Genome Stability Of Lyme Disease Spirochetes: Comparative Genomics Of Borrelia Burgdorferi Plasmids, Sherwood R. Casjens, Emmanuel F. Mongodin, Wei-Gang Qiu, Benjamin J. Luft, Steven E. Schutzer, Eddie B. Gilcrease, Wai Mun Huang, Marija Vujadinovic, John K. Aron, Levy C. Vargas, Sam Freeman, Diana Radune, Janice F. Weidman, George I. Dimitrov, Hoda M. Khouri, Julia E. Sosa, Rebecca A. Halpin, John J. Dunn, Claire M. Fraser

Publications and Research

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne human illness in North America. In order to understand the molecular pathogenesis, natural diversity, population structure and epizootic spread of the North American Lyme agent, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, a much better understanding of the natural diversity of its genome will be required. Towards this end we present a comparative analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the numerous plasmids of B. burgdorferi isolates B31, N40, JD1 and 297. These strains were chosen because they include the three most commonly studied laboratory strains, and because they represent different major genetic lineages and so are …

A Cross-Sectional Description Of Social Capital In An International Sample Of Persons Living With Hiv/Aids (Plwh), Allison Webel, J Craig Phillips, Carol Dawson Rose, William L. Holzemer, Wei-Ti Chen, Lynda Tyer-Viola, Marta Rivero-Méndez, Patrice Nicholas, Kathleen Nokes, Jeanne Kemppainen, Elizabeth Sefcik, John Brion, Lucille Eller, Scholastika Iipinge, Kenn Kirksey, Dean Wantland, Puangtip Chaiphibalsarisdi, Mallory O. Johnson, Carmen Portillo, Inge B. Corless

Publications and Research

Background Social capital refers to the resources linked to having a strong social network. This concept plays into health outcomes among People Living with HIV/AIDS because, globally, this is a highly marginalized population. Case studies show that modifying social capital can lead to improvements in HIV transmission and management; however, there remains a lack of description or definition of social capital in international settings. The purpose of our paper was to describe the degree of social capital in an international sample of adults living with HIV/AIDS. Methods We recruited PLWH at 16 sites from five countries including Canada, China, Namibia, …

Columbia Chronicle (03/12/2012), Columbia College Chicago

Columbia Chronicle

Student newspaper from March 12, 2012 entitled The Columbia Chronicle. This issue is 44 pages and is listed as Volume 47, Number 24. Cover story: "Faculty, students, staff disturbed" Editor-in-Chief: Brianna Wellen

The Positive Role Of Breastfeeding On Infant Health During The First 6 Weeks: Findings From A Prospective Observational Study Based On Maternal Reports, Roslyn Tarrant, Margaret Sheridan-Pereira, Katherine Younger, John Kearney

Articles

This study aimed to report on adverse infant and maternal clinical outcomes, and investigate the relationship between infant feedingpractice and such adverse clinical outcomes in infants during the first 6 weeks postpartum. From an eligible sample of 450 motherterminfant pairs recruited from the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital in Dublin, 27.1% of infants (n=122) werematernally reported to have had an illness during the first 6 weeks that necessitated the provision of prescribed medication ± generalpractitioner/paediatrician attendance ± hospitalisation. Of these, 90 infants had ≥1 episode of infection ± viral ± gastro-intestinalrelatedcondition. After adjustment, ‘any’ breastfeeding to 6 weeks was …

Cal Poly Students' Reptile Research Earns Nearly $11,000 In Grants, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Buffalo, Bush Meat, And The Zoonotic Threat Of Brucellosis In Botswana, Kathleen Anne Alexander, Jason Kenna Blackburn, Mark Eric Vandewalle, Risa Pesapane, Eddie Kekgonne Baipoledi, Phil H. Elzer

Faculty Publications

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance infecting humans, domestic animals, and wildlife. Little is known about the epidemiology and persistence of brucellosis in wildlife in Southern Africa, particularly in Botswana. Methods: Archived wildlife samples from Botswana (1995-2000) were screened with the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) and included the African buffalo (247), bushbuck (1), eland (5), elephant (25), gemsbok (1), giraffe (9), hartebeest (12), impala (171), kudu (27), red lechwe (10), reedbuck (1), rhino (2), springbok (5), steenbok (2), warthog (24), waterbuck (1), wildebeest (33), honey badger (1), lion (43), and zebra (21). …

Gender-Sensitive Reporting In Medical Research., Shirin Heidari, Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Judith D Auerbach, Simone E Buitendijk, Pedro Cahn, Mirjam J Curno, Catherine Hankins, Elly Katabira, Susan Kippax, Richard Marlink, Joan Marsh, Ana Marusic, Heidi M Nass, Julio Montaner, Elizabeth Pollitzer, Maria Teresa Ruiz-Cantero, Lorraine Sherr, Papa Salif Sow, Kathleen Squires, Mark A Wainberg

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Sex and gender differences influence the health and wellbeing of men and women. Although studies have drawn attention to observed differences between women and men across diseases, remarkably little research has been pursued to systematically investigate these underlying sex differences. Women continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials, and even in studies in which both men and women participate, systematic analysis of data to identify potential sex-based differences is lacking. Standards for reporting of clinical trials have been established to ensure provision of complete, transparent and critical information. An important step in addressing the gender imbalance would be inclusion of …

The Origin Of Malarial Parasites In Orangutans, M. Andreína Pacheco, Michael J.C. Reid, Michael A. Schillaci, Carl A. Lowenberger, Biruté M. F. Galdikas, Lisa Jones-Engel, Ananias A. Escalante

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Background: Recent findings of Plasmodium in African apes have changed our perspectives on the evolution of malarial parasites in hominids. However, phylogenetic analyses of primate malarias are still missing information from Southeast Asian apes. In this study, we report molecular data for a malaria parasite lineage found in orangutans.

Methodology/Principal Findings: We screened twenty-four blood samples from Pongo pygmaeus (Kalimantan, Indonesia) for Plasmodium parasites by PCR. For all the malaria positive orangutan samples, parasite mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) and two antigens: merozoite surface protein 1 42 kDa (MSP-1₄₂) and circumsporozoite protein gene (CSP) were amplified, cloned, and …

Volume 49, Number 29: March 07, 2012, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Microbe Hunters Revisited – Paul De Kruif And The Beginning Of Popular Science Writing, Stephen Greenberg

Houston History of Medicine Lectures (2006-2012)

Paul de Kruif is credited with being one of the first popular science writers for the general public. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1916 and worked at the Rockefeller Institute under Simon Flexner. After being fired in 1922 for publishing a scathing article on medical research, de Kruif caught the attention of Sinclair Lewis, who used his scientific background to write his Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Arrowsmith. In 1926, de Kruif published Microbe Hunters which recounted the exploits and discoveries of 14 renowned microbiologists from von Leeuwenhoek to Pasteur, Ross, Paul Ehrlich and Walter …

Winter Is Frigid, So I Say Bring On The Greenhouse Effect! A Legal And Policy Discussion Of The Strategies The United States Must Employ To Combat Global Warming, Seth W. Eaton

Pepperdine Law Review

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Humanized Hla-A2.1/Dp4 Transgenic Mouse Model And The Use Of This Model To Map Hla-Dp4-Restricted Epitopes Of Hbv Envelope Protein, Zhitao Ru, Wenjun Xiao, Anthony Pajot, Zhihua Kou, Shihui Sun, Benard Maillere, Guangyu Zhao, David M. Ojcius, Yu-Chun Lone, Yusen Zhou

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

A new homozygous humanized transgenic mouse strain, HLA-A2.1^+/+HLA-DP4^+/+ hCD4^+/+mCD4^−/−IAβ^−/−β2m^−/− (HLA-A2/DP4), was obtained by crossing the previously characterized HLA-A2^+/+β2m−/− (A2) mouse and our previously created HLA-DP4^+/+ hCD4^+/+mCD4^−/−IAβ^−/− (DP4) mouse. We confirmed that the transgenes (HLA-A2, HLA-DP4, hCD4) inherited from the parental A2 and DP4 mice are functional in the HLA-A2/DP4 mice. After immunizing HLA-A2/DP4 mice with a hepatitis B DNA vaccine, hepatitis B virus-specific antibodies, HLA-A2-restricted and HLA-DP4-restricted responses were observed to be similar to those in naturally infected humans. Therefore, the present …

Transmitted Drug-Resistant Hiv Type 1 Remains Prevalent And Impacts Virologic Outcomes Despite Genotype-Guided Antiretroviral Therapy, Toshibumi Taniguchi, Diana Nurutdinova, Jessica R. Grubb, Nur F. Önen, Enbal Sacham, Michael Donovan, Edgar Turner Overton

Open Access Publications

No abstract provided.

The Genetic Inhibition Of Some Pathogenic Bacterial Isolates Related To Enterobacteriaceae By Using Different Leaves Extracts Of Cider (Nabag) Zizyphus Spina-Christa, Nuha J. Kandala, Ibtehal. Abdul-Hade, Ramina M. Khoshaba

Baghdad Science Journal

The plant Zizyphus spina-christa grows wildly in the middle and southern of Iraq locally named Nabag. In this study the antibacterial activity of several different plant extract (alcoholic hot and cold extract 80%, aqueous hot and cold extract) was tested against some gram negative bacteria that related to Enterobacteriacea as follow; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherchia coli Proteus mirabilis, Serratia mercesence,. Aeromonas sp, Klebsiella pneumoniae ,Shigella sp, Salmonella enteritidis (134), S. typhi(97), S. typhimurium (300) , S. typhi, . The results showed that efficient method of extract was alcoholic hot extract from other extract methods that are used in this study. The …

Frequency Of Hla Antigens In A Sample Of Iraqi Brucellosis Patients, Ali H. Ad'hiah, Aaiad H. A. Al-Rikaby, Ammna N. Jasim

Baghdad Science Journal

Fifty one patients with serologically confirmed brucellosis and 70 healthy controls were phenotyped for HLA-A, -B, -DR and -DQ antigens by using standard microlympho-cytotoxicity method, and lymphocytes defined by their CD markers (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19). The results revealed a significant (Pc = 0.001) increased frequency of HLA-DR8 (41.18 vs. 10.0%) in the patients . A significant increased percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes was also increased in the patients (25.15 vs. 22.0%; P = 0.006), while CD3+ lymphocytes were significantly decreased (75.1 vs. 79.4%; P = 0.02).

Inhibition Of Adhesion And Invasion Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa To Lung Epithelial Cells: A Model Of Cystic Fibrosis Infection, Ayman Noreddin, Ghada Sawy, Walid Elkhatib, Ehab Noreddin, Atef Shibl

Pharmacy Faculty Books and Book Chapters

"Over their life time, CF patients experience multiple infections by various pneumoniacausing bacteria [6]. With more patients surviving to adulthood, chronic infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are coming to the forefront as a leading cause of death [7]. Problems presented by infected CF lung are multi-dimensional; the electrolyte balance and pH of the fluids are abnormal. The mucus is thick and of an alternative composition compared to normal lung and may contribute to colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa [2, 3, 5]. As such, research is multi-pronged and includes gene therapy to correct the defective protein, amelioration of inflammatory response and thinning of …

Morbidity And Mortality Rates Based On Stress Levels In Dairy Calves, Lindsay Lockhart

Dairy Science

Abstract

The objective of this project was to determine if increased stress levels could affect morbidity and mortality rates in calves. The source for this study was a group of 132 calves at the Cal Poly Dairy available for observation. For each test day, calves were scored on a scale of 1-3 based on how stressed the calf was. After all the data were collected, relationships between age, sex, breed, and observation day were determined in SAS using a Proc Probit method. The effects of breed and sex were not significant in the analysis. However, one of the observation days …

A Case Study On A Dairy With Herd-Wide Diarrhea And Reduced Milk Production, Taylor R. Foster

Dairy Science

The objective of this study was to discover the cause of a major diarrhea outbreak and fifteen pound decrease in milk production that simultaneously took place in a dairy herd located in California’s central valley. Throughout the duration of the problem there were five primary areas considered to be potential causes. These potential causes included silage quality, disease, water quality, almond hulls containing high levels of mycotoxins, and feed ration issues. The study used data from four different silage piles, each having different issues. Among these were issues of poor fermentation, low moisture content, high ash levels, and poor ensiling. …

Surveillance Of Mosquitoes On Dairy Farms In The Central Valley, Jerred Davis

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Ifnar And Myd88 Signaling In Induction Of Il-15 Expression In Vivo, Leo Lefrancois, Sara L. Colpitts, Thomas A. Stoklasek, Courtney R. Plumlee, Joshua J. Obar

UCHC Articles - Research

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) plays a multifaceted role in immune homeostasis, but the unreliability of IL-15 detection has stymied exploration of IL-15 regulation in vivo. To visualize IL-15 expression, we created a transgenic mouse expressing emerald-GFP (EmGFP) under IL-15 promoter control. EmGFP/IL-15 was prevalent in innate cells including dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and monocytes. However, DC subsets expressed varying levels of EmGFP/IL-15 with CD8⁺ DCs constitutively expressing EmGFP/IL-15 and CD8⁻ DCs expressing low EmGFP/IL-15 levels. Virus infection resulted in IL-15 upregulation in both subsets. By crossing the transgenic mice to mice deficient in specific elements of innate signaling, we …

Progress Notes, Lehigh Valley Health Network

Progress Notes

No abstract provided.

Probe Functionalization With A Rhop-3 Antibody: Toward A Rhop-3 Antigen Immunosensor For Detection Of Malaria, Salaam Saleh, Susan Moreno Molek, Perera N. Indika, Alan Riga, Tobili Sam Yellowe, Mekki Bayachou

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The antibody specific for the malaria protein, Rhop-3, and FL-Rhop-3, were immobilized on the surface of a gold electrode modified with cysteamine. Colloidal gold was used to enhance the detection signal for Rhop-3 antigens. The Rhop-3 antibody was also immobilized on gold electrodes preactivated with dithiobis(succinimidyl proprionate) (DSP). Immobilization was performed at room temperature and at 37 °C. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was used to monitor the interaction between the immobilized antibody and its cognate antigen in solution, using ferricyanide, K3Fe(CN)6, as reporting electroactive probe. Tests indicate recognition of Rhop-3 protein by the immobilized antibody. Antigen recognition was enhanced by incubation …

Enhanced Protective Efficacy Of A Chimeric Form Of The Schistosomiasis Vaccine Antigen Sm-Tsp-2, Mark S. Pearson, Darren A. Pickering, Henry J. Mcsorley, Jeffrey M. Bethony, Leon Tribolet, Annette M. Dougall, Peter J. Hotez, Alex Loukas

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine Faculty Publications

The large extracellular loop of the Schistosoma mansoni tetraspanin, Sm-TSP-2, when fused to a thioredoxin partner and formulated with Freund's adjuvants, has been shown to be an efficacious vaccine against murine schistosomiasis. Moreover, Sm-TSP-2 is uniquely recognised by IgG1 and IgG3 from putatively resistant individuals resident in S. mansoniendemic areas in Brazil. In the present study, we expressed Sm-TSP-2 at high yield and in soluble form in E. coli without the need for a solubility enhancing fusion partner. We also expressed in E. coli a chimera called Sm-TSP-2/5B, which consisted of Sm-TSP-2 fused to …

Alternative Approaches For Medical Countermeasures To Biological And Chemical Terrorism And Warfare, Thomas Hartung, Joanne Zurlo

Biomedical Research and Alternative Methods Collection

The desire to develop and evaluate drugs as potential countermeasures for biological and chemical threats requires test systems that can also substitute for the clinical trials normally crucial for drug development. Animal models have limited predictivity for drug efficacy, as is well known from many disappointments in clinical trials. Traditional in vitro and in silico approaches are not really game changers here, but the substantial investment into novel tools now underway might bring about a second generation of alternative approaches. The avenue pursued focuses primarily on the development of a Human on a Chip, i.e., the combination of different three-dimensional …

Treating Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus With The Drug Vancomycin In A Home Infusion Therapy Setting, Joshua L. Webb, Alberto Coustasse, Dennis Emmett

Management Faculty Research

The basic purpose of this paper is to examine the effects the home infusion therapy has on the cost, duration of, and effectiveness of treatment between those individuals under 60 and those 60 and over. The results show that those 60 and over had a slightly higher cost/day. The older age group had slightly smaller treatment duration, then the younger group. The number of adverse effects was small. The results suggest that home infusion therapy appears to be a viable alternative to hospitalization.

Measles On The Rise: Academic Institutions Be Prepared, Sally Richter, Amanda Hawkins, Leslie Painter

Perspectives In Learning

Measles is a highly contagious, acute viral illness that can lead to serious complications and death. From January 1 through May 20, 2011, a total of 118 measles cases were reported from 23 states and New York City, the highest reported number for the same period since 1996. Patients ranged in age from 3 months to 68 years. Of the 118 cases, 105 unvaccinated persons were associated with importation from other countries. Transmission occurred in households, child care centers, shelters, schools, emergency departments, and at a large community event. It is important for those in academic institutions to understand measles …

On Growth And Development: Housing Environment Impacts On Children's Development And Its Relevance In Interior Design Solutions, Karyn Mckey-Paz

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The role of housing quality and housing location in children’s development are of great importance, as these issues may affect their outcomes later in life. Housing and neighborhood conditions include but are not limited to housing costs, residential layout, and neighborhood surroundings. These characteristics could determine whether or not the physical condition of the house is healthy and safe, and if the neighborhood in which the house is located is free from danger, all of which have an effect on their development.

This research paper goes into a detailed examination of how the characteristics of children’s home and neighborhood conditions …

Impact Of The Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), On Biological Control Of Salvinia Minima (Hydropteridales: Salviniaceae) By Cyrtobagous Salviniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Katherine A. Parys, Seth J. Johnson

Faculty Publications

A 2-yr study of the impacts of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, on the success of Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder & Sands as a biological control agent of common salvinia, Salvinia minima Baker, was undertaken in southern Louisiana. Floating moats were constructed around 8 release sites where C. salviniae was introduced as a biological control agent. These moats were used to restrict access to the release site by red imported fire ants in half the quadrats. Moating was successful in limiting the number of red imported fire ants in the release sites over the course of the study …

Life, Transferable: Questioning The Commodity-Based Approach To Transplantation Ethics, David Dillard-Wright

Faculty Publications

Some bioethicists have proposed a legalized market in human organs as a solution to transplant waiting lists and global poverty. Solutions to organ procurement problems that are solely market-based would unfairly shift the burdens of medical procedures onto developing nations. Market advocates base their claims on the understanding of organs as property, a position that should be problematized. Instrumentalizing people in this way is made part of the broader commodification of animals and the environment. Combating the market mentality requires a return to the holistic view of bioethics that led to the founding of the field.

Digest Of The Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine (Spring 2012), Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine

Digest

The Spring 2012 issue of the Digest of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine includes the following articles:

• Message from the President
• PCOM Updates
• Development News
• Tug of War
• Founders’ Day 2012
• Building Social and Emotional Competence in Preschool Children
• Pioneering Color in MRI Imaging
• Class Notes
• In Memoriam
• My Turn Essay
• The Fund for PCOM