Microbiology Commons^™

Electric Potential Energy Optimized 3d Radial Sampling Trajectories For Mri, Christopher Huynh, Datta Singh Goolaub, Christopher K Macgowan

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

A novel method for creating “golden” 3D center-out radial MRI sampling trajectories was developed and analyzed. This method, called ELECTRO (ELECTRic potential energy Optimized), uses repulsive forces to minimize electric potential energy. An objective function , the electric potential energies of all subsets of consecutive readouts in a 3D radial trajectory, and its reduced form were minimized using a multi-stage optimization strategy. A metric called normalized mean nearest neighbor angular distance (NMNA) was proposed for describing distributions of points on a sphere. ELECTRO and other relevant golden trajectories were compared in silico using NMNA and point spread function analysis. Consecutive …

Sall4 And Gata4 Induce Cardiac Fibroblast Transition Towards A Partially Multipotent State With Cardiogenic Potential, Hong Gao, Saliha Pathan, Beverly R E A Dixon, Aarthi Pugazenthi, Megumi Mathison, Tamer M A Mohamed, Todd K Rosengart, Jianchang Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cardiac cellular fate transition holds remarkable promise for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. We report that overexpressing two transcription factors, Sall4 and Gata4, which play distinct and overlapping roles in both pluripotent stem cell reprogramming and embryonic heart development, induces a fraction of stem-like cells in rodent cardiac fibroblasts that exhibit unlimited ex vivo expandability with clonogenicity. Transcriptomic and phenotypic analyses reveal that around 32 ± 6.4% of the expanding cells express Nkx2.5, while 13 ± 3.6% express Oct4. Activated signaling pathways like PI3K/Akt, Hippo, Wnt, and multiple epigenetic modification enzymes are also detected. Under suitable conditions, these cells …

Water Quality Of Silver Creek, A Buried Urban Stream, Nick Bultje, Valerie Krause, Rebecca Nulty

Student Papers and Reports

There are many sources of pollution that can affect a watershed. These pollutants can impact the water's pH, temperature, conductivity, and dissolved solids. Escherichia coli is a specific pollutant that comes from waste products of humans and animals. High levels of E. coli cause serious health problems. This study examines Silver Creek, a tributary within the Plaster Creek watershed. Silver Creek runs mostly underground and has storm drainage systems that flow into the creek. The goal was to explore the effects of the underground section of Silver Creek on water quality and E. coli levels. The water quality and levels …

Limits Of Longwood's Electron Microscope: A Study In Biological Imaging, Rachel Danzitz, Bjoern Ch. Ludwar

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

This study evaluates the imaging capabilities and limitations of the Hitachi TM4000II Plus Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and its Scanning Transmission adapter in biological imaging. A variety of specimens, including protozoans (e.g., Volvox and nematodes), bacteria (e.g., Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli), tissue samples, and blood, were analyzed. While the SEM effectively imaged protozoans and bacteria, its ability to visualize viruses was deemed impractical. Despite claims of magnification up to 100,000x, clarity significantly decreased beyond 5,000x. The transmission adapter proved functional but challenging to operate consistently. The study highlights the microscope's limitations in producing high-clarity, …

Ophidiomyces Ophidiicola And Texas Snakes: A Field To Bench Study Of Ophidiomycosis, Kenlynn L. Volz

Biology Theses

Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo), the primary cause of Ophidiomycosis, is a fungal pathogen recently detected in Texas snakes. Prior to this study, there were major knowledge gaps regarding Oo growth, spread, and suitable environmental conditions. This study filled those gaps using a field to bench approach involving sampling snakes across Texas, in vitro fungal growth, and ecological niche modeling. 103 snakes were sampled across Texas in 2023 and 2024 and six cases of Oo infection were detected. Results of the growth experiment suggest that Oo prefers more stable temperatures and high humidity to a point and that there is a …

The Absence Of Cxcl10 Activity Does Not Affect The Capability Of Cd8+ T Cells To Migrate And Eliminate The Tissue Cysts Of Toxoplasma Gondii From The Brains Of Chronically Infected Mice, Rajesh Mani, Yasuhiro Suzuki

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Toxoplasma gondii forms tissue cysts in neurons and astrocytes in the brain to establish chronic infection, and astrocytes express the CXCL10 chemokine in chronically infected mice. Since chemokines mediate the migration of T cells to attack their targets, and since CXCL10 plays key roles in T cell-mediated control of the proliferation of tachyzoites (the acute stage form) of T. gondii during the acute stage of infection, we examined whether CXCL10 is involved in recruiting anti-cyst CD8+ cytotoxic T cells to eliminate the cysts in their brains. We employed adoptive transfer of CD8+ immune T cells to infected, T cell-deficient SCID …

Corrigendum: Sars-Cov-2 Seroprevalence In Pregnant Women In Kilifi, Kenya From March 2020 To March 2022, Angela Koech, Geoffrey Omuse, Joseph Mutunga, Moses Mukhanya, Onesmus Wanje, Grace Mwashigadi, Geoffrey Katana, Rachel Craik, Alex Mugo, Marleen Temmerman

Pathology, East Africa

Background: Seroprevalence studies are an alternative approach to estimating the extent of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the evolution of the pandemic in different geographical settings. We aimed to determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence from March 2020 to March 2022 in a rural and urban setting in Kilifi County, Kenya.

Methods: We obtained representative random samples of stored serum from a pregnancy cohort study for the period March 2020 to March 2022 and tested for antibodies against the spike protein using a qualitative SARS-CoV-2 ELISA kit (Wantai, total antibodies). All positive samples were retested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid antibodies (Euroimmun, ELISA kits, NCP, …

The Dengue Vaccine Initiative: A Bibliometric Analysis Of Research Publications, Festus Mulakoli, Abednego Ongeso, Horatius Musembi

School of Nursing & Midwifery, East Africa

Dengue fever has become a significant public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions and affects millions of people annually. Approximately 390 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with dengue every year, of which 96 million develop dengue fever. Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in dengue cases, primarily in areas with tropical and subtropical climates. Vaccines have been developed to prevent or reduce the severity of the disease. This study reviews the number of publications on dengue vaccines and related topics worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the research output and create a narrative on global vaccine …

Influenza C Virus In Us Children With Acute Respiratory Infection 2016–2019, Bethany K Sederdahl, Geoffrey A Weinberg, Angela P Campbell, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Jennifer E Schuster, Joana Y Lively, Samantha M Olson, Julie A Boom, Pedro A Piedra, Natasha B Halasa, Laura Stewart, Peter G Szilagyi, G K Balasubramani, Theresa Sax, Judith M Martin, Robert W Hickey, Marian G Michaels, John V Williams, New Vaccine Surveillance Network

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Influenza C virus (ICV) is an orthomyxovirus related to influenza A and B, yet due to few commercial assays, epidemiologic studies may underestimate incidence of ICV infection and disease. We describe the epidemiology and characteristics of ICV within the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN), a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-led network that conducts population-based surveillance for pediatric acute respiratory illness (ARI). Nasal or/combined throat swabs were collected from emergency department (ED) or inpatient ARI cases, or healthy controls, between 12/05/2016-10/31/2019 and tested by molecular assays for ICV and other respiratory viruses. Parent surveys and chart review were used …

Linkage Between Fuz And Gpr161 Genes Regulates Sonic Hedgehog Signaling During Mouse Neural Tube Development, Sung-Eun Kim, Hyun-Yi Kim, Bogdan J Wlodarczyk, Richard H Finnell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling regulates embryonic morphogenesis utilizing the primary cilium, the cell's antenna, which acts as a signaling hub. Fuz, an effector of planar cell polarity signaling, regulates Shh signaling by facilitating cilia formation, and the G protein-coupled receptor 161 (Gpr161) is a negative regulator of Shh signaling. The range of phenotypic malformations observed in mice bearing mutations in either of the genes encoding these proteins is similar; however, their functional relationship has not been previously explored. This study identified the genetic and biochemical linkage between Fuz and Gpr161 in mouse neural tube development. Fuz was found to be …

Perineuronal Nets’ Role In Metabolism, Nan Zhang, Beite Song, Peng Bai, Li Du, Lulu Chen, Yong Xu, Tianshu Zeng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Perineuronal nets (PNNs), specialized extracellular matrix (ECM) structures that envelop neurons, have recently been recognized as key players in the regulation of metabolism. This review explores the growing body of knowledge concerning PNNs and their role in metabolic control, drawing insights from recent research and relevant studies. The pivotal role of PNNs in the context of energy balance and whole body blood glucose is examined. This review also highlights novel findings, including the effects of astroglia, microglia, sex and gonadal hormones, nutritional regulation, circadian rhythms, and age on PNNs dynamics. These findings illuminate the complex and multifaceted role of PNNs …

Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness Against Severe Acute Gastroenteritis: 2009-2022, Alpha Oumar Diallo, Mary E Wikswo, Iddrisu Sulemana, Leila C Sahni, Julie A Boom, Sasirekha Ramani, Rangaraj Selvarangan, Mary E Moffatt, Christopher J Harrison, Natasha Halasa, James Chappell, Laura Stewart, Mary Allen Staat, Elizabeth Schlaudecker, Christina Quigley, Eileen J Klein, Janet A Englund, Danielle M Zerr, Geoffrey A Weinberg, Peter G Szilagyi, Christina Albertin, Samantha H Johnston, John V Williams, Marian G Michaels, Robert W Hickey, Aaron T Curns, Michelle Honeywood, Slavica Mijatovic-Rustempasic, Mathew D Esona, Michael D Bowen, Umesh D Parashar, Rashi Gautam, Sara A Mirza, Jacqueline E Tate

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Rotavirus was the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis among US children until vaccine introduction in 2006, after which, substantial declines in severe rotavirus disease occurred. We evaluated rotavirus vaccine effectiveness (VE) over 13 years (2009-2022).

Methods: We analyzed data from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network using a test-negative case-control design to estimate rotavirus VE against laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infections among children seeking care for acute gastroenteritis (≥3 diarrhea or ≥1 vomiting episodes within 24 hours) in the emergency department (ED) or hospital. Case-patients and control-patients were children whose stool specimens tested rotavirus positive or negative, respectively, by enzyme immunoassay or …

Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern And Esbl Prevalence In Nosocomial Escherichia Coli From Urinary Tract Infection In Kpk, Peshawar, Muhammad Fawad, Noha E Abdel-Razik, Zain Alhindi, Muhammad Usman Amin, Eman Adnan Abu-Seer, Mashael S.Alfaifi, Murad Ali, Farkad Bantun, Sheraz Dawar, Suleman Khan, Saad Alghamdi

Journal of Bioresource Management

The study aimed to evaluate antibiotic susceptibility patterns and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase prevalence in Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infections. Total fifty (50) samples of E. coli were obtained from urinary tract infection specimens in Hayatabad Medical Complex and private clinics in Peshawar, Pakistan. The present study obtained 50 E. coli isolates from 100 UTI specimens. The plates were incubated at 35 to 37°C for 24 to 48 hours. Different biochemical tests were carried out to identify the isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and ESBL screening were done per the CLSI (2023) guidelines. The disc diffusion method was used to determine …

Antibacterial Activities And Chemical Composition Of Essential Oils From Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis), Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon Citratus), And Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia) Peels, Olumide Omoboye, Toyosi Sotola, Olaoye Balogun, Ololade Bamigbade, Olusola Oluwole, Adebowale Odeyemi, Anthonia Oluduro

Makara Journal of Science

This study investigated the chemical composition and antibacterial activities of lime Citrus aurantifolia (Cc) and lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus (Ca) essential oils (EOs). Standard methods were used to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine their composition. Each EO and their combination showed promising results in treating test bacterial infections. Cc EO showed the largest inhibition zone diameter (43 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia marcescens, and Ca EO showed the largest (30 mm) and smallest (12 mm) inhibition zone diameters against Bacillus stearothermophilus and S. marcescens …

Sequencing-Based Detection Of Avian Influenza A(H5n1) Virus In Wastewater In Ten Cities, Michael J Tisza, Blake M Hanson, Justin R Clark, Li Wang, Katelyn Payne, Matthew C Ross, Kristina D Mena, Anna Gitter, Sara J Javornik Cregeen, Juwan Cormier, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Austen Terwilliger, John Balliew, Fuqing Wu, Janelle Rios, Jennifer Deegan, Pedro A Piedra, Joseph F Petrosino, Eric Boerwinkle, Anthony W Maresso

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Microplastic Biofilms On An Anthropogenically Impacted Suburban Lake, Paris M. Velasquez

Masters Theses

Plastics have been observed in every location on the planet, and their prevalence in the environment is due in part to their strong resistance to degradation. Inland lakes are susceptible to plastic pollution by highway runoff, which contains plastic fragments of brake pads, car tires, litter, and road paint. These plastics eventually enter freshwater environments and degrade into microplastics (

The Environment Of Glaciovolcanic Caves And Their Value As Planetary Analogues, Christian Stenner, Lee J. Florea, Linda Sobolewski, Andreas Pflitsch, Morgan Cable, Roberto Anitori, Richard E. Davis, Kathleen Graham, Glyn Williams-Jones

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Exploring Biosignatures And Biogeochemical Processes In Lanzarote Lava Tubes: Implications For Martian Analog Research, Vera Palma, Ana Z. Miller, Francesco Sauro, Bogdan P. Onac, José M. De La Rosa, Sara Gutiérrez-Patricio, Beatriz Cubero, José A. Gonzalez-Perez, Jesus Martínez-Frías, A Teresa Caldeira

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

The Ecology Of Chemosynthesis In Submerged Coastal Caves, Robert Scharping, Michael Casso, Isabel Schaal, Paul Henderson, James Garey, Matthew Charette, John Pohlman, Stefan Sievert

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Microbiome Diversity In Acidic Environments - The Case Of The Șesei Valley Tailings Pond, Iulia Lupan

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.