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Padovani-Claudio DA, Ramos CJ, Capozzi ME, Penn JS. Elucidating glial responses to products of diabetes-associated systemic dyshomeostasis. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 94:101151. [PMID: 37028118 PMCID: PMC10683564 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in working age adults. DR has non-proliferative stages, characterized in part by retinal neuroinflammation and ischemia, and proliferative stages, characterized by retinal angiogenesis. Several systemic factors, including poor glycemic control, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, increase the risk of DR progression to vision-threatening stages. Identification of cellular or molecular targets in early DR events could allow more prompt interventions pre-empting DR progression to vision-threatening stages. Glia mediate homeostasis and repair. They contribute to immune surveillance and defense, cytokine and growth factor production and secretion, ion and neurotransmitter balance, neuroprotection, and, potentially, regeneration. Therefore, it is likely that glia orchestrate events throughout the development and progression of retinopathy. Understanding glial responses to products of diabetes-associated systemic dyshomeostasis may reveal novel insights into the pathophysiology of DR and guide the development of novel therapies for this potentially blinding condition. In this article, first, we review normal glial functions and their putative roles in the development of DR. We then describe glial transcriptome alterations in response to systemic circulating factors that are upregulated in patients with diabetes and diabetes-related comorbidities; namely glucose in hyperglycemia, angiotensin II in hypertension, and the free fatty acid palmitic acid in hyperlipidemia. Finally, we discuss potential benefits and challenges associated with studying glia as targets of DR therapeutic interventions. In vitro stimulation of glia with glucose, angiotensin II and palmitic acid suggests that: 1) astrocytes may be more responsive than other glia to these products of systemic dyshomeostasis; 2) the effects of hyperglycemia on glia are likely to be largely osmotic; 3) fatty acid accumulation may compound DR pathophysiology by promoting predominantly proinflammatory and proangiogenic transcriptional alterations of macro and microglia; and 4) cell-targeted therapies may offer safer and more effective avenues for DR treatment as they may circumvent the complication of pleiotropism in retinal cell responses. Although several molecules previously implicated in DR pathophysiology are validated in this review, some less explored molecules emerge as potential therapeutic targets. Whereas much is known regarding glial cell activation, future studies characterizing the role of glia in DR and how their activation is regulated and sustained (independently or as part of retinal cell networks) may help elucidate mechanisms of DR pathogenesis and identify novel drug targets for this blinding disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolly Ann Padovani-Claudio
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, B3321A Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232-0011, USA.
| | - Carla J Ramos
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, AA1324 Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232-0011, USA.
| | - Megan E Capozzi
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, 300 North Duke Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
| | - John S Penn
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, B3307 Medical Center North, 1161 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN, 37232-0011, USA.
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Capozzi ME, Savage SR, McCollum GW, Hammer SS, Ramos CJ, Yang R, Bretz CA, Penn JS. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-β/δ antagonist GSK0660 mitigates retinal cell inflammation and leukostasis. Exp Eye Res 2019; 190:107885. [PMID: 31758977 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2019.107885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is triggered by retinal cell damage stimulated by the diabetic milieu, including increased levels of intraocular free fatty acids. Free fatty acids may serve as an initiator of inflammatory cytokine release from Müller cells, and the resulting cytokines are potent stimulators of retinal endothelial pathology, such as leukostasis, vascular permeability, and basement membrane thickening. Our previous studies have elucidated a role for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-β/δ (PPARβ/δ) in promoting several steps in the pathologic cascade in DR, including angiogenesis and expression of inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, PPARβ/δ is a known target of lipid signaling, suggesting a potential role for this transcription factor in fatty acid-induced retinal inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that PPARβ/δ stimulates both the induction of inflammatory mediators by Müller cells as well the paracrine induction of leukostasis in endothelial cells (EC) by Müller cell inflammatory products. To test this, we used the PPARβ/δ inhibitor, GSK0660, in primary human Müller cells (HMC), human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMEC) and mouse retina. We found that palmitic acid (PA) activation of PPARβ/δ in HMC leads to the production of pro-angiogenic and/or inflammatory cytokines that may constitute DR-relevant upstream paracrine inflammatory signals to EC and other retinal cells. Downstream, EC transduce these signals and increase their synthesis and release of chemokines such as CCL8 and CXCL10 that regulate leukostasis and other cellular events related to vascular inflammation in DR. Our results indicate that PPARβ/δ inhibition mitigates these upstream (MC) as well as downstream (EC) inflammatory signaling events elicited by metabolic stimuli and inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, our data suggest that PPARβ/δ inhibition is a potential therapeutic strategy against early DR pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Capozzi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, USA.
| | - Sara R Savage
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, USA
| | - Gary W McCollum
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA
| | - Sandra S Hammer
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, USA
| | - Carla J Ramos
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA
| | - Rong Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA
| | - Colin A Bretz
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, USA
| | - John S Penn
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, USA
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Ramos CJ, Lin C, Liu X, Antonetti DA. The EPAC-Rap1 pathway prevents and reverses cytokine-induced retinal vascular permeability. J Biol Chem 2017; 293:717-730. [PMID: 29158262 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.815381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased retinal vascular permeability contributes to macular edema, a leading cause of vision loss in eye pathologies such as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and central retinal vein occlusions. Pathological changes in vascular permeability are driven by growth factors such as VEGF and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α. Identifying the pro-barrier mechanisms that block vascular permeability and restore the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) may lead to new therapies. The cAMP-dependent guanine nucleotide exchange factor (EPAC) exchange-protein directly activated by cAMP promotes exchange of GTP in the small GTPase Rap1. Rap1 enhances barrier properties in human umbilical endothelial cells by promoting adherens junction assembly. We hypothesized that the EPAC-Rap1 signaling pathway may regulate the tight junction complex of the BRB and may restore barrier properties after cytokine-induced permeability. Here, we show that stimulating EPAC or Rap1 activation can prevent or reverse VEGF- or TNF-α-induced permeability in cell culture and in vivo Moreover, EPAC activation inhibited VEGF receptor (VEGFR) signaling through the Ras/MEK/ERK pathway. We also found that Rap1B knockdown or an EPAC antagonist increases endothelial permeability and that VEGF has no additive effect, suggesting a common pathway. Furthermore, GTP-bound Rap1 promoted tight junction assembly, and loss of Rap1B led to loss of junctional border organization. Collectively, our results indicate that the EPAC-Rap1 pathway helps maintain basal barrier properties in the retinal vascular endothelium and activation of the EPAC-Rap1 pathway may therefore represent a potential therapeutic strategy to restore the BRB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla J Ramos
- From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
| | - Chengmao Lin
- From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
| | - Xuwen Liu
- From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
| | - David A Antonetti
- From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105
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Abstract
Maintenance and regulation of the vascular endothelial cell junctional complex is critical for proper barrier function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the highly related blood-retinal barrier (BRB) that help maintain proper neuronal environment. Recent research has demonstrated that the junctional complex is actively maintained and can be dynamically regulated. Studies focusing on the mechanisms of barrier formation, maintenance, and barrier disruption have been of interest to understanding development of the BBB and BRB and identifying a means for therapeutic intervention for diseases ranging from brain tumors and dementia to blinding eye diseases. Research has increasingly revealed that small GTPases play a critical role in both barrier formation and disruption mechanisms. This review will summarize the current data on small GTPases in barrier regulation with an emphasis on the EPAC-Rap1 signaling pathway to Rho in endothelial barriers, as well as explore its potential involvement in paracellular flux and transcytosis regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla J Ramos
- a Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI USA
| | - David A Antonetti
- a Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI USA
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Ramos CJ, Gutierrez DA, Aranda AS, Koshlaychuk MA, Carrillo DA, Medrano R, McBride TD, U A, Medina SM, Lombardo MC, Lucena SE, Sanchez EE, Soto JG. Functional characterization of six aspartate (D) recombinant mojastin mutants (r-Moj): A second aspartate amino acid carboxyl to the RGD in r-Moj-D_ peptides is not sufficient to induce apoptosis of SK-Mel-28 cells. Toxicon 2016; 118:36-42. [PMID: 27105671 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2016] [Revised: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Disintegrins are small peptides produced in viper venom that act as integrin antagonists. When bound to integrins, disintegrins induce altered cellular behaviors, such as apoptotic induction. Disintegrins with RGDDL or RGDDM motifs induce apoptosis of normal and cancer cells. We hypothesized that a second aspartate (D) carboxyl to the RGD is sufficient to induce apoptosis. Five recombinant mojastin D mutants were produced by site-directed mutagenesis (r-Moj-DA, r-Moj-DG, r-Moj-DL, r-Moj-DN, and r-Moj-DV). Stable αv integrin knockdown and shRNA scrambled control SK-Mel-28 cell lines were produced to test a second hypothesis: r-Moj-D_ peptides bind to αv integrin. Only r-Moj-DL, r-Moj-DM, and r-Moj-DN induced apoptosis of SK-Mel-28 cells (at 29.4%, 25.6%, and 36.2%, respectively). Apoptotic induction was significantly reduced in SK-Mel-28 cells with a stable αv integrin knockdown (to 2%, 17%, and 2%, respectively), but not in SK-Mel-28 cells with a stable scrambled shRNA. All six r-Moj-D_ peptides inhibited cell proliferation; ranging from 49.56% (r-Moj-DN) to 75.6% (r-Moj-DA). Cell proliferation inhibition by r-Moj-D_ peptides was significantly reduced in SK-Mel-28 cells with a stable αv integrin knockdown. All six r-Moj-D_ peptides inhibited SK-Mel-28 cell migration at high levels (69%-100%). As a consequence, rac-1 mRNA expression levels were significantly reduced as early as 1 h after treatment, suggesting that rac-1 is involved in the cell migration activity of SK-Mel-28.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla J Ramos
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Daniel A Gutierrez
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Ana S Aranda
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Melissa A Koshlaychuk
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - David A Carrillo
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Rafael Medrano
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Terri D McBride
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Andrew U
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Stephanie M Medina
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Melissa C Lombardo
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
| | - Sara E Lucena
- National Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
| | - Elda E Sanchez
- National Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
| | - Julio G Soto
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA.
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Lucena SE, Jia Y, Soto JG, Parral J, Cantu E, Brannon J, Lardner K, Ramos CJ, Seoane AI, Sánchez EE. Anti-invasive and anti-adhesive activities of a recombinant disintegrin, r-viridistatin 2, derived from the Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis). Toxicon 2012; 60:31-9. [PMID: 22465495 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2011] [Revised: 02/28/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Snake venom disintegrins inhibit platelet aggregation and have anti-cancer activities. In this study, we report the cloning, expression, and functional activities of a recombinant disintegrin, r-viridistatin 2 (GenBank ID: JQ071899), from the Prairie rattlesnake. r-Viridistatin 2 was tested for anti-invasive and anti-adhesive activities against six different cancer cell lines (human urinary bladder carcinoma (T24), human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080), human skin melanoma (SK-Mel-28), human colorectal adenocarcinoma (CaCo-2), human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) and murine skin melanoma (B16F10)). r-Viridistatin 2 shares 96% and 64% amino acid identity with two other Prairie rattlesnake medium-sized disintegrins, viridin and viridistatin, respectively. r-Viridistatin 2 was able to inhibit adhesion of T24, SK-MEL-28, HT-1080, CaCo-2 and MDA-MB-231 to various extracellular matrix proteins with different affinities. r-Viridistatin 2 decreased the ability of T24 and SK-MEL-28 cells to migrate by 62 and 96% respectively, after 24 h of incubation and the invasion of T24, SK-MEL-28, HT-1080 and MDA-MB-231 cells were inhibited by 80, 85, 65 and 64% respectively, through a reconstituted basement membrane using a modified Boyden chamber. Finally, r-viridistatin 2 effectively inhibited lung colonization of murine melanoma cells in BALB/c mice by 71%, suggesting that r-viridistatin 2 could be a potent anti-cancer agent in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Lucena
- National Natural Toxins Research Center-NNTRC, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 158, 975 West Avenue B, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA
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Teklemariam T, Seoane AI, Ramos CJ, Sanchez EE, Lucena SE, Perez JC, Mandal SA, Soto JG. Functional analysis of a recombinant PIII-SVMP, GST-acocostatin; an apoptotic inducer of HUVEC and HeLa, but not SK-Mel-28 cells. Toxicon 2011; 57:646-56. [PMID: 21255601 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2011.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2010] [Revised: 12/16/2010] [Accepted: 01/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Disintegrins and disintegrin-like peptides interact with integrins and interfere with cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. A disintegrin-like snake venom gene, Acocostatin was cloned from the venom gland mRNA of Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix. Acocostatin belongs to the PIII-SVMP subfamily of disintegrin-like peptides. The recombinant acocostatin peptide was produced and purified as GST-fusion. The GST-acocostatin peptide, at 44 μg/mL, inhibited platelet aggregation by 30% in PRP and 18% in whole blood. In addition GST-acocostatin, at 220 μg/mL, inhibited SK-Mel-28 cell migration by 48%, but did not inhibit T24 cell migration. The GST-acocostatin peptide ability to induce apoptosis on HUVEC, HeLa, and SK-Mel-28 cells was determined using Annexin V-FITC and chromatin fragmentation assays after 24 h of treatment. At 5 μM GST-acocostatin peptide, 19.68%+/- 3.09 of treated HUVEC, and 35.86% +/- 2.05 of treated HeLa cells were in early apoptosis. The GST-acocostatin peptide also caused chromatin fragmentation of HUVEC and HeLa cells as determined by fluorescent microscopy and Hoechst staining. The GST-acocostatin peptide failed to induce apoptosis of SK-Mel-28 cells. We characterized the HUVEC, HeLa, and T24 integrin expression by flow cytometry, as the first step in determining GST-acocostatin binding specificity. Our results indicate that HUVEC express αv, αvβ3, αvβ5, α6, β1, and β3 integrin receptors. HeLa cells express α1, α2, α6, αv, αvβ5, and β1 integrin receptors. T24 cells express α1, α3, α6, αv, αvβ3, αvβ5, β1, β3, and β6 integrin receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takele Teklemariam
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100, USA
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Seoane AI, Tran VL, Sanchez EE, White SA, Choi JL, Gaytán B, Chavez N, Reyes SR, Ramos CJ, Tran LH, Lucena SE, Sugarek M, Perez JC, Mandal SA, Ghorab S, Rodriguez-Acosta A, Fung BK, Soto JG. The mojastin mutant Moj-DM induces apoptosis of the human melanoma SK-Mel-28, but not the mutant Moj-NN nor the non-mutated recombinant Moj-WN. Toxicon 2010; 56:391-401. [PMID: 20398687 PMCID: PMC2930814 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2010.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2009] [Revised: 04/01/2010] [Accepted: 04/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In this study, three recombinant mojastin peptides (Moj-WN, Moj-NN, and Moj-DM) were produced and compared functionally. Recombinant Moj peptides were purified as GST-fusions. GST-Moj-WN and GST-Moj-NN inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation in platelet rich plasma. The GST-Moj-WN had an IC(50) of 160nM, while the GST-Moj-NN had an IC(50) of 493nM. The GST-Moj-DM did not inhibit platelet aggregation. All three GST-Moj peptides inhibited SK-Mel-28 cell adhesion to fibronectin. The GST-Moj-WN inhibited the binding of SK-Mel-28 cells to fibronectin with an IC(50) of 11nM, followed by the GST-Moj-NN (IC(50) of 28nM), and the GST-Moj-DM (IC(50) of 46nM). The GST-Moj peptides' ability to induce apoptosis on SK-Mel-28 cells was determined using Annexin-V-FITC and nuclear fragmentation assays. Cells were incubated with 5muM GST-Moj peptides for 24h. At 5microM GST-Moj-DM peptide, 13.56%+/-2.08 of treated SK-Mel-28 cells were in early apoptosis. The GST-Moj-DM peptide also caused nuclear fragmentation as determined by fluorescent microscopy and Hoechst staining. The GST-Moj-WN and GST-Moj-NN peptides failed to induce apoptosis. We characterized the SK-Mel-28 integrin expression, as the first step in determining r-Moj binding specificity. Our results indicate that SK-Mel-28 cells express alphavbeta3, alphav, alpha6, beta1, and beta3 integrin receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin I. Seoane
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Victoria L. Tran
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Elda E. Sanchez
- Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363
| | - Stephanie A. White
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Jason L. Choi
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Brandon Gaytán
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Natalie Chavez
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Steven R. Reyes
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
- Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363
| | - Carla J. Ramos
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Luan H. Tran
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Sara E. Lucena
- Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363
| | - Maria Sugarek
- Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363
| | - John C. Perez
- Natural Toxins Research Center, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX 78363
| | - Stephanie A. Mandal
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Shervin Ghorab
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Alexis Rodriguez-Acosta
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado 47423, Caracas 1041, Venezuela
| | - Branden K. Fung
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
| | - Julio G. Soto
- Biological Sciences Department, San José State University, One Washington Square, San José, CA 95192-0100
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