Assessment of , a Novel Research and Neurotechnology Based Approach for the Modern Neuroscience Classroom.

Neuroscience research is changing at an incredible pace due to technological innovation and recent national and global initiatives such as the BRAIN initiative. Given the wealth of data supporting the value of course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) for students, we developed and assessed a neurotechnology CURE, . The goal of the course is to immerse undergraduate and graduate students in research and to explore technological advances in neuroscience.

A two-step model of acute CD4 T-cell mediated cardiac allograft rejection.

CD4 T cells are both necessary and sufficient to mediate acute cardiac allograft rejection in mice. This process requires "direct" engagement of donor MHC class II molecules. That is, acute rejection by CD4+ T cells requires target MHC class II expression by the donor and not by the host.

The degree of phylogenetic disparity of islet grafts dictates the reliance on indirect CD4 T-cell antigen recognition for rejection.

Cellular xenograft rejection involves a pronounced contribution of CD4 T-cells recognizing antigens in association with recipient MHC class II molecules. However, the requirement for such "indirect" antigen recognition for acute islet xenograft is not clear, especially as a function of the phylogenetic disparity between the donor and recipient species. In vitro studies show that C57BL/6 (B6) mouse T-cells respond directly to either allogeneic BALB/c or phylogenetically related xenogeneic WF rat stimulator cells while having undetectable responses to phylogenetically disparate porcine stimulator cells.