Coupling antigens from multiple subtypes of influenza can broaden antibody and T cell responses.

The seasonal influenza vaccine contains strains of viruses from distinct subtypes that are grown independently and then combined. However, most individuals exhibit a more robust response to one of these strains and thus are vulnerable to infection by others. By studying a monozygotic twin cohort, we found that although prior exposure is a factor, host genetics are a stronger driver of subtype bias to influenza viral strains.

Taurine stimulation of planarian motility: a role for the dopamine receptor pathway.

Taurine, a normal dietary component that is found in many tissues, is considered important for a number of physiological processes. It is thought to play a particular role in eye development and in the maturation of both the muscular and nervous systems, leading to its suggested use as a therapeutic for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Taurine increases metabolism and has also been touted as a weight loss aid.

Blunt Talk on "Blunts": The Increasingly Popular Tobacco Product That Is Potentially Exacerbating Tobacco-Related Health Disparities.

A "blunt" is a hollowed-out cigar/cigarillo from which much of the loose tobacco has been removed, and the remaining tobacco wrapper filled with cannabis. Although blunts contain significant levels of tobacco/nicotine, they are often treated as if they were exclusive cannabis products and omitted from surveys of tobacco products. Whereas the prevalence of virtually all other tobacco products is on the decline in the USA, available data suggest that the prevalence of blunt smoking is not - and in fact, it may be increasing.

New Agents Are Coming, and So Is the Resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat that requires urgent attention to slow the spread of resistant pathogens. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has emphasized clinician-driven antimicrobial stewardship approaches including the reporting and proper documentation of antimicrobial usage and resistance. Additional efforts have targeted the development of new antimicrobial agents, but narrow profit margins have hindered manufacturers from investing in novel antimicrobials for clinical use and therefore the production of new antibiotics has decreased.

How triacylglycerol thermal history impacts film removal by surfactant solution.

Hypothesis: The physical and mechanical properties of triacylglycerols (TAGs), or 'fats', depend on their composition and thermal history which, in turn, impact crystal structure and morphology. We examine whether thermal history can be mechanistically related to film removal by a surfactant solution.

Experiments: Model TAG mixtures, comprising triolein:tripalmitin:tristearin 0.