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Hyaluronic Acid Conjugated with Antioxidants for Treatment of Cmv-Induced Hearing Loss
Get PDFCytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading nongenetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in children in the United States. Current antiviral treatments exist, however with only modest short-term improvements and uncertain long-term outcome as well as reports of complications. Because CMV causes SNHL through inflammation and oxidation of the inner ear, an anti-inflammatory compound such as hyaluronic acid (HA) can be modified and combined with an antioxidant compound like D-methionine as a potential treatment. Preliminary results indicate successful synthesis of the compound CMHA+Dmethionine as well as demonstrated cytocompatibility. Upcoming procedures will include testing the combined anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of the novel compound CMHA+Dmethionine and investigating its potential to act as an effective treatment for CMV SNHL
Small Molecule Inhibition of Gram-Positive Bacteria S. Aureus and C. Difficile
Get PDFWith the advent of antimicrobial molecules in the mid nineteenth century countless people were saved from life threatening infections. With decades of use, antimicrobials put enormous selective pressure on targeted pathogens resulting in resistances forming in many common microbes. These resistant strains of pathogens result in over two million illnesses, 23,000 deaths every year, and billions of dollars in medical expenses. This represents a need to research new molecules that have antimicrobial properties to combat the rise of resistance and prevent undue suffering to those afflicted. A small molecule is under investigation now that displays promising antimicrobial properties in preliminary studies against Candida species and many pathogenic gram-positive bacteria. The gram-positive bacteria that are inhibited by this small molecule at include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus cereus and Clostridium difficile. Research is currently focused on S. aureus and C. difficile with disk assays performed on both and plate assays performed on S. aureus to narrow down the minimum inhibitory concentration. C. difficile has a zone of inhibition of 9mm, while S. aureus has zone of inhibition at 10mm. The plate assay for S. aureus has shown a minimum inhibitory concentration to be between 150-100 uM of the small molecule, though further studies are needed. Plans are being made to find the mechanism of action of the small molecule by using mutant strains of S. aureus
Natural and Synthetic Drug Analysis in Blowfly Larvae and Pig Tissue
Get PDFBlowfly larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) has long been used in connection with human death. While most commonly used as a mechanism to determine time since death, blowfly larvae have come to be a part of drug analysis in human remains. This study investigates the presence of drugs, both natural and synthetic, in pig tissues which are consumed by blowfly larvae. The classes of drugs examined in this study include opiates, psychoactives, NSAIDs, and stimulants. These active ingredients will be extracted from natural and synthetic sources and injected into pig tissue. Blowfly larvae will then be exposed to the tissue, allowed to feed, and treated with chemical digestion to extract the active ingredients. The GC-MS will determine if there is any difference in compounds digested by the larvae when comparing the natural and synthetic sources. This study may allow forensic scientists to differentiate between natural and synthetic drug sources in remains based on blowfly larvae subjected to drug analyses
Influenza Growth Variations Within MDCK Cells
Get PDFRegardless of the preventative measures taken to keep the seasonal influenza virus under control, millions of people still get sick and tens of thousands die each year in the United States alone. This virus does not only affect the health of our nation but is also an economic burden. One study found that 87.1 billion in the US on average. This is merely the standard virus that comes around on a yearly basis causing the average “flu season.” During the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic; this virus affected every age group in every region, it quickly spread worldwide. The purpose of this research study is to better understand influenza growth within a laboratory setting. This becomes important when growing high titer virus for use in challenge studies and other procedures, where the most effective dose of virus is needed to test the proposed vaccine. To be able to grow the virus, there need to be cells available for infection and propagation. For this purpose, the MDCK cell line was used. There are many conditions that can affect influenza growth in MDCK cells. The assay of virus concentration is also cumbersome and somewhat variable. We show here an analysis of some of the variables affecting growth and some comparison of alternate quantification methods. The preliminary data shown here include effects of cell confluence (‘thickness”) upon initial infection; the amount of virus inoculum added for infection; when and how much TPCK – trypsin to be added to the media; when to harvest; and the growth medium type and volume. We are reporting the effect of these parameters on resulting virus titer
Analysis of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Tropism and Growth Conditions
Get PDFVaccinia is a large enveloped virus belonging to the poxvirus family. It has linear, double stranded DNA, averaging about 190 kbp in length. Although vaccinia's origin is unknown, it is closely related to cowpox, smallpox and horsepox. It is used as a vaccine for smallpox. Recombinant vaccinia is also used a vaccine for multiple other diseases. We employed a mutant form of the virus, modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA), which has a limited host range and limited virulence compared to the wild-type vaccinia, which infects almost all cell types. MVA was established to infect the hamster cell line BHK-21. This cell line was used to test culture conditions and to determine the tissue culture infectious dose 50% (TCID50), which is the measure of the results. This work was undertaken to establish how different culture and infection conditions affect virus growth. This study reports several factors that influence growth and preliminary results for infection rates in several cell lines
Straddling Practical and Theoretical Borders: Critically Evaluating Role and Place Through a Discourse Analytic Lens
No full textProfessional librarians benefit from a close examination of the meaning and purpose underlying their work. One of the most helpful and expedient ways of doing so is to employ non-LIS theories to aid in questioning processes and in critically examining personal work and institutional practices. Discourse analysis, and its related theory, critical discourse analysis, may be suitable for such a purpose. Utilized effectively, they can reveal the underlying power dynamics behind the library as an institution, including the role of librarians within an organization, and the sometimes-fraught interactions between librarians and patrons. The application of theories and methodologies to practice may ultimately improve the library experience for patrons
Groundwater/Surface Water Interactions on the Clark Fork River
Get PDFGrant-Kohr’s Ranch is a National Historic Site located near Deer Lodge, MT. The ranch stretches along a two mile reach of the Clark Fork River, which has been contaminated by mine tailings. Plans for remediation are in progress, and information regarding where groundwater enters and leaves the river is important in this remediation process. A handheld temperature (T) and specific conductivity (SC) probe was used to look for spatial anomalies of these parameters that may indicate where groundwater enters the river. To do this, fifteen cross sections consisting of several T and SC readings were collected perpendicular to flow, and several readings were collected along the river banks (no cross sections) between each cross section. Significant spikes in specific conductivity values are consistent with groundwater entering the river. Zones of low high water temperatures in the winter is consistent with areas where groundwater warmer than the surface water is infiltrating the river. This idea holds true in warmer months as well, as areas where low temperatures are logged may show where cooler groundwater is infiltrating the warmer surface water. Radon-222 (222Rn) was collected along both the right and left banks at all fifteen monitoring locations to verify groundwater inputs inferred from T and SC measurements. 222Rn de-gasses quickly when a river flows from a gaining to a losing reach, so this is an ideal validation. Local lithology suggests a sandy gravelly aquifer that would interact with surface water. Both 222Rn combined with T and SC suggest intermittent zones of groundwater inflow along the river banks, often only occurring along one side of the river at a time
Requirements for Aggression: Altering EAAT 1 Expression To Manipulate Glutamate Uptake in Drosophila Melanogaster
Get PDFAggression is a behavior required for survival and reproduction. Research has identified several neurons and neurotransmitters (signaling molecules) that are important for promoting aggression, but the neurotransmitter glutamate has only recently been identified, and its role is not fully understood. This research examines how manipulation of glutamate expression via altered expression of its transporter, EAAT1, alters aggression in the Drosophila model organism. Glutamate function was reduced by increasing expression of the glutamate transporter, EAAT1 (Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 1). EAAT1 recycles extracellular glutamate to regulate neuronal communication. By increasing the amount of EAAT1, more glutamate is recycled, reducing its ability to signal to the downstream neuron. EAAT1 expression was increased via controlled transgenic expression. Conversely, glutamate function was increased by reducing expression of EAAT1 via RNA interference. Using genetic tools and antibody labeling, it was verified that EAAT1 is widely expressed in glial cells throughout the brain. A reduction in glutamate produced male flies that were less aggressive compared to controls, similar to previous research that manipulated glutamate expression only in octopamine neurons. Specifically, experimental flies took longer to start fighting, lunged less, and produced fewer wing threats and wing extensions. Flies with increased glutamate levels were also less aggressive, though this may be due to limited function at the neuron or the neuromuscular junction, where a motor neuron and a muscle fiber meet. These results demonstrate glutamate function is required for sex-specific behavior and provide a foundation to determine the role of glutamate in aggression circuitry in any system
Long-Term Vegetation Response to Grazing on a Southwest Montana Foothills Range
Get PDFLong-term vegetation data collected in area under known management provides an opportunity for understanding the potential implications of vegetation response to grazing management. Short-term studies (2-3 years) are unable to capture vegetation response due to the ecological inertia of the system and temporary fluctuations due to weather patterns. When Montana State University purchased Red Bluff Ranch in 1956, it was heavily stocked but the range was thought to be in acceptable condition. Stocking rates were lowered nonetheless. In 1958, 74 vegetation monitoring transects were established. In 2017 we attempted to relocate transects in two pastures currently used for winter grazing. Of the 28 transects in both pastures, we were able to relocate and read 11. Using original methodology, we collected basal cover data along five five-foot subplots randomly located around each transect. Data were analyzed using a paired Mann-Whitney U test. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) exhibited the greatest change in cover, increasing from 0.4% in 1958 to 16.1% in 2017 (P < 0.01), and was present at 9 of the 11 monitoring sites. Perennial grass cover increased from 4.3% to 13.0% (P < 0.01). Litter cover increased from 49.2% to 58.4% (P < 0.05). Bare ground decreased from 35.2% to 3.0% (P < 0.01). The increase in cheatgrass cover explains a majority of the increase in litter and the extreme reduction in bare ground. The data indicate that the condition of the range may not have been as high as first thought, and, while cover of perennial species can increase under moderate stocking, rangeland may still be susceptible to invasion by cheatgrass. The invasion of cheatgrass may be attributable to the early spring flush of organic nitrogen associated with winter grazing