Use Of Biologics Research Articles

『더 이상 흑인이 아닌』과 〈겟 아웃〉에 나타난 생명관리정치와 탈인종주의 비판

This paper examines how bio-politics and bio-power as well as post-racism operate in the (post)modern racial topography analyzing a science fiction and a movie: Black No More written by George S. Schuyler and Get Out directed by Jordan Peele. Michel Foucault proposes the ideas of bio-politics and bio-power not only in the sense of biological manipulation of population in nation-state through various apparatuses of hospital, prison, school, etc. but also domination of knowledge-based power structure including a variety of subcategories of science such as biology, statistics, medicine, and so on. Black No More is a science fiction or speculative fiction, albeit its tactical use of science, because it projects a differential time and space where African American people find a way to become whites thanks to a newly invented technology that can transform blacks into whites. Black No More, as a speculative farce, provides a thought experiment of ‘what if’ all blacks turn into white and delineates its consequence. Get Out also speculatively toys with an alternative history in which select whites take advantage of black bodies to do implantation of their brain into them before they die to achieve eternal life. Both examples shed dim light on dystopian potential in the current society where race under disguise of post-racism perpetrates bio-political racism.

Rat Mammary Epithelial Cell Transplantation into the Interscapular White Fat Pad.

As early as the 1970s, researchers have successfully transplanted mammary epithelial cells into the interscapular white fat pad of rats. Grafting mammary epithelium using transplantation techniques takes advantage of the hormonal environment provided by the adolescent rodent host. These studies are ideally suited to explore the impact of various biological manipulations on mammary gland development and dissect many aspects of mammary gland biology. A common, but limiting, feature is that transplanted epithelial cells are strongly influenced by the surrounding stroma and outcompeted by endogenous epithelium; to utilize native mammary tissue, the abdominal-inguinal white fat pad must be cleared to remove host mammary epithelium prior to the transplantation. A major obstacle when using the rat model organism is that clearing the developing mammary tree in post-weaned rats is not efficient. When transplanted into gland-free fat pads, donor epithelial cells can repopulate the cleared host fat pad and form a functional mammary gland. The interscapular fat pad is an alternative location for these grafts. A major advantage is that it lacks ductal structures yet provides the normal stroma that is necessary to promote epithelial outgrowth and is easily accessible in the rat. Another major advantage of this technique is that it is minimally invasive, because it eliminates the need to cauterize and remove the growing endogenous mammary tree. Additionally, the interscapular fat pad contains a medial blood vessel that can be used to separate sites for grafting. Because the endogenous glands remain intact, this technique can also be used for studies comparing the endogenous mammary gland to the transplanted gland. This paper describes the method of mammary epithelial cell transplantation into the interscapular white fat pad of rats.

Modeling and simulation of three-dimensional manipulation of viscoelastic folded biological particles considering the nonlinear model of the cell by AFM

Previous research on biological particles manipulation has taken into account linear cellular models and spherical geometry, Whereas, particles such as bacteria and cancer cells have cylindrical and crushed cylindrical geometry. On the other hand, cell behavior is nonlinear. Therefore, it is important to apply above mentioned models in the manipulation models and to investigate the modes of motion in the cylindrical nanoparticle manipulation to calculate the critical time and forces in order to understand the properties and behavior of these particles. In this paper, we present the analytical nonlinear cellular mechanical models that lead to the extraction of the creep function proportional to the biological particle behavior. Cylindrical and crushed cylindrical geometry considered in manipulation simulation. The cell is modeled with 2nd and 3rd order nonlinear spring and damper which are parallel and series. At the end, 2nd order nonlinear Kelvin selected as the most appropriate model. Comparison with the cell model of power-law and experimental data led to correction coefficients in models. Hereafter, JKR viscoelastic contact model was proposed for nanoparticles with cylindrical and crushed cylindrical geometry. Then, the application of cell models in the contact model and subsequently modeling of the first phase of the manipulation, considering folding factor, has been done. By simulating the main motion modes, including the mode of the slip of the probe tip on the particle, particle's rotation on the surface and the mode of slipping the particle on the surface, the force and critical times were obtained. According to the results, for a particle with a cylindrical geometry, the slip mode of the particle on the surface happens in 505.4 milliseconds and 5 microseconds faster than other modes. Besides, applying the folding factor causes an increase of 7% in the critical time. Because the folded shape of the cell surface causes more disturbance and friction, it requires more time and force to move the particle away and is matched to the physics of the problem. For a particle with a crushed cylindrical geometry, the slip of the probe tip on the particle occurs in 420.7 milliseconds and 10 milliseconds faster than other modes and under the force of 0.7255 micro N and about 71 percent less than the others. Also, the application of the folding factor for this particle contributes to an increase of 24% in critical force and an increase of 11% in the critical time.

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY AND GENETIC MANIPULATION: Risks, promises and responsibilities

Abstract As a result of the biotechnological advance, synthetic biology has been applied from the improvement of food to the creation of new organisms. This article investigates, from a bioethical perspective, the benefits, risks and threats to life, arising from the production, manipulation and, especially, the creation of synthesized DNAs that do not exist in nature. Bioethics reports from the White House and the Bioethics Committee of Portugal and Spain contributed to the discussion. The progress of technoscience, without the proper ethical capacity for evaluation, can produce results that compromise the social development, environmental preservation, human dignity, and biosphere life in the future. In this sense, the achievements of synthetic biology have been shown to be ambivalent, because hopes are mixed with threats, with unpredictable results to the diversity of life of the biosphere, which makes prudence the virtue par excellence.

Comparative Evaluation of Success of Biodentine and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate with Formocresol as Pulpotomy Medicaments in Primary Molars: An In Vivo Study.

ABSTRACTAimThe study was designed to evaluate and compare the success of Biodentine and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in comparison to formocresol as pulpotomy medicaments over 9 months of the follow-up period.Materials and methodsThe sample of 60 deciduous molars of patients aged 4–7 years were incorporated in the study. The molars were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups. Following coronal pulp removal and achieving hemostasis, the radicular pulp was covered with either Biodentine or MTA (experimental groups). In the control group, a cotton pellet soaked with diluted formocresol (one-fifth dilution of Buckley's formocresol) was placed over the radicular pulp for 1 minute. All pulpotomized molars were later restored with stainless steel crowns (SSCs).ResultsThe achieved clinical success over 9 months of the follow-up period was 100, 95, and 70% with Biodentine, MTA, and formocresol, respectively. The achieved radiographic success over 9 months of the follow-up period was 95, 60, and 25% with Biodentine, MTA, and formocresol, respectively.ConclusionFavorable biological, physical, mechanical, and good manipulation properties of Biodentine show that this material can be used efficiently as a pulpotomy medicament in the clinical practice.How to cite this articleAhuja S, Surabhi K, Gandhi K, et al. Comparative Evaluation of Success of Biodentine and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate with Formocresol as Pulpotomy Medicaments in Primary Molars: An In Vivo Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2020;13(2):167–173.

The green exfoliation of graphite waste and its suitability for biosensor applications.

This work is concerned with the bio-exfoliation of graphite using a soil bacterium. The isolated bacterium showed a detectable ability to oxidize and change its physical appearance and chemical structure. Multiple characterization procedures were used to study the physical and chemical changes. Raman and FTIR spectroscopy proved that the isolate G3 partially exfoliated the graphite into multi-layer sp2 graphitic layers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved that there was a change in morphology between untreated graphite waste and that manipulated by bacteria. Cyclic voltammetry results proved that the green exfoliated graphite (GEG) was suitable for use in biosensor applications and showed a noticeable ability to detect methanol, even at lower concentrations. These findings are considered as promising for the biological manipulation of graphite waste for environmental purposes. In addition, it is proved that the bacterial transformation of graphite into other GEG structures occurs without needing the chemically hazardous methods that are currently applied.

Periosteum: The forgotten source of osteoprogenitors

Bone is one of the few tissues capable of authentic regenerative repair. However, despite advances in surgical technique, orthopaedic hardware and our understanding of fracture biology, inadequate bone repair remains a major concern in both veterinary and human medicine. Cell-based technologies provide opportunities to utilize the osteogenic capacities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSC) to augment bone repair. Much of the research on MSC biology has focused on cells derived from the bone marrow/endosteal compartment; however, osteoprogenitor cells (OPC) also reside in the periosteum. Periosteum develops as a fibro-cellular envelope surrounding developing skeletal elements. The inner, or cambium layer of periosteum, includes committed OPCs directly adjacent the bone surface, and a distinct sub-population of progenitors within the periosteal mid-substance that retain both chondrogenic and osteogenic capacities. During skeletogenesis, periosteal OPCs are responsible for appositional intramembranous bone formation that increases the radial diameter of long bones. Of critical importance, periosteal stem cells are the predominant cell population responsible for generating the cartilaginous or ‘soft’ callus that provides intermediate stabilization and a scaffold for subsequent callus ossification by endochondral ossification; the primary mechanism of bone repair. In recent experiments using isolates from ‘donor-matched’ periosteum and bone marrow, we have found that the basal osteogenic capacity of equine OPCs is considerably less than that of bone marrow-derived MSCs. Periosteal OPCs require exogenous Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) for robust osteogenesis, a finding consistent with the clinical responses of bone to recombinant BMP protein. Perhaps more surprising, the osteogenic capacity of adult (2-10 years of age) OPCs is comparable to those of young foals’, although the cell yield is considerably greater from foal specimens. In light of the vital importance of callus formation for successful fracture healing of most, further research on the biology and clinical manipulation of periosteal OPCs is highly warranted.

Controllable Coumarin-Based NIR Fluorophores: Selective Subcellular Imaging, Cell Membrane Potential Indication, and Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy.

Fluorescent materials with advanced functionalities provide powerful tools to visualize subcellular microstructures and monitor subcellular dynamic functions, which significantly boost our understanding of complex biological phenomena and manipulation of biological behaviors. However, realization of diverse biological applications from a single molecular backbone is still a challenging endeavor. In this contribution, a series of coumarin-based cationic fluorophores (Cou-n, n = 1-4) with near-infrared emission (675 nm) and large Stokes shifts (110 nm) have been developed. Considering their excellent biocompatibilities and alkyl chain-dependent lipophilicities, Cou-1 and Cou-3 could selectively and ultrafast (<30 s) stain the cell plasma membrane and mitochondria in a washing-free manner, respectively. Meanwhile, Cou-1 could sensitively respond to the change of the plasma membrane potential, which enabled Cou-1 to successfully indicate the cell passage number. Taking advantage of specific mitochondria targeting as well as efficient singlet oxygen generation, Cou-3 exhibited enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT) effect for tumor inhibition in vivo. In addition, the suitable lipophilicity of Cou-3 aided it in selectively imaging Gram-positive bacteria and efficiently killing bacteria by the PDT process.

Different Regimes of Opto-fluidics for Biological Manipulation.

Metallic structures can be used for the localized heating of fluid and the controlled generation of microfluidic currents. Carefully designed currents can move and trap small particles and cells. Here we demonstrate a new bi-metallic substrate that allows much more powerful micro-scale manipulation. We show that there are multiple regimes of opto-fluidic manipulation that can be controlled by an external laser power. While the lowest power does not affect even small objects, medium power can be used for efficiently capturing and trapping particles and cells. Finally, the high-power regime can be used for 3D levitation that, for the first time, has been demonstrated in this paper. Additionally, we demonstrate opto-fluidic manipulation for an extraordinarily dynamic range of masses extending eight orders of magnitude: from 80 fg nano-wires to 5.4 µg live worms.

Pharmacological Inhibition of Acid Ceramidase; A Novel Radiosensitiser In A 3D Rectal Cancer Model

Background: We have previously utilized proteomic and immuno-histochemical data to validate that high levels of acid ceramidase (AC) expression confers poorer neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy response in rectal cancer. Biological (siRNA, plasmid) and pharmacological (Carmofur) AC manipulation validated altered responses of radiosensitivity in-vitro. LCL521, a novel small molecular inhibitor, specifically targets AC.

AC dielectrophoretic deformable particle-particle interactions and their relative motions.

This paper develops a numerical simulation model to research the deformable particle-particle interactions caused by dielectrophoresis (DEP) under AC electric fields. The DEP force is calculated by using Maxwell stress tensor method, and the hydrodynamic force is obtained by calculating the hydrodynamic stress tensor. Simulation results show that the DEP interactive motion will facilitate the particles forming particle chains that are parallel to the electric field, and the particles with low shear modulus present a lower x-component velocity. Also, the electric field intensity and particles radius have some effects on the DEP motions, and for different particles, smaller particles with larger electric field intensity easily reach a larger velocity. The numerical research may provide universal guidance for biological cells manipulation and assembly.

Thermo-Electro-Mechanics at Individual Particles in Complex Colloidal Systems

It has been well established that thermoelectric (TE) field can arise from different Soret coefficients of salt ions in the aqueous solution under constant temperature gradient. Despite their high relevance to cellular biology and particle manipulations, understanding and controlling of TE field in complex colloidal systems that involve micro/nanoparticles, salt ions and molecules have remained challenging. In such colloidal systems, the challenge arises from the thermal interactions with charged micro/nanoparticles that distort the TE field around the particles. Herein, we provide a framework for TE field in colloidal suspensions with various ions and surfactants at the single-nanoparticle level. In particular, we reveal the spatial variation of TE field around a dielectric particle under temperature gradient to determine the thermoelectric trapping force on the particle. Our theoretical results on the trapping force predicted from the TE force profile match well with the experimental opto-thermoelectric trapping stiffness of particles in the solutions where the temperature gradient was well-controlled by a laser beam. With their insight into TE field and force in complex systems, our framework and methodology can be extended to engineer the TE field for versatile opto-thermoelectric manipulations of arbitrarily shaped particles with non-uniform surface morphology and to advance the scientific research in cellular biology.

Weed floral resources and commonly used insectary plants to increase the efficacy of a whitefly parasitoid

Weed floral resources are often overlooked in biological control manipulations, yet common species in this group can contribute to enhanced biological control efficacy. Weed floral resources may not be examined as frequently as certain insectary species (buckwheat). Furthermore, they may require less maintenance and are adapted to grow in the planted area. Here, we investigated the effects of weed and other non-crop floral resources on Eretmocerus mundus, a parasitoid of the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, in the laboratory. The two common weeds evaluated were shepherd’s purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) and white rocket (Diplotaxis erucoides). These were compared with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) and alyssum (Lobularia maritima). Adults of the above parasitoid were exposed to flowers of the selected plants and survived six times longer with buckwheat than those in the control (water only) and 2.8, 3.1 and four times longer with shepherd’s purse, rocket and alyssum, respectively. All plant species significantly increased parasitoid longevity, egg load and fecundity compared to the control. Buckwheat had the greatest effect on these parameters. Parasitism rate of the pest increased by up to 72.1%. This work illustrates that the selected non-buckwheat species could have value where buckwheat germination rate and phenology may be limiting such as in arid climates, for which this work was targeted.

A sandwich piezoelectric actuator with long stroke and nanometer resolution by the hybrid of two actuation modes

A piezoelectric actuator operating at direct actuation mode and inertial actuation mode was proposed for linear driving with long stroke, nanometer resolution and high scan rate. Different from the previous piezoelectric actuators constructed with stacked flexure structures, the proposed actuator used a sandwich structure with high resonance frequency. The operating principle was discussed. The structure was designed by the assistance of theoretical analysis and finite element simulation. A prototype was fabricated and its experiments were performed to investigate the characteristics. The resonance frequency of the first horizontal bending mode was measured to be 12,720 Hz by a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer. When operating at the direct mode, a displacement resolution of 12.5 nm was obtained and a maximum scan rate that was about 190 Hz with scan range of 3.685 μm was achieved. When operating at the inertial mode, the prototype achieved the maximum output speed and thrust force of 14.44 μm/s and 1.67 N under the voltage of 420 Vp-p and frequency of 15 Hz, respectively. The proposed actuator can achieve a long stroke by the inertial actuation mode and realize high frequency scanning of micron stroke with nanometer resolution by the direct actuation mode, it has good application prospects in the fields of nano scanning and biological manipulation.

Oligonucleotide Preparation Approach for Assembly of DNA Synthons.

An effective oligonucleotide preparation approach for the thermodynamically balanced, inside-out (TBIO) PCR-based assembly of long synthetic DNA molecules (synthons) is described in the current work. We replaced the necessity to purify individual oligonucleotides with just one purification procedure per approximately 500 base pairs (bp) of duplex DNA. So for an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene of 717 bp, we synthesized 24 oligonucleotides with a length of 50 bases and performed just two solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification procedures. It was found that the capacity of ZipTip microextractors, usually used for sample desalting in proteomics, perfectly corresponds to the gene synthesis scale (40-60 pmol). The robustness of the approach was validated with a 65-mer oligonucleotide design of the same gene. The modification of the oligonucleotide concentration gradient from the original TBIO scheme substantially increased the purity of the PCR product. We proposed a mechanism for the formation of supramolecular structures, which often occur during TBIO assembly. By using the proposed workflow, any laboratory with a standard facility for molecular biology manipulation, a 16-channel oligonucleotide synthesizer, and a conventional thermocycler has the ability to prepare one gene with a length of about 700 bp per day.

Wanted, dead and alive: Why a multidisciplinary approach is needed to unlock hair treatment potential.

Human recorded history is littered with attempts to improve the perceived appearance of scalp hair. Throughout history, treatments have included both biological and chemical interventions. Hair "quality" or "perceived appearance" is regulated by multiple biological intervention opportunities: adding more hairs by flipping follicles from telogen to anagen, or delaying anagen follicles transiting into catagen; altering hair "apparent amount" by modulating shaft diameter or shape; or, in principle, altering shaft physical properties changing its synthesis. By far the most common biological intervention strategy today is to increase the number of hairs, but to date this has proven difficult and has yielded minimal benefits. Chemical intervention primarily consists of active material surface deposition to improve shaft shine, fibre-fibre interactions and strength. Real, perceptible benefits will best be achieved by combining opportunity areas across the three primary sciences: biology, chemistry and physics. Shaft biogenesis begins with biology: proliferation in the germinative matrix, then crossing "Auber's Critical Line" and ceasing proliferation to synthesize shaft components. Biogenesis then shifts to oxidative chemistry, where previously synthesized components are organized and cross-linked into a shaft. We herein term the crossing point from biology to chemistry as "The Orwin Threshold." Historically, hair biology and chemistry have been conducted in different fields, with biological manipulation residing in biomedical communities and hair shaft chemistry and physics within the consumer care industry, with minimal cross-fertilization. Detailed understanding of hair shaft biogenesis should enable identification of factors necessary for optimum hair shaft production and new intervention opportunities.

Mountain lakes: Eyes on global environmental change

Abstract Mountain lakes are often situated in protected natural areas, a feature that leads to their role as sentinels of global environmental change. Despite variations in latitude, mountain lakes share many features, including their location in catchments with steep topographic gradients, cold temperatures, high incident solar and ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and prolonged ice and snow cover. These characteristics, in turn, affect mountain lake ecosystem structure, diversity, and productivity. The lakes themselves are mostly small, and up until recently, have been characterized as oligotrophic. This paper provides a review and update of the growing body of research that shows that sediments in remote mountain lakes archive regional and global environmental changes, including those linked to climate change, altered biogeochemical cycles, and changes in dust composition and deposition, atmospheric fertilization, and biological manipulations. These archives provide an important record of global environmental change that pre-dates typical monitoring windows. Paleolimnological research at strategically selected lakes has increased our knowledge of interactions among multiple stressors and their synergistic effects on lake systems. Lakes from transects across steep climate (i.e., temperature and effective moisture) gradients in mountain regions show how environmental change alters lakes in close proximity, but at differing climate starting points. Such research in particular highlights the impacts of melting glaciers on mountain lakes. The addition of new proxies, including DNA-based techniques and advanced stable isotopic analyses, provides a gateway to addressing novel research questions about global environmental change. Recent advances in remote sensing and continuous, high-frequency, limnological measurements will improve spatial and temporal resolution and help to add records to spatial gaps including tropical and southern latitudes. Mountain lake records provide a unique opportunity for global scale assessments that provide knowledge necessary to protect the Earth system.

Inhibition of the lncRNA SAF drives activation of apoptotic effector caspases in HIV-1–infected human macrophages

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) impart significant regulatory functions in a diverse array of biological pathways and manipulation of these RNAs provides an important avenue to modulate such pathways, particularly in disease. Our knowledge about lncRNAs' role in determination of cellular fate during HIV-1 infection remains sparse. Here, we have identified the impact of the lncRNA SAF in regulating apoptotic effector caspases in macrophages, a long-lived cellular reservoir of HIV-1, that are largely immune to virus-induced cell death. Expression of SAF is significantly up-regulated in HIV-1-infected human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) compared with bystander and virus-nonexposed cells. A similar enhancement in SAF RNA expression is also detected in the HIV-1-infected airway macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of HIV-1-infected individuals. Down-regulation of SAF with siRNA treatment increases caspase-3/7 activity levels in virus-infected MDMs. This induction of apoptotic caspases occurs exclusively in HIV-1-infected macrophages and not in bystander cells, leading to a significant reduction in HIV-1 replication and overall viral burden in the macrophage culture. This study identifies targeting of the lncRNA SAF as a potential means to specifically induce cell death in HIV-1-infected macrophages.

Biological manipulation of eutrophication in West Yangchen Lake

This paper aims to share findings on nonclassical biomanipulation from a field study on eutrophic West Yangcheng (WY) Lake. In the forty years before 2009, cyanobacteria frequently bloomed in WY Lake, an event which has not occurred since 2009. The stocking density of filter-feeding carp was estimated to be more than 50 g/m3 in July after 2009, approximately double the amount observed before 2009, and the ratio of silver carp to bighead carp (SBR) increased from 0.8 to more than 1.6. Compared with the water quality between 2004 and 2007, the total nitrogen (TN) and the chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration decreased while total phosphorus (TP) and transparency (SD) increased significantly after 2009 (P < 0.05). The decreasing Chl-a concentration was observed in Jul, Jun, May, Jul, and Mar in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2017, respectively. The Chl-a concentration was significantly negatively correlated with TP (P < 0.05), and no significant correlation with TN was observed (P > 0.05). A significant negative correlation was observed between fish yield and SD (P < 0.05). The results also showed that filter-feeding carp more effectively restrained algae growth when SD was low. These results indicated that a high density of filter-feeding fish with increased SBR interfered with the driving effects of nutrients and temperature on the growth of algal biomass and then restrained bloom of algae. It may be necessary to take SD into consideration for determining the appropriate fish stocking density for the biomanipulation of algae.

Safe and stable noninvasive focal gene delivery to the mammalian brain following focused ultrasound.

Surgical infusion of gene therapy vectors has provided opportunities for biological manipulation of specific brain circuits in both animal models and human patients. Transient focal opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) by MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) raises the possibility of noninvasive CNS gene therapy to target precise brain regions. However, variable efficiency and short follow-up of studies to date, along with recent suggestions of the potential for immune reactions following MRgFUS BBB disruption, all raise questions regarding the viability of this approach for clinical translation. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the efficiency, safety, and long-term stability of MRgFUS-mediated noninvasive gene therapy in the mammalian brain. Focused ultrasound under the control of MRI, in combination with microbubbles consisting of albumin-coated gas microspheres, was applied to rat striatum, followed by intravenous infusion of an adeno-associated virus serotype 1/2 (AAV1/2) vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker. Following recovery, animals were followed from several hours up to 15 months. Immunostaining for GFP quantified transduction efficiency and stability of expression. Quantification of neuronal markers was used to determine histological safety over time, while inflammatory markers were examined for evidence of immune responses. Transitory disruption of the BBB by MRgFUS resulted in efficient delivery of the AAV1/2 vector to the targeted rodent striatum, with 50%-75% of striatal neurons transduced on average. GFP transgene expression appeared to be stable over extended periods of time, from 2 weeks to 6 months, with evidence of ongoing stable expression as long as 16 months in a smaller cohort of animals. No evidence of substantial toxicity, tissue injury, or neuronal loss was observed. While transient inflammation from BBB disruption alone was noted for the first few days, consistent with prior observations, no evidence of brain inflammation was observed from 2 weeks to 6 months following MRgFUS BBB opening, despite delivery of a virus and expression of a foreign protein in target neurons. This study demonstrates that transitory BBB disruption using MRgFUS can be a safe and efficient method for site-specific delivery of viral vectors to the brain, raising the potential for noninvasive focal human gene therapy for neurological disorders.