Life Sciences Commons^™

Ozone Pollution Reduction Partially Offsets The Negative Impact Of Climate Change Mitigation Efforts On Global Hunger, Shujuan Xia, Tomoko Hasegawa, Thanapat Jansakoo, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, Kazuaki Tsuchiya, Shinichiro Fujimori, Maksym Chepeliev, Marta Kozicka, Abhijeet Mishra, Willem-Jan Van Zeist, Xin Zhao, Thijs De Lange, Thais Diniz Oliveira, Jonathan C. Doelman, Matthew Gibson, Petr Havlík, Mario Herrero, Ipsita Kumar, Yuki Ochi, Timothy B. Sulser, Marina Sundiang, Kiyoshi Takahashi, Jun’Ya Takakura, Keith Wiebe

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Studies warning of the potential negative effects of climate mitigation on food security through the competing use of land for bioenergy and afforestation have overlooked the impact of reduced ozone and its potential enhancement of crop yields. Here we use six global agro-economic models to compare the impacts of climate change with climate mitigation policy and ozone reduction on agriculture. We find that ozone reduction could reduce the negative impact of a 1.5 °C-consistent climate change mitigation policy on global hunger by 15% in 2050. Sub-Saharan Africa and India, where hunger is most severe, account for 56% of this global …

Ifnγ-Induced Antigen Loss In Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Cell Therapy, Miao Cao, Jasmine Alvarez, Ramkrishna Mitra, Michael Xu, Trevor R. Baybutt, Zhengyang Sun, Oluwatobiloba Taylor, Allison Doermann, Ross E Staudt, Scott A. Waldman, Adam E. Snook

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: FDA-approved chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cell therapies (CARTs) have revolutionized the treatment of blood cancers. Yet none have been successful for "solid" tumors, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths. Guanylyl cyclase C (GUCY2C) has emerged as a clinical-stage target for CART and bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapies in CRC. IFNγ has been canonically recognized as beneficial for the effector functions of T cells by enhancing antigen processing and HLA presentation and is essential for CART targeting of solid malignancies by inducing adhesion molecule expression for synapse stabilization.

METHODS: Using

RESULTS: We identified …

Targeting Il-1 Signaling In Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa: Improved Survival And Pathogenesis In Rdeb Mouse Model, Rahim Hirani

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a devastating inherited blistering disorder caused by biallelic mutations in COL7A1, resulting in deficiency of type VII collagen (C7) and loss of dermal–epidermal adhesion. Beyond mechanical fragility, RDEB is characterized by chronic inflammation, progressive fibrosis, impaired wound healing, severe pain, and an exceptionally high risk of aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Emerging transcriptomic and cytokine profiling studies have identified interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) as a dominant and temporally upstream inflammatory mediator in RDEB skin. The central hypothesis of this dissertation is that IL-1α signaling functions as a key initiator and amplifier of inflammation-driven pathology …

The Dual-Specificity Phosphatase Jsp1 Regulates Neutrophil Adhesion Via Integrin-Src Signaling In Vascular Inflammation, Li Li

BCES: Faculty Publications

The c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating the innate immune response. Immune signaling is governed by the coordinated activity of protein kinases counter-balanced by protein phosphatases; however, the importance of the latter family of enzymes is less well understood. c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK)-stimulatory phosphatase 1 (JSP1, also known as DUSP22) has been implicated as a positive regulator of JNK signaling, yet its role in innate immunity is not clear. Using a mouse model of the local Shwartzman reaction, we show that JSP1 is essential for LPS-TNF-alpha-induced vascular injury. JSP1-knockout mice exhibited reduced vascular hemorrhage. …

Cannibalism, Predation, And Refuges Of Juvenile Blue Crabsfrom A 37–Year Experiment, Anson H. Hines, Margaret A. Kramer, Kimberly D. Richie, L. David Smith, Robert Aguilar, Matthew B. Ogburn, Eric G. Johnson, Gregory M. Ruiz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

This 37-y record (1989–2025) of field experiments tested seasonal and annual variation in predation on juvenile blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) in a representative mesohaline site of Chesapeake Bay, USA, where the species is a dominant epibenthic predator and major fishery. We used replicated sets of individually tethered crabs to provide a relative index of lethal and sublethal predation rates on intermolt individuals as a function of size and habitats. Cannibalism by large adult crabs accounted for>97% of predation of juvenile crabs; predation by fish was not observed; and mortality from physiological stress was rare (< 1%). Sampling by depth showed that juveniles occurred in nearshore shallows, while adults were in deeper water. Cannibalism was also depth-dependent: Rates were high at 75 cm depth; intermediate at 40cm; and lowest at 15 cm shallows, which provided partial refuge. Cannibalism was size-dependent: 30 to 50 mm juveniles experienced high rates of predation; 90 to 110mm preadults had low rates; and >120 mm adults …

Seeds Of Change - Building Community And Resilience With Plant Guilds, Roslynn Mccann, Liliane Dionne, Kevin White

All Current Publications

The goals of this Grade 6 living systems/biodiversity curriculum are to highlight Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) contributions to science, technology, and sustainable agriculture, with a focus on relational worldviews, permaculture practices, and respect for Mother Earth. Students will conduct plant experiments, learn Indigenous stories, make corn husk dolls, create a recipe, and enjoy eating their soup creation.

Seasonal Dynamics And Trends Of Environmental Conditions In Lake Louise, Georgia, Daniel Kwawuvi, James A. Nienow

Georgia Journal of Science

Lakes are important aquatic ecosystems that are extensively influenced by seasonal variations. In this study we investigate the seasonal dynamics and trends of three environmental variables, water temperature, conductivity and dissolved oxygen (DO), in Lake Louise, a sinkhole lake located in southern Georgia. These variables were measured in-situ along a depth profile from January 27, 2024 to January 17, 2025. We also accessed archived data from field campaigns in 2003, 2004, and 2017 in order to test whether a recent increase in the number of hurricanes impacting the region, five since August, 2017, may have significantly altered the seasonal dynamics …

Misregulated Alternative Splicing In Endometriosis: A Role For Aberrant Mrna Variants In Endometriotic Cell Growth, Venkata Naga Goutham Davuluri, Michelle Dias, Roxanna Llinas, Kamath Neha, Pooja Popli, Shannon M Hawkins, Chandrakant Tayade, Elise T Courtois, Hari Krishna Yalamanchili, Ramakrishna Kommagani

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disorder marked by the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, often leading to pelvic pain, inflammation, and infertility. Despite its global prevalence, diagnosis remains delayed, and effective non-surgical treatments are lacking. While recent transcriptomic studies have identified mRNA transcript changes in ectopic lesions, the contribution of alternative pre-mRNA splicing, a key posttranscriptional regulatory layer, remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of alternative splicing (AS) events in endometriotic lesions using transcriptomic data. We uncovered distinct alterations in alternative splicing events are associated with endometriosis, highlighting a previously underappreciated layer of …

Characterisation Of Pouch Secretions From Breeding Tasmanian Devils, Manujaya W. Jayamanna Mohottige, Emma Peel, Angéla Juhász, Mitchell G. Nye-Wood, Katherine Belov, Michelle L. Colgrave, Carolyn J. Hogg

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), like all marsupials, give birth to altricial young. Here we employ proteomic analysis to identify components of devil pouch secretions that may contribute to offspring survival and development. Proteins were extracted from five samples and analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Peptide-level evidence revealed proteins involved in a diverse set of immune pathways, including those mediating iron-ion transport, defence responses to bacteria, innate immune responses, and antigen processing. A core set of 200 proteins was identified across at least three samples, 63 of which were associated with antimicrobial or immunoregulatory functions. These included immunoglobulins, components of …

Radiation Doses To Cardiac Substructures Predict Elevation In High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T Levels In Radiation Therapy For Lung Cancer, Xinru Chen, Xiaodong Zhang, Ting Xu, Radhe Mohan, Ruitao Lin, Mei Chen, Rachel C Maguire, Yao Zhao, Efstratios Koutroumpakis, Nicolas L Palaskas, Anita Deswal, Ali Ajdari, Joshua S Niedzielski, Sanjay S Shete, Laurence E Court, Jinzhong Yang, Zhongxing Liao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Cardiotoxicity is a major concern for patients undergoing thoracic radiation therapy. This study compared the predictive power of radiation dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters and radiomic/dosiomic features of the whole heart (WH) and cardiac substructures for elevated circulating high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT), a biomarker for early detection of cardiac adverse events.

Methods and materials: A retrospective cohort of 160 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from a completed prospective trial and a prospective cohort of 57 patients with NSCLC enrolled in an ongoing trial were analyzed. The endpoint was hs-cTnT elevation, indicated by an increase of ≥5 ng/L …

High Dietary Fiber Is Associated With Improved Outcomes In Patients With Melanoma And Sarcoma Treated With Immunotherapy Regardless Of Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis And Social Vulnerability, Brittany C Fields, Raymond S Traweek, Kai Jiang, Russell G Witt, Ashish Damania, Yi-Ju Chiang, Nadim Ajami, Elise Nassif-Haddad, Emily Z Keung, Manoj Chelvanambi, Xiaotao Zhang, Christine B Peterson, Jennifer A Wargo, Carrie R Daniel, Christina L Roland, Ashley M Holder

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Social vulnerability, dietary fiber, and the gut microbiome have been individually implicated in clinical outcomes for melanoma and sarcoma patients. This study hypothesized that increasing social vulnerability is associated with insufficient dietary fiber intake and negatively associated with microbiome composition and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Clinicopathologic data, baseline fiber intake, and gut microbiome profiles were assessed in 153 patients with melanoma or sarcoma treated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and prospectively followed. Patients' social vulnerability index (SVI) and fiber intake were evaluated for associations with microbiome composition, treatment response, and overall survival (OS).

Results: SVI percentile was 0.4 (interquartile ratio …

Simulated Hearing Loss In Healthy Young And Older Adults Results In Poor Reaction Time In Older Adults., Victoria Kowalewski, Nicoleta Bugnariu, Rita M. Patterson, Jessica Hartos

Pacific Journal of Health

Emerging evidence links hearing loss to increased fall risk in older adults, yet mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the impact of simulated hearing loss on reactive balance control in healthy young and older adults. Participants performed dual-task scenario involving auditory sentence repetition and unexpected surface translations. Hearing loss was simulated using Adobe Audition, applying frequency-specific attenuation based on moderate sensorineural hearing loss levels from the literature.

Speech-in-noise performance significantly declined under simulated hearing loss for both age groups (p < .001), confirming effective simulation, but not significant differences were found between age groups. Maximum COP-COM displacement (the scalar distance between Center of Pressure and Center of Mass) increased with perturbation intensity (Level 1 vs. Level 2: p < .001), but no significant differences were found between hearing conditions or age groups (p > .05), suggesting compensatory step execution was preserved.

Reaction time analysis revealed a significant interaction between hearing condition and perturbation level …

Advancements In Extracellular Vesicle Research, Lucia R. Languino

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

The AAEV (American Association of Extracellular Vesicles) Annual Meeting at the John P. McGovern Commons in Houston, TX convened over 300 leading re- searchers, clinicians, and industry experts from around the world to advance the rapidly evolving field of extracellular vesicle (EV) science. EVs, nanoscale lipid- bound particles released by all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, have emerged as crucial mediators of intercellular communication, trans- porting proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids that influence a wide spectrum of physiological and pathological processes. Their involvement in immune modulation, tissue regeneration, cancer progression, metabolic regulation, and other complex biological functions positions EVs as promising …

A Distributed Model For Undergraduate Education In Environmental Remote Sensing: Increased Student Interest In Science And Sense Of Science Identity And Belonging, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Monae Verbeke, Jeremy Forsythe, Joshua B. Fisher

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

"We present results from a new open-access course in satellite remote sensing of the environment that uses evidence-based, active learning pedagogy to train the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists The course, called Observing Earth from Above, teaches students how to access, visualize, and communicate satellite remote sensing data from NASA’s ECOSTRESS instrument to address a variety of environmental challenges. The resources focus on follow-along tutorials for students and also include recorded lectures and interviews with remote sensing scientists."

Ccr7 Immune Cell Receptor Expression In Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Jennifer H Chen, Wintana Balema, Savitri Krishnamurthy, Alison N Lawrence, Natalie W Fowlkes, Richard A Larson, Surbhi Shivhare, Caren Sanchez, Megan M Rodriguez, Jangsoon Lee, Emilly S Villodre, Bisrat G Debeb, Naoto T Ueno, Steve Van Laere, Francois Bertucci, Hyunwoo Cho, Erik P Sulman, Bora Lim, Wendy A Woodward

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Patterns Of Failure Following Stereotactic Radiosurgery Salvage For Recurrent High-Grade Glioma, Shivani Bindal, Brandon Gonzalez, Antonio Dono, Roy Riascos, Jay-Jiguang Zhu, Sigmund Hsu, Nitin Tandon, Angel Blanco, Yoshua Esquenazi, Mark Amsbaugh

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background and objectives: Re-irradiation with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is an increasingly used treatment for recurrent high-grade glioma (HGG). We analyzed the patterns of failure after salvage SRS to better identify which patients would most benefit.

Methods: We reviewed all patients who received SRS for recurrent HGG over 12 years at our institution. Pattern of failure was defined by the distance of recurrence from the SRS isodose line. Overall-survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and local-failure-free survival (LFS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and regression model analysis was performed to analyze clinical predictors of failure.

Results: 146 patients with HGG underwent SRS …

Pimicotinib Versus Placebo For Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumour (Maneuver): An International, Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3 Trial, Hairong Xu, Xiaohui Niu, Vinod Ravi, Javier Martin-Broto, Albiruni Abdul Razak, Ramy Saleh, Yong Zhou, Jingnan Shen, Tang Liu, Kamlesh Kumar Sankhala, César Serrano, Silvia Stacchiotti, Jing Wang, Giacomo G Baldi, Yi Feng, Yingqi Hua, Tao Li, Piotr Rutkowski, Xiaojing Zhang, Gabriel Tinoco, Qingping Zou, Boyao Shan, Xiangyu Zhu, Hans Gelderblom

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Tenosynovial giant cell tumour (TGCT) is a rare, locally aggressive neoplasm that affects otherwise healthy adults. There are few systemic treatment options, highlighting an unmet need. We report the results of part 1 of the MANEUVER trial, which aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pimicotinib, a highly selective, potent, colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor inhibitor, in patients with TGCT.

Methods: MANEUVER is a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study done in 40 specialised hospitals in Asia, Europe, and North America. Patients aged 18 years and older with unresectable, symptomatic TGCT (patient-reported worse stiffness or worst pain of at least 4 …

Exploring The Roles Of The Coach Developer: A Uscce White Paper, Christine Nash, Melissa Thompson, Sean Dahlin, Andrea Woodburn, Jeremy Elliott

Journal of Coach Development

Organizational white papers serve as a mechanism for strategic communication and to establish thought leadership, build credibility, and drive informed decision-making across stakeholder groups. It is the belief of the USCCE that the official launch of the Journal of Coach Development offers the appropriate outlet and timing to publish this official stance of the organization to explore the multiple roles of the coach developer. As the field continues to evolve, our shared understanding of the roles and responsibilities of those serving to support the growth and development of sport coaches will be essential. Further, as a critical focus of the …

What Is Coach Development? A Uscce White Paper, Melissa Thompson, Christine Nash, Sean Dahlin, Andrea Woodburn, Jeremy Elliott

Journal of Coach Development

Organizational white papers serve as a mechanism for strategic communication and to establish thought leadership, build credibility, and drive informed decision-making across stakeholder groups. It is the belief of the USCCE that the official launch of the Journal of Coach Development offers the appropriate outlet and timing to publish this official stance of the organization defining the term ‘coach development.’ As an emerging term in the field, there is need for clarity around what coach development is and what it looks like in practice. Further, as a critical focus of the Journal of Coach Development, this paper will serve to …

Water Sources And Livelihood Choices Among Pastoralist Households In Monduli District, Tanzania, Fredrick Alleni Mfinanga, Jacqueline Temba, Monica F. Timbuka

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper investigates the association between types of water sources for livestock and livelihood choices of pastoralist households in semi-arid areas of Monduli District, Tanzania. Specifically, it aims to examine the influence of the types of water sources for livestock on livelihood diversification of pastoralist households. Using a mixed research methods approach, the data were collected from 367 households through three methods: surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and counts, and inferential statistics, Chi-square tests and correlation, while the qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The findings revealed …

The Nexus Between Perceived And Scientific Weather Patterns And Its Effects On Cereal Crop Production In Manyoni District, Tanzania, Fadhili Lufunyo Ngajilo, Helena Elias Myeya, Evarist Fundisha Swai

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study examines the nexus between perceived and scientific weather patterns, and its effects on cereal crop production in Manyoni District; and involved 157 participants. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a mixed methods research approach. The data were collected through a household survey, FGDs, in-depth interviews and documentary review methods for triangulation and complementarity purposes. The quantitative data were analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics with IBM SPSS (version 27) and Microsoft Excel Office (version 2007). The results indicate that smallholder farmers perceived that rainfall had been fluctuating with increasing trends, while temperature and wind had been …

Analysis Of Traditional Wisdom For Ecological Sustainability In Tanzania: A Case Study Of Metaphorical Source Domains In Pangwa Ritual Texts, Winne Stephen Mtega, Angelus Mnenuka

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Campaigns for ecological sustainability have gained a great currency in the contemporary academic discourse. Nonetheless, from time immemorial, Africans have pushed the ecological sustainability agenda through cultural taboos and regulated resource harvesting. Many African societies have embedded ecological consciousness in daily life expressions, and have intricately expressed it through literary and ritual texts. This study focuses on ecological awareness in the ritual texts of the Pangwa community. It analyses how environmental domains—such as land, seeds, and fruits—serve as the basis for metaphors in the Pangwa community to prove the use of wisdom to promote and sustain ecological practices (ecocriticism). The …

Larvicidal Activity Of Β-Asarone And Acorus Calamus Linn. (Sweet Flag) Extract Against Aedes Aegypti (Dipotera: Culicidae): Enzyme Inhibition, Midgut Histopathology, And In Silico Analysis, Rizal Subahar, Surya Dwira

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae), the primary vector of dengue, poses a significant public health threat in tropical and subtropical regions. Botanical insecticides and phytochemicals such as β- asarone, derived from essential oils,offer a promising alternative to synthetic larvicides. The rhizome of Acorus calamus L. (sweet flag), traditionally known for its neuroprotective and antioxidant properties, contains β-asarone as its principal bioactive constituent.This study evaluated the larvicidal efficacy of β-asarone and A. calamus rhizome extract against Ae. aegypti larvae, focusing on detoxification enzyme inhibition, midgut histopathology, and in silico molecular interactions.Third- and fourth-instar larvae were exposed to β-asarone and crude extract at …

The Sortee Guidelines For Data And Code Quality Control In Ecology And Evolutionary Biology, Joel L. Pick, Bethany J. Allen, Benedicte Bachelot, Kevin R. Bairos-Novak, Jack A. Brand, Barbara Class, Tad Dallas, Pietro B. D'Amelio, Erola Fenollosa, Esteban Fernández-Juricic, Dylan G. Gomes, Matthew J. Grainger, Thomas Guillemaud, John Christian, Ruby Krasnow, Malgorzata Lagisz, Sebastian Lequime, Daniel S. Maynard, Shinichi Nakagawa, Rose E. O'Dea, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Open data and code are crucial to increasing transparency and reproducibility, and in building trust in scientific research. However, despite an increasing number of journals in ecology and evolutionary biology mandating for data and code to be archived alongside published articles, the amount and quality of archived data and code, and subsequent reproducibility of results, has remained worryingly low. As a result, a handful of journals have recruited dedicated data editors, whose role is to help authors increase the overall quality of archived data and code. There is, however, a general lack of consensus around what a data editor should …

Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo Cuvier) Jaw, Nicholas D. Burchett, Jade Mells, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Blue Shark (Prionace Glauca) Jaw, Nicholas D. Burchett, David W. Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms After Sport-Related Concussion In Irish Athletes, Emma Finnegan, Ed Daly, Katherine Hunzinger, Lisa Ryan

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

Background/Objectives: Sport-related concussion (SRC) elicits multi-systemic symptoms, including nausea, fatigue, and cognitive changes. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are not well captured in current concussion assessments and may be under-recognised in clinical follow-up. GI disturbances may influence intake tolerance and day-to-day fuelling during post-SRC recovery. This study investigated the prevalence and severity of self-reported GI symptoms in Irish athletes after their most recent SRC, examined sex-based patterns, and evaluated the rationale for integrating GI symptom checks into standard concussion tools (e.g., SCAT6) and post-injury monitoring. Methods: An online survey was completed by recreational, competitive, and elite athletes who retrospectively self-reported concussion history, …

Unraveling Metabolic Determinants Of Isoniazid Susceptibility In Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Erin Rilu Wang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) causes the disease tuberculosis (TB) and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide by an infectious agent. Furthermore, the emergence and evolution of drug resistance has significantly hindered global health efforts to combat this deadly epidemic. Thus, there is a critical need for development of new antibiotics with unique mechanisms of action and design of novel strategies for optimizing the efficacy of existing therapeutic regimens. It is estimated that 10.7% of new infected and 27.2% of previously treated TB cases are resistant to the frontline antibiotic isoniazid (INH), a central component of TB chemotherapeutic regimens. …

Breaking Into Hiv-1'S Epigenetic Vault: Cure Strategies To Eliminate The Viral Reservoir, Joanna Jones, Chelsea Gunderson, Brian Wigdahl, Michael Nonnemacher

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a retrovirus that integrates into the host cell's DNA as a provirus. Transcription from the provirus is regulated in large part by cellular proteins and epigenetic factors. These may be repressive or permissive to productive infection. The host factors that regulate this balance are therefore attractive targets for HIV-1 therapeutics. Indeed, proviral chromatin is the focus of two of the current HIV-1 cure strategies. "Shock and Kill" uses latency reversal agents to open the provirus's chromatin, promoting high levels of gene expression that induce the killing of infected cells. "Block and Lock" uses …

Persistent Microglial Activation Following Neonatal Cmv Infection Mediates Neurodegeneration, Jessica L. Mccord, Debotri Chatterjee, John Y.S. Han, Drew Scoles, Richard J. Smeyne, Nancy J. Philp, Christopher M. Snyder

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) causes the most common congenital viral infection in the United States, with well-known acute and late-onset neurological pathologies. Moreover, HCMV, like multiple herpesviruses, has been associated with neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Using a well-established neonatal murine (M)CMV infection model, we found that early-life infection drove adult-onset neuron loss and neuropathology in the retina and brain, without evident viral reactivation. Pathology was associated with the persistence of highly activated and inflammatory damage-associated microglia. Transient depletion of these microglia before the development of pathology resulted in repopulation of the tissue by microglia with a more reparative profile, which was then …