University of Hertfordshire 4 articles published in JoVE Biology Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization on DNA Halo Preparations to Reveal Whole Chromosomes, Telomeres and Gene Loci Lauren S. Godwin1, Emily Roberts2, Joanna M. Bridger1, Helen A. Foster2 1Laboratory of Nuclear and Genomic Health, Centre for Genome Engineering and Maintenance, Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, 2Biosciences, Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Combining DNA halo preparations with fluorescence in situ hybridization enables high-resolution analysis of genomic interactions with the nucleoskeleton. Attached genome leads to hybridized fluorescent signals located within the residual extracted nuclei, whereas non-attached genome is in the halo of DNA surrounding the residual nuclei. Bioengineering Electrowetting-based Digital Microfluidics Platform for Automated Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay Nikolay Dimov1, Martin B. McDonnell1, Ian Munro1, Daniel K. McCluskey1, Ian D. Johnston1, Christabel K. L. Tan1, Loïc Coudron1 1School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire Electrowetting-based digital microfluidic is a technique that utilizes a voltage-driven change in the apparent contact angle of a microliter-volume droplet to facilitate its manipulation. Combining this with functionalized magnetic beads enables the integration of multiple laboratory unit operations for sample preparation and identification of pathogens using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Biology Imaging Calcium Dynamics in Subpopulations of Mouse Pancreatic Islet Cells Alexander Hamilton1,2, Elisa Vergari1, Caroline Miranda3, Andrei I. Tarasov1,4,5 1Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Oxford, 2Lund University Diabetes Centre, Unit of Molecular Metabolism, Clinical Research Centre, Malmö University HospitalMalmö, 3Institute of Neuroscience of Physiology, Department of Physiology, Metabolic Research Unit, University of Göteborg, 4Oxford National Institute for Health Research, Biomedical Research Centre, 5Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Here, we present a protocol for imaging and quantifying calcium dynamics in heterogeneous cell populations, such as pancreatic islet cells. Fluorescent reporters are delivered into the peripheral layer of cells within the islet, which is then immobilized and imaged, and per-cell analysis of the dynamics of fluorescence intensity is performed. Neuroscience In Vitro Recording of Mesenteric Afferent Nerve Activity in Mouse Jejunal and Colonic Segments Sara Nullens1, Annemie Deiteren2, Wen Jiang3, Christopher Keating4, Hannah Ceuleers1, Sven Francque5, David Grundy3, Joris G. De Man1, Benedicte Y. De Winter1 1Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Antwerp, 2Visceral Pain Group, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, 3Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sheffield, 4Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Postgraduate Medicine, University of Hertfordshire, 5Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Antwerp University Hospital Mesenteric afferent nerves convey information from the gastrointestinal tract towards the brain regarding normal homeostasis as well as pathophysiology. Gastrointestinal afferent nerve activity can be assessed by mounting isolated intestinal segments with attached afferent nerves into an organ bath, isolating the nerve, and assessing basal as well as stimulated activity.
