Targeting the Host Mitochondria as a Novel Human Cytomegalovirus Antiviral Strategy.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) exploits host mitochondrial function to promote viral replication. HCMV gene products have been described to directly interact and alter functional or structural aspects of host mitochondria. Current antivirals against HCMV, such as ganciclovir and letermovir, are designed against viral targets.

Human Fibrinogen for Maintenance and Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells in Two Dimensions and Three Dimensions.

Human fibrin hydrogels are a popular choice for use as a biomaterial within tissue engineered constructs because they are biocompatible, nonxenogenic, autologous use compatible, and biodegradable. We have recently demonstrated the ability to culture induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal pigment epithelium on fibrin hydrogels. However, iPSCs themselves have relatively few substrate options (e.

Do Changes in Temperature and Inflation Pressure Affect Rolling Resistance During Road and Track Testing for Fuel Economy of Class 8 Tractor-Trailers?

Data from air cavity thermistors, tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), and SAE J1269 rolling resistance tests were analyzed to evaluate the significance of changes in tire pressure on rolling resistance during fuel economy tests of class 8 tractor trailers. Thermistor data show that air cavity temperatures vary, with the main increase happening during the warm-up run, and measurable cooling during the fuel measurement breaks between runs. Inflation pressure also increases by 50 - 70 kPa during the warm-up run, but once the tire has warmed up, the pressure is more stable, rarely varying by more than 20 kPa during a test run.

Mutant Best1 Expression and Impaired Phagocytosis in an iPSC Model of Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy.

Autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) is caused by mutations in the gene BEST1 which encodes bestrophin 1 (Best1), an anion channel expressed in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. It has been hypothesized that ARB represents the human null phenotype for BEST1 and that this occurs due to nonsense mediated decay (NMD). To test this hypothesis, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a patient with ARB and her parents.

Fibrin hydrogels as a xenofree and rapidly degradable support for transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium monolayers.

Unlabelled: Recent phase 1 trials of embryonic stem cell and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) derived RPE transplants for the treatment of macular degeneration have demonstrated the relative safety of this process. However, there is concern over clumping, thickening, folding, and wrinkling of the transplanted RPE. To deliver a flat RPE monolayer, current phase 1 trials are testing synthetic substrates for RPE transplantation.