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University of Queensland

10 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Behavior

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Simultaneous Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Marcus Meinzer^1,2, Robert Lindenberg², Robert Darkow², Lena Ulm², David Copland¹, Agnes Flöel²

¹Centre for Clinical Research, University of Queensland, ²Department of Neurology, NeuroCure Clinical Research Centre, and Centre for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité Universitätsmedizin

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique. It has successfully been used in basic research and clinical settings to modulate brain function in humans. This article describes the implementation of tDCS and simultaneous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), to investigate the neural basis of tDCS effects.

Developmental Biology

The Complete and Updated "Rotifer Polyculture Method" for Rearing First Feeding Zebrafish

Christian Lawrence¹, Jason Best¹, Jason Cockington², Eric C. Henry³, Shane Hurley¹, Althea James¹, Christopher Lapointe¹, Kara Maloney¹, Erik Sanders⁴

¹Aquatic Resources Program, Boston Children's Hospital, ²UQ Biological Resources, University of Queensland, ³Reed Mariculture, ⁴Aquatics Lab Services

Larval zebrafish are adapted to feed on zooplankton. It is possible to capitalize on this natural feature in the laboratory by growing first feeding fish together in the same system with live saltwater rotifers. This "polyculture" strategy promotes high growth and survival with minimal labor and disturbance to the larvae.

Medicine

Ovine Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model Utilizing a Lateral Retroperitoneal Drill Bit Injury

Kai-Zheong Lim^*1, Christopher D. Daly^*1,2,3, Peter Ghosh⁴, Graham Jenkin³, David Oehme⁵, Justin Cooper-White^6,7, Taryn Naidoo⁶, Tony Goldschlager^1,8

¹Department of Surgery, Monash University, ²Department of Neurosurgery, Monash University, ³The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, ⁴Proteobioactives, Pty Ltd, ⁵Department of Neurosurgery, St Vincent's Hospital, ⁶Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, ⁷School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, ⁸Department of Neurosurgery, Monash Health

Intervertebral disc degeneration is a significant contributor to back pain and a leading cause of disability worldwide. Numerous animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration exist. We demonstrate an ovine model of intervertebral disc degeneration, utilizing a drill bit, which achieves a consistent disc injury and reproducible level of disc degeneration.

Medicine

Contractility Measurements of Human Uterine Smooth Muscle to Aid Drug Development

Sarah Arrowsmith^*1, Peter Keov², Markus Muttenthaler^3,4, Christian W. Gruber^*2,5

¹Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Research Centre, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, ²School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, ³Faculty of Chemistry, Institute of Biological Chemistry, University of Vienna, ⁴Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, ⁵Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna

This article describes experimental protocols to study ex vivo contractions of human myometrium and their application in drug discovery. This technique is used to improve the understanding of myometrial physiology and pathophysiology as well as to validate pharmacological data from novel research probes or drug leads.

Chemistry

Chemical Synthesis of Porous Barium Titanate Thin Film and Thermal Stabilization of Ferroelectric Phase by Porosity-Induced Strain

Norihiro Suzuki^1,2, Minoru Osada³, Motasim Billah^3,4, Yoshio Bando^3,4, Yusuke Yamauchi^5,6, Shahriar A. Hossain^3,4

¹Research Institute for Science and Technology (RIST), Tokyo University of Science (TUS), ²International Center for Young Scientists (ICYS), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), ³International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), ⁴Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM), University of Wollongong, ⁵School of Chemical Engineering, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland, ⁶Department of Plant & Environmental New Resources, Kyung Hee University

Here, we present a protocol for the synthesis of porous barium titanate (BaTiO₃) thin film by a surfactant-assisted sol-gel method, in which self-assembled amphipathic surfactant micelles are used as an organic template.

Environment

A Novel Method for the Pentosan Analysis Present in Jute Biomass and Its Conversion into Sugar Monomers Using Acidic Ionic Liquid

Babasaheb M. Matsagar¹, Shahriar A. Hossain^2,3, Tofazzal Islam⁴, Yusuke Yamauchi^2,3,5,6, Kevin C.-W. Wu¹

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, ²International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), ³Australian Institute for Innovative Materials (AIIM), University of Wollongong, ⁴Department of Biotechnology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, ⁵School of Chemical Engineering & Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), University of Queensland, ⁶Department of Plant and Environmental New Resources, Kyung Hee University

We present a protocol for the synthesis of C5 sugars (xylose and arabinose) from a renewable non-edible lignocellulosic biomass (i.e., jute) with the presence of Brønsted acidic ionic liquids (BAILs) as the catalyst in water. The BAILs catalyst exhibited better catalytic performance than conventional mineral acid catalysts (H₂SO₄ and HCl).

Medicine

Absorbent Microbiopsy Sampling and RNA Extraction for Minimally Invasive, Simultaneous Blood and Skin Analysis

Benson U.W. Lei^1,2, Miko Yamada¹, Van L.T. Hoang³, Paul J. Belt⁴, Mark H. Moore⁵, Lynlee L. Lin², Ross Flewell-Smith¹, Nhung Dang^1,2, Shoko Tomihara², Tarl W. Prow^1,2

¹Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, ²Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, ³Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, ⁴Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, ⁵Australian Craniofacial Unit, Women's and Children's Hospital

In this article, we demonstrate how the absorbent microbiopsy technique is performed and how the sample can be used for RNA extraction for simple and simultaneous sampling of skin and blood in a minimally invasive manner.

Medicine

An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Micro-neutralization Assay

Lien Anh Ha Do^1,2, Reuben Tse¹, Jordan Nathanielsz¹, Jeremy Anderson¹, Darren Suryawijaya Ong¹, Keith Chappell³, Kim Mulholland^1,2,4, Paul V. Licciardi^1,2

¹Murdoch Children's Research Institute, ²Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, ³School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, ⁴London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

This study describes a high throughput, imaging-based micro-neutralization assay to determine the titer of neutralizing antibodies specific for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This assay format has been tested on different sample types.

Developmental Biology

Real-time Live-cell Flow Cytometry to Investigate Calcium Influx, Pore Formation, and Phagocytosis by P2X7 Receptors in Adult Neural Progenitor Cells

Hannah C. Leeson^1,2, Tailoi Chan-Ling^3,4, Michael D. Lovelace^3,5,6, Jeremy D. Brownlie⁷, Michael W. Weible II^*1,4,7, Ben J. Gu^*8

¹Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, ²Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, ³Discipline of Anatomy and Histology, School of Medical Science, University of Sydney, ⁴Bosch Institute, University of Sydney, ⁵Applied Neurosciences Program, Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit, St. Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, ⁶School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales, ⁷School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, ⁸Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne

Providing single-cell sensitivity, real-time flow cytometry is uniquely suited to quantify multimodal receptor functions of live cultures. Using adult neural progenitor cells, the P2X7 receptor function was assessed via calcium influx detected by calcium indicator dye, transmembrane pore formation by ethidium bromide uptake, and phagocytosis using fluorescent latex beads.

Bioengineering

Growth of Human and Sheep Corneal Endothelial Cell Layers on Biomaterial Membranes

Jennifer Walshe¹, Najla Al Khaled Abdulsalam², Shuko Suzuki¹, Traian V. Chirila^{1,3,4,5,6,7,8}, Damien G. Harkin^1,3,4

¹Queensland Eye Institute, ²King Faisal University, ³School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, ⁴Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, ⁵Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, ⁶Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, ⁷Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, ⁸Faculty of Science, University of Western Australia

This protocol describes the critical steps required to establish and grow corneal endothelial cell cultures from explants of human or sheep tissue. A method for subculturing corneal endothelial cells on membranous biomaterials is also presented.