Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Aldehydes (2)
- Bacteria (2)
- Drug discovery (2)
- Lung cancer (2)
- Malaria (2)
-
- P. gingivalis (2)
- Plasmodium (2)
- AM fungi (1)
- Addiction (1)
- Adiposity (1)
- Alcoholic liver disease (1)
- Aldehyde (1)
- Alveolar bone loss (1)
- Antennal lobe glomeruli (1)
- Antimicrobial peptide (1)
- Anxity (1)
- Aorta (1)
- Arabidopsis (1)
- Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (1)
- Area (1)
- Armyworm (1)
- Aromatic amines (1)
- Autonomic Dysreflexia (1)
- Bayesian (1)
- Belief in genetic determinism (1)
- Biology education (1)
- Breast cancer (1)
- CRISPR-Cas9 (1)
- CRISPR/Cas9 (1)
- Carcinogens (1)
Articles 1 - 30 of 39
Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network
Modified-Half-Normal Distribution And Different Methods To Estimate Average Treatment Effect., Jingchao Sun
Modified-Half-Normal Distribution And Different Methods To Estimate Average Treatment Effect., Jingchao Sun
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation consists of three projects related to Modified-Half-Normal distribution and causal inference. In my first project, a new distribution called Modified-Half-Normal distribution was introduced. I explored a few of its distributional properties, the procedures for generating random samples based on Bayesian approaches, and the parameter estimation based on the method of moments. The second project deals with the problem of selection bias of average treatment effect (ATE) if we use the observational data. I combined the propensity score based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method and the directed acyclic graph (DAG) to solve this problem. The third project …
On The Straight And Narrow: How Cultural Beliefs About Sex/Gender Manifest In College Biology Learning Environments., Katherine Ray Kng
On The Straight And Narrow: How Cultural Beliefs About Sex/Gender Manifest In College Biology Learning Environments., Katherine Ray Kng
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation focused on the ways that social beliefs about sex/gender and sexuality manifest in biology classrooms. Especially for health science students, classes include topics like sex, sexuality, sexual behaviors, or sex determination that forms the foundation of their understanding of human forms and behaviors. If the information they receive does not include the LGBTQIA+ community, their education will fail to adequately prepare them for the reality of healthcare practice where they will be expected to treat all patients with dignity and respect. There are three chapters in this dissertation. In chapter one, I asked what beliefs about and conceptions …
Characterization Of Adiposity And Inflammation Genetic Pleiotropy Underlying Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Hispanics., Mohammad Yaser (Anwar)
Characterization Of Adiposity And Inflammation Genetic Pleiotropy Underlying Cardiovascular Risk Factors In Hispanics., Mohammad Yaser (Anwar)
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The observed overlap between genetic variants associated with both adiposity and inflammatory markers suggests that changes in both adiposity and inflammation could be partially mediated by common pathways. The pervasive but sparsely characterized “pleiotropic” genetic variants associated with both adiposity and inflammation have been hypothesized to provide insight into the shared biology. This study explored and characterized the genetic pleiotropy underpinning adiposity and inflammation using genetic and phenotypic observations from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (CCHC). A total of 3,313 samples and >9 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were examined in this study. Mixed model genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were …
Statistical Approaches Of Gene Set Analysis With Quantitative Trait Loci For High-Throughput Genomic Studies., Samarendra Das
Statistical Approaches Of Gene Set Analysis With Quantitative Trait Loci For High-Throughput Genomic Studies., Samarendra Das
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Recently, gene set analysis has become the first choice for gaining insights into the underlying complex biology of diseases through high-throughput genomic studies, such as Microarrays, bulk RNA-Sequencing, single cell RNA-Sequencing, etc. It also reduces the complexity of statistical analysis and enhances the explanatory power of the obtained results. Further, the statistical structure and steps common to these approaches have not yet been comprehensively discussed, which limits their utility. Hence, a comprehensive overview of the available gene set analysis approaches used for different high-throughput genomic studies is provided. The analysis of gene sets is usually carried out based on …
Investigating The Disorder And Compaction Of Designed Minielastin Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance., Ma Faye Charmagne Aquino Carvajal
Investigating The Disorder And Compaction Of Designed Minielastin Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance., Ma Faye Charmagne Aquino Carvajal
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Minielastins are elastin-based proteins with alternating hydrophobic and cross-link modules similar to tropoelastin. Tropoelastin is the ~70 kDa soluble monomeric precursor of elastin. The extracellular matrix protein, elastin provides elasticity to tissues and organs such as lungs, arteries and ligaments. The elastic properties of natural elastin are believed to be entropic in origin. In vivo, the elastin matrix is approximately 50% water by weight. Without water, elastin is brittle and hard. Minielastins, like tropoelastin, undergo a liquid-liquid phase transition upon an increase in temperature. Factors such as hydrophobicity, chain length and concentration affect the coacervation temperature, Tc. The …
Structural Characterization And Selective Drug Targeting Of Higher-Order Dna G-Quadruplex Systems., Robert Chandos Monsen
Structural Characterization And Selective Drug Targeting Of Higher-Order Dna G-Quadruplex Systems., Robert Chandos Monsen
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
There is now substantial evidence that guanine-rich regions of DNA form non-B DNA structures known as G-quadruplexes in cells. G-quadruplexes (G4s) are tetraplex DNA structures that form amid four runs of guanines which are stabilized via Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding to form stacked tetrads. DNA G4s have roles in key genomic functions such as regulating gene expression, replication, and telomere homeostasis. Because of their apparent role in disease, G4s are now viewed as important molecular targets for anticancer therapeutics. To date, the structures of many important G4 systems have been solved by NMR or X-ray crystallographic techniques. Small molecules developed to …
Undergraduate Students Use Moral Reasoning And Belief In Genetic Determinism In Response To A Crispr/Cas9 Socioscientific Issue., Katie M. Seiter
Undergraduate Students Use Moral Reasoning And Belief In Genetic Determinism In Response To A Crispr/Cas9 Socioscientific Issue., Katie M. Seiter
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation explores how students reason about genetic engineering socioscientific issues (SSIs) related to a recently developed, powerful genome editing technology called CRISPR/Cas9. It is divided into three chapters. Chapter One describes an exploratory study that characterized students’ moral reasoning using a sociocultural theoretical framework. I used content analysis and logistic regression to investigate how academic and social factors influenced moral reasoning. Students generally opposed the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for non-medical enhancements, and the moral considerations used were influenced by genetics knowledge level and demographic variables such as gender and socio-economic status. Further investigation of moral perspectives for students …
Malaria, Microbes, And Mice: The Role Of The Gut Microbiota On The Immune Response To Plasmodium Infection And The Treatment Potential Of Microbiota Modulation., Morgan L. Waide
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Plasmodium infection leads to over 200 million cases of malaria and 400,000 deaths worldwide each year. These deaths are largely in children under the age of five and pregnant women [1]. Caused by transmission of Plasmodium parasites by the female Anopheles mosquito, malaria poses a risk for over 40 percent of the world’s population [1]. Despite worldwide efforts to eradicate malaria leading to a decrease in malaria-associated mortalities in the early 2000s [2], growing resistance to the available antimalarials and the lack of an effective, long-lasting vaccine has caused this decrease to plateau in recent years [1, 3-6]. Furthermore, malaria …
A Novel Role For Rassf1a In The Regulation Of Ras Activation., Desmond Ramón Harrell Stewart
A Novel Role For Rassf1a In The Regulation Of Ras Activation., Desmond Ramón Harrell Stewart
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Ras is the most frequently activated oncogene in human cancer. It is not only the most frequently mutated oncogene, but is also rendered hyperactive in the wild-type form by aberrant regulation. Ras drives transformation and contributes to tumor aggressiveness by activating multiple downstream mitogenic effectors. Ras also possesses the paradoxical ability to induce apoptosis and senescence. Ras-induced apoptosis is not well understood, but has been largely attributed to the RASSF tumor suppressors, particularly RASSF1A. RASSF1A mediates Ras-induced apoptosis by activating pro-apoptotic proteins such as the MST kinases and BAX. RASSF1A is among the most frequently inactivated tumor suppressors in human …
Costs And Benefits Of Hipv-Mediated Eavesdropping Under Field Conditions., Grace Ellin Freundlich
Costs And Benefits Of Hipv-Mediated Eavesdropping Under Field Conditions., Grace Ellin Freundlich
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Eavesdropping is defined as the act of an organism taking advantage of a cue that was not originally intended for them for their own gain. Plant-mediated eavesdropping is a widely documented phenomenon and eavesdropping cues range from oviposition cues to airborne volatile compounds. Eavesdropping is predicted to be widespread because eavesdropping confers a fitness advantage. In plants, eavesdropping on herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) often results in enhanced resistance profiles upon herbivory. As a result of this enhanced resistance, it is predicted that eavesdropping alone incurs minor costs due to resource shifts towards inducible defense responses. Although HIPV-mediated eavesdropping is widely …
N-Acetyltranserase 2 (Nat2) Genotype Polymorphism In Cryopreserved Human Hepatocytes And Chinese Hamster Ovary (Cho) Cells., Mariam Refaat Zaky Habil
N-Acetyltranserase 2 (Nat2) Genotype Polymorphism In Cryopreserved Human Hepatocytes And Chinese Hamster Ovary (Cho) Cells., Mariam Refaat Zaky Habil
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Arylamine N-acetyltransferases, NAT1 and NAT2, catalyze the detoxification and/or activation of drugs and aromatic amine carcinogens. Single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs result in different human NAT2 genotypes thus dividing the population into rapid, intermediate, and slow acetylators. We hypothesize allelic variants of NAT2 genotype will decrease levels of N-acetylation, cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, DNA adduct formation, and mutagenesis compared to the reference allele NAT2*4. Cryopreserved human hepatocytes expressing different NAT2 genotypes and NER-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with human CYP1A2 and human NAT2*4, NAT2*5B or NAT2*7B have been used to investigate N-acetylation of different xenobiotics. In …
Genes Involved In Nitrogen Assimilation In Ustilago Maydis., Sunita Khanal
Genes Involved In Nitrogen Assimilation In Ustilago Maydis., Sunita Khanal
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
U. maydis can utilize nitrate as a source of nitrogen from its environment, a process requiring a nitrate transporter to bring the nitrate inside the cell. This is followed by a two-step reduction of nitrate to ammonium. At first, nitrate reductase reduces nitrate into nitrite; in the second reaction, nitrite is reduced to ammonium by nitrite reductase. The goal of the study was to identify the nitrate transporter and nitrite reductase genes in U. maydis and characterize them based on their role in mating and virulence. The genes um03848 and um03849 were identified bioinformatically as encoding, respectively, the nitrite reductase …
Comparative Secretomics And Functional Analysis Of Effectors Utilized By The Microbotryum Genus Of Anther-Smut Fungal Pathogens, And Their Role In Host-Specificity., William Christopher Beckerson
Comparative Secretomics And Functional Analysis Of Effectors Utilized By The Microbotryum Genus Of Anther-Smut Fungal Pathogens, And Their Role In Host-Specificity., William Christopher Beckerson
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Understanding how pathogens evolve in response to changes in their host is paramount to combating the spread of emergent strains of disease. This is particularly true for plant pathogens that cause billions of dollars of damages to crops globally, every year. Understanding the molecular interactions between pathogens and their hosts therefore sheds light on the coevolutionary arms race that can result in host-specificity and host-shifts in plant pathogens. This research approaches the question of how fungal pathogens interact with their plant hosts utilizing both unique and shared arsenals of secreted proteins (SPs) during infection, and addresses the question of whether …
Tissue-Resident Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Modulate Immune Homeostasis In Healthy Adipose., Katlin Brooke Stivers
Tissue-Resident Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Modulate Immune Homeostasis In Healthy Adipose., Katlin Brooke Stivers
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Our goal with this study was to gain insight into the homeostatic immune cell network in healthy adipose tissue. Specifically, we sought to determine if the immature myeloid cells found in healthy and inflamed adipose were, in fact, tissue-resident myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Using various in vitro and in vivo methods, we have uncovered a population of CD11bHi Ly6CHi Ly6G- MDSCs resident in healthy adipose tissue. To the best of our knowledge this is the first time that these cells have been investigated and described in healthy adipose tissue. Systemic MDSC depletion lead to the accumulation of …
Plasmodium Impairs Antibacterial Innate Immunity To Systemic Infections In Part Through Hemozoin-Bound Bioactive Molecules., Christopher Lynn Harding
Plasmodium Impairs Antibacterial Innate Immunity To Systemic Infections In Part Through Hemozoin-Bound Bioactive Molecules., Christopher Lynn Harding
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Despite efforts to decrease the global health burden of malaria, infections with Plasmodium species continue to cause over 200 million episodes of malaria each year which resulted in 405,000 deaths in 2018 [1]. One complication of malaria is increased susceptibility to invasive bacterial infections. Plasmodium infections impair host immunity to non-Typhoid Salmonella (NTS) through activities of heme oxygenase I (HO-I) )-induced release of immature granulocytes and myeloid cell-derived IL-10. Yet, it is not known if these mechanisms are specific to NTS. We show here, that Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL (Py) infected mice had impaired clearance of systemic Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) during …
Identification And Structural Characterization Functional Motifs In The Porphyromonas Gingivalis Mfa1 Short Fimbria., Mohammad K. Roky
Identification And Structural Characterization Functional Motifs In The Porphyromonas Gingivalis Mfa1 Short Fimbria., Mohammad K. Roky
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Porphyromonas gingivalis is a causative agent of periodontal disease, initially colonizes the oral cavity by adhering to commensal streptococci. Adherence requires the interaction of the minor fimbrial protein (Mfa1) of P. gingivalis with streptococcal antigen I/II (Ag I/II). A peptide derived from Ag I/II peptide has been well characterized and shown to significantly reduce P. gingivalis colonization and bone loss in vivo, suggesting that this interaction represents a potential target for therapeutic intervention. However, the functional motifs of Mfa1 involved in the interaction with Ag I/II remain uncharacterized. A series of N- and C-terminal peptide fragments of Mfa1 were …
The Effects Of Ppal-1 In Arabidopsis Gamete Development., Amanda White
The Effects Of Ppal-1 In Arabidopsis Gamete Development., Amanda White
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses
Prenylation is a type of post-translational modification in which a 15- or 20-carbon lipid is added to the carboxyl (C) terminus of the protein. Arabidopsis thaliana contains the PROTEIN PRENYLTRANSFERASE ALPHA SUBUNIT-LIKE (PPAL) gene, which encodes a protein with homology to the α-subunits of the three known prenylation enzymes, PFT, PGGT, and Rab-GGT. We previously identified two mutations in PPAL, one of which is ppal-1, which contains a T-DNA insertion in the fourth intron. We have previously observed that self-fertilizing heterozygous ppal-1 plants produce progeny in which homozygous ppal-1 is underrepresented. This project attempts to ascertain …
In Vitro Immune Activation By Treponema Pallidum And The Effect On Osteoclastogenesis: First Experimental Step Towards An Integration Between Osteoimmunology And Paleopathology., Emily Ann Rich
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses
The presence of pathogens in the human body influences the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by activated immune cells. These cytokines, and other factors, regulate osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity. Through experimental osteoimmunology, interactions between the inflammatory response and bone cell physiology may provide insight into how immune processes can be translated into the lesions or abnormalities observed in the osteological record. In this research, our objective was to determine if the cytokines produced by activated immune cells increase osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activity. To evaluate this hypothesis, we used two main protocols, one for immune activation and one for osteoclastogenesis, that utilized …
Cardiomyocyte Morphology Following Severe Spinal Cord Contusion In Rodents., Addison D. Riney
Cardiomyocyte Morphology Following Severe Spinal Cord Contusion In Rodents., Addison D. Riney
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is typically a traumatic event that impacts a patient's physical, psychological, and social well-being by damaging motor and sensory neurons and altering autonomic function leading to cardiac remodeling (42). Spinal cord injuries are based on a scale of severity, with severe, high-level lesions strongly correlating to the degree of cardiovascular dysfunction. (30)(37)(41). The decline in cardiovascular function is prevalent after high thoracic SCI, with patients suffering from daily bouts of orthostatic hypotension (OH) and autonomic dysreflexia (AD), both of which prevent and delay rehabilitation efforts and lessen quality of life after …
Screen Usage Relates To Neuroanatomy Underlying Reward Processing., Lucus Kiger Hodge
Screen Usage Relates To Neuroanatomy Underlying Reward Processing., Lucus Kiger Hodge
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses
Today’s world is inundated with technology and our use of screens. It is possible that screen usage might affect the structural development of brain systems underlying motivation, reward, and addiction. Two hundred and thirty-two 10-year-old individuals’ structural MRI and behavioral data from a publicly accessible database were analyzed to find relations between the cortical and subcortical regions of the reward circuits of the brain and the usage of social media, texting, television, YouTube and other video applications, video games, and video chat applications. Both cortical and subcortical results yielded significant relationships with variables of screen time usage. Most significantly, subcortical …
Phytochemical Content And Anti-Breast Cancer Activity Of Kentucky Native Plants., Nicole A. Mcgrath
Phytochemical Content And Anti-Breast Cancer Activity Of Kentucky Native Plants., Nicole A. Mcgrath
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses
Plants are a proven and rich source of chemical diversity for the development of pharmaceuticals. Plants that are native to Kentucky are an underexplored resource that could lead to advances in treating human diseases such as cancer. Kentucky native plants, especially those with highly diverse or enriched chemical compositions are possible leads for therapeutic drug development. To explore the potential of native Kentucky plants for treatment of breast cancer, a list of prospective target plants was developed based on literature reports. This list was narrowed to 10 tissues for further in-depth chemical analysis including estimation of alkaloids, terpenes, and phenolics, …
Olfactory Tissue Investment In Tropical Rainforest Ants Scales With Body Size., Heather Evon Short
Olfactory Tissue Investment In Tropical Rainforest Ants Scales With Body Size., Heather Evon Short
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses
Differential tissue allocation in animal sensory systems is common and varies with habitat. Worker ants perform a variety of complex tasks that depend on neural capacity, with chemical cues considered central to ant behavior. The antennal (olfactory) lobes of ant brains are often highly developed relative to other insects; however, arboreal ants that live in environments with higher light levels tend to rely more on visual cues than olfaction compared to terrestrial ants. The extent to which habitat-driven behavior affects neural investment in tropical rainforest ants is unknown. Here, I focused on three common tropical ant species (Pseudomyrmex boopis, P. …
Identifying Phenotypic Effects In Sporisorium Reilianum And Ustilago Maydis Lacking The Alternative Oxidase Gene., Caroline D. Culver
Identifying Phenotypic Effects In Sporisorium Reilianum And Ustilago Maydis Lacking The Alternative Oxidase Gene., Caroline D. Culver
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses
Ustilago maydis and Sporisorium reilianum are both dimorphic fungi that cause infection in the host plant, corn (Zea mays). In order for infection to be successful, compatible haploid mating types must form a dikaryon that later leads to the development and dispersal of teliospores. In order to sustain growth, energy is produced via the electron transport chain within the mitochondrion. Host plants often produce harsh reactive oxygen species, resulting in the need to use an alternative respiration pathway such as employing an alternative oxidase. Therefore, this study attempted to investigate the role of the aox gene in pathogenicity …
Formation, Organization, And Synaptic Properties Of Circuits Between Thalamic Reticular Nucleus And Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus., Peter W. Campbell
Formation, Organization, And Synaptic Properties Of Circuits Between Thalamic Reticular Nucleus And Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus., Peter W. Campbell
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is an interface between thalamus and cortex that regulates thalamocortical rhythms and modulates sensory processing. Thalamocortical axon collaterals provide feedforward excitatory input onto GABAergic TRN neurons, which in turn convey feedback inhibition to dorsal thalamus. Here we used the mouse visual system to study the organization, pattern of innervation and functional responses between TRN and the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). We used genetically modified mice to target components of this feedback loop (feedforward: CRH-Cre; feedback: GAD65 or SST-Cre) and we created Math 5-/- strains to examine the impact of visual deaffrentation in these …
Anxiety And How To Control It: The Functional Role Of The Bed Nucleus Of The Stria Terminalis., Lindsay K. Knight
Anxiety And How To Control It: The Functional Role Of The Bed Nucleus Of The Stria Terminalis., Lindsay K. Knight
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Anxiety disorders afflict up to one third of the population. Research to date has primarily focused on the amygdala, however, new perspectives suggest that a tiny basal forebrain region known as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) may hold key insights into understanding and treating anxiety disorders. Therefore, my first aim was to empirically investigate the importance and influence of the BNST in anxiety processing. Using fearful faces and human screams as aversive stimuli, two threat conditions were created: one in which threats were certain and predictable (fear) and another in which threats were uncertain and unpredictable (anxiety). …
Tobacco Enhances Bacterial-Induced Periodontal Bone Loss In Mice., Mina Iskander
Tobacco Enhances Bacterial-Induced Periodontal Bone Loss In Mice., Mina Iskander
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Background: Tobacco smoking is the leading environmental risk factor for periodontal diseases. Delineation of the mechanisms underlying tobacco-induced or exacerbated periodontitis is hampered by the lack of an appropriate and reliable animal model. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that Porphyromonas-gingivalis-infected, cigarette smoke-exposed mice would represent reproducible models of acute (ligature model) and chronic (oral gavage model) tobacco-enhanced periodontitis that reflect multiple aspects of the disease noted in human smokers. Methods: In a chronic oral gavage disease model, Balb/c mice (6-8 weeks, 4 groups of n = 6 per group) were exposed to smoke produced by a Teague-10 smoking machine from 1R6F research …
Exosomes From Embryonic Stem Cells As A Prophylactic Vaccine Against Lung Cancer., Shuhan Meng
Exosomes From Embryonic Stem Cells As A Prophylactic Vaccine Against Lung Cancer., Shuhan Meng
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The antigenic similarity between embryos and tumors has raised the idea of using embryonic materials as a preventative vaccine against neoplastic disease. Indeed, a previous study reported that a vaccine comprised of allogeneic murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and murine fibroblasts expressing immune-stimulatory granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) successfully blocked the outgrowth of an implantable lung cancer (Lewis lung carcinoma; LLC) and lung tumors caused by a combination of a mutagen followed by chronic pulmonary inflammation. However, such a vaccine is obviously impractical for application to humans. The use of fibroblasts to produce GM-CSF is needlessly complicated, and intact live …
Development Of In Vitro Models To Study The Rapid Extraintestinal Dissemination Of Salmonella., Adarsh Gopinath
Development Of In Vitro Models To Study The Rapid Extraintestinal Dissemination Of Salmonella., Adarsh Gopinath
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Salmonella appears in the bloodstream of mice in as little as 15 minutes after oral inoculation and establishes persistent colonies in the spleen and liver. While its pathway to blood is undetermined, this phenomenon is dependent on the activity of Salmonella pathogenicity island 2 (SPI-2) coded type III secretion system (T3SS) and CD18+ phagocytes. We hypothesize that dendritic cells associated with the basal face of the gut epithelium, that are naturally migratory and known to sample for luminal antigens directly transport Salmonella to the bloodstream. This process comprises of at least two phases, dissociation and reverse transmigration. We define dissociation …
The Role Of Inter-Enlargement Propriospinal Neurons In Locomotion Following Spinal Cord Injury., Courtney Therese Shepard
The Role Of Inter-Enlargement Propriospinal Neurons In Locomotion Following Spinal Cord Injury., Courtney Therese Shepard
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The focus of this dissertation is to explore the functional role of two anatomically-defined pathways in the adult rat spinal cord before and after spinal cord injury (SCI). To do this, a TetOn dual virus system was used to selectively and reversibly silence neurons with cell bodies at spinal segment L2 and projections to spinal segment C6 (long ascending propriospinal neurons, LAPNs) and neurons that originate in the C6 spinal segment and terminate at L2 spinal segment (long descending propriospinal neurons, LDPNs). This dissertation is divided into five chapters. Chapter One provides background information regarding spinal cord injury, locomotion, …
Dual Role Of Antimicrobial Peptide Cathelicidin In Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease., Fengyuan Li
Dual Role Of Antimicrobial Peptide Cathelicidin In Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease., Fengyuan Li
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) have high morbidity and mortality in its severe forms. One of the major features in different forms of ALD is the altered gut microbiota. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a crucial role in maintaining gut microbiota homeostasis. LL-37 (known as CRAMP in mouse) is the sole member of the human cathelicidin family and has piqued great research interest for its dual role in modulating microbiota and the immune response in metabolic diseases. Inflammasome activation is an important component of the liver pathophysiology in ALD and requires two signals for its full activation to induce the …