Article
Neurosciences
Juan M. Angueyra, Jacob Baudin, Gregory W. Schwartz, Fred Rieke
Summary: This study explores how macaque cone photoreceptors maintain sensitivity under fast saccadic eye movements. The research shows that adaptation causes nonlinearity in cone responses to naturalistic stimuli, depending on stimulus history. A biophysical model can accurately predict cone responses to various stimuli.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Natalia Erofeeva, Darya Meshalkina, Michael Firsov
Summary: cAMP is a crucial regulatory molecule in the retina, controlling important processes such as phototransduction, cell development and death, and neural growth. It shows circadian changes following the natural light cycle, but also exhibits local and transient changes in response to light environment. cAMP changes may lead to pathological processes in various retinal cells.
Review
Immunology
Sean K. Wang, Constance L. Cepko
Summary: This review discusses the roles of microglia in various eye disorders and explores the potential of targeting microglia for disease treatment. Different approaches include depleting microglia, reprogramming microglia, and inhibiting their downstream effects. Future research is needed to fully utilize the therapeutic value of microglia in eye diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Soyoung Choi, Li Guo, Maria Francesca Cordeiro
Summary: Microglia are resident immune cells in the CNS and retina, responsible for surveillance and rapid response to changes in the environment. They become activated in inflammatory responses in neurodegenerative diseases, with potential beneficial or harmful consequences when activated by stress stimuli. The review highlights their characteristics, activation states, and function in various diseases, discussing contradictory findings and potential ways to reduce inconsistencies in future research.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laszlo G. Harsing, Gabor Szenasi, Tibor Zelles, Laszlo Koles
Summary: Research suggests that P2Y purinoceptor agonists may lower extracellular glycine levels by facilitating reuptake, while its inhibitors may reduce reverse-mode operation. Additionally, P2Y purinoceptor agonists and glycine transporter 1 inhibitors may indirectly inhibit microglia activity by decreasing glycine release in energy-compromised retina. This inhibition may play a role in reducing neurodegenerative events in the retina.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aritra Bej, James B. Ames
Summary: Retinal cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) ion channels play a crucial role in visual phototransduction. This review discusses the binding of calmodulin to CNGB1 subunits and its impact on channel desensitization and retinal disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alonso Sanchez-Cruz, Andrea C. Mendez, Ignacio Lizasoain, Pedro de la Villa, Enrique J. de la Rosa, Catalina Hernandez-Sanchez
Summary: The research indicates that TLR2 plays a key role in the progression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Complete elimination of Tlr2 can help alleviate the loss of visual function and mitigate the loss of photoreceptor cell numbers in RP.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Da Zhao, Paulo Pinares-Garcia, Chaseley E. McKenzie, Lauren E. Bleakley, Ian C. Forster, Vickie H. Y. Wong, Christine T. O. Nguyen, Ingrid E. Scheffer, Christopher A. Reid, Bang Bui
Summary: Pathogenic variants in HCN1 gene are associated with epilepsy syndromes. The Hcn1M294L mouse model shows seizure and behavioral phenotypes similar to patients. Mutated HCN1 channels in photoreceptors lead to reduced sensitivity to light and impaired processing of temporal information. This study highlights the importance of HCN1 channels in retinal function and the impact of HCN1 pathogenic variants on visual function.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ponarulselvam Sekar, George Hsiao, Yuan-Shen Chen, Wan-Wan Lin, Chi-Ming Chan
Summary: In this study, the pathological action of P2X7 in retinal degeneration induced by NaIO3 was investigated. NaIO3 decreased photoreceptor function, caused retinal epithelium and ganglion cell degeneration, and induced inflammatory gene expression in the retina. P2X7(-/-) mice were protected from NaIO3-induced retinopathy. P2X7 expression increased after NaIO3 treatment, leading to cytotoxicity in ARPE-19 cells.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gaylia Jean Harry
Summary: Changes in microglia are commonly associated with neurodegeneration, but it is not clear if they initiate the process. Communication between microglia and neurons helps maintain the cells in a surveillance state, suggesting a partnership role rather than an initiating one in neurodegeneration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Ophthalmology
Deoye Tonade, Timothy S. Kern
Summary: Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness, traditionally considered a vascular disease, but recent research has shown abnormalities in the neural retina. Evidence suggests that photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelium in the outer retina play a key role in the development of vascular lesions in DR, presenting a novel therapeutic target for inhibiting the disease.
PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Kristen M. Pitts, Milica A. Margeta
Summary: The DAM signature is a microglial response common to various neurodegenerative diseases, sharing features with developmental microglia. Single cell RNA sequencing has revealed heterogeneity within the DAM signature, with contributions from yolk sac-derived microglia and bone marrow-derived macrophages. This review explores the role of DAM in retinal development and disease, focusing on crosstalk between resident microglia and infiltrating monocytes in age-related neurodegeneration.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ivana Herrera, Jose Alex Lourenco Fernandes, Khatereh Shir-Mohammadi, Jasmine Levesque, Pierre Mattar
Summary: The study reveals that the nuclear lamina plays a role in genome organization during the degeneration of rod photoreceptors. The tethering of heterochromatin by proteins like LBR and LA affects genome accessibility, with a particular impact on stress-responsive genes.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arjun Krishnamoorthi, Keyvan Khosh Abady, Dinesh Dhankhar, Peter M. Rentzepis
Summary: This paper reviews recent ultrafast transient absorption studies of rod and cone visual pigments, which demonstrate a strong interplay between visual pigment structure and its photobleaching sequence.
Article
Immunology
Isabelle Coales, Stergios Tsartsalis, Nurun Fancy, Maria Weinert, Daniel Clode, David Owen, Paul M. Matthews
Summary: Sex differences in the transcriptome of human myeloid cells may contribute to the sex difference observed in AD prevalence. AD risk genes, gene signatures associated with AD inflammatory response, and genes related to proinflammatory immune response are enriched in microglial cells and peripheral monocytes from female donors. These findings suggest that a myeloid cell phenotype biased towards expression of biological processes relevant to AD may partly explain the increased prevalence of AD in women.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lijie Zhang, Rongyao Dong, Robert J. Zawadzki, Pengfei Zhang
Summary: Optoretinogram, utilizing OCT to measure retinal functions, is a potentially useful tool for quantifying retinal health alterations. This study improved accuracy by collecting volumetric data and developing a 3D registration approach, revealing novel functional signals and enabling monitoring of local and global functional changes in rodent eyes.
JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS
(2022)
Article
Optics
Hamed Abbasi, Raphael Guzman, Philippe C. Cattin, Azhar Zam
Summary: A minimally-invasive laser surgery technique, utilizing fiber-optic laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (FO-LIBS) for real-time tissue characterization, was developed. The FO-LIBS setup produced less luminant plasma than free-space LIBS due to limited light irradiance from the fiber. Despite challenges in plasma collection and light intensity, a high optical throughput Echelle spectrometer was able to successfully differentiate tissue types with high sensitivity and specificity.
OPTICS AND LASERS IN ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Optics
Danuta M. Sampson, Adam M. Dubis, Fred K. Chen, Robert J. Zawadzki, David D. Sampson
Summary: The visualization and assessment of retinal microvasculature are crucial in the study and treatment of eye and systemic diseases. However, the current methods and analysis of OCTA imaging lack consistency, hindering progress. This paper proposes steps to standardize OCTA imaging, including imaging protocols, data analysis methods, metrics, reporting, and clinical practice, to address these limitations.
LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Sook Hyun Chung, Tzu-Ni Sin, Brian Dang, Taylor Ngo, Therlinder Lo, Daniella Lent-Schochet, Ratheesh K. Meleppat, Robert J. Zawadzki, Glenn Yiu
Summary: This study compares the effectiveness of using single versus paired gRNAs in the CRISPR-Cas9 system to target the Vegfa gene. Paired gRNAs increased gene ablation rates in human cells but did not enhance VEGF suppression in mouse eyes. Using two gRNAs for genome editing may increase the risk of off-target effects.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Ratheesh K. Meleppat, Christopher R. Fortenbach, Yifan Jian, Esteban Soto Martinez, Karen Wagner, Bobeck S. Modjtahedi, Monica J. Motta, Deepa L. Ramamurthy, Ivan R. Schwab, Robert J. Zawadzki
Summary: In vivo evaluation of the structural morphology and vascular plexuses of the neurosensory retina and choroid across vertebrate species was performed using SS-OCT and SS-OCTA imaging. The results showed that the retinal morphology and vascular plexuses varied among different species. These methods can be used to evaluate retinal diseases in various species.
TRANSLATIONAL VISION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Kari V. Vienola, Denise Valente, Robert J. Zawadzki, Ravi S. Jonnal
Summary: Optoretinography (ORG) is a noninvasive and objective tool for testing neural function in the retina. It has the potential to transform ophthalmic care and clinical trials of therapeutics for visual function. The article presents an alternative approach that monitors the velocity of retinal features instead of tracking their positions, reducing the complexity and cost of position-based methods.
Article
Optics
Soohyun Lee, Stacey S. Choi, Ratheesh K. Meleppat, Robert J. Zawadzki, Nathan Doble
Summary: This article describes a high-speed, adaptive optics partially confocal multi-spot ophthalmoscope (AO-pcMSO) that utilizes a digital micromirror device (DMD) in the illumination channel and a fast 2D CMOS camera. The camera is synchronized with the DMD to project multiple AO-corrected spots onto the human retina simultaneously. Spatial filtering on each raw retinal image acts as an array virtual pinholes. The parallel projection scheme achieves a frame acquisition rate of 250 fps and improves contrast by 2-3 fold compared to a standard flood illumination architecture. Partially confocal images of the human retina reveal cone and rod photoreceptors at various retinal eccentricities.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Pengfei Zhang, Daniel J. Wahl, Jacopo Mocci, Eric B. Miller, Stefano Bonora, Marinko Sarunic, Robert J. Zawadzki
Summary: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), invented in the 1980s, have greatly advanced in vivo retinal diagnostics in ophthalmology clinics and vision science research. Adaptive optics (AO) technology improves the resolution and sensitivity of SLO and OCT systems by correcting ocular aberrations. Integrating OCT into an existing mouse retinal AO-SLO system allows for multi-modal AO-enhanced imaging of the living mouse eye with high acquisition speed and resolution.
BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Instruments & Instrumentation
Hang Chan Jo, Robert J. Zawadzki, Dae Yu Kim
Summary: Adaptive optics (AO) is a technique that compensates for aberration in optical imaging systems. Previous research has focused on improving AO performance through the use of spherical mirrors and off-axis designs.
OPTICAL SYSTEM ALIGNMENT, TOLERANCING, AND VERIFICATION XIV
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Robert J. Zawadzki, Ratheesh K. Meleppat, Denise Valente, Soohyun Lee, Kari V. Vienola, Pengfei Zhang, Ravi S. Jonnal, Nathan Doble
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Kari V. Vienola, Robert J. Zawadzki, Ravi S. Jonnal
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Christopher Loh, Pengfei Zhang, Ratheesh K. Meleppat, Oscar Ramos-Soto, Sandra E. Balderas-Mata, Robert J. Zawadzki, Susanna S. Park
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Ratheesh K. Meleppat, Kaitryn Ronning, Sarah J. Karlen, J. KarlenMarie E. Burns, Robert J. Zawadzki
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Ophthalmology
Jessicca Cho, Pengfei Zhang, Sarah J. Karlen, Nicholas Marsh-Armstrong, Anna La Torre, Robert J. Zawadzki
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Ryan P. Silk, Hanagh R. Winter, Ouria Dkhissi-Benyahya, Carmella Evans -Molina, Alan W. Stitt, Vijay K. Tiwari, David A. Simpson, Eleni Beli
Summary: This study investigates whether diabetes affects the daily rhythm of gene expression in the retina. The results show that diabetic mice exhibited phase advancement in the expression of certain genes compared to non-diabetic mice. The study also identified oxygen-sensing mechanisms and HIF1alpha as potential upstream regulators. These findings provide important insights into the development of diabetic retinopathy.
Article
Neurosciences
Krishnamachari S. Prahalad, Daniel R. Coates
Summary: Visual stimuli presented around the time of a saccade can be perceived differently by the visual system, including a reduction in the harmful impact of flankers. This study investigated the effects of microsaccades on crowded stimuli placed 20 arc minutes from the center of gaze. The findings suggest two separate pre-saccadic benefits, one that regularizes the crowding zone and another that specifically benefits microsaccade targets surrounded by tangential flankers.
Article
Neurosciences
Chandrika Ravisankar, Christopher W. Tyler, Clifton M. Schor, Shrikant R. Bharadwaj
Summary: This study revealed that less than one-third of adults with normal binocular vision were able to successfully free-fuse random-dot image pairs and identify the embedded stereoscopic shapes. The successful participants showed a dissociation of vergence and accommodative responses, while the unsuccessful ones either exhibited strong vergence and accommodation or weak vergence and strong accommodation. Task performance of the unsuccessful cluster improved significantly with pharmacological paralysis of accommodation. A minority of participants also learned to dissociate one direction of their vergence and accommodation crosslinks with repeated free-fusion trials, optimizing their task performance.
