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Biological Signatures Of Vaccine Responses, Lorena Nunez

Honors Scholar Theses

The set of host- and pathogen-specific molecular features of a disease comprise its “signature”. We hypothesize that biological signatures enables distinctions between vaccinated vs. infected individuals. In our research, using porcine samples, protocols were developed that could also be used to identify biological signatures of human disease. Different classes of molecular features will be tested during this project, including indicators of basic immune capacity, which are being studied at this instance.

These indicators of basic immune response such as porcine cytokines and antibodies were validated using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This is an established method that detects antigens by their …

Ontogenetic Effects Of Hatching Plasticity In The Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma Maculatum) Due To Egg And Larval Predators, Leah Brown-Wilusz

Honors Scholar Theses

The ability to respond plastically to the environment has allowed amphibians to evolve a response to spatial and temporal variation in predation threat (Benard 2004). Embroys exposed to egg predation are expected to hatch out earlier than their conspecifics. Larval predation can induce a suite of phenotypic changes including growing a larger tail area. When presented with cues from both egg and larval predators, embryos are expected to respond to the egg predator by hatching out earlier because the egg predator presents an immediate threat. However, hatching early may be costly in the larval environment in terms of development, morphology, …

Investigating The Affects Of Cucurbitacin-I On Cellular Motility, Rebecca Lafleur

Honors Scholar Theses

Cellular migration is an integral component of many biological processes including immune function, wound healing and cancer cell metastasis. A complete model illustrating the mechanism by which cells accomplish movement is still lacking. Exploring the affects of various drugs on cell motility may be instrumental in discovering new proteins which mediate cell movement. This project aims ultimately to characterize the molecular target of the drug Cucurbitacin-I, a natural plant product. This drug has been shown to inhibit migration of epithelial sheets and may have anti-tumor activity.

In this paper, we show that Cucurbitacin-I inhibits the migration of MDCK and B16F1 …

Colocalization And Distribution Of Hcn4 Channels And A Maguk Protein In Mammalian Sinoatrial Myocytes, Padmastuti Akella

Honors Scholar Theses

The sinoatrial node is known as the pacemaker of the heart. It controls the rate at which action potentials are generated and propagate through the sinoatrial myocytes. This thesis is an attempt to identify the colocalization of a specific ion channel (HCN4 channel) with a class of scaffolding protein (MAGUK proteins) within the sinoatrial myocyte. The colocalization of these two variables was performed using immunocytochemistry on murine sinoatrial myocytes and experimental results revealed the existence of a strong colocalization between the two variables. Images collected from the confocal microscope and analyzed using ImageJ software revealed a strong dependent correlation between …

In Vitro Exploration Of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (Mif) As A Possible Agent Of Lymphatic Dilation In The Pathogenesis Of Lymphatic Filiariasis, Lauren Rosen

Honors Scholar Theses

Abstract:Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF) is a human cytokine that is well known for its role in modulating macrophage function. It has also been shown to cause smooth muscle cell death. A homolog of the MIF protein (BmMIF) has been found in Brugia malayi, one of the etiological agents of lymphatic filariasis. BmMIF shares a significant portion of its sequence homology with human MIF. Infection by Brugia malayi leads to a consistent finding of lymphatic dilation with surrounding smooth muscle cell apoptosis. We hypothesize that Brugia malayi releases BmMIF as a mediator of host smooth muscle cell death in the …