A5067210757- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Research on Leishmaniasis Studies
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Malaria Research and Control
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- COVID-19 and healthcare impacts
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Complement system in diseases
- Dental Research and COVID-19
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Infection Control in Healthcare
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Healthcare and Environmental Waste Management
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
Center for Global Health
2012-2025
University of New Mexico
2013-2025
New Mexico VA Health Care System
2011-2017
Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center
2015
University of Washington Medical Center
2011
University of Pennsylvania
2003-2004
Philadelphia University
2003-2004
Pediatrics and Genetics
2004
Convalescent plasma (CP) is a potentially important therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, knowledge regarding neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers in donor and their impact patients with acute COVID-19 remains largely undetermined. We measured NAb CP before after transfusion through the traditional Food Drug Administration investigational new drug pathway.We performed single-arm interventional trial measuring total over 14-day period hospitalized laboratory-confirmed severe...
We report a random disruption in the mouse genome that resulted lethal paralysis homozygous newborns. The blocked expression of neurobeachin, protein containing BEACH ( be ige nd Ch ediak-Higashi) domain implicated synaptic vesicle trafficking and an AKAP (A-kinase anchor protein) linked to localization cAMP-dependent kinase activity. nbea -null mice demonstrated complete block evoked transmission at neuromuscular junctions, whereas nerve conduction, structure, spontaneous release were...
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an illness caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The was first identified as cluster of in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, December 2019, and has rapidly spread across the globe to greater than 200 countries. Healthcare providers are at increased risk for contracting due occupational exposure require appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 respirators. rapid worldwide high...
Abstract Background Effective mosquito control approaches incorporate both adult and larval stages. For the latter, physical, biological, chemical have been used with varying results. Successful of larvae has demonstrated using larvicides including insect growth regulators, e.g. organophosphate temephos, as well various entomopathogenic microbial species. However, a variety health environmental issues are associated some these. Laboratory trials essential oils (EO) established larvicidal...
This prospective cohort study explored the association between two upstream IFN-γ variants (rs2069709: G > T and rs2069705: A G) hazard factors for malaria outcomes in a longitudinal of children (n = 941, 3-36 mos.), followed three years. The impact age, sex, previous exposure, HIV1 infection, sickle-cell genotypes (HbAA, HbAS, HbSS) was also investigated. Reduced episodes were associated with older age at enrollment [HR 0.957 (95% CI 0.953-0.961) per month, P < 2.2e-16], infection [0.687...
Abstract This study on severe malarial anemia (SMA: Hb < 6.0 g/dL), a leading global cause of childhood morbidity and mortality, compares the entire expressed whole blood host transcriptome between Kenyan children (3-48 mos.) with non-SMA (Hb ≥ g/dL, n = 39) SMA ( 18). Differential expression analyses reveal 1403 up-regulated 279 down-regulated transcripts in SMA, signifying impairments inflammasome activation, cell death, innate immune cellular stress responses. Immune profiling shows...
Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi , is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Central South America. Initial infection ensuing chronic often go undetected human host. High seroprevalence T. well documented endemic areas. Designated as “a neglected tropical disease” World Health Organization, rural economically disadvantaged marginalized populations countries traditionally have highest rates infection. As economic hardship, political instability, search for...
The midgut microbial community in insect vectors of disease is crucial for an effective immune response against infection with various human and animal pathogens. Depending on the aspects their development, insects can acquire microbes present soil, water, plants. Sand flies are major leishmaniasis, shown to harbor a wide variety Gram-negative Gram-positive bacteria. fly larval stages microorganisms from abundance distribution these may vary depending sand species or breeding site. Here, we...
Epidemiological data across the United States of America illustrate health disparities in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality by race/ethnicity. However, limited information is available from prospective observational studies hospitalized patients, particularly for American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Here, we present risk factors associated with severe patients (4/2020-12/2021, n = 475) at University New Mexico Hospital. Data were collected on patient...
Abstract Extraction of nucleic acids (NAs) is critical for many methods in molecular biology and bioanalytical chemistry. NA extraction has been extensively studied optimized a wide range applications its importance to society significantly increased. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the early efficient testing, which analytical step prior detection by like polymerase chain reaction. This study explores simple, new approaches using engineered smart nanomaterials, namely NA-binding,...
To study the accumulation and retention of recombinant proteins in Artemia gut for optimizing paratransgenic disease control shrimp aquaculture.Transgenic Escherichia coli expressing fluorescent marker transgenic cyanobacterium Synechococcus bacillarus a functional murine single chain antibody, DB3, were fed to franciscana. Stable expression several molecules (e.g. GFP, DS Red DB3) up 10 h after feeding with E. evident within Artemia. Engineered strains S. DB3 accumulated detectable antibody...
Constitutively active promoter elements for heterologous protein production in Lactococcus lactis are scarce. Here, the of PTS-IIC gene cluster from L. NZ3900 is described. This was cloned upstream an enhanced green fluorescent protein, GFPmut3a, and transformed into lactis. Transformants produced up to 13.5 μg GFPmut3a per milliliter log phase cells. Addition cellobiose further increased by two-fold when compared glucose. Analysis mutations at two specific positions showed that a 'T' 'G'...
Abstract Background Chagas disease is most often transmitted to humans by Trypanosoma cruzi infected triatomine bugs, and remains a significant cause of morbidity mortality in Central South America. Control has relied mainly on vector eradication. However, development insect resistance prompted us develop paratransgenic strategy control vectorial transmission T . Here, the potential role recombinant endoglucanases as anti-trypanosomal agents for application examined. The surface covered...
Shortages of N95 respirators for use by medical personnel have driven consideration novel conservation strategies, including decontamination reuse and extended use. Decontamination methods listed as promising the Centers Disease Control Prevention (CDC) (vaporous hydrogen peroxide (VHP), wet heat, ultraviolet irradiation (UVI)) several considered low resource environments (bleach, isopropyl alcohol detergent/soap) were studied two commonly used surgical (3M™ 1860 1870+ Aura™). Although...
Yeast-encapsulated orange oil (YEOO) is a novel, ingestible larvicide that combines the benefits of low-cost essential with yeast, an attractive food source for mosquito larvae. In this work, we investigated underlying mechanisms action associated YEOO ingestion by Aedes aegypti larvae.Aedes third-stage larvae (L3) were treated sublethal or lethal concentrations YEOO. Genes apoptosis, autophagy and innate immune responses RT-qPCR in guts carcasses dissected from control Differential...
Epidemiological data across the United States show health disparities in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality by race/ethnicity. While association between elevated SARS-CoV-2 viral loads (VLs) (i.e. upper respiratory tract (URT) peripheral blood (PB)) increased severity has been reported, remain largely unavailable for some disproportionately impacted racial/ethnic groups, particularly American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. As such, we determined relationship VL...
Antimicrobial peptides (AMP’s) are small that have evolved as part of an innate cell defense mechanism in many organisms. We currently developing methodologies to use these molecules control the transmission vector borne diseases utilizing a paratransgenic strategy. In this approach, symbiotic or commensal microbes host insects transformed express gene products interfere with pathogen transmission. These genetically altered re-introduced back insect where expression engineered decreases...
As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has surged across the globe, great effort been expended to understand mechanisms of transmission and spread. From a hospital perspective, this topic is critical limit prevent SARS-CoV-2 iatrogenic within healthcare environment. Currently, virus believed be transmitted primarily through droplets, but growing body evidence suggests that spread also possible aerosolized particles fomites. Amidst volume patients with disease 2019...
Chagas disease results from infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi . This remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in central south America. now exists is detected worldwide because human migration. Control has relied mainly on vector eradication however, development insect resistance to pesticides, coupled cost adverse health effects insecticide treatments, prompted our group investigate novel methods transmission control. Our laboratory been instrumental paratransgenic...