Propionic acid induces alterations in mitochondrial morphology and dynamics in SH-SY5Y cells.

Propionic acid (PPA) is used to study the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodevelopmental conditions like autism spectrum disorders. PPA is known to disrupt mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolism, and turnover. However, the effect of PPA on mitochondrial dynamics, fission, and fusion remains challenging to study due to the complex temporal nature of these mechanisms.

Development of a dual vaccine against East Coast fever and lumpy skin disease.

East Coast fever is an acute bovine disease caused by the apicomplexan parasite and is regarded as one of the most important tick-vectored diseases in Africa. The current vaccination procedure has many drawbacks, as it involves the use of live sporozoites. As a novel vaccination strategy, we have constructed the recombinant lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) named LSDV-SODis-p67HA-BLV-Gag, encoding a modified form of the p67 surface antigen (p67HA), as well as the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) gag gene for the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs) to potentially enhance p67 immunogenicity.

Assessment of an LSDV-Vectored Vaccine for Heterologous Prime-Boost Immunizations against HIV.

The modest protective effects of the RV144 HIV-1 vaccine trial have prompted the further exploration of improved poxvirus vector systems that can yield better immune responses and protection. In this study, a recombinant lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) expressing HIV-1 CAP256.SU gp150 (Env) and a subtype C mosaic Gag was constructed (LSDVGC5) and compared to the equivalent recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (MVAGC5).

Feasibility of Treating Hepatitis C in a Transient Jail Population.

Jails represent a critical component of the public health response to HCV elimination. We report on outcomes of 104 patients receiving HCV treatment from January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2016 in a large urban jail setting. Our data demonstrate that treatment in jails is feasible, but many barriers remain.

Improving Transgender Healthcare in the New York City Correctional System.

Purpose: Correctional settings create unique challenges for patients with special needs, including transgender patients, who have an increased rate of overall discrimination, sexual abuse, healthcare disparities, and improper housing. As part of our correctional health quality improvement process, we sought to review and evaluate the adequacy of care for transgender patients in the New York City jail system.

Methods: Using correctional pharmacy records, transgender patients receiving hormonal treatment were identified.

A Gel Filtration-Based Method for the Purification of Infectious Rotavirus Particles for Environmental Research Applications.

This article describes a rapid method for purifying infectious rotavirus particles from cell culture for environmental research. The method is based on size-exclusion chromatography using TOSOH TSKgel G5000PWXL-CP with a TSKgel Size Exclusion G2500PWxl guard column, set up on an AKTA Explorer10. Four peaks were identified from the chromatogram and the corresponding fractions were collected and analysed by electron microscopy, 1-step quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and qNano measurement.

A modeled structure of an aptamer-gp120 complex provides insight into the mechanism of HIV-1 neutralization.

The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp120, is a key target for a class of drugs called entry inhibitors. Here we used molecular modeling to construct a three-dimensional model of an anti-gp120 RNA aptamer, B40t77, alone and in complex with gp120. An initial model of B40t77 was built from the predicted secondary structure and then subjected to a combination of energy minimization and molecular dynamics.

An investigation into the use of human papillomavirus type 16 virus-like particles as a delivery vector system for foreign proteins: N- and C-terminal fusion of GFP to the L1 and L2 capsid proteins.

Development of vaccine strategies against human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer, is a priority. We investigated the use of virus-like particles (VLPs) of the most prevalent type, HPV-16, as carriers of foreign proteins. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was fused to the N or C terminus of both L1 and L2, with L2 chimeras being co-expressed with native L1.

A deletion and point mutation study of the human papillomavirus type 16 major capsid gene.

Recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV) virus-like particles (VLPs) made from the major capsid protein L1 are promising vaccine candidates for use as vaccines against genital and other HPV infections, and particularly against HPV-16. However, HPV-16 genotype variants have different binding affinities for neutralising mouse Mabs raised against HPV-16 L1 VLPs. This paper analyses, using a panel of well-characterised Mabs, the effects on the antigenicity of various C- and N-terminal deletants of HPV-16 L1 made in insect cells via recombinant baculovirus, of an A-->T mutation at residue 266 (A266T), and of a C-->G mutation at conserved position 428 (C428G).

Rodent nutritional model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: species, strain and sex difference studies.

Background And Aim: The methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet leads to steatohepatitis in rodents. The aim of the present study was to investigate species, strain and sex differences in this nutritional model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods: Male and female Wistar, Long-Evans and Sprague-Dawley rats, and C57/BL6 mice (n = 6 per group) were fed a MCD diet for 4 weeks.

Investigation of the role of a beta(1-4) agarase produced by Pseudoalteromonas gracilis B9 in eliciting disease symptoms in the red alga Gracilaria gracilis.

Gracilaria species are an important source of agar. The South African Gracilaria industry has experienced a number of setbacks over the last decade in the form of complete or partial die-offs of the agarophyte growing in Saldanha Bay, which may be attributed to bacterial infection. Since a positive correlation was observed between the presence of agarolytic epiphytes and bacterial pathogenicity, we investigated the role of an agarase in the virulence mechanism employed by a bacterium that elicits disease in Gracilaria gracilis.

An ultrastructural study using anhydrous fixation of Eragrostis nindensis, a resurrection grass with both desiccation-tolerant and -sensitive tissues.

The ability of tissues to survive desiccation is common in seeds but rare in vegetative tissues. In this study the ultrastructure of hydrated and dehydrated tissues were examined at different stages of the life cycle of the resurrection grass, Eragrostis nindensis Ficalho & Hiern. Conventional fixation techniques are unsuitable for dry tissues as rehydration occurs during fixation in aqueous fixatives.

Fibrinogen is degraded and internalized during incubation with neutrophils, and fibrinogen products localize to electron lucent vesicles.

A biologically relevant relationship exists between neutrophils and coagulation processes. Several studies have focused on the ability of neutrophil proteases (both intracellular and membrane-associated) to degrade fibrinogen. The present study investigates the events following the interaction of activated neutrophils with soluble fibrinogen.