early-metamorphic-insertion-technology-for-insect-flight-behavior

Early Metamorphic Insertion Technology for Insect Flight Behavior Monitoring

Early Metamorphosis Insertion Technology (EMIT) is a novel methodology for integrating microfabricated neuromuscular recording and actuation platforms on ...

North Carolina State University

The potential tumor-recognizing capacity of B cells infiltrating human breast carcinoma is an important aspect of breast cancer biology. As an experimental system, we used human medullary breast carcinoma because of its heavy B lymphocytic infiltration paralleled to a relatively better prognosis. Ig-rearranged V region V(H)-J(H), Vkappa-Jkappa, and Vlambda-Jlambda genes, amplified by RT-PCR of the infiltrating B cells, were cloned, sequenced, and subjected to a comparative DNA analysis. A combinatorial single-chain variable fragment Ab minilibrary was constructed out of randomly selected V(H) and Vkappa clones and tested for binding activity. Our data analysis revealed that some of the V(H)-J(H), Vkappa-Jkappa, and Vlambda-Jlambda region sequences were being assigned to clusters with oligoclonal predominance, while other characteristics of the Ab repertoire were defined also. A tumor-restricted binder clone could be selected out of the single-chain variable fragment kappa minilibrary tested against membrane fractions of primary breast tumor cells and tumor cell lines, the V(H) of which proved to be the overexpressed V(H)3-1 cluster. The specific binding was confirmed by FACS analysis with primary breast carcinoma cells and MDA-MB 231 cell line. ELISA and thin layer chromatography dot-blot experiments showed this target Ag to be a ganglioside D3 (GD3). Our results are a proof of principle about the capacity of B cells infiltrating breast carcinomas to reveal key cancer-related Ags, such as the GD3. GD3-specific Abs may influence tumor cell progression and could be used for further development of diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes.

Novel ganglioside antigen identified by B cells in human medullary breast carcinomas: the proof of principle concerning the tumor-infiltrating B lymphocytes.

Cancer patients receiving antibodies as monotherapy have benefited from these treatments. However, significant improvements can be made that should make the therapy more effective. Applying lessons learned from the natural oligoclonal antibody response that cancer patients mount to their own tumours suggests that cocktails of monoclonal antibodies could be formulated, which may be more effective in treating cancers. The next phase of antibody immunotherapy will include cocktails of monoclonal antibodies. Various requirements for human antibody cocktails are discussed, as well as potential limitations of this approach.

Requirements for human antibody cocktails for oncology.

A panel of four natural human monoclonal IgG antibodies derived from B lymphocytes isolated from regional draining lymph nodes of cancer patients has been developed and characterized. The four human antibodies are termed, RM1, RM2, RM3, and RM4. The immunoreactivity of this panel of four human antibodies is restricted to tumor cells. Individually, these human MAbs show tumor targeting and are effective in inhibiting tumor growth in nude mouse xenograft models. When used in combination the antibodies show an additive effect in slowing down the progression of tumors in xenograft models suggesting that cocktails of antibodies may be useful in the clinic.

Cocktails of human anti-cancer antibodies show a synergistic effect in nude mouse tumor xenografts.

An electromagnetic levitation platform for use in a light emitting diode (LED) arena based virtual reality environment was developed for wireless recording of neural and neuromuscular signals from the flight related muscle groups in Manduca sexta. The platform incorporates the use of Early Metamorphosis Insertion Technology to implant recording electrodes into the flight muscles of late stage pupal moths. Analysis of the insects' response to changes in the LED arena rotation direction indicate that this setup could be used to perform a variety of flight behavior studies during yaw maneuvers.

Michael McKnight

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

North Carolina State University

Early Metamorphic Insertion Technology for Insect Flight Behavior Monitoring

Michael McKnight

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

North Carolina State University

Early Metamorphic Insertion Technology for Insect Flight Behavior Monitoring

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering