University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston View Institution's Website 11 articles published in JoVE Immunology and Infection Therapeutic Evaluation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in an Interleukin 10-Deficient Mouse Model Ying Xiao1,2, Xiaoying S Zhong1, Xiaowei Liu2, Qingjie Li1 1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 2Department of Gastroenterology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University The interaction of genetic susceptibility, mucosal immunity, and intestinal microecological environment is involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we applied fecal microbiota transplantation to IL-10 deficient mice and investigated its impact on colonic inflammation and heart function. Immunology and Infection Rapid, Seamless Generation of Recombinant Poxviruses using Host Range and Visual Selection Sameera Vipat*1, Greg Brennan*1, Chorong Park1, Sherry L. Haller2, Stefan Rothenburg1 1Department of Medial Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, 2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston This is a method to generate “scarless” recombinant vaccinia viruses using host-range selection and visual identification of recombinant viruses. Neuroscience A Protocol for Measuring Cue Reactivity in a Rat Model of Cocaine Use Disorder Andrea L. Dimet*1,2,3, Irma E. Cisneros*1,4,5, Robert G. Fox1,6, Sonja J. Stutz1,6, Noelle C. Anastasio1,6, Kathryn A. Cunningham1,6, Kelly T. Dineley1,3,4 1Center for Addiction Research, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, 3Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, 4Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 5Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 6Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch Cue reactivity is conceptualized as sensitivity to cues linked with drug-taking experiences that contribute to craving and relapse in abstinent humans. Cue reactivity is modeled in rats by measuring attentional orientation toward drug-associated cues that results in appetitive approach behavior in a cue reactivity test following self-administration and forced abstinence. Developmental Biology Zika Virus Infection of Cultured Human Fetal Brain Neural Stem Cells for Immunocytochemical Analysis Erica L. McGrath1,2, Junling Gao1, Ping Wu1,3 1Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, 3Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University This article details the methods that are used to expand human fetal brain neural stem cells in culture, as well as how to differentiate them into various neuronal subtypes and astrocytes, with an emphasis on the use of neural stem cells to study Zika virus infection. Behavior Detecting Behavioral Deficits in Rats After Traumatic Brain Injury Nicole Hausser*1, Kathia Johnson*1, Margaret A. Parsley1, Jutatip Guptarak1, Heidi Spratt1, Stacy L. Sell1 1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch The goal of the behavioral tests presented here is to detect functional deficits in rats after traumatic brain injury. Four specific tests are presented that detect deficits in behaviors to reflect the damage to specific brain areas at times extending to one year after injury. Neuroscience Automated Gait Analysis in Mice with Chronic Constriction Injury Dong-Wook Kang1, Jae-Gyun Choi1, Ji-Young Moon2, Suk-Yun Kang2, Yeonhee Ryu2, Jin Bong Park1, Hyun-Woo Kim1,3 1Department of Physiology and Medical Science, College of Medicine and Brain Research Institute, Chungnam National University, 2KM Fundamental Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), 3Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston The precise assessment of pain response in a neuropathic animal model is critical to investigate the pathophysiology of pain diseases and develop new analgesics. We present a sensitive and objective method to determine the sensory function of the rodent hind paw by an automated gait analysis system. Neuroscience Stereotactic Atlas-Guided Laser Capture Microdissection of Brain Regions Affected by Traumatic Injury Harris A. Weisz*1, Deborah R. Boone*1, Stacy L. Sell1, Helen L. Hellmich1 1Department of Anesthesiology, University of Texas Medical Branch We describe the use of laser capture microdissection to obtain samples of distinct cell populations from different brain regions for gene and microRNA analysis. This technique allows the study of differential effects of traumatic brain injury in specific regions of the rat brain. Medicine Smartphone Fundus Photography Hossein Nazari Khanamiri1, Austin Nakatsuka1, Jaafar El-Annan1 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch Fundus photography normally requires specialized fundus cameras that are not always available in all clinical settings. Here, a simple method to record ocular fundus images using a smartphone camera and a conventional high-plus handheld indirect ophthalmoscopy lens is described. Immunology and Infection Using Reverse Genetics to Manipulate the NSs Gene of the Rift Valley Fever Virus MP-12 Strain to Improve Vaccine Safety and Efficacy Birte Kalveram1, Olga Lihoradova1, Sabarish V. Indran1, Tetsuro Ikegami1 1Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch The reverse genetics system for the Rift Valley fever virus MP-12 vaccine strain is a useful tool for creating additional MP-12 mutants with increased attenuation and immunogenicity. We describe the protocol to generate and characterize NSs mutant strains. Biology Monitoring Dynamic Changes In Mitochondrial Calcium Levels During Apoptosis Using A Genetically Encoded Calcium Sensor Askar M. Akimzhanov1, Darren Boehning1 1Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch This protocol describes a method for real-time measurement of mitochondrial calcium fluxes by fluorescent imaging. The method takes advantage of a circularly permutated YFP-based dual-excitation ratiometric calcium sensor (ratiometric pericam-mt) selectively expressed in mitochondria. Medicine Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats Yewen Wu1, Xing Yin2, Cori Wijaya2, Ming-He Huang1, Bradley K. McConnell2 1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 2Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Houston (UH), Texas Medical Center The rat model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is useful to study the consequence of a MI on cardiac pathophysiological and physiological function.