Transcription factors ERα and Sox2 have differing multiphasic DNA- and RNA-binding mechanisms.

Many transcription factors (TFs) have been shown to bind RNA, leading to open questions regarding the mechanism(s) of this RNA binding and its role in regulating TF activities. Here, we use biophysical assays to interrogate the , , and for DNA and RNA binding of two model human TFs, ERα and Sox2. Unexpectedly, we found that both proteins exhibit multiphasic nucleic acid-binding kinetics.

Transcription factors ERα and Sox2 have differing multiphasic DNA and RNA binding mechanisms.

Many transcription factors (TFs) have been shown to bind RNA, leading to open questions regarding the mechanism(s) of this RNA binding and its role in regulating TF activities. Here we use biophysical assays to interrogate the , and for DNA and RNA binding of two model human transcription factors, ERα and Sox2. Unexpectedly, we found that both proteins exhibited multiphasic nucleic acid binding kinetics.

Human mRNA in saliva can correctly identify individuals harboring acute infection.

There are a variety of clinical and laboratory criteria available to clinicians in controlled healthcare settings to help them identify whether an infectious disease is present. However, in situations such as a new epidemic caused by an unknown infectious agent, in health screening contexts performed within communities and outside of healthcare facilities or in battlefield or potential biowarfare situations, this gets more difficult. Pathogen-agnostic methods for rapid screening and triage of large numbers of people for infection status are needed, in particular methods that might work on an easily accessible biospecimen like saliva.

Serpentovirus (Nidovirus) and Orthoreovirus Coinfection in Captive Veiled Chameleons () with Respiratory Disease.

Serpentoviruses are an emerging group of nidoviruses known to cause respiratory disease in snakes and have been associated with disease in other non-avian reptile species (lizards and turtles). This study describes multiple episodes of respiratory disease-associated mortalities in a collection of juvenile veiled chameleons (). Histopathologic lesions included rhinitis and interstitial pneumonia with epithelial proliferation and abundant mucus.

dsRNA-Seq: Identification of Viral Infection by Purifying and Sequencing dsRNA.

RNA viruses are a major source of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases around the world. We developed a method to identify RNA viruses that is based on the fact that RNA viruses produce double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) while replicating. Purifying and sequencing dsRNA from the total RNA isolated from infected tissue allowed us to recover dsRNA virus sequences and replicated sequences from single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses.