University of Minnesota

5 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Immunology and Infection

Rapid Diagnosis of Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds: Use of a Portable rRT-PCR and Freeze-dried Reagents in the Field

John Y. Takekawa¹, Nichola J. Hill^1,2, Annie K. Schultz¹, Samuel A. Iverson¹, Carol J. Cardona^3,4, Walter M. Boyce², Joseph P. Dudley⁵

¹USGS Western Ecological Research Center, ²Wildlife Health Center, University of California, Davis, ³Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, ⁴Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota , ⁵Science Applications International Corporation

This study describes diagnosis of avian influenza in wild birds using a portable rRT-PCR system. The method takes advantage of freeze-dried reagents to screen wild birds in a non-laboratory setting, typical of an outbreak scenario. Use of molecular tools provides accurate and sensitive alternatives for rapid diagnosis.

Biology

Performing Custom MicroRNA Microarray Experiments

Xiaoxiao Zhang¹, Yan Zeng^1,2

¹Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota , ²Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota

A simple procedure of performing custom microRNA microarray experiments is described. The steps include isolating RNA, labeling RNA and reference DNA, hybridizing the samples to microarrays, scanning the microarrays, quantifying and analyzing hybridization signals.

Neuroscience

Creating Objects and Object Categories for Studying Perception and Perceptual Learning

Karin Hauffen^1,2,3, Eugene Bart⁴, Mark Brady⁵, Daniel Kersten⁶, Jay Hegdé^1,2,3

¹Brain and Behavior Discovery Institute, Georgia Health Sciences University, ²Vision Discovery Institute, Georgia Health Sciences University, ³Department of Opthalmology, Georgia Health Sciences University, ⁴Intelligent Systems Laboratory, Palo Alto Research Center, ⁵Pattern Recognition Systems, Palo Alto Research Center, ⁶Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota

We describe a novel methodology for creating naturalistic 3-D objects and object categories with precisely defined feature variations. We use simulations of the biological processes of morphogenesis and phylogenesis to create novel, naturalistic virtual 3-D objects and object categories that can then be rendered as visual images or haptic objects.

Bioengineering

Anatomical Reconstructions of the Human Cardiac Venous System using Contrast-computed Tomography of Perfusion-fixed Specimens

Julianne Spencer^1,2, Emily Fitch³, Paul A. Iaizzo^1,2,4,5

¹Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota , ²Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota , ³Department of Biology, University of Minnesota , ⁴Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of Minnesota , ⁵Institute for Engineering in Medicine, University of Minnesota

The objective of this research is to recreate and then access the anatomy of the human cardiac venous system using 3D reconstructions generated from contrast-computed tomography scans.

JoVE Core

Testing the Efficacy of Pharmacological Agents in a Pericardial Target Delivery Model in the Swine

Tinen L. Iles¹, Brian Howard², Stephen Howard³, Stephen Quallich², Christopher Rolfes², Eric Richardson⁴, Hanna R. Iaizzo⁵, Paul A. Iaizzo¹

¹Surgery, University of Minnesota, ²Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, ³Medtronic, Inc., ⁴Bioengineering, Rice University, ⁵Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin

We have developed a swine model for the target delivery of pharmacological agents within the pericardial space/fluid. Using this approach, the relative benefits of administered agents on induced atrial fibrillation, relative refractory periods and/or ischemic protection can be investigated.