Anatomy

Grey’s Anatomy: 10 People Meredith Should Have Been With (Other Than Derek) – Screen Rant

Meredith Grey is the leading lady of the long-running popular medical drama, Grey's Anatomy. Considering the series has been on television now for 16 seasons and counting, Meredith has had quite a small number of suitors during that period. This is mainly because she dated Derek Shepherd for almost 11 seasons.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: The 10 Weirdest Operations Ever Seen In The Show

However, in Season 11, Derek tragically passed away after being involved in a car crash. It was a while before Mer was ready to start dating again, but she had to move on eventually. Although she and McDreamy were "meant to be," there were othercharacters within the showwho could have been good for Meredith.

Honestly, after he got passed his womanizing ways, Mark could have been with anyone. He seemed to have chemistry with all of the main cast, and was just fun to watch. Most of the time, Markbrought out the silly side of people, which Mer definitely needed.

In the old days, Meredith was quite dark and twisty, and Mark could have helped her enjoy her life. After all, Mark wasn't just a goofball; he had a surprisingly sensitive side, which Meredith would have appreciated.

Nathan Riggs was one of Grey's Anatomy's short-running characters as he appeared for just over two seasons. However, during his short stint on the show, he made quite a big impact. He was one of the first people who Mer took an interest in after Derek died.

Riggs was Owen Hunt's ex-best friend, so initially Meredith tried to avoid him. However, he pursued her and their flirtation was just utterly hilarious and adorable. It was no surprise that they finally got together, but if only they had stayed that way...

This might be quite a controversial entry as these two werephenomenal as friends. When Cristina Yang left in Season 10 to go to Switzerland, Meredith was in need of a new person. Perhaps not surprisingly, Alex Karev stepped up to the plate.

RELATED: Which Grey's Anatomy Character Are You Based On Your Zodiac Type

Alex was there for Meredith as her person for over five years, and the two became incredibly close. There were some fans who wondered what Alex and Mer would be like as a couple and really, it would have been kind of awesome.

Jackson Avery first appeared in Season 6, after Seattle Grace Hospital merged with Mercy West. Initially, he rubbed the original residents the wrong way, but he soon settled down and became arespectable surgeon and a fairly decent guy.

Meredith and Jackson actually have quite a lot in common as they'rerelated totwo world-renowned genius surgeons. Slightly more unfortunately is that they both know what having work-obsessed families is like, but at least they could bond over that.

Nick Marsh is quite a fantastic character as fans were desperate for him to return to the show as Meredith's love interest after appearing in only one episode. Nick was a transplant surgeon who collapsed after a surgery, requiring Meredith to perform it.

Before the operation, he and Meredith bonded by his bedside, and they had such a lovely chat. They had buckets of chemistry, and Nick was a key factor in Meredith realizing that she was ready to date again. The show should really bring Nick back and gethim and Meredith together properly.

Although Tom Koracick has gotten a whole lot more unlikable during Season 16 of Grey's Anatomy, when he first arrived back in the show's fourteenth season, he was quite a fun character to be around. He didn't mind being unpopular, and he was never afraid to say what he thought.

In many ways, Meredith is very similar to Tom. She always does what she thinks is right, damned be the consequences. If she can help someone, she will, but she doesn't always think about how her actions affect others. Together, Tom and Mer could help reineach other in.

George O'Malley had an unrequited crush on Meredith for the first two seasons of the medical drama, which endedwhen Meredithcried after they had sex together. However, this isn't the George that would be a good fit for Mer.

RELATED: Grey's Anatomy: The 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Doctors On Call

In Season 5, Owen Hunt remarked that George was becoming a fine trauma surgeon. He was able to stay calm and think rationally, and make tough choices in a split second. George became more confident and knew what he wanted, and this version would bequite compatible with Meredith.

Derek Shepherdwas a brilliant surgeon and an adoring husband and father. It's no wonder that Meredith struggled to move on after he died. However, Derek was by no means perfect. He could be petty, moody and boy, could he hold a grudge.

He did care about Meredith deeply, but not always enough to consider her needs above his own. Andrew DeLuca may be many things, but he has always cared about Meredith. He even went to jail for her after she committed fraud, which Derek would have never done.

Link was only introduced in Season 15, and at first, he seemed to only exist as competition for Mer's affections. Both he and DeLuca asked Meredith out, which formed a weird sort of love trianglethat noone quite bought into.

However, Link did start to become more three-dimensional after he started dating Amelia. If that version had gone after Meredith, maybe he would have stood a better chance. Link was an absolute sweetheart, but he also knew how to handle a little bit of crazy, which Mer sometimes needs.

If there is one person in the entire Grey's Anatomy universe that Meredith should have been with more than Derek, it's Cristina Yang. They were only ever friends in the show, but imagine what they would have been like together if they had developed feelings for each other.

They would have made for a veryshipworthy couple. Not to mention the fact that they would always be there for each other while remaining sensible enough to offer up a few home truths every now and then.

NEXT: Grey's Anatomy: 10 People Richard Should Have Ended Up With (Other Than Catherine)

NextThor: Ragnarok - 10 Hilarious "Is He Though?" Memes

Ben Pettitt is a recent English graduate of the University of Nottingham. He loves to write, read and watch Netflix. This is one of the reasons why he decided to come and display his knowledge of pop culture as a writer for Screen Rant.

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Grey's Anatomy: 10 People Meredith Should Have Been With (Other Than Derek) - Screen Rant

Anatomy

Station 19 fans outraged at *that* twist for Maya – digitalspy.com

Station 19 season 3 episode 15 spoilers follow.

Much like its sister series, Station 19 has irked some of its fans with its latest love triangle twist, after season three's 'Bad Guy' delivered a familiar trope.

The latest episode of Station 19 saw the usual mix of drama, dilemma, and uh, daddy issues, but many viewers have found themselves disappointed with the series' treatment of Carina DeLuca and Maya Bishop's relationship.

Fans watched as Maya (Danielle Savre) and Carina (Stefania Spampinato) got into a fight, only for Maya to seek solace in Grey Damon's Jack Gibson, leading the two to share a kiss before getting into bed.

Related: Grey's Anatomy two more characters confirmed for Station 19 finale crossover in first-look photos

Maya and Jack's hook-up quickly frustrated fans, with some suggesting that having Maya betray girlfriend Carina is an example of the "cheating bisexual trope".

"The Station 19 writers really thought they were doing something by having a bisexual woman cheat on her girlfriend with a man," one viewer wrote on Twitter. "Wow...never seen that before...groundbreaking".

Another user added: "Station 19 really had to go and follow the cheating bisexual trope?? F**k y'all".

Others were confused about Maya's arc, criticising Station 19 for following in the footsteps of Grey's Anatomy. "Shondaland shows are incapable of depicting a relationship that doesn't involve some form of cheating," another commented.

Will Station 19 redeem itself by reuniting Marina, or will next week's season finale leave fans heartbroken?

Station 19 airs on Thursdays on ABC in the US. It airs on Sky Witness in the UK with selected episodes also available on NOW TV.

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Looking for more TV recommendations and discussion? Head over to our Facebook Group to see new picks every day, and chat with other readers about what they're watching right now.

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Station 19 fans outraged at *that* twist for Maya - digitalspy.com

Biochemistry

Soil conservation workshop to be offered in free webinar – Tahlequah Daily Press

MIAMI, Oklahoma - "High Tunnel Systems, Biochemistry of Healthy Soil, and Managing Your Grazing to Promote Healthy Soil" will be featured topics of the Natural Resources Conservation Service's free webinar on May 21.

The free event, hosted by the Oklahoma Tribal Conservation Advisory Council, the Quapaw Nation and the Ottawa Conservation District, will be held at 11 a.m., on May 21, by connecting to a Zoom Meeting (Please see registration information below).

This workshop, originally scheduled for March 26 was postponed.

During this webinar, agencies will provide updates on available assistance and programs and participants will receive information regarding USDA Farm Bill updates. Also, information will be provided by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

Michael Ramming, NRCS, will speak on the topic of "What You Need to Know about High Tunnel Systems."

"A high tunnel system is an excellent practice to extend your growing season and expand the amount of potentially adapted crops that can be grown," said Ramming.

Colin Walden, NRCS rangeland specialist, will talk about "Adaptive grazing management for soil health." Steve Alspach, NRCS state soil scientist, and Greg Scott, soil scientist with the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, will address "The Biochemistry of Healthy Soil."

The webinar is open to the public. To attend, participants will need to register in advance at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9wl5K7ekRxqoWNPIaYq6aw and follow the link in the email generated after registration to attend. If reasonable accommodation is needed, notify Dr. Carol Crouch, NRCS, at Carol.Crouch@ok.usda.gov.

To learn more about USDA programs and the Department's response to the coronavirus, visit farmers.gov/coronavirus. To locate a local Service Center, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.

We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story.

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Soil conservation workshop to be offered in free webinar - Tahlequah Daily Press

Biochemistry

U Of U Scientists Using Years Of HIV Research In Search For Coronavirus Drug Development – ksltv.com

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah As the novel coronavirus emerged late last year, many research scientists in Utah and around the world recognized that their work could be critical in attacking the pandemic. For a couple of biochemists at the University of Utah, the strategies they developed in their work on HIV are now turning out to be potent in the search for new drugs to combat the novel coronavirus.

So many of the scientists in our community working on the worlds biggest problem right now have quietly worked away in their labs for years. For two decades, a pair of biochemists at the University of Utah worked on strategies for attacking HIV that should now help them attack the novel coronavirus.

HIV and the virus that causes COVID-19 have a lot of similarities in the way they attack a cell, said Dr. Michael Kay, a professor of biochemistry at the university.

Thats the key to their work as he and Dr. Debbie Eckert, a research assistant professor of biochemistry at the U., shift focus from HIV to the coronavirus.

For nearly 20 years, Kays lab explored how HIV gets into human cells to start an infection. They developed a drug called CPT-31 to block that process. It is now ready for clinical trials, but no longer their primary focus in the lab.

When COVID-19 came along, we were eager to see if we could help in the fight by adapting what weve learned from our HIV experience and applying it to COVID-19, said Kay.

In the now-familiar red image of the coronavirus, the red proteins coating the outside of the virus are called spike proteins.

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causes COVID-19

That is what coronavirus uses to get into host cells. HIV has a very similar protein on the outside that it uses as well, Eckert said.

In their lab, they learned how to target that protein as HIV was getting into the cells and block that process.

Since coronavirus uses something very similar, were hoping that we can use the same type of strategies to block the coronavirus spike protein from doing what it needs to do in order to get into a cell, said Eckert.

Those tools and techniques can greatly accelerate the drug discovery process so that we can take those lessons and apply them much more rapidly to emerging infectious diseases, said Kay.

Investments made in their lab work for HIV, SARS and Ebola were paying off now because they do not need to start from scratch. That, along with the urgency brought on by the pandemic, speeds up the process, said Kay. But, none of their work and none of the drugs that may be developed can be rushed.

It really does feel like my whole career has been leading up to working on this project, said Eckert.

Kay said that in this global search, no individual idea is likely to work alone. So the collaboration they are part of locally and globally makes a difference.

This is really unprecedented, said Kay. People are sharing their data, and resources at an incredibly fast rate.

Research scientists are sharing and posting data online without waiting for publication, said Kay.So that people can use that information immediately and see what ideas are out there, he said.

In their lab, the biochemists are thankful for the hard work of graduate students, post-doctoral trainees, and staff scientists: essential workers responding to the pandemic.

Photo courtesy of Michael Kay

I think its pretty exciting as a scientist to see a problem, to know that you are trained to address it and to be able to have an impact, said Eckert.

The current pandemic is testing the limits of how quickly scientists can develop safe and effective drugs, said Kay. While they work as rapidly as they can for potential solutions, there are no shortcuts in science. The development and testing of any new drug would take a couple of years, he said.

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U Of U Scientists Using Years Of HIV Research In Search For Coronavirus Drug Development - ksltv.com

Biochemistry

SARS, H1N1 survivor on coronavirus: "If it wants to take me, so be it" – WYFF4 Greenville

The awards, recognition and prominence have racked up for Steffi Kong. The Converse College senior is set to graduate with a double major in psychology and biochemistry. Kong earned an athletic-academic scholarship to Converse, where she played tennis. She earned the Rookie of the Year Award, Valkyrie Award and she was named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll while a member of the Converse Tennis Team. Kong also made the Dean's List and is a member of a number of on-campus organizations. The tennis star is set to have a virtual commencement next Saturday, as Converse's in-person ceremony was postponed until August. "Its definitely disappointing, but I guess big picture, its better to be safe than sorry," Kong said. I feel the pain for everyone as a senior. Were missing out on our last seasons and graduation. There is so much more to it, the time we spent with teammates and faculty. Theres more to college than just walking across the stage.Kong will have to celebrate graduation without her family, who lives in Singapore. Kong first started coming to the United States when she was 10 to train for tennis. She looked up to multiple major winner and Hall of Famer Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis. Getting back home to Singapore is challenging for Kong, considering the restrictions put in place due to coronavirus. We have no idea whats going on with flights going out," Kong said. "We are currently trying to find me a flight to get back home from the U.S. to Singapore. The challenges mounted for Kong over the years. She has recovered from SARS, which she contracted when she was seven years old. Three years later, H1N1 landed her in the hospital.I remember I was coughing. I was coughing a lot," Kong said. "It was kind of weird that I got it, but my family members around me did not. I was in the hospital and I was just dead basically. Anything I ate just came right back out. I had no energy to do anything. Kong said the diseases compromised her immune system, but in dealing with coronavirus, she relies on resilience and good luck to pull her through.If it wants to take me, so be it," Kong said. "Most of the time, we just treat things based on what we see on the outside. We dont see whats really on the inside, or at least theres not much emphasis on that. In the meantime, Kong's advisor Dr. Marie LePage has taken in the star pupil during the coronavirus outbreak. I was a bit worried about isolation, students being on their own in the dorm and not having people to connect with because other students were going to go home," LePage said. "I was concerned about how that was going to affect her. LePage praised Kong for her passion, persistence and hard work. The two have spent quarantine going on hikes, walking LePage's dogs and watching shows like Tiger King. Kong plans to go to medical school after graduating and pursue psychiatry, having done research and presented her findings in Atlanta and other places. She said she will appreciate her degree and problem-solving the most from her college experience.

The awards, recognition and prominence have racked up for Steffi Kong. The Converse College senior is set to graduate with a double major in psychology and biochemistry.

Kong earned an athletic-academic scholarship to Converse, where she played tennis. She earned the Rookie of the Year Award, Valkyrie Award and she was named to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll while a member of the Converse Tennis Team. Kong also made the Dean's List and is a member of a number of on-campus organizations.

The tennis star is set to have a virtual commencement next Saturday, as Converse's in-person ceremony was postponed until August.

"Its definitely disappointing, but I guess big picture, its better to be safe than sorry," Kong said. I feel the pain for everyone as a senior. Were missing out on our last seasons and graduation. There is so much more to it, the time we spent with teammates and faculty. Theres more to college than just walking across the stage.

Kong will have to celebrate graduation without her family, who lives in Singapore. Kong first started coming to the United States when she was 10 to train for tennis. She looked up to multiple major winner and Hall of Famer Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis.

Getting back home to Singapore is challenging for Kong, considering the restrictions put in place due to coronavirus.

We have no idea whats going on with flights going out," Kong said. "We are currently trying to find me a flight to get back home from the U.S. to Singapore.

The challenges mounted for Kong over the years. She has recovered from SARS, which she contracted when she was seven years old. Three years later, H1N1 landed her in the hospital.

I remember I was coughing. I was coughing a lot," Kong said. "It was kind of weird that I got it, but my family members around me did not. I was in the hospital and I was just dead basically. Anything I ate just came right back out. I had no energy to do anything.

Kong said the diseases compromised her immune system, but in dealing with coronavirus, she relies on resilience and good luck to pull her through.

If it wants to take me, so be it," Kong said. "Most of the time, we just treat things based on what we see on the outside. We dont see whats really on the inside, or at least theres not much emphasis on that.

In the meantime, Kong's advisor Dr. Marie LePage has taken in the star pupil during the coronavirus outbreak.

I was a bit worried about isolation, students being on their own in the dorm and not having people to connect with because other students were going to go home," LePage said. "I was concerned about how that was going to affect her.

LePage praised Kong for her passion, persistence and hard work. The two have spent quarantine going on hikes, walking LePage's dogs and watching shows like Tiger King.

Kong plans to go to medical school after graduating and pursue psychiatry, having done research and presented her findings in Atlanta and other places. She said she will appreciate her degree and problem-solving the most from her college experience.

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SARS, H1N1 survivor on coronavirus: "If it wants to take me, so be it" - WYFF4 Greenville

Biochemistry

Exploring the pet-tential benefits of being stuck at home with furry friends – Daily Bruin

We all want these stay-at-home orders to be lifted as soon as possible all of us except our dogs, that is.

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans are staying home to stop the spread of the virus. As we attend virtual Zoom lectures at home and watch old Snapchat memories of college friends and happier times, it can be hard to stay positive.

For dogs, cats and other pets, though, more time at home means more quality time with their owners and it turns out the interaction is just as good for us as it is for them.

On the surface, there are many obvious reasons to love our pets. Whether your pal is a bird, puppy or bearded dragon, these creatures can be fun to play with and observe, provide us with company and become our best friends.

However, the advantages of having a pet go beyond just having a companion to hang out with. Scientific research shows that owning a pet has numerous physical and emotional health benefits, too. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, our pets company can help us counteract feelings of loneliness and depression.

Picture 1 of 7

(David Rimer/Daily Bruin)

Garrett Kukier, a second-year chemistry student, said his dog Rasko has recently been a grounding force for him while he remains at home for the majority of the day.

An escape I have in the confines of those walls is taking Rasko out on a walk everyday, Kukier said. And it has become a family venture (for) the three of us who are on a walk.

Kukier also said he finds comfort in knowing his dog is right there with him while he is separated from friends.

Similarly, Shaddy Zbib, a third-year biochemistry student, said that just seeing his pet there has made him feel happier.

(Animals) make the time pass by faster, and Im just an animal person in general, Zbib said. So I just tend to get very happy when I see an animal.

Zbib procrastinates by playing with his pet bird Kiwi, a sun conure, and sometimes the five minutes budgeted for playtime stretches into an hour. Kiwi also attends classes with Zbib, his favorite class being physical chemistry.

Its no wonder that pet owners like Kukier and Zbib enjoy spending time with their pets, especially during a period when many of us feel stressed by coronavirus or by the routine pressures of school and work. In fact, simply having a routine playtime or walk with your pet can decrease your triglyceride levels, cholesterol and even blood pressure, according to the CDC.

For dogs in particular, it has been found that just looking into your dogs eyes can make you feel happier. This happens as a result of an increase of a hormone called oxytocin, commonly known as the love hormone, which may help with anxiety, depression and even gut health.

If thats not enough, one of the proven long-term effects of dog ownership is a reduced risk of death, according to an article published by Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a journal of the American Heart Association. When taking into account all causes of death, dog owners showed a 24% decrease in risk compared to those without dogs. That number becomes 31% for decreased risk of cardiovascular death in particular.

Much to the benefit of our well-being and the animals that need homes, there has been an increase in adopting and fostering pets during this tumultuous time.

Compared to 2019, the Los Angeles and New York City programs of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have seen a 70% rise in foster care support, according to the president and CEO of the organization Matt Bershadker. In addition, many shelters across the nation reported an surge of community members stepping up to adopt and foster furry friends in need.

Likewise, Ben Lehrer, president of Kitten Rescue, and Jack Hagerman, vice president of communications at the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA, told the Los Angeles Times that their organizations were receiving large spikes of interest.

Lacey Cappos, a fourth-year psychology student, and her roommates recently decided to foster a dog, citing the stay-at-home measures as the perfect opportunity to give the pet a home.

We had always wanted a dog, Cappos said. But, we knew we wouldnt have the time to give it the attention that it deserves.

However, because of these new circumstances, Cappos said she now has another friend to play and get out of the house with, while her dog Ciaro gets a happy home and plenty of attention.

Whether its a dog like Ciaro or a bird like Kiwi, animal companions do so much to bring joy to their owners and some great health benefits to boot.

So, the next time youre feeling low, go give your pooch a smooch for both his happiness and yours and remember to appreciate the animals that help make staying at home a little less lonely.

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Exploring the pet-tential benefits of being stuck at home with furry friends - Daily Bruin

Biochemistry

Researchers develop new technology to advance surveillance and treatment of infectious diseases – UCalgary News

Researchers at the University of Calgarys Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) are developing technology to improve genome data analysis, with the ultimate goal of improving surveillance and treatment of infectious diseases like M. tuberculosis, E.coli and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Academic scientists in the province currently use high-throughput sequencing (HTS) to gather vast amounts of genomic data from people, animals and plants. For public health, the data can be used to enhance bacteria and virus outbreak surveillance, patient treatment plans and infection prevention programs in hospitals.

With support from Genome Alberta and partners, Dr. Tarah Lynch, PhD, and her team are developing a platform to better organize, analyze and share HTS data across the province. The project also aims to improve the integration of clinical and research data to provide more informative results that are easier to interpret.

Tarah Lynch and her team received funding from Genome Alberta and partners to develop a platform to better organize, analyze and share HTS data across the province.

Courtesy Tarah Lynch

There is a lot of positive momentum within genome and bioinformatic research in Alberta right now, says Lynch.

This important investment will help advance the use of HTS technologies in the province by developing much-needed infrastructure to organize, analyze and access HTS results in a meaningful way. We hope this foundational work will also be useful to other genomic applications, she adds.

The technology will be built and tested on servers hosted by UCalgary and is expected to be eventually used by microbiologists and clinicians at Alberta Precision Laboratories (APL).

Genome Alberta partnered with Genome Canada, Alberta Innovates, and the Government of Alberta for the Enabling Bioinformatic Solutions (EBS) program, funding five projects for more than $1 million.

The other UCalgary projects receiving funding include:

Dr.Jason de Koning, PhD to develop customizable software designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases.

Dr. Quan Long, PhD to develop tools to enhance genome sequencing, particularly to better understand HIV. The new tools will also be used to study other viral evolution, epidemiology and pathogenesis questions.

Dr. Tarah Lynch, PhD, is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the CSM and Ecosystems and Public Health in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. She is a bioinformatician with Alberta Precision Laboratories and member of the Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases.

Dr. Jason de Koning, PhD, is an assistant professor in the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics, and a member of the Alberta Childrens Hospital Research Institute at the CSM.

Dr. Quan Long, PhD, is an assistant professor in the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Medical Genetics and a member of the Alberta Childrens Hospital Research Institute and OBrien Institute for Public Health at the CSM.

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Researchers develop new technology to advance surveillance and treatment of infectious diseases - UCalgary News

Biochemistry

Medical Research Specialist I job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY | 206266 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Job Description General Responsibilities:

Specific Responsibilities and Tasks:

Minimum Qualification

B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree in a relevant discipline.

Preferred Qualification

Demonstrated prior experience in animal care and handling, flow cytometry, molecular biology and cell culture techniques is essential.

Expected Skills/Rank/Experience

Minimum 3-4 years in academic or research institution setting and/or in the relevant scientific field.

Division College of Medicine&Health Sciences

Department Biochemistry - (CMHS)

Job Close Date open until filled

Job Category Staff

Salary 7000 to 18000 AED

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Medical Research Specialist I job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY | 206266 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Biochemistry

UGA researcher works on test to determine severity of virus – The Albany Herald

ATHENS In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers across the world are looking not only for a vaccine to combat the virus, but also better testing resources to find out both who is infected and how serious those infections may be.

Michael Tiemeyer, distinguished research professor in the University of Georgias Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, is trying to determine if a saliva test could predict the severity of a coronavirus patients disease course.

The test would be derived from glycosylation profiles of patients mucin, a type of bodily secretion that is found in both saliva and mucus. Glycosylation is related to bodily cells protein manufacturing function. It is the process by which cells modify those proteins by attaching carbohydrates, or glycans, that exist on the surface of every cell. Glycans regulate how cells interact with one another and with their environment, and theyre the first thing a virus encounters when it attempts to infect a cell.

Many viruses use those glycans to attach to cells, or to be released from cells to go out and attack another cell, Tiemeyer, CCRC co-director and a professor in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of biochemistry and molecular biology, said. The influenza virus, for example, has a binding protein on its surface that recognizes specific glycan structures that are found at the surface of lung cells.

While theres no evidence that COVID-19 has a binding protein similar to influenza, it still has to negotiate with glycans at the surface of cells it infects, Tiemeyer said. The virus infects specialized epithelial cells, which line the bodys airway and produce prodigious amounts of mucus.

When someone is infected with COVID-19, epithelial cells in their submucosal gland, which secretes mucus, are compromised. The virus kills the mucus-producing epithelial cells, resulting in the infections characteristic dry cough. Tiemeyer is working on defining glycan markers for normal submucosal gland function, which could be compared to a COVID-19 patients reduced gland function.

If gland function in an individual is different, it may tell us how severe their expected disease course is, and it may tell us if they are more sensitive or less sensitive to the virus, Tiemeyer said. We know there are differences from person to person, and some of those differences may lie in how their submucosal glands are functioning.

Tiemeyer is working with Richard Boucher, director of the Marisco Lung Institute at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Since the onset of the pandemic, Boucher has adjusted his lab specifically to study the lung physiology of COVID-19. Hes able to grow human epithelial cells in culture dishes and collect clinical mucus samples from consenting patients, which he and Tiemeyer can study.

Viral load, referring to the number of viral particles carried by an infected individual, is a useful indicator for identifying the severity of symptoms for someone infected by several viruses, like SARS. But for COVID-19, viral load thus far hasnt shown to be a useful predictor.

The jury is still out, Tiemeyer said. I think we still dont have enough data to be sure, but that means people want other ways to look at the infection besides viral load. Physicians would like some other marker they could use to say, This person needs more attention than this person, because their disease is more severe. Thats where we come in trying to molecularly identify changes in mucus and mucin glycosylation and understand how they relate to disease progression.

Tiemeyer is currently in the first phase of his research, trying to define a normal pattern of infection. Once thats established, he and his team can investigate how the infection changes and correlates with disease severity.

The ultimate goal of the research is to produce a saliva test, where a COVID-19 patients mucus would be analyzed to determine if it fits a mucin glycosylation profile that would indicate a probable need for hospitalization. Tiemeyer said the test wont come to fruition during the current wave of infection but might exist in time for any future wave that may occur.

Tiemeyer is currently applying for funding from the National Institutes of Health, which supports Bouchers research. Just like many other UGA researchers, Tiemeyer has worked quickly to convert his lab for studying COVID-19.

Were shifting gears, trying to participate and finding funding as we can, Tiemeyer said. Im really impressed with how many people at UGA have been able to turn on a dime and apply their attention to a new area of research.

Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free.Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution today.

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UGA researcher works on test to determine severity of virus - The Albany Herald

Physiology

Sending copper where it is needed most – Science Magazine

Copper (Cu) is an essential component of human physiology, and it is indispensable for normal brain development. Cells use Cu in many processes, including respiration, formation of myelin sheath, immune responses, wound healing, and synthesis of neurotransmitters (1). A sophisticated network of Cu-transporting proteins retrieves Cu from dietary sources, transfers Cu across biological membranes, and distributes it within cells and tissues (2). The key component of this network, Cu-transporting adenosine triphosphatase 1 (ATP7A), is inactivated in Menkes disease (MNKD). This causes Cu deficit in the brain, neurodegeneration, and early death. Cu supplementation is ineffective in treating MNKD patients because Cu cannot reach many cellular destinations, especially the brain, without functional transporters. On page 620 of this issue, Guthrie et al. (3) show that a small Cu-binding molecule, elesclomol, can overcome this problem, improving Cu delivery to the brain and alleviating mortality of ATP7A-deficient mice.

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Sending copper where it is needed most - Science Magazine