West Nile Virus and Pattern Recognition Receptors

West Nile Virus (WNV), RNA virus is a member of the flaviviridae family that causes flu like symptoms in infected individuals, however in 1-2% cases, it causes severe neurological diseases such as encephalitis. There is no antiviral or vaccine approved so far to prevent WNV disease, therefore research to understand immune pathology is very important. Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR) are proteins that are expressed by cells to detect virus infection and play an important role in the innate immune system. When a PRR such as Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) and Nod-Like Receptors (NLR) detects a replicating virus, signals are sent out to warn the body and other neighboring cells that there is a foreign presence within the body. These signals include production of antiviral cytokines and interferons (IFN) that recruit the leukocytes to help fight off the infection. However, it has been discovered that different viruses produce unique cell signals that may act as either a positive and/or negative regulator of the cytokine production and the effectiveness of the immune system. My lab works on understanding the function of two novel innate immune molecules, NLRC5 (a member of NLR family) and TREM-1 (amplifier of inflammation). Therefore, this project will involve WNV infection of mouse immune cells from wild-type mouse and mouse deficient with NLRC5 and TREM-1 and compare specific innate immune markers using real-time RT-PCRs. At the end of my training, I will gain understanding of the research conducted in infectious disease area and will also learn several important techniques

Controlling magnetization reversal in Co/Pt nanostructures with perpendicular anisotropy

We demonstrate a simple method to tailor the magnetization reversal mechanisms of Co/Pt multilayers by depositing them onto large area nanoporous anodized alumina (AAO) with various aspect ratios, A = pore depth/diameter. Magnetization reversal of composite (Co/Pt)/AAO films with large A is governed by strong domain-wall pinning which gradually transforms into a rotation-dominated reversal for samples with smaller A, as investigated by a first-order reversal curve method in conjunction with analysis of the angular dependent switching fields. The change of the magnetization reversal mode is attributed to topographical changes induced by the aspect ratio of the AAO templates.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Formation mechanism of SiGe nanorod arrays by combining nanosphere lithography and Au-assisted chemical etching

The formation mechanism of SiGe nanorod (NR) arrays fabricated by combining nanosphere lithography and Au-assisted chemical etching has been investigated. By precisely controlling the etching rate and time, the lengths of SiGe NRs can be tuned from 300 nm to 1 μm. The morphologies of SiGe NRs were found to change dramatically by varying the etching temperatures. We propose a mechanism involving a locally temperature-sensitive redox reaction to explain this strong temperature dependence of the morphologies of SiGe NRs. At a lower etching temperature, both corrosion reaction and Au-assisted etching process were kinetically impeded, whereas at a higher temperature, Au-assisted anisotropic etching dominated the formation of SiGe NRs. With transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analyses, this study provides a beneficial scheme to design and fabricate low-dimensional SiGe-based nanostructures for possible applications

Corrigendum: Ganoderma lucidum reduces obesity in mice by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8489

Ganoderma lucidum reduces obesity in mice by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota

Obesity is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation and intestinal dysbiosis. Ganoderma lucidum is a medicinal mushroom used in traditional Chinese medicine with putative anti-diabetic effects. Here, we show that a water extract of Ganoderma lucidum mycelium (WEGL) reduces body weight, inflammation and insulin resistance in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Our data indicate that WEGL not only reverses HFD-induced gut dysbiosis—as indicated by the decreased Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratios and endotoxin-bearing Proteobacteria levels—but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity and reduces metabolic endotoxemia. The anti-obesity and microbiota-modulating effects are transmissible via horizontal faeces transfer from WEGL-treated mice to HFD-fed mice. We further show that high molecular weight polysaccharides (\u3e300 kDa) isolated from the WEGL extract produce similar anti-obesity and microbiota-modulating effects. Our results indicate that G. lucidum and its high molecular weight polysaccharides may be used as prebiotic agents to prevent gut dysbiosis and obesity-related metabolic disorders in obese individuals

Hirsutella sinensis mycelium attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in vivo

Hirsutella sinensis mycelium (HSM), the anamorph of Cordyceps sinensis, is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been shown to possess various pharmacological properties. We previously reported that this fungus suppresses interleukin-1β and IL-18 secretion by inhibiting both canonical and non-canonical inflammasomes in human macrophages. However, whether HSM may be used to prevent lung fibrosis and the mechanism underlying this activity remain unclear. Our results show that pretreatment with HSM inhibits TGF-β1–induced expression of fibronectin and α-SMA in lung fibroblasts. HSM also restores superoxide dismutase expression in TGF-β1–treated lung fibroblasts and inhibits reactive oxygen species production in lung epithelial cells. Furthermore, HSM pretreatment markedly reduces bleomycin–induced lung injury and fibrosis in mice. Accordingly, HSM reduces inflammatory cell accumulation in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and proinflammatory cytokines levels in lung tissues. The HSM extract also significantly reduces TGF-β1 in lung tissues, and this effect is accompanied by decreased collagen 3α1 and α-SMA levels. Moreover, HSM reduces expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome and P2X7R in lung tissues, whereas it enhances expression of superoxide dismutase. These findings suggest that HSM may be used for the treatment of pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis

Quantitative thermal testing as a screening and follow-up tool for diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes

IntroductionThe diagnosis and assessment of neuropathy severity of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN) are mainly based on clinical neuropathy scores and electrophysiologic studies. This study aimed to determine whether quantitative thermal testing (QTT) can be used as a screening and follow-up tool for DSPN of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes at baseline and at 1-year follow-up.MethodsAll patients were assessed using the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCNS) and underwent electrophysiological testing, including a nerve conduction study (NCS) and QTT, at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up. The TCNS and the composite scores of nerve conduction were used to assess the severity of DSPN. The DSPN status at the 1-year follow-up was classified as remaining no DSPN, remaining DSPN, regression to no DSPN, or progression to DSPN.ResultsDiabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy was initially diagnosed in 89 patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (22%). The regressed to no DSPN in 29 patients and progressed to DSPN in 20 patients at the 1-year follow-up. TCNS was significantly correlated with composite scores of nerve conduction, hand cold detection threshold (CDT), hand warm detection threshold (WDT), foot CDT, and foot WDT. Stepwise logistic regression demonstrated that the foot CDT (p < 0.0001) was independently associated with the presence of DSPN. The TCNS, composite scores of the nerve conduction, hand WDT, hand CDT, foot WDT, and foot CDT were all statistically significant among the four different DSPN status groups at two different time periods (baseline and the 1-year follow-up).ConclusionThe foot CDT can be used as an initial screening tool for DSPN alternatively. The characteristics of nerve damage after 1 year of DSPN can be progressive or reversible, and the neurological functions of large and small fibers have a parallel trend, which can be objectively measured by NCS and QTT