Biology subjects

Fox, J. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Fox, J. W..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

RAWtunda: a Tool to Convert a Multi-Channel Raw Image into TIFF and OME-TIFF Formats

MotivationHigh-resolution biological imaging in spatial biology produces data in many proprietary formats. The lack of compatibility between these formats restricts reproducibility and analysis, creates access issues, and makes early data analysis a challenge. ResultsHere, we introduce a graphical user interface (GUI) application designed to convert proprietary image formats into standardized formats like OME-TIFF and TIFF which we have termed Rawtunda. This tool addresses the need for easy and efficient handling of large, complex imaging data generated in spatial biology and microscopy, facilitating data sharing, analysis, and long-term storage. Featuring an intuitive interface the application supports users in converting.mcd and.ndpi formats, generated from Image Mass Cytometry (IMC) and Digital Pathology scanners, respectively. This resource aims to improve interoperability of spatial biology datasets, streamline data management workflows, and promote reproducibility in imaging research and analysis, preserving crucial image metadata. The app ensures compatibility with downstream tools and is designed for both bioinformaticians and bench biologists without experience in coding. Availability and implementationThe software, the documentation, and examples are available as open-source a https://med.virginia.edu/spatial-biology-core/rawtunda/ under the Copywrite of University of Virginia.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2023

Moonlight synchronous flights across three western palearctic swifts mirror size dependent prey preferences

Recent studies have suggested the presence of moonlight mediated behaviour in avian aerial insectivores, such as swifts. At the same time swift species also show differences in prey (size) preferences. Here, we use the combined analysis of state-of-the-art activity logger data across three swift species, the Common, Pallid and Alpine swifts, to quantify flight height and activity responses to crepuscular and nocturnal light conditions. Our results show a significant response in flight heights to moonlight illuminance for Common and Pallid swifts, while a moonlight driven response is absent in Alpine swifts. Swift flight responses followed the size dependent altitude gradient of their insect prey. We show a weak relationship between night-time illuminance driven responses and twilight ascending behaviour, suggesting a decoupling of both crepuscular and night-time behaviour. We suggest that swifts optimise their flight behaviour to adapt to favourable night-time light conditions, driven by light responsive and size-dependent vertical insect stratification and weather conditions.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2021

Phostensin Enables Lymphocyte Integrin Activation and Population of Peripheral Lymphoid Organs

Rap1 GTPase drives assembly of the Mig-10/RIAM/lamellipodin-Integrin-Talin (MIT) complex that enables integrin-dependent lymphocyte functions. Here we used tandem affinity tag-based proteomics to isolate and analyze the MIT complex and reveal that Phostensin (PTSN), a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 1, is a component of the complex. PTSN mediates de-phosphorylation of Rap1 thereby preserving the activity and membrane localization of Rap1 to stabilize the MIT complex. CRISPR/Cas9-induced deletion of PPP1R18, which encodes PTSN, markedly suppresses integrin activation in Jurkat human T cells. We generated apparently healthy Ppp1r18-/- mice that manifest lymphocytosis and reduced population of peripheral lymphoid tissues ascribable to defective activation of integrins L{beta}2 and 4{beta}7. Ppp1r18-/- T cells exhibit reduced capacity to induce colitis in a murine adoptive transfer model. Thus, PTSN enables lymphocyte integrin-mediated functions by dephosphorylating Rap1 to stabilize the MIT complex. As a consequence, loss of PTSN ameliorates T cell-mediated colitis. SUMMARYPhostensin, a protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit, supports lymphocyte integrin-dependent functions by mediating dephosphorylation of Rap1 to stabilize the MIT complex thereby enabling the population of peripheral lymphoid organs and T cell-mediated colitis.

immunology↗