Murine typhus is a febrile disease caused by the bacterium, Rickettsia typhi (R. typhi), and transmitted via infected fleas. This study investigated midgut responses of infected versus uninfected cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) by constructing cDNA libraries and examining transcript levels. Select C. felis serine proteases, GTPases and defense response genes were compared to identify differences in gene expression between the two states of infection. A total of 1152 transcripts from both libraries were sequenced, generating 906 high quality sequences, 472 from the uninfected and 434 from the infected midgut library.

With over 2,500 identified species across the globe, fleas are notorious veterinary pests and vectors of pathogens, including Rickettsia typhi (murine typhus), R. felis (murine typhus-like illness), Bartonella henselae (cat-scratch disease), and myxoma virus (Myxomatosis). Speciation of fleas is reliant on distinguishing morphological features; however, studies have also used certain mitochondrial genes for systematic analyses. This dataset is comprised of the C. felis mitochondrial genome, a novel resource for comparative genomics of fleas and other insects. The genome (Genbank accession number: MT594468) encodes the full repertoire of 37 genes, including 22 tRNAs, 13 protein coding genes, and 2 rRNAs with the conserved synteny observed in those of other Siphonaptera mitogenomes and the general insect mitochondrial gene order.

Glucose metabolism is altered in injured and healing tendons. However, the mechanism by which it is involved in the pathogenesis of the tendon healing process remains unclear. Injured tendons do not completely heal and often induce fibrous scar and chondroid lesion. Connective tissue progenitor cells appear in injured tendons and can contribute to healing and chondroid degeneration. Using metabolomic analysis, this study investigated the role of progenitors in glycolysis with regard to chondrogenic and tenogenic differentiation in the tendon healing process. Progenitor cells were isolated from 2 human injured Achilles and 5 human injured flexor tendons, cultured, and used for 13-C glucose metabolic analysis (flexor) and 2-deoxy-D-glucose analysis (2DG) (Achilles). This dataset is comprised of multiple graphical representations and images associated with: characterization of human injured tendon progenitor cells (hITPC), expression of tendon related genes via qPCR, flux of [1,2-13C] glucose to glycolysis, pentose phosphate and lactate synthesis pathways, flux of [1,2-13C] glucose to tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and amino acids derived from TCA cycle intermediates, inhibition of chondrogenic differentiation by 2DG, and stimulation of MKX gene expression by 2DG.

To determine strain-specific driving mechanisms of B. pseudolongum UMB-MBP-01, researchers compared it to porcine tropic strain B. pseudolongum ATCC25526 using cell culture and in vivo experimentation and comparative genomic approaches. The data demonstrates that these two strains possess distinct genetic repertoires in carbohydrate assimilation, differential activation signatures and cytokine responses signatures in innate immune cells, and differential effects on lymph node morphology with unique local and systemic leukocyte distribution.

The Amish Research Group of the University of Maryland School of Medicine has been studying the Old Order Amish population in Lancaster County, PA, since 1993. This database currently consists of health-related data on over 7,000 adults resulting from studies ranging from population and basic science to clinical and translational research. Areas of investigation include: Cardiovascular Risk, Diabetes, Bone Health, Blood Pressure, Vascular Imaging, Aging, Breast Tissue Density, Platelet Aggregation, Microbiome, Wellness, and Brain Imaging. Extensive genetic data (genotyping and sequencing) is also available.

This dataset is the result of a multi-center, 7 year prospective investigation into the biopsychosocial, environmental, and genetic risk factors associated with the onset and persistence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The OPPERA project consisted of 4 observational studies: a prospective cohort study of first-onset TMD, a baseline case-control study of chronic TMD, a matched case-control study of incident TMD, and a prospective case-cohort study of the course of TMD. Over 3,000 volunteers between the ages of 18-44 participated in the research. The data collected includes sociodemographic, psychosocial, clinical, physiological, and genetic (including biological pathways of genetic variants).

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience neurodevelopmental decline over time. They also tend to have short duration, poor quality sleep and elevated fatigue levels. This study measured sleep via actigraphy over one week and cognitive and behavioral measures in 19 children and adolescents with SCD. Aged 7-18 years, the majority of participants were referred for neurodevelopmental testing due to academic or behavioral difficulties. Data was collected from parent report, medical record, and included age, sex, race, SCD genotype, results of neuroimaging studies including brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transcranial Doppler (TCD) velocities, and current use of hydroxyl urea or chronic blood transfusion. Additionally, parents completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), participants completed the Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT), and both completed the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale.

Tissue from the optic nerve lamina region (ONLR), were dissected from both mice and humans. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was then performed on tissue sections, and Ki67 mitosis assays assessed cell proliferation. Cell cultivation techniques isolated and cultured cells from ONLR and optic nerve tissues. Further experiments induced cell differentiation and neurosphere formation. Transgenic animal studies explored gene effects, while interventions included AAV-DTA construct injections and TAM/4OHT treatments. RNA isolation and qPCR analyzed gene expression, while imaging techniques visualized tissue morphology and axonal myelination.

Diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia are three of the major risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of death in the United States. The burden of these disorders is not uniform across the country primarily due to socioeconomic status, cultural practices, and lifestyle. To evaluate the effect of these disparities, this study compared the prevalence of the 3 conditions in a subpopulation in the US with that of the general population. The Old Order Amish (OOA) community located in rural Pennsylvania is characterized by distinctive sociocultural practices that include a very cohesive social structure and limited use of modern technologies and medication. A total of 5377 OOA individuals took part in a community-wide survey which included a physical exam and fasting blood draw. The prevalence of the 3 risk factors in the Amish was then compared to the European Caucasian subsample of the 2013–2014 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). This dataset includes demographics, physical examination values, medication history, clinical measures associated blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose, and statistical assessment and comparison data.

"The GISAID Initiative promotes the rapid sharing of data from all influenza viruses and the coronavirus causing COVID-19. This includes genetic sequence and related clinical and epidemiological data associated with human viruses, and geographical as well as species-specific data associated with avian and other animal viruses, to help researchers understand how viruses evolve and spread during epidemics and pandemics. GISAID does so by overcoming disincentive hurdles and restrictions, which discourage or prevented sharing of virological data prior to formal publication." (From "Mission")