Digital Commons Network^™

High-Frequency, At-Home Monitoring Of Drug Safety And Tolerability In Clinical Trials: Results From Studies Of Fluvoxamine For Covid-19 Treatment, Eric J Lenze, Madeline Nykamp, J Philip Miller, Angela Stevens, Julia Schweiger, Torie Gettinger, Michael Yingling, Yi Zhang, Ginger E Nicol, Charles F Zorumski, Angela M Reiersen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Clinical trials are increasingly using remote monitoring techniques at the patient's home. We conducted a secondary analysis of remote safety and tolerability monitoring from two fully-remote clinical trials that tested fluvoxamine for the acute treatment of COVID-19. Both trials assessed pulse and blood pressure daily, and one study assessed symptoms daily via Ecological Momentary Assessment. On average, patients provided data on vital signs on 93% of the study days and provided data on side effects on 81% of the study days. With respect to safety, patients taking fluvoxamine had reduced pulse rate compared to placebo, with the greatest difference-5 points-at …

Clinical Evaluation Of The Healgen Rapid Covid-19 Antigen Test As A Point-Of-Care Diagnostic Tool, Stephen A Young, Hua Zhang, Jose Rodriguez, David Mishkin, Ward Paine, Li Seyfried, Latisha Hargrove, Dennis L Broyles, Chermaen Lindberg, Anurag Purushothaman, Stacey House

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Development of readily available Rapid COVID-19 Antigen tests essential for promptly identifying SARS-CoV2 infection and preventing its spread.

METHODS: This study evaluated the clinical performance of the Healgen Rapid COVID-19 antigen test as a point-of-care diagnostic tool with 806 evaluable subjects who were within 6 days post-symptom onset. The results from the Healgen test were compared to the results from Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approved SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests.

RESULTS: Out of the 806 evaluable subjects, 140 tested positive and 640 tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 with the Healgen COVID-19 test, showing good agreement with the EUA RT-PCR results. There were …

Molecular Profile Of Adult Primary Leptomeningeal Gliomatosis Aligns With Glioblastoma, Idh-Wildtype, Yi Zhu, Darin D Carabenciov, Derek R Johnson, Jorge A Trejo-Lopez, Aivi T Nguyen, Aditya Raghunathan, Giuseppe Lanzino, Cristiane M Ida, Cinthya J Zepeda-Mendoza, Surendra Dasari, Emilie Russler-Germain, Sonika Dahiya, Martha Quezado, Kenneth Aldape, Caterina Giannini

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Adult primary leptomeningeal gliomatosis (PLG) is a rare, rapidly progressive and fatal disease characterized by prominent leptomeningeal infiltration by a glial tumor without an identifiable parenchymal mass. The molecular profile of adult PLG has not been well-characterized. We report the clinical, pathological, and molecular findings of six adult PLG patients (five males and one female), median age 58 years. All cases exhibited pathological leptomeningeal enhancement at presentation. Leptomeningeal biopsy was diagnostic in five (of six) cases, revealing infiltration by an astrocytic glioma with mitotic activity, lacking microvascular proliferation or necrosis. One case was diagnosed at autopsy. All tumors were IDH-wildtype, …

Dna Methylation Epitypes Of Burkitt Lymphoma With Distinct Molecular And Clinical Features, Nicole Thomas, Nancy L Bartlett, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

UNLABELLED: The genetic subtypes of Burkitt lymphoma have been defined, but the role of epigenetics remains to be comprehensively characterized. We searched genomic DNA from 218 patients across four continents for recurrent DNA methylation patterns and their associations with clinical and molecular features. We identified DNA methylation patterns that were not fully explained by the Epstein-Barr virus status or mutation status, leading to two epitypes described here as HypoBL and HyperBL. Each is characterized by distinct genomic and clinical features including global methylation, mutation burden, aberrant somatic hypermutation, and survival outcomes. Methylation, gene expression, and mutational differences between the epitypes …

Molecular Mechanisms Of Inverse Agonism Via Κ-Opioid Receptor-G Protein Complexes, Aaliyah S Tyson, Saif Khan, Zenia Motiwala, Gye Won Han, Zixin Zhang, Mohsen Ranjbar, Daniel Styrpejko, Nokomis Ramos-Gonzalez, Stone Woo, Kelly Villers, Delainey Landaker, Terry Kenakin, Ryan Shenvi, Susruta Majumdar, Cornelius Gati

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Opioid receptors, a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), are key therapeutic targets. In the canonical GPCR activation model, agonist binding is required for receptor-G protein complex formation, while antagonists prevent G protein coupling. However, many GPCRs exhibit basal activity, allowing G protein association without an agonist. The pharmacological impact of agonist-free receptor-G protein complexes is poorly understood. Here we present biochemical evidence that certain κ-opioid receptor (KOR) inverse agonists can act via KOR-G

Surface Keratin 1, A Tumor-Selective Peptide Target In Human Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Shih-Jing Yao, Farideh Amirrad, Elmira Ziaei, Azam Saghaeidehkordi, Moom R. Roosan, Kiumars Shamloo, Ajay Sharma, Rachita K. Sumbria, Surya M. Nauli, Christopher G. Bunick, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Targeting drugs to cancer cells via overexpressed cell-surface receptors has emerged as an effective therapeutic strategy for several cancers. However, identifying cell-surface receptors that allow selective uptake of targeting ligands by cancer cells—while sparing normal cells—remains a challenge, especially for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks a well-defined receptor for targeted delivery. In this study, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis revealed that human TNBC patient tissues have significantly higher levels of keratin 1 (K1) compared to normal breast tissues. Among TNBC tissues, grade 3 tumors showed significantly higher (threefold) K1 expression compared to grade 2 tumors. We analyzed human TNBC and normal …

Muscle Rev-Erb Controls Time-Dependent Adaptations To Chronic Exercise In Mice, Jidong Liu, Fang Xiao, Abhinav Choubey, Udhaya Kumar S, Yanxiang Wang, Sungguan Hong, Tingting Yang, Husniye Gul Otlu, Ege Sanem Oturmaz, Emanuele Loro, Yuxiang Sun, Pradip Saha, Tejvir S Khurana, Li Chen, Xinguo Hou, Zheng Sun

Center on Aging Staff Publications

The best time of the day for chronic exercise training and the mechanism underlying the timing effects is unclear. Here, we show that low-intensity, low-volume treadmill training in mice before sleep yields greater benefits than after waking for muscle contractile performance and systemic glucose tolerance. Baseline muscle performance also exhibits diurnal variations, with higher strength but lower endurance before sleep than after waking. Muscle-specific knockout of circadian clock genes Rev-erbα/β (Rev-MKO) in male mice eradicates the diurnal variations in both training and baseline conditions without affecting muscle mass, mitochondrial content, food intake, or spontaneous activities. Multi-omics and metabolic measurements reveal …

Basic Rabbit Selection And Breeding Considerations, Joseph Okoh, Jessie Hadfield

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is designed to assist rabbit producers in understanding breed selection for a profitable enterprise. It can also serve as a training tool for new producers, aiding them in breed selection and breeding practices.

Investigating Environmental And Socioeconomic Contributors To Adult Obesity In The Rio Grande Valley, John Nicholas Cauba, Jihoo Woo, Russel Wiggins, Shizue Mito

School of Medicine Publications

Obesity in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of Texas remains a critical public health concern, with rates (46.9%) significantly exceeding those of Texas (36%) and the U.S. (34%) (p < 0.001). This study used 2024 County Health Rankings data to analyze environmental and socioeconomic contributors to obesity across 240 Texas counties, with a population-weighted focus on Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy counties. The RGV exhibited markedly poorer access to exercise, higher rates of physical inactivity, lower Food Environment Index scores (FEI = 4.3 vs. 5.7 in Texas), higher rates of uninsurance, worse patient-to–primary care physician (PCP) ratios (2152:1 vs. Texas 1660:1), and increased preventable hospitalizations. Multiple linear regression identified physical inactivity (β = 0.6, p = 0.01) and access to exercise (β = −0.02, p = 0.02) as significant predictors of obesity. Notably, higher uninsured rates were associated with lower reported obesity, likely due to underdiagnosis in the absence of routine care. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions addressing food access, environmental and recreational infrastructure, along with healthcare infrastructure in the RGV, where socioeconomic disadvantage and structural barriers magnify the impact of national obesity trends on the regional level.

Pharmacological Profiling Of Major Depressive Disorder-Related Multimorbidity Clusters, Tamas Nagy, Xenia Gonda, Andras Gezsi, Nora Eszlari, Gabor Hullam, Rubèn González-Colom, Hannu Mäkinen, Hannu Mäkinen, Mikko Kuokkanen

School of Medicine Publications

We previously identified seven distinct multimorbidity clusters associated with major depressive disorder through a comprehensive analysis of 1.2 million individuals of multiple cohorts. These clusters, characterized by unique clinical, genetic, and psychiatric and somatic illness risk profiles, implicate divergent treatment pathways and disease management strategies. This study aims to deepen the understanding of these clusters by analyzing drug prescriptions, evaluating the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment strategies, and identifying potential markers for personalized medicine. Utilizing drug prescription data in the format of ATC codes, we performed epidemiological assessments, including multimorbidity (number of diseases), polypharmacy (number of chemical substances), and …

Unlocking The Neurochemical Secrets Of Aging: Investigating The Impact Of Gaba Producing Probiotics On Healthy Aging, Sanaly Nava, Isabel Harbig, Dishant Aggarwal, Samjhana Pradhan, Ken Aho, Kavita Sharma

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Aging is a gradual process of weakening bodily function that leads to decline in physical, cognitive and behavioral abilities. Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), a major neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is produced by both neurons and gut bacteria, and plays a crucial role in numerous physiological functions. Notably, aging is associated with a decline in GABA production and alterations in gut microbiota. Therefore, restoring GABA production by correcting dysbiosis presents a potential strategy for managing age-related functional decline. To better understand how to support healthy aging, our study investigates the gut-brain axis and the potential of genetically modified GABA-producing …

The Effects Of Surface Irregularity And Sex On Spatiotemporal Parameters, Brooke L. Brody, Thomas A. Wenzel, Iona Halliday, Tyler N. Brown

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Females are more susceptible to tibial stress fractures than males. A sex dimorphism in gait spatiotemporal parameters like changes in cadence, stride length, and stride width during running may increase tibial bone load and females’ injury risk. However, it is currently unclear if running over uneven surfaces impacts gait spatiotemporal parameters and exacerbates a hazardous dimorphism in female gait parameters. Twenty four healthy runners (12 male, 12 female) had gait spatiotemporal parameters quantified when running at 4.5 m/s for flat and uneven surfaces. During trial, cadence, stride length, and stride width were quantified and submitted to analysis. We anticipate females …

Exploring Dna Metabarcoding To Understand Diet In Declining Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus Phasianellus), Alexandria J. Serbellon, Jack Knutson, Morgan Calahan, Julia Parker, Stephanie J. Galla

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

The Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus; hereafter CSTG) formerly occupied shrub-steppe ecosystems across western North America but now inhabit less than five percent of their former range due to habitat loss and other anthropogenic factors. Despite their social and ecological significance, research on CTSG diet has been limited, with the last comprehensive study taking place over 20 years ago. Understanding dietary habits is crucial, as food availability directly impacts population dynamics, local adaptation, and overall fitness of this species. Through the application of plant DNA metabarcoding (i.e., p6 loop of trnL) from non-invasively collected fecal samples, this …

How Does Irrigation Affect American Kestrel (Falco Sparvarius) Nest Site Selection And Parasite Infection?, Izzy C. Piedmont, Sarah E. Scott, Mackenzie G. Hutchinson, Stephanie A. Low, Julie A. Heath

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Irrigated agricultural lands can provide important habitat and forage locations for wild birds. The costs and benefits of irrigated agricultural areas compared to wildlands remain unclear. Green vegetation attracts insects and small mammals, creating an abundant food source for predators. In addition, the use of chemicals on crops may reduce vectors of disease. American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) are a small species of falcon that make extensive use of both irrigated and non-irrigated landscapes. We examined nest site selection and Haemosporidian parasite loads in a partial migrant population of American Kestrels in irrigated and non-irrigated landscapes. If irrigated lands …

Removal Of Senescent Cells Using Senolytics Attenuates Α-Synuclein-Mediated Parkinson's Disease Pathology, Payton Wardwell, Dinesh Kumar Verma, Yong-Hwan Kim

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Emerging evidence suggests that cellular senescence contributes to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Cellular senescence is a state in which cells cease to proliferate in response to damage and contribute to tissue dysfunction through the release of toxic factors. While dopaminergic neurons are the primary cells lost in PD, senescent glia: astrocytes and microglia, are considered to play a vital role in regulating neuronal health. Using the pre-formed fibril (PFF) of alpha-synuclein to induce PD-like pathology, we examined the impact of senolytic treatment on glial cell senescence. Cellular senescence is assessed by measuring the levels of …

Transition Metal Phosphides And Pco Used To Sustainably Transfer Phosphorus In Energy And Electricity, Maya Hoffman, Chika Abonyi, Richard Thompson

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Transition metal PCO (P=C+O) complexes have potential uses to produce organophosphorus complexes in a much more efficient and sustainable manner. This project shows the synthesis, identification, and characterization of a Cu(I) PCO complex which is supported by a bulky N-heterocyclic carbene ligand (NHC*). This compound has been characterized via NMR (1H, 31P, 13C) and IR spectroscopy. Thermolysis of this compound shows the expulsion of carbon monoxide to generate a reactive Cu-P bond which appears to transfer the P-atom to the carbene ligand as gauged by NMR spectroscopy, as well as mass spectroscopy.

Navigating Adventure Therapy: Using Existential Theory As A Guide, Cian L. Brown, David D. Christian, Patrick L.R. Mcmillion, J. Reece Mclain

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods Faculty Publications and Presentations

A clinician's theoretical orientation serves as a foundational guide that embodies their values and beliefs for creating therapeutic change. Adventure therapy (AT) is an experiential modality that uses kinesthetic experiences as metaphors to promote client growth. Due to its transtheoretical nature, AT practitioners often end up being atheoretical in their facilitation, thus decreasing the potential benefits to clients. In this manuscript, we propose the use of existential Theory to guide AT by integrating the existential givens and welts with key components of AT. A case example is provided to demonstrate guided application.

Cytidine Triphosphate Specifically Modulates Parb-Mediated Dna Compaction: Insights From Single-Molecule Analysis And Parb C-Terminal Lysine Mutagenesis, Lois Akosua Serwaa

Theses and Dissertations

ParB is a central player in bacterial chromosome segregation, and cytidine triphosphate (CTP) is known to modulate its DNA compaction activity. This study explored whether CTP’s regulatory effect is due to specific molecular interactions beyond its known CTP-binding pocket. Using single-molecule flow-stretching and TIRF microscopy, we showed that CTP significantly reduces DNA compaction by wild-type Bacillus subtilis ParB, while ATP has no effect, supporting the hypothesis that CTP acts through specific recognition rather than general charge. CTP’s modulatory effect persisted across C-terminal domain (CTD) lysine mutants. Compaction was reduced in wild-type and K255A but abolished in K252A and K259A. The …

Contributions Of Citizen Science Data To Butterflies Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Akane Jazmyn Benitez

Theses and Dissertations

Citizen science-provided insect data inherently exhibits variability in accuracy. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV), butterfly occurrence reporting is predominantly reliant on citizen science contributions. My research compared fieldwork conducted monthly over a year to occurrence records submitted by visitors at the National Butterfly Center and in Mission, Hidalgo County, Texas. I hypothesized that butterfly occurrences at the Center would be maximized during the fall and minimized during winter and summer months. My research findings revealed that butterfly taxa richness is contingent upon the following factors: 1) the impact of citizen science submitting reports, and 2) monthly butterfly activity …

A Lysosomal Surveillance Response To Stress Extends Healthspan, Terytty Yang Li, Arwen W Gao, Rendan Yang, Yu Sun, Yuxuan Lei, Xiaoxu Li, Lin Chen, Yasmine J Liu, Rachel N Arey, Kimberly Morales, Raya B Liu, Wenzheng Wang, Ang Zhou, Tong-Jin Zhao, Weisha Li, Amélia Lalou, Qi Wang, Tanes Lima, Riekelt H Houtkooper, Johan Auwerx

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Lysosomes are cytoplasmic organelles central for the degradation of macromolecules to maintain cellular homoeostasis and health. However, how lysosomal activity can be boosted to counteract ageing and ageing-related diseases remains elusive. Here we reveal that silencing specific vacuolar H+-ATPase subunits (for example, vha-6), which are essential for intestinal lumen acidification in Caenorhabditis elegans, extends lifespan by ~60%. This longevity phenotype can be explained by an adaptive transcriptional response typified by induction of a set of transcripts involved in lysosomal function and proteolysis, which we termed the lysosomal surveillance response (LySR). LySR activation is characterized by boosted lysosomal activity …

Inhibition Of Srebp-1c Rescues Hepatic Cyp7b1 Expression And Bile Acid Synthesis In Malnourished Mice, Xiaoyang Wan, Krishnakant G Soni, Jong Min Choi, Sun Yun Jung, Margaret E Conner, Geoffrey A Preidis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Malnutrition decreases intestinal bile acids, resulting in inefficient nutrient absorption and impaired catch-up growth. Mechanisms by which bile acid depletion occurs in malnutrition are unknown. Using a mouse model of early-life malnutrition, we explored bile acid homeostasis, focusing on transcriptional repression of CYP7B1, a rate-limiting enzyme in the alternative pathway of bile acid biosynthesis, by SREBP-1c, a master regulator of lipid metabolism. Mice were maintained on a low-protein low-fat or isocaloric control chow until eight weeks of age when livers were harvested for proteome profiling, western blot, RT-qPCR, and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Cultured hepatocytes and mice were treated with the SREBP-1c …

Identification Of Distinct Biological Groups Of Patients With Cryptogenic Norse Via Inflammatory Profiling, Martin Guillemaud, Mario Chavez, Firas Kobeissy, Annamaria Vezzani, Anthony D Jimenez, Maysaa Merhi Basha, Ayush Batra, Sophie Demeret, Onome Eka, Krista Eschbach, Brandon Foreman, Nicolas Gaspard, Elizabeth E Gerard, Teneille Emma Gofton, Hiba A Haider, Stephen T Hantus, Charles L Howe, Amy Jongeling, Mariel Kalkach-Aparicio, Padmaja Kandula, Karnig Kazazian, Minjee Kim, Yi-Chen Lai, Clémence Marois, Andrew Mellor, Wazim Mohamed, Mikaela Morales, Cederic M Pimentel, Alexandra M Ramirez, Claude Steriade, Aaron F Struck, Olga Taraschenko, Nathan Torcida Sedano, Mark S Wainwright, Ji Yeoun Yoo, Kevin K W Wang, Vincent Navarro, Lawrence J Hirsch, Aurélie Hanin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and objectives: Emerging evidence suggests that immune dysregulation plays a pivotal role in triggering cryptogenic new-onset refractory status epilepticus (c-NORSE), prompting a consensus on early initiation of immunotherapy. However, despite similar timing of administration, responses to immunotherapies have been varied and unpredictable, suggesting the presence of heterogeneous underlying mechanisms. The aim of this study was to identify distinct inflammatory response subtypes in patients with c-NORSE by analyzing their cytokine profiles. Insights into underlying mechanisms were sought to understand the pathophysiology and guide personalized therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Methods: Sixty-two patients with c-NORSE were included. A comprehensive panel …

Glioblastoma-Instructed Astrocytes Suppress Tumour-Specific T Cell Immunity, Camilo Faust Akl, Brian M Andersen, Zhaorong Li, Federico Giovannoni, Martin Diebold, Liliana M Sanmarco, Michael Kilian, Luca Fehrenbacher, Florian Pernin, Joseph M Rone, Hong-Gyun Lee, Gavin Piester, Jessica E Kenison, Joon-Hyuk Lee, Tomer Illouz, Carolina M Polonio, Léna Srun, Jazmin Martinez, Elizabeth N Chung, Anton Schüle, Agustin Plasencia, Lucinda Li, Kylynne Ferrara, Mercedes Lewandrowski, Craig A Strathdee, Lorena Lerner, Christophe Quéva, Iain C Clark, Benjamin Deneen, Judy Lieberman, David H Sherr, Jack P Antel, Michael A Wheeler, Keith L Ligon, E Antonio Chiocca, Marco Prinz, David A Reardon, Francisco J Quintana

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain cancer and shows minimal response to therapies. The immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment in glioblastoma contributes to the limited therapeutic response. Astrocytes are abundant in the central nervous system and have important immunoregulatory roles. However, little is known about their role in the immune response to glioblastoma1. Here we used single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing of clinical glioblastoma samples and samples from preclinical models, multiplexed immunofluorescence, in vivo CRISPR-based cell-specific genetic perturbations and in vitro mouse and human experimental systems to address this gap in knowledge. We identified an astrocyte subset …

A Hypomorphic Model Of Cps1 Deficiency For Investigating The Effects Of Hyperammonemia On The Developing Nervous System, Stuti Bakshi, Taryn Diep, Brandon J Willis, Rachel Reyes, Grace F Wu, Georgios Makris, Martin Poms, Isabel Day, Qin Sun, Irina Zhuravka, Lindsay Lueptow, Michelle Tang, Gareth A Cromie, Aimée M Dudley, Johannes Häberle, Gerald S Lipshutz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency is a rare metabolic disorder that, in neonatal onset, is typically characterized by severe life-threatening and neurologically injuring hyperammonemic episodes with high unmet patient need. Patients that retain limited enzyme activity may present later in life with less severe hyperammonemia. CPS1 drives the first step in the urea cycle, the pathway terrestrial mammals utilize to metabolize nitrogen. In order to probe the effect of hyperammonemia on the developing nervous system and explore new therapies, a murine Cps1 exon 3-4 mutant was previously generated. However, these mice die within 24 h of birth, limiting study …

Cryoem Structure Of The Slfn14 Endoribonuclease Reveals Insight Into Rna Binding And Cleavage, Justin Van Riper, Arleth O Martinez-Claros, Lie Wang, Hannah E Schneiderman, Sweta Maheshwari, Monica C Pillon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The SLFN14 endoribonuclease is a post-transcriptional regulator that targets the ribosome and its associated RNA substrates for codon-bias translational repression. SLFN14 nuclease activity is linked to antiviral defense and platelet function. Despite its prominent role in gene regulation, the molecular signals regulating SLFN14 substrate recognition and catalytic activation remain unclear. SLFN14 dysregulation is linked to human diseases, including ribosomopathies and inherited thrombocytopenia, thus underscoring the importance of establishing the signals coordinating its RNA processing activity. Here, we reconstitute active full-length human SLFN14 and report a high-resolution cryoEM reconstruction of the SLFN14•RNA complex. The structure reveals a medallion-like architecture that shares …

Development And Diversity Of Astrocytes, Michael R Williamson, Sanjana Murali, Benjamin Deneen

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Proper development of the central nervous system (CNS) depends on astrocytes, which are the most abundant glial cells in the CNS. Here, we provide an overview of astrocyte ontogeny and morphogenesis, highlighting mechanisms that regulate astrocyte development. In addition, we describe the roles of astrocytes in regulating the development of other CNS cell types, with emphasis on neural circuits and vascular networks. We also discuss evidence for astrocyte diversity and its implications for CNS development. Finally, we pose open questions related to astrocyte development and its intersection with astrocyte diversity.

Gut Virome Profile In New Onset Treatment Naïve Saudi Children With Ulcerative Colitis, Mohammad El Mouzan, Tor C Savidge, Ahmed Al Sarkhy, Shyam Badu, Badr Alsaleem, Mohammad Al Mofarreh, Abdullah Almasood, Asaad Assiri

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Gut microbiome imbalance is well established in ulcerative colitis (UC) in Western populations. Significantly less is known about the gut virome and whether geography impacts the UC-associated microbiome. The aim of this study was to characterize gut bacteriophage changes, as well as to identify phage-bacterial associations that can serve as potential biomarkers of UC.

Methods: Twenty children with UC and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria included newly diagnosed treatment-naïve children with UC with no antibiotic exposure for at least six months prior to sample collection. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from stool and rectal …

Quantitative Ultrashort Echo Time Mri For Evaluation Of Sciatic Nerve Degeneration And Regeneration In Rat Models, Yuanshan Wu, Yajun Ma, Xin Cheng, Kaixin Pan, James Lo, Elisabeth Orozco, Junyuan Chen, Saeed Jerban, Michael P Andre, Jiang Du, Eric Y Chang, Sameer B Shah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background Evaluating peripheral nerve response after injury or repair remains a critical clinical challenge. Current medical imaging approaches provide limited insight into the degenerative or regenerative environment of affected nerves. Purpose To assess the efficacy of ultrashort echo time (UTE) quantitative MRI (qMRI) for evaluating peripheral nerve degeneration and regeneration in rat models of sciatic nerve injury and to assess correlations between UTE qMRI parameters and histologic findings. Materials and Methods In this animal study conducted from November 2022 to December 2023, four experimental groups were created in 6-8-week-old male Lewis rats:

Complete Genomic Characterization Of Global Pathogens Respiratory Syntical Virus And Human Norovirus Using Probe Based Capture Enrichment, Sravya V Bhamidipati, Anil Surathu, Hsu Chao, Daniel P Agustinho, Qin Xiang, Kavya Kottapalli, Abirami Santhanam, Zeineen Momin, Kimberly Walker, Vipin K Menon, George Weissenberger, Nathanael Emerick, Faria Mahjabeen, Qingchang Meng, Jianhong Hu, Richard Sucgang, David Henke, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Ziad M Khan, Ginger A Metcalf, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Pedro A Piedra, Sasirekha Ramani, Robert L Atmar, Mary K Estes, Joseph F Petrosino, Richard A Gibbs, Donna M Muzny, Sara Cregeen Javornik, Harsha Doddapaneni

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide, while human noroviruses (HuNoV) are a leading cause of epidemic and sporadic acute gastroenteritis. Generating full-length genome sequences for these viruses is crucial for understanding viral diversity and tracking emerging variants. However, obtaining high-quality sequencing data is often challenging due to viral strain variability, quality, and low titers. Here, we present a set of comprehensive oligonucleotide probe sets designed from 1,570 RSV and 1,376 HuNoV isolate sequences in GenBank. Using these probe sets and a capture enrichment sequencing workflow, 85 RSV positive nasal swab …

In Vivo Pulse-Chase In Caenorhabditis Elegans Reveals Intestinal Histone Turnover Changes Upon Starvation, Christopher Borchers, Kara Osburn, Hyun Cheol Roh, Scott T. Aoki

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

The ability to study protein dynamics and function in the authentic context of a multicellular organism is paramount to better understand biological phenomena in animal health and disease. Pulse-chase of self-labeling fusion protein tags provides the opportunity to label proteins of interest and track those proteins over time. There are currently several challenges associated with performing in vivo protein pulse-chase in animals, such as cost, reproducibility, and accurate detection methods. The Caenorhabditis elegans model organism has attributes that alleviate many of these challenges. This work tests the feasibility of applying the Halo modified enzyme (HaloTag) for in vivo protein pulse-chase …