Reasons for smoking among English-speaking adults in Leicester - a pilot study

open access articleCigarette smoke contains around 7000 chemicals that are harmful to health and cause premature death. Most smokers acknowledge the harm they are doing to them yet continue to smoke. This pilot study was designed to understand the impact of cigarette smoking, the addictive effect of nicotine, and also to hypothesize a recommendation for smoking cessation. Methods: This study recruited English speaking adult participants who were either current, occasional, and ex-smokers from NHS Stop Smoking clinics in Leicester, United Kingdom, using a self-completed questionnaire. Results: Out of 32 participants, white British and Asian were the top two ethnicities with the majority of males as respondents. Stress, boredom, nervousness, and ‘just like it’, were the main reasons quoted for cigarette smoking. Irritation & mood swings were the top reasons for craving. The visual stimuli and ‘smell of smoking’ were reported as the top two strong cues. Majority of the participants reported having several health problems mainly due to cigarette smoking such as respiratory cough, feel like tightening of lungs, asthma, high blood pressure, difficulty in losing weight, excess fat accumulation near the waist, poor appetite, fatigue, sleep disturbances, darkened teeth as well as an inability to differentiate between taste. Conclusion: Our study suggested that cigarette smoking may be more like a habit than an addiction, which unable to relieve stress or boredom but keeps smokers hooked to the habit

ImmunoCap 250 for Diagnostics of Allergy and Autoimmunity

As HLS EU International coordinator, I have planned and led DMUglobal trips for students and staff in 2019 and 2020 to Vilnius Life Science Centre and the COINS Life Science conference, this poster has been presented at this conference in 2020.See Abstract Booklet p.4

The Glycosylation Pattern of Common Allergens: The Recognition and Uptake of Der p 1 by Epithelial and Dendritic Cells Is Carbohydrate Dependent

Allergens are initiators of both innate and adaptive immune responses. They are recognised at the site of entry by epithelial and dendritic cells (DCs), both of which activate innate inflammatory circuits that can collectively induce Th2 immune responses. In an attempt to have a better understanding of the role of carbohydrates in the recognition and uptake of allergens by the innate immune system, we defined common glycosylation patterns in major allergens. This was done using labelled lectins and showed that allergens like Der p 1 (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 1), Fel d 1 (Felis domisticus), Ara h 1 (Arachis hypogaea), Der p 2 (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 2), Bla g 2 (Blattella germanica) and Can f 1 (Canis familiaris) are glycosylated and that the main dominant sugars on these allergens are 1–2, 1–3 and 1–6 mannose. These observations are in line with recent reports implicating the mannose receptor (MR) in allergen recognition and uptake by DCs and suggesting a major link between glycosylation and allergen recognition. We then looked at TSLP (Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin) cytokine secretion by lung epithelia upon encountering natural Der p 1 allergen. TSLP is suggested to drive DC maturation in support of allergic hypersensitivity reactions. Our data showed an increase in TSLP secretion by lung epithelia upon stimulation with natural Der p 1 which was carbohydrate dependent. The deglycosylated preparation of Der p 1 exhibited minimal uptake by DCs compared to the natural and hyperglycosylated recombinant counterparts, with the latter being taken up more readily than the other preparations. Collectively, our data indicate that carbohydrate moieties on allergens play a vital role in their recognition by innate immune cells, implicating them in downstream deleterious Th2 cell activation and IgE production

Transcriptomic analysis of the temporal host response to skin infestation with the ectoparasitic mite Psoroptes ovis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infestation of ovine skin with the ectoparasitic mite <it>Psoroptes ovis </it>results in a rapid cutaneous immune response, leading to the crusted skin lesions characteristic of sheep scab. Little is known regarding the mechanisms by which such a profound inflammatory response is instigated and to identify novel vaccine and drug targets a better understanding of the host-parasite relationship is essential. The main objective of this study was to perform a combined network and pathway analysis of the <it>in vivo </it>skin response to infestation with <it>P. ovis </it>to gain a clearer understanding of the mechanisms and signalling pathways involved.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Infestation with <it>P. </it>ovis resulted in differential expression of 1,552 genes over a 24 hour time course. Clustering by peak gene expression enabled classification of genes into temporally related groupings. Network and pathway analysis of clusters identified key signalling pathways involved in the host response to infestation. The analysis implicated a number of genes with roles in allergy and inflammation, including pro-inflammatory cytokines (<it>IL1A, IL1B, IL6, IL8 </it>and <it>TNF</it>) and factors involved in immune cell activation and recruitment (<it>SELE, SELL, SELP, ICAM1, CSF2, CSF3, CCL2 </it>and <it>CXCL2</it>). The analysis also highlighted the influence of the transcription factors NF-kB and AP-1 in the early pro-inflammatory response, and demonstrated a bias towards a Th2 type immune response.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study has provided novel insights into the signalling mechanisms leading to the development of a pro-inflammatory response in sheep scab, whilst providing crucial information regarding the nature of mite factors that may trigger this response. It has enabled the elucidation of the temporal patterns by which the immune system is regulated following exposure to <it>P. ovis</it>, providing novel insights into the mechanisms underlying lesion development. This study has improved our existing knowledge of the host response to <it>P. ovis</it>, including the identification of key parallels between sheep scab and other inflammatory skin disorders and the identification of potential targets for disease control.</p

Using Co-creation and Instant Feedback for Teaching University Students’ interactive Adobe Spark e-page and 30 minute recorded online talk presented at the International UDL-IRN Summit On Demand, New York, USA, June 1-5th, 2020.

Using Co-creation and Instant Feedback for Teaching University Students May 22, 2020 Ruta Furmonaviciene This session will present co-creation work and WhatsApp use to enhance learning. Dr. Furmonaviciene co-created an online textbook with an undergraduate student group of around two hundred students. The students completed their co-creation as group work during the revision sessions for the module. UDL underpins innovative teaching ways, where every student can actively learn. Co-creation of an online textbook and WhatsApp use increased student engagement and allowed students to provide unique inputs. This study argues that virtual learning environments for co-creation and mobile apps could represent valuable tools for effective UDL practice. Interactive poster and 30 minute video presentation and website created for the International UDL-IRN Summit 2020 using Adobe Spark: https://spark.adobe.com/page/PWNXn01fl11xY

Academic Outreach and Widening Participation: Problems, Planning and Quick Wins

Dr Ruta Furmonaviciene reflects positively on the transition to online delivery and identifies some tools which have helped her to continue working. Ruta explains how the pandemic has increased the opportunity for innovation and creativity and she highlights the benefits this could have for WP and outreach https://youtu.be/7LxHW8AetC

Annual Nuffield Summer Research Projects and Nuffield Summer Research Project Celebration Event at DMU Venue

Other groups and departments involved in this research: DMU Library Team Gabriel Egan – Department of Textual Studies Richard Smith – School of Computer Science Farukh Farukh – School of Engineering and Sustainable Development Rusi Jaspal – EGLS(Please read at https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/news/2019/october/record-number-of-college-students-complete-stem-placements-at-dmu.aspx for more details by DMU media team) Summary of the Project I have been leading UK Nuffield Research Placements for several years giving sixth form students hands-on experience of a university (DMU) research environment through a 4 week placement during their summer holidays. By providing a placement, our university can give someone a life-changing opportunity that will help transform them into a future scientist. Nuffield placements have a particular focus on high achieving students from more disadvantaged backgrounds (50% of Nuffield students are female and over 50% of students are from areas of high deprivation). On the other hand, our university researchers and research students have opportunity to apply and develop their coaching, mentoring and research group management skills. At HLS I have been looking after Nuffield research placement students for several years already starting from one and having a group of 10 students during the last two summers. My Nuffield student projects have changed over the years, depending on the interests and requirements of the student group an availability of the laboratories. Last year I have organised the projects as a cross-faculty interdisciplinary research showcase, involving library, pharmacy and allied health researchers and postgraduate students. We had Ceri, Anna (library team), Marilena, Harprit, Eva, Carika, Jay (BMS/MS), Joanne, Tarsem, Unmesh, Ketan (pharmacy) and Angela (WP) assisting with different aspects of the project and really well showcasing fantastic DMU research on diabetes; the students learned about scientific research and database search, small molecule drug synthesis, DNA extraction, second generation sequencing, microbiome tests, immunology of diabetes and serum/saliva biomarkers, impact of lifestyle on diabetes and vascular pathology. I have been leading summer research placement projects for Nuffield students for about ten years, starting with just one student, then a few, and gradually championing the scheme and expanding to even more project students and involving our new research Institute team, who have helped to disseminating the scheme to our whole university in 2019 with having 23 Nuffield students at DMU, this way making DMU the most popular summer research placement destination for talented college students in Midlands. In 2019 the following DMU members been leading Nuffield summer placements: Gabriel Egan – Department of Textual Studies Naomi Martin – Department of Health and Life Sciences Ruta Furmonaviciene – Department of Health and Life Sciences Shivanthi Samarasin – Department of Health and Life sciences Richard Smith – School of Computer Science Farukh Farukh – School of Engineering and Sustainable Development Rusi Jaspal – EGLS (HLS) I have also initiated and coordinated regional Nuffield research placement celebration event which was held at DMU for the first time at DMU Venue on the 30th September 2019. In collaboration with the LEBC and Nuffield team, I have helped with to organise meetings with DMU researchers, research and WP teams, our Venue, Estates and ITMS teams as well as helped to shape the list of the speakers and the agenda for the day of the Celebration event. This work has been presented in Nuffield Summer Research Placement Celebration event at Loughborough university (certificate for project provider obtained) and also at our DMU summer research conference and at DMU research conference. I have developed student-tailored strategy of supervision (the students interacted as a research group, with individual support when needed), our processes (e.g. induction, seminars and feedback sessions) seem to be working very efficiently and cost-effectively. We received some great oral and written feedback, as well as photos and tweets from students, staff and Nuffield foundation. In return, we get excellent publicity for DMU and DMU research, this way we are also attracting the most talented students in the region to DMU as well as their supporters and funders. We are also helping BAME students within the group to get their first HE experience at DMU; as a result of summer placement, a few Nuffield students including DMU in their study choices, and one of them has applied and joined our Biomedical Science course during the placement last year. The student has now completed her first year of BMS course with outstanding marks and has been interviewed by DMU media to promote our Nuffield project work further. Also, this is a great training opportunity for our MSc and PhD students interacting with Nuffield students in the labs. Together with Stacy Munday from Nuffield and LEBC, we have just set a date for the next Nuffield Celebration Event at DMU - this is now planned for the 5th October 2020. We are determined to make this event even bigger and better than the previous one

The molecular basis of allergenicity: comparative analysis of the three-dimensional structures of diverse allergens reveals a common structural motif

Background—Although a large number of allergens have been characterised, the structural, functional, and biochemical features that these molecules have in common, and that could explain their ability to elicit powerful IgE antibody responses, are still uncertain. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the role of the cysteine protease activity of the house dust mite allergen Der p 1 in biasing the immune response in favour of IgE production. Aims—To search for remote homologues of Der p 1 with sequences similar to the 30 conserved amino acids surrounding the catalytic cysteine residue (Cys34). Methods—Potential homologues were analysed by examining their three dimensional structures and multiple sequence alignments using the programs PROPSEARCH, ClustalW, GeneDoc, and Swiss Pdb Viewer. Results—Diverse allergens (for example, the plant cysteine protease papain, the transport protein lipocalin Mus m 1, and the ragweed allergen Amb a 5) have a similar structural motif; namely, a groove resembling the substrate binding groove of Der p 1. The groove is located inside an α–β motif, between an α helix on one side and an antiparallel β sheet on the other side. A similar common motif (a cysteine stabilised α–β fold) can also be found in some toxins and defensins. Conclusion—Allergens of diverse sources have a common structural motif, namely a groove located inside an α–β motif, which could potentially serve as a ligand binding site