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First Genomic Resource For An Endangered Neotropical Mega-Herbivore: The Complete Mitochondrial Genome Of The Forest-Dweller (Baird's) Tapir (Tapirus Bairdii), Caroline C. Ennis
First Genomic Resource For An Endangered Neotropical Mega-Herbivore: The Complete Mitochondrial Genome Of The Forest-Dweller (Baird's) Tapir (Tapirus Bairdii), Caroline C. Ennis
Honors College Theses
Baird's tapir, or the Central American Tapir Tapirus bairdii (family Tapiridae), is one of the largest mammals native to the forests and wetlands of southern North America and Central America and is categorized as `endangered' on the 2014 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This study reports, for the first time, the complete mitochondrial genome of T. bairdii and examines the phylogenetic position of T. bairdii amongst closely related species in the same family and order to which it belongs using mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCG's). The circular, double-stranded, A-T rich mitochondrial genome of T. bairdii is 16,697 bp in length …
Comparing Development Of Drug Resistance By Cryptococcus Neoformans To Chemically Distinct Azole Anti-Fungal Compounds, Lindsey Burke
Comparing Development Of Drug Resistance By Cryptococcus Neoformans To Chemically Distinct Azole Anti-Fungal Compounds, Lindsey Burke
Honors College Theses
Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungus that primarily infects humans who have weakened immune systems. An azole drug, Fluconazole, is commonly administered against C. neoformans in regions were cryptococcosis is most prevalent, most notably Sub-Saharan Africa. However, C. neoformans can gain resistance to Fluconazole through becoming an aneuploid. To better understand the basis of resistance, we employed a disk diffusion assay and investigated several chemically-distinct azole compounds with anticryptococcal properties for their effectiveness against C. neoformans and to identify potential differences in the capacity of the fungus to become resistant to each of the tested compounds. Different C. neoformans strains were …
Investigating The Role Of Cnag_05113 In The Carnitine Biosynthesis Pathway In Cryptococcus Neoformans., Jasmine Meltzer, Rodrigo Catalan-Hurtado, Perry Kezh, Kerry Smith
Investigating The Role Of Cnag_05113 In The Carnitine Biosynthesis Pathway In Cryptococcus Neoformans., Jasmine Meltzer, Rodrigo Catalan-Hurtado, Perry Kezh, Kerry Smith
Honors College Theses
Cryptococcus neoformans, the leading cause of fungal meningitis, is a fungal pathogen that causes severe infection of the central nervous system in patients with compromised immune systems, typically caused by HIV/AIDS. C. neoformans infections are present in developed countries including the United States, but most fatalities occur in sub-Saharan Africa where antiretroviral therapy, the treatment for HIV/AIDS, is less accessible. Current treatments for severe cryptococcal infections are extensive and outdated. There is a critical need for an improved understanding of the fungus and new targeted therapies. Our goal is to identify metabolic pathways important to the survival of C. …
Genetic Investigation Of Spontaneous Harlequin Coat Patterning In A Family Of Australian Shepherds, Katherine Grace Singleton
Genetic Investigation Of Spontaneous Harlequin Coat Patterning In A Family Of Australian Shepherds, Katherine Grace Singleton
Honors College Theses
In dogs, a white base coat with black patches is termed harlequin patterning. In the Great Dane, harlequin is caused by a mutation in the ubiquitin-proteasome system, a highly complex process through which damaged proteins are degraded1. All harlequins are also heterozygous for the Merle allele of SILV, which harbors a retrotransposon that leads to production of abnormal protein2. In melanocytes with impaired protein degradation, aberrant SILV is thought to cause cell death, resulting in the characteristic white base coat of a harlequin dog1. We identified a novel, spontaneous form of harlequin patterning in a family of Australian shepherds. To …
Investigating The Role Of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes In Triazole Drug Efficacy And Toxicity In Whole Organism Zebrafish Model, Heather Cosh
Investigating The Role Of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes In Triazole Drug Efficacy And Toxicity In Whole Organism Zebrafish Model, Heather Cosh
Honors College Theses
Invasive fungal infections account for nearly 1.5 million deaths a year and therefore are considered one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The first line of therapy towards these infections are antifungal drugs in the triazole class such as voriconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole, and isavuconazole. However, these antifungal drug therapies fail in a large number of patients and can produce toxic side effects, therefore increasing the risk of mortality worldwide. While prior research has demonstrated the efficacy of these drugs in mitigating fungal growth in vitro, it is unclear why these drugs fail to protect patients infected with fungal …
Biochemical Analysis Of Dna Glycosylase In Dragonfish (Scleropages Formosus, Sfo) Tdg, Jenna Perry
Biochemical Analysis Of Dna Glycosylase In Dragonfish (Scleropages Formosus, Sfo) Tdg, Jenna Perry
Honors College Theses
TDG, which is a member of the uracil DNA glycosylase superfamily, plays a critical role in the active demethylation process in mammals by removing oxidized derivatives of 5-methylcytosine (mC). While human TDG has been extensively studied and found to possess 5-formylcytosine and 5-carboxylcytosine DNA glycosylase activity, little is known regarding this demethylation process in vertebrates other than the human species. Previous research proposed a catalytic sequence in motif 1 of zebrafish TDG1 and TDG2 that modulates DNA glycosylase activity based on mutational, kinetic, and modeling analyses of these enzymes. Building on this work, researchers discovered that the Sfo TDG is …
Identification Of Sva-Mediated 3’ And 5’ Transductions In Human Genome Sequences, Emily C. Golba
Identification Of Sva-Mediated 3’ And 5’ Transductions In Human Genome Sequences, Emily C. Golba
Honors College Theses
Transposable elements (TEs) are sequences of DNA that can move, or transpose, within a genome. Retrotransposons are TEs that propagate via a “copy and paste” mechanism where the elements are transposed to a new genomic location via an RNA intermediate. Short interspersed element (SINE)-VNTR-Alu elements (SVAs) are non-autonomous retrotransposons that use long interspersed element 1 proteins to mobilize. SVAs are currently active in the human genome and often are characterized by the mobilization of sequences adjacent to the 3’ and 5’ ends of insertions, known as transduction events (TDs). TDs were a focus of this study due to their contribution …
Inhibitors Of Human Eno2 Are Potent Anti-Trypanosomal Agents, Danielle Lavigne
Inhibitors Of Human Eno2 Are Potent Anti-Trypanosomal Agents, Danielle Lavigne
Honors College Theses
Kinetoplastid parasite infections remain a global health burden. Here, we have characterized inhibitors of an essential Trypanosoma brucei glycolytic enzyme, enolase (TbENO). We anticipate TbENO inhibitors will be potent anti-trypanosomals, as T. brucei relies on glycolysis for ATP production in the blood of infected mammals. Additionally, the phosphonate enolase inhibitors being considered are well-tolerated in mammals, suggesting their potential in developing novel therapeutics for kinetoplastid infections. TbENO was cloned into the bacterial expression vector, pQE-30, and the heterologously-expressed protein was purified by nickel affinity and assayed in a coupled enzyme assay. Enzyme activity paralleled the abundance …
The Role Of Fto, A Human Rna Demethylase In Perennial Grass Development And Abiotic Stress Responses, Andrew Fiorentino, Qian Hu, Xiaotong Chen, Zhaohui Chen
The Role Of Fto, A Human Rna Demethylase In Perennial Grass Development And Abiotic Stress Responses, Andrew Fiorentino, Qian Hu, Xiaotong Chen, Zhaohui Chen
Honors College Theses
The integration of the human fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene into turfgrass is a novel approach at improving cell proliferation and abiotic stress resistance. The FTO protein is an RNA demethylase responsible for epigenetic regulation of the genome. In related rice, the gene is associated with increased crop yield, tiller number, and aerial biomass. It is proposed to work via demethylation of repeat RNA associated with chromatin remodeling, causing widespread transcriptional activation. In this study, the feasibility of using FTO for plant trait modification in perennial grasses is being investigated. Potentially transformed embryogenic calli of creeping bentgrass with …
Function Of Septin Proteins In Cryptococcus Neoformans In Cell Wall And Plasma Membrane Integrity And Homeostasis, Emma Hatchell
Function Of Septin Proteins In Cryptococcus Neoformans In Cell Wall And Plasma Membrane Integrity And Homeostasis, Emma Hatchell
Honors College Theses
Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic basidiomycetous yeast that causes meningitis in immunocompromised patients. This lethal fungus is sometimes referred to as the “sugar coated killer” due to its polysaccharide capsule. It is estimated that 152,000 cases of cryptococcal infection occur each year and result in 112,000 deaths. The ability of C. neoformans to adapt to host temperature is a main factor responsible for virulence. Septins are conserved filament-forming GTPases that are confirmed to be involved in cytokinesis and morphogenesis and have been implicated in heat stress response and virulence of C. neoformans. C. neoformans genome encodes four septins, Cdc3, …
Genetic Investigation Of Spontaneous Harlequin Coat Patterning In A Family Of Finnish Collies, Megan Patterson
Genetic Investigation Of Spontaneous Harlequin Coat Patterning In A Family Of Finnish Collies, Megan Patterson
Honors College Theses
The merle coat pattern is a pigmentary phenotype of dogs characterized by a dilute background with black patches. Merle is caused by a SINE insertion in PMEL17, a pigmentation gene expressed in melanocytes. The mutation causes aberrant splicing of transcripts and production of an abnormal protein. Harlequin is a dominant modifier of merle that further dilutes the background to white. Harlequin Great Danes have a heterozygous mutation impairing the ubiquitin-proteasome system, suggesting that the inability to degrade aberrant PMEL17 results in melanocyte death. Harlequin is not a recognized coat pattern of the Collie; however, a harlequin phenotype spontaneously appeared in …