University of Miami

We demonstrate the utility of multicolor flow cytometry for detailed phenotypic and functional characterization of total as well as memory subsets of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in rhesus macaques, the ideal model for HIV/AIDS vaccine studies.

We describe the dissection of the nervous system of the marine sea hare Aplysia after anesthesia, the isolation of neurons for short term-tissue culture, and recordings of single cell ion currents via the patch clamp technique.

This paper demonstrates the use of a fast scanning confocal microscope to image cell behavior directly through the puparium. By leaving the pupal case intact, this method allows observation and measurement of dynamic cell processes at a stage of Drosophila development that is difficult to study directly.

A protocol to utilize a poly(N-iso-propylacrylamide) (PIPAAm) coated microfilter for effective capture and thermoresponsive release of viable circulating tumor cells (CTC) is presented. This method allows capture of CTC from patients' blood and subsequent release of viable CTC for downstream off-chip culture, analyses and characterization.

The present protocol describes a mouse microsurgery infusion technique, which effectively delivers substances directly into the brain via the internal carotid artery.

We describe a mouse model of stroke induced by the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery using a silicone coated suture. The protocol can be applied to induce permanent occlusion or a temporary ischemia, followed by reperfusion.

Here, we present an optimized protocol for enumerating and characterizing rhesus macaque CD8⁺ T cells against the AIDS virus. This article is useful not only to the field of HIV immunology, but also to other areas of biomedical research where CD8⁺ T cell responses are known to affect disease outcome.

A method to quantify the main temporal features seen in fly circadian locomotor rhythms is presented. The quantification is achieved by fitting fly activity with a multi-parametric model waveform. The model parameters describe the shape and size of the morning and evening peaks of daily activity.

We describe a protocol for visualization of insulin exocytosis in intact islets using pHluorin, a pH-sensitive green fluorescent protein. Isolated islets are infected with adenovirus encoding pHluorin coupled to the vesicle cargo neuropeptide Y. This allows for the detection of insulin granule fusion events by confocal microscopy.

This protocol describes the use of genetically encoded Ca²⁺ reporters to record changes in neural activity in behaving Caenorhabditis elegans worms.  

The goal of the protocol is to show longitudinal intravital real-time tracking of thymocytes by laser scanning microscopy in thymic implants in the anterior chamber of the mouse eye. The transparency of the cornea and vascularization of the graft allows for continuously recording progenitor cell recruitment and mature T-cell egress.

This protocol describes the procedure to express fresh pore solution from cementitious systems and the measurement of its ionic composition using X-ray fluorescence. The ionic composition can be used to calculate pore solution electrical resistivity, which can be used, together with concrete electrical resistivity, to determine the formation factor.

We describe a behavioral protocol designed to assess how zebrafish’s personalities influence their response to water currents and weak magnetic fields. Fishes with the same personalities are separated based on their explorative behavior. Then, their rheotactic orientation behavior in a swimming tunnel with a low flow rate and under different magnetic conditions is observed.

Most plants within communities likely are interconnected by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, but mediation of plant interactions by them has been investigated primarily by growing plants with versus without mycorrhizas. We present a method to manipulate common mycorrhizal networks among mycorrhizal plants to investigate their consequences for plant interactions.

Corals create biodiverse ecosystems important for both humans and marine organisms. However, we still do not understand the full potential and function of many coral cells. Here, we present a protocol developed for the isolation, labeling, and separation of stony coral cell populations.

The protocol described in this manuscript explains the steps for the fabrication of a soluble extracellular matrix (ECM) from the human pancreas. The solubilized ECM powder obtained through this protocol may be used for the recapitulation of pancreatic islets’ microenvironment in vitro and, potentially, in vivo settings.

We provide a detailed protocol for conducting underwater structure-from-motion photogrammetry surveys to generate 3D models and orthomosaics.

The present protocol describes a unique, clinically relevant model of peripheral arterial disease that combines femoral artery and vein electrocoagulation with the administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor to induce hindlimb gangrene in FVB mice. Intracardiac DiI perfusion is then used for high-resolution, three-dimensional imaging of the footpad vasculature.

Here, we describe the method for establishing a triple cell culture model of the blood-brain barrier based on primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells, astrocytes, and pericytes. This multicellular model is suitable for studies of neurovascular unit dysfunction during ischemic stroke in vitro or for the screening of drug candidates.

TrackMate Analysis of Calcium Imaging (TACI) is an open-source ImageJ plugin for 3D calcium imaging analysis that examines motion on the z-axis and identifies the maximum value of each z-stack to represent a cell's intensity at the corresponding time point. It can separate neurons overlapping in the lateral (x/y) direction but on different z-planes.

We present a method to collect marine gnathiid isopod fish parasites using light traps placed at field sites via breath-hold diving or scuba diving.

This protocol describes a method for the synchronous acquisition and co-registration of intracellular signaling events and the secretion of insulin and glucagon by primary human pseudoislets using the adenoviral delivery of a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) biosensor, a cAMP difference detector in situ (cADDis), and a microperifusion system.

Here, we describe a platform that allows noninvasive in vivo imaging of liver spheroids engrafted in the anterior chamber of the mouse eye. The workflow spans from generating spheroids from primary liver cells to transplantation into the mouse eye and in vivo imaging at cellular resolution by confocal microscopy.