University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center View Institution's Website 12 articles published in JoVE Behavior An Improved Assay and Tools for Measuring Mechanical Nociception in Drosophila Larvae Roger Lopez-Bellido1, Michael J. Galko1,2,3 1Department of Genetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 3Genetics and Epigenetics Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center The goal of this protocol is to show how to perform an improved assay for mechanical nociception in Drosophila larvae. We use the assay here to demonstrate that mechanical hypersensitivity (allodynia and hyperalgesia) exists in Drosophila larvae. Cancer Research Automated Multiplex Immunofluorescence Panel for Immuno-oncology Studies on Formalin-fixed Carcinoma Tissue Specimens Michael Surace1, Karma DaCosta1, Anna Huntley1, Weiguang Zhao1, Christopher Bagnall2, Charles Brown1, Chichung Wang3, Kristin Roman3, Jennifer Cann1, Arthur Lewis2, Keith Steele1, Marlon Rebelatto1, Edwin R. Parra4, Clifford C. Hoyt3, Jaime Rodriguez-Canales1 1Laboratory of Pathology, MedImmune, 2Laboratory of Pathology, MedImmune, 3Akoya Biosciences Inc., 4Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center A detailed protocol for a six-marker multiplex immunofluorescence panel is optimized and performed, using an automated stainer for more consistent results and a shorter procedure time. This approach can be directly adapted by any laboratory for immuno-oncology studies. Engineering Guidelines and Experience Using Imaging Biomarker Explorer (IBEX) for Radiomics Rachel B. Ger1,2, Carlos E. Cardenas1,2, Brian M. Anderson1,2, Jinzhong Yang1,2, Dennis S. Mackin1, Lifei Zhang1, Laurence E. Court1,2,3 1Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 3Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center We describe IBEX, an open-source tool designed for medical imaging radiomics studies, and how to use this tool. In addition, some published works that have used IBEX for uncertainty analysis and model building are showcased. Medicine Combined Near-infrared Fluorescent Imaging and Micro-computed Tomography for Directly Visualizing Cerebral Thromboemboli Dong-Eog Kim1, Jeong-Yeon Kim1, Su-Kyoung Lee1, Ju Hee Ryu2, Ick Chan kwon2, Cheol-Hee Ahn3, Kwangmeyung Kim2, Dawid Schellingerhout4 1Molecular Imaging and Neurovascular Research Laboratory, Dongguk University College of Medicine, 2Biomedical Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 3Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, 4Departments of Radiology and Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center This protocol describes the application of combined near-infrared fluorescent (NIRF) imaging and micro-computed tomography (microCT) for visualizing cerebral thromboemboli. This technique allows the quantification of thrombus burden and evolution. The NIRF imaging technique visualizes fluorescently labeled thrombus in excised brain, while the microCT technique visualizes thrombus inside living animals using gold-nanoparticles. Engineering Use of a Multi-compartment Dynamic Single Enzyme Phantom for Studies of Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Agents Christopher M. Walker1, Matthew Merritt2, Jian-Xiong Wang2, James A. Bankson1 1Imaging Physics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center A multi-compartment dynamic phantom is used to simulate some biology of interest for metabolic studies using hyperpolarized magnet resonance agents. Chemistry Synthesis of Immunotargeted Magneto-plasmonic Nanoclusters Chun-Hsien Wu1,2, Konstantin Sokolov1,2 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, 2Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Here, we describe a protocol for synthesis of magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles with a strong magnetic moment and a strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance. The protocol also includes antibody conjugation to the nanoparticles through the Fc moiety for various biomedical applications which require molecular specific targeting. Biology Rapid Generation of Amyloid from Native Proteins In vitro Stephanie M Dorta-Estremera1, Jingjing Li1, Wei Cao1 1Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Proteins can either adopt a native structure or misfold into insoluble amyloid. Conditions that favor the misfolding pathway lead to the formation of different types of amyloid fibrils. The methods described here allow rapid conversion of native proteins into amyloid in vitro. Medicine Protocols for Assessing Radiofrequency Interactions with Gold Nanoparticles and Biological Systems for Non-invasive Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy Stuart J. Corr1,2, Brandon T. Cisneros1,2, Leila Green1, Mustafa Raoof1, Steven A. Curley1,3 1Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 3Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Rice University We describe the protocols used to investigate the interactions of 13.56 MHz radiofrequency (RF) electric-fields with gold nanoparticle colloids in both non-biological and biological systems (in vitro/vivo). These interactions are being investigated for applications in cancer therapy. Immunology and Infection Clinical Application of Sleeping Beauty and Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells to Genetically Modify T Cells from Peripheral and Umbilical Cord Blood M. Helen Huls1, Matthew J. Figliola1, Margaret J. Dawson1, Simon Olivares1, Partow Kebriaei2, Elizabeth J. Shpall2, Richard E. Champlin2, Harjeet Singh1, Laurence J.N. Cooper1 1Division of Pediatrics, U.T. MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, U.T. MD Anderson Cancer Center T cells expressing a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) are infused as investigational treatment of B-cell malignancies in our first-in-human gene therapy trials. We describe genetic modification of T cells using the Sleeping Beauty (SB) system to introduce CD19-specific CAR and selective propagation on designer CD19+ artificial antigen presenting cells. Neuroscience Local and Global Methods of Assessing Thermal Nociception in Drosophila Larvae Abanti Chattopadhyay*1, A'Tondra V. Gilstrap*1,2, Michael J. Galko1,3,4 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2Scholars Academy/MARC Scholar, University of Houston-Downtown, 3Genes and Development Graduate Program, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 4Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences In this article, we demonstrate assays to study thermal nociception in Drosophila larvae. One assay involves spatially-restricted (local) stimulation of thermal nociceptors1,2 while the second involves a wholesale (global) activation of most or all such neurons3. Together, these techniques allow visualization and quantification of the behavioral functions of Drosophila nociceptive sensory neurons. Immunology and Infection Expanding Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes from Umbilical Cord Blood that Target Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, and Adenovirus Patrick J. Hanley1, Sharon Lam1,2, Elizabeth J. Shpall3, Catherine M. Bollard1,2,4,5 1Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, 2Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 3Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 4Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 5Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine Here we describe the first good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant method of producing virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) from umbilical cord blood, a source of predominantly naîve T cells. Biology Selecting and Isolating Colonies of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reprogrammed from Adult Fibroblasts Urszula Polak1,2, Calley Hirsch1, Sherman Ku3, Joel Gottesfeld3, Sharon Y.R. Dent1, Marek Napierala1 1Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Center for Cancer Epigenetics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 2Department of Cell Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 3Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute We present a protocol for efficient reprogramming of human somatic cells into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) using retroviral vectors encoding Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-myc (OSKM) and identification of correctly reprogrammed hiPSC by live staining with Tra-1-81 antibody.