Tissue engineering using decellularized whole lungs as matrix scaffolds began as a promise for cr... more Tissue engineering using decellularized whole lungs as matrix scaffolds began as a promise for creating autologous transplantable lungs for patients with end-stage lung disease and can also be used to study strategies for lung regeneration. Vascularization remains a critical component for all solid organ bioengineering, yet there has been limited success in generating functional re-endothelialization of most pulmonary vascular segments. We evaluated recellularization of the blood vessel conduits of acellular mouse scaffolds with highly proliferating, rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial progenitor cells (RMEPCs), pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs) or microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs). After 8 days of pulsatile perfusion, histological analysis showed that PAECs and MVECs possessed selective tropism for larger vessels or microvasculature, respectively. In contrast, RMEPCs lacked site preference and repopulated all vascular segments. RMEPC-derived endothelium exhibit...
COVID-19 and long COVID-19 vulnerabilities may be caused indirectly by albumin binding deficiency... more COVID-19 and long COVID-19 vulnerabilities may be caused indirectly by albumin binding deficiency (ABD) which can be corrected by the correct administration of human serum albumin (HSA). The liver is the primary site of nutrient regulation and fluid volume maintenance, control of both is by changes to albumin concentration. In healthy subjects the HSA lymphatic nutrient pump (HSALNP) ensures continual pumping of nutrients from the liver are appropriately distributed to organs. Nutrients are delivered to cells according to the availability of binding to HSA. The HSALNP therefore maintains the correct nutrients and colloidal pressure balance in all tissues independently. In unhealthy tissues, following COVID-19 infection, the passage of HSA/nutrients through the interstitial spaces and lymph will be impeded. Fluid therapy into the periphery leads to dilution of essential nutrients attached to the protein-carriers such as albumin. The levels of albumin being charged by the liver with n...
A good team functions like a well-oiled machine. Team members train individually and together in ... more A good team functions like a well-oiled machine. Team members train individually and together in order to do well as a team. Realistic simulations can offer safe and repeatable environments for teams to practice without real-world consequences. However, instructional support is often needed to help the team and individuals in case of mistakes and impasses and to guide the team on the path to success. In our work, we designed a simulated learning environment for teams of autonomous agents using PsychSim. The simulation provides a testbed for developing tutoring strategies suited for team training and for the skills it aims to engender. The simulation implements a “capture-the-flag” scenario, where a team of agents (the Blue team) must work to capture the flag being defended by an opposing team of agents (Red team). While the scenario is simple, the tutoring strategies to be used by a tutoring agent can be complex and dynamic. For example, what type of student behavior is considered a...
The unprecedented global demand for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has demonstrated the need for highly effe... more The unprecedented global demand for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has demonstrated the need for highly effective vaccine candidates that are thermostable and amenable to large-scale manufacturing. Nanoparticle immunogens presenting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (S) in repetitive arrays are being advanced as second-generation vaccine candidates, as they feature robust manufacturing characteristics and have shown promising immunogenicity in preclinical models. Here, we used previously reported deep mutational scanning (DMS) data to guide the design of stabilized variants of the RBD. The selected mutations fill a cavity in the RBD that has been identified as a linoleic acid binding pocket. Screening of several designs led to the selection of two lead candidates that expressed at higher yields than the wild-type RBD. These stabilized RBDs possess enhanced thermal stability and resistance to aggregation, particularly when incorporated into an icosahedral nanopar...
Tissue engineering using decellularized whole lungs as matrix scaffolds began as a promise for cr... more Tissue engineering using decellularized whole lungs as matrix scaffolds began as a promise for creating autologous transplantable lungs for patients with end-stage lung disease and can also be used to study strategies for lung regeneration. Vascularization remains a critical component for all solid organ bioengineering, yet there has been limited success in generating functional re-endothelialization of most pulmonary vascular segments. We evaluated recellularization of the blood vessel conduits of acellular mouse scaffolds with highly proliferating, rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial progenitor cells (RMEPCs), pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs) or microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs). After 8 days of pulsatile perfusion, histological analysis showed that PAECs and MVECs possessed selective tropism for larger vessels or microvasculature, respectively. In contrast, RMEPCs lacked site preference and repopulated all vascular segments. RMEPC-derived endothelium exhibit...
COVID-19 and long COVID-19 vulnerabilities may be caused indirectly by albumin binding deficiency... more COVID-19 and long COVID-19 vulnerabilities may be caused indirectly by albumin binding deficiency (ABD) which can be corrected by the correct administration of human serum albumin (HSA). The liver is the primary site of nutrient regulation and fluid volume maintenance, control of both is by changes to albumin concentration. In healthy subjects the HSA lymphatic nutrient pump (HSALNP) ensures continual pumping of nutrients from the liver are appropriately distributed to organs. Nutrients are delivered to cells according to the availability of binding to HSA. The HSALNP therefore maintains the correct nutrients and colloidal pressure balance in all tissues independently. In unhealthy tissues, following COVID-19 infection, the passage of HSA/nutrients through the interstitial spaces and lymph will be impeded. Fluid therapy into the periphery leads to dilution of essential nutrients attached to the protein-carriers such as albumin. The levels of albumin being charged by the liver with n...
A good team functions like a well-oiled machine. Team members train individually and together in ... more A good team functions like a well-oiled machine. Team members train individually and together in order to do well as a team. Realistic simulations can offer safe and repeatable environments for teams to practice without real-world consequences. However, instructional support is often needed to help the team and individuals in case of mistakes and impasses and to guide the team on the path to success. In our work, we designed a simulated learning environment for teams of autonomous agents using PsychSim. The simulation provides a testbed for developing tutoring strategies suited for team training and for the skills it aims to engender. The simulation implements a “capture-the-flag” scenario, where a team of agents (the Blue team) must work to capture the flag being defended by an opposing team of agents (Red team). While the scenario is simple, the tutoring strategies to be used by a tutoring agent can be complex and dynamic. For example, what type of student behavior is considered a...
The unprecedented global demand for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has demonstrated the need for highly effe... more The unprecedented global demand for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has demonstrated the need for highly effective vaccine candidates that are thermostable and amenable to large-scale manufacturing. Nanoparticle immunogens presenting the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein (S) in repetitive arrays are being advanced as second-generation vaccine candidates, as they feature robust manufacturing characteristics and have shown promising immunogenicity in preclinical models. Here, we used previously reported deep mutational scanning (DMS) data to guide the design of stabilized variants of the RBD. The selected mutations fill a cavity in the RBD that has been identified as a linoleic acid binding pocket. Screening of several designs led to the selection of two lead candidates that expressed at higher yields than the wild-type RBD. These stabilized RBDs possess enhanced thermal stability and resistance to aggregation, particularly when incorporated into an icosahedral nanopar...
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Papers by Max Johnson