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Articles 1 - 11 of 11
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Comprehensive Overview Of Causative Agents Of Alzheimer's Disease: Tau Protein And Amyloid Betas With Their Biochemical Pathways And Proposed Treatments Including Cost Analysis, Ethan Johnson
Honors College
Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disease found within the brain, interfering with neuron function, eventually leading to widespread atrophy. The disease effects millions of Americans with neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid beta plaques, both protein deposits with unclear causes. The goal for this thesis was not only to understand how these proteins form but how to safely interfere with their production. This was completed by a comprehensive overview of the form of the buildups and their precursors, tau proteins and amyloid beta precursor protein, respectively. An emphasis was put on the molecular biology and genetic causes of the amyloids rather than the …
Human Cryptosporidiosis: A Review And Staining Method, Amatullah Ahmad
Human Cryptosporidiosis: A Review And Staining Method, Amatullah Ahmad
Honors College
Cryptosporidiosis is increasingly emerging as the most significant cause of infectious diarrhea in humans and livestock. In humans, studies show that Cryptosporidiosis disease is more prevalent in the immunocompromised and young ones. However, outbreaks from contaminated water sources have caused disease in healthy adults, too. Two main species of the protozoan causative agent,Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis are responsible for most human infections. Cattle, pets, mice, and other livestock can transmit theCryptosporidiumparvumvariantsto humans through fecal transmission. Other species of Cryptosporidium can infect domestic animals, but their host range is narrow; therefore, they are not of significant concern to human health. …
The Role Of Accessory Domain In Cpsa Function And Capsule Production In Group B Streptococcus, Gina Difederico
The Role Of Accessory Domain In Cpsa Function And Capsule Production In Group B Streptococcus, Gina Difederico
Honors College
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) can be found in the vaginal and genitourinary tract of females, as well as the genitourinary tract of males, where it behaves as a commensal organism. However, as an opportunistic pathogen, GBS has the capability to infect the immunocompromised, making it a major threat to neonates and fetuses. The pathogen can be passed from mother to baby either in utero or during birth. The capsule, which is a polysaccharide coating on the outside of the cell, is considered the most important virulence factor in GBS.Expression of capsule plays a role in evasion of the host immune …
Identifying Risk Factors Of Anaplasma Infection In Plains Zebra Of Etosha National Park, Namibia, Madison Stahle
Identifying Risk Factors Of Anaplasma Infection In Plains Zebra Of Etosha National Park, Namibia, Madison Stahle
Honors College
Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne illness that is caused by bacteria from the genus Anaplasma which infect the blood cells of their hosts. Anaplasmosis can affect the health and life expectancy of zebra, however, little is known about what makes drives the variability in infection within this species. The purpose of this study is to (1) determine the prevalence, and (2) identify risk factors for Anaplasma infections in plains zebra (Equus quagga) from the Etosha National Park, Namibia, including whether Anaplasma infections correlate with other parasite infections (ectoparasites and gastrointestinal parasites).Other possible risk factors for Anaplasma infection that are …
Ecological Niche Modeling Of Lyme Disease Risk In Maine Based On Human Case Data, Elizabeth Dee
Ecological Niche Modeling Of Lyme Disease Risk In Maine Based On Human Case Data, Elizabeth Dee
Honors College
Ixodes scapularis, the blacklegged tick,is the primary vector for the Lyme disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States.Lyme disease poses a significant concern to the state of Maine, as both the number and geographic distribution of cases across the state have been steadily increasing over the past two decades. In 2001, there were 108 confirmed or probable cases of Lyme disease in Maine compared to 1404 cases in 2018. Using tick-borne disease human case data from the Maine CDC andArcGIS software, I created three Lyme disease maps for the years 2001, 2009, and 2017. These maps show the number …
The Relationship Between Kidney Function And Cognitive Function In Type Ii Diabetes, Erika Pacheco
The Relationship Between Kidney Function And Cognitive Function In Type Ii Diabetes, Erika Pacheco
Honors College
Individuals who are diagnosed with Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) have shown decline in proper kidney function, ultimately leading to a form of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in about one-third of T2DM cases. Even though these are alarming rates of both diseases, these conditions are rarely studied concurrently. The general focus for this research is to identify whether or not kidney function in individuals with T2DM relates to their cognitive function. Specifically, is albuminuria in individuals with T2DM a risk for poorer cognitive performance? Maine Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS) data for the 121 participants with T2DM was analyzed through correlational …
Identifying The Link Between Non-Coding Regulatory Rnas And Phenotypic Severity In A Zebrafish Model Of Gmppb Dystroglycanopathy, Grace Smith
Honors College
Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is characterized by varying severity and time-of-onset by individuals afflicted with the same forms of MD, a phenomenon that is not well understood. MD affects 250,000 individuals in the United States and is characterized by mutations in the dystroglycan complex. gmppb encodes an enzyme that glycosylates dystroglycan, making it functionally active; thus, mutations in gmppb cause dystroglycanopathic MD1 . The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a powerful vertebrate model for musculoskeletal development and disease. Like human patients, gmppb mutant zebrafish present both mild and severe phenotypes. In order to understand the molecular mechanisms involved, we performed high-throughput RNA …
Characterization Of Ncf1 Mutants In A Zebrafish Model Of Innate Immune Function With Human Influenza A Virus Infection, Lily Charpentier
Characterization Of Ncf1 Mutants In A Zebrafish Model Of Innate Immune Function With Human Influenza A Virus Infection, Lily Charpentier
Honors College
Seasonal influenza A virus (IAV) infections and their associated respiratory diseases are the cause of an estimated 650,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a powerful vertebrate model to study innate immune function and host-pathogen interactions as the function of neutrophils and other phagocytes can be characterized in vivo. Preliminary studies have shown an increase in neutrophil respiratory burst activity to eliminate the invading pathogen, yet little is known of all of the mechanisms involved in neutrophil function. The NADPH oxidase complex, of which neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (Ncf1) is a key …
In Vivo Imaging Of The Respiratory Burst Response To Influenza A Virus Infection, James Thomas Seuch
In Vivo Imaging Of The Respiratory Burst Response To Influenza A Virus Infection, James Thomas Seuch
Honors College
The CDC estimated that seasonal influenza A virus (IAV) infections resulted in 490,600 hospitalizations and 34,200 deaths in the US in the 2018-2019 season. The longterm goal of our research is to understand how to improve innate immune responses to IAV. During IAV infection, neutrophils and macrophages initiate a respiratory burst response where reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated to destroy the pathogen and recruit additional immune cells. While ROS molecules, such as hydrogen peroxide, help clear the virus, the signaling cascade can also lead to excess neutrophil recruitment, hyperinflammation, and tissue damage. Regulatory mechanisms that trigger overactivation of neutrophils …
Localization Of Synapses On Adipocytes And Stromal Vascular Fraction Cells In Adipose Tissue Using Electron And Immunofluorescent Microscopy, Emma Garner
Honors College
Obesity, weight gain and the many metabolic disorders that can arise from being overweight are predominant health issues in America and in the State of Maine. The body’s ability to balance energy intake and energy expenditure is what determines whether a person gains or loses body fat. Although there are many different factors that influence energy storage and expenditure, neural innervation of white and brown fat (or adipose) tissues is an important aspect of energy balance that is not well understood. The Townsend Lab focuses on brain-adipose communication and the role of adipose peripheral nerves in maintaining proper body weight …
Vision Problems In Ecuador: Developing A Clinical Trial To Test Visual Acuity In Rural Populations, Ty B. Bolte
Vision Problems In Ecuador: Developing A Clinical Trial To Test Visual Acuity In Rural Populations, Ty B. Bolte
Honors College
In many developing countries, access to medical care and screenings are difficult, and this is especially true for countries with large rural populations, such as Ecuador. There are many groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that contribute time and money to educational systems and other basic infrastructure, but not necessarily medical screenings. In the case of eyesight, without proper screening an individual may fall behind academically or even withdraw from education simply because they cannot see. The simple addition of corrective lenses could be the difference between a life of poverty, and a life of wellbeing for many of these individuals. …