Integrated Real-Time CMOS Luminescence Sensing and Impedance Spectroscopy in Droplet Microfluidics.

High-throughput biosensor screening and optimization are critical for health and environmental monitoring applications to ensure rapid and accurate detection of biological and chemical targets. Traditional biosensor design and optimization methods involve labor-intensive processes, such as manual pipetting of large sample volumes, making them low throughput and inefficient for large-scale library screenings under various environmental and chemical conditions. We address these challenges by introducing a modular droplet microfluidic system embedded with custom CMOS integrated circuits (ICs) for impedance spectroscopy and bioluminescence detection.

Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Exacerbates Arthritis in a Mouse Model via Toll-like Receptor 9.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is known to be shed upon reactivation of latent EBV. Based on our previous findings linking Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) to an EBV DNA-driven surge in IL-17A production, we aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of TLR9 inhibition in EBV DNA-exacerbated arthritis in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. C57BL/6J mice were administered either collagen, EBV DNA + collagen, EBV DNA + collagen + TLR9 inhibitor, or only the TLR9 inhibitor.

The Effects of Endosomal Toll-like Receptor Inhibitors in an EBV DNA-Exacerbated Inflammatory Bowel Disease Mouse Model.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a family member, is associated with an increased risk of autoimmune disease development in the host. We previously demonstrated that EBV DNA elevates levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A and that inhibiting Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3, 7, or 9 reduces its levels. Moreover, this DNA exacerbated colitis in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).