The Black Voices in Research curriculum to promote diversity and inclusive excellence in biomedical research.

Underrepresentation of Black biomedical researchers demonstrates continued racial inequity and lack of diversity in the field. The Black Voices in Research curriculum was designed to provide effective instructional materials that showcase inclusive excellence, facilitate the dialog about diversity and inclusion in biomedical research, enhance critical thinking and reflection, integrate diverse visions and worldviews, and ignite action. Instructional materials consist of short videos and discussion prompts featuring Black biomedical research faculty and professionals. Pilot evaluation of instructional content showed that individual stories promoted information relevance, increased knowledge, and created behavioral intention to promote diversity and inclusive excellence in biomedical research.

Utilization of Near Infrared Fluorescence Imaging to Track and Quantify the Pulmonary Retention of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Mice.

As nanomaterials are used in a wide array of applications, investigations regarding health impacts associated with inhalation are a concern. Reports show that exposure to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can induce fibrosis, allergic-type reactions, and pathogen susceptibility. Airway clearance is known to play a primary role in these disease states, yet SWCNT detection in biological systems is challenging. Common techniques, such as electron microscopy, lack spatial resolution and specificity to delineate SWCNTs in carbon-based organisms. Here we validated a near-infrared fluorescence imaging (NIRFI) system to track and semi-quantify SWCNTs over 21 days in tissues of mice exposed intratracheally to 1 dose of SWCNTs. In tandem, we optimized a NIRF-based spectrometry method to quantify SWCNTs, showing that NIRFI was consistent with SWCNT burdens quantified by NIRF spectroscopy in whole lung tissue homogenates. Finally, NIRFI was utilized to localize SWCNTs on lung tissue sections used for pathological analysis. Results revealed that SWCNTs remained in the lung over 21 days and were consistent with alveolar wall restructuring and granuloma formation. This study is the first to quantify SWCNTs in mouse lungs using both semi-quantitative tracking and quantitative mass measurements using NIRF, highlighting this as a sensitive and specific technique for assessing SWCNT clearance in vivo.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes modulate pulmonary immune responses and increase pandemic influenza a virus titers in mice.

BACKGROUND: Numerous toxicological studies have focused on injury caused by exposure to single types of nanoparticles, but few have investigated how such exposures impact a host's immune response to pathogen challenge. Few studies have shown that nanoparticles can alter a host's response to pathogens (chiefly bacteria) but there is even less knowledge of the impact of such particles on viral infections. In this study, we performed experiments to investigate if exposure of mice to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) alters immune mechanisms and viral titers following subsequent influenza A virus (IAV) infection. METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 20 µg of SWCNT or control vehicle by intratracheal instillation followed by intranasal exposure to 3.2 × 104 TCID50 IAV or PBS after 3 days. On day 7 mice were euthanized and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging was used to track SWCNT in lung tissues. Viral titers, histopathology, and mRNA expression of antiviral and inflammatory genes were measured in lung tissue. Differential cell counts and cytokine levels were quantified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). RESULTS: Viral titers showed a 63-fold increase in IAV in SWCNT + IAV exposed lungs compared to the IAV only exposure. Quantitation of immune cells in BALF indicated an increase of neutrophils in the IAV group and a mixed profile of lymphocytes and neutrophils in SWCNT + IAV treated mice. NIRF indicated SWCNT remained in the lung throughout the experiment and localized in the junctions of terminal bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and surrounding alveoli. The dual exposure exacerbated pulmonary inflammation and tissue lesions compared to SWCNT or IAV single exposures. IAV exposure increased several cytokine and chemokine levels in BALF, but greater levels of IL-4, IL-12 (P70), IP-10, MIP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1ß, and RANTES were evident in the SWCNT + IAV group. The expression of tlr3, ifnß1, rantes, ifit2, ifit3, and il8 was induced by IAV alone but several anti-viral targets showed a repressed trend (ifits) with pre-exposure to SWCNT. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal a pronounced effect of SWCNT on IAV infection in vivo as evidenced by exacerbated lung injury, increased viral titers and several cytokines/chemokines levels, and reduction of anti-viral gene expression. These results imply that SWCNT can increase susceptibility to respiratory viral infections as a novel mechanism of toxicity.