University Wuerzburg

3 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Biology

Benjamin Merget^1,2, Christian Koetschan¹, Thomas Hackl¹, Frank Förster¹, Thomas Dandekar¹, Tobias Müller¹, Jörg Schultz¹, Matthias Wolf¹

¹Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, ²Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry, University of Würzburg

The ITS2 Database is a workbench for phylogenetic inference simultaneously considering sequence and secondary structure of the internal transcribed spacer 2. This includes data collection with accurate annotation, structure prediction, multiple sequence-structure alignment and fast tree calculation. In a nutshell, this workbench simplifies first phylogenetic analyses to a few clicks.

Bioengineering

A Combined 3D Tissue Engineered In Vitro/In Silico Lung Tumor Model for Predicting Drug Effectiveness in Specific Mutational Backgrounds

Claudia Göttlich^*1, Lena C. Müller^*1, Meik Kunz^*3, Franziska Schmitt¹, Heike Walles^1,4, Thorsten Walles², Thomas Dandekar³, Gudrun Dandekar^1,4, Sarah L. Nietzer¹

¹Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERM), University Hospital Wuerzburg, ²Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital Wuerzburg, ³Department of Bioinformatics, University Wuerzburg, ⁴Translational Center Wuerzburg, Fraunhofer Institute Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB

We present a three-dimensional (3D) lung cancer model based on a biological collagen scaffold to study sensitivity towards non-small-cell-lung-cancer-(NSCLC)-targeted therapies. We demonstrate different read-out techniques to determine the proliferation index, apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) status. Collected data are integrated into an in silico model for prediction of drug sensitivity.

Behavior

A Novel Approach to Assess Motor Outcome of Deep Brain Stimulation Effects in the Hemiparkinsonian Rat: Staircase and Cylinder Test

Marta Rattka¹, Felix Fluri¹, Miloš Krstić¹, Esther Asan², Jens Volkmann¹

¹Department of Neurology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, ²Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Wuerzburg

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment option for Parkinson's disease. We established a study design to screen novel stimulation paradigms in rats. The protocol describes the use of the staircase test and cylinder test for motor outcome assessment in DBS treated hemiparkinsonian rats.