PathBeat. Number 4 (December 2002) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 5 (July 2003) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 6 (July 2004) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 7 (May 2005) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 8 (Summer 2008) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 9 (Winter 2008) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 10 (Summer 2009) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 11 (Spring 2010) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 12 (Spring 2011) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 13 (Winter 2012) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 14 (Winter 2013) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

PathBeat. Number 13 (Winter 2012) University of Iowa Department of Pathology.

University of Iowa Department of Pathology newsletter.

Copy number variation of KIR genes influences HIV-1 control.

A genome-wide screen for large structural variants showed that a copy number variant (CNV) in the region encoding killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) associates with HIV-1 control as measured by plasma viral load at set point in individuals of European ancestry. This CNV encompasses the KIR3DL1-KIR3DS1 locus, encoding receptors that interact with specific HLA-Bw4 molecules to regulate the activation of lymphocyte subsets including natural killer (NK) cells. We quantified the number of copies of KIR3DS1 and KIR3DL1 in a large HIV-1 positive cohort, and showed that an increase in KIR3DS1 count associates with a lower viral set point if its putative ligand is present (p = 0.00028), as does an increase in KIR3DL1 count in the presence of KIR3DS1 and appropriate ligands for both receptors (p = 0.0015). We further provide functional data that demonstrate that NK cells from individuals with multiple copies of KIR3DL1, in the presence of KIR3DS1 and the appropriate ligands, inhibit HIV-1 replication more robustly, and associated with a significant expansion in the frequency of KIR3DS1+, but not KIR3DL1+, NK cells in their peripheral blood. Our results suggest that the relative amounts of these activating and inhibitory KIR play a role in regulating the peripheral expansion of highly antiviral KIR3DS1+ NK cells, which may determine differences in HIV-1 control following infection.

Does the physical disector method provide an accurate estimation of sensory neuron number in rat dorsal root ganglia?

The physical disector is a method of choice for estimating unbiased neuron numbers; nevertheless, calibration is needed to evaluate each counting method. The validity of this method can be assessed by comparing the estimated cell number with the true number determined by a direct counting method in serial sections. We reconstructed a 1/5 of rat lumbar dorsal root ganglia taken from two experimental conditions. From each ganglion, images of 200 adjacent semi-thin sections were used to reconstruct a volumetric dataset (stack of voxels). On these stacks the number of sensory neurons was estimated and counted respectively by physical disector and direct counting methods. Also, using the coordinates of nuclei from the direct counting, we simulate, by a Matlab program, disector pairs separated by increasing distances in a ganglion model. The comparison between the results of these approaches clearly demonstrates that the physical disector method provides a valid and reliable estimate of the number of sensory neurons only when the distance between the consecutive disector pairs is 60 microm or smaller. In these conditions the size of error between the results of physical disector and direct counting does not exceed 6%. In contrast when the distance between two pairs is larger than 60 microm (70-200 microm) the size of error increases rapidly to 27%. We conclude that the physical dissector method provides a reliable estimate of the number of rat sensory neurons only when the separating distance between the consecutive dissector pairs is no larger than 60 microm.

Executive Order Number Eighty-Four February, 2014

In this order the governor declares that volunteerism is an integral part of Iowa's future and well-being and creates the Governor's Council on National Service in Iowa.