A Method for Identification and Analysis of Non-Overlapping Myeloid Immunophenotypes in Humans

The development of flow cytometric biomarkers in human studies and clinical trials has been slowed by inconsistent sample processing, use of cell surface markers, and reporting of immunophenotypes. Additionally, the function(s) of distinct cell types as biomarkers cannot be accurately defined without the proper identification of homogeneous populations. As such, we developed a method for the identification and analysis of human leukocyte populations by the use of eight 10-color flow cytometric protocols in combination with novel software analyses. This method utilizes un-manipulated biological sample preparation that allows for the direct quantitation of leukocytes and non-overlapping immunophenotypes. We specifically designed myeloid protocols that enable us to define distinct phenotypes that include mature monocytes, granulocytes, circulating dendritic cells, immature myeloid cells, and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). We also identified CD123 as an additional distinguishing marker for the phenotypic characterization of immature LIN^-CD33⁺HLA-DR^- MDSCs. Our approach permits the comprehensive analysis of all peripheral blood leukocytes and yields data that is highly amenable for standardization across inter-laboratory comparisons for human studies.     

When the message goes awry: disease-producing mutations that influence mRNA content and performance.

Mutations that cause disease commonly occur in the coding sequence and directly influence protein structure and function. However, many diseases result from mutations that influence various aspects of mRNA metabolism, including processing, export, stability, and translational control.     

Population dynamics of killing parasites which reproduce in the host

For a parasitic infection in human hosts a model is derived from basic assumptions on the population structure of the host, in particular mortality depending on age and parasite load, and on the reproduction and transmission of parasites. The model assumes the form of a system of partial differential equations. The paper contains proofs of local and global existence and existence and uniqueness of nontrivial stationary states, and a discussion of the relation to birth and death processes and other models for parasitic infections.     

Subunit D of the vacuolar H+-ATPase of Arabidopsis thaliana.

A 1034 bp cDNA encoding the full length sequence of subunit D of the vacuolar H+-ATPase was cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana. The open reading frame of the cDNA clone vatpD contains 780 bp and codes for a protein of 29.1 kDa with a pI of 9.52. Structural predictions show similarities to subunit gamma of the F-ATP synthases. Identity between subunit D of the vacuolar H+-ATPase of A. thaliana and subunits D from other eukaryotic organisms is in the range of 57% (Bos taurus) to 48% (Candida albicans). Hybridization of genomic DNA with vatpD indicates the existence of one gene copy of subunit D in A. thaliana. Northern blot hybridization and in situ hybridization showed expression of vatpD in all cell types. The expression of subunit D was not modified by salt stress or abscisic acid treatment in A. thaliana.