Manganese mediates antiviral effects by driving an ATM-TBK1 phosphorylation signaling pathway.

We previously reported that manganese (Mn) enhances innate immune responses to viral infection by inducing phosphorylation of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) in an Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM)-dependent manner. However, the underlying mechanism by which how Mn induces TBK1 phosphorylation remained unclear. Here, we show that Mn dose-dependently induced TBK1 phosphorylation in the presence of ATM across multiple cell lines, as well as in primary human macrophages and T cells.

Nylon Affinity Networks Capture and Sequester Two Model Bacteria Spiked in Human Plasma.

Ensuring bacterial safety of blood transfusions remains a critical focus in medicine. We investigated a novel pathogen reduction technology utilizing nylon functionalized with synthetic dyes (nylon affinity networks) to capture and remove bacteria from plasma. In the initial screening process, we spiked phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and human plasma (1 mL each) with 10 or 100 colony forming units (cfu) of either or , exposed the suspensions to affinity networks and assessed the extent of bacterial reduction using agar plate cultures as the assay output.

Escherichia coli grown in inexpensive conical flat-bottom polypropylene tubes produce a high level of pUC vector.

The pUC-derived plasmid yield from E. coli using polypropylene tubes (PP) was compared among round and conical tubes. The yield from cells grown in a cheaper conical-PP with flat-bottom was 1.

Identification of Unambiguous Borrelia Peptides in Human Urine Using Affinity Capture and Mass Spectrometry.

The combination of advanced mass spectrometry and enrichment-based sample preparation methods has enhanced analytical capabilities in clinical proteomics. In this chapter, we describe a method of proteome analysis to identify Borrelia-derived peptides in urine that includes a sample affinity enrichment method coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis and a bioinformatic peptide authentication algorithm.