Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Viral Nature Of Neuronal Capsid Genes, Michael Manuel Long

Master's Theses

Memory formation is an essential part of everyday life. Neuronal communication is thought to be a key driver behind memory formation. There are two heavily studied methods of neuronal communication: chemical (neurotransmitter-mediated) and electrical (physically attached). When issues arise environmentally or genetically, people can experience one of many devastating memory disorders i.e. Alzheimer’s disease and other Dementias. Due to their prevalence, the treatments for disorders that hinder memory formation are a high priority for pharmaceutical companies. Currently, many of the treatments available focus on neurotransmitters or neuronal activity, and scientists are far from a cure. However, there may be an …

The Characterization Of Rna Content And Biogenesis Pathways Of Extracellular Vesicles That Have Been Implicated In The Pathogenesis Of Hiv-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorders, Virginia Elizabeth Zwikelmaier

Master's Theses

Patients infected with HIV-1 adhering to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) still suffer from a variety of neurocognitive, behavioral, and motor dysfunctions, collectively referred to has HIV-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND). Current research suggests the manifestations of HAND might in part be due to the dissemination of toxic HIV-1 components throughout the brain via extracellular vesicles (EVs). Our goal is to characterize these pathogenic EVs to begin to gain a better understanding of this EV-mediated pathology.

We took the first steps in developing a technique to assess the microRNA content of individual EVs but it needs to be heavily optimized to eliminate …

Utilizing Single-Molecule Fret Methods To Study Conformational Changes In Trim5Α, Margret Suzanne Bradley

Master's Theses

Single-molecule FRET (smFRET) is a method by which dynamic conformational changes can be monitored in a protein microscopically and in real time. smFRET relies on the creation of FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) between small molecule fluorophores conjugated to the biomolecules of interest. FRET efficiency allows calculation of interfluorophore distances. Changes in FRET efficiency represent changes in protein conformation which can inform further structural and molecular studies of the protein of interest. For example, in the Campbell Lab, we study the protein TRIM5α, an antiretroviral cellular protein which can cause premature dissociation of the HIV capsid core by an unknown …

Examination Of Presenter Characteristics On Satisfaction And Learning In A Treatment Readiness Program, Haley M. Siler

Master's Theses

Determining factors that encourage thinking and attending to information is an important aspect of working to help people learn more effectively. Characteristics of presenters have been found to be cues for information processing, related to the results of those being presented to. It was found that both client's liking and perceived expertise of the presenter were related to both program satisfaction and learning of educational materials. Determining factors that encourage thinking and attending to information is an important aspect of working to help people learn more effectively. Characteristics of presenters have been found to be cues for information processing, related …

Identifying And Characterizing The Degradative Pathway Of The Retroviral Restriction Factor Rhtrim5Α, Rachel Nelson

Master's Theses

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) is a lentivirus that progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The protein TRIM5alpha from rhesus macaques (rhTRIM5alpha) restricts HIV-1 by blocking infection after entry of the virion into cells. Treatment of rhTRIM5alpha expressing cells with inhibitors to a cellular degradation pathway, the proteasome, partially relieves restriction but does not inhibit rhTRIM5alpha protein turnover. The role of a second degradation pathway, the autophagy-lysosomal pathway, in TRIM5alpha mediated restriction has not been explored.

In the present study, we demonstrate that rhTRIM5alpha is degraded by chaperone mediated autophagy (CMA). Inhibition of CMA alters rhTRIM5alpha localization and turnover, while …