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Mycobacterial Trehalose Dimycolate Reprograms Macrophage Global Gene Expression And Activates Matrix Metalloproteinases, Kaori Sakamoto, Mi Jeong Kim, Elizabeth R. Rhoades, Rachel E. Allavena, Sabine Ehrt, Helen C. Wainwright, David G. Russell, Kyle H. Rohde

Faculty Bibliography 2010s

Trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) is a cell wall glycolipid and an important virulence factor of mycobacteria. In order to study the role of TDM in the innate immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, microarray analysis was used to examine gene regulation in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages in response to 90-mu m-diameter polystyrene microspheres coated with TDM. A large number of genes, particularly those involved in the immune response and macrophage function, were up-or downregulated in response to these TDM-coated beads compared to control beads. Genes involved in the immune response were specifically upregulated in a myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent …

Global Stability Of Infectious Disease Models Using Lyapunov Functions, Zhisheng Shuai, P. Van Den Driessche

Faculty Bibliography 2010s

Two systematic methods are presented to guide the construction of Lyapunov functions for general infectious disease models and are thus applicable to establish their global dynamics. Specifically, a matrix-theoretic method using the Perron eigenvector is applied to prove the global stability of the disease-free equilibrium, while a graph-theoretic method based on Kirchhoff's matrix tree theorem and two new combinatorial identities are used to prove the global stability of the endemic equilibrium. Several disease models in the literature and two new cholera models are used to demonstrate the applications of these methods.

A Compensatory Mutation Provides Resistance To Disparate Hiv Fusion Inhibitor Peptides And Enhances Membrane Fusion, Matthew P. Wood, Amy L. Cole, Piotr Ruchala, Alan J. Waring, Lisa C. Rohan, Preston Marx, Patrick M. Tarwater, Phalguni Gupta, Alexander M. Cole

Faculty Bibliography 2010s

Fusion inhibitors are a class of antiretroviral drugs used to prevent entry of HIV into host cells. Many of the fusion inhibitors being developed, including the drug enfuvirtide, are peptides designed to competitively inhibit the viral fusion protein gp41. With the emergence of drug resistance, there is an increased need for effective and unique alternatives within this class of antivirals. One such alternative is a class of cyclic, cationic, antimicrobial peptides known as theta-defensins, which are produced by many non-human primates and exhibit broad-spectrum antiviral and antibacterial activity. Currently, the theta-defensin analog RC-101 is being developed as a microbicide due …

Enhanced Detection Of Host Response Antibodies To Borrelia Burgdorferi Using Immuno-Pcr, Micah D. Halpern, Sunny Jain, Mollie W. Jewett

Faculty Bibliography 2010s

Lyme disease is the fastest-growing zoonotic disease in North America. Current methods for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi infection are challenged by analysis subjectivity and standardization of antigen source. In the present study, we developed an immuno-PCR (iPCR)-based approach employing recombinant in vivo-expressed B. burgdorferi antigens for objective detection of a host immune response to B. burgdorferi infection. iPCR is a liquid-phase protein detection method that combines the sensitivity of PCR with the specificity and versatility of immunoassay-based protocols. Use of magnetic beads coated with intact spirochetes provided effective antigen presentation and allowed detection of host-generated antibodies in experimentally infected mice …

Incidence By Area-Based Socioeconomic Indicators, Casey Lea Kelley

Public Health Theses

Objective: To examine the relationship between area-based socioeconomic (SES) measures and incidence of all laboratory-confirmed influenza, laboratory-confirmed non-hospitalized influenza, influenza-associated hospitalizations, and influenza-associated deaths, in Connecticut.

Methods: Laboratory-confirmed influenza cases in Connecticut from October 1, 2006 to April 30, 2012 were geocoded, and in accordance with the methods of Harvard's Public Health Disparities Geocoding Project, linked to census tract measures of SES. Total and seasonal incidence rates were determined for each of the four influenza-associated health outcomes by SES measure. For each outcome, a relative rate ratio was calculated between the highest and the lowest percent quantile of each SES …

Hypersensitivity Reactions To Ixodes Scapularis Bites And Protection Against Tick-Borne Infection, Gregory Kimball Nielsen

Public Health Theses

Background: Salivary proteins from insect bites result in a wide array of complex immune interactions within a bitten host. In the case of the deer tick, Ixodes scapularis, previous research has demonstrated that tick-induced hypersensitivity reactions may interfere with the transmission of Lyme disease. There are no prospective studies in humans regarding the spectrum of hypersensitivity reactions that occur with I. scapularis bites.

Methods: We analyzed data obtained from a prospective enrollment of the first 102 individuals who reported tick bite to a medical practice in Mansfield, Connecticut from 2005-2008. Clinical responses were recorded and subject based diaries were utilized …

Determinants Of Infant Feeding Practices Of Hiv-Positive And Hiv-Negative Mothers In Pretoria, South Africa, Keith L. Ellis

Public Health Theses

Background:

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has been shown to result in lowered risk of postnatal vertical HIV transmission compared to mixed breastfeeding (Mixed BF). Early breastfeeding cessation, or not breastfeeding at all, is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality amongst both HIV exposed and HIV unexposed infants. The South African tradition of giving nutritive and non-nutritive foods to breastfeeding infants in the first few months of life is unique within African nations and warrants closer examination to identify maternal determinants that lead to early mixed feeding practices, commonly used supplemental foods/liquids, the timing of supplemental food introduction, and maternal …

A Gap Between Ideals And Reality: The Right To Health And The Inaccessibility Of Healthcare For Haitian Migrant Workers In The Dominican Republic, Stephanie Leventhal

Emory International Law Review

This Comment examines the barriers that undocumented Haitian migrants face when accessing healthcare, despite their entitlement to health under the country's domestic laws. It then provides steps the Dominican Republic can take to begin moving toward its promise of universal healthcare.

Trends Of Intestinal Parasites Prevalence In The Gaza Strip, 1998-2007: The Use Of Government Health Records, Adnan Ibrahim H. Alhindi, Mervat Al-Louh

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To evaluate the amount of intestinal parasite infections over a 10-year period in the Gaza Strip. Materials and methods: Data from the Epidemiology Department, Ministry of Health were collected and analyzed statistically. The prevalence of intestinal parasites was monitored and studied for the period 1998-2007. Results: The present study shows results including the records of 471,688 patients (all ages) who had every provided 1 stool specimen to the laboratories of primary health care centers in one of the 5 governorates of the Gaza Strip. It was found that 116,261 specimens were positive for intestinal parasites, representing an overall prevalence of …

Bio 3210 : Immunology, Biological Sciences

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

A Case Of Childhood Vaccination Barrier: Migrant And Seasonal Farmworkers, İbrahi̇m Koruk, Zeynep Şi̇mşek, Süda Teki̇n Koruk

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The Expanded Program on Immunization has proven to be one of the most effective public health strategies. However, the literature contends that medically disadvantaged groups have been associated with less compliance with vaccination calendars and schedules. The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to investigate the vaccination coverage of the children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers (MSFs) and to identify their specific barriers to vaccination. Materials and methods: A total of 168 children aged 12-23 months were recruited to the study from a primary healthcare center. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire targeting the issues of infant vaccination status, …

Is There A Rise In Resistance Rates To Fosfomycin And Other Commonly Used Antibiotics In Escherichia Coli-Mediated Urinary Tract Infections? A Perspective For 2004 – 2011, Hüsnü Pullukçu, Sabi̇re Şöhret Aydemi̇r, Meltem Işikgöz Taşbakan, Oğuz Reşat Si̇pahi̇, Fatma Feri̇ha Çi̇lli̇ Hall Jr, Alper Tünger

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

Resistance patterns of Escherichia coli to fosfomycin, ciprofloxacin, amikacin, and cotrimoxazole were evaluated in 2 different studies held in 2004 and 2005. In this study, it was aimed to compare the changes in the susceptibility patterns of uropathogenic E. coli strains to the above-mentioned antibiotics after 6 years. Materials and methods: Between February and April 2011, E. coli strains isolated from urine samples were included prospectively in the study. Results: A total of 502 E. coli strains (358 from outpatients and 144 from inpatients) were isolated from urine specimens between February and April 2011. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producer E. coli …

Antimicrobial Susceptibilities Of Various Arcobacter Species, Ahmet Ünver, Hali̇l İbrahi̇m Atabay, Mi̇tat Şahi̇n, Özgür Çelebi̇

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

To determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities of various Arcobacter strains isolated from domestic geese, which have great potential for the transmission of arcobacters to humans and animals by contamination of water sources. Materials and methods: A total of 16 Arcobacter strains including A. cryaerophilus (7), A. skirrowii (7), and A. butzleri (2) were examined for their susceptibilities to 20 antibiotics using a disk-diffusion method. Results: All Arcobacter isolates tested were resistant to cloxacillin, cefazolin, optochin, vancomycin, and fusidic acid, and most were susceptible to oxytetracycline, chloramphenicol (except for A. butzleri), nitrofurantoin, amikacin, enrofloxacin, ofloxacin, erythromycin, ampicillin sulbactam, and amoxicillin (except for …

Investigation Of Hepatocyte Growth Factor And Proinflammatory Cytokine Levels In Patients With Febrile Neutropenia, Mehmet Özden, Ahmet Gödekmerdan, Nafi̇ye Fulya İlhan, Emi̇n Tamer Elkiran, Hati̇ce Handan Akbulut

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

It has been thought that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) levels increase during acute phases of infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether HGF, C-reactive protein (CRP), and proinflammatory cytokines have any diagnostic and prognostic value, and to assess HGF as a biomarker in patients with febrile neutropenia. Materials and methods: This study included 20 patients with febrile neutropenia as the study group and 20 healthy individuals as the control group. Serial measurements of serum HGF, CRP, and proinflammatory cytokine levels were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the baseline, after 48 h of treatment, and …

Evaluation Of Genexpert Vana/Vanb Assay For The Detection Of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci In Patients Newly Admitted To Intensive Care Units, Server Yağci, Çi̇ğdem Ataman Hati̇poğlu, Şeri̇fe Altun, Cemal Bulut, Zeli̇ha Koçak Tufan, Hati̇ce Uludağ Altun, Günay Ertem, Fatma Şebnem Erdi̇nç

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences

The automated Cepheid GeneXpert system provides rapid PCR results and can be used for the identification of VRE. We aimed to evaluate the use of the Cepheid Xpert vanA/vanB real-time PCR assay for the detection of VRE from rectal swabs of patients newly admitted to intensive care units in a hospital setting. Materials and methods: Rectal swab samples of patients newly admitted to 6 intensive care units from March 2011 to February 2012 were obtained. The specimens were analyzed by the GeneXpert system. The results were reported for both vanA and vanB as negative or positive. Results: Comparing the number …

Partner Preferences And Selection At Pepperdine University, Katie Pietraszak, Max Mowrer

Global Tides

This study investigates undergraduate students’ partner preferences and selection at Pepperdine University by examining the traits desired of those seeking a potential partner and the expectations one has for them. Results from the survey responses support previous research in this area and indicate males’ preference for dominant feminine traits, including physical attractiveness, and females’ preference for dominant masculine traits, such as high earning potential. While the majority of males and females desired a more egalitarian relationship, males were more likely to want their partners to be a follower and females were more likely to desire their partners to assume the …

In Vivo Analysis Of Highly Conserved Nef Activities In Hiv-1 Replication And Pathogenesis, Richard L. Watkins, Wei Zou, Paul W. Denton, John F. Krisko, John L. Foster, J. Victor Garcia

Biology Faculty Publications

Background: The HIV-1 accessory protein, Nef, is decisive for progression to AIDS. In vitro characterization of the protein has described many Nef activities of unknown in vivo significance including CD4 downregulation and a number of activities that depend on Nef interacting with host SH3 domain proteins. Here, we use the BLT humanized mouse model of HIV-1 infection to assess their impact on viral replication and pathogenesis and the selection pressure to restore these activities using enforced in vivo evolution.

Results: We followed the evolution of HIV-1LAI (LAI) with a frame-shifted nef (LAINeffs) during infection of BLT mice. LAINeffs …

A Parallel Template For Implementing Filters For Biological Correlation Networks, Kathryn Dempsey Cooper, Vladimir Ufimtsev, Sanjukta Bhowmick, Hesham Ali

Interdisciplinary Informatics Faculty Publications

High throughput biological experiments are critical for their role in systems biology – the ability to survey the state of cellular mechanisms on the broad scale opens possibilities for the scientific researcher to understand how multiple components come together, and what goes wrong in disease states. However, the data returned from these experiments is massive and heterogeneous, and requires intuitive and clever computational algorithms for analysis. The correlation network model has been proposed as a tool for modeling and analysis of this high throughput data; structures within the model identified by graph theory have been found to represent key players …

On T Cell Fate Decisions: Retinol, Metabolism And Itreg Differentiation, Gavin I. Ellis

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

The mammalian immune system is equipped to both eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and tumors, while remaining in homeostasis with commensal species at mucosal surfaces and tolerant towards self. Suppressor regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a major sentinel of this immunological tolerance. Induced Tregs (iTregs) arise in the periphery following the integration of cues from the metabolites, cytokines, etc. which make up its milieu. Dysregulation of iTreg development, function or homing underlies the etiology of many autoimmune diseases and immunopathologies. The amelioration or prevention of multiple murine disease models by boosting Treg cell numbers foreshadows clinical efficacy of iTreg therapy, but an …

Multistate Markov Chains And Their Application To The Biologically Resilient Adults In Neurological Studies Cohort, Erin L. Abner

Theses and Dissertations--Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Dementia is increasingly recognized as a major and growing threat to public health worldwide, and there is a critical need for prevention and treatment strategies. However, it is necessary that appropriate methodologies are used in the identification of risk factors. The purpose of this dissertation research was to develop further the body of literature featuring Markov chains as an analytic tool for data derived from longitudinal studies of aging and dementia.

Data drawn from 649 participants in the University of Kentucky’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center’s (UK ADC) Biologically Resilient Adults in Neurological Studies (BRAiNS) cohort, which was established in 1989 and …

Biosynthetic Pathway Of The Aminoribosyl Component Of Lipopeptidyl Nucleoside Antibiotics, Xiuling Chi

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy

Several lipopeptidyl nucleoside antibiotics that inhibit bacterial translocase I (MraY) involved in peptidoglycan cell wall biosynthesis contain an aminoribosyl moiety, an unusual sugar appendage in natural products. A-90289 and muraminomicin are the two representative antibiotics that belong to this family. Bioinformatic analysis of the biosynthetic A-90289 gene clusters revealed that five enzymes are likely involved in the assembly and attachment of the aminoribosyl unit. These enzymes of A-90289 are functionally assigned by in vitro characterization. The results reveal a unique ribosylation pathway that highlighted by uridine-5′-monophosphate as the source of the sugar, a phosphorylase strategy to generate a sugar-1-phosphate, and …

Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis: Investigation Of Genetic Susceptibility And Assessment Of An Equine Infection Method, Breanna M. Gaubatz

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a progressive neurological disease of horses caused by Sarcocystis neurona. Two projects were conducted to identify factors involved in the development of EPM. The first study explored a possible genetic susceptibility to EPM by attempting a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue from 24 definitively-positive EPM horses. DNA extracted from tissues older than 14 months was inadequate for SNP analysis on the Illumina Equine SNP50 BeadChip probably due to degradation and formalin cross-linking. Results were inconclusive as analysis was not possible with the small sample set. The second study evaluated an …

Determination Of Farm-Specific Lawsonia Intracellularis Seroprevalence In Central Kentucky Thoroughbreds And The Identification Of Factors Contributing To Equine Proliferative Enteropathy, Allen E. Page

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Lawsonia intracellularis and the disease it causes in horses, equine proliferative enteropathy (EPE), is an emerging pathogen of increasing importance to the horse industry from both an economic and welfare standpoint. Long recognized as an economically important disease of swine, the hallmark of EPE is a protein-losing enteropathy, where affected horses suffer weight loss and some ultimately succumb to the disease despite aggressive treatment. There are currently no known EPE preventative measures and the epidemiology of the disease remains poorly defined. While EPE is a sporadic disease affecting less than 25% of exposed horses, some farms experience clinical cases year …

Evidence For The Maturation Of Cellular Immune Responses In Equine Infectious Anemia Virus-Infected Ponies, Chong Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) has been used as a model to investigate protective mechanisms against lentiviruses. Unlike other lentiviruses, EIAV replication can be eventually controlled in most infected horses leading to an inapparent carrier state free of overt clinical signs which can last for many years. Maintenance of this carrier state is absolutely dependent on active immune responses as evidenced by the fact that immunosuppressive drugs can induce the recurrence of disease. However, the immune mechanisms that are responsible for this control of infection are not yet identified. As the resolution of the initial infection is correlated with the …

Equine Serum Antibody Responses To Streptococcus Equi And Streptococcus Zooepidemicus, Rafaela De Negri

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Sz) and Streptococcus equi (Se) share 98% DNA sequence homology, but display different pathogenic properties. Infection by one organism does not cross-protect against the other. To better understand pathogenic differences between these organisms and gain information about which proteins are expressed in horses infected experimentally with Se, intrauterine Sz or naturally with respiratory Sz we compared antibody specificities of convalescent sera using ELISA. These comparisons were based on sets of 8 and 14 immunoreactive recombinant proteins of Se strain CF32 and Sz strain NC78, respectively. Sera from donkeys that were previously naturally affected with strangles and later developed …

It Is Ok To Be A Copycat: Why The Department Of Health And Human Services Should Look To The Sec’S Consolidated Audit Trail For Health Information Exchange, Stephen Bauer

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Outcome Evaluation Of A Time Management Smartphone Application: A Pilot Study, Michael J. D. Irvine

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Twenty-Five percent of college students receiving disability services are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Psycho-stimulants are often the treatment of choice because these medications have a quick and specific effect on attention and concentration. However, they have limited impact on skills related to executive functioning including organization, planning and project management. The potential for abuse is another problem associated with stimulant use in the college population. Beyond what is known about psychostimulants, little research has been done to develop effective, non-pharmacological interventions for young adults with ADHD. Behavior Therapy has been shown to be one promising adjunctive treatment …

Prediction Markets In The Laboratory, Cary Deck, David Porter

ESI Working Papers

"The idea that there is wisdom from the collective has been forcefully described in “The Wisdom of the Crowds” by James Surowiecki, who argues that the aggregation of information in groups results in better decisions than those that are afforded by any single member of the group. Markets, like opinion polls, are one mechanism for aggregating disparate pieces of information. The aggregation properties of prices were first noted by Hayek (1945) and were formally examined by Muth (1961). In particular, Hayek argues that market prices serve the purpose of sharing and coordinating local and personal knowledge, while Muth shows that …

Cutting The Cord To Private Cord Blood Banking: Encouraging Compensation For Public Cord Blood Donations After Flynn V. Holder, Seema Mohapatra

University of Colorado Law Review

This Article argues that the Ninth Circuit's recent ruling in Flynn v. Holder, which allowed compensation for peripheral blood stem cells ("PBSCs") obtained via apheresis] under the National Organ Transplant Act ("NOTA'), also opens up the possibility for compensation for umbilical cord blood ("cord blood"). The holding in Flynn applies to cord blood for several reasons. First, Flynn held that bone marrow was subject to NOTA's prohibition on compensation because bone marrow was explicitly mentioned in the statute. In contrast, no mention of cord blood appears in NOTA or its applicable regulations. Also, the procedure to utilize cord blood was …

Worker Evaluation Of Manual Dexterity, Tactile Sensitivity And Comfort When Wearing Needlestick-Resistant Gloves: Exploratory Study, Chantal Gauvin, Jaime Lara

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Les policiers, les agents de la paix en services correctionnels, les éboueurs et les cols bleus horticulteurs sont très préoccupés par les risques de piqûre avec des aiguilles hypodermiques. Ces piqûres les exposent à du sang potentiellement contaminé et au risque de contracter des maladies transmissibles par le sang telles que le VIH et les hépatites B et C. Ces travailleurs doivent porter des gants résistant aux piqûres d’aiguilles tout en conservant une dextérité manuelle et une sensibilité tactile adéquates. Le choix de gants de protection dont ils disposent est limité, …