Sustained antiviral insulin signaling during West Nile virus infection results in viral mutations.

Arthropod-borne viruses or arboviruses, including West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) pose significant threats to public health. It is imperative to develop novel methods to control these mosquito-borne viral infections. We previously showed that insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling (IIS)-dependent activation of ERK and JAK-STAT signaling has significant antiviral activity in insects and human cells.

Limostatin and Its Human Ortholog Promote West Nile Virus Infection.

The arbovirus West Nile virus (WNV) is a danger to global health. Spread primarily by mosquitoes, WNV causes about 2000 cases per year in the United States. The natural mosquito immune response controls viral replication so that the host survives but can still transmit the virus.

Insulin-mediated endothelin signaling is antiviral during West Nile virus infection.

Arboviruses, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes, pose a significant threat to humans and are an increasing concern because of climate change, human activity, and expanding vector-competent populations. West Nile virus is of significant concern as the most frequent mosquito-borne disease transmitted annually within the continental United States. Here, we identify a previously uncharacterized signaling pathway that impacts West Nile virus infection, namely endothelin signaling.

Insulin-mediated endothelin signaling is antiviral during West Nile virus infection.

Unlabelled: West Nile virus (WNV) is the most prevalent mosquito-borne virus in the United States with approximately 2,000 cases each year. There are currently no approved human vaccines and a lack of prophylactic and therapeutic treatments. Understanding host responses to infection may reveal potential intervention targets to reduce virus replication and disease progression.

Host Factors That Control Mosquito-Borne Viral Infections in Humans and Their Vector.

Mosquito-borne viral infections are responsible for a significant degree of morbidity and mortality across the globe due to the severe diseases these infections cause, and they continue to increase each year. These viruses are dependent on the mosquito vector as the primary means of transmission to new vertebrate hosts including avian, livestock, and human populations. Due to the dynamic host environments that mosquito-borne viruses pass through as they are transmitted between vector and vertebrate hosts, there are various host factors that control the response to infection over the course of the pathogen's life cycle.

Emerging Mechanisms of Insulin-Mediated Antiviral Immunity in .

Arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses), such as Zika (ZIKV), West Nile (WNV), and dengue (DENV) virus, include some of the most significant global health risks to human populations. The steady increase in the number of cases is of great concern due to the debilitating diseases associated with each viral infection. Because these viruses all depend on the mosquito as a vector for disease transmission, current research has focused on identifying immune mechanisms used by insects to effectively harbor these viruses and cause disease in humans and other animals.

Insulin Potentiates JAK/STAT Signaling to Broadly Inhibit Flavivirus Replication in Insect Vectors.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than half of the world's population is at risk for vector-borne diseases, including arboviruses. Because many arboviruses are mosquito borne, investigation of the insect immune response will help identify targets to reduce the spread of arboviruses. Here, we use a genetic screening approach to identify an insulin-like receptor as a component of the immune response to arboviral infection.

Early Steps in Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Blocked by a Proteasome Inhibitor.

Viruses commandeer host cell 26S proteasome activity to promote viral entry, gene expression, replication, assembly, and egress. Proteasomal degradation activity is critical for herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (also known as Velcade and PS-341) is a clinically effective antineoplastic drug that is FDA approved for treatment of hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.

Engineering in software testing: statistical testing based on a usage model applied to medical device development.

When a population is too large for exhaustive study, as is the case for all possible uses of a software system, a statistically correct sample must be drawn as a basis for inferences about the population. A Markov chain usage model is an engineering formalism that represents the population of possible uses for which a product is to be tested. In statistical testing of software based on a Markov chain usage model, the rich body of analytical results available for Markov chains provides numerous insights that can be used in both product development and test planing.

Prevalence and recognition of panic states in STARNET patients presenting with chest pain.

Background: The purpose of this study was to document the prevalence of panic states in patients presenting with chest pain in primary care settings, to determine the recognition rate of panic states by family physicians, and to assess the impact of lack of recognition on interventions and costs.

Methods: Patients from the South Texas Ambulatory Research Network (STARNET) presenting with a new complaint of chest pain were asked to participate in the study. Before seeing their physician, subjects completed the panic disorder section of the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised.

A rapid procedure for routine double staining of cartilage and bone in fetal and adult animals.

A simple, rapid procedure for dual staining of cartilage and bone in rodents, particularly in late gestation, has been developed for routine use. The procedure involves rapid, complete skinning of fresh eviscerated specimens following a 30 sec immersion in a 70 C water bath. The unfixed specimen is stained in a mixture of 0.