Month: October 2017

Disruption of the host deubiquitinating enzyme, USP14, as a novel therapeutic strategy to combat Listeria monocytogenes infection

October 11, 2017 Kevin M. Claunch
Kevin M. Claunch  Introduction. The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is a critical homeostatic pathway in mammalian cells that is triggered by ER dysfunction and subsequent accumulation of misfolded and damaged proteins[1,7]. Activation of the UPR is achieved through three transmembrane proteins, one of which is IRE-1, which catalyzes the splicing…
Microbiology

Targeting Tau: The future of defeating Alzheimer’s Disease?

October 11, 2017 Nitin Agrawal
Nitin Agrawal Introduction. Alzheimer’s Disease is progressive neurodegeneration that is associated with beta-amyloid protein plaques and tau tangle accumulations1. Historically, the amyloid hypothesis, which states that the buildup of beta-amyloid plaques causes direct synaptic damage leading to cell death with brain atrophy, has been touted as the main explanation for…
Neuroscience

Ang-2 and VEGF Inhibition alters tumor associated macrophages and normalizes tumor vasculature in glioblastoma

October 11, 2017 Tejaswini Reddy
Tejaswini Reddy  Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults and the current standard of treatment of care is surgical resection of tumor(s) followed by external beam irradiation and taking cytotoxic agent temozolomide orally [1-6]. However, many tumors develop resistance to temozolomide, which is why…
Cancer

Alteration and Characterization of Exosomes in Preeclampsia

October 11, 2017 Marisa Pinson
Marisa Pinson  Introduction.  Preeclampsia (PE) is defined by new onset hypertension and proteinuria by ≥20 weeks of gestation.1-4 PE occurs in 2-5% of pregnancies and is the leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality globally[1]. Currently, the only treatment for PE is delivery of the placenta. The mechanisms behind…
Development

Melatonin inhibits estrogen production in ERα+ breast cancer associated fibroblasts and counteracts tamoxifen resistance

October 11, 2017 Nishah Panchani
Nishah Panchani Introduction: Approximately 12.4% of women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime[1].  Furthermore, 70% of all breast cancers are known to be caused by increased receptor-estrogen interaction (ER+)[2]. Studies have hypothesized that the proliferation promoting estrogen is produced by breast adipose fibroblasts (BAF) in postmenopausal women, the cohort…
Cancer

Mechanism of neutralization associated with the E protein of Zika Virus: EDE1 antibodies and LALA variants

October 10, 2017 Hadley Young
Hadley Young  Introduction. Zika Virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus spread by Aedes mosquitoes and transmitted sexually and trans-placentally.3 First discovered in 1947 in Uganda, the recent ZIKV epidemic began in Brazil in 2015.3 Beyond flu-like symptoms, ZIKV has been linked to microcephaly and Guillian-Barre’ syndrome.1 Treatment is presently supportive and…
Microbiology

The Role of the Gut Microbiota and Host Metabolism

October 10, 2017 Callan Young
Callan Young Introduction. Obesity is known as being caused by an imbalance between energy consumption and expenditure. Many scientists, researchers and physicians note that obesity is also linked to genetics, environmental factors, gender, age and socioeconomic status, among others. Recently, research has proved that the human microbiome also provides a…
Microbiology