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Articles 1 - 12 of 12
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Acquisition And Retention Of Bacterial Spores (Bacillus Atrophaeus) By Eight Insect Species, Kieron Marie Torres
Acquisition And Retention Of Bacterial Spores (Bacillus Atrophaeus) By Eight Insect Species, Kieron Marie Torres
Theses and Dissertations
Acquisition and retention of spores of an anthrax surrogate, Bacillus atrophaeus Nakamura ("BG") were evaluated in eight insect species. Species included: house cricket (Acheta domesticus L.), German cockroach (Blatella germanica L.), common house fly (Musca domestics L.), blue bottle fly (Calliphora vomitoria L.), hairy rove beetle Creophilus maxillosus L.), yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.), common paper wasps (Polistes exclamans exclamans Viereck), red paper wasps (Polistes Carolina L.), red harvester ant (Pogonymyrmex barbatus Smith). Individual insects were offered BG-treated food and sacrificed at specified time intervals following one, two or three meals. Resulting samples were surface-washed five consecutive times then homogenized …
Genetic Assessment Of Rare Blackbanded Sunfish (Enneacanthus Chaetodon) Populations In Virginia, Diana Marie Kercher
Genetic Assessment Of Rare Blackbanded Sunfish (Enneacanthus Chaetodon) Populations In Virginia, Diana Marie Kercher
Theses and Dissertations
Enneacanthus chaetodon, the blackbanded sunfish, has become increasingly rare throughout its distribution in the Eastern United States. In Virginia, E. chaetodon maintains an endangered status and individuals persist in six populations. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and microsatellite data were assessed to determine the genetic characters and gene diversity of the Virginia populations. The results of these analyses were then compared to five additional populations; four from New Jersey and one from North Carolina that were known to have relatively good fitness and were not impacted severely by habitat alteration. The results of this study are relevant to selection of proper management …
Autocrine Effects Of Catecholamines On Macrophage Release Of Interleukin-6 (Il-6), Shaunta D. Poe
Autocrine Effects Of Catecholamines On Macrophage Release Of Interleukin-6 (Il-6), Shaunta D. Poe
Theses and Dissertations
Effects of norepinephrine (NE) on macrophage cytokine release are complex because the cells have both α2 and β2 adrenergic receptors, which mediate opposing actions. Furthermore, β2-adrenergic agonists are reported to have both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on interleukin-6 (IL-6). This study was designed to clarify the autocrine role of macrophage-derived NE on IL-6 production in activated peritoneal macrophages. Effects of NE on IL-6 production in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell-line also were investigated. Treatment of activated peritoneal macrophages with endotoxin, the α2-adrenergic antagonists yohimbine or RS79948 revealed that the α2-adrenergic receptor mediates a stimulatory autocrine action of catecholamines on IL-6 production. …
Invasion Genetics Of The Blue Catfish (Ictalurus Furcatus) Range Expansion Into Large River Ecosystems Of The Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Colleen Beth Higgins
Invasion Genetics Of The Blue Catfish (Ictalurus Furcatus) Range Expansion Into Large River Ecosystems Of The Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Colleen Beth Higgins
Theses and Dissertations
The blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus (Ictaluridae), is ranked among the most invasive, nonnative species of concern in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This species, intentionally introduced to three major tributaries and a number of impoundments between 1974 and 1989 for sport fishing, has spread into three additional tributaries. Using samples from the introduced tributary populations as a baseline, we evaluated microsatellite genetic variation in light of demographic and ecological data to elucidate the potential sources of the invasive I. furcatus populations. In general, the populations surveyed in the Chesapeake Bay watershed were considerably more inbred (F ranged from 0.03 - 0.27) …
Phylogeography Of Marine Meiofaunal Nemerteans Of The Ototyphlonemertes Fila Species Complex, Alexander Tulchinsky
Phylogeography Of Marine Meiofaunal Nemerteans Of The Ototyphlonemertes Fila Species Complex, Alexander Tulchinsky
Theses and Dissertations
Morphological conservatism combined with intraspecific variability has obstructed studies of speciation and species boundaries among marine meiofauna. Ototyphlonemertes is a genus of meiofaunal nemerteans inhabiting the interstitial spaces of marine sediments. Its members lack pelagic larvae and dispersal potential is believed to be poor. A phylogeographic study of Ototyphlonemertes fila is presented using mitochondrial (cox3) and nuclear (ISSR) molecular markers. Deep genetic divergence (approximately 18% in cox3) was observed between sympatric mitochondrial lineages in Florida. This divergence was reflected in the nuclear marker as well, suggesting the presence of two cryptic species. The first contains Florida and New England populations …
Modulation Of The Serotonin Reuptake Transporter In Raw264.7 Macrophages, Sienna Marie Arenas Malubay
Modulation Of The Serotonin Reuptake Transporter In Raw264.7 Macrophages, Sienna Marie Arenas Malubay
Theses and Dissertations
Serotonin (5-HT) plays an important role as both a neurotransmitter and animmune modulator. The serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) clears the extracellular space of 5-HT, which decreases the effects of 5-HT on target cells. This study demonstrated that the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line expresses SERT function, measured by assays of 3H-5HT uptake. The 5-HT uptake in RAW264.7 macrophages was more than 10-fold that of peritoneal macrophages, indicating that these cells are an excellent model for studying regulation of the SERT. Activation of macrophages with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased SERT activity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner and Western blots indicate that the …
Genetic Variation Among Geographically Disparate Yellow Perch Broodstock Populations, Chandler Brooke Givens
Genetic Variation Among Geographically Disparate Yellow Perch Broodstock Populations, Chandler Brooke Givens
Theses and Dissertations
As a prelude to strain selection for domestication and future marker assisted selection, genetic variation revealed by microsatellite DNA was evaluated in yellow perch, Perca flavescens, from four wild North American populations collected in 2003-2004 (Maine, ME; New York, NY; North Carolina, NC; and Pennsylvania, PA), and two captive populations (Michigan, MI; Ohio, OH). For the loci examined, levels of heterozygosity ranged from He = 0.04 to 0.88, genetic differentiation was highly significant among all population pairs, and effective migration ranged from low (Nem = 0.3) to high (Nem = 4.5). Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg 1equilibrium was regularly observed indicating significant …
Novel Characteristics Of Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages And Human Macrophage-Like Cells, George Tharwat Georges
Novel Characteristics Of Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages And Human Macrophage-Like Cells, George Tharwat Georges
Theses and Dissertations
These studies provide evidence for novel properties of macrophages derived from bone marrow stem cells. In study 1, treatment of activated mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) with either catecholamine synthesis inhibitors (α-methyl-para-tyrosine and fusaric acid) or the β2 adrenergic receptor antagonist ICI 118,551 demonstrated that BMM produce catecholamines. The catecholamines modulated macrophage cytokine production through autocrine actions on adrenergic receptors. In study II, undifferentiated human bone marrow cells were incubated in 30% mouse L929 fibroblast conditioned medium and generated adherent cells within three days. The cells were clearly identifiable as macrophages based on surface proteins and phagocytic activity but produced …
Degenerate Oligonucleotide Primed - Polymerase Chain Reaction Evaluation And Optimization To Improve Downstream Forensic Str Analysis Of Low Quality/Low Quantity Dna, Lindsay Paige Thompson
Degenerate Oligonucleotide Primed - Polymerase Chain Reaction Evaluation And Optimization To Improve Downstream Forensic Str Analysis Of Low Quality/Low Quantity Dna, Lindsay Paige Thompson
Theses and Dissertations
When forensic biological samples yield low quality/low quantity DNA, thecurrent STR analysis methods do not generate acceptable profiles. Whole genomeamplification can be used to pre-amplify the entire genome for downstream analyses. A commercially available kit for DOP-PCR, a form of WGA, is currently being used in the clinical for downstream single locus targets. Forensic analyses utilize a multiplex amplification. This study determined that the "home brew" created by our lab performs the same as the commercially available kit. Future optimization studies of DOP-PCR can utilize this "home brew". Additionally, this research determined that a 10 second increase in electrokinetic injection …
Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase Type-Ii Associates With Flightless-I To Influence Its Nuclear Localization, Matthew Edward Seward
Calcium/Calmodulin Dependent Protein Kinase Type-Ii Associates With Flightless-I To Influence Its Nuclear Localization, Matthew Edward Seward
Theses and Dissertations
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type-II (CaMK-II) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase regulated by Ca2+ and Calmodulin. It is a highly conserved and broadly expressed enzyme and has a unique structure and dynamic regulation. It has the ability to remain active in the absence of Ca 2+ as a result of Ca2+ dependent autophosphorylation. CaMK-II phospliorylates proteins involved in neurotransmitter secretion, long term potentiation, cytoskeletal dynamics, gene transcription, and cell motility. To support existing and identify new intracellular roles of CaMK-II, potential binding partners were identified. This was accomplished by transfecting and purifying "FLAG-tagged" CaMK-II's (α, βE, δC, and δE). CaMK-II associated …
Degenerate Oligonucleotide Primed-Pcr: Thermalcycling Modifications And Comparison Studies, Denise N. Rodier
Degenerate Oligonucleotide Primed-Pcr: Thermalcycling Modifications And Comparison Studies, Denise N. Rodier
Theses and Dissertations
Degenerate Oligonucleotide Primed-PCR (DOP-PCR) can potentially enhance analysis of low copy number DNA samples. Theoretically, this procedure replicates fragments of the genome that can then be used for downstream multiplex STR analysis. The objective of this study is to optimize DOP-PCR by examining ramplelongation times and cycle numbers in the non-specific amplification portion of DOP-PCR, and by modifying the degenerate primer. Additionally, other methods such as Multiple Displacement Amplification (MDA) and Low Copy Number PCR (LCN PCR) were examined for their ability to create accurate DNA profiles from low DNA input amounts. Increasing the ramplelongation times showed no effect on …
Transforming Growth Factor-Β1 (Tgf-Β1) Induces Mast Cell Apoptosis, Farnaz Norozian
Transforming Growth Factor-Β1 (Tgf-Β1) Induces Mast Cell Apoptosis, Farnaz Norozian
Theses and Dissertations
Mast cells are potent effectors of the inflammatory response, playing an important role in atopy, bacterial immunity, and animal models of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease. Hence controlling mast cell numbers and responsiveness is essential for preventing inflammatory disease. This work demonstrated that the cytokine TGF-β1 is a potent inducer of mast cell apoptosis, a finding that was consistent for cultured mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells, peritoneal mast cells, and human mast cells. Cell death appeared to be the result of TGF-mediated repression of IL-3 receptor expression and function, leading to mitochondria1 damage and activation of an apoptotic cascade …