Genetically encoded fluorescent sensors for visualizing polyamine levels, uptake, and distribution.

Polyamines are abundant and physiologically essential biomolecules that play a role in numerous processes, but are disrupted in diseases such as cancer, and cardiovascular and neurological disorders. Despite their importance, measuring free polyamine concentrations and monitoring their metabolism and uptake in cells in real-time remains impossible due to the lack of appropriate biosensors. Here we engineered, characterized, and validated the first genetically encoded biosensors for polyamines, named iPASnFRs.

'Candidatus Liberibacter brunswickensis' colonization has no effect to the early development of Solanum melongena.

This study is the first to investigate the presence and movement of the novel Liberibacter species 'Candidatus Liberibacter brunswickensis' (CLbr) in eggplant, Solanum melongena. The psyllid, Acizzia solanicola can transmit CLbr to eggplant and CLbr can be acquired by CLbr-negative A. solanicola individuals from CLbr-positive eggplants.

Inter-species gene flow drives ongoing evolution of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis.

Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) is an emerging cause of human infection with invasive disease incidence and clinical manifestations comparable to the closely related species, Streptococcus pyogenes. Through systematic genomic analyses of 501 disseminated SDSE strains, we demonstrate extensive overlap between the genomes of SDSE and S.

Hidden Resistances: How Routine Whole-Genome Sequencing Uncovered an Otherwise Undetected Gene in Vibrio alginolyticus from Imported Seafood.

Vibrio alginolyticus causes vibriosis of marine vertebrates, invertebrates, and humans, and while there have been several reports of multidrug resistance in V. alginolyticus, carbapenem resistance is rare. V.

Discovery and Functional Characterization of Two Regulatory Variants Underlying Lupus Susceptibility at 2p13.1.

Genome-wide association studies have identified 2p13.1 as a prominent susceptibility locus for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—a complex, multisystem autoimmune disease. However, the identity of underlying causal variant (s) and molecular mechanisms for increasing disease susceptibility are poorly understood.

Astrocyte ethanol exposure reveals persistent and defined calcium response subtypes and associated gene signatures.

Astrocytes play a critical role in brain function, but their contribution during ethanol (EtOH) consumption remains largely understudied. In light of recent findings on the heterogeneity of astrocyte physiology and gene expression, an approach with the ability to identify subtypes and capture this heterogeneity is necessary. Here, we combined measurements of calcium signaling and gene expression to define EtOH-induced astrocyte subtypes.

Astrocytes promote ethanol-induced enhancement of intracellular Ca signals through intercellular communication with neurons.

Ethanol (EtOH) abuse induces significant mortality and morbidity worldwide because of detrimental effects on brain function. Defining the contribution of astrocytes to this malfunction is imperative to understanding the overall EtOH effects due to their role in homeostasis and EtOH-seeking behaviors. Using a highly controllable system, we identify chemical signaling mechanisms through which acute EtOH exposure induces a modulatory feedback loop between neurons and astrocytes.

Restricted Sequence Variation in Streptococcus pyogenes Penicillin Binding Proteins.

A recent clinical report has linked β-lactam antibiotic resistance to mutation in the penicillin binding protein (PBP) PBP2x. To determine whether this is an isolated case or reflects a broader prevalence of mutations that might confer reduced β-lactam susceptibility, we investigated the relative frequency of PBP sequence variation within a global database of 9,667 isolates. We found that mutations in PBPs (PBP2x, PBP1a, PBP1b, and PBP2a) occur infrequently across this global database, with fewer than 3 amino acid changes differing between >99% of the global population.

Pilot of a Charter to Improve Management of Medicines and Oral Care for Residents with Dysphagia in Care Homes.

Research in care homes has demonstrated that medication management practices in patients with dysphagia and those receiving medicines covertly may be inappropriate, illegal, and potentially cause harm. This paper presents the results of a feasibility study piloting a resident and healthcare professional best practice charter to improve such practices in care home residents with dysphagia. A charter was developed through a multi-professional expert panel, implemented in one care home, and then piloted in 22 homes in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Exercise Training and Heart Failure: A Review of the Literature.

Exercise and cardiac rehabilitation have been underused therapy options for patients with congestive heart failure despite being recommended in international guidelines and being covered by Medicare in the US. This article reviews the evidence behind this treatment strategy and details current trials that will contribute to the evidence base.

Pervasive within-Mitochondrion Single-Nucleotide Variant Heteroplasmy as Revealed by Single-Mitochondrion Sequencing.

A number of mitochondrial diseases arise from single-nucleotide variant (SNV) accumulation in multiple mitochondria. Here, we present a method for identification of variants present at the single-mitochondrion level in individual mouse and human neuronal cells, allowing for extremely high-resolution study of mitochondrial mutation dynamics. We identified extensive heteroplasmy between individual mitochondrion, along with three high-confidence variants in mouse and one in human that were present in multiple mitochondria across cells.

Novel 'Candidatus Liberibacter' species identified in the Australian eggplant psyllid, Acizzia solanicola.

A novel candidate species of the liberibacter genus, 'Candidatus Liberibacter brunswickensis' (CLbr), was identified in the Australian eggplant psyllid, Acizzia solanicola. This is the first discovery of a species belonging to the liberibacter genus in Australia and the first report of a liberibacter species in the psyllid genus Acizzia. This new candidate liberibacter species has not been associated with plant disease, unlike other psyllid-vectored species in the genus including 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (CLas), 'Candidatus Liberibacter africanus' (CLaf) and 'Ca.

Acute Aortic Syndromes: Update in Current Medical Management.

Advances in medical therapy and non-surgical percutaneous options to manage the specter of acute aortic syndromes have improved both patient morbidity and mortality. There are key features in the patient history and initial exam which physicians should be attuned to in order to diagnose acute aortic syndromes such as aortic dissection, penetrating aortic ulcer, and intramural hematoma. Once recognized, early initiation of the appropriate pharmacologic therapy is important, and further appreciating the limitations of such therapy before considering a surgical approach is critical to improve patient outcomes.

Learning to Fish with Genetics: A Primer on the Vertebrate Model Danio rerio.

In the last 30 years, the zebrafish has become a widely used model organism for research on vertebrate development and disease. Through a powerful combination of genetics and experimental embryology, significant inroads have been made into the regulation of embryonic axis formation, organogenesis, and the development of neural networks. Research with this model has also expanded into other areas, including the genetic regulation of aging, regeneration, and animal behavior.

The B-cell response to foot-and-mouth-disease virus in cattle following vaccination and live-virus challenge.

Antibodies play a pivotal role against viral infection, and maintenance of protection is dependent on plasma and memory B-cells. Understanding antigen-specific B-cell responses in cattle is essential to inform future vaccine design. We have previously defined T-cell-dependent and -independent B-cell responses in cattle, as a prelude to investigating foot-and-mouth-disease-virus (FMDV)-specific B-cell responses.

Heparin-binding peptide as a novel affinity tag for purification of recombinant proteins.

Purification of recombinant proteins constitutes a significant part of the downstream processing in biopharmaceutical industries. Major costs involved in the production of bio-therapeutics mainly depend on the number of purification steps used during the downstream process. Affinity chromatography is a widely used method for the purification of recombinant proteins expressed in different expression host platforms.

Is phosphorylated tau unique to chronic traumatic encephalopathy? Phosphorylated tau in epileptic brain and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Repetitive traumatic brain injury (rTBI) is one of the major risk factors for the abnormal deposition of phosphorylated tau (PT) in the brain and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE and temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) affect the limbic system, but no comparative studies on PT distribution in TLE and CTE are available. It is also unclear whether PT pathology results from repeated head hits (rTBI).

Intentional Excellence in the Baldwin Wallace University Neuroscience Program.

The Society for Neuroscience recognized Baldwin Wallace University's (BWU) undergraduate Neuroscience program as their Program of the Year for 2012. This award acknowledged the "accomplishments of a neuroscience department or program for excellence in educating neuroscientists and providing innovative models to which other programs can aspire." The Neuroscience program grew out of students interested in studying the biological basis of behavior.

A Malaysia 97 monovalent foot-and-mouth disease vaccine (>6PD50/dose) protects pigs against challenge with a variant FMDV A SEA-97 lineage virus, 4 and 7 days post vaccination.

Pigs play a significant role during outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) due to their ability to amplify the virus. It is therefore essential to determine what role vaccination could play to prevent clinical disease and lower virus excretion into the environment. In this study we investigated the efficacy of the double oil emulsion A Malaysia 97 vaccine (>6PD50/dose) against heterologous challenge with an isolate belonging to the A SEA-97 lineage at 4 and 7 days post vaccination (dpv).

Decrease in levels of the evolutionarily conserved microRNA miR-124 affects oligodendrocyte numbers in Zebrafish, Danio rerio.

Oligodendrocytes produce multi-lamellar myelin membranes that surround axons in the central nervous system (CNS). Preservation and generation of myelin are potential therapeutic targets for dysmyelinating and demyelinating diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in oligodendrocyte differentiation and overall CNS development.

Efficacy of a high potency O1 Manisa monovalent vaccine against heterologous challenge with a FMDV O Mya98 lineage virus in pigs 4 and 7 days post vaccination.

Early protection with a high potency (>6PD50) foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) O1 Manisa (Middle-East South Asia lineage) vaccine against challenge with O/VIT/2010 (O Mya98 lineage) was tested in pigs. Only two pigs that were vaccinated seven days prior to challenge had any demonstrable antibodies as a result of vaccination at the time of challenge. However, 80% and 60% of pigs that were vaccinated seven and four days prior to coronary band challenge were protected.