Using Origami and Shrinky Dinks to Create Active Learning Activities to Tackle Two Microbiology Concepts: Cell Structure Differences and Operon Regulation

This paper presents two low-cost hands-on activities designed to enhance student understanding and address the pedagogical challenges faced by microbiology professors in teaching concepts related to cell structure and gene regulation. In the first activity, we used Shrinky Dinks and Jeopardy-style game questions to explore the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Students have to collect pieces and physically build their cell models. The second activity uses origami organelles sets from Edvotek to illustrate the regulation of gene expression in the lac and trp operons, incorporating mutation scenarios for analysis. The intended audience comprises undergraduate students in microbiology, including biology, pre-medical studies, and health profession majors. The activities were deployed in three microbiology lectures, and students were surveyed. Students\u27 feedback highlights the efficacy of the hands-on approach and increased class participation, as two of the recurring words in the students\u27 survey were helpful and fun

Response to novel objects and foraging tasks by common marmoset (Callithrix Jacchus) female Pairs

Many studies have shown that environmental enrichment can significantly improve the psychological well-being of captive primates, increasing the occurrence of explorative behavior and thus reducing boredom. The response of primates to enrichment devices may be affected by many factors such as species, sex, age, personality and social context. Environmental enrichment is particularly important for social primates living in unnatural social groupings (i.e. same-sex pairs or singly housed animals), who have very few, or no, benefits from the presence of social companions in addition to all the problems related to captivity (e.g. increased inactivity). This study analyses the effects of enrichment devices (i.e. novel objects and foraging tasks) on the behavior of common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) female pairs, a species that usually lives in family groups. It aims to determine which aspects of an enrichment device are more likely to elicit explorative behaviors, and how aggressive and stress-related behaviors are affected by its presence. Overall, the marmosets explored foraging tasks significantly longer than novel objects. The type of object, which varied in size, shape and aural responsiveness (i.e. they made a noise when the monkey touched them), did not affect the response of the monkeys, but they explored objects that were placed higher in the enclosure more than those placed lower down.Younger monkeys were more attracted to the enrichment devices than the older ones. Finally, stress-related behavior (i.e. scratching) significantly decreased when the monkeys were presented with the objects; aggressive behavior as unaffected. This study supports the importance of environmental enrichment for captive primates and shows that in marmosets its effectiveness strongly depends upon the height of the device in the enclosure and the presence of hidden food. The findings can be explained ifone considers the foraging behavior of wild common marmosets. Broader applications for the research findings are suggested in relation to enrichment

Life and expectations post-kidney transplant: a qualitative analysis of patient responses

Abstract Background The effect of a kidney transplant on a recipient extends beyond the restoration of kidney function. However, there is limited qualitative analysis of recipient perspectives on life following transplantation, particularly in the United States. To understand the full patient experience, it is necessary to understand recipient views on life adjustments after kidney transplantation, medical management, and quality of life. This could lead to improvements in recipient care and sense of well-being. Methods We conducted a paper-based survey from March 23 to October 1, 2015 of 476 kidney transplant recipients at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We analyzed their open-ended responses using qualitative research methods. This is a companion analysis to a previous quantitative report on the closed-ended responses to that survey. Results Common themes relating to changes following transplantation included: improvements in quality of life, a return to normalcy, better health and more energy. Concerns included: duration of graft survival, fears about one day returning to dialysis or needing to undergo another kidney transplant, comorbidities, future quality of life, and the cost and quality of their healthcare. Many recipients were grateful for their transplant, but some were anxious about the burdens transplantation placed on their loved ones. Conclusions While most recipients reported meaningful improvements in health and lifestyle after kidney transplantation, a minority of participants experienced declines in energy or health status. Worries about how long the transplant will function, future health, and cost and quality of healthcare are prevalent. Future research could study the effects of providing additional information, programs, and interventions following transplantation that target these concerns. This may better prepare and support kidney recipients and lead to improvements in the patient experience.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149149/1/12882_2019_Article_1368.pd

Dissecting How Interactions at the Apex of HIV-1 Env Modulate Epitope Exposure at the Distant Base of the Glycoprotein

The envelope glycoprotein, Env, of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) mediates viral entry through membrane fusion. Env is a structurally dynamic trimer consisting of three protomers; each protomer consists of a surface gp120 and a transmembrane gp41 subunit. Being the sole virally encoded protein accessible on the virion, vaccine strategies target Env. However, structural plasticity limits the exposure of immunodominant epitopes. We assessed how inter- and intraprotomer interactions between specific apical segments in Env, labeled V1V2 and V3 loops, result in structural and functional changes. Swapping the V3 loop from the EnvSF162 strain into the background of EnvHXB2 altered global epitope exposure as determined by antibody neutralization assays. The chimeric Env was more stable, as determined by a reduced sensitivity to cold inactivation and soluble CD4-induced gp120 shedding, and the binding stoichiometry of target cell CD4 receptors to mediate viral entry increased when compared to EnvHXB2. Cumulatively, these data suggest alterations in the prefusogenic structural and energetic landscape of the chimeric Env. We further identified residue 306 within the V3 loop as a key modulator of EnvHXB2 intraprotomer interaction with direct implications on structure and function. Specifically, our data suggest a novel conformation along the activation pathway in which the V1V2 and V3 loops disengage from the trimer core (loss of interprotomer interaction) but remain associated through intraprotomer interactions. Subsequent loss of V1V2 and V3 intraprotomer interaction results in splaying of the loops, enabling exposure of the membrane proximal external region (MPER) at the distant base of the glycoprotein. To assess the relationship between apical splaying and MPER exposure, protomers that differed in their propensity to undergo splaying were combined to produce heterotrimers. Through analysis of anti-MPER antibody potency, we determined that apical splaying and resultant MPER exposure follows a cooperative mechanism. The R306S substitution in other Env strains produced variable results to MPER exposure, leading us to hypothesize that other residues outside the V3 loop play a modulatory role in apex-to-base communication. We compared the primary sequences of EnvHXB2 and EnvNL4-3 to elucidate a putative allosteric network that appears to be modulated via a complex mechanism. The work herein provides greater insight into Env structure and function and can be utilized in the development of clinical approaches that target HIV-1

Mutations in multiple components of the nuclear pore complex cause nephrotic syndrome

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) almost invariably progresses to end-stage renal disease. Although more than 50 monogenic causes of SRNS have been described, a large proportion of SRNS remains unexplained, Recently, it was discovered that mutations of NUP93 and NUP205, encoding 2 proteins of the inner ring subunit of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), cause SRNS. Here, we describe mutations in genes encoding 4 components of the outer rings of the NPC, namely NUP107, NUP85, NUP133, and NUP160, in 13 families with SRNS. Using coimmunoprecipitation experiments, we showed that certain pathogenic alleles weakened the interaction between neighboring NPC subunits. We demonstrated that morpholino knockdown of nup107, nup85, or nup133 in Xenopus disrupted glomerulogenesis. Re-expression of WT mRNA, but not of mRNA reflecting mutations from SRNS patients, mitigated this phenotype. We furthermore found that CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of NUP107, NUP85, or NUP133 in podocytes activated Cdc42, an important effector of SRNS pathogenesis. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of nup107 or nup85 in zebrafish caused developmental anomalies and early lethality. In contrast, an in-frame mutation of nup107 did not affect survival, thus mimicking the allelic effects seen in humans. In conclusion, we discovered here that mutations in 4 genes encoding components of the outer ring subunits of the NPC cause SRNS and thereby provide further evidence that specific hypomorphic mutations in these essential genes cause a distinct, organ-specific phenotype