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The Vibrio Cholerae Type Vi Secretion System Employs Diverse Effector Modules For Intraspecific Competition, Daniel Unterweger, Sarah T. Miyata, Verena Bachmann, Teresa M. Brooks, Travis Mullins, Benjamin Kostiuk, Daniele Provenzano, Stefan U. Pukatzki

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

Vibrio cholerae is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that consists of over 200 serogroups with differing pathogenic potential. Only strains that express the virulence factors cholera toxin (CT) and toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) are capable of pandemic spread of cholera diarrhoea. Regardless, all V. cholerae strains sequenced to date harbour genes for the type VI secretion system (T6SS) that translocates effectors into neighbouring eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Here we report that the effectors encoded within these conserved gene clusters differ widely among V. cholerae strains, and that immunity proteins encoded immediately downstream from the effector genes protect their host from neighbouring bacteria …

The Collegian (2014-02-03), Cleiri Quezada

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 66, No. 18

Assessing The Optimal Virulence Of Malaria‐Targeting Mosquito Pathogens: A Mathematical Study Of Engineered Metarhizium Anisopliae, Bernhard Konrad, Michael R. Lindstrom, Anja Gumpinger, Jielin Zhu, Daniel Coombs

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Metarhizium anisopliae is a naturally occurring fungal pathogen of mosquitoes. Recently, Metarhizium has been engineered to act against malaria by directly killing the disease agent within mosquito vectors and also effectively blocking onward transmission. It has been proposed that efforts should be made to minimize the virulence of the fungal pathogen, in order to slow the development of resistant mosquitoes following an actual deployment.

Results

Two mathematical models were developed and analysed to examine the efficacy of the fungal pathogen. It was found that, in many plausible scenarios, the best effects are achieved with a reduced or minimal pathogen …

Paludismo, Endemia Rural Venezolana Del Pasado Y Del Presente [Malaria: Rural Endemic Venezuelan Past And Present], Ana G. Angulo, Erika De Pablos, Pedro Navarro, Yetzenia Haro, María Antonia De La Parte, Nathalie Chacon

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty Publications

La malaria o paludismo es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por protozoarios del género Plasmodium. La mayoría de los casos los ocasiona el Plasmodium vivax, aunque los de mayor gravedad son a causa de Plasmodium falciparum y Plasmodium knowlesi. Se calcula que durante 2010, en el mundo, se produjeron unos 216 millones de casos de paludismo, de los cuales, aproximadamente 81% (174 millones de casos), se registraron en África. En Venezuela, en el año 2011 se produjeron 45.743 casos. La patogenia está fundamentada en la invasión y rompimiento de manera cíclica de los eritrocitos, lo cual conduce a la generación de …

Mycoplasma Genitalium Promotes Epithelial Crossing And Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Infection By Hiv-1, Kishore Das, Georgina De La Garza, Edward B. Siwak, Virginia L. Scofield, Subramanian Dhandayuthapani

School of Medicine Publications

Background

Mycoplasma genitalium co-infection in HIV-infected individuals has been reported to increase the shedding of HIV in the urogenital region of females. To better understand this relationship, we investigated the influence of M. genitalium on the transmission and replication of HIV using an in vitro model.

Methods

The Transwell co-culture system was employed to assess the crossing of an endocervical cell barrier by HIV-1. Immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to assess the distribution of the nectin-1 molecule on M. genitalium -infected epithelial cells of the End1/E6E7 endocervical cell line, grown as monolayers in the insert wells. Peripheral blood mononuclear …

Better A Broader Diagnosis Than A Misdiagnosis: The Study Of A Neoplastic Condition In A Male Individual Who Died In Early 20th Century (Coimbra, Portugal), Carina Marques, Ana Luisa Santos, Eugénia Cunha

Anthropology Faculty Publications

The paleopathological record of neoplastic conditions in the past is considered scarce. The detection of tumours in ancient populations is hindered by the quality and quantity of signs visible on the skeleton, the methodological approach, the preservation of remains, and by difficulties of differential diagnosis. The aims of this paper are to report the extensive and multiple osteolytic lesions observed in an adult male and to discuss the possible etiology of these lesions. The individual, a 71-year-old male who died in 1932, is part of the Coimbra Identified Skeletal Collection. Records indicate that he died of a ‘heart lesion’. The …

Distribution And Abundance Of Anopheles Spp. In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, South Texas, Norma Hermelinda Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study investigated the relationship between Anopheles abundance, collection sites and environmental variables in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, South Texas. In addition, species composition in the Lower Rio Grande Valley was determined in 2011. A total of 6772 female mosquitoes were identified to six genera and 27 species. The most prevalent genera collected were Culex (53.9%), Ochlerotatus (25.6%) and Aedes (13.6%). Anopheles mosquitoes were collected using resting boxes during summer 2012 at multiple locations along the Lower Rio Grande Valley. ArcGIS was used to identify land cover characteristics and nearest water sources at mosquito collection sites. Estero Llano Grande …

Cloning And Characterization Of Ef-Tu And Ef-Ts From Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Stephanie O. Palmer, Edna Y. Rangel, Alberto E. Montalvo, Alexis T. Tran, Kate C. Ferguson, James M. Bullard

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

We have cloned genes encoding elongation factors We have cloned genes encoding elongation factors EF-Tu and EF-Ts from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and expressed and purified the proteins to greater than 95% homogeneity. Sequence analysis indicated that P. aeruginosa EF-Tu and EF-Ts are 84% and 55% identical to E. coli counterparts, respectively. P. aeruginosa EF-Tu was active when assayed in GDP exchange assays. Kinetic parameters for the interaction of EF-Tu with GDP in the absence of EF-Ts were observed to be = 33 μM, = 0.003 s−1, and the specificity constant was  s−1 μM−1. In the presence of EF-Ts, these values were …

Dynamical Behaviors Of Gonorrhea Strain Competition Model, Marisabel Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In the past decades, Gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has become resistant to a wider range of antibiotics. We apply a phenomenological model that takes into account essential ideas such as the effects of different treatment levels, the transformation and conjugation rates of bacteria, and the response of the immune system. Qualitative analysis provides a more integral view of how model parameters affect the emergence of within-host resistance.

Bcl9 And C9orf5 Are Associated With Negative Symptoms In Schizophrenia: Meta-Analysis Of Two Genome-Wide Association Studies, Chun Xu, Nagesh Aragam, Xia Li, Erika Cynthia Villa, Liang Wang, David Briones, Brenda Bin Su, Michael A. Escamilla, Kesheng Wang

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating psychiatric condition affecting slightly more than 1% of the population worldwide and it is a multifactorial disorder with a high degree of heritability (80%) based on family and twin studies. Increasing lines of evidence suggest intermediate phenotypes/endophenotypes are more associated with causes of the disease and are less genetically complex than the broader disease spectrum. Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are attractive intermediate phenotypes based on their clinical and treatment response features. Therefore, our objective was to identify genetic variants underlying the negative symptoms of schizophrenia by analyzing two genome-wide association (GWA) data sets consisting …

Proteomic Identification Of Dengue Virus Binding Proteins In Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes And Aedes Albopictus Cells, Maria De Lourdes Muñoz, Gustavo Limón-Camacho, Rosalinda Tovar, Alvaro Diaz-Badillo, Guillermo Mendoza-Hernández, William C. Black

School of Medicine Publications

The main vector of dengue in America is the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which is infected by dengue virus (DENV) through receptors of midgut epithelial cells. The envelope protein (E) of dengue virus binds to receptors present on the host cells through its domain III that has been primarily recognized to bind cell receptors. In order to identify potential receptors, proteins from mosquito midgut tissue and C6/36 cells were purified by affinity using columns with the recombinant E protein domain III (rE-DIII) or DENV particles bound covalently to Sepharose 4B to compare and evaluate their performance to bind proteins including …

Constitutive Type Vi Secretion System Expression Gives Vibrio Cholerae Intra- And Interspecific Competitive Advantages, Daniel Unterweger, Maya Kitaoka, Sarah T. Miyata, Verena Bachmann, Teresa M. Brooks, Jessica Moloney, Oscar Sosa, David Silva, Jorge Duran-Gonzalez, Daniele Provenzano

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

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) mediates protein translocation across the cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae - the causative agent of cholera. All V. cholerae strains examined to date harbor gene clusters encoding a T6SS. Structural similarity and sequence homology between components of the T6SS and the T4 bacteriophage cell-puncturing device suggest that the T6SS functions as a contractile molecular syringe to inject effector molecules into prokaryotic and eukaryotic target cells. Regulation of the T6SS is critical. A subset of V. cholerae strains, including the clinical O37 serogroup strain V52, express T6SS constitutively. In contrast, pandemic strains …

Small Molecule Inhibitors Of Bacillus Anthracis Protective Antigen Proteolytic Activation And Oligomerization, Alexander N. Wein, Brian N. Williams, Shihui Liu, Boris Ermolinsky, Daniele Provenzano, Ruben Abagyan, Andrew Orry, Stephen H. Leppla, Michael Peredelchuk

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

Protective antigen (PA), lethal factor, and edema factor, the protein toxins of Bacillus anthracis, are among its most important virulence factors and play a key role in infection. We performed a virtual ligand screen of a library of 10000 members to identify compounds predicted to bind to PA and prevent its oligomerization. Four of these compounds slowed PA association in a FRET-based oligomerization assay, and two of those protected cells from intoxication at concentrations of 1-10 μM. Exploration of the protective mechanism by Western blot showed decreased SDS-resistant PA oligomer on cells and, surprisingly, decreased amounts of activated PA. In …

Orange & White - Spring 2012, University Of Texas At Brownsville

UTB/TSC Archives - Orange & White Magazine

No abstract provided.

Draft Environmental Assessment - Biomedical Research Facility Ii, University Of Texas At Brownsville

Campus Master Plans (UTB/UTPA)

The Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared in accordance with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines, implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The EA evaluates the environmental impacts of the proposed Biomedical Research Facility II (BRF II) laboratory expansion at the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College (UTB) campus. The NIH aims to partially fund this project, addressing the critical need for modern laboratory space to support transdisciplinary biomedical research. The No Action Alternative was also considered, but it would not meet the project’s purpose and need. Despite minor design changes, potential environmental impacts …

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Loci Influencing Concentrations Of Liver Enzymes In Plasma, John C. Chambers, Weihua Zhang, Joban Sehmi, Xinzhong Li, Mark N. Wass, Pim Van Der Harst, Hilma Holm, Serena Sanna, Maryam Kavousi, Chun Xu

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma are widely used as indicators of liver disease. We carried out a genome-wide association study in 61,089 individuals, identifying 42 loci associated with concentrations of liver enzymes in plasma, of which 32 are new associations (P = 10−8 to P = 10−190). We used functional genomic approaches including metabonomic profiling and gene expression analyses to identify probable candidate genes at these regions. We identified 69 candidate genes, including genes involved in biliary transport (ATP8B1 and ABCB11), glucose, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism (FADS1, FADS2, GCKR, JMJD1C, HNF1A …

Enseñanza De La Medicina Tropical Mediante La Discusión De Casos Clínicos [Teaching Tropical Medicine Through Discussion Of Clinical Cases], Pedro Navarro, Luis Alfonso Colmenares Suárez, Albany Sosa, María Soto, Nathalie Chacon, Isabel Trebesch, María Antonia De La Parte, Amando Martin

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty Publications

Introducción: En los últimos años se han propuesto cambios en la enseñanza de la medicina tropical, basando la docencia en el estudiante. Objetivo: Utilizar la metodología de la discusión organizada y razonada de casos clínicos, con la participación activa del estudiante, a in de llegar a un diagnóstico presuntivo de las patologías presentadas.

Metodología: Se describe el proceso de discusión con los estudiantes de medicina tropical, de cinco pacientes con enfermedades infecciosas bacterianas (iebre tifoidea, brucelosis, leptospirosis, cólera y shigellosis), diagnosticados y tratados en la Consulta de Endemias Rurales del Instituto de Medicina Tropical y en los Servicios de …

Orange & White - Fall 2010, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

UTB/TSC Archives - Orange & White Magazine

No abstract provided.

Atención Hospitalaria De La Leishmaniosis Tegumentaria Americana En Los Miembros Inferiores, Pedro Navarro, Linda Lugo, María Antonia De La Parte, Luis Alfonso Colmenares Suárez, Nathalie Chacon, Amando Martin, Sylvia Silva, Jorge Schuller, Eduardo Salas, Adayza Figueredo

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty Publications

La leishmaniosis tegumentaria americana (LTA) como enfermedad endémica crónica continúa afectando a la población del medio rural venezolano, ocasionándole morbilidad y limitaciones laborales. Mediante la descripción de casos clínicos se evaluaron 38 pacientes con LTA que recibieron atención hospitalaria por úlceras leishmánicas en miembros inferiores. De los pacientes descritos 63 % eran niños, 84 % procedía del Estado Miranda, 66 % tenía una lesión ulcerosa única, 45 % recibió cefadroxilo previo al tratamiento antiparasitario específico y el 24 % había recibido inmunoterapia previa para la enfermedad. Treinta y siete pacientes (97 %) recibieron antimoniato de meglumina en series terapéuticas de …

The Collegian (2010-04-12), Julianna Sosa

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 62, No. 25

The Collegian (2010-04-05), Julianna Sosa

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 62, No. 24

The Collegian (2010-03-08), Julianna Sosa

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 62, No. 22

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Associated With Hla, Il12a, And Il12rb2 Variants, Gideon M. Hirschfield, Xiangdong Liu, Chun Xu, Yue Lu, Gang Xie, Yan Lu, Xiangjun Gu, Erin J. Walker

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic granulomatous cholangitis, characteristically associated with antimitochondrial antibodies. Twin and family aggregation data suggest that there is a significant genetic predisposition to primary biliary cirrhosis, but the susceptibility loci are unknown.

Methods: To identify genetic loci conferring a risk for primary biliary cirrhosis, we carried out a genomewide association analysis in which DNA samples from 2072 Canadian and U.S. subjects (536 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 1536 controls) were genotyped for more than 300,000 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Sixteen of the SNPs most strongly associated with primary biliary cirrhosis were genotyped in two independent …

A Concise Chronology Of The Rio Grande Delta From The Paleo-Indian Period To Early Spanish Exploration And Colonization, Kristina Solis

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The Rio Grande Delta's archaeological record is mostly unknown. This paper attempts to assemble scattered resources into a concise and understandable chronology of the Delta’s prehistoric cultures. The prehistoric environment is discussed to clear up the misconception that modern day and prehistoric environments were identical. Archaeological contributions are covered to illustrate the difficulties and successes that 20th century archaeologists experienced. Chapter III discusses a few major sites from the region to give an example of what archaeologists have discovered, and what kinds of cultural remnants have been found. A concise chronology covering the Paleo-Indian period through the Late Prehistoric follows. …

The Pan American (2009-01-12), J. R. Ortega

UTPA Archives - The Pan American Newspaper

Vol. 65, No. 15

Supportive Communication, Sense Of Virtual Community And Health Outcomes In Online Infertility Groups, Jennifer L. Welbourne, Anita L. Blanchard, Marla D. Boughton

Management Faculty Publications

Women are turning to online health groups to deal with the stresses and complications of infertility. Online groups may provide a resource that is potentially absent in their face-to-face communities. This study examines how the sense of virtual community (SOVC) that develops in these groups serves as a buffer between perceived stress and physical health symptoms. A sample of 122 women from two virtual communities completed an online survey. Results show that observing the exchange of emotional support was positively related to SOVC while observing informational support was negatively related to SOVC. Further, SOVC was negatively related to physical health …

The Collegian (2008-09-29), Isis Lopez

UTB/TSC Archives - The Collegian [Newspaper]

Vol. 61, No. 7

Alzheimer's Disease And Vascular Dementia In Developing Countries: Prevalence, Management, And Risk Factors, Raj N. Kalaria, Gladys E. Maestre, Raul Arizaga, Robert P. Friedland, Doug Galasko, Kathleen Hall, José A. Luchsinger, Adesola Ogunniyi, Elaine K. Perry, Felix Potocnik

School of Medicine Publications

Despite mortality due to communicable diseases, poverty, and human conflicts, dementia incidence is destined to increase in the developing world in tandem with the ageing population. Current data from developing countries suggest that age-adjusted dementia prevalence estimates in 65 year olds are high (≥5%) in certain Asian and Latin American countries, but consistently low (1–3%) in India and sub-Saharan Africa; Alzheimer's disease accounts for 60% whereas vascular dementia accounts for ∼30% of the prevalence. Early-onset familial forms of dementia with single-gene defects occur in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Illiteracy remains a risk factor for dementia. The APOE ε4 allele …

Orange & White - Summer 2008, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

UTB/TSC Archives - Orange & White Magazine

No abstract provided.

Utb/Tsc Commencement – Spring 2008, University Of Texas At Brownsville, Texas Southmost College

Brownsville Archives - Legacy Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.