Faculty Bibliography

We present the findings from the genome sequencing project of a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium Pseudomonas inefficax MG-2, sourced from rhizospheric soil. The genome spans 5,736,804 base pairs with an average GC content of 62.9%. An incomplete plasmid with a length of 16,324 base pairs and a GC content of 52.6% was also identified.

Fructose consumption increases the risk of obesity-related metabolic diseases and some cancers, but its role in hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC) remains controversial. Animal studies suggest that high fructose promotes HCC, whereas human data fail to support the positive link between fructose intake and elevated risk of liver cancer. Moreover, fructose metabolism is progressively attenuated in HCC with the loss of key fructolytic enzymes, including fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase B (ALDOB). Here, we report that fructose suppresses HCC through fructose 1-phosphate (F1P)-mediated inhibition of mannose phosphate isomerase (MPI) in the context of ALDOB deficiency. Transcriptomic and metabolic flux analyses using human HCC cells and tissues revealed that liver cancer cells retain a significant ability to metabolize fructose despite the downregulation of fructolytic genes, with ALDOB showing the earliest and most pronounced suppression compared with GLUT2 and KHK. Dietary supplementation with 10% fructose suppressed HCC in liver-specific Aldob knockout mice. Further spatial and single-cell transcriptomic analyses of clinical HCC samples revealed the spatiotemporal dynamics of fructolytic gene expression and identified subsets of cancer cells that retain fructose uptake and phosphorylation capacity (SLC2A2⁺/KHK⁺) but lack ALDOB expression. Upon fructose exposure, accumulated F1P binds to and inhibits MPI, reducing protein N-glycosylation and triggering apoptosis due to maladaptive ER stress. We further performed virtual high-throughput screening of FDA-approved and clinical-trial drugs and identified ebselen as a potent MPI inhibitor. Taken together, the results of our study reveal a novel mechanism by which dietary fructose inhibits HCC through the F1P-MPI axis, suggesting a therapeutic strategy targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer.

BACKGROUND:Management of modifiable risk factors is key in the prevention of recurrent stroke. We investigated trends in vascular risk factors (hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and smoking) control among US adults with stroke. METHODS:, low-density lipoprotein, and blood pressure and prevalence of meeting each recommended target were calculated for each epoch (1999 through 2002, 2003 through 2006, 2007 through 2010, 2011 through 2014, 2015 through 2020, and 2021 through 2023). RESULTS:-trend=0.002). The prevalence of meeting smoking and blood pressure guidelines was stable. Fewer than 10% of individuals met guidelines for all 4 risk factors over the study. CONCLUSIONS:In this nationally representative sample of US adults with stroke, <10% met guideline recommendations for all risk factors with an overall stable trend. These results suggest that efforts aimed at glycemia, blood pressure, and lipid control and smoking cessation could be improved to reduce the burden of recurrent stroke.

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), with pathogenic mutations leading to increased kinase activity. Consequently, LRRK2 has become a key therapeutic target in PD research. Although several candidate PET radioligands have been investigated for imaging brain LRRK2, only a few have shown good brain permeability and even these have exhibited limited specific binding to the target. In our search for an improved radioligand candidate, we identified GNE-0877 (28) as a highly potent and selective inhibitor for LRRK2 (K _i = 0.7 nM) with physicochemical properties favorable for brain penetration. We, therefore, synthesized an N-Boc-protected precursor (22) for labeling 28 with carbon-11 (t _1/2 = 20.4 min) at the N-methyl position, which yielded [¹¹C]28 in a two-step radiosynthesis with high isolated yields (∼12-15%), excellent radiochemical purity (≥97%), and high molar activity (260-330 GBq/μmol). We evaluated [¹¹C]28 as a potential PET radioligand for imaging brain LRRK2 in rodent and monkey. The radioligand showed excellent stability in vitro and desirably moderate lipophilicity (measured logD _7.4, 2.92). Following intravenous administration in rodents or monkey, [¹¹C]28 entered the brain rapidly reaching high peak uptake (∼4.0 SUV). In monkey, however, [¹¹C]28 showed slightly higher brain uptake and higher total volume of distribution (V _T) under preblocking of LRRK2 with 28 than at baseline, indicating an absence of measurable specific binding to LRRK2, possibly due to low LRRK2 density in vivo or to insufficient radioligand affinity.

Asian American populations are underrepresented within dietary programs and nutrition-specific funding. Existing understanding amongst Asian American communities focuses on those with pre-existing health conditions. There is a gap in published literature providing an overview of the food groups Asian American populations without noncommunicable diseases consume. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive mapping of the Asian American diet with a focus on food groups in the United States within existing literature. A scoping review was conducted from December 2023 to December 2024. Research databases (PubMed/Medline, CABI Digital Library, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, and ProQuest Dissertations) were searched to identify articles published since 2000 that described food group consumption of Asian American populations. A total of 1486 articles were independently screened by 3 reviewers, leaving 165 articles for inclusion in this review. An additional 15 gray literature sources were separately reviewed for complementary information. Key findings (population and geographical focus, dataset, food group outcome, study limitations, and recommendations) were extracted and summarized in narrative form. Within the literature, Asian American adults and children generally consume more refined grains and less dairy than the standard United States population, though specific patterns vary: South Asians report higher saturated fat and dairy intake, while Chinese, Filipino, and Southeast Asian groups often fall short of recommended fruit and vegetable consumption. Dietary staples also differ by ethnicity, ranging from white rice and noodles in East/Southeast Asian diets to breads and buns among South Asian and Filipino communities. Recommendations for improving diets in Asian American communities emphasize culturally tailored nutrition education that incorporates traditional diets, promotes whole-grain substitutions, and adopts family-focused approaches. Future research efforts in Asian American diet and nutrition should better understand meal-sharing practices and cooking methods. Identifying broad insights in Asian American dietary consumption lays an essential framework for developing recommendations and interventions to address dietary behaviors contributing to diet-related disease burden among the Asian American population. This scoping review is registered on Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/K3X8S).

Nationally, there is increased investment in interventions that address diet-related chronic diseases however few studies and interventions are developed to reflect the values and lifestyles of many communities, presenting a barrier to participation. This study aims to better understand the motivators and barriers for the Bangladeshi American community in Brooklyn, New York to participate in diet-related interventions. Formative qualitative interviews were conducted in English and Bangla with Bangladeshi adults (n = 12) to understand current shopping/cooking behaviors, access and usage of food programs, awareness and interest in food programs, and future program preferences. Participants reported three key themes: centrality of community behaviors for program acceptability, creating opportunities to leverage community and social motivations, and addressing logistical concerns during program development. Gardening emerged as a promising program offering to increase access to fresh produce, strengthen community bonds, and foster cross-cultural understanding. Using community feedback, Harvest Share Seedlings, a community-informed home gardening program, was co-developed and implemented with farming and community partners to increase access to fresh produce for the Bangladeshi community. The findings highlight the need to understand and center community-specific considerations when designing and implementing food programs and interventions. Adopting a community-informed approach increases uptake and acceptability from the community, and ensures sustainability in the long run.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:To develop imaging-based measures for disease assessment in noninfectious posterior uveitis (NIPU). DESIGN/METHODS:A mixed-methods design, beginning with a review of previously developed imaging recommendations formulated by separate subcommittees of the multimodal imaging in uveitis (MUV) initiative, followed by a structured consensus process using the nominal group technique (NGT), facilitated by an independent expert committee. METHODS:An expert committee reviewed and extracted all consensus-based imaging recommendations from the MUV subcommittee manuscripts focused on five major NIPU entities. The primary objective was to categorize imaging features as suggestive of active disease (SAD), suggestive of inactive disease (SID), or equivocal. This process was conducted using the NGT to reach consensus-based imaging measures. These recommendations were further voted upon by members of the full task force. RESULTS:A total of 49 imaging statements were deliberated using two rounds of NGT and independent voting. For the five included diseases, a total of 21 statements qualified as features of SAD, whereas 12 statements were classified as SID. The remaining 16 statements were categorized as equivocal features that need further investigation to determine whether the disease is active. CONCLUSIONS:This study builds upon the multinational efforts of the MUV initiative to extend the standardization of uveitis nomenclature (SUN) work through the integration of additional multimodal imaging information. Defining clear imaging-based outcome measures for NIPU, it establishes a structured framework supporting objective disease assessment. These standardized imaging measures are expected to enhance the utility of multimodal imaging in both routine uveitis care and future clinical trials.