University of Texas, San Antonio View Institution's Website 10 articles published in JoVE Bioengineering Three-Dimensional Culture of Vascularized Thermogenic Adipose Tissue from Microvascular Fragments Francisca M. Acosta1, Maria A. Gonzalez Porras2,3, Katerina Stojkova2, Settimio Pacelli2, Christopher R. Rathbone2,3, Eric M. Brey2,3 1Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, 2Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, 3Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Texas at San Antonio Here, we present a detailed protocol outlining the use of microvascular fragments isolated from rodent or human fat tissue as a straightforward approach to engineer functional, vascularized beige adipose tissue. Neuroscience In vivo Calcium Imaging of Mouse Geniculate Ganglion Neuron Responses to Taste Stimuli Bryan E. Fowler1, Lindsey J. Macpherson1 1Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio Here we present how to expose the geniculate ganglion of a live, anesthetized laboratory mouse and how to use calcium imaging to measure the responses of ensembles of these neurons to taste stimuli, allowing for multiple trials with different stimulants. This allows for in depth comparisons of which neurons respond to which tastants. Behavior Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE Alonzo Andrews1,2, Lee Mason1,2 1UTSA Autism Research Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2Department of Interdisciplinary Learning & Teaching, University of Texas at San Antonio This article describes the procedures for conducting a verbal operant analysis (VOA), calculating the stimulus control ratio equation (SCoRE), and developing individualized verbal behavior treatment plans, specifically significant to address the deficits characteristic of autism. Immunology and Infection Intratracheal Inoculation of Fischer 344 Rats with Francisella tularensis Jesse Q. Nguyen1, Xhavit Zogaj1, Aanuoluwa A. Adelani1, Ping Chu2, Jieh-Juen Yu1, Bernard P. Arulanandam1, Karl E. Klose1 1South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas San Antonio, 2Midwestern University This protocol describes intratracheal inoculations of Fischer 344 rats with Francisella tularensis. This procedure mimics pulmonary exposure of humans to this potential biothreat agent and can be used to test vaccine and therapeutic efficacy against pulmonary tularemia. Bioengineering Candida albicans Biofilm Chip (CaBChip) for High-throughput Antifungal Drug Screening Anand Srinivasan1, Jose L. Lopez-Ribot2, Anand K. Ramasubramanian1 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio We have developed a high-density microarray platform consisting of 3D nano-biofilms of C. albicans called CaBChip. The susceptibility profile of drugs tested on a CaBChip is comparable to the conventional 96-well plate model, suggesting that the fungal chip is ideally suited for true high-throughput screening of antifungal drugs. Bioengineering Gold Nanostar Synthesis with a Silver Seed Mediated Growth Method Zurab Kereselidze1, Victor H. Romero2, Xomalin G. Peralta1, Fidel Santamaria3 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2Centro de Investigaciones en Optica A. C., 3Department of Biology and Neurosciences Institute, The University of Texas at San Antonio We synthesized star shaped gold nanostars using a silver seed mediated growth method. The diameter of the nanostars ranges from 200 to 300 nm and the number of tips vary from 7 to 10. The nanoparticles have a broad surface plasmon resonance mode centered in the near infrared. Immunology and Infection Isolation of Brain and Spinal Cord Mononuclear Cells Using Percoll Gradients Paula A. Pino1, Astrid E. Cardona1 1Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas at San Antonio - UTSA The current article describes a rapid protocol to efficiently isolate mononuclear cells from brain and spinal cord tissues that can be effectively utilized for flow cytometric analyses. Neuroscience Application of a NMDA Receptor Conductance in Rat Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons Using the Dynamic Clamp Technique Collin J Lobb1, Carlos A Paladini1 1Neurosciences Institute, University of Texas San Antonio - UTSA In this video, we demonstrate how to apply a conductance into a dopaminergic neuron recorded in the whole cell configuration in rat brain slices. This technique is called the dynamic clamp. Immunology and Infection A 96 Well Microtiter Plate-based Method for Monitoring Formation and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Candida albicans Biofilms Christopher G. Pierce1,2, Priya Uppuluri1,2, Sushma Tummala1,2, Jose L. Lopez-Ribot1,2 1Department of Biology, University of Texas San Antonio - UTSA, 2South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas San Antonio - UTSA We describe a simple, rapid and robust method for the formation of Candida albicans biofilms using 96 well microtiter plates and its utility in antifungal susceptibility testing of cells within biofilms. Neuroscience Dual Somatic Recordings from Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Neurons Identified by Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) in Hypothalamic Slices Peter J. Hemond1, Kelly J. Suter1 1Department of Biology, University of Texas San Antonio - UTSA Activity in neuronal systems often requires synchronous action potential discharges from neurons within a specific population. For example, pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) likely require coordinated activity between GnRH neurons. We present our methodological approach for reliably obtaining simultaneous electrophysiological recordings from the diffusely distributed GnRH neurons.