Digital Commons Network^™

Portable Microfluidic Fluid Handling System For The Detection Of Protein Biomarkers In Whole Human Blood, Michael Franzblau

Open Access Master's Theses

The thesis focused on the design and construction of a proof-of-concept polymer based microfluidic Point of Care (POC) device that is portable, requires little user interaction, and is sensitive enough to reliably test for protein biomarkers from a small sample of whole human blood. Specific contributions to the presented system include novel microfluidic channel geometries that support improved fluidic handling, and an improved technique for the fabrication of the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidic chip. Additionally, a commercially available plasma separation membrane was integrated into the microfluidic chip using presented structures and techniques to achieve cellular filtration of whole blood on-chip, yielding …

Design And Evaluation Of 5′-O-Dicarboxylic And Polyarginine Fatty Acyl Derivatives Of Anti-Hiv Nucleosides, Bhanu Priya Pemmaraju Venkata

Open Access Master's Theses

2′,3′-Dideoxynucleoside (ddNs) analogs are the most widely used anti-HIV drugs in the market. Even though these drugs display very potent activities, they have a number of limitations when are used as therapeutic agents. The primary problem associated with ddNs is significant toxicity, such as neuropathy and bone marrow suppression. Due to their hydrophilic nature, they have poor cellular uptake. Some of these nucleoside analogs develop resistance over a period of time. Furthermore, these analogs themselves are not pharmacologically active, and undergo three-step phosphorylation in order to become active. Of these steps, the first step is usually a slow and rate-limiting …

Multilevel Examination Of Facility Characteristics, Social Integration, And Health For Older Adults Living In Nursing Homes, Skye Leedahl, Rosemary Kennedy Chapin, Todd D. Little

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Objectives. Testing a model based on past research and theory, this study assessed relationships between facility characteristics (i.e., culture change efforts, social workers) and residents’ social networks and social support across nursing homes and examined relationships between multiple aspects of social integration (i.e., social networks, social capital, social engagement, social support) and mental and functional health for older adults in nursing homes.

Methods. Data were collected at nursing homes using a planned missing data design with random sampling techniques. Data collection occurred at the individual-level through in-person structured interviews with older adult nursing home residents (N = 140) and …

Distinct Activation Phenotype Of A Highly Conserved Novel Hla-B57-Restricted Epitope During Dengue Virus Infection, Elizabeth Townsley, Marcia Woda, Stephen J. Thomas, Siripen Kalayanarooj, Robert V. Gibbons, Ananda Nisalak, Anon Srikiatkhachorn, Sharone Green, Henry A.F. Stephens, Alan L. Rothman, Anuja Matthew

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Variation in the sequence of T cell epitopes between dengue virus (DENV) serotypes is believed to alter memory T cell responses during second heterologous infections. We identified a highly conserved, novel, HLA-B57-restricted epitope on the DENV NS1 protein. We predicted higher frequencies of B57-NS126-34-specific CD8+ T cells in PBMC from individuals undergoing secondary rather than primary DENV infection. However, high tetramer-positive T cell frequencies during acute infection were seen in only 1 of 9 subjects with secondary infection. B57-NS126-34-specific and other DENV epitope-specific CD8+ T cells, as well as total CD8+ T cells, expressed an activated phenotype (CD69+ and/or CD38+) …

Human Leptospirosis In The Federated States Of Micronesia: A Hospital-Based Febrile Illness Survey, Susannah Colt, Boris I. Pavlin, Jacob L. Kool, Eliaser Johnson, Judith P. Mccool, Alistair J. Woodward

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Human leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease of global significance, and is endemic to several countries in the Pacific. Zoonotic transmission dynamics combined with diagnostic challenges lead to difficulties in prevention and identification of cases. The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) lacks surveillance data for human leptospirosis. This hospital-based serologic survey sought to estimate the burden of leptospirosis, collect information relating to associated factors, and assess the leptospirosis point-of-care rapid diagnostic test (RDT) commonly used in FSM. Methods: A four-month hospital-based survey was conducted in Pohnpei State, FSM in 2011. Patients with undifferentiated fevers presenting to hospital …

Leukocyte Recruitment To The Peritoneum Of Cultured Summer Flounder (Paralichthys Dentatus) During Bacterial, Pilar Juliet Nelson

Open Access Master's Theses

Summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) constitutes a major fishery in the coastal northeastern United States. Spurred by population declines, cultivation of summer flounder began in 1996, but expansion of culture efforts has been constrained by disease outbreaks. Flounder Infectious Necrotizing Enteritis (FINE) causes significant mortality of juvenile flounder. The disease is characterized by ascites, intestinal prolapse, and severe inflammation of the mesentery and posterior intestinal serosa, often resulting in intestinal rupture. FINE is caused by Vibrio harveyi, a bacterial pathogen of cultured marine fish and invertebrates. To better understand the immune response to FINE, recruitment and fluctuation of …

Activity Of Tobramycin And Polymyxin-E Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm Coated Medical Grade Endotracheal Tubes., Keiko Tarquinio, Confreda, James Shurko, Kerry L. Laplante

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Indwelling medical devices have become a major source of nosocomial infections; especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection, which remain the most common cause of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in neonates and children. Using medical grade polyvinyl chloride endotracheal tubes (ETTs), the activity of tobramycin and polymyxin-E was quantified in a simulated prevention and treatment static time kill model using biofilm forming P. aeruginosa. The model simulated three clinical conditions: 1) planktonic bacteria in the presence of antibiotics, tobramycin and polymyxin-E, without ETTs, 2) planktonic bacteria grown in the presence of P. aeruginosa, antibiotic and ETTs (simulating …

Characteristics Of Mild Dengue Virus Infection In Thai Children, In-Kyu Yoon, Anon Srikiatkhachorn, Laura Hermann, Darunee Buddhari, Thomas W. Scott, Richard G. Jarman, Jared Aldstadt, Ananda Nisalak, Suwich Thammapalo, Piraya Bhoomiboonchoo, Mammen P. Mammen, Sharone Green, Robert V. Gibbons, Timothy P. Endy, Alan L. Rothman

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

A four-year longitudinal cohort and geographic cluster study in rural Thailand was conducted to characterize the clinical spectrum of dengue virus (DENV) infection. Symptomatic DENV infections in the cohort were detected by active school absence-based surveillance that triggered cluster investigations around ill cohort children. Data from 189 cohort children with symptomatic DENV infection and 126 contact children in the clusters with DENV infection were analyzed. Of infected contacts, only 19% were asymptomatic; 81% were symptomatic, but only 65.9% reported fever. Symptom-based case definitions were unreliable for diagnosis. Symptomatic infections in contacts were milder with lower DENV RNA levels than the …

Immunization With Cross-Conserved H1n1 Influenza Cd4+ T-Cell Epitopes Lowers Viral Burden In Hla Dr3 Transgenic Mice, Leonard Moise, Ryan Tassone, Howard Latimer, Frances Terry, Lauren Levitz, John P. Haran, Ted M. Ross, Christine Boyle, William D. Martin, Anne S. De Groot

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

The emergence of the pandemic H1N1 strain of influenza in 2009 was associated with a unique w-shaped age-related susceptibility curve, with higher incidence of morbidity and mortality among young persons and lower incidence among older persons, also observed during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Pre-existing H1N1 antibodies were not cross-reactive with the prior seasonal vaccine, forcing influenza experts to scramble to develop a new vaccine specific for the pandemic virus. We hypothesized that response to T-cell epitopes that are cross-conserved between pandemic H1N1 and the 2008 seasonal influenza vaccine strains might have contributed to partial protection from clinical illness among older …

Review: Health Communication In The New Media Landscape (2009), Angela Cooke-Jackson

Journal of Media Literacy Education

No abstract provided.

Structuring Targeted Surveillance For Monitoring Disease Emergence By Mapping Observational Data Onto Ecological Process, Luca Gerardo-Giorda, Gavino Puggioni, Robert J. Rudd, Lance A. Waller, Leslie A. Real

Computer Science and Statistics Faculty Publications

An efficient surveillance system is a crucial factor in identifying, monitoring and tackling outbreaks of infectious diseases. Scarcity of data and limited amounts of economic resources require a targeted effort from public health authorities. In this paper, we propose a mathematical method to identify areas where surveillance is critical and low reporting rates might leave epidemics undetected. Our approach combines the use of reference-based susceptible-exposed-infectious models and observed reporting data;We propose two different specifications, for constant and time-varying surveillance, respectively. Our case study is centred around the spread of the raccoon rabies epidemic in the state of New York, using …

Evaluation Of The Acceptability And Feasibility Of A Computer-Tailored Intervention To Increase Hpv Vaccination Among Young Adult Women, Andrea L. Paiva, Jessica M. Lipschitz, Anne C. Fernandez, Colleen A. Redding, James O. Prochaska

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: To examine acceptability and feasibility of a Transtheoretical Model (TTM)-based computer-tailored intervention for increasing HPV vaccination in college-aged women.

Participants: 243 women ages 18-26 were recruited between February and May of 2011.

Methods: Participants completed the intervention and a 14-item evaluation of intervention content and delivery.

Results: Most participants had heard of HPV (91%), but the majority (57%) of participants were in Precontemplation for getting vaccinated. Eighty nine percent of participants rated the CTI positively across all acceptability items, and 91% endorsed intention to get vaccinated after intervention. While average ratings in each demographic subgroup were positive, Hispanic women …

Telomere Length Dynamics In Human Memory T Cells Specific For Viruses Causing Acute Or Latent Infections, Joel M. O'Bryan, Marcia Woda, Mary Co, Anuja Mathew, Alan L. Rothman

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Background:

Declining telomere length (TL) is associated with T cell senescence. While TL in naïve and memory T cells declines with increasing age, there is limited data on TL dynamics in virus-specific memory CD4⁺ T cells in healthy adults. We combined BrdU-labeling of virus-stimulated T cells followed with flow cytometry-fluorescent in situ hybridization for TL determination. We analyzed TL in T cells specific for several virus infections: non-recurring acute (vaccinia virus, VACV), recurring-acute (influenza A virus, IAV), and reactivating viruses (varicella-zoster virus, VZV, and cytomegalovirus, CMV) in 10 healthy subjects. Additionally, five subjects provided multiple blood samples separated by …

Serials Solutions Subject Search Report 2012-2013, Andrée J. Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Statistics on the total number of Serials Solutions subject searches at the University of Rhode Island Libraries by month for 2012-2013. Shows how many times the A-Z full text electronic journal list (at http://zu4tq4pb5v.search.serialssolutions.com/) was browsed by specific subjects.

Hearing Loss In Perinatally Hiv-Infected And Hiv-Exposed But Uninfected Children And Adolescents, Peter Torre Iii, J. Hoffman, Ashley L. Buchanan, George K. Silberry, Mabel Rice, Patricia A. Sirois, Paige L. Williams

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background - Little is known about hearing loss in children with HIV infection (HIV+). We examined the prevalence of hearing loss in perinatally HIV+ and HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) children, compared these to the percentage with hearing loss in the general population, and evaluated possible risk factors for hearing loss in HIV+ and HEU children.

Methods - Audiometric examinations were completed in children who met any pre-specified criteria for possible hearing loss. The hearing examination consisted of a tympanogram in each ear and pure-tone air-conduction threshold testing from 500 through 4000 Hz. Hearing loss was defined as the pure-tone average …

Analysis Of The Chondroitinase Operon Of Flavobacterium Columnare, Erin L. Sorlien

Senior Honors Projects

Analysis of the chondroitinase operon of Flavobacterium columnare

Erin Sorlien

Major

Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry

Advisor

Dr. David R. Nelson

Date

May 2, 2013

Keywords

Flavobacterium columnare, columnaris disease, chondroitin AC lyase, complementation, csl operon

Abstract
Flavobacterium columnare, an opportunistic bacterial pathogen of fish, is the causative agent of columnaris disease (CD). The bacterium is a Gram-negative rod that exhibits gliding motility and avidly forms biofilms. CD affects both wild and cultured freshwater fish, and continues to cause large economic losses to the fish farming industry. According to an investigation conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System, CD …

Computational Vaccinology And The Icovax 2012 Workshop, Yongqun He, Zhiwei Cao, Anne S. De Groot, Vladimir Brusic, Christian Schönbach, Nikolai Petrovsky

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Computational vaccinology or vaccine informatics is an interdisciplinary field that addresses scientific and clinical questions in vaccinology using computational and informatics approaches. Computational vaccinology overlaps with many other fields such as immunoinformatics, reverse vaccinology, postlicensure vaccine research, vaccinomics, literature mining, and systems vaccinology. The second ISV Pre-conference Computational Vaccinology Workshop (ICoVax 2012) was held on October 13, 2013 in Shanghai, China. A number of topics were presented in the workshop, including allergen predictions, prediction of linear T cell epitopes and functional conformational epitopes, prediction of protein-ligand binding regions, vaccine design using reverse vaccinology, and case studies in computational vaccinology. Although …

Vibrio Cholerae Exploits Sub-Lethal Concentrations Of A Competitor-Produced Antibiotic To Avoid Toxic Interactions, Jason R. Graff, Stephanie Forschner-Dancause, Susanne Menden-Deuer, Richard A. Long, David C. Rowley

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Vibrio cholerae is a human pathogenic marine bacterium inhabiting coastal regions and is vectored into human food and water supplies via attachment to particles including detritus, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. Particle colonization by the pathogen is inhibited by an antagonistic interaction with the particle-associated Vibrionales bacterium SWAT3, a producer of the antibiotic andrimid. By analyzing the individual movement behaviors of V. cholerae exposed to a gradient of andrimid in a microfluidics device, we show that the pathogen has a concentration dependent avoidance response to sub-lethal concentrations of the pure antibiotic and to the metabolites produced by a growing colony of SWAT3-wild-type. …

Nutritional Basis For Colonization Resistance By Human Commensal Escherichia Coli Strains Hs And Nissle 1917 Against E. Coli O157:H7 In The Mouse Intestine, Rosalie Maltby, Mary P. Leatham-Jensen, Terri Gibson, Paul S. Cohen, Tyrrell Conway

Cell and Molecular Biology Faculty Publications

Escherichia coli is a single species consisting of many biotypes, some of which are commensal colonizers of mammals and others that cause disease. Humans are colonized on average with five commensal biotypes, and it is widely thought that the commensals serve as a barrier to infection by pathogens. Previous studies showed that a combination of three pre-colonized commensal E. coli strains prevents colonization of E. coli O157:H7 in a mouse model (Leatham, et al., 2010, Infect Immun 77: 2876–7886). The commensal biotypes included E. coli HS, which is known to successfully colonize humans at high doses with no adverse effects, …

Frequent In-Migration And Highly Focal Transmission Of Dengue Viruses Among Children In Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand, Maia A. Rabaa, Chonticha Klungthong, In-Kyu Yoon, Edward C. Holmes, Piyawan Chinnawirotpisan, Butsaya Thaisomboonsuk, Anon Srikiatkhachorn, Alan L. Rothman, Darunee Tannitisupawong, Jared Aldstadt, Ananda Nisalak, Mammen P. Mammen, Robert V. Gibbons, Timothy P. Endy, Thanyalak Fansiri, Thomas W. Scott, Richard G. Jarman

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Revealing the patterns and determinants of the spread of dengue virus (DENV) at local scales is central to understanding the epidemiology and evolution of this major human pathogen. We performed a phylogenetic analysis of the envelope (E) genes of DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4 isolates (involving 97, 23, 5, and 74 newly collected sequences, respectively) sampled from school-based cohort and village-based cluster studies in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand, between 2004 and 2007. With these data, we sought to describe the spatial and temporal patterns of DENV spread within a rural population where a future vaccine efficacy trial is planned. Our analysis …

Division Of Research And Economic Development Annual Report For Fy2013, Uri Division Of Research And Economic Development

Reports (Research and Economic Development)

Annual report for the Division of Research and Economic Development of the University of Rhode Island for the year 2012-2013.

Includes statistics of project proposals, expenditures, URI Foundation Awards, previous annual report summaries and awards received by individual academic and administrative departments.

The Two-Faced T Cell Epitope: Examining The Host-Microbe Interface With Janusmatrix, Leonard Moise, Andres H. Gutierrez, Chris Bailey-Kellogg, Frances Terry, Qibin Leng, Karim M. Abdel Hady, Nathan C. Verberkmoes, Marcelo B. Sztein, Phyllis T. Losikoff, William D. Martin, Alan L. Rotham, Anne S. De Groot

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Advances in the field of T cell immunology have contributed to the understanding that cross-reactivity is an intrinsic characteristic of the T cell receptor (TCR), and that each TCR can potentially interact with many different T cell epitopes. To better define the potential for TCR cross-reactivity between epitopes derived from the human genome, the human microbiome, and human pathogens, we developed a new immunoinformatics tool, JanusMatrix, that represents an extension of the validated T cell epitope mapping tool, EpiMatrix. Initial explorations, summarized in this synopsis, have uncovered what appear to be important differences in the TCR cross-reactivity of selected regulatory …

Identification Of Borrelia Burgdorferi Ospc Genotypes In Canine Tissue Following Tick Infestation: Implications For Lyme Disease Vaccine And Diagnostic Assay Design, D. V.L. Rhodes, C. G. Earnhart, Thomas N. Mather, P. F.M. Meeus, R. T. Marconi

Plant Sciences and Entomology Faculty Publications

In endemic regions, Lyme disease is a potential health threat to dogs. Canine Lyme disease manifests with arthritis-induced lameness, anorexia, fever, lethargy, lymphadenopathy and, in some cases, fatal glomerulonephritis. A recent study revealed that the regional mean for the percentage of seropositive dogs in the north-east of the USA is 11.6%. The outer surface protein C (OspC) of Lyme disease spirochetes is an important virulence factor required for the establishment of infection in mammals. It is a leading candidate in human and canine Lyme disease vaccine development efforts. Over 30 distinct ospC phyletic types have been defined. It has been …

Research & Innovation For 2012-2013, University Of Rhode Island

Publications (Research and Economic Development)

The 2012-2013 issue of Research & Innovation, a periodical focused on research at the University of Rhode Island.

Immunopathogenesis Versus Protection In Dengue Virus Infections, Alan L. Rothman, Carey L. Medin, Heather Friberg, Jeffery R. Currier

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

Dengue viruses (DENV) are mosquito-borne viruses that cause significant morbidity. The existence of four serotypes of DENV with partial immunologic cross-reactivity creates the opportunity for individuals to experience multiple acute DENV infections over the course of their lifetimes. Research over the past several years has revealed complex interactions between DENV and the human innate and adaptive immune systems that can have either beneficial or detrimental influences on the outcome of infection. Further studies that seek to distinguish protective from pathological immune responses in the context of natural DENV infection as well as clinical trials of candidate DENV vaccines have an …

Report From The Field - Overview Of The Sixth Annual Vaccine Renaissance Conference, Denice Spero, Lauren Levitz, Anne S. De Groot

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

The Sixth Annual Vaccine Renaissance Conference, hosted by the Institute for Immunology and Informatics (iCubed) at the University of Rhode Island (URI), took place on October 15–17, 2012. This conference provides a forum for the review of current progress in the discovery and development of vaccines, and creates an environment for the exchange of ideas. Dr. Joel McCleary opened the conference with a warning about the importance of preparing for well-defined biowarfare threats, including tularemia and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B. Following the keynote address, sessions explored biodefense and preparation for pandemic and biowarfare threats; vaccines for emerging and re-emerging neglected …

Low Immunogenicity Predicted For Emerging Avian-Origin H7n9, Anne S. De Groot, Matthew Ardito, Frances Terry, Lauren Levitz, Ted Ross, Leonard Moise, William Martin

Institute for Immunology and Informatics Faculty Publications

A new avian-origin influenza virus emerged near Shanghai in February 2013, and by the beginning of May it had caused over 130 human infections and 36 deaths. Human-to-human transmission of avian-origin H7N9 influenza A has been limited to a few family clusters, but the high mortality rate (27%) associated with human infection has raised concern about the potential for this virus to become a significant human pathogen. European, American, and Asian vaccine companies have already initiated the process of cloning H7 antigens such as hemagglutinin (HA) into standardized vaccine production vehicles. Unfortunately, previous H7 HA-containing vaccines have been poorly immunogenic. …

Population Vulnerability To Biannual Cholera Outbreaks And Associated Macro-Scale Drivers In The Bengal Delta, Ali Shafqat Akanda, Antarpreet S. Jutla, David M. Gute, R. Bradley Sack, Munirul Alam, Anwar Huq, Rita R. Colwell, Shafiqul Islam

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The highly populated floodplains of the Bengal Delta have a long history of endemic and epidemic cholera outbreaks, both coastal and inland. Previous studies have not addressed the spatio-temporal dynamics of population vulnerability related to the influence of underlying large-scale processes. We analyzed spatial and temporal variability of cholera incidence across six surveillance sites in the Bengal Delta and their association with regional hydroclimatic and environmental drivers. More specifically, we use salinity and flood inundation modeling across the vulnerable districts of Bangladesh to test earlier proposed hypotheses on the role of these environmental variables. Our results show strong influence of …

Environmental Factors Influencing Epidemic Cholera, Antarpreet Jutla, Elizabeth Whitcombe, Nur Hasan, Bradd Haley, Ali S. Akanda, Anwar Hug, Munir Alam, R. Bradley Sack, Rita Colwell

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Cholera outbreak following the earthquake of 2010 in Haiti has reaffirmed that the disease is a major public health threat. Vibrio cholerae is autochthonous to aquatic environment, hence, it cannot be eradicated but hydroclimatology-based prediction and prevention is an achievable goal. Using data from the 1800s, we describe uniqueness in seasonality and mechanism of occurrence of cholera in the epidemic regions of Asia and Latin America. Epidemic regions are located near regional rivers and are characterized by sporadic outbreaks, which are likely to be initiated during episodes of prevailing warm air temperature with low river flows, creating favorable environmental conditions …

Study Of Glycation And Advanced Glycation On A Humanized Monoclonal Antibody, Hong Liu

Open Access Dissertations

In the presented work, we reviewed the protein glycation effect on recombinant monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), and demonstrated an in vitro glycation model on rhuMAb A was a successful tool to evaluate site-specific glycation. We also implemented this model to study MAb glycation in three aspects: the formation of glycation, the change of glycation adducts under thermal stress, and the control of glycation adducts stability by formulation compositions.

A protein characterization study demonstrated that the in vitro forced glycation model generated seven glycated amino acid sites on rhuMAb A. The lysine residue K49 was the preferably site, while others sites were …