| 1. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(author)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
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In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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| 2. |
- Peng, Shi-Yu, et al.
(author)
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Reduced motor cortex GABABR function following chronic alcohol exposure
- 2021
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In: Molecular Psychiatry. - : SPRINGERNATURE. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 26:2, s. 383-395
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The GABA(B) receptor (GABA(B)R) agonist baclofen has been used to treat alcohol and several other substance use disorders (AUD/SUD), yet its underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate cortical GABA(B)R dynamics following chronic alcohol exposure. Ex vivo brain slice recordings from mice chronically exposed to alcohol revealed a reduction in GABA(B)R-mediated currents, as well as a decrease of GABA(B1/2)R and G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channel 2 (GIRK2) activities in the motor cortex. Moreover, our data indicated that these alterations could be attributed to dephosphorylation at the site of serine 783 (ser-783) in GABA(B2) subunit, which regulates the surface expression of GABA(B)R. Furthermore, a human study using paired-pulse-transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) analysis further demonstrated a reduced cortical inhibition mediated by GABA(B)R in patients with AUD. Our findings provide the first evidence that chronic alcohol exposure is associated with significantly impaired cortical GABA(B)R function. The ability to promote GABA(B)R signaling may account for the therapeutic efficacy of baclofen in AUD.
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| 3. |
- Swartling, Fredrik Johansson, et al.
(author)
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Pleiotropic role for MYCN in medulloblastoma
- 2010
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In: Genes & Development. - : Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. - 0890-9369 .- 1549-5477. ; 24:10, s. 1059-1072
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling drives a minority of MB, correlating with desmoplastic pathology and favorable outcome. The majority, however, arises independently of SHH and displays classic or large cell anaplastic (LCA) pathology and poor prognosis. To identify common signaling abnormalities, we profiled mRNA, demonstrating misexpression of MYCN in the majority of human MB and negligible expression in normal cerebella. We clarified a role in pathogenesis by targeting MYCN (and luciferase) to cerebella of transgenic mice. MYCN-driven MB showed either classic or LCA pathologies, with Shh signaling activated in approximately 5% of tumors, demonstrating that MYCN can drive MB independently of Shh. MB arose at high penetrance, consistent with a role for MYCN in initiation. Tumor burden correlated with bioluminescence, with rare metastatic spread to the leptomeninges, suggesting roles for MYCN in both progression and metastasis. Transient pharmacological down-regulation of MYCN led to both clearance and senescence of tumor cells, and improved survival. Targeted expression of MYCN thus contributes to initiation, progression, and maintenance of MB, suggesting a central role for MYCN in pathogenesis.
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