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Novel Phytol-Derived Immunostimulants (Phis-01) For Enhancement Of Vaccine Efficacy: A Comparative Study, Youssef Aachoui

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Adjuvants are used widely in vaccine formulations. However for humans, choices are very limited. Since they are selected empirically, it is not expected that any two adjuvants would influence immune mechanisms the same way. However they all influence host microenvironment, antigen presentation, and retention of immunological memory. This study focuses on new terpenoid adjuvants based on phytol derivatives. We previously observed that phytol and one of its derivatives PHIS-01 (a phytol-based immunostimulant, phytanol) are excellent adjuvants. To gain an understanding of the structural features important for adjuvanticity, we further studied compounds derived from a diterpene Phytol. We designed two new …

Protection And Attachment Of Vibrio Cholerae Mediated By The Toxin-Coregulated Pilus In The Infant Mouse Model, Shelly J. Krebs, Ronald K. Taylor

Dartmouth Scholarship

Colonization of the human small intestine by Vibrio cholerae is an essential step in pathogenesis that requires the type IV toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP). To date, three functions of TCP have been characterized: it serves as the CTXΦ receptor, secretes the colonization factor TcpF, and functions in microcolony formation by mediating bacterium-bacterium interactions. Although type IV pili in other pathogenic bacteria have been characterized as playing a major role in attachment to epithelial cells, there are very few studies to suggest that TCP acts as an attachment factor. Taking this into consideration, we investigated the function of TCP in attachment to …

Influenza Vaccination Of The Health Care Workforce, Alexandra M. Stewart

Health Policy and Management Faculty Posters and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Genetic Variability Of The Stable Fly, Stomoxys Calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) Assessed On A Global Scale Using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism, Kathleen M. Kneeland

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, is a cosmopolitan pest of livestock and humans. It is a major pest in livestock facilities, where exist excellent breeding sites such as spilled feed mixed with manure. The pestiferous nature and painful bite cause stress to cattle and other animals. Cattle perform avoidance behaviors such as bunching together, standing in water, tail swishing, ear flicking and leg stamping. The stress and avoidance behaviors result in reductions in weight gain or milk production, with an estimated annual economic loss of > $1billion. Therefore, the development of more efficient control methods would benefit the global economy, …

Prospectus, July 27, 2011, Kelley Heaney, Chuck Shepherd, Alisha Kirkley, Sean Hermann, Josh Grube

Prospectus 2011

CAPITAL FUNDING RELEASE ANNOUNCED, Survey Results to Influence Center Construction Designs, Marriage License Applications Now Accepted Online, Coming This Fall: Big Tuition Hikes, Parkland A Possibility for Closed Aviation Program, Langendorf Wins State Award, Hundreds Wed as N.Y. Becomes Sixth State to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage, Chuck Shepherd's News of the Weird, The World's Biggest Problem? Too Many People, Keyboards Not the Right Replacement for Cursive, Not Vaccinated? Not Acceptable, Alternatives to Selling Textbooks, The Case for Comic Books, Using Social Networking to Your Advantage, Finding Free Software for Your PC, How to End Your Summer Productively, Cobras Basketball Player Profiles, …

Serials Solutions Subject Search Report 2010-2011, Andree 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 2010-2011. Shows how many times the A-Z full text electronic journal list (at http://zu4tq4pb5v.search.serialssolutions.com/) was browsed by specific subjects.

Research News: 2011, University Of Mississippi. School Of Pharmacy

Research News: Grants and Publications (2000-2014)

Grants, publications, technology transfer, special announcements

There's More To It Than Just Not Showing Up: Attitudes Toward Help-Seeking And African American Men, Kristie Monique Fleming

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

The current study investigated the role of masculinity, mental health stigma, religious coping, and cultural mistrust in accounting for attitudes toward help-seeking in African American men. While masculinity and mental health stigma are known to predict attitudes toward help-seeking, it was expected that religious coping and cultural mistrust might also be significant predictors in a sample of African American men. Participants from the study consisted of 133 African American men. The majority of participants were from one predominantly White university in the midsouthern part of the United States and one historically Black university in the southeastern part of the United …

July 23, 2011 (Pages 3953-4074), Pennsylvania Legislative Reference Bureau

Volume 41 (2011)

No abstract provided.

Combating Bioterrorism: Purification And Structural Analysis Of The E3 Proteins Of The Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus And The Chikungunya Virus, Tyshia Gwin

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Outbreaks of the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV) and the Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) continue to emerge in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia, but there are currently no vaccines or anti-virals for these viruses. Given their ease of transmission, debilitating symptoms, and genetic alterability, VEEV and CHIKV have great potential for development into biological weapons. Therefore, there is an urgent need to determine possible methods of treatment or prevention. One possibility of prevention lies in determining the structure and biological function of the E3 protein that plays a key role in the infectivity of the viruses. In this research, …

Development And Evaluation Of A Multiplex Suspension Array Protocol For The Detection Of Enteric Pathogens From Clinical Specimens, Carol Walters

Theses and Dissertations

Foodborne illnesses are a significant public health challenge in the United States, with an estimated 9.4 million illnesses annually attributed to the consumption of contaminated food, of which 59% are estimated to be caused by viruses, 39% by bacteria and 2% by parasites. Timely detection and identification of the pathogens causing foodborne outbreaks is vital for the implementation of outbreak control strategies, allowing public health officials to prevent additional illnesses and maintain confidence in the food supply. Public health laboratories employ a variety of traditional and molecular testing techniques to identify foodborne outbreak etiologic agents. One technology is the Luminex …

We Are...Marshall, July 20, 2011, Office Of Marshall University Communications

We Are ... Marshall: the Newsletter for Marshall University 1999-2023

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Adenoviruses As Oncolytics And Cancer Vaccines In An Immunocompetent B Cell Lymphoma Model, Eric A. Weaver, Christopher Y. Chen, Shannon M. May, Mary E. Barry, Michael A. Barry

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

We have screened human adenoviruses (Ads) for oncolytic activity against a variety of mouse and hamster cell lines and have found a number that are susceptible to a variety of Ad serotypes. A20 lymphoma is derived from BALB/c mice and is susceptible to infection and killing by a variety of human Ads. A20 is also a suitable cancer vaccine model, because these cells express a unique immunoglobulin variable region that can be targeted by vaccination. To compare Ads as cancer vaccines versus Ads as oncolytics, A20 tumors were initiated in immunocompetent BALB/c mice. Mice immunized with first-generation Ad5 expressing the …

Survey On Pediatric Palliative Care Care For Healthcare Providers (Sppchp): Identifying Knowledge, Barriers, And Support Needs, Mary Elizabeth Grimley

Open Access Dissertations

Objective: A significant number of children suffer from life-limiting illnesses, with many dying each year in the U.S. Services, beyond standard medical care, aimed at increasing overall quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses, are greatly needed within and outside of our hospitals. Palliative care is conceptualized as treatment provided to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Despite the empirically supported benefits of providing pediatric palliative care, only a small percentage of pediatric patients actually receive these services. Thus, there is a great need for the development and provision of these services. The first aim of the current …

Bjc Today

BJC Today

No abstract provided.

Regulation Of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 (Cpla2) And Its Association With Cell Proliferation In Human Lens Epithelial Cells, Yin Wang, Kui-Yi Xing, Marjorie F. Lou

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

PURPOSE. To investigate the molecular mechanism for cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) regulation and its association to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced cell proliferation.

METHODS. cPLA2 was examined using human lens epithelial (HLE) B3 cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation induced by PDGF was analyzed by luminescence assay. Cell proliferation was measured by cell counting and by BrdU assay. Human cPLA2 gene was cloned via RT-PCR followed by sitedirected mutagenesis to construct HLE B3 cells expressing either inactive cPLA2 enzyme with S228A mutation (S228A), or cPLA2 truncated at the calcium-binding C2 domain (C2D). Activity of cPLA2 was measured by arachidonic acid (AA) …

The Implications Of Male Circumcision On Hiv Transmission, Aliciamarie Hurlburt

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the world’s biggest health threats. In 2010, 33.3 million adults and children were predicted to be living with HIV/AIDS. Although prevention methods such as abstinence, condoms, and fewer sexual partners will help to lower the number of people infected by HIV, they are not enough. Male circumcision may provide an extra prevention method to acquiring HIV. A correlation between male circumcision and HIV transmission was first discovered in areas in western and northern Africa where the male circumcision prevalence rates tend to be high and HIV prevalence tends to be low. The foreskin …

Emerging Dynamics Of Human Campylobacteriosis In Southern Ireland, Susan Bullman, Daniel Corcoran, James O'Leary, Derry O'Hare, Brigid Lucey, Roy D. Sleator

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Infections with Campylobacter spp. pose a significant health burden worldwide. The significance of Campylobacter jejuni/Campylobacter coli infection is well appreciated but the contribution of non-C. jejuni/C. coli spp. to human gastroenteritis is largely unknown. In this study, we employed a two-tiered molecular study on 7194 patient faecal samples received by the Microbiology Department in Cork University Hospital during 2009. The first step, using EntericBio® (Serosep), a multiplex PCR system, detected Campylobacter to the genus level. The second step, utilizing Campylobacter species-specific PCR identified to the species level. A total of 340 samples were confirmed as Campylobacter genus positive, 329 of …

Alex Michel V. Dennis Levinson

2011 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

Platinum Complexes For Targeted Drug Delivery, Heidi Kay

USF Patents

The subject invention concerns biotin-conjugated platinum complexes that exhibit direct and indirect (immunological) antitumor cell activity. The subject invention also concerns the biotin-platinum complexes of the invention that have another molecule, such as an antibody, a ligand, a receptor, etc., bound to the biotin moiety. The subject invention also concerns the use of platinum complexes of the invention to treat oncological and inflammatory disorders. The platinum complexes of the invention can also be used to treat or prevent infection by a virus or a bacterial or parasitic organism in vivo or in vitro.

Platinum Complexes And Methods For Inhibiting Tumor Cell Proliferation, Heidi Kay, Jay W. Palmer, Joseph A. Stanko, Said M. Sebti

USF Patents

The subject invention concerns platinum complexes that exhibit antitumor cell and/or antiparasitic activity. The subject invention also concerns the use of platinum complexes of the invention to treat oncological and inflammatory disorders. The platinum complexes of the invention can also be used to treat or prevent infection by a virus or a bacterial or parasitic organism in vivo or in vitro.

Characterization Of The Serologic Responses To Plasmodium Vivax Dbpii Variants Among Inhabitants Of Pursat Province, Cambodia, Samantha Jones Barnes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein (DBP) is the ligand in the major pathway for P. vivax invasion of human reticulocytes, making it an appealing vaccine candidate. Region II of DBP (DBP-RII) is the minimal portion of the ligand that mediates recognition of the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC receptor) on the reticulocyte surface and constitutes the primary vaccine target. Analysis of natural variation in the coding sequences of DBP-RII revealed signature evidence for selective pressure driving variation in the residues of the putative receptor-binding site. We hypothesize that anti-DBP immunity in P. vivax infections is strain-specific and hindered …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Water Resources: Findings Of The Ipcc Regional Assessment Of Vulnerability For North America, Patrick J. Mulholland, Michael J. Sale

Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education

No abstract provided.

Diversity, Loss, And Gain Of Malaria Parasites In A Globally Invasive Bird, Alfonso Marzal, Robert Ricklefs, Gediminas Valkiunas, Tamer Albayrak, Elena Arriero, Camille Bonneaud, Gábor Czirják, John Ewen, Olof Hellgren, Dita Hořáková, Tatjana Iezhova, Henrik Jensen, Asta Križanauskienė, Marcos Lima, Florentino De Lope, Eyðfinn Magnussen, Lynn Martin, Anders Møller, Vaidas Palinauskas, Péter Pap, Javier Pérez-Tris, Ravinder Sehgal, Manuel Soler, Eszter Szöllősi, Helena Westerdahl, Pavel Zetindjiev, Staffan Bensch

Biology Department Faculty Works

Invasive species can displace natives, and thus identifying the traits that make aliens successful is crucial for predicting and preventing biodiversity loss. Pathogens may play an important role in the invasive process, facilitating colonization of their hosts in new continents and islands. According to the Novel Weapon Hypothesis, colonizers may out-compete local native species by bringing with them novel pathogens to which native species are not adapted. In contrast, the Enemy Release Hypothesis suggests that flourishing colonizers are successful because they have left their pathogens behind. To assess the role of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in the global …

An Invasive Species Reduces Aquatic Insect Flux To Terrestrial Food Webs, Steven S. Merkley

Theses and Dissertations

Although it is well documented how introduced species can negatively affect native species, we only poorly understand how they may alter ecosystem functions. We investigated how an invasive fish affected the flux of aquatic insects to terrestrial food webs using mesocosms in a desert spring ecosystem. We compared aquatic insect emergence between alternative community states with monocultures and polycultures of two native species of fish, least chub (Iotichthys phlegethontis) and Utah chub (Gila atraria) plus, introduced western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). We tested three hypotheses: (1) aquatic insect biomass will be greater than terrestrial insect …

July 11, 2011 Reporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Enumeration Of Cd4+ T-Cells Using A Portable Microchip Count Platform In Tanzanian Hiv-Infected Patients, Umut A. Gurkan

Faculty Scholarship

Background: CD4+ T-lymphocyte count (CD4 count) is a standard method used to monitor HIV-infected patients during anti-retroviral therapy (ART). The World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed out or recommended that a handheld, point-of-care, reliable, and affordable CD4 count platform is urgently needed in resource-scarce settings. Methods: HIV-infected patient blood samples were tested at the point-of-care using a portable and label-free microchip CD4 count platform that we have developed. A total of 130 HIV-infected patient samples were collected that included 16 de-identified left over blood samples from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), and 114 left over samples from Muhimbili University of …

Rare Gram-Negative Sepsis In A Non-Ventilated Neutropenic Patient With Aml, Jay Sellers, Md, Paurush Shah, Md

The Medicine Forum

Case Report

A 57-year-old man with history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia,and gout presented for evaluation of both a perioral infection and an infection in his right great toe from an injury on the beach at his shore house. The toe trauma was complicated by a massive hematoma and phlebitis, which required antibiotics. His primary care physician ordered basic laboratory studies thatshowed an anemia and thrombocytopenia. He was sent to a Hematology and Oncology specialist and subsequently directly admitted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for blood transfusion and further work-up. Upon further questioning, thepatient admitted to chills starting 2 weeks prior to …

Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis In A Heart Transplant Patient: A Case Report, Kiran Devaraj, Md, Joanna Rodriguez, Md, Bryan Hess, Md, Paul Mather, Md

The Medicine Forum

Case

A 38-year-old female with history of longstanding non-ischemiccardiomyopathy underwent orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Her past medical history was significant for factor V leiden and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) heterozygous deficiencies with chronic pulmonary embolism, sickle cell trait, atrial flutter, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The patient had a long and complicated course post-transplantation. Immediately after OHT, she was noted tohave donor- specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibodiestreated with 5 cycles of plasmapheresis. On further biopsies it wasnoted that she had acute cellular rejection requiring pulse-dose parenteral steroids on multiple occasions. Her immunosuppressiontherapy consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate and prednisone. Six …

A Rare Case Of Abacavir Hypersensitivity Syndrome, Charles-Lwanga Bennin, Md

The Medicine Forum

Case

A 56-year-old African American male with a history of type II diabetes mellitus complicated by neuropathy, infections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with a known CD4 count of 25 per cubic millimeter, hepatitis B and hepatitis C presented with six months of generalized weakness over his lower extremities, poor balance, nausea and vomiting. The patient had recently started anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and noticed that the onset of his symptoms coincided with the initiation of this therapy. He was taking Trizivir, which consistsof abacavir (300mg each day), lamivudine (150mg each day), and zidovudine (300mg each day), atazanavir (300mg each day)and …