Digital Commons Network^™

Francisella Tularensis Insertion Sequence Elements Contribute To Differential Gene Expression, Amanda M. Bartling

Theses & Dissertations

This abstract is under embargo until April 26, 2020.

Global Gene Expression Profiling Of Healthy Human Brain And Its Application In Studying Neurological Disorders, Simarjeet K. Negi

Theses & Dissertations

The human brain is the most complex structure known to mankind and one of the greatest challenges in modern biology is to understand how it is built and organized. The power of the brain arises from its variety of cells and structures, and ultimately where and when different genes are switched on and off throughout the brain tissue. In other words, brain function depends on the precise regulation of gene expression in its sub-anatomical structures. But, our understanding of the complexity and dynamics of the transcriptome of the human brain is still incomplete. To fill in the need, we designed …

Spatiotemporal Control Of Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilm Development, Derek E. Moormeier

Theses & Dissertations

Chronic biofilm-related infections caused by the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus often lead to significant increases in morbidity and mortality in both hospital- and community-associated settings. Typically, S. aureus biofilm development occurs in three stages: 1) attachment, 2) tower maturation, and 3) dispersal. Here, utilizing BioFlux1000 time-lapse microscopy we have expanded upon these fundamental stages of biofilm development and also unveiled and characterized two additional stages (multiplication and exodus).

The attachment and multiplication stages were shown to be protease sensitive but independent of most cell surface-associated proteins. Following multiplication, an exodus of the biofilm population that followed the transition of the …