Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Th1/Tfh-Like Biased Responses Elicited By The Rasp-1 Innate Adjuvant Are Dependent On Trif And Type I Ifn Receptor Pathways., Parakkal Jovvian George, Radu Marches, Djamel Nehar-Belaid, Jacques Banchereau, Sara Lustigman

Faculty Research 2022

No abstract provided.

Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Defines Expression Of Kabuki Syndrome-Associated Kmt2d Targets And Interacting Partners., Badam Enkhmandakh, Paul Robson, Pujan Joshi, Anushree Vijaykumar, Dong-Guk Shin, Mina Mina, Dashzeveg Bayarsaihan

Faculty Research 2022

No abstract provided.

Targeting Sars-Cov-2 Infection Through Car-T-Like Bispecific T Cell Engagers Incorporating Ace2., Mikail Dogan, Lina Kozhaya, Lindsey Placek, Fatih Karabacak, Mesut Yigit, Derya Unutmaz

Faculty Research 2022

OBJECTIVES: Despite advances in antibody treatments and vaccines, COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection remains a major health problem resulting in excessive morbidity and mortality and the emergence of new variants has reduced the effectiveness of current vaccines.

METHODS: Here, as a proof-of-concept, we engineered primary CD8 T cells to express SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein-specific CARs, using the extracellular region of ACE2 and demonstrated their highly specific and potent cytotoxicity towards Spike-expressing target cells. To improve on this concept as a potential therapeutic, we developed a bispecific T cell engager combining ACE2 with an anti-CD3 scFv (ACE2-Bite) to target infected cells and …

Intergenomic And Epistatic Interactions Control Free Radical Mediated Pancreatic Β-Cell Damage., Jing Chen, Renhua Li, Sarah Knapp, Guizhi Zhu, Robert L Whitener, Edward H. Leiter, Clayton E Mathews

Faculty Research 2022

Alloxan (AL)-generated Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) selectively destroy insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. A previous genome-wide scan (GWS) using a cohort of 296 F2 hybrids between NOD (AL-sensitive) and ALR (AL-resistant) mice identified linkages contributing to β-cell susceptibility or resistance to AL-induced diabetes on Chromosomes (Chr) 2, 3, 8, and a single nucleotide polymorphism in

Engineering A "Detect And Destroy" Skin Probiotic To Combat Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus., Changhui Guan, Peter J Larson, Elizabeth Fleming, Alexander P Tikhonov, Sara Mootien, Trudy H Grossman, Caroline Golino, Julia Oh

Faculty Research 2022

The prevalence and virulence of pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (MRSA), which can cause recurrent skin infections, are of significant clinical concern. Prolonged antibiotic exposure to treat or decolonize S. aureus contributes to development of antibiotic resistance, as well as depletion of the microbiome, and its numerous beneficial functions. We hypothesized an engineered skin probiotic with the ability to selectively deliver antimicrobials only in the presence of the target organism could provide local bioremediation of pathogen colonization. We constructed a biosensing S. epidermidis capable of detecting the presence of S. aureus quorum sensing autoinducer peptide and producing lysostaphin …

Proceedings From The Albert Charitable Trust Inaugural Workshop On 'Understanding The Acute Effects Of Exercise On The Brain', Jill N. Barnes, Jeffrey M. Burns, Marcas M. Bamman, Sandra A. Billinger, Sue C. Bodine, Frank W. Booth, Patrice Brassard, Tameka A. Clemons, Paul J. Fadel, Paige C. Geiger, Swathi Gujral, Jacob M. Haus, Scott E. Kanoski, Benjamin F. Miller, Jill K. Morris, Kristen M S O'Connell, David C. Poole, Darleen A. Sandoval, J Carson Smith, Russell H. Swerdlow, Shawn N. Whitehead, Eric D. Vidoni, Henriette Van Praag

Faculty Research 2022

An inaugural workshop supported by "The Leo and Anne Albert Charitable Trust," was held October 4-7, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona, to focus on the effects of exercise on the brain and to discuss how physical activity may prevent or delay the onset of aging-related neurodegenerative conditions. The Scientific Program Committee (led by Dr. Jeff Burns) assembled translational, clinical, and basic scientists who research various aspects of the effects of exercise on the body and brain, with the overall goal of gaining a better understanding as to how to delay or prevent neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, research topics included the links …

Pdpn Marks A Subset Of Aggressive And Radiation-Resistant Glioblastoma Cells, Aram S. Modrek, Eskil Eskilsson, Ravesanker Ezhilarasan, Qianghu Wang, Lindsey D. Goodman, Yingwen Ding, Ze-Yan Zhang, Krishna P. Bhat, Thanh-Thuy T. Le, Floris P Barthel, Ming Tang, Jie Yang, Lihong Long, Joy Gumin, Frederick F. Lang, Roel G W Verhaak, Kenneth D. Aldape, Erik P. Sulman

Faculty Research 2022

Treatment-resistant glioma stem cells are thought to propagate and drive growth of malignant gliomas, but their markers and our ability to target them specifically are not well understood. We demonstrate that podoplanin (PDPN) expression is an independent prognostic marker in gliomas across multiple independent patient cohorts comprising both high- and low-grade gliomas. Knockdown of PDPN radiosensitized glioma cell lines and glioma-stem-like cells (GSCs). Clonogenic assays and xenograft experiments revealed that PDPN expression was associated with radiotherapy resistance and tumor aggressiveness. We further demonstrate that knockdown of PDPN in GSCs in vivo is sufficient to improve overall survival in an intracranial …

The Tsallis Generalized Entropy Enhances The Interpretation Of Transcriptomics Datasets, Nicolas Dérian, Hang-Phuong Pham, Djamel Nehar-Belaid, Nicolas Tchitchek, David Klatzmann, Vicaut Eric, Adrien Six

Faculty Research 2022

BACKGROUND: Identifying differentially expressed genes between experimental conditions is still the gold-standard approach to interpret transcriptomic profiles. Alternative approaches based on diversity measures have been proposed to complement the interpretation of such datasets but are only used marginally. METHODS: Here, we reinvestigated diversity measures, which are commonly used in ecology, to characterize mice pregnancy microenvironments based on a public transcriptome dataset. Mainly, we evaluated the Tsallis entropy function to explore the potential of a collection of diversity measures for capturing relevant molecular event information. RESULTS: We demonstrate that the Tsallis entropy function provides additional information compared to the traditional diversity …

Identification Of Distinct Immune Cell Subsets Associated With Asymptomatic Infection, Disease Severity, And Viral Persistence In Covid-19 Patients, Xiaorui Wang, Han Bai, Junpeng Ma, Hongyu Qin, Qiqi Zeng, Fang Hu, Tingting Jiang, Weikang Mao, Yang Zhao, Xiaobei Chen, Xin Qi, Mengyang Li, Jiao Xu, Jingcan Hao, Yankui Wang, Xi Ding, Yuanrui Liu, Tianlong Huang, Chao Fang, Changli Ge, Dong Li, Ke Hu, Xianwen Ren, Baojun Zhang, Binghong Zhang, Bingyin Shi, Chengsheng Zhang

Faculty Research 2022

The cell-mediated protective and pathogenic immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection remain largely elusive. Here we identified 76 distinct cell subsets in the PBMC samples that were associated with various clinical presentations of COVID-19 using scRNA-seq technology coupled with a deep and comprehensive analysis of unique cell surface markers and differentially expressed genes. We revealed that (TRAV1-2CD8)MAIT cells and (NCAM1CD160)NK cells significantly enriched in the asymptomatic subjects whereas (LAG3CD160CD8)NKT cells increased in the symptomatic patients. We also observed that (CD68CSF1RIL1BCD14)classical monocytes were positively correlated with the disease severity. Moreover, (CD33HLA-DMACD14)classical monocytes and (CLEC10AS100A9)pDC were associated with the viral persistence. The GO …

A Community Effort For Covid-19 Ontology Harmonization, Asiyah Yu Lin, Yuki Yamagata, William D. Duncan, Leigh Carmody, Tatsuya Kushida, Hiroshi Masuya, John Beverley, Biswanath Dutta, Michael Debellis, Zoë May Pendlington, Paola Roncaglia, Yongqun He

Faculty Research 2022

Ontologies have emerged to become critical to support data and knowledge representation, standardization, integration, and analysis. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic led to the rapid proliferation of COVID-19 data, as well as the development of many COVID-19 ontologies. In the interest of supporting data interoperability, we initiated a community-based effort to harmonize COVID-19 ontologies. Our effort involves the collaborative discussion among developers of seven COVID-19 related ontologies, and the merging of four ontologies. This effort demonstrates the feasibility of harmonizing these ontologies in an interoperable framework to support integrative representation and analysis of COVID-19 related data and knowledge.

Using Genome-Wide Expression Compendia To Study Microorganisms, Alexandra J. Lee, Taylor Reiter, Georgia Doing, Julia Oh, Deborah A. Hogan, Casey S. Greene

Faculty Research 2022

A gene expression compendium is a heterogeneous collection of gene expression experiments assembled from data collected for diverse purposes. The widely varied experimental conditions and genetic backgrounds across samples creates a tremendous opportunity for gaining a systems level understanding of the transcriptional responses that influence phenotypes. Variety in experimental design is particularly important for studying microbes, where the transcriptional responses integrate many signals and demonstrate plasticity across strains including response to what nutrients are available and what microbes are present. Advances in high-throughput measurement technology have made it feasible to construct compendia for many microbes. In this review we discuss …

A-Kinase Anchor Protein 1 Deficiency Causes Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Mouse Model Of Hyperoxia Induced Acute Lung Injury., Ramani Soundararajan, Helena Hernández-Cuervo, Timothy M Stearns, Anthony J Griswold, Sahebgowda Sidramagowda Patil, Jutaro Fukumoto, Venkata Ramireddy Narala, Lakshmi Galam, Richard Lockey, Narasaiah Kolliputi

Faculty Research 2022

No abstract provided.

The Collaborative Cross Strains And Their Founders Vary Widely In Cocaine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization., Sarah A Schoenrock, Leona H. Gagnon, Ashley A Olson, Michael Leonardo, Vivek M. Philip, Hao He, Laura G. Reinholdt, S J Sukoff Rizzo, James D Jentsch, Elissa J Chesler, Lisa M Tarantino

Faculty Research 2022

Cocaine use and overdose deaths attributed to cocaine have increased significantly in the United States in the last 10 years. Despite the prevalence of cocaine use disorder (CUD) and the personal and societal problems it presents, there are currently no approved pharmaceutical treatments. The absence of treatment options is due, in part, to our lack of knowledge about the etiology of CUDs. There is ample evidence that genetics plays a role in increasing CUD risk but thus far, very few risk genes have been identified in human studies. Genetic studies in mice have been extremely useful for identifying genetic loci …

Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Local Sudanese Sheep Populations Revealed By Whole-Genome Sequencing, A Amane, G Belay, Abdulfatai Tijjani, T Dessie, H H. Musa, O Hanotte

Faculty Research 2022

Local Sudanese sheep populations inhabiting diverse environmental conditions and holding opposing morphologies provide opportunities for molecular-genetic research. Characterizing their genome is crucial for sustainable breeding improvement and targeting favorable genes in breeding programs. However, the genome of these sheep populations, which comprises several subtypes, remains uncharacterized using whole-genome sequence data. This study aimed to elucidate genome-wide genetic diversity and population structure of 11 local Sudanese sheep populations, namely, Hammari, Kabbashi, Meidobe, Ashgar, Dubasi, Watish, Bega, Naili, Fulani, Zagawi, and Garag. Ninety whole blood samples were collected, and we extracted DNA using a Qiagen DNeasy® extraction kit. We used the Illumina …

Witch Nails (Krt90whnl): A Spontaneous Mouse Mutation Affecting Nail Growth And Development., John P Sundberg, Hannah Galantino-Homer, Heather Fairfield, Patricia F. Ward-Bailey, Belinda S. Harris, Melissa L. Berry, C Herbert Pratt, Nicholas E Gott, Lesley S Bechtold, Pauline R Kaplan, Blythe P Durbin-Johnson, David M Rocke, Robert H Rice

Faculty Research 2022

Numerous single gene mutations identified in humans and mice result in nail deformities with many similarities between the species. A spontaneous, autosomal, recessive mutation called witch nails (whnl) is described here where the distal nail matrix and nail bed undergo degenerative changes resulting in formation of an abnormal nail plate causing mice to develop long, curved nails. This mutation arose spontaneously in a colony of MRL/MpJ-Faslpr/J at The Jackson Laboratory. Homozygous mutant mice are recognizable by 8 weeks of age by their long, curved nails. The whnl mutation, mapped on Chromosome 15, is due to a 7-bp insertion identified in …

Exploratory Studies Of Oral And Fecal Microbiome In Healthy Human Aging., Xin Zhou, Baohong Wang, Patrick C Demkowicz, Jethro Johnson, Yanfei Chen, Daniel Spakowicz, Yanjiao Zhou, Yair Dorsett, Lei Chen, Erica Sodergren, George A Kuchel, George M. Weinstock

Faculty Research 2022

Growing evidence has linked an altered host fecal microbiome composition with health status, common chronic diseases, and institutionalization in vulnerable older adults. However, fewer studies have described microbiome changes in healthy older adults without major confounding diseases or conditions, and the impact of aging on the microbiome across different body sites remains unknown. Using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, we reconstructed the composition of oral and fecal microbiomes in young (23-32; mean = 25 years old) and older (69-94; mean = 77 years old) healthy community-dwelling research subjects. In both body sites, we identified changes in minor bacterial operational taxonomic …

An Integrated Approach To Studying Rare Neuromuscular Diseases Using Animal And Human Cell-Based Models., Timothy J Hines, Cathleen Lutz, Stephen A Murray, Robert W. Burgess

Faculty Research 2022

As sequencing technology improves, the identification of new disease-associated genes and new alleles of known genes is rapidly increasing our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of rare diseases, including neuromuscular diseases. However, precisely because these disorders are rare and often heterogeneous, they are difficult to study in patient populations. In parallel, our ability to engineer the genomes of model organisms, such as mice or rats, has gotten increasingly efficient through techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, allowing the creation of precision human disease models. Such

Psilocybin Psychotherapy With Acceptance And Commitment Therapy: A Potential Treatment For Social Anxiety Disorder, Elliot Sandberg

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Individuals diagnosed with social anxiety disorder are in need of a more effective therapeutic intervention. Due to the nature of SAD, individuals tend to not seek care for their treatment, leading to the continuation of avoidance behaviors that significantly impact their daily existence. Psilocybin psychotherapy has the potential to lead to significant changes in the personality structure of individuals as well as reducing anxious responses to their environment in a relatively short period of time. Acceptance and commitment therapy can serve as the ideal therapeutic backing to psilocybin as it emphasizes mindfulness and psychological flexibility, both of which aid in …

Synthesis Of Selenotryptophan For Protein Elucidation, James P. Reiselman

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

Through complex intermolecular and intramolecular forces, proteins conformationally change to form complex 3-d geometry that carries out biochemical processes and mapping their structures is becoming a field of interest in the biological community. Techniques for modeling protein’s structure typically follow the path of X-ray crystallography, which has an intrinsic phase problem that can make reading the electron density map they produce very difficult. This can be mitigated by appending a heavy-atom containing amino acid analogue into a crystal sample of the protein being studied. A selenium containing tryptophan analogue will be synthesized to be appended into proteins as a chemical …

Awareness Of Racial Disparities In Healthcare: An Analysis Of Undergraduate Science Students’ Perceptions, Liz Bleyer

[Archive] Belmont University Research Symposium (BURS)

General and systemic racial inequalities, including slavery, mass incarceration, and health disparities, have existed throughout the history of the United States. Recent public health issues, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic, have shed light on enduring health disparities, including the disproportionate impact on black communities and other racial minorities. A crucial first step towards a more equitable healthcare system is increasing general awareness of the presence and effects of racial disparities. Previous research has quantified and described the awareness of racial disparities in healthcare practitioners, including medical students and practicing physicians, but little research has been dedicated to understanding the perspectives of …

Corneal Ulcer On The Verge Of Rupture: An Ocular Emergency In A Free-Standing Emergency Room, Kevin Thomas, Garrett Root

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2022

No abstract provided.

Associations Between Adhd And Comorbid Disorders In Adolescents And Adults, Sherri Beatty

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Adhd Symptomatology And Social Media Overuse, Hannah Cassetty

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Type 1 Diabetes Treatment Regimens: Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (Csh) Vs Multiple Daily Injections (Mdi), Megan Felts

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Ptsd In Covid-19 Frontline Workers, Samantha Gagliano

Graduate Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Peptidomics Analysis Reveals Changes In Small Urinary Peptides In Patients With Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome, Md Shadman Ridwan Abid, Haowen Qiu, Bridget Tripp, Aline De Lima Leite, Heidi E. Roth, Jiri Adamec, Robert Powers, James W. Checco

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic and debilitating pain disorder of the bladder and urinary tract with poorly understood etiology. A definitive diagnosis of IC/BPS can be challenging because many symptoms are shared with other urological disorders. An analysis of urine presents an attractive and non-invasive resource for monitoring and diagnosing IC/BPS. The antiproliferative factor (APF) peptide has been previously identified in the urine of IC/BPS patients and is a proposed biomarker for the disorder. Nevertheless, other small urinary peptides have remained uninvestigated in IC/BPS primarily because protein biomarker discovery efforts employ protocols that remove small endogenous peptides. …

The Imaginal Lexicon Of Aging Studies, William Ebenstein

Publications and Research

Aging Studies focuses on the cultural, humanistic and experiential aspects of aging insofar as these are already embedded in literature, art, language and everyday life. The lexicon of this multi-disciplinary field has evolved in response to shifts in cultural attitudes, social roles, and conceptual frameworks. At the same time, many age-related words have links to poetic imagery and ancient myths, and to evocative etymologies that conjure an historical context. The article looks at the ongoing and surprisingly difficult effort to find the right word to call an older person. It reviews the language and literary genres associated with longevity. And, …

Improving Antibiotic Administration Timing In Neonatal Early-Onset Sepsis, Donia B. Bass

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Abstract

Neonatal early onset sepsis (EOS) remains one of the most common causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Neonates requiring evaluation and treatment for suspected EOS inconsistently receive antibiotics within one hour of decision to treat as recommended in the 2012 neonatal sepsis guidelines by the National Institutes for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). A mixed method quality improvement initiative was employed in a level three NICU, applying a standardized admission process to mitigate systems flaws impacting delay of first dose antibiotic. A nursing sepsis education module was provided, and the novel SAM admission prioritization tool was developed to guide …

Understanding Perceptions Of Social Eating During Lunch For Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa: An Instrumental Case Study, Madelyn Duzyk

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Current literature on adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) show that social participation is a key factor of community reintegration and long-term recovery (Mekori et al., 2017; Preyde et al., 2017); however, there is little known about the impact of social eating for adolescents with AN.

Purpose: The purpose of this instrumental case study is to more fully understand the meaning of social eating during lunch for adolescents with AN and begin to illustrate social eating’s impact on treatment, community re-integration, and long-term remission.

Methods: A qualitative case-study methodology was developed to gain perceptions of social eating from adolescents with …

The Effects Of Education With Healthcare Providers On Low Vision Assistive Devices And Their Ability To Improve Self-Care Skills, Lora L. Jester-Rains

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Projects

Background: Results of a study by Casten et al., (2005) confirmed low rates of use of devices and services for low vision by the older adult. Older adults with low vision are receptive to using low vision resources but are often unaware of them (Lighthouse International, 2021). Casten et al. (2005) further suggested that the lack of services or use of devices may be due to a lack of awareness of health care professionals. Low vision assistive devices (LVAD), whether high or low tech, or mainstream, can help maximize a client’s vision so that they can perform everyday tasks …