Biology subjects

Ghani, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Ghani, N..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Interference competition influences virulence in Metarhizium coinfections

Coinfections are common in a nature and often involve competition among coinfecting parasites to extract resources from the host. As a consequence of this competition, parasites can face trade-offs between investing in competition with other parasites and exploiting the host for their own growth and transmission. Such within-host interactions among parasites can either increase or decrease virulence depending on how they alter parasite density, resource use, and host damage. We tested the inhibitory effect of different species of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium on one another in vitro and the impact of coinfection on virulence towards Tribolium castaneum. We found that Metarhizium pemphigi is able to inhibit all other isolates of Metarhizium tested, whereas Metarhizium pingshaense was relatively resistant to inhibition by other Metarhizium strains. Virulence towards the host, Tribolium castaneum, differed very little among isolates tested. We did, however, observe differences between virulence in single and coinfections in two cases. Where there were virulence differences, these were both consistent with in vitro inhibition patterns and interestingly resulted in reduced virulence in coinfection. This is inconsistent with broader patterns of virulence in coinfection, where virulence seems to be driven by the more virulent parasite. It is, however, consistent with data from other systems where there is evidence of interference competition. Our data thus support the idea that, in contrast to other forms of between parasite interaction, interference competition results in reduced virulence in coinfection.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Mice wiggle a wheel to boost the salience of low visual contrast stimuli

From the Welsh tidy mouse to the New York City pizza rat, movement reveals rodent intelligence. Here, we show that some head-fixed mice developed an active sensing strategy in a visual perceptual decision-making task. Akin to humans shaking a computer mouse to find the cursor on a scree n, some mice wiggled a wheel that controlled the movement of a visual stimulus preferentially during low-contrast trials. When mice wiggled the wheel, the low visual stimulus contrast accuracy increased. Moreover, these wiggles moved the visual stimulus at a temporal frequency (11.5 {+/-} 2.5 Hz) within the range that maximizes contrast sensitivity in rodents. Perturbing the task contingency and visuo-motor coupling reduced wiggle behavior. The performance benefit of wiggle behavior persisted after controlling for arousal state, establishing wiggling as an active sensing strategy rather than an arousal-driven byproduct. Together, these results show that some mice wiggle the wheel to boost the salience of low visual contrast stimuli. This provides evidence for active sensing in head-fixed mouse vision. HighlightsO_LIWiggle speed positively correlates with low-contrast visual accuracy across 213 mice C_LIO_LIWiggles generate stimulus motion at a temporal frequency near maximal contrast sensitivity C_LIO_LIReversing task contingency or uncoupling the wheel suppresses wiggling C_LIO_LILonger wiggles are associated with enhanced neural decoding of stimulus identity in midbrain and thalamus C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Science Education for the Youth (SEFTY): A Neuroscience Outreach Program for High School Students in Southern Nevada During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Laboratory outreach programs for K-12 students in the United States from 2020-2022 were suspended or delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. While Southern Nevada also observed similar closures for onsite programs, we and others hypothesized that in-person laboratory activities could be prioritized after increasing vaccine doses were available to the public and masking was encouraged. Here, we describe how the Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Precision Medicine at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) collaborated with administrators from a local school district to conduct training activities for high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Science Education for the Youth (SEFTY) programs curriculum was constructed to incorporate experiential learning, fostering collaboration and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. Leveraging neuroscience tools from our UNLV laboratory, we engaged with 117 high school applicants from 2021-2022. Our recruitment efforts yielded a diverse cohort, with >41% Pacific Islander and Asian students, >9% African American students, and >12% multiracial students. We assessed the impact of the SEFTY program through pre- and post-assessment student evaluations, revealing a significant improvement of 20.3% in science proficiency (p<0.001) after participating in the program. Collectively, our laboratory curriculum offers valuable insights into the capacity of an outreach program to actively foster diversity and cultivate opportunities for academic excellence, even in the challenging context of a global pandemic. Significance StatementThe Science Education for the Youth (SEFTY) program at UNLV successfully engaged 117 diverse high school students in neuroscience-based experiential learning, demonstrating the viability of in-person education during a pandemic. Significant improvements in science proficiency (20.3% increase) underscore the programs effectiveness in fostering academic excellence and diversity. This initiative potentially serves as a model for maintaining high-quality, inclusive science education in challenging times.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2023

Dietary Pyruvate Targets Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 to Mitigate Inflammation and Obesity in Mice

Obesity has a multifactorial etiology and is known to be a state of chronic low-grade inflammation, known as meta-inflammation. This state is associated with the development of metabolic disorders such as glucose intolerance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Pyruvate is a glycolytic metabolite and a crucial node in various metabolic pathways. However, its role and molecular mechanism in obesity and associated complications are obscure. In this study, we reported that pyruvate substantially inhibited adipogenic differentiation in vitro and its administration significantly prevented HFD-induced weight gain, white adipose tissue inflammation, and metabolic dysregulation. To identify the target proteins of pyruvate, drug affinity responsive target stability was employed with proteomics, cellular thermal shift assay, and isothermal drug response to detect the interactions between pyruvate and its molecular targets. Consequently, we identified cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) as a novel molecular target of pyruvate and demonstrated that pyruvate restrained diet-induced obesity, white adipose tissue inflammation, and hepatic steatosis in a cPLA2-dependent manner. Studies with global ablation of cPLA2 in mice showed that the protective effects of pyruvate were largely abrogated, confirming the importance of pyruvate/cPLA2 interaction in pyruvate attenuation of inflammation and obesity. Overall, our study not only establishes pyruvate as an antagonist of cPLA2 signaling and a potential therapeutic option for obesity, but it also sheds light on the mechanism of its action. Pyruvates prior clinical use indicates that it can be considered a safe and viable alternative for obesity, whether consumed as a dietary supplement or as part of a regular diet.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Perception and Readiness Towards Inter-Professional Education Among Different Health Care Disciplines at Khyber Medical University Peshawar

Interprofessional learning (IPL) is an approach that teaches students diverse disciplines to communicate with each other about their professional knowledge in order to acquire a more complex one understanding of the current situation. According to WHO definition of IPE "its a process between two or more professionals learn about from, and with one another to permit effective association and enhance health outcome. The aim of this study was to measure perception and readiness towards IPE among different health care disciplines. A cross-sectional study was done with two hundred and eighteen post graduate Nursing, public health, physiotherapy, and basic medical sciences students from September,2020 to January,2021 at Khyber Medical University Peshawar Pakistan. Convenient sampling technique was used to collect data. The Readiness for Inter-Professional Learning Scale (RIPLS) and Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale (IEPS) were used to measure the readiness and perception of students regarding inter-professional leaning. The data were analyzed using software Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) (Version 23). The RIPLS was completed by a total of 218 participants (response rate 100%, 61 Nursing students 28%, 51 physiotherapy students 23.4%, 53 public health students 24.3%, and 53 basic medical sciences students 24.3%). As shown in Table 1.1, the majority of respondents were male (51.4%) followed by female (48.6%). Most of the respondents were aged with a mean score of 27.92 {+/-} 3.195. Moreover, majority of respondents have experience less than 5years (75.2%) and (22.8%) has experience above than 5years. Value of perception and readiness in Shapiro-Wilk is .000 which shows that the data variable is not normally distributed. correlation of students towards interprofessional learning by applying Spearman rho test. Students perception has strong positive correlation with their readiness, p value (.000). Also students readiness has strong positive correlation with their perception towards interprofessional learning. This study was to explore the readiness and perception of students towards interprofessional education in different health care students. IPL is beneficial for students to know other professionals to work together for teamwork and collaboration and it also increase communication between different health care professional and patients.

scientific communication and education↗