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In Silico Cd4+, Cd8+ & Humoral Immunity Associated Antigenic Epitope Prediction And Hla Distribution Analysis Of Htlv-I, Tasneem Bano, Essam Mohammed Janahi, Anupam Dhasmana, Mohtashim Lohani, Shafiul Haque, Raju K. Mandel, Sajad A. Dar, Arshad Jawed, Mohd Wahid, Naseem Akhter, Mohammaed Y. Areeshi

School of Medicine Publications

Purpose: The linkage of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) to fatal diseases is a well known fact for many years. However, there has been no significant progress in the field of the treatment that can lead to the development of a successful vaccine. Furthermore, there are no means of assessing the risk of disease and its prognosis in the infected people.

Methods:The current study has taken the cognizance of the importance of host’s immune response in reducing the risk of infectious diseases to carry out immunoinformatics driven epitope screening strategy of vaccine candidates against HTLV-1. In this …

Non-Congenital Severe Ocular Complications Of Zika Virus Infection, Mussaret B. Zaidi, C Gustavo De Moraes, Michele Petitto, Juan B. Yepez, Anavaj Sakuntabhai, Etienne Simon-Loriere, Matthieu Prot, Claude Ruffie, Susan S. Kim, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

In 2016, during a major Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Maracaibo, Venezuela, a 49-year-old woman and an unrelated 4-year-old boy developed bilateral optic neuritis 2–3 weeks after presenting an acute febrile illness characterized by low-grade fever, rash and myalgia [1]. Both patients presented sudden, painless bilateral loss of vision with no corneal or uveal abnormalities. Fundoscopic examination revealed oedema of the optic nerve and optic disc pallor. Optical coherence tomography confirmed bilateral optic nerve head swelling in the case of the adult, but it was not carried out in the child. Automated perimetry performed in the adult revealed bilateral diffuse …

Reactive Oxygen Species Generation In Human Cells By A Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent, Li Wang, Eric Lin, Mary J. Johansen, Timothy Madden, Edward Felix, Karen S. Martirosyan, Steven J. Frank

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The novel positive-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) marker C4 consists of an aqueous solution of cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 ) complexed with the chelator N-acetylcysteine (NAC). We evaluated whether the presence of C4 or its components would produce reactive oxygen species (ROS, including hydroxyl, peroxyl, or other reactive oxygen species) in cultured cells. Human cancer or normal cells were incubated with 1% (w/v) CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O or 2% NAC or a combination of both (1% CoCl 2 ·6H 2 O: 2% NAC in an aqueous solution, abbreviated as Co: NAC) in the presence or absence of H 2 …

Toxicity Evaluation Of A Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Marker Cocl2-N-Acetylcysteine In Rats, Li Wang, Mihai Gagea, Karen S. Martirosyan, Mary Johansen, Timothy Madden, Lisa Norberg, Kirk S. Culotta, Steven J. Frank

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

C4 (cobalt dichloride-N-acetylcysteine [1% CoCl 2 :2% NAC]) is a novel magnetic resonance imaging contrast marker that facilitates visualization of implanted radioactive seeds in cancer brachytherapy. We evaluated the toxicity of C4. Rats were assigned to control (0% CoCl 2 :NAC), low-dose (0.1% CoCl 2 :2% NAC), reference-dose (C4), and high-dose (10% CoCl 2 :2% NAC) groups. Agent was injected into the left quadriceps femoris muscle of the rats. Endpoints were organ and body weights, hematology, and serum chemistry and histopathologic changes of tissues at 48 hours and 28 and 63 days after dosing. Student's t tests were used. No …

Key Enzymes In Cancer: Mechanism Of Action And Inhibition With Anticancer Agents, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Gabriel Lopez, Stephanie Cantu, Samantha Balboa, Annabel Garcia, Christina Silva, Diandra Valdes

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Several enzymes play significant role in different stages of cancer including proliferation, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Mechanism of actions of a few key enzymes along with their inhibitors have been discussed with particular attentation to riboneucleotide reductase, thymidylate synthease, topoisomerase II, interleukins, cell survival proteins and aminopeptidase N.

Vibrio Vulnificus Monitoring Along The Coastal Bend And The Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Louay Bachnak

Honors Theses

Vibrio vulnificus is a common opportunistic pathogen found in marine, coastal, and estuarine waters. This one micrometer microorganism is the leading cause of deaths in the United States due to food poisoning after consumption of raw or undercooked seafood. The optimal temperature for survival is between 15.6°C and 35.0°C with moderate salinities – conditions frequently found in the Gulf of Mexico (Lin, Payne, & Schwarz, 2003).

In the United States, V. vulnificus infections are more common in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, including Texas. However, infections can still occur in individuals consuming infected food more inland or sustain wounds …

Effect Of Land Use Change On South Texas Bats, Katharine Leigh Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Bats were acoustically recorded in South Texas over the summer of 2017. Nine species of bats were recorded and identified.

Multi-Type Branching Processes Modeling Of Nosocomial Epidemics, Zeinab Mohamed, Tamer Oraby

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Nosocomial epidemics are infectious diseases which spread among different types of susceptible individuals in a health-care facility. To model this type of epidemics, we use a multi-type branching process with a multivariate negative binomial offspring distribution. In particular, we estimate the basic reproduction number R0 and study its relationship with the parameters of the offspring distribution. in case of a single-type epidemic, we investigate the effect of contact tracing on the estimates for R0.

Assessing The Factor Structure Of The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, And Cumulative Effect Of Abuse And Neglect On Mental Health Among Adolescents In Conflict-Affected Burundi, Ruby Charak, Jtvm De Jong, Lidewyde H. Berckmoes, Herman Ndayisaba, Ria Reis

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The present study aimed to examine the factor structure of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ; Bernstein & Fink, 1998), highlight rates of abuse and neglect among Burundian adolescents, compare these rates with those found in high-income nations, and examine the cumulative effect of multiple types of abuse and neglect on depression and PTSD symptoms. Participants were 231 adolescents and youth (M = 14.9, SD = 1.99, 58.4% female) from five provinces of Burundi, a country in Central Africa affected by war and political violence. Translation and back-translation of the CTQ was carried out to obtain an adaptation of CTQ …

Past, Present And Future Of Surgical Meshes: A Review, Karen Baylón, Perla Rodríguez-Camarillo, Alex Elías-Zúñiga, Jose Antonio Díaz-Elizondo, Robert Gilkerson, Karen Lozano

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Surgical meshes, in particular those used to repair hernias, have been in use since 1891. Since then, research in the area has expanded, given the vast number of post-surgery complications such as infection, fibrosis, adhesions, mesh rejection, and hernia recurrence. Researchers have focused on the analysis and implementation of a wide range of materials: meshes with different fiber size and porosity, a variety of manufacturing methods, and certainly a variety of surgical and implantation procedures. Currently, surface modification methods and development of nanofiber based systems are actively being explored as areas of opportunity to retain material strength and increase biocompatibility …

Inaugural Research Symposium, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. School Of Medicine

School of Medicine Publications

Inaugural Research Symposium 2017

Biocidal Defeat Agents Produced By Silver-Iodine Nanoenergetic Gas Generators, Ivan Davila

Theses and Dissertations

Nanostructured aluminum (Al), iodine pentoxide (I2O5) nano-rods, and silver oxide (Ag2O) nanoparticles, (Al-I2O5-Ag 2O) were used to compose the ternary thermite composition that serves as a Nanoenergetic Gas Generator (NGG). This composition produces biocidal gases giving the mixture the ability to destroy highly pathogenic microorganisms or bacteria. The dissemination of the biocidal gas in combustion chamber was observed using a high-speed camera. The testing of NGG combustion process against the living Escherichia coli (E.coli) K-12 strain cells, that were cultivated/placed on the sample/chamber surfaces, demonstrated that iodine and silver atoms clouds were deposited to the bacteria surface. The 10/75/15 wt …

Identification Of Chemical Compounds That Inhibit Protein Synthesis In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Stephanie O. Palmer, Yanmei Hu, Megan Keniry, James M. Bullard

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Four inhibitory compounds were identified using a poly-uridylic acid (polyU) mRNA-directed aminoacylation/translation (A/T) protein synthesis system composed of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetases (PheRS), ribosomes, and ribosomal factors from Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an in vitro screen of a synthetic compound library. The compounds were specific for inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis. In enzymatic assays, the compounds inhibited protein synthesis with IC50 values ranging from 20 to 60 μM. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined in cultures for a panel of pathogenic organisms, including Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. All the compounds were observed to have …

Comparative Analysis Of Immune Checkpoint Molecules And Their Potential Role In The Transmissible Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease, Andrew S. Flies, Nicholas B. Blackburn, Alan Bruce Lyons, John D. Hayball, Gregory M. Woods

School of Medicine Publications

Immune checkpoint molecules function as a system of checks and balances that enhance or inhibit immune responses to infectious agents, foreign tissues, and cancerous cells. Immunotherapies that target immune checkpoint molecules, particularly the inhibitory molecules programmed cell death 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), have revolutionized human oncology in recent years, yet little is known about these key immune signaling molecules in species other than primates and rodents. The Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease is caused by transmissible cancers that have resulted in a massive decline in the wild Tasmanian devil population. We have recently demonstrated that the inhibitory …

Multi-Type Branching Processes Model Of Nosocomial Epidemic, Zeinab Nageh Mohamed

Theses and Dissertations

The potency of an infectious disease to spread between different types of susceptible individuals in a hospital determines the fate of controlling nosocomial epidemics. I use a multi-type branching process with a joint negative binomial offspring distribution to study nosocomial epidemics. In particular, I estimate the basic reproduction number R0 and study its relationship with the offspring distribution’s parameters at different and fixed number of generations. Also, I study the effect of contact tracing on estimates of R0.

Mathematical Modeling Of Mers-Cov Nosocomial Epidemic, Adriana Quiroz

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis concerns about the analysis and modeling of spread of an infectious disease inside a hospital. We begin from the basic knowledge of the simple models: SIR and SEIR, to show an appropriate understanding of the epidemic dynamic process. We consider the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV), in Saudi Arabia, to introduce MERS-CoV SEIR ward model by developing different systems of equations in each ward (unit). We use the Next Generation Matrix method to calculate the basic reproduction number R0. Simulations of different scenarios are done using different combination of parameters.

To model MERS-CoV we established …

Disease Modeling Using Fractional Differential Equations And Estimation, Daniel P. Medina

Theses and Dissertations

Ordinary differential equations has been the most conventional approach when modeling spread of infectious diseases. Effective research has shown that using fractional-order differentiation can be a very useful and efficient extension for some mathematical models. In this thesis, fractional calculus is used to depict an SEIR model with a system of fractional-order differential equations. I also simulate the fractional-order SEIR using integer-order numerical methods. I also establish the estimation framework and show that it is accurately working.

Ophthalmic Manifestations Of Congenital Zika Syndrome In Colombia And Venezuela, Juan B. Yepez, Felipe A. Murati, Michele Petitto, Carlos F. Peñaranda, J. Fernando Arevalo, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

IMPORTANCE The ocular manifestations and sequelae of Zika virus infection are not well known. Recently, the World Health Organization changed the declaration of Zika as a public health emergency and designated the viral outbreak and related microcephaly clusters as a long-term program of work. This change indicates the urgent need to evaluate and document ophthalmic manifestations in patients for timely management of this disease. In addition, confirmation whether the public health problem in Brazil extends to other regions in South America is needed.

OBJECTIVE To report the ocular manifestations of congenital Zika syndrome with microcephaly in Colombia and Venezuela.

DESIGN, …

Understanding The Patterns Of Distribution And Abundance Of Lyme Disease Carrying Ticks And Their Hosts, Julio Ruiz

Honors Theses

Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgodorferi and spreads to their hosts by the bites of infected Ixodes scapularis ticks. In the United States, Lyme disease is typically found in the northeast but in recent years the disease has begun to be found further south and west than previously before. Yet, today, little information can be found about the patters of distribution and abundance of ticks and their host. The main goal of this research work was to expand the knowledge of the abundance and distribution of ticks and host. Based on tick collection data obtained from Maikis …

Humanitarian Activity In The Context Of The Balkan Wars, Andreea Stoian Karadeli

Public Affairs and Security Studies Faculty Publications

This article examines humanitarian activity and its multidimensional aspects with a case study of the Balkan Wars (1912-13). The article presents that while it is difficult to find neutral humanitarian aid, the humanitarian aid of the Red Crescent during the Balkan Wars was a rare example of neutrality.

A Murine Model To Study Epilepsy And Sudep Induced By Malaria Infection, Paddy Ssentongo, Anna E. Robuccio, Godfrey Thuku, Derek G. Sim, Ali Nabi, Fatemeh Bahari, Balaji Shanmugasundaram, Myles W. Billard, Andrew Geronimo, Frank Gilliam

School of Medicine Publications

One of the largest single sources of epilepsy in the world is produced as a neurological sequela in survivors of cerebral malaria. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanisms of such epileptogenesis remain unknown and no adjunctive therapy during cerebral malaria has been shown to reduce the rate of subsequent epilepsy. There is no existing animal model of postmalarial epilepsy. In this technical report we demonstrate the first such animal models. These models were created from multiple mouse and parasite strain combinations, so that the epilepsy observed retained universality with respect to genetic background. We also discovered spontaneous sudden unexpected death in epilepsy …

Sequential Displacement Of Type Vi Secretion System Effector Genes Leads To Evolution Of Diverse Immunity Gene Arrays In Vibrio Cholerae, Paul C. Kirchberger, Daniel Unterweger, Daniele Provenzano, Stefan Pukatzki, Yan Boucher

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Type VI secretion systems (T6SS) enable bacteria to engage neighboring cells in contact-dependent competition. In Vibrio cholerae, three chromosomal clusters each encode a pair of effector and immunity genes downstream of those encoding the T6SS structural machinery for effector delivery. Different combinations of effector-immunity proteins lead to competition between strains of V. cholerae, which are thought to be protected only from the toxicity of their own effectors. Screening of all publically available V. cholerae genomes showed that numerous strains possess long arrays of orphan immunity genes encoded in the 3' region of their T6SS clusters. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that these …

Matrix Metalloproteinases As Regulators Of Periodontal Inflammation, Franco Cavalla, Patricia Hernández-Ríos, Timo Sorsa, Cláudia Cristina Biguetti, Marcela Hernández

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Periodontitis are infectious diseases characterized by immune-mediated destruction of periodontal supporting tissues and tooth loss. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key proteases involved in destructive periodontal diseases. The study and interest in MMP has been fuelled by emerging evidence demonstrating the broad spectrum of molecules that can be cleaved by them and the myriad of biological processes that they can potentially regulate. The huge complexity of MMP functions within the ‘protease web’ is crucial for many physiologic and pathologic processes, including immunity, inflammation, bone resorption, and wound healing. Evidence points out that MMPs assemble in activation cascades and besides their classical …

Cynomolgus Macaques Naturally Infected With Trypanosoma Cruzi-I Exhibit An Overall Mixed Pro-Inflammatory/Modulated Cytokine Signature Characteristic Of Human Chagas Disease, Danielle Marquete Vitelli-Avelar, Renato Sathler-Avelar, Armanda Moreira Mattoso-Barbosa, Nicolas Gouin, Marcelo Perdigão-De-Oliveira, Leydiane Valério-Dos-Reis, Ronaldo Peres Costa, Silvana Maria Elói-Santos, Jane F. Vandeberg, John Vandeberg

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Non-human primates have been shown to be useful models for Chagas disease. We previously reported that natural T. cruzi infection of cynomolgus macaques triggers clinical features and immunophenotypic changes of peripheral blood leukocytes resembling those observed in human Chagas disease. In the present study, we further characterize the cytokine-mediated microenvironment to provide supportive evidence of the utility of cynomolgus macaques as a model for drug development for human Chagas disease.

Methods and findings: In this cross-sectional study design, flow cytometry and systems biology approaches were used to characterize the ex vivo and in vitro T. cruzi-specific functional cytokine signature …

In Silico Cd4+, Cd8+ T-Cell And B-Cell Immunity Associated Immunogenic Epitope Prediction And Hla Distribution Analysis Of Zika Virus, Essam Mohammed Janahi, Anupam Dhasmana, Vandana Srivastava, Aditya Narayan Sarangi, Sana Raza, Jamal M. Arif, Madan Lal Brahma Bhatt, Mohtashim Lohani, Mohammaed Y. Areeshi, Anand Murari Saxena, Shafiul Haque

School of Medicine Publications

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus distributed all over Africa, South America and Asia. The infection with the virus may cause acute febrile sickness that clinically resembles dengue fever, yet there is no vaccine, no satisfactory treatment, and no means of evaluating the risk of the disease or prognosis in the infected people. In the present study, the efficacy of the host's immune response in reducing the risk of infectious diseases was taken into account to carry out immuno-informatics driven epitope screening strategy of vaccine candidates against ZIKV. In this study, HLA distribution analysis was done to ensure the …

Utrgv School Of Medicine Course Catalog 2017-2018, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. School Of Medicine

UTRGV Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Employment/Vocational Rehabilitation Services For Persons With Hiv/Aids And Substance Abuse: A Potential Health Benefit, Abdoulaye Diallo, Chia Vang, Belinda Rivas, Antonio Aguirre, Carl Flowers

School of Rehabilitation Services & Counseling Faculty Publications

This study investigates Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services related to competitive employment closure among non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB), non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), and Hispanics with HIV/AIDS and substance use disorder (SUD). Data of 4150 was extracted from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) database. Descriptive statistics and multi-variate analysis showed consumers who received SSI and Medicare were less likely to be employed than those who did not, and, NHW who received rehabilitation counseling and guidance benefited the most compared to NHB who did not. Rehabilitation counselors can assist minorities with HIV/AIDS and SUD secure employment given the positive effects of employment for this population. …

Protective Effect Of Anti-Phosphatidylserine Antibody In A Guinea Pig Model Of Advanced Hemorrhagic Arenavirus Infection, John M. Thomas, Philip E. Thorpe

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Objective: Host derived markers on virally infected cells or virions may provide targets for the generation of antiviral agents. Recently, we identified phosphatidylserine (PS) as a host marker of virions and virally-infected cells.

Methods and Materials: Under normal physiological conditions, PS is maintained on the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane facing the cytosol. Following viral infection, activation or pre-apoptotic changes cause PS to become externalized. We have previously shown that bavituximab, a chimeric human-mouse antibody that binds PS complexed with β2-glycoprotein I (β2GP1), protected rodents against lethal Pichinde virus and cytomegalovirus infections.

Results: Here, we determined the antiviral activity …

One Health Interactions Of Chagas Disease Vectors, Canid Hosts, And Human Residents Along The Texas-Mexico Border, Melissa N. Garcia, Sarah O’Day, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Rodion Gorchakov, Ramiro Patino, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo, Susan T. Laing, Joe E. Lopez, Alexandra Ingber, Kathryn M. Jones, Kristy O. Murray

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Background

Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) is the leading cause of non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy in Latin America. Texas, particularly the southern region, has compounding factors that could contribute to T. cruzi transmission; however, epidemiologic studies are lacking. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of T. cruzi in three different mammalian species (coyotes, stray domestic dogs, and humans) and vectors (Triatoma species) to understand the burden of Chagas disease among sylvatic, peridomestic, and domestic cycles.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To determine prevalence of infection, we tested sera from coyotes, stray domestic dogs housed in public …

Decisions, Decisions: Factors That Influence A Patient's Medical Tourism Choices, Louis K. Falk, Thomas J. Prinsen

Communication Faculty Publications

In the digital age, the amount of information and sources concerning Medical Tourism is overwhelming. Knowledge is power in an era of healthcare uncertainty. As health care options have grown in global proportions, it has become more difficult for potential patients to locate the material necessary to make informed decisions or to even know which factors to consider during their information search. Individual financial circumstances vary greatly. This paper suggests how medical tourism makes financial sense for many patients and payers. Proximity and culture play roles in that medical tourists may prefer locations that are not too far from home. …