Dynamic calcium-mediated stress response and recovery signatures in the fungal pathogen, .

Intracellular calcium signaling plays an important role in the resistance and adaptation to stresses encountered by fungal pathogens within the host. This study reports the optimization of the GCaMP fluorescent calcium reporter for live-cell imaging of dynamic calcium responses in single cells of the pathogen, , for the first time. Exposure to membrane, osmotic or oxidative stress generated both specific changes in single cell intracellular calcium spiking and longer calcium transients across the population.

Development of abnormalities at the neuromuscular junction in the SOD1-G93A mouse model of ALS: dysfunction then disruption of postsynaptic structure precede overt motor symptoms.

Introduction: The ultimate deficit in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is neuromuscular junction (NMJ) loss, producing permanent paralysis, ultimately in respiratory muscles. However, understanding the functional and structural deficits at NMJs prior to this loss is crucial for therapeutic strategy design. Should early interventions focus on reversing denervation, or supporting largely intact NMJs that are functionally impaired? We therefore determined when functional and structural deficits appeared in diaphragmatic NMJs relative to the onset of hindlimb tremor (the first overt motor symptoms) in the SOD1-G93A mouse model of ALS.

Positive feedback regulation of expression robustly shapes a steep Wnt gradient in heart development, together with sFRP1 and heparan sulfate.

Secreted molecules called morphogens govern tissue patterning in a concentration-dependent manner. However, it is still unclear how reproducible patterning can be achieved with diffusing molecules, especially when that patterning concerns differentiation of thin tissues. Wnt is a morphogen that organizes cardiac development.

A mathematical modelling portrait of Wnt signalling in early vertebrate embryogenesis.

There are two phases of Wnt signalling in early vertebrate embryogenesis: very early, maternal Wnt signalling promotes dorsal development, and slightly later, zygotic Wnt signalling promotes ventral and lateral mesoderm induction. However, recent molecular biology analysis has revealed more complexity among the direct Wnt target genes, with at least five classes. Here in order to test the logic and the dynamics of a new Gene Regulatory Network model suggested by these discoveries we use mathematical modelling based on ordinary differential equations (ODEs).

Subregional statistical shape modelling identifies lesser trochanter size as a possible risk factor for radiographic hip osteoarthritis, a cross-sectional analysis from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study.

Objective: Statistical shape modelling (SSM) of hip dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans has identified relationships between hip shape and radiographic hip OA (rHOA). We aimed to further elucidate shape characteristics related to rHOA by focusing on subregions identified from whole-hip shape models.

Method: SSM was applied to hip DXAs obtained in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study.