In vitro testing and evaluation of viral replication on first screening of ASO #11-30.

Basic Research

The major goal is to determine the ability of UV generated by UVC handheld device to inactivate SARS-CoV-2. We want to complete a dose ranging study for inactivation of pathogens on surfaces using our UVC device. We would like to use a standard method for sanitizing non-porous hard surfaces, such as ASTM E1153 - 14 or the like. With our device, the handheld would irradiate the surface at a distance of 2 inches for 1, 2, 5, 10 seconds. We would then evaluate the log reduction of the pathogen compared to a control non-irradiated sample.

Male mammals compete for mates and disperse from their natal group (i.e.. the group where they were born) to increase access to unrelated mates and to decrease the risk of competing against male kin. However. males in some species form tolerant and cooperative bonds. but for most species. we still have a poor understanding what facilitates the formation of such strong male bonds. This research study will investigate the links between dispersal patterns. kinship. mediating behaviors.

To develop therapeutic approaches for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. this project brings together researchers with multidisciplinary and complementary expertise in theoretical and computational biophysics (PI Vashisth. UNH). biophysical chemistry and NMR spectroscopy (co-PI Varga. UNH). and small- molecule drug discovery (co-PI Doug E. Frantz. UTSA). The partnership and collaboration are timely and strategic in that the first experimental structure of the protease enzyme and its potential inhibitors have just been reported. Dr.

Background: Species are often distributed discontinuously across their total geographic range. Understanding how these patterns originated is a major question in systematics and biogeography. Habitat fragmentation has often been invoked to explain population isolation. which. over prolonged periods of time. can lead to speciation [1]. One example of a region where species patterns may have been shaped by historical habitat fragmentation is the humid Guineo-Congolean evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of West and West-central Africa. In this region.

Green leaf volatiles (GLV) have been mostly associated with the regulation of defense responses. in particular defense priming. in plants. However. we found that GLV are also regulators of abiotic stress responses and for example protect against cold stress damage. Plants that were treated with GLV at physiological concentrations showed less cold damage and retained normal growth while untreated plants showed severe damage and growth reduction under the same conditions. We have further identified GLV- and cold-inducible sets of genes. which appear to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism.

Basic Research

The goal of this project is to evaluate the capacity of Xenex UV Disinfection systems to inactivate live SARS-CoV-2.