Nanobody screening and machine learning guided identification of cross-variant anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing heavy-chain only antibodies.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to persist, demonstrating the risks posed by emerging infectious diseases to national security, public health, and the economy. Development of new vaccines and antibodies for emerging viral threats requires substantial resources and time, and traditional development platforms for vaccines and antibodies are often too slow to combat continuously evolving immunological escape variants, reducing their efficacy over time. Previously, we designed a next-generation synthetic humanized nanobody (Nb) phage display library and demonstrated that this library could be used to rapidly identify highly specific and potent neutralizing heavy chain-only antibodies (HCAbs) with prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy in vivo against the original SARS-CoV-2.

Combining computational modeling and experimental library screening to affinity-mature VEEV-neutralizing antibody F5.

Engineered monoclonal antibodies have proven to be highly effective therapeutics in recent viral outbreaks. However, despite technical advancements, an ability to rapidly adapt or increase antibody affinity and by extension, therapeutic efficacy, has yet to be fully realized. We endeavored to stand-up such a pipeline using molecular modeling combined with experimental library screening to increase the affinity of F5, a monoclonal antibody with potent neutralizing activity against Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus (VEEV), to recombinant VEEV (IAB) E1E2 antigen.

Serum, Cell-Free, HPV-Human DNA Junction Detection and HPV Typing for Predicting and Monitoring Cervical Cancer Recurrence.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by human papillomaviruses (HPVs). In most cases, HPV DNA is integrated into the human genome. We found that tumor-specific, HPV-human DNA junctions are detectable in serum cell-free DNA of a fraction of cervical cancer patients at the time of initial treatment and/or at six months following treatment.

Accidental Physical Trauma in Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs: A Scoping Review.

Background: Children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) may be at greater risk for accidental physical trauma. Interventions should be informed by the literature indicating incident characteristics and at-risk subpopulations.

Objective: To conduct a scoping review of accidental physical trauma in CYSHCN to characterize published literature and identify gaps.

Analysis of ductal carcinoma in situ by self-reported race reveals molecular differences related to outcome.

Background: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-obligate precursor to invasive breast cancer (IBC). Studies have indicated differences in DCIS outcome based on race or ethnicity, but molecular differences have not been investigated.

Methods: We examined the molecular profile of DCIS by self-reported race (SRR) and outcome groups in Black (n = 99) and White (n = 191) women in a large DCIS case-control cohort study with longitudinal follow up.

Structure and transcription of integrated HPV DNA in vulvar carcinomas.

HPV infections are associated with a fraction of vulvar cancers. Through hybridization capture and DNA sequencing, HPV DNA was detected in five of thirteen vulvar cancers. HPV16 DNA was integrated into human DNA in three of the five.

Cultivating a Meaningful Application of IMFs through Backward Laboratory Course Design.

This paper describes the development of a first- and second-year inquiry-based laboratory course focused on the development of a meaningful application of intermolecular forces (IMFs). Instead of broad expository coverage of topics, we used backward design: the techniques and concepts for the course were structured around what students are expected to be able to do at the end-individually isolate caffeine from a consumer product as a culminating lab practical, using IMFs to justify solvent choices and determining procedural details. We have found that instructors can select a challenging multilevel experiment that incorporates the application of IMFs in multiple ways and backward design the course so that students are able to complete this experiment individually and autonomously at the end of the semester.

Distinct evolutionary lineages of parasites infecting co-occurring sculpin and stickleback fishes in Alaska.

Sculpins (coastrange and slimy) and sticklebacks (ninespine and threespine) are widely distributed fishes cohabiting 2 south-central Alaskan lakes (Aleknagik and Iliamna), and all these species are parasitized by cryptic diphyllobothriidean cestodes in the genus . The goal of this investigation was to test for host-specific parasitic relationships between sculpins and sticklebacks based upon morphological traits (segment counts) and sequence variation across the NADH1 gene. A total of 446 plerocercoids was examined.

Associations Between Sociodemographic Variables, Social Determinants of Health, and Diabetes: Findings From a Congregational Health Needs Assessment.

Purpose: To examine associations between sociodemographic variables, social determinants of health (SDOHs) and diabetes using health needs assessment data.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Faith-based communities in the Mid-South U.

Non-destructive environmental safety assessment of threatened and endangered plants in weed biological control.

Assessing the risk of nontarget attack (NTA) for federally listed threatened and endangered (T&E) plant species confamilial to invasive plants targeted for classical biological control, is one of the most important objectives of pre-release environmental safety assessments in the United States. However, evaluating potential NTA on T&E species is often complicated by restrictive agency requirements for obtaining propagules, or the ability to propagate plants and rear agents to the appropriate phenostages synchronously for testing, or both. Here, we assessed whether plant cues associated with a host recognition can be used for testing the attractiveness of four T&E and one rare single population plant species non-destructively for a candidate biocontrol agent.

Identification of Glandular (Acinar)/Tubule Formation in Invasive Carcinoma of the Breast: A Study to Determine Concordance Using the World Health Organization Definition.

Context.—: The Nottingham Grading System (NGS) developed by Elston and Ellis is used to grade invasive breast cancer (IBC). Glandular (acinar)/tubule formation is a component of NGS.

Therapeutic efficacy of a potent anti-Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus antibody is contingent on Fc effector function.

The development of specific, safe, and potent monoclonal antibodies (Abs) has led to novel therapeutic options for infectious disease. In addition to preventing viral infection through neutralization, Abs can clear infected cells and induce immunomodulatory functions through engagement of their crystallizable fragment (Fc) with complement proteins and Fc receptors on immune cells. Little is known about the role of Fc effector functions of neutralizing Abs in the context of encephalitic alphavirus infection.

Neonatal adiposity is associated with microRNAs in adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles in maternal and cord blood, a discovery analysis.

Background: Maternal body size, nutrition, and hyperglycemia contribute to neonatal body size and composition. There is little information on maternal-fetal transmission of messages which influence fetal growth. We analyzed adipocyte-derived small extracellular vesicular (ADsEV) microRNAs in maternal and cord blood to explore their adipogenic potential.

Circulating Total Extracellular Vesicles Cargo Are Associated with Age-Related Oxidative Stress and Susceptibility to Cardiovascular Diseases: Exploratory Results from Microarray Data.

Aging is a risk factor for many non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Extracellular vesicles and particles (EVP) carry microRNAs that may play a role in age-related diseases and may induce oxidative stress. We hypothesized that aging could impact EVP miRNA and impair redox homeostasis, contributing to chronic age-related diseases.

A Scoping Review of Self-Care Within the Context of Obesity-Related Outcomes Among Faith Leaders.

Objective: Faith leaders often serve as health-related role models yet many struggle with obesity and self-care engagement. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine how the faith leader literature has defined self-care and examined obesity and obesity-related chronic disease.

Data Source: Studies were identified through database (eg, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO), backward, and grey literature (eg, dissertations) searches.

Epigenome-wide association analysis of infant bronchiolitis severity: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory infection in infants, yet its pathobiology remains unclear. Here we present blood DNA methylation data from 625 infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis in a 17-center prospective study, and associate them with disease severity. We investigate differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs) for disease severity.

Rapid implementation of an emergency on-site CKRT dialysate production system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: On December 29, 2021, during the delta wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the stock of premanufactured solutions used for continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) at the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) was nearly exhausted with no resupply anticipated due to supply chain disruptions. Within hours, a backup plan, devised and tested 18 months prior, to locally produce CKRT dialysate was implemented. This report describes the emergency implementation and outcomes of this on-site CKRT dialysate production system.

Nasal airway microRNA profiling of infants with severe bronchiolitis and risk of childhood asthma: a multicentre prospective study.

Background: Severe bronchiolitis ( bronchiolitis requiring hospitalisation) during infancy is a major risk factor for childhood asthma. However, the exact mechanism linking these common conditions remains unclear. We examined the longitudinal relationship between nasal airway miRNAs during severe bronchiolitis and the risk of developing asthma.

Fit with Faith: An Exploratory Study Examining a Behavior Change Intervention for African-American Clergy and Their Spouses.

Fit with Faith is a 10-week, diet, physical activity, and stress reduction intervention for African-American clergy and spouses, which included: meetings, phone calls, a behavior tracking app. Survey, 24-h recall, accelerometer, anthropometric, and blood pressure data were collected. Wilcoxon signed ranked tests were used for analyses.

Perceptions of mindfulness practices as a support for individuals managing caregiving responsibilities and chronic disease: A qualitative study.

Objectives: Explore the lived experience of individuals managing and/or caregiving for someone with a chronic disease and their perceptions of developing a mindfulness program for stress reduction.

Methods: Sixteen participants with chronic disease and/or caregivers participated. Participants completed eligibility screening, demographic questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews (30-60 min each) online or by phone.

Perceived Health Needs of Church Leaders and Members: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Mid-South Congregational Health Survey.

Needs assessments have been successful in helping communities and congregations focus their health ministry efforts; however, most have used leader perceptions of congregational health needs. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the self-reported needs of both church leaders and members to be addressed by their congregation. Church leaders ( = 369) and members ( = 459) from 92 congregations completed the 2019 Mid-South Congregational Health Survey.

Integrative genetics-metabolomics analysis of infant bronchiolitis-childhood asthma link: A multicenter prospective study.

Background: Infants with bronchiolitis are at high risk for developing childhood asthma. While genome-wide association studies suggest common genetic susceptibilities between these conditions, the mechanisms underlying the link remain unclear.

Objective: Through integrated genetics-metabolomics analysis in this high-risk population, we sought to identify genetically driven metabolites associated with asthma development and genetic loci associated with both these metabolites and asthma susceptibility.