Analyzing Pseudomonas Aeruginosa With Bacteriophage Tags Using Photoacoustic Flow Cytometry, Jennifer C. Schinke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The number of daily bacterial infections is climbing and the CDC explains that this is due to the antibiotic-resistant threat in the United States. Finding a faster way of bacterial identification is necessary as it currently takes 1-4 days for a medical lab to culture and identify bacteria. Photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) can be used as an alternative method resulting in swift identification within an hour (Edgar, 2019). Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cell line PA01, will be coated in up to a few hundred red dyed phages making it detectible by the photoacoustic flow cytometry system. Bacteriophages (phages) are viruses that …

Transmission Of Yellow Fever Vaccine Virus Through Blood Transfusion And Organ Transplantation In The Usa In 2021: Report Of An Investigation, Carolyn V. Gould, Rebecca J. Free, Julu Bhatnagar, Raymond A. Soto, Tricia L. Royer, Warren R. Maley, Sean Moss, Matthew A. Berk, Rebecca Craig-Shapiro, Rosy Priya L. Kodiyanplakkal, Lars F. Westblade, Thangamani Muthukumar, Yoram A. Puius, Amresh Raina, Azam Hadi, Kymberly A. Gyure, Danielle Trief, Marcus Pereira, Matthew J. Kuehnert, Vennus Ballen, Debra A. Kessler, Kimberly Dailey, Charles Omura, Thuy Doan, Steve Miller, Michael R. Wilson, Jennifer A. Lehman, Jana M. Ritter, Elizabeth Lee, Luciana Silva-Flannery, Sarah Reagan-Steiner, Jason O. Velez, Janeen J. Laven, Kelly A. Fitzpatrick, Amanda Panella, Emily H. Davis, Holly R. Hughes, Aaron C. Brault, Kirsten St George, Amy B. Dean, Joel Ackelsberg, Sridhar V. Basavaraju, Charles Y. Chiu, J. Erin Staples

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: In 2021, four patients who had received solid organ transplants in the USA developed encephalitis beginning 2-6 weeks after transplantation from a common organ donor. We describe an investigation into the cause of encephalitis in these patients.

METHODS: From Nov 7, 2021, to Feb 24, 2022, we conducted a public health investigation involving 15 agencies and medical centres in the USA. We tested various specimens (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, intraocular fluid, serum, and tissues) from the organ donor and recipients by serology, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, and host gene expression, and conducted a traceback of blood transfusions received by …

Probing Conformational Landscapes Of Binding And Allostery In The Sars-Cov-2 Omicron Variant Complexes Using Microsecond Atomistic Simulations And Perturbation-Based Profiling Approaches: Hidden Role Of Omicron Mutations As Modulators Of Allosteric Signaling And Epistatic Relationships, Gennady M. Verkhivker, Mohammed Alshahrani, Grace Gupta, Sian Xiao, Peng Tao

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this study, we systematically examine the conformational dynamics, binding and allosteric communications in the Omicron BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4/BA.5 spike protein complexes with the ACE2 host receptor using molecular dynamics simulations and perturbation-based network profiling approaches. Microsecond atomistic simulations provided a detailed characterization of the conformational landscapes and revealed the increased thermodynamic stabilization of the BA.2 variant which can be contrasted with the BA.4/BA.5 variants inducing a significant mobility of the complexes. Using the dynamics-based mutational scanning of spike residues, we identified structural stability and binding affinity hotspots in the Omicron complexes. Perturbation response scanning and network-based mutational …

Investigation Of Orthohantavirus Genetics In Rodent Reservoirs And Clinical Samples, Samuel Melvin Goodfellow

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Orthohantaviruses are negative-sense, single stranded RNA viruses with trisegmented genomes that can cause severe disease in humans and are carried by several host reservoirs throughout the world. In the United States, Sin Nombre orthohantavirus (SNV) is the primary cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) with a fatality rate of ~36% and the highest cases occuring in the southwest region. The primary SNV host reservoir is thought to be the western deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, however it has been shown that other rodents can carry different orthohantaviruses. We designed a pan-orthohantavirus detection tool to survey several small mammal populations throughout New …

Early Career Special Education Teacher Lived Experiences During Covid-19, Sydney Parks

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The stories and lived experiences of Early Career Special Education Teachers must be shared. This study provides more information on the beginning lived experiences of Special Education Teachers during COVID-19. The researcher conducted a qualitative narrative design to further investigate burnout and self-efficacy among Early Career Special Education Teachers. The researcher conducted an open-ended question interview that allowed participants to relive their experience teaching during COVID-19. The conclusion of this study is that Special Education Teachers love their job but seek more financial security, administrative support and guidance, recognition.

Prevalence And Factors Associated With Sexual And Reproductive Health Literacy Among Youth Living With Hiv In Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study, Benedicto Mugabi, Miisa Nanyingi, Richard Kabanda, Juliet Ndibazza, Peter Elyanu, John Baptist Asiimwe, Gorret Nazziwa, Gilbert Habaasa, Adeodata Kekitiinwa

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Background

Adequate sexual and reproductive health literacy (SRHL) among young people has been linked to informed sexual behaviours. Studies on SRHL have largely been conducted among the general adolescent population. Little is known about youth aged 15-24 years living with human immunodeficiency virus (YLHIV). There is a possible lack of SRHL in this population, considering the high rate of teenage pregnancies and unprotected sex reported by YLHIV. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated personal and environmental factors for SRHL among YLHIV at a high-volume urban HIV Clinic in Uganda.

Methods

Through a cross-sectional survey, YLHIV receiving routine …

Ifit2 Restricts Murine Coronavirus Spread To The Spinal Cord White Matter And Its Associated Myelin Pathology, Madhav Sharma, Debanjana Chakravarty, Afaq Hussain, Ajay Zalavadia, Amy Burrows, Patricia Rayman, Nikhil Sharma, Lawrence C. Kenyon, Cornelia Bergmann, Ganes C. Sen, Jayasri Das Sarma

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 2, Ifit2, is critical in restricting neurotropic murine-β-coronavirus, RSA59 infection. RSA59 intracranial injection of Ifit2-deficient (-/-) compared to wild-type (WT) mice results in impaired acute microglial activation, reduced CX3CR1 expression, limited migration of peripheral lymphocytes into the brain, and impaired virus control followed by severe morbidity and mortality. While the protective role of Ifit2 is established for acute viral encephalitis, less is known about its influence during the chronic demyelinating phase of RSA59 infection. To understand this, RSA59 infected Ifit2-/- and Ifit2+/+ (WT) were observed for neuropathological outcomes at day 5 (acute phase) and 30 …

Neurotropic Manifestations As A Potential Risk Factor For Schizophrenia Following In Utero Exposure To Sars-Cov-2, Mir Ali R Talpur, Omar H. Elsayed, Rif S. El-Mallakh

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Background: COVID-19 infection is associated with neurologic and psychiatric morbidity that suggests a direct effect of the virus or secondary effect of an inflammatory process. These neuropsychiatric consequences may increase the likelihood of schizophrenia in the offspring of women who become infected with COVID-19 during their pregnancy.

Methods: We performed a directed narrative review of the literature focusing on the proposed pathophysiological processes that lead to schizophrenia and known pathological consequences of COVID-19 infection.

Results: Schizophrenia in adult offspring has been associated with maternal infections during pregnancy by a wide range of respiratory and neurotropic pathogens. Spikes in the incidence …

The Role Of Gut Dysbiosis In The Loss Of Intestinal Immune Cell Functions And Viral Pathogenesis, Farzaneh Fakharian, Siva Thirugnanam, David A. Welsh, Woong Ki Kim, Jay Rappaport, Kyle Bittinger, Namita Rout

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining overall health and immune function. However, dysbiosis, an imbalance in microbiome composition, can have profound effects on various aspects of human health, including susceptibility to viral infections. Despite numerous studies investigating the influence of viral infections on gut microbiome, the impact of gut dysbiosis on viral infection and pathogenesis remains relatively understudied. The clinical variability observed in SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza infections, and the presence of natural HIV suppressors, suggests that host-intrinsic factors, including the gut microbiome, may contribute to viral pathogenesis. The gut microbiome has been shown to influence the …

Encouraging Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake: A Healthcare Improvement Project, Lauren E. Woll

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: Human papillomaviruses are the causative agents of >95% of cervical cancers, most oropharyngeal and anogenital cancers, yet the vaccination status of the population remains critically low despite Gardasil9 offering robust protection against HPV-related disease.

Methods: This quality improvement project utilized a descriptive, observational design to assess the effect of the HPV Encouragement Bundle, a two-step intervention to improve HPV vaccine uptake. Quantitative data was collected via retrospective chart review to assess the effect of the intervention on first-dose administration of Gardasil9 (series initiation), as well as overall Gardasil9 vaccine uptake.

Results: Following implementation, Gardasil9 first dose uptake increased …

Community Centred Co-Design Methodology For Designing And Implementing Socio-Behavioural Interventions To Counter Covid-19 Related Misinformation Among Marginalized Population Living In The Squatter Settlements Of Karachi, Pakistan: A Methodology Paper, Rubina Qasim, Waqas Ahmed Farooqui, Atiya Rahman, Rukhsana Haroon, Madiha Saleem, Muhammad Rafique, Fiza Noor, Afifa Ghani, Muhammad Yaqoob, Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai

Community Health Sciences

Background: Misinformation regarding COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination is damaging COVID-19 vaccine trust and acceptance in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC). Identification of misinformation and designing locally acceptable solutions are needed to improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. This study aimed to utilize community-led co-design methodology to evaluate misinformation regarding COVID-19 and develop contextual interventions to address misinformation in a marginalized peri urban slum communities of Landhi town Karachi, Pakistan.
Methods: This study was conducted between January and December 2021, in marginalized peri-urban slum dwellers of Muslimabad Colony, Landhi Town Karachi, Pakistan. We used a community-centred co-design methodology embedded within mixed study design …

Current Oral Hygiene And Recreational Behavioral Trends In Hiv Disease, Donald E. Mercante, Emily Guarisco, Elizabeth A. Lilly, Arni Rao, Kelly Treas, Clifford J. Beall, Zach Thompson, Ann L. Griffen, Eugene J. Leys, Jose A. Vazquez, Michael E. Hagensee, Paul L. Fidel

School of Dentistry Faculty Publications

Objective: HIV disease is evolving with more HIV+ persons experiencing a high quality of life with well-controlled viremia. We recently enrolled a large cohort of HIV+ and clinically relevant HIV− persons for oral microbiome analyses that included a questionnaire related to oral hygiene and recreational behaviors. Here, the questionnaire responses were analyzed for behavioral trends within the cohort, together with trends over time by comparison to a previous geographically centered HIV+ cohort. Methods: Data were collected by questionnaire at baseline visits as cross-sectional assessments. Multivariable analyses were conducted for associations of HIV status as well as age, race, and sex, …

Pandemic Response Officers: Integration Between Medical, Public Health, And Higher Education Systems To Expedite Prevention And Response., Anne C Jones, Genevive R Meredith, Donna Leong, Sabine Jamal, Rachel Buckwalter, John D Clarke, Marin Clarkberg, Allan Bishop, Frank Cantone, Claire Espey, Frank Kruppa, Mary George Opperman, Gary A Koretzky

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

CONTEXT: Research and policy studies alike have enumerated population and community health benefits of system integration between medical, public health, and social entities. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the necessity of a well-trained and adequately staffed public health and medical workforce in order to process SARS-CoV-2 cases and prevent subsequent transmission. Higher education systems, in particular, represented defined populations of exposure and transmission. Opportunities existed for collaboration and task sharing between institutions of higher education and local public health departments to limit spread and impacts.

PROGRAM: This article describes the Pandemic Response Officer (PRO) program at Cornell University, …

Low-Incidence Special Education Teachers Lived Experience Teaching During Covid-19, Christina Samone Hatcher

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

This study's purpose is to identify how the shift has impacted low-incidence special education teachers to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is minimal research regarding the lived experiences of how low-incidence special education teachers teach remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study will consist of evaluating how prepared low-incidence special education teachers felt they were for the demands of remote learning, how they mitigated the demands, what resources and support were received that were helpful, as well as what resources and support low-incidence special education teachers feel they still need to continue to teach remotely, and how their …

On The Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine, Forest W. Arnold

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Amrit Kahlon, Ravina Ramnani, Kartik Rajpal, Yusra Irshad, Sudeep Chapagain, Arushee Bhatnagar, Steven B Lippmann

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

No abstract provided.

Timing Of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation And Death In Critically Ill Adults With Covid-19: A Multicenter Cohort Study., Adam Green, Jean-Sebastien Rachoin, Christa Schorr, Phil Dellinger, Jonathan D Casey, Isabel Park, Shruti Gupta, Rebecca M Baron, Shahzad Shaefi, Krystal Hunter, David E Leaf

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Departmental Research

PURPOSE: To investigate if the timing of initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for critically ill patients with COVID-19 is associated with mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data for this study were derived from a multicenter cohort study of critically ill adults with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs at 68 hospitals across the US from March 1 to July 1, 2020. We examined the association between early (ICU days 1-2) versus late (ICU days 3-7) initiation of IMV and time-to-death. Patients were followed until the first of hospital discharge, death, or 90 days. We adjusted for confounding using a multivariable Cox …

Hiv/Aids-Related Knowledge, Attitude And Sexual Behaviours Among Undergraduate Students At The Dar Es Salaam University College Of Education, Tanzania, Stephen O. Maluka

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is among the major public health problems facing the world today. While studies have assessed HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among college students, evidence shows that HIV prevalence among the youth has been growing at an alarming rate in the past five years. Thus, there is need for more studies to assess young people’s knowledge, attitudes and behaviours on HIV/AIDS in higher learning institutions. This study aimed to assess HIV-related knowledge, sexual attitudes and behaviours, as well as the use of HIV prevention services among students at the Dar es Salaam College of Education (DUCE), in …

Molecular Simulation Of B-Cell Epitope Mapping From Nipah Virus Attachment Protein To Construct Peptide-Based Vaccine Candidate: A Reverse Vaccinology Approach, Viol Dhea Kharisma, Farida Aryani Dian, Pavel Burkov, Pavel Scherbakov, Marina Derkho, Ekaterina Sepiashvili, Teguh Hari Sucipto, Arli Aditya Parikesit, Ahmad Affan Ali Murtadlo, Vikash Jakhmola, Rahadian Zainul

Makara Journal of Science

There are no specific drugs or vaccines for Nipah virus (NiV), which is a new Paramyxovirus that infects swine and humans. This study was conducted to investigate B-cell epitope mapping of the NiV attachment glycoprotein and to construct peptide-based vaccine candidates using the reverse vaccinology approach. To generate the linear B-cell epitope, the NiV isolates were extractad from GenBank, NCBI, using the IEDB web server; peptide modeling was conducted using PEP-FOLD3; docking was conducted using PatchDock and FireDock; and in silico cloning was designed using SnapGene. Various peptides were successfully identified from the NiV attachment glycoprotein based on B-cell epitope …

Researching Covid To Enhance Recovery (Recover) Adult Study Protocol: Rationale, Objectives, And Design, Leora I. Horwitz, Tanayott Thaweethai, Shari B. Brosnahan, Mine S. Cicek, Megan L. Fitzgerald, Jason D. Goldman, Rachel Hess, S. L. Hodder, Vanessa L. Jacoby, Michael R. Jordan, Jerry A. Krishnan, Adeyinka O. Laiyemo, Torri D. Metz, Lauren Nichols, Rachel E. Patzer, Anisha Sekar, Nora G. Singer, Lauren E. Stiles, Barbara S. Taylor, Shifa Ahmed, Heather A. Algren, Khamal Anglin, Lisa Aponte-Soto, Hassan Ashktorab, Ingrid V. Bassett, Brahmchetna Bedi, Nahid Bhadelia

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Importance SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in ongoing, relapsing, or new symptoms or other health effects after the acute phase of infection; termed post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or long COVID. The characteristics, prevalence, trajectory and mechanisms of PASC are ill-defined. The objectives of the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Multi-site Observational Study of PASC in Adults (RECOVER-Adult) are to: (1) characterize PASC prevalence; (2) characterize the symptoms, organ dysfunction, natural history, and distinct phenotypes of PASC; (3) identify demographic, social and clinical risk factors for PASC onset and recovery; and (4) define the biological mechanisms underlying PASC pathogenesis. …

The Effectiveness Of Disinfection Protocols In Medical School Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Labs., Harrison A. Patrizio, Riley Phyu, Thomas Boyle, Todd Schachter

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

CONTEXT: In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare-associated infections have taken center stage. Healthcare has adjusted workflows to accommodate for more robust disinfecting regiments to help protect the community. This has resulted in the need for medical institutions to reevaluate the current disinfection protocols down to the student level. The osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) laboratory provides an optimal avenue for assessing the effectiveness of medical students' ability to clean examination tables. With OMM laboratories having a high level of interaction, adequate disinfection is important for the health and safety of students and teaching faculties.

OBJECTIVES: This study will evaluate the …

An Aerobic Exercise Intervention To Improve Metabolic Health Among People Living With Hiv With At-Risk Alcohol Use: The Alive-Ex Research Study Protocol, Liz Simon, Stefany D. Primeaux, Danielle E. Levitt, Brianna Bourgeois, Neil M. Johannsen, Adrianna Peters, Jameel Ahmed, Richard H. Marshall, Alexandra H. Fairchild, Tekeda F. Ferguson, Patricia E. Molina

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV (PLWH) has improved life expectancy and increased risk of age-associated cardiometabolic comorbidities. At-risk alcohol use is more frequent among PLWH and increases the risk of health challenges. PLWH with at-risk alcohol use are more likely to meet criteria for prediabetes/diabetes and this is associated with impaired whole-body glucose-insulin dynamics. Methods: The Alcohol & Metabolic Comorbidities in PLWH: Evidence Driven Interventions Study (ALIVE-Ex Study, NCT03299205) is a longitudinal, prospective, interventional study to determine the effects of an aerobic exercise protocol on improving dysglycemia among PLWH with at-risk alcohol use. The intervention …

Implementation Of A Virtual Interprofessional Icu Learning Collaborative: Successes, Challenges, And Initial Reactions From The Structured Team- Based Optimal Patient-Centered Care For Virus Covid-19 Collaborators, Simon Zec, Nika Zorko Garbajs, Yue Dong, Ognjen Gajic, Christina Kordik, Lori Harmon, Marija Bogojevic, Romil Singh, Yuqiang Sun, Vikas Bansal, Linh Vu, Kelly Cawcutt, John M. Litell, Sarah Redmond, Elly Fitzpatrick, Kirstin J. Kooda, Michelle Biehl, Neha S. Dangayach, Viren Kaul, June M. Chae, Aaron Leppin, Mathew Siuba, Rahul Kashyap, Allan J. Walkey, Alexander S. Niven

Jefferson Hospital Staff Papers and Presentations

IMPORTANCE: Initial Society of Critical Care Medicine Discovery Viral Infection and Respiratory illness Universal Study (VIRUS) Registry analysis suggested that improvements in critical care processes offered the greatest modifiable opportunity to improve critically ill COVID-19 patient outcomes. OBJECTIVES: The Structured Team-based Optimal Patient-Centered Care for Virus COVID-19 ICU Collaborative was created to identify and speed implementation of best evidence based COVID-19 practices. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This 6-month project included volunteer interprofessional teams from VIRUS Registry sites, who received online training on the Checklist for Early Recognition and Treatment of Acute Illness and iNjury approach, a structured and systematic method …

Metals And Metal Complexes In Diseases With A Focus On Covid-19: Facts And Opinions, Agnieszka Ścibior, Manuel Aureliano, Alvin A. Holder, Juan Llopis

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

In the present Special Issue on “Metals and Metal Complexes in Diseases with a Focus on COVID-19: Facts and Opinions”, an attempt has been made to include reports updating our knowledge of elements considered to be potential candidates for therapeutic applications and certain metal-containing species, which are extensively being examined towards their potential biomedical use due to their specific physicochemical properties. The Special Issue compiles data on the role of metals in COVID-19 and focuses on other illnesses and biological processes that affect metal metabolism. It consists of eight manuscripts, including five review articles and three original research papers (Figure …

Impact Of Covid-19 On Latinx And Black Communities, Carolina Zuluaga

Dissertations

This critical literature review project explored the impact of COVID-19 on Latinx and Black communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of September 28, 2022, around 16% of COVID-19 cases in the United States were among Latinx people, and 14% of cases were among Black people (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Since COVID-19 began, clinicians have become more conscious of the effects of health disparities within racial and ethnic minorities, which has warranted increased advocacy by educating health and mental health providers and creating and providing resources to these communities and clinicians. The review …

The Interaction Between Host G3bp And Viral Nucleocapsid Protein Regulates Sars-Cov-2 Replication, Zemin Yang

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

G3BP1/2 are RNA-binding proteins that promote condensation to form stress granules in response to various cellular stresses, including viral infection. G3BP1/2 are prominent interactors of the nucleocapsid (N) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, the functional consequences of the G3BP-N interaction in the context of viral infection have remained unclear. Here we used structural and biochemical analyses to define the residues required for G3BP1-N interaction, followed by structure-guided mutagenesis of G3BP1 and N to selectively disrupt their interaction. We found that mutation of N-F17 led to selective loss of interaction with G3BP1 and consequent failure of …

Whole Genome Sequencing Of West Nile Viruses From Animals Submitted To The Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Cvmdl), Usa, 2021, Allison Appel

Honors Scholar Theses

West Nile Virus (WNV) causes a zoonotic disease. WNV was first isolated in Uganda in 1937 and has since become an endemic in countries such as North, South, and Central America [1]. According to the Connecticut Department of Public Health, an average of 8 cases of WNV in humans have been reported since the year 2000 [2]. In this study, we focused on the genetic characterization of the viral genomic RNA of WNVs circulating in birds and mammals in the New England region. Following that aim, the complete genome sequence of two WNVs was obtained via next-generation sequencing. One sample …

Positive Changes In Safety Perception Among Blacks With Hiv And Comorbidities: Assessment Of Social Determinants Of Health During Covid‑19, Marc Fleming, Deidra Lee, Chukwuezugo Oranu, Jon C. Schommer, Jennifer M. Cocohoba, Jennifer Cooper, Crystal K. Hodge, Saharnaz Nedjat, Kathleen Borgmann

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on social determinants of health (SDOH) among Blacks with HIV and a comorbid diagnosis of hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

This was a longitudinal survey study. The inclusion criteria were adults ≥ 18 years and the presence of hypertension and/or diabetes, along with a positive HIV diagnosis. This study enrolled patients in the HIV clinics and chain specialty pharmacies in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area. A survey of ten questions examining SDOH was conducted before, during, and after the lockdown. A proportional odds mixed effects …

Gp38 As A Vaccine Target For Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Gabrielle Scher, Dennis A. Bente, Megan C. Mears, Maria N.B. Cajimat, Matthias J. Schnell

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Faculty Papers

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) is a tick-borne virus that causes severe hemorrhagic disease in humans. There is a great need for effective vaccines and therapeutics against CCHFV for humans, as none are currently internationally approved. Recently, a monoclonal antibody against the GP38 glycoprotein protected mice against lethal CCHFV challenge. To show that GP38 is required and sufficient for protection against CCHFV, we used three inactivated rhabdoviral-based CCHFV-M vaccines, with or without GP38 in the presence or absence of the other CCHFV glycoproteins. All three vaccines elicited strong antibody responses against the respective CCHFV glycoproteins. However, only vaccines containing GP38 …

Development Of An Immunoblot Assay To Detect Antibodies To Sars-Cov-2 Spike And Nucleocapsid Antigens In Serum Of Covid-19 Patients, Christian Hollis

Honors Theses

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created one of the most world-halting events in recent world history. Its effects have reached every corner of the globe and manifested problems within each country’s healthcare and social systems. During the pandemic, many researchers have searched to develop a more robust understanding of the novel virus’s genetic and structural material. In year three since the emergence of COVID-19, these researchers hope to implement new advancements in testing and detection for the presence of the virus.

This thesis intends to produce evidence for the reliability of COVID-19 antibody tests using immunoblot assay detection. These tests …