Biology subjects

Jeong, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Jeong, S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Mycoplasmal endosymbionts of Trichomonas vaginalis are associated with reduced risk for Chlamydia trachomatis endometrial infection in asymptomatic, coinfected, women.

Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoan parasite that causes trichomoniasis, the most common curable non-viral sexually transmitted infection, and Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterial pathogen that can ascend to the upper genital tract and cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. T. vaginalis harbors bacterial endosymbionts, including Candidatus Malacoplasma girerdii, an obligate symbiont, and Metamycoplasma hominis, which can live freely or symbiotically. In a 16S rRNA sequencing study of the cervicovaginal microbiome of women at high risk for chlamydial infection, Ca. M. girerdii abundance was one of 13 features predicting lack of chlamydial spread to the endometrium, despite no direct association between T. vaginalis infection and reduced chlamydial ascension. Investigating the relationship between these microorganisms further, we found that T. vaginalis vaginal abundance correlated positively with chlamydial burden in women whose infection was confined to the cervix, while a nonsignificant inverse relationship was seen in women with endometrial spread. Among participants with high chlamydial burden, Ca. M. girerdii was detected exclusively in women without endometrial infection. Both endosymbionts trended toward more frequent detection, and higher abundance, in coinfected women without endometrial spread, while M. hominis abundance correlated strongly with T. vaginalis burden in this group. These findings suggest that mycoplasmal endosymbionts of T. vaginalis, rather than T. vaginalis itself, are microbial factors limiting chlamydial ascension, and point to a three-way interaction between parasite, endosymbiont, and bacterial pathogen that shapes upper genital tract C. trachomatis infection risk.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2018

CHEMOMETRIC APPROACHES FOR DEVELOPING INFRARED NANOSENSORS TO IMAGE ANTHRACYCLINES

Generation, identification, and validation of optical probes to image molecular targets in a biological milieu remains a challenge. Synthetic molecular recognition approaches leveraging the intrinsic near-infrared fluorescence of single-walled carbon nanotubes is a promising approach for chronic biochemical imaging in tissues. However, generation of nanosensors for selective imaging of molecular targets requires a heuristic approach. Here, we present a chemometric platform for rapidly screening libraries of candidate single-walled carbon nanotube nanosensors against biochemical analytes to quantify fluorescence response to small molecules including vitamins, neurotransmitters, and chemotherapeutics. We further show this approach can be leveraged to identify biochemical analytes that selectively modulate the intrinsic near-infrared fluorescence of candidate nanosensors. Chemometric analysis thus enables identification of nanosensor-analyte hits and also nanosensor fluorescence signaling modalities such as wavelength-shifts that are optimal for translation to biological imaging. Through this approach, we identify and characterize a nanosensor for the chemotherapeutic anthracycline doxorubicin, which provides an up to 17 nm fluorescence red-shift and exhibits an 8 {micro}M limit of detection, compatible with peak circulatory concentrations of doxorubicin common in therapeutic administration. We demonstrate selectivity of this nanosensor over dacarbazine, a chemotherapeutic commonly co-injected with DOX. Lastly, we demonstrate nanosensor tissue compatibility for imaging of doxorubicin in muscle tissue by incorporating nanosensors into the mouse hindlimb and measuring nanosensor response to exogenous DOX administration. Our results motivate chemometric approaches to nanosensor discovery for chronic imaging of drug partitioning into tissues and towards real-time monitoring of drug accumulation.

biochemistry↗