis, Sherali Zeadally

Information Science Faculty Publications

Identity deception has become an increasingly important issue in the social media environment. The case of

blocked users initiating new accounts, often called sockpuppetry, is widely known and past efforts, which have attempted to detect such users, have been primarily based on verbal behavior (e.g., using profile data or lexic al features in text). Although these methods yield a high detection accuracy rate, they are computationally inefficient for the social media environment, which often involves databases with large volumes of data. To date, little attention has been paid to detecting online decep- tion using nonverbal behavior. We present a detection …

Rorα Binds To E2f1 To Inhibit Cell Proliferation And Regulate Mammary Gland Branching Morphogenesis, Gaofeng Xiong, Ren Xu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor alpha (RORα) is a potent tumor suppressor that reduces cell proliferation and inhibits tumor growth. However, the molecular mechanism by which it inhibits cell proliferation remains unknown. We demonstrate a noncanonical nuclear receptor pathway in which RORα binds to E2F1 to inhibit cell cycle progression. We showed that RORα bound to the heptad repeat and marked box region of E2F1 and suppressed E2F1-regulated transcription in epithelial cells. Binding of RORα inhibited E2F1 acetylation and its DNA-binding activity by recruiting histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) to the protein complexes. Knockdown of HDAC1 or inhibition of HDAC …

Persistent Hepatic Structural Alterations Following Nanoceria Vascular Infusion In The Rat, Michael T. Tseng, Qiang Fu, Khoua Lor, G. Rafael Fernandez-Botran, Zhong-Bin Deng, Uschi M. Graham, D. Allan Butterfield, Eric A. Grulke, Robert A. Yokel

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Understanding the long-term effects and possible toxicity of nanoceria, a widely utilized commercial metal oxide, is of particular importance as it is poised for development as a therapeutic agent based on its autocatalytic redox behavior. We show here evidence of acute and subacute adverse hepatic responses, after a single infusion of an aqueous dispersion of 85 mg/kg, 30 nm nanoceria into Sprague Dawley rats. Light and electron microscopic evidence of avid uptake of nanoceria by Kupffer cells was detected as early as 1 hr after infusion. Biopersistent nanoceria stimulated cluster of differentiation 3⁺ lymphocyte proliferation that intermingled with nanoceria-containing …

Neutral Sphingomyelinase-3 Mediates Tnf-Stimulated Oxidant Activity In Skeletal Muscle, Jennifer S. Moylan, Jeffrey D. Smith, Erin M. Wolf Horrell, Julie B. Mclean, Gergana M. Deevska, Mark R. Bonnell, Mariana N. Nikolova‑Karakashian, Michael B. Reid

Physiology Faculty Publications

AIMS: Sphingolipid and oxidant signaling affect glucose uptake, atrophy, and force production of skeletal muscle similarly and both are stimulated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF), suggesting a connection between systems. Sphingolipid signaling is initiated by neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase), a family of agonist-activated effector enzymes. Northern blot analyses suggest that nSMase3 may be a striated muscle-specific nSMase. The present study tested the hypothesis that nSMase3 protein is expressed in skeletal muscle and functions to regulate TNF-stimulated oxidant production.

RESULTS: We demonstrate constitutive nSMase activity in skeletal muscles of healthy mice and humans and in differentiated C2C12 myotubes. nSMase3 ( …

Development And In Silico Evaluation Of Large-Scale Metabolite Identification Methods Using Functional Group Detection For Metabolomics, Joshua M. Mitchell, Teresa W-M Fan, Andrew N. Lane, Hunter N. B. Moseley

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Large-scale identification of metabolites is key to elucidating and modeling metabolism at the systems level. Advances in metabolomics technologies, particularly ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) enable comprehensive and rapid analysis of metabolites. However, a significant barrier to meaningful data interpretation is the identification of a wide range of metabolites including unknowns and the determination of their role(s) in various metabolic networks. Chemoselective (CS) probes to tag metabolite functional groups combined with high mass accuracy provide additional structural constraints for metabolite identification and quantification. We have developed a novel algorithm, Chemically Aware Substructure Search (CASS) that efficiently detects functional groups within …

Maternal And Congenital Toxoplasmosis, Currently Available And Novel Therapies In Horizon, Helieh S. Oz

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Over one billion people worldwide are predicted to harbor Toxoplasma infection frequently with unknown lifelong health consequences. Toxoplasmosis is an important cause of foodborne, inflammatory illnesses, as well as congenital abnormalities. Ubiquitous Toxoplasma has a unique tropism for central nervous system with a mind-bugging effect and is transmitted sexually through semen. Currently available therapies are ineffective for persistent chronic disease and congenital toxoplasmosis or have severe side effects which may result in life-threatening complications. There is an urgent need for safe and effective therapies to eliminate or treat this cosmopolitan infectious and inflammatory disease. This investigation discusses pathogenesis of maternal …

Cell Type-Dependent Rna Recombination Frequency In The Japanese Encephalitis Virus, Wei-Wei Chiang, Chingkai Chuang, Mei Chao, Wei-June Chen

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is one of approximately 70 flaviviruses, frequently causing symptoms involving the central nervous system. Mutations of its genomic RNA frequently occur during viral replication, which is believed to be a force contributing to viral evolution. Nevertheless, accumulating evidences show that some JEV strains may have actually arisen from RNA recombination between genetically different populations of the virus. We have demonstrated that RNA recombination in JEV occurs unequally in different cell types. In the present study, viral RNA fragments transfected into as well as viral RNAs synthesized in mosquito cells were shown not to be stable, especially …

Genome-Wide Determination Of Poly(A) Sites In Medicago Truncatula: Evolutionary Conservation Of Alternative Poly(A) Site Choice, Xiaohui Wu, Bobby Gaffney, Arthur G. Hunt, Qingshun Q. Li

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Alternative polyadenylation (APA) plays an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Little is known about how APA sites may evolve in homologous genes in different plant species. To this end, comparative studies of APA sites in different organisms are needed. In this study, a collection of poly(A) sites in Medicago truncatula, a model system for legume plants, has been generated and compared with APA sites in Arabidopsis thaliana.

RESULTS: The poly(A) tags from a deep-sequencing protocol were mapped to the annotated M. truncatula genome, and the identified poly(A) sites used to update the annotations of 14,203 …

Construcciones De La Identidad Femenina En El Espacio Virtual: El Caso De La Blogósfera Española Y La Literatura Digital Del Blook, Jennifer Byron

Nomenclatura: aproximaciones a los estudios hispánicos

En el siglo veintiuno nuestra vida se está cruzando constantemente con la tecnología, tanto que algunos declaran que nuestro mundo se ha hecho posthumano; ya que cada vez más no se puede separar al ser humano de la máquina en sus interacciones sociales. Aunque algunos se sienten amenazados por estas tecnologías, otros están abrazando internet y aprovechándose de las oportunidades infinitas que ofrece. Uno de estos elementos fundamentales que internet posibilita es la capacidad de comunicarse directamente con otras personas. El blog—bitácora en español—permite que los usuarios proyecten a sus pseudo-identidades e ideas a través del texto que escriben en …

Neuroinflammation And Neurodegeneration In Adult Rat Brain From Binge Ethanol Exposure: Abrogation By Docosahexaenoic Acid, Nuzhath Tajuddin, Kwan-Hoon Moon, Simon Alex Marshall, Kimberly Nixon, Edward J. Neafsey, Hee-Yong Kim, Michael A. Collins

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Evidence that brain edema and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channels have roles in experimental binge ethanol-induced neurodegeneration has stimulated interest in swelling/edema-linked neuroinflammatory pathways leading to oxidative stress. We report here that neurotoxic binge ethanol exposure produces comparable significant effects in vivo and in vitro on adult rat brain levels of AQP4 as well as neuroinflammation-linked enzymes: key phospholipase A2 (PLA2) family members and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). In adult male rats, repetitive ethanol intoxication (3 gavages/d for 4 d, ∼ 9 g/kg/d, achieving blood ethanol levels ∼ 375 mg/dl; "Majchrowicz" model) significantly increased AQP4, Ca+2-dependent PLA2 GIVA (cPLA2), phospho-cPLA2 GIVA …

Method Of Using Ccr3 Binding Agents To Detect Choroidal Neovascularization, Jayakrishna Ambati, Mark E. Kleinman

Ophthalmology and Visual Science Faculty Patents

The results presented herein demonstrate the specific expression of CCR3 in CNV endothelial cells in humans with AMD, and despite the expression of its ligands, eotaxin-1, -2, and -3, neither eosinophils nor mast cells are present in human CNV. The genetic or pharmacological targeting of CCR3 or eotaxins as disclosed herein inhibited injury-induced CNV in mice. CNV suppression by CCR3 blockade was due to direct inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, and was uncoupled from inflammation as it occurred in mice lacking eosinophils or mast cells and was independent of macrophage and neutrophil recruitment. CCR3 blockade was more effective at reducing …

Mentoring High School Students, Robin L. Cooper

Kaleidoscope

Dr. Robin Cooper is a faculty member in the Department of Biology and teaches physiology and neurobiology courses at the University of Kentucky. His research is in comparative physiology. He received a double major with a B.S. in Chemistry and Zoology from Texas Tech in 1983 and a PhD in Physiology from Texas Tech Medical School in 1989. He has had postdoctoral training in Switzerland and Canada for 7 years before joining the University of Kentucky in 1996.

Democratizing The Food System- The Food Policy Council Movement, Garrett Spear

Kaleidoscope

The increasing complexity of our modern food system has changed the landscape of American agriculture and diet, and has increasingly consolidated decision-making abilities in a concentrated group of organizations. Local food movements are re-appropriating their food supply chains through a variety of methods, including the democratic-minded food policy council organization. Food policy councils organize community stakeholders into a network of organizations which can collectively grapple with food issues affecting and on behalf of the local community. This study consisted of research on the history and methods of the food policy council movement, directed ultimately at the council-less context in Lexington …

A Tragedy Exposed? Clear Growth Medium Reveals Competing Roots, Christopher H. Karounos, Deric Miller, Philip Crowley, Nicholas Mcletchie

Kaleidoscope

Abstract

Tragedy of the Commons (ToC) is the exploitation of an open-access resource that is exploited by selfish individuals to the detriment of all. Examples include open sea fisheries, cattle grazing, pollution, deforestation and plants competing over shared soil nutrients and space. Tragically, these resources become depleted and plants become severely resource limited. Our study seeks to determine if a ToC causes two plants sharing resources to reproduce less successfully than two plants owning the equivalent amount of personal resources. We predict that plant root competition creates a ToC by increasing root mass while reducing reproductive mass. Our study uses …

Biomarkers Of Acute Myocardial Infarction In The Elderly: Troponin And Beyond, Martin G. Rains, Charles A. Laney, Alison L. Bailey, Charles L. Campbell

Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Faculty Publications

In the broadest context, biological markers, or biomarkers, are molecules that characterize a biological system or process. In the setting of cardiovascular disease, a number of biomarkers have become an integral part of diagnostic and risk stratification strategies. In this review, we will discuss classic and emerging biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and the role of these biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognosis of elderly patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction.

Germination Season And Watering Regime, But Not Seed Morph, Affect Life History Traits In A Cold Desert Diaspore-Heteromorphic Annual, Juan J. Lu, Dun Y. Tan, Jerry M. Baskin, Carol C. Baskin

Biology Faculty Publications

Seed morph, abiotic conditions and time of germination can affect plant fitness, but few studies have tested their combined effects on plasticity of plant life history traits. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that seed morph, germination season and watering regime influence phenotypic expression of post-germination life history traits in the diaspore-heteromorphic cold desert winter annual/spring ephemeral Diptychocarpus strictus. The two seed morphs were sown in watered and non-watered plots in late summer, and plants derived from them were watered or not-watered throughout the study. Seed morph did not affect phenology, growth and morphology, survival, dry mass accumulation and allocation or …

Pioglitazone Treatment Reduces Adipose Tissue Inflammation Through Reduction Of Mast Cell And Macrophage Number And By Improving Vascularity, Michael Spencer, Lin Yang, Akosua Adu, Brian S. Finlin, Beibei Zhu, Lindsey R. Shipp, Neda Rasouli, Charlotte A. Peterson, Philip A. Kern

Clinical and Translational Science Faculty Publications

Context and Objective: Adipose tissue in insulin resistant subjects contains inflammatory cells and extracellular matrix components. This study examined adipose pathology of insulin resistant subjects who were treated with pioglitazone or fish oil.

Design, Setting and Participants: Adipose biopsies were examined from nine insulin resistant subjects before/after treatment with pioglitazone 45 mg/day for 12 weeks and also from 19 subjects who were treated with fish oil (1,860 mg EPA, 1,500 mg DHA daily). These studies were performed in a clinical research center setting.

Results: Pioglitazone treatment increased the cross-sectional area of adipocytes by 18% (p = 0.01), and also increased …

Sox11 Is Required To Maintain Proper Levels Of Hedgehog Signaling During Vertebrate Ocular Morphogenesis, Lakshmi Pillai-Kastoori, Wen Wen, Stephen G. Wilson, Erin Strachan, Adriana Lo-Castro, Marco Fichera, Sebastiano A. Musumeci, Ordan J. Lehmann, Ann C. Morris

Biology Faculty Publications

Ocular coloboma is a sight-threatening malformation caused by failure of the choroid fissure to close during morphogenesis of the eye, and is frequently associated with additional anomalies, including microphthalmia and cataracts. Although Hedgehog signaling is known to play a critical role in choroid fissure closure, genetic regulation of this pathway remains poorly understood. Here, we show that the transcription factor Sox11 is required to maintain specific levels of Hedgehog signaling during ocular development. Sox11-deficient zebrafish embryos displayed delayed and abnormal lens formation, coloboma, and a specific reduction in rod photoreceptors, all of which could be rescued by treatment with the …

Pioglitazone Treatment Reduces Adipose Tissue Inflammation Through Reduction Of Mast Cell And Macrophage Number And By Improving Vascularity, Michael L. Spencer, Lin Yang, Akosua Adu, Brian S. Finlin, Beibei Zhu, Lindsey Rae Shipp, Neda Rasouli, Charlotte A. Peterson, Philip A. Kern

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Context and Objective

Adipose tissue in insulin resistant subjects contains inflammatory cells and extracellular matrix components. This study examined adipose pathology of insulin resistant subjects who were treated with pioglitazone or fish oil.

Design, Setting and Participants

Adipose biopsies were examined from nine insulin resistant subjects before/after treatment with pioglitazone 45 mg/day for 12 weeks and also from 19 subjects who were treated with fish oil (1,860 mg EPA, 1,500 mg DHA daily). These studies were performed in a clinical research center setting.

Results

Pioglitazone treatment increased the cross-sectional area of adipocytes by 18% (p = 0.01), and also increased …

Effects Of Intraguild Cues Of Ground-Dwelling And Foliage-Dwelling Spiders On Lady Beetle Oviposition And Aphid Suppression, Rebecca Wente

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Diaphragmatic Breathing And Its Effects On Motion Sickness, Sarah Stromberg

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Parental Problem Drinking: Its Effect On Child Emotional Security, Stephanie Miskell

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Particulate Organic Carbon Trapping Efficiency In The Stream Bed For Cobbles And Gravels: A Laboratory Test, Davis Huston

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Alternative Methods For Long Term Storage Of Skeletal Muscle Tissue, Byron Hempel

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.