Publications by authors named "Jonathan Michael"
Article Synopsis
- A new variant of SARS-CoV-2, called EG.5.1, is spreading rapidly and has been studied using various scientific methods to understand its features.
- Key mutations in EG.5.1, specifically S:F456L and ORF9b:I5T, enhance its viral fitness compared to other variants like XBB.1.5.
- Structural differences were found in the spike proteins of EG.5.1 versus XBB.1.5, and the research helps us understand the evolution of emerging viruses that can affect human health.
Carbon amendments designed to remediate environmental contamination lead to substantial perturbations when injected into the subsurface. For the remediation of uranium contamination, carbon amendments promote reducing conditions to allow microorganisms to reduce uranium to an insoluble, less mobile state. However, the reproducibility of these amendments and underlying microbial community assembly mechanisms have rarely been investigated in the field.
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- The emergence of a new Variant of Interest, XBB.1.5, is linked to mutations from the pre-existing variant XBB.1, specifically an S486P spike mutation and a nonsense mutation in ORF8.
- Phylogenetic analysis indicates that XBB.1.5 maintains similar immune escape abilities compared to XBB.1, and structural studies reveal that the spike proteins of both variants are largely similar.
- Research involving hamsters shows that the ORF8 nonsense mutation in XBB.1.5 reduces MHC suppression and results in lower virulence in this variant compared to XBB.1.
Article Synopsis
- In late 2023, the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 variant emerged alongside the dominant XBB descendants like EG.5.1, distinguishing itself with over 30 mutations in its spike protein.
- Modeling showed BA.2.86 has a higher reproduction number compared to EG.5.1, suggesting it spreads more easily.
- Despite its increased spread, BA.2.86 demonstrated lower pathogenicity and replication capacity in hamsters, indicating it may be less severe, while remaining sensitive to four existing antiviral treatments.
Bacillus cereus strain CPT56D-587-MTF (CPTF) was isolated from the highly contaminated Oak Ridge Reservation (ORR) subsurface. This site is contaminated with high levels of nitric acid and multiple heavy metals. Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA genes (V4 region) in sediment from this area revealed an amplicon sequence variant (ASV) with 100% identity to the CPTF 16S rRNA sequence.
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- - Rhodanobacter denitrificans is the dominant genus found in aquifers with high nitrate and uranium levels in Oak Ridge, TN, and its ability to denitrify and resist metals makes it a potential candidate for bioremediation.
- - Researchers developed a new method for genetic modification in Rhodanobacter strains, allowing them to delete specific genes, which helps study their mechanisms of resistance and metabolism more effectively.
- - The successful creation of mutants unable to grow in nitrate-rich environments demonstrates that this genetic approach is promising for future research on how these bacteria can be harnessed for cleaning up contaminated sites. !*
Article Synopsis
- Recent studies on melanoma using genomic and single-cell RNA sequencing revealed no common genetic mutations linked to metastasis, but identified specific transcriptional patterns associated with invasive behavior and drug resistance.
- In an experiment using a zebrafish model of melanoma, researchers discovered that overexpressing the transcriptional regulator SATB2 promotes aggressive tumor characteristics, including increased invasion and formation of structures that aid in invasion.
- SATB2 activates genes related to neural crest development and shares similarities with known drug-resistant melanoma states, contributing to the tumor's growth and resistance to the cancer drug Vemurafenib.
Cellular homeostasis requires transcriptional outputs to be coordinated, and many events post-transcription initiation can dictate the levels and functions of mature transcripts. To systematically identify regulators of inducible gene expression, we performed high-throughput RNAi screening of the Metallothionein A (MtnA) promoter. This revealed that the Integrator complex, which has a well-established role in 3' end processing of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs), attenuates MtnA transcription during copper stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInefficiencies in the national clinical research infrastructure have been apparent for decades. The National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) -sponsored CTSA program is able to address such inefficiencies. The Trial Innovation Network (TIN) is a collaborative initiative with the CTSA Program and other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) that addresses critical roadblocks to accelerate the translation of novel interventions to clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe neural crest is a dynamic progenitor cell population that arises at the border of neural and non-neural ectoderm. The inductive roles of FGF, Wnt, and BMP at the neural plate border are well established, but the signals required for subsequent neural crest development remain poorly characterized. Here, we conducted a screen in primary zebrafish embryo cultures for chemicals that disrupt neural crest development, as read out by expression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To design a scheme to rank sonographic anomalies as indicators of aneuploidy and record the distribution of data from 2143 prenatal amniotic fluid/chorionic villous sample diagnoses referred for karyotyping because of fetal anomalies detected with ultrasound.
Methods: In all cases the records of sonographic anomalies were obtained prior to karyotyping. A cascade of seven prospective categories of ultrasound anomalies was chosen and the data were included in the highest compatible sonography category.