Biology subjects

Gold, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Gold, B..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Identification of perrhenate-binding peptides by phage display

Pertechnetate is the most stable and highly environmentally mobile form of the radioactive element technetium. To explore the ability of peptides to remove this molecule from aqueous solutions, a phage display library was biopanned against immobilized perrhenate, a nonradioactive analog of pertechnetate. Six unique peptides were identified from the screen and their ability to bind perrhenate free in solution and immobilized on a solid support were explored. It was found that the peptides, particularly when immobilized, were able to remove perrhenate from aqueous solutions, and despite not being screened for selectivity, demonstrated some preference for perrhenate over other anions such as chromate and nitrite. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using engineered biological systems for remediation of pertechnetate in the environment.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

A Unified Physiological Process Links Global Patterns of Functional MRI, Respiratory Activity, and Autonomic Signaling

The brain is closely attuned to visceral signals from the bodys internal environment, as evidenced by the numerous associations between neural, hemodynamic, and peripheral physiological signals. We show that these brain-body co-fluctuations can be captured by a single spatiotemporal pattern. Across several independent samples, as well as single-echo and multi-echo fMRI data acquisition sequences, we identify widespread co-fluctuations in the low-frequency range (0.01 - 0.1 Hz) between resting-state global fMRI signals, neural activity, and a host of autonomic signals spanning cardiovascular, pulmonary, exocrine and smooth muscle systems. The same brain-body co-fluctuations observed at rest are elicited by arousal induced by cued deep breathing and intermittent sensory stimuli, as well as spontaneous phasic EEG events during sleep. Further, we show that the spatial structure of global fMRI signals is maintained under experimental suppression of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) variations, suggesting that respiratory-driven fluctuations in arterial CO2 accompanying arousal cannot explain the origin of these signals in the brain. These findings establish the global fMRI signal as a significant component of the arousal response governed by the autonomic nervous system.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Music predictability and liking enhance pupil dilation and promote motor learning in non-musicians

Humans can anticipate music and derive pleasure from it. Expectations facilitate movements associated with anticipated events, and they are linked with reward, which may also facilitate learning of the anticipated rewarding events. The present study investigates the synergistic effects of predictability and hedonic responses to music on arousal and motor-learning in a naive population. Novel melodies were manipulated in their overall predictability (predictable/unpredictable) as objectively defined by a model of music expectation, and ranked as high/medium/low liked based on participants self-reports collected during an initial listening session. During this session, we also recorded ocular pupil size as an implicit measure of listeners arousal. During the following motor task, participants learned to play target notes of the melodies on a keyboard (notes were of similar motor and musical complexity across melodies). Pupil dilation was greater for liked melodies, particularly when predictable. Motor performance was facilitated in predictable more than unpredictable melodies, but liked melodies were learned even in the unpredictable condition. Low-liked melodies also showed learning but mostly in participants with higher scores of task perceived competence. Taken together, these results suggest that effects of predictability on learning can be overshadowed by effects of stimulus liking or task-related intrinsic motivation.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2017

Aging-associated dysbiosis increases susceptibility to enteric viral infection in Drosophila

Age is associated with increased susceptibility to enteric infections, but the molecular mechanisms are unclear. We find that aged Drosophila are more susceptible to enteric viral infections and that this increase in susceptibility is due to the aged microbiota, since depletion of the microbiota or reconstitution with a young microbiome suppressed infection. Metagenomic analysis of the aged microbiome revealed dysbiosis with an increased abundance in reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing pathways. This aged microbiota drives intestinal ROS production and we could restore immune function in old flies by reducing ROS genetically or pharmacologically. Moreover, we found that reconstitution of old flies with a cocktail of commensals, including L. fructivorans and heat-killed A. pomorum, could fully restore immunity. Altogether, these findings provide a mechanistic link between age-dependent dysbiosis and antiviral immunity and show that we can restore innate protection in aged animals, suggesting that this is a treatable and reversible state.

immunology↗