The average long-term impact of Darwinian evolution on Earth's habitability remains extremely uncertain. Recent attempts to reconcile this uncertainty by "Darwinizing" nonreplicating biogeochemical processes subject to persistence-based selection conform with the historicity of the geochemical record but lack mechanistic clarity. Here, we present a theoretical framework showing how: 1) A biogeochemical "cycle-biota-variant" (CBV) can be defined non-arbitrarily as one biologically facilitated pathway for net recycling of an essential element, plus the genotypes driving the relevant interconversion reactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe increase in emerging drug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections is a global concern. In addition, there is growing recognition that compromising the microbiota through the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can impact long term patient outcomes. Therefore, there is the need to develop new bactericidal strategies to combat Gram-negative infections that would address these specific issues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSARS coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1) causes a respiratory infection that can lead to acute respiratory distress characterized by inflammation and high levels of cytokines in the lung tissue. In this study we constructed a herpes simplex virus 1 replication-defective mutant vector expressing SARS-CoV-1 spike protein as a potential vaccine vector and to probe the effects of spike protein on host cells. The spike protein expressed from this vector is functional in that it localizes to the surface of infected cells and induces fusion of ACE2-expressing cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) is a procedure used for nonhealing wounds. In NPWT, a special sealed dressing of large cell foam (>400 µm) or gauze is connected to a pump. Most commonly, negative pressures between -10 and -125 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) are used.
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