Publications by authors named "R Willms"

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) are a major cause of diarrheal disease, yet critical aspects of their biology, including cellular tropism, remain unclear. Although research has traditionally focused on the intestinal epithelium, the hypothesis that HuNoV infects macrophages has been recurrently discussed and is investigated here using a zebrafish larval model. Through single-cell RNA sequencing of dissected zebrafish intestines, we unbiasedly identified macrophages as host cells for HuNoV replication, with all three open reading frames mapped to individual macrophages.

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Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are dissatisfied with their bowel care, but 71% have not changed their care for at least 5 years. Recently, individuals with SCI expressed a need for knowledge about bowel care options. Healthcare providers (HCP) play a crucial role in supporting bowel care changes.

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Lymph nodes and other secondary lymphoid organs play critical roles in immune surveillance and immune activation in mammals, but the deep internal locations of these organs make it challenging to image and study them in living animals. Here, we describe a previously uncharacterized external immune organ in the zebrafish ideally suited for studying immune cell dynamics , the axillary lymphoid organ (ALO). This small, translucent organ has an outer cortex teeming with immune cells, an inner medulla with a mesh-like network of fibroblastic reticular cells along which immune cells migrate, and a network of lymphatic vessels draining to a large adjacent lymph sac.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the impact of neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) and bowel care-related autonomic dysreflexia (B-AD) on the quality of life (QoL) of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  • Over half of those surveyed reported significant issues with bowel dysfunction, including fecal incontinence and constipation, with a notable percentage experiencing B-AD, especially in individuals with higher-level injuries.
  • The findings indicate that bowel dysfunction severely affects QoL, emphasizing the need for improved bowel management strategies to enhance the overall well-being of individuals living with SCI.
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