University of Iowa

About: University of Iowa is a education organization based out in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 49229 authors who have published 109171 publications receiving 5021465 citations. The organization is also known as: UI & The University of Iowa.

Transfer vectors and microorganisms containing human cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter-regulatory DNA sequence

Abstract: The cloning of a eucaryotic promoter-regulatory region that functions preferentially in human cells is disclosed. The invention is exemplified by the cloning of a section of the human cytomegalovirus genome comprising a DNA sequence with regulatory and promoter signals and an initiation site for RNA synthesis. The fragment, termed the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) promoter-regulatory sequence, was obtained from purified HCMV DNA.

Spatial Response of Mammals to Late Quaternary Environmental Fluctuations

Abstract: Analyses of fossil mammal faunas from 2945 localities in the United States demonstrate that the geographic ranges of individual species shifted at different times, in different directions, and at different rates in response to late Quaternary environmental fluctuations. The geographic pattern of faunal provinces was similar for the late Pleistocene and late Holocene, but differing environmental gradients resulted in dissimilar species composition for these biogeographic regions. Modern community patterns emerged only in the last few thousand years, and many late Pleistocene communities do not have modern analogs. Faunal heterogeneity was greater in the late Pleistocene.

Using internet searches for influenza surveillance.

Abstract: The Internet is an important source of health information. Thus, the frequency of Internet searches may provide information regarding infectious disease activity. As an example, we examined the relationship between searches for influenza and actual influenza occurrence. Using search queries from the Yahoo! search engine ( http://search.yahoo.com ) from March 2004 through May 2008, we counted daily unique queries originating in the United States that contained influenza-related search terms. Counts were divided by the total number of searches, and the resulting daily fraction of searches was averaged over the week. We estimated linear models, using searches with 1-10-week lead times as explanatory variables to predict the percentage of cultures positive for influenza and deaths attributable to pneumonia and influenza in the United States. With use of the frequency of searches, our models predicted an increase in cultures positive for influenza 1-3 weeks in advance of when they occurred (P < .001), and similar models predicted an increase in mortality attributable to pneumonia and influenza up to 5 weeks in advance (P < .001). Search-term surveillance may provide an additional tool for disease surveillance.

Cutting Edge: Modulation of Airway Inflammation by CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides in a Murine Model of Asthma

Abstract: Asthma has been increasing in industrialized countries Evidence suggests that asthma is caused by a Th2 immune response to inhaled environmental Ags and that childhood infections protect against this We have shown that bacterial DNA contains motifs, centered on unmethylated CpG dinucleotides, which induce Th1-type responses We hypothesized that the Th1 effect of these CpG motifs may oppose the Th2 type allergic response and suggest that this may account for the protective effect of childhood infection against asthma We examined the effects of CpG-motif oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) in a murine model of asthma Airway eosinophilia, Th2 cytokine induction, IgE production, and bronchial hyperreactivity were prevented by coadministration of CpG ODN with the Ag Significantly, in a previously sensitized mouse, CpG ODN can prevent allergen-induced airway inflammation These studies suggest that exposure to CpG DNA may protect against asthma