Community: Molecular Biology - Princeton Data Commons Discovery Search Results

Start Over Community Molecular Biology

1. Data For “Development of a dual channel detection system for pan-genotypic simultaneous quantification of hepatitis B and delta viruses"

Author(s):: Ploss, Alexander; Liu, Yongzhen
Abstract:: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health problem and, in associated co-infection with hepatitis delta virus (HDV), causes the most severe viral hepatitis and accelerated liver disease progression. As a defective satellite RNA virus, HDV can only propagate in the presence of HBV infection, which makes HBV DNA and HDV RNA the standard biomarkers for monitoring the virological response upon antiviral therapy, in co-infected patients. Although assays have been described to quantify these viral nucleic acids in circulation independently, a method for monitoring both viruses simultaneously is not available, thus hampering characterization of their complex dynamic interactions. Here, we describe the development of a dual fluorescence channel detection system for pan-genotypic, simultaneous quantification of HBV DNA and HDV RNA through a one-step quantitative PCR. The sensitivity for both HBV and HDV is about 10 copies per microliter without significant interference between these two detection targets. This assay provides reliable detection for HBV and HDV basic research in vitro and in human liver chimeric mice. Preclinical validation of this system on serum samples from patient on or off antiviral therapy also illustrates a promising application that is rapid and cost-effective in monitoring HBV and HDV viral loads simultaneously.
Type:: Dataset
Issue Date:: 2024

2. Data for: Persistent hepatitis B virus and HIV coinfections in dually humanized mice engrafted with human liver and immune system

Author(s):: Ploss, Alexander; Hogan, Glenn; Winer, Benjamin; Ahodantin, James; Sellau, Julie; Huang, Tiffany; Douam, Florian; Funaki, Masaya; Chiriboga, Luis; Su, Lishan
Abstract:: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB), caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), remains a major medical problem. HBV has a high propensity for progressing to chronicity and can result in severe liver disease, including fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. CHB patients frequently present with viral coinfection, including HIV and hepatitis delta virus. About 10% of chronic HIV carriers are also persistently infected with HBV which can result in more exacerbated liver disease. Mechanistic studies of HBV-induced immune responses and pathogenesis, which could be significantly influenced by HIV infection, have been hampered by the scarcity of immunocompetent animal models. Here, we demonstrate that humanized mice dually engrafted with components of a human immune system and a human liver supported HBV infection, which was partially controlled by human immune cells, as evidenced by lower levels of serum viremia and HBV replication intermediates in the liver. HBV infection resulted in priming and expansion of human HLA-restricted CD8+ T cells, which acquired an activated phenotype. Notably, our dually humanized mice support persistent coinfections with HBV and HIV which opens opportunities for analyzing immune dysregulation during HBV and HIV coinfection and preclinical testing of novel immunotherapeutics.
Type:: Dataset
Issue Date:: 12 June 2023

3. Telomere Length in Preterm Infants

Author(s):: Notterman, Daniel A; Schneper, Lisa M; Drake, Amanda; Piyasena, Chinthika
Abstract:: This entry contains the data used in the PLOS ONE publication entitled, "Characteristics of salivary telomere length shortening in preterm infants" by Schneper et al. The objective of the study was to examine the association between gestational age, telomere length (TL) and rate of shortening in newborns. Genomic DNA was isolated from buccal samples of 39 term infants at birth and one year and 32 preterm infants at birth, term-adjusted age (40 weeks post-conception) and age one-year corrected for gestational duration. Telomere length was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Demographic and clinical data were collected during clinic or research visits and from hospital records. Socioeconomic status was estimated using the deprivation category (DEPCAT) scores derived from the Carstairs score of the subject's postal code.
Type:: Dataset
Issue Date:: 5 January 2023

4. Supplementary data for thesis: The Evolution and Regulation of Morphological Complexity in the Vibrios

Author(s):: Martin, Nicholas; Gitai, Zemer
Abstract:: This entry contains video files and tabular data associated with the PhD dissertation titled: The Evolution and Regulation of Morphological Complexity in the Vibrios.
Type:: Dataset
Issue Date:: 28 October 2021

5. CKavity Library: Next-Generation Sequencing

Abstract:: Protein sequence space is vast; nature uses only an infinitesimal fraction of possible sequences to sustain life. Are there solutions to biological problems other than those provided by nature? Can we create artificial proteins that sustain life? To investigate this question, the Hecht lab has created combinatorial collections, or libraries, of novel sequences with no homology to those found in living organisms. These libraries were subjected to screens and selections, leading to the identification of sequences with roles in catalysis, modulating gene regulation, and metal homeostasis. However, the resulting functional proteins formed dynamic rather than well-ordered structures. This impeded structural characterization and made it difficult to ascertain a mechanism of action. To address this, Christina Karas's thesis work focuses on developing a new model of libraries based on the de novo protein S-824, a four-helix bundle with a very stable three-dimensional structure. The first part of this research focused on mutagenesis of S-824 and characterization of the resulting proteins, revealing that this scaffold tolerates amino acid substitutions, including buried polar residues and the removal of hydrophobic side chains to create a putative cavity. Distinct from previous libraries, Karas targeted variability to a specific region of the protein, seeking to create a cavity and potential active site. The second part of this work details the design and creation of a library encoding 1.7 x 10^6 unique proteins, assembled from degenerate oligonucleotides. The third and fourth parts of this work cover the screening effort for a range of activities, both in vitro and in vivo. I found that this collection binds heme readily, leading to abundant peroxidase activity. Hits for lipase and phosphatase activity were also detected. This work details the development of a new strategy for creating de novo sequences geared toward function rather than structure.
Type:: Dataset