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Acanthamoeba And Bacteria Produce Antimicrobials To Target Their Counterpart, Junaid Iqbal, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background

In the microbial ecosystem, microbes compete for space and nutrients. Consequently, some have developed the ability to kill or inhibit the growth of other competing microbes by producing antimicrobial substances. As the ‘producer’ species are generally immune to these substances, their compounds act on the competing microbial species and give the producer more space and access to nutrients for growth. Many currently used antibiotics were developed by exploiting this potential of certain microbes.

Findings

Here, the free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba castellanii, was investigated for its antibacterial activity against representative Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, while bacterial isolates were …

The Role Of Interleukin-6, C-Fos And C-Jun In Adrenal Secretion, D. Craig Seager, Dr. Allan M. Judd

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The secretions of the adrenal gland are responsible for the body’s response to stress. One of the major mechanisms by which these secretions are regulated is by the way of the hypothalamuspituitary- adrenal axis (HPA axis). However, it was suspected that other mechanisms exist that are utilized by the body in order to up or down regulate adrenal secretions. One adrenal secretion, cortisol, is of special interest due to its great abundance and various effects in the body. Cortisol levels are generally regulated by ACTH, which is released by the pituitary. However, it was also shown to be increased by …

Preventing Salmonella And Other Bacterial Contamination In Poultry Using A High-Adhering Strain Of Escherichia Coli, Jeffrey P. North, Dr. Ron Leavitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 1928 Alexander Fleming revolutionized the world with the discovery of penicillin. Penicillin and the antibiotics discovered thereafter revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases. Equipped with these miracle drugs, scientists thought the battle against pathogenic bacteria was won. However, bacteria began to evolve to meet the antibiotic challenge. As the 20th century progressed, more and more bacteria developed resistance to one or more antibiotics. This resistance is achieved through mutation or through horizontal gene transfer, when one bacterium transfers the gene to another bacterium.

Public Knowledge And Sentiments About Elite Deviance, Cedric Michel

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A growing body of research has revealed that the financial cost and physical harmfulness of elite deviance overshadow the impact of street crime on society (Knowlton et al., 2011; Landrigan et al., 2002; Leigh, 2011; Lynch & Michalowski, 2006; Herbert & Landrigan, 2000; Rebovich & Jiandani, 2000; Reiman & Leighton, 2010). However, despite such discrepancies, crimes of the poor continue to outshine white-collar offenses in the news media (Barak, 1994; Barlow & Barlow, 2010; Ericson et al., 1991; Lynch & Michalowski, 2006; Lynch, Nalla & Miller, 1989; Lynch, Stretesky & Hammond, 2000), the criminal justice system (Calavita, Tillman, & Pontell, …

A Systems Approach To Designing Next Generation Vaccines: Combining A-Galactose Modified Antigens With Nanoparticle Platforms, Yashdeep Phanse, Brenda R. Carrillo-Conde, Amanda E. Ramer-Tait, Scott Broderick, Chang Sun Kong, Krishna Rajan, Ramon Flick, Robert B. Mandell, Balaji Narasimhan, Michael J. Wannemeuhler

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Innovative vaccine platforms are needed to develop effective countermeasures against emerging and re-emerging diseases. These platforms should direct antigen internalization by antigen presenting cells and promote immunogenic responses. This work describes an innovative systems approach combining two novel platforms, aGalactose (aGal)-modification of antigens and amphiphilic polyanhydride nanoparticles as vaccine delivery vehicles, to rationally design vaccine formulations. Regimens comprising soluble aGal-modified antigen and nanoparticle-encapsulated unmodified antigen induced a high titer, high avidity antibody response with broader epitope recognition of antigenic peptides than other regimen. Proliferation of antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells was also enhanced compared to a traditional adjuvant. Combining the …

Resurrectionists' Excursions: Evidence Of Postmortem Dissection From The Spring Street Presbyterian Church, Shannon A. Novak, Wesley Willoughby

Northeast Historical Archaeology

In this paper we contextualize two unique individuals recovered from the historic Spring Street Presbyterian Church burial vaults in lower Manhattan (ca. 1820-1846). The crania of one adolescent and one infant display clear evidence of a craniotomy. Both had complete circumferential incisions to remove the calvarium for internal examination. Both crania were sectioned using a saw, though the adolescent underwent further postmortem preparation: thin scalpel marks indicate defleshing, and metal pins embedded in the frontal and occipital bones would have facilitated disarticulation and rearticulation of the vault, presumably for teaching. By the early 19th century, the illicit exhumation of graves …

The Children Of Spring Street: Rickets In An Early Nineteenth-Century Congregation, Meredith A. B. Ellis

Northeast Historical Archaeology

This paper examines the prevalence of rickets, or vitamin D deficiency, in the subadult skeletal remains from the burial vaults of the Spring Street Presbyterian Church of New York City. The burial vaults of the church were active from approximately 1820–1846 and contain the remains of at least 86 subadults (minimum number of individuals count [MNI] of left tibiae). Over 34% of the subadult tibiae in this collection display pathology consistent with vitamin D deficiency. Since vitamin D is acquired through access to sunlight and specific foods, a high rate of rickets can give clues about living conditions, parenting strategies, …

Archaeologies Of Disease And Public Order In Nineteenth-Century New York: The View From Spring And Varick, William Werner, Shannon A. Novak

Northeast Historical Archaeology

The authors situate evidence of disease among the burial population of the Spring Street Presbyterian Church within evolving attitudes towards public health and civic order in 19th-century Manhattan. Two personal vignettes illustrate how individuals interacted with the physical space of the church’s vicinity at different moments in the history of municipal reform. The first, a 16-year-old girl named Louisa, was virtually absent from the historical record until the recovery and analysis of her skeletal remains from the church burial vaults. Her skeletal biography conveys the cosmopolitan nature of Manhattan social relations in the early 19th century and the complex ways …

"That Class Of Person Who Cannot Afford A Pew": Analysis Of The Human Remains From The Spring Street Presbyterian Church Burial Vaults, Thomas A. Crist

Northeast Historical Archaeology

The analysis of the skeletal remains of 85 people interred between ca. 1820 and 1846 in the vaults of the abolitionist Spring Street Presbyterian Church provides unique insights regarding the biological history of antebellum New York City unavailable from other sources. Even though the sample size is small, the remains reflect the prevalence of infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, nutritional deficiencies, premature deaths, and high infant mortality that characterized the rapidly industrializing city. Among the most remarkable discoveries were a rare case of abdominal cancer; a mother and her full-term fetus in utero buried together; two autopsied children; and a dental …

Intraoperative Vancomycin Use In Spinal Surgery: Single Institution Experience And Microbial Trends., George M. Ghobrial, Md, Vismay Thakkar, Md, Edward Andrews, Md, Michael Lang, Md, Ameet Chitale, Md, Mark E Oppenlander, Md, Christopher M Maulucci, Md, Ashwini D Sharan, Md, Joshua Heller, Md, James Harrop, Md, Jack Jallo, Md, Phd, Facs, Srinivas Prasad, Md

Department of Neurosurgery Faculty Papers

Study Design. Retrospective Case Series.Objective. To demonstrate the microbial trends of spinal surgical site infections(SSI) in patients who had previously received crystallized vancomycin in the operative bed.Summary of Background Data. Prior large, case control series demonstrate the significant decrease in SSI with the administration of vancomycin in the wound bed.Methods. A single institution, electronic database search was conducted for all spinal surgery patients who had received prophylactic crystalline vancomycin powder in the wound bed. Patient's with a prior history of wound infection, intrathecal pumps, or spinal stimulators were excludedResults. 981 consecutive patients (494 male, 487 female, mean age 59.4 years, …

Thurman Mearin V. Superintendent Greene Sci

2014 Decisions

USDC for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Hiv In The Immune System: The Role Of Specialized Follicular Dendritic Cells In Promoting Viral Disease, Jacob D. Estes, Dr. Gregory F. Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has become a world wild epidemic affecting millions of people across the globe. Even in the face of potent antiviral drugs which are only available in first world countries, HIV continues to evade intervention strategies and eventually destroy the body’s immune system. During the longest stage of HIV disease, clinical latency, much of active infection is confined to the germinal centers of secondary lymphoid tissue (1). Here HIV is trapped on the surface of follicular dendritic cells (FDC) which reside in this region of all secondary lymphoid organs (2). Large amounts of HIV localize on FDC …

Bjc Today

BJC Today

No abstract provided.

Antibiotic Compounds Isolated From Plant Microbes, Michael C. Haymore, Dr. Noel Owen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Flemming in the early twentieth century is seen as one of the most significant medical advances in the past 100 years. Millions of people have had their lives preserved or prolonged due to the use of effective antibiotics since their discovery and wide-spread use. However, with the incredibly diverse and constantly evolving infectious diseases older antibiotics such as penicillin are becoming obsolete in the fight against infection. Thus, there remains a constant need to discover antibiotics effective against today’s diseases. Plants are a rich source of antibiotic compounds. Because plants live and compete in …

The Legacy Of Robert Koch : Surmise, Search, Substantiate, Ritu Lakhtakia

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

No abstract provided.

Emerging Challenges And Health System Capacity: The Case Of Non- Communicable Diseases In Pakistan; A Review, Mubashir Zafar, Muhammad Ashar Malik

Community Health Sciences

Background: Pakistan is facing double burden of disease and the contribution of mortality by non-communicable diseases has over numbered the communicable diseases. The focus of health system of Pakistan is inclined more towards communicable disease and maternal & child health. Therefore, there is a need to review health policy, health sector budgeting and health setup in order to meet the needs of healthcare in context of non-communicable disease.

Objective: To review the health system capacity to manage the emerging challenge of non-communicable diseases in Pakistan.

Methodology: A thorough literature search on PubMed and Google Scholar was done. Reports from W.H.O, …

Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy An Effective Treatment For Autism? A Review, Daniel Dunleavy, Bruce A. Thyer

Journal of Adolescent and Family Health

Objectives: We review outcome studies regarding the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Method: Studies were identified through electronic bibliographic databases and manual searches of article reference lists. Results: A total of 8 studies met eligibility criteria, consisting of three randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one quasi-experimental study involving a comparison group, two pre-experimental one-group pretest–posttest studies, and two single-system designs. Studies reviewed did not offer credible evidence to suggest that HBOT is an effective treatment for autism. Conclusion: It is premature to call HBOT an effective treatment for Autism and ASD. Individuals clinically treated with …

Blockade Of Mast Cell Activation Reduces Cutaneous Scar Formation, Lin Chen, Megan Schrementi, Matthew J. Ranzer, Traci A. Wilgus, Luisa A. Dipietro

Faculty Publications & Research

Damage to the skin initiates a cascade of well-orchestrated events that ultimately leads to repair of the wound. The inflammatory response is key to wound healing both through preventing infection and stimulating proliferation and remodeling of the skin. Mast cells within the tissue are one of the first immune cells to respond to trauma, and upon activation they release pro-inflammatory molecules to initiate recruitment of leukocytes and promote a vascular response in the tissue. Additionally, mast cells stimulate collagen synthesis by dermal fibroblasts, suggesting they may also influence scar formation. To examine the contribution of mast cells in tissue repair, …

Micro-A-Fluidics Elisa For Rapid Cd4 Cell Count At The Point-Of-Care, Umut A. Gurkan

Faculty Scholarship

HIV has become one of the most devastating pathogens in human history. Despite fast progress in HIV-related basic research, antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains the most effective method to save AIDS patients' lives. Unfortunately, ART cannot be universally accessed, especially in developing countries, due to the lack of effective treatment monitoring diagnostics. Here, we present an inexpensive, rapid and portable micro-a-fluidic platform, which can streamline the process of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a fully automated manner for CD4 cell count. The micro-a-fluidic CD4 cell count is achieved by eliminating operational fluid flow via “moving the substrate”, as opposed to …

Application Of Microarray And Functional-Based Screening Methods For The Detection Of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes In The Microbiomes Of Healthy Humans, Roderick M. Card, Philip J. Warburton, Nikki Maclaren, Peter Mullany, Elaine Allan, Muna F. Anjum

School of Biomedical Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Pacifican January 22, 2014, University Of The Pacific

All Issues - Student Newspaper, The Pacifican, Pacific Weekly

No abstract provided.

Epidemiology News, Georgia Southern University

Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Environmental Health Sciences: News & Publications (2011-2018)

• Chinese Social Media Reactions

Rna Viral Metagenome Of Whiteflies Leads To The Discovery And Characterization Of A Whitefly-Transmitted Carlavirus In North America, Karyna Rosario, Heather Capobianco, Terry Fei Fan Ng, Mya Breitbart, Jane E. Polston

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Whiteflies from the Bemisia tabaci species complex have the ability to transmit a large number of plant viruses and are some of the most detrimental pests in agriculture. Although whiteflies are known to transmit both DNA and RNA viruses, most of the diversity has been recorded for the former, specifically for the Begomovirus genus. This study investigated the total diversity of DNA and RNA viruses found in whiteflies collected from a single site in Florida to evaluate if there are additional, previously undetected viral types within the B. tabaci vector. Metagenomic analysis of viral DNA extracted from the whiteflies only …

Peptide Detection Of Fungal Functional Amyloids In Infected Tissue, Melissa C. Garcia-Sherman, Nataliya Lysak, Alexandra Filonenko, Hazel Richards, Richard E. Sobonya, Stephen A. Klotz, Peter N. Lipke

Publications and Research

Many fungal cell adhesion proteins form functional amyloid patches on the surface of adhering cells. The Candida albicans Agglutinin-like sequence (Als) adhesins are exemplars for this phenomenon, and have amyloid forming sequences that are conserved between family members. The Als5p amyloid sequence mediates amyloid fibril formation and is critical for cell adhesion and biofilm formation, and is also present in the related adhesins Als1p and Als3p. We have developed a fluorescent peptide probe containing the conserved Als amyloid-forming sequence. This peptide bound specifically to yeast expressing Als5p, but not to cells lacking the adhesin. The probe bound to both yeast …

Uab Study Describes Continued Inappropriate Antibiotic Use In Ers, Alicia Rohan

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

Silica-Based Antibacterial And Antifungal Nanoformulation Div, Swadeshmukul Santra

UCF Patents

A silica-based nanoformulation and method is used to treat citrus canker, inhibit the growth of mold and mildew, and add nutrients to soil used for agricultural purposes. The nanotechnology-enabled copper-loaded, silica nanoformulation (CuSiNP/NG) design is a "revolutionary re-invention" of Cu for safe application because it provides a formulation with maximum abundance ionic Cu, provides sustained and optimal Cu ion release for long-term disease protection, better adherence to plant surfaces and structural surfaces due to gel-based nanostructureof CuSiNG, thus avoiding multiple spray applications and reducing the amount of Cu used in comparison to existing Cu compounds without compromising anitbaterial activity. Thus, …

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - January 19, 2014, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the January 19, 2014 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include:

• Dr. Deen is Distinguished Alumnus Guest Speaker
• Dr. Roberson -Trammell Named Medical Director of Gulf Coast Patient Care Network
• USA Medical Center Holds 2014 State of the Hospital
• USA Physicians Named Best Doctors
• Jan. 30 DSS to Feature Dr. Gerald Hart

Our Impressive Immune System: More Than A Defense, Alan L. Gillen, Jason Conrad

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Most likely the immune system was put into place in the original human body design. We know from Exodus 20:11 and other verses that God completed His work of creation in six days. Therefore, the human body and its functional parts, including the components of the immune system, must have been part of the original creation. God said that all He had made was very good (Genesis 1:31). Since there were no pathogens (germs), parasites, or diseases prior the Edenic Fall and subsequent Curse, the immune system may have functioned differently in that world unmarred by sin and death.

The …

2013 Update On The Healthcare Safety Net, Tennessee. Department Of Health.

Healthcare Safety Net Annual Report

No abstract provided.

Clinical Vignette: An Atypical Case Of Sweet's Syndrome Presenting As Facial Cellulitis, S Huerta, S Modi

Hospital Medicine

A 73 year old female presented with acute onset fever and right -sided facial swelling, erythema and pain. She was initially diagnosed with facial cellulitis. The patient was placed on a course of cephalexin; however, her symptoms worsened, and she developed bilateral facial edema. Routine laboratory data was not indicative of leukocytosis. An incision and drainage was performed and minimal aspirate was retrieved; aspirate cultures were negative for bacterial and fungal growth. The patients facial swelling continued to progress; she developed bilateral peri-orbital edema, and she was intubated for airway protection. The patient's antibiotics were then broadened to vancomycin and …