Publications by authors named "Matthew Laurie"

We present a handbook for Rhythmic Relating, an approach developed to support play, learning and therapy with young autistic children, unconventional communicators, and autistic people who have additional learning needs. Rhythmic Relating is based on the perspective, a growing body of research that recognizes that autistic social difficulties stem from more basic sensory and motor differences. These sensorimotor differences directly affect embodied experience and social timing in communication.

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  • Researchers used a technique called Perturb-seq to study how disabling certain host factors affects SARS-CoV-2 infection in human lung cells.
  • They discovered that only a small number of these host factors significantly altered the infection process and the body’s immune response.
  • Notably, they identified specific factors, like IκBα and translation factors EIF4E2 and EIF4H, as critical for early stages of the infection, advancing understanding of how the virus interacts with host cells.
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The fungal pathogen represents a severe threat to hospitalized patients. Its resistance to multiple classes of antifungal drugs and ability to spread and resist decontamination in healthcare settings make it especially dangerous. We screened 1,990 clinically approved and late-stage investigational compounds for the potential to be repurposed as antifungal drugs targeting and narrowed our focus to five Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved compounds with inhibitory concentrations under 10 µM for and significantly lower toxicity to three human cell lines.

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This exploratory study sought a deeper understanding of the perspectives of self-defined ritual abuse (RA) survivors, who had experienced sexual victimization, on participation in research. A mixed-methods qualitative design involving online survey and follow-up virtual interviews included 68 adults across eight countries. Content and thematic analysis of responses indicated that RA survivors were keen to be involved in a range of research activities to share their experience, knowledge, and support for other survivors.

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Unlabelled: The fungal pathogen represents a severe threat to hospitalized patients. Its resistance to multiple classes of antifungal drugs and ability to spread and resist decontamination in health-care settings make it especially dangerous. We screened 1,990 clinically approved and late-stage investigational compounds for the potential to be repurposed as antifungal drugs targeting and narrowed our focus to five FDA-approved compounds with inhibitory concentrations under 10 µM for and significantly lower toxicity to three human cell lines.

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  • - A patient in California survived a rare and often fatal infection called Balamuthia mandrillaris granulomatous amebic encephalitis after receiving a new treatment approach.
  • - The treatment included nitroxoline, a drug originally developed for urinary tract infections, which was found to have effectiveness against the ameba.
  • - Researchers identified nitroxoline through a screening process aimed at finding drugs that can kill Balamuthia, showcasing the potential for repurposing existing medications.
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  • Breakthrough cases of severe COVID-19 in vaccinated individuals may be linked to weak or inadequate antibody responses, particularly among those already at risk.
  • A study of 48 vaccinated individuals with hypoxemic COVID-19 pneumonia found that about 24% had auto-antibodies (auto-Abs) that neutralized type I interferons, which are essential for the immune response.
  • The presence of these auto-Abs suggests that even with normal antibody responses to the vaccine, some individuals can still suffer severe effects from COVID-19, indicating a need for more targeted strategies for vulnerable populations.
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Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a well-studied mammarenavirus that can be fatal in congenital infections. However, our understanding of LCMV and its interactions with human host factors remains incomplete. Here, host determinants affecting LCMV infection were investigated through a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen in A549 cells, a human lung adenocarcinoma line.

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While SARS-CoV-2 vaccines prevent severe disease effectively, postvaccination "breakthrough" COVID-19 infections and transmission among vaccinated individuals remain ongoing concerns. We present an in-depth characterization of transmission and immunity among vaccinated individuals in a household, revealing complex dynamics and unappreciated comorbidities, including autoimmunity to type 1 interferon in the presumptive index case.

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  • The study analyzes the impact of various multiple sclerosis (MS) disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on the immune response elicited by SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, comparing responses between healthy individuals and MS patients treated with different DMTs.
  • Findings indicate that while some DMTs (GA, DMF, NTZ) showed similar anti-spike antibody levels to healthy controls, treatments with anti-CD20 mAbs and S1P receptor modulators resulted in reduced antibody responses and compromised B cell activity.
  • T cell reactivity remained mostly robust across groups, although S1P-treated patients displayed weaker CD4+ T cell responses post-vaccination, emphasizing the need for tailored COVID-19 clinical guidelines based on
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Unlabelled: The wide spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 variants with phenotypes impacting transmission and antibody sensitivity necessitates investigation of the immune response to different spike protein versions. Here, we compare the neutralization of variants of concern, including B.1.

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The wide spectrum of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with phenotypes impacting transmission and antibody sensitivity necessitates investigation of immune responses to different spike protein versions. Here, we compare neutralization of variants of concern, including B.1.

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Background: Sequencing of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral genome from patient samples is an important epidemiological tool for monitoring and responding to the pandemic, including the emergence of new mutations in specific communities.

Methods: SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences were generated from positive samples collected, along with epidemiological metadata, at a walk-up, rapid testing site in the Mission District of San Francisco, California during 22 November to 1 December, 2020, and 10-29 January 2021. Secondary household attack rates and mean sample viral load were estimated and compared across observed variants.

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Narnaviruses are RNA viruses detected in diverse fungi, plants, protists, arthropods, and nematodes. Though initially described as simple single-gene nonsegmented viruses encoding RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a subset of narnaviruses referred to as "ambigrammatic" harbor a unique genomic configuration consisting of overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) encoded on opposite strands. Phylogenetic analysis supports selection to maintain this unusual genome organization, but functional investigations are lacking.

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The current non-systematic narrative review of literature sought to explore the need for research into child sexual abuse (CSA) in Pakistan's schools. The limited literature that exists suggests that CSA is a pervasive problem in Pakistan as it is in neighboring India, and indeed, throughout the world. Government agencies and schools in Pakistan appear to be in their infancy in terms of recognizing and responding to CSA.

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Background: Sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome from patient samples is an important epidemiological tool for monitoring and responding to the pandemic, including the emergence of new mutations in specific communities.

Methods: SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences were generated from positive samples collected, along with epidemiological metadata, at a walk-up, rapid testing site in the Mission District of San Francisco, California during November 22-December 2, 2020 and January 10-29, 2021. Secondary household attack rates and mean sample viral load were estimated and compared across observed variants.

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We evaluated the performance of the Abbott BinaxNOW rapid antigen test for coronavirus disease 2019 (Binax-CoV2) to detect virus among persons, regardless of symptoms, at a public plaza site of ongoing community transmission. Titration with cultured severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 yielded a human observable threshold between 1.6 × 104-4.

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We evaluated the performance of the Abbott BinaxNOW™ Covid-19 rapid antigen test to detect virus among persons, regardless of symptoms, at a public plaza site of ongoing community transmission. Titration with cultured clinical SARS-CoV-2 yielded a human observable threshold between 1.6×10-4.

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CRISPR/Cas9-based functional genomics have transformed our ability to elucidate mammalian cell biology. However, most previous CRISPR-based screens were conducted in cancer cell lines rather than healthy, differentiated cells. Here, we describe a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi)-based platform for genetic screens in human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

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The current systematic narrative literature review sought to discover the views of young child sexual abuse (CSA) survivors, unknown to child protection services, on confidentiality. Due to the paucity of research on young CSA survivors, the review was widened to include users of sexual health services. Seventeen databases were searched, and results were refined by reading titles and abstracts, followed by full text.

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is a pathogenic free-living amoeba that causes a rare but almost always fatal infection of the central nervous system called granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). Two distinct forms of -a proliferative trophozoite form and a nonproliferative cyst form, which is highly resistant to harsh physical and chemical conditions-have been isolated from environmental samples worldwide and are both observed in infected tissue. Patients suffering from GAE are typically treated with aggressive and prolonged multidrug regimens that often include the antimicrobial agents miltefosine and pentamidine isethionate.

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Many tissues fold into complex shapes during development. Controlling this process in vitro would represent an important advance for tissue engineering. We use embryonic tissue explants, finite element modeling, and 3D cell-patterning techniques to show that mechanical compaction of the extracellular matrix during mesenchymal condensation is sufficient to drive tissue folding along programmed trajectories.

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The rapid spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) and its association with abnormal brain development constitute a global health emergency. Congenital ZIKV infection produces a range of mild to severe pathologies, including microcephaly. To understand the pathophysiology of ZIKV infection, we used models of the developing brain that faithfully recapitulate the tissue architecture in early to midgestation.

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Alternative splicing can have profound consequences for protein activity, but the functions of most alternative splicing regulators are not known. We show that Obelus, a conserved Ski2-family helicase, is required for cell polarity and adherens junction organization in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo. In obelus mutants, epithelial cells display an expanded apical domain, aggregation of adherens junctions at the cell membrane, and microtubule-dependent defects in centrosome positioning.

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