Digital Commons Network^™

In Vitro Assessment Of Acute Neuro-Inflammation In A Model Of The Blood Brain Barrier, Cassandra Phillips, Dak Ojuka, Ramon G. Ortega-Alvarez, Anne-Deyssa Victor, Kathryn Fama

Biology Student Scholarship

Cassandra Phillips ’20
Major: Biology and Psychology

Dak Ojuka '20
Major: Biology Minor: Business and Innovation

Anne-Deyssa Victor '21
Major: Biology

Ramon G. Ortega-Alvarez ’20
Major: Biology

Kathryn Fama ’21
Major: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Charles Toth, Biology

The purpose of this experiment was to develop an in vitro model of the blood brain barrier that incorporated brain endothelial microvascular cells (BMEC) and co-cultures composed of neurons, astrocytes, and macrophages. All cell types were derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. A transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) assay and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate barrier function. In addition, the model was …

Investigating Metabolic Reprogramming In Neurodegenerative Disease, Sidney Mackinnon, Samantha Nicodemus

Biology Student Scholarship

Sidney MacKinnon ’21
Major: Biology

Samantha Nicodemus ’20
Major: Biology and Psychology, Neuroscience Certificate

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Marla Tipping, Biology

There’S A New Species Of Thief Ant Hiding In The Pine Barrens Of Rhode Island, Justin Andries

Biology Student Scholarship

Major: Biology and Sociology
Faculty Mentor: Dr. James Waters, Biology

Ants are often missed underfoot and overlooked, but they are among the most ecologically dominant groups of animals on the planet. There are more than 200 species of ants which have been scientifically recorded in New England but samples from Rhode Island represent less than a percent of the overall survey of our regional taxa. To discover the species that are found in Rhode Island, we are engaged in a multi-year and multi-location effort to systematically trap and accurately identify the ant species found in diverse rural and urban habitats …

Distribution Of The Cold Water Coral Astrangia In The Waters Of Narrangansett Bay, Jared Getgano, Sarah Ramsaran, Victoria Hartley, Noah Mina

Biology Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

39 And Me: The Evolution Of Dogs Through The Study Of Genomics, Lauren Flynn, Kathleen Kuhl, Jordan Pagliuca, Megan Russel

Biology Student Scholarship

Lauren Flynn ’21
Major: Biology and Mathematics

Jordan Pagliuca ’21
Major: Biology

Kathleen Kuhl ’22
Major: Biology

Megan Russell ’20
Major: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elisabeth Arévalo, Biology

Our lab is interested in utilizing the dog model to explore the relationship between genes, evolution, and physical traits. The human selection and manipulation of different desirable traits in dogs has led to mutations that create the unique traits and diversity of breeds. Our lab uses different molecular methods to assess genetic mutations and different inheritable traits ranging from physical characteristics to disease in a variety of dog breeds. Statistical analysis and …

Studying Cardiovascular Disease Using Human Stem Cell-Derived 3d Cardiomyocytes, Nicholas Dash, Veronica Bohl

Biology Student Scholarship

Veronica Bohl ’20
Major: Biology and Psychology, Neuroscience Certificate Program

Nicholas Dash ’20
Major: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Charles Toth, Biology

This experiment provides insight on how using metabolites derived naturally from the microbiome can influence cardiac inflammation.3D cardiomyocytes were derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells through the utilization of small molecules and growth factors. Quantitative PCR was performed to verify that the organoids expressed genes associated with cardiomyocyte cells. Primers for the genes FOXa2, TNNT2, MYH7, AHR, CACNA1, and KCNH2 were used for the qPCR, as these genes are expressed more prominently in cardiomyocyte cells than the undifferentiated …

Yeast Bxi1p/Ybh3p Is A Ph-Sensitive Calcium Channel In Escherichia Coli., Amanda Raffa, John Kalhorn

Biology Student Scholarship

Amanda Raffa ’21
Major: Biology

John Kalhorn ’21
Major: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, Biology

Autophagy And Lipid Metabolism In C.Elegans, Cristina De Corral, Samantha Otalvaro

Biology Student Scholarship

Cristina de Corral ’22
Major: Biology

Samantha Otalvaro ’22
Major: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Melissa Silvestrini, Biology

The synthesis, storage, delivery and breakdown of lipids in the cell is crucial for organismal homeostasis. Dysfunction in lipid metabolism can lead to a variety of pathologies including diabetes, heart disease, and even neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s. One common link between these metabolic diseases is the cellular recycling process of autophagy. Autophagy plays a complex role in lipid metabolism as it is required for both lipid storage and breakdown. In C. elegans, loss of autophagy during development impairs production of neutral lipids. …

Pmsf And Sfn Reduce Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation In A Yeast Model Of Parkinson’S Disease, Noah Kozub, Taylor Brysgel, Christopher Yerxa

Biology Student Scholarship

Noah Kozub ’22
Major: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Fr. Nicanor Austriaco O.P, Biology

Drosophila Models Of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ella Clifford, Jackson Diltz, Emily Teixeira

Biology Student Scholarship

Ella Clifford ’20
Major: Biology and Psychology

Jackson Diltz ’22
Major: Biology

Emily Teixeira ’22
Major: Biology

We are working to determine if there are structural differences in the brains of flies modeling neurodegenerative diseases such as Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease in comparison to wild type flies. Our project is a complement to another study our lab is conducting on the metabolic activity of fruit fly models of neurodegenerative diseases. By analyzing cell size, cell pattern, and number of cells, we want to determine if the functional differences found in the metabolic study are mirrored in the structure of …

Modeling Parkinson’S Disease In The Budding Yeast, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Yuri Takenaka

Biology Student Scholarship

Major: Biology and Mathematics
Faculty Mentor: Fr. Nicanor Austriaco O.P., Biology

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common, incurable neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. PD patients have accumulations of abnormal proteins called Lewy Bodies (LBs) within their neurons that trigger cell death. Damaged and dead neurons lead to decline in dopamine levels, triggering the symptoms of Parkinson’s such as muscle stiffness, tremors, and slowed movement. Numerous studies have shown that the human protein, alpha-synuclein and Tau, are two major components of Lewy Bodies. To study the relationship between protein aggregation and cell death, I have created a system to co-overexpress human …

Cancer: The Role Of Bax Inhibitor In C. Elegans, Ibrahim Abaherah, Michael Bittner, Kevin Ly

Biology Student Scholarship

Ibrahim Abaherah ’20
Major: Biology

Michael Bittner '21
Major: Biology

Kevin Ly '23
Major: Biology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Melissa Silvestrini, Biology

Bax inhibitor-1 is an evolutionarily conserved regulator of apoptosis and ER stress in cells. Bax inhibitor-1 is regulated by IRE-1, a transmembrane protein in the ER that is responsible for detection of ER-induced stress and activation of downstream targets involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR) to maintain homeostasis. Our goal is to determine whether the C. elegans Bax inhibitor-1 homolog tmbi-4 is dependent on the IRE1 pathway in C. elegans. Our preliminary data in the lab suggest that …