Assessing methods for detecting Alexandrium catenella (Dinophyceae) and paralytic shellfish toxins in Southeast Alaska.

Blooms of Alexandrium catenella threaten to disrupt subsistence, recreational, and commercial shellfish harvest in Alaska, as the paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) produced pose a serious public health risk and can lead to costly shutdowns for shellfish farmers. Current methods of PST detection in the region range from monitoring programs utilizing net tows to detect A. catenella to direct shellfish tissue testing via mouse bioassay (MBA) for commercial aquaculture harvest, as well as various optional testing methods for subsistence and recreational harvesters.

A novel activated-zinc antiseptic solution effective against MRSA and a pig model.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of a novel activated zinc solution against meticillin-resistant (MRSA) and after one hour, and to evaluate any untoward effect of the solution on local wound tissue at 24 hours after solution exposure in a pig wound model.

Method: A pathogen-free, commercially raised, Yorkshire-cross female pig was acquired 12 days prior to the procedure. Within one week prior to the procedure, a small loopful of test bacteria, (pig-isolate) and MRSA (ATCC-6538), were streaked and cultured on a non-selective agar.

Rapid measurement of total lipids in zooplankton using the sulfo-phospho-vanillin reaction.

Zooplankton provide a vital source of nutrition to a variety of fish and marine predators. Measuring the total lipid content of zooplankton provides important information about diet quality available to predators, revealing details about trophic dynamics and ecosystem status. We analyze the performance of a microplate assay, utilizing the sulfo-phospho-vanillin (SPV) reaction, to quantify the total lipid content of various large crustacean zooplankton in a rapid and high throughput manner.

A C-peptide complex with albumin and Zn increases measurable GLUT1 levels in membranes of human red blood cells.

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) require exogenous administration of insulin, which stimulates the translocation of the GLUT4 glucose transporter to cell membranes. However, most bloodstream cells contain GLUT1 and are not directly affected by insulin. Here, we report that C-peptide, the 31-amino acid peptide secreted in equal amounts with insulin in vivo, is part of a 3-component complex that affects red blood cell (RBC) membranes.

Artificial Intelligence Analysis of Magnetic Particle Imaging for Islet Transplantation in a Mouse Model.

Purpose: Current approaches to quantification of magnetic particle imaging (MPI) for cell-based therapy are thwarted by the lack of reliable, standardized methods of segmenting the signal from background in images. This calls for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) systems for MPI analysis.

Procedures: We utilize a canonical algorithm in the domain of unsupervised machine learning, known as K-means++, to segment the regions of interest (ROI) of images and perform iron quantification analysis using a standard curve model.

A novel 3D-printed centrifugal ultrafiltration method reveals in vivo glycation of human serum albumin decreases its binding affinity for zinc.

Plasma proteins are covalently modified in vivo by the high-glucose conditions in the bloodstreams of people with diabetes, resulting in changes to both structure and function. Human Serum Albumin (HSA) functions as a carrier-protein in the bloodstream, binding various ligands and tightly regulating their bioavailability. HSA is known to react with glucose via the Maillard reaction, causing adverse effects on its ability to bind and deliver certain ligands, such as metals.

Human Cellular Retinol Binding Protein II Forms a Domain-Swapped Trimer Representing a Novel Fold and a New Template for Protein Engineering.

Domain-swapping is a mechanism for evolving new protein structure from extant scaffolds, and has been an efficient protein-engineering strategy for tailoring functional diversity. However, domain swapping can only be exploited if it can be controlled, especially in cases where various folds can coexist. Herein, we describe the structure of a domain-swapped trimer of the iLBP family member hCRBPII, and suggest a mechanism for domain-swapped trimerization.

Engineering the hCRBPII Domain-Swapped Dimer into a New Class of Protein Switches.

Protein conformational switches or allosteric proteins play a key role in the regulation of many essential biological pathways. Nonetheless, the implementation of protein conformational switches in protein design applications has proven challenging, with only a few known examples that are not derivatives of naturally occurring allosteric systems. We have discovered that the domain-swapped (DS) dimer of hCRBPII undergoes a large and robust conformational change upon retinal binding, making it a potentially powerful template for the design of protein conformational switches.

PolyJet 3D-Printed Enclosed Microfluidic Channels without Photocurable Supports.

Microfluidic devices have historically been prepared using fabrication techniques that often include photolithography and/or etching. Recently, additive manufacturing technologies, commonly known as 3D-printing, have emerged as fabrication tools for microfluidic devices. Unfortunately, PolyJet 3D-printing, which utilizes a photocurable resin that can be accurately printed, requires the use of support material for any designed void space internal to the model.

Ultrafiltration binding analyses of glycated albumin with a 3D-printed syringe attachment.

Protein-ligand binding assays facilitate the understanding of biomolecular interactions. Classical equilibrium dialysis methods are often used for accurate determination of binding properties. While accurate, the long equilibration times associated with the technique (> 6 h) hinder throughput.

C-Peptide replacement therapy in type 1 diabetes: are we in the trough of disillusionment?

Type 1 diabetes is associated with such complications as blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. Replacing C-peptide, a hormone normally co-secreted with insulin, has been shown to reduce diabetes-related complications. Interestingly, after nearly 30 years of positive research results, C-peptide is still not being co-administered with insulin to diabetic patients.

A Printed Equilibrium Dialysis Device with Integrated Membranes for Improved Binding Affinity Measurements.

Equilibrium dialysis is a simple and effective technique used for investigating the binding of small molecules and ions to proteins. A three-dimensional (3D) printer was used to create a device capable of measuring binding constants between a protein and a small ion based on equilibrium dialysis. Specifically, the technology described here enables the user to customize an equilibrium dialysis device to fit their own experiments by choosing membranes of various material and molecular-weight cutoff values.

Analyses of feeding lateralization in the small-eared bushbaby (Otolemur garnettii): a comparison with the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta).

Feeding related lateralization was examined in a population of 23 small-eared bushbabies (Otolemur garnettii). The three measures used to determine lateralization were food reaching, holding, and manipulation. Sex and age differences were found, with adult females showing a strong right bias and adult males a left bias.