Publications by authors named "Kristie Thomas"

Article Synopsis
  • - Alphaviruses pose a threat to public health, and two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), SKT05 and SKT20, show promise in providing protection against Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) in mouse models.
  • - SKT20's effectiveness relies on Fc effector functions to prevent death from VEEV, while SKT05 can control viral spread and replication without these functions initially, but requires them later for full efficacy.
  • - The study highlights how antibody avidity (strength of binding) is crucial for mAb effectiveness and suggests that understanding Fc-dependent mechanisms can help in developing better therapeutic treatments for alphavirus infections.
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The 21st Century Cures Act requires that health organizations make all medical records rapidly available to patients through secure online portals. Referred to as "open notes," this approach is intended to improve health outcomes by facilitating easier and more transparent communication between patients and providers. For patients experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV), however, open notes can create serious safety risks to their physical and mental health when not handled carefully.

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Background: In 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published a report revealing that over 46 million individuals in the United States had a substance use disorder (SUD). In the same year, a record number of drug-related overdose deaths were reported. Social workers play an important role in connecting with people who use substances and providing adequate care and treatment; yet, negative attitudes and lack of holistic knowledge about individuals who use substances create challenges in providing effective care.

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To globally profile circRNAs, we employ RNA-Sequencing paired with chimeric junction analysis for alpha-, beta-, and gamma-herpesvirus infection. We find circRNAs are, as a population, resistant to host shutoff. We validate this observation using ectopic expression assays of human and murine herpesvirus endoribonucleases.

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A first line of defense during infection is expression of interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene products which suppress viral lytic infection. To combat this, herpesviruses express endoribonucleases to deplete host RNAs. Here we demonstrate that IFN-induced circular RNAs (circRNAs) can escape viral-mediated degradation.

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Gender and sexual minoritized (GSM) youth are more likely than their cisgender heterosexual peers to experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and practice bondage and discipline, domination and submission, sadism, and masochism (BDSM). Although IPV and BDSM are vastly different phenomena, superficial similarities (e.g.

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Introduction: Racial/ethnic and nativity disparities in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) persist in the United States. Identified factors associated with these differences do not fully explain them. Research has recognized psychosocial stress as a potentially modifiable risk factor for GDM.

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Transcription of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) immediate early (IE) genes is controlled at multiple levels by the cellular transcriptional coactivator, HCF-1. HCF-1 is complexed with epigenetic factors that prevent silencing of the viral genome upon infection, transcription factors that drive initiation of IE gene expression, and transcription elongation factors required to circumvent RNAPII pausing at IE genes and promote productive IE mRNA synthesis. Significantly, the coactivator is also implicated in the control of viral reactivation from latency in sensory neurons based on studies that demonstrate that HCF-1-associated epigenetic and transcriptional elongation complexes are critical to initiate IE expression and viral reactivation.

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The presence and abundance of viral proteins within host cells are part of the essential signatures of the cellular stages of viral infections. However, methods that can comprehensively detect and quantify these proteins are still limited, particularly for viruses with large protein coding capacity. Here, we design and experimentally validate a mass spectrometry-based Targeted herpesviRUS proTEin Detection (TRUSTED) assay for monitoring human viruses representing the three Herpesviridae subfamilies-herpes simplex virus type 1, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.

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There is a movement toward permanent housing as an alternative to emergency shelter for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Through a case study, this article illuminates the challenges survivors encountered at multiple levels after being offered one of 25 permanent housing choice vouchers (HCVs) as part of the Survivors Achieving Stable Housing project. Obtaining an HCV is a complicated and lengthy process; survivors transitioning from emergency shelter may face time limits on shelter stays while awaiting this permanent housing option.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Researchers studied how tumors evade detection by CD8 T cells by altering the presentation of MHC-I molecules, particularly in human diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs).
  • - They found various genes that can increase or decrease MHC-I expression on cell surfaces and identified common pathways involved, like cytokine signaling and protein metabolism.
  • - SUGT1 was highlighted as an important gene that boosts MHC-I and MHC-II expression, and inhibiting certain other genes improved MHC-I presentation, suggesting new ways to enhance immune responses against tumors and other diseases.
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Induction of herpes simplex virus (HSV) immediate early (IE) gene transcription promotes the initiation of lytic infection and reactivation from latency in sensory neurons. IE genes are transcribed by the cellular RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) and regulated by multiple transcription factors and coactivators. The HCF-1 cellular coactivator plays a central role in driving IE expression at multiple stages through interactions with transcription factors, chromatin modulation complexes, and transcription elongation components, including the active uper longation omplex/P-TEFb (SEC-P-TEFb).

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Undergraduate students of all gender identities are at risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. It is known that IPV negatively affects academic performance, yet little is known about the role of health. This study examined if past-year IPV victimization was associated with an increase in students' self-perception of health interfering with academic performance.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to better understand the experience of coercive control as a type of IPV by examining associations between coercive control and women's experiences of particular forms of violence, use of violence, and risk of future violence.

Method: As part of a larger research study, data were collected from 553 women patients at two hospital emergency departments who had experienced recent IPV and unhealthy drinking. Baseline assessments, including measures of coercive control, danger, and experience and use of psychological, physical, and sexual forms of IPV in the prior three months were analyzed.

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Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a methodological approach where community-academic teams build equitable relationships throughout the research process. In the domestic violence (DV) field, CBPR may be particularly important when conducting research with racial and ethnic minority DV survivors, as this group faces concurrent oppressions that inform their lived experiences. To our knowledge, no systematic review has synthesized articles using a CBPR approach to explore the needs and lived experiences of racial and ethnic minority DV survivors.

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Following productive infection, bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) establishes latency in sensory neurons. As in other alphaherpesviruses, expression of BoHV-1 immediate early (IE) genes is regulated by an enhancer complex containing the viral IE activator VP16, the cellular transcription factor Oct-1, and transcriptional coactivator HCF-1, which is assembled on an IE enhancer core element (TAATGARAT). Expression of the IE transcription unit that encodes the viral IE activators bICP0 and bICP4 may also be induced by the activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) via two glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) located upstream of the enhancer core.

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Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is a ubiquitous and highly contagious pathogen that causes a range of disease severities with outbreaks of notable economic impact. Given the limitations in immune protection of current vaccines and the limited effectiveness of antiviral drugs on EHV-1 infections , improved treatment measures are needed to control disease. The use of drugs that alter the epigenetic state of herpes simplex virus genome has been shown to limit viral primary infection and reactivation both and .

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Strangulation is a common and dangerous form of intimate partner violence (IPV). Nonfatal strangulation is a risk factor for homicide; can lead to severe, long-term physical and mental health sequelae; and can be an effective strategy of coercion and control. To date, research has not examined strangulation within same-sex couples.

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Objective: To determine the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and academic performance among heterosexual and sexual minority undergraduates, including whether health mediates this relationship.

Participants: A national sample of undergraduate students aged 18-24 years old who completed the 2011-2014 National College Health Assessment IIb (N = 85,071).

Methods: We used structural equation modeling to create a latent variable of IPV victimization (stalking, physical, sexual, and emotional violence) in order to test its relationship with health (physical and mental) and two indicators of academic performance (GPA and perceived academic difficulties), according to participants' sexual identity (heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and unsure).

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Article Synopsis
  • - The research highlights how the immune system senses and responds to the microbiota on skin barrier surfaces, focusing on T cell responses that utilize non-classical MHC class I molecules.
  • - These commensal-specific T cells, which are different from pathogen-induced immune cells, play a role in promoting protection against pathogens and enhancing skin wound healing.
  • - The findings suggest that non-classical MHC class I molecules contribute to a unique form of adaptive immunity that integrates anti-microbial functions with tissue repair, showing their importance in maintaining homeostasis with the microbiota.
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Epigenetic regulation is based on a network of complexes that modulate the chromatin character and structure of the genome to impact gene expression, cell fate, and development. Thus, epigenetic modulators represent novel therapeutic targets used to treat a range of diseases, including malignancies. Infectious pathogens such as herpesviruses are also regulated by cellular epigenetic machinery, and epigenetic therapeutics represent a novel approach used to control infection, persistence, and the resulting recurrent disease.

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The cellular transcriptional coactivator HCF-1 is required for initiation of herpes simplex virus (HSV) lytic infection and for reactivation from latency in sensory neurons. HCF-1 stabilizes the viral Immediate Early (IE) gene enhancer complex and mediates chromatin transitions to promote IE transcription initiation. In infected cells, HCF-1 was also found to be associated with a network of transcription elongation components including the super elongation complex (SEC).

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Objective: This study assessed the recall of, reaction to, and understanding of a brief campus banner campaign promoting consent in sexual relationships, and determined whether campaign exposure was associated with subsequent engagement in activities related to sexual assault education, awareness, and prevention.

Participants: A stratified random sample of 1,200 undergraduates was recruited during fall of 2010; 628 (52.3%) participated.

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Youth violence in high schools is a pervasive and persistent problem in the United States. Students engage in physical fights, experience bullying and teen dating violence (TDV), are threatened with weapons, and miss school due to safety concerns. However, despite theoretical support, research has not sufficiently addressed the relationship between students' fear and fighting at school.

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