California State University

9 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Immunology and Infection

DNA Fingerprinting of Mycobacterium leprae Strains Using Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) - Fragment Length Analysis (FLA)

Ronald W. Jensen¹, Jason Rivest¹, Wei Li¹, Varalakshmi Vissa¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University

Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is still endemic in many places. In order to learn about the spread and mode of transmission of leprosy, it is important to determine which strain of M. leprae has infected a patient. Variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTR) typing is one such method.

Biology

RNAi Mediated Gene Knockdown and Transgenesis by Microinjection in the Necromenic Nematode Pristionchus pacificus

Jessica K. Cinkornpumin¹, Ray L. Hong¹

¹Biology Department, California State University

In model organisms, transgenesis can manipulate gene functions while RNAi can knockdown specific mRNA transcripts 1-2. This protocol aims to illustrate the techniques needed to introduce stably transmitted DNA and transient double stranded RNA into the necromenic nematode Pristionchus pacificus for studies in evolutionary, developmental, and behavioral biology.

Medicine

Use of Animal Model of Sepsis to Evaluate Novel Herbal Therapies

Wei Li¹, Shu Zhu¹, Yusong Zhang¹, Jianhua Li¹, Andrew E. Sama¹, Ping Wang¹, Haichao Wang¹

¹The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, North Shore – LIJ Health System

Sepsis refers to a systemic inflammatory response syndrome resulting from a microbial infection, and can be simulated by a surgical technique termed cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Here we describe a method to use CLP-induced animal model to screen medicinal herbs for therapeutic agents.

JoVE Core

SSVEP-based Experimental Procedure for Brain-Robot Interaction with Humanoid Robots

Jing Zhao¹, Wei Li^1,2, Xiaoqian Mao¹, Mengfan Li¹

¹School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, ²Department of Computer & Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, California State University

The overall goal of this method is to establish an SSVEP-based experimental procedure by integrating multiple software programs to enable the study of brain-robot interaction with humanoid robots, which is prospective in assisting the sick and elderly as well as performing unsanitary or dangerous jobs.

Medicine

Ferric Chloride-induced Murine Thrombosis Models

Wei Li^1,2, Marvin Nieman³, Anirban Sen Gupta⁴

¹Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, ²Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, ³Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, ⁴Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University

We report a refined procedure of the ferric chloride (FeCl₃)-induced thrombosis models on carotid and mesenteric artery as well as vein, characterized efficiently using intravital microscopy to monitor time to occlusive thrombi formation.

Neuroscience

Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ Retention Capacity Assay and Ca²⁺-triggered Mitochondrial Swelling Assay

Wei Li^1,2, Chen Zhang¹, Xiulian Sun³

¹Department of Neurology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, ²Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, ³Brain Research Institute, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University

This protocol aims to describe a method to examine the Ca²⁺ retention capacity and Ca²⁺- triggered mitochondrial swelling of isolated mitochondria of SH-SY5Y cells step-by-step.

Chemistry

Direct-Coupled Electroretinogram (DC-ERG) for Recording the Light-Evoked Electrical Responses of the Mouse Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Kiyoharu J. Miyagishima¹, Congxiao Zhang^*2, Volha V. Malechka^*3, Kapil Bharti², Wei Li¹

¹Retinal Neurophysiology Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, ²Ocular and Stem Cell Translational Research Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, ³Human Visual Function Core, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health

Here, we present a method for recording light-evoked electrical responses of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in mice using a technique known as DC-ERGs first described by Marmorstein, Peachey, and colleagues in the early 2000s.

Engineering

Design and Development of a Three-Dimensionally Printed Microscope Mask Alignment Adapter for the Fabrication of Multilayer Microfluidic Devices

Celine R. Garcia^*1, Zhenya Ding^*1, Hilario C. Garza¹, Wei Li¹

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University

This project allows small laboratories to develop an easy-to-use platform for the fabrication of precise multilayer microfluidic devices. The platform consists of a three-dimensionally printed microscope mask alignment adapter using which multilayer microfluidic devices with alignment errors of <10 µm were achieved.

Biology

Primary Culture of Porcine Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Feng Wen^*1,2,3, Yanzi Wang^*1,2,3, Danxue He^1,2,3, Chunyan Liao^1,2,3, Weijie Ouyang^1,2,3, Zuguo Liu^1,2,3, Wei Li^1,2,3, Yi Liao^1,2,3

¹Eye Institute of Xiamen University, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, ²Department of Ophthalmology, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, ³Xiamen University Affiliated Xiamen Eye Center, School of Medicine, Xiamen University

Here, an easy-to-follow method to culture primary porcine retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro is presented.