Life Sciences Commons^™

Johne’S Disease In A Pygmy Doe: A Diagnostic Dilemma, Madison Callicott, Kaitlyn Upton, Joseph Smith, Camille Cordero Aponte

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Black Bear Population Health Monitoring In The Southeast, Kathleen Elizabeth Riese

Masters Theses

Recent growth of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) population in the southeast raises concerns about the potential spread of density-dependent diseases among bears, particularly sarcoptic mange. However, research on the health of bears in this area is limited. We analyzed samples from 169 bears in the region. We performed Knotts tests, skin scrapes, fecal floats; Canine adenovirus (CAV), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and Toxoplasma gondii serology, Trypanosoma, Rickettsia rickettsii, and apicomplexan PCR, and identified ecto- and endoparasites found grossly or histologically. We found that 69% (63 of 91) had microfilaria; genetic analysis identified …

A Novel Transmembrane Ligand Inhibits T Cell Receptor Activation, Yujie Ye

Doctoral Dissertations

T lymphocytes (T cells) play essential roles in the adaptive immune system. Each mature T cell expresses one type of functional T cell receptor (TCR). The TCR recognizes antigens bound to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in antigen presenting cells. The resulting stimulation signal crosses the transmembrane domain of TCR and initiates downstream signaling cascades. The human immune system relies on TCRs to recognize a variety of pathogens. Normally, TCR can distinguish the self-antigens from pathogenic antigens. However, dysfunction or aberrant expression of TCRs causes different inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, which afflict millions of people annually (Chapter I). Current treatments …

Exploring The Relationships Between South Texas Northern Bobwhite Populations And Cecal Worms Via System Dynamics, Nicole J. Traub, Benjamin L. Turner, Leonard A. Brennan, Alan M. Fedynich

National Quail Symposium Proceedings

Community ecology historically focused on plants and free-living organisms; however, problems such as defining habitat boundaries and obtaining adequate sample sizes arise when evaluating such communities. The unique nature of host-helminth systems allows parasite community ecologists to avoid these problems when testing ecological hypotheses. Unlike free-living communities that have artificially constructed boundaries, parasite communities have well-defined unambiguous boundaries within host individuals. Due to the inherently complex and dynamic nature of ecological systems, traditional experimental methods often require expensive, long-term trials beyond investigators’ time and resource budgets. Conversely, a system dynamics approach facilitates learning about such systems via simulation of ecosystem …

Enterobactin-Based Immune Interventions Against Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections, Huiwen Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

Enterobactin (Ent)-mediated iron acquisition is critical for many Gram-negative bacteria to survive in the host. Given the bacteriostatic effect of lipocalin-2 resulting from its potent Ent-binding ability, immune interventions directly targeting Ent is a promising antimicrobial strategy against Gram-negative bacterial infections. Moreover, hyperimmune egg yolk antibody is an emerging passive immune agent for the control of bacterial infections. Oral administration of anti-Ent egg yolk antibody may confer passive immune protection against Ent-dependent enteric pathogens. In this dissertation study, multidisciplinary approaches in conjunction with different model systems (in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo) were used to …

Cat Covid, Cmv And Chemokines, Oh My!, Trevor Hancock

Doctoral Dissertations

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important pathogen infecting most humans worldwide. CMV infection within immunocompromised individuals can cause severe morbidity and potential mortality. Disease during CMV infection is due to virus dissemination and subsequent inflammation. Host immune cells lie at the intersection potentially mediating both. The CMV-encoded viral chemokine vCXCL-1 is a proposed virulence factor in mouse models increasing immune cell recruitment and disease. However, the primary immune cell mediator is undetermined. To identify targets, Chapter 2 examines CXCR2 expression (receptor for vCXCL-1) among various mouse tissues and human peripheral blood under steady-state conditions. In vitro, isoforms of HCMV’s vCXCL-1 …

Multi-Omic Systems Biological Analysis Of Host-Microbe Interactions, Piet Jones

Doctoral Dissertations

Systems biology offers the opportunity to understand the complex mechanisms of various biological phenomena. The wealth of data that is produced, at an increasing rate, provides the potential to meet this opportunity. Here we take an applied approach to integrate multiple omic level data sources in order to generate biologically relevant hypotheses. We apply a novel analysis pipeline to model both, in concert, the microbial and transcriptomic signature from COVID-19 positive patients. We show patients may suffer from an increased microbial burden, with an increased pathogen potential. Gene expression evidence further shows patients may exhibit a compromised barrier immunity, owing …

Microplastics Exposure In At-Risk Myotis Lucifugus Bats Of The Northeastern United States, Leah Crowley

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Anti-Inflammatory And Chemopreventive Activity Of Lunasin From Tofu Whey For The Management Of Gastrointestinal Diseases, Cindy Andrea Nieto Veloza

Doctoral Dissertations

Gastrointestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC) are pathological conditions associated with chronic inflammation, characterized by intestinal damage, debilitating symptoms, and detrimental health consequences. The increased risk of CRC in IBD patients, and the adverse effects associated with current therapeutic strategies, point out the need for safer alternatives to reduce chronic inflammation in the bowel. Lunasin is a bioactive peptide naturally occurring in soybeans, with chemopreventive and anti-inflammatory properties demonstrated in several extra-intestinal diseases. However, to date, there is no evidence of the biological activity of lunasin on the gastrointestinal tract as a target site. …

Size Selective Parasitism Of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) By Chestnut Lampreys (Ichthyomyzon Castaneus) In An Artificial Setting, Jeremiah M. Salinger, Ronald L. Johnson

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

Paradigms of optimal resource utilization by animals, both classical and more recent, were not originally developed in the context of parasitism. Though this oversight has slowly been reversed, little attention has been paid to optimal resource utilization by parasitic fishes, such as lampreys. Multiple explanations for host size selection by parasitic lampreys may be plausible, but results from previous studies have been inconsistent. We studied host size selection by Chestnut Lampreys (Ichthyomyzon castaneus) parasitizing Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in fish hatchery raceways in north central Arkansas during the late winter and early spring of 2013. Parasitized …

Oncolytic Viruses: Cancer Treatment Going Viral, Rhianna N. Bronson

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Unsustainable: A Planet In Crisis, Sam Yates

Ewing Gallery of Art & Architecture

Unsustainable: A Planet in Crisis features artwork ranging in material, discipline, and execution that addresses the theme of planetary crises – climate change, the rise of disease and superbugs, world conflict and national instability, plastics in the ocean, gun violence, pollution of the waterways from mining, air pollution from use of fossil fuels, the opioid crisis, and species extinction.

Participating artists are: Michele Banks, Brandon Ballengee, PhD, Scott Chimileski, PhD + Roberto Kolter, PhD, Brandon Donahue, Lorrie Fredette, Yeon Jin Kim Pam Longobardi, Dan Mills, John Sabraw, and Karen Shaw.

Tetratrichomonas And Trichomonas Spp.-Associated Disease In Free-Ranging Common Eiders (Somateria Mollissima) From Wellfleet Bay, Ma And Description Of Its1 Region Genotypes, Caroline M. Grunenwald, Inga Sidor, Randal Mickley, Chris Dwyer, Richard W. Gerhold Jr.

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences

During an outbreak of Wellfleet Bay virus (WFBV) in common eiders (Somateria mollissima) from the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts, several birds were diagnosed with trichomonosis consisting of multiple trichomonad species. Six birds were examined, with trichomonads found in ceca in four birds and associated typhlitis in three of these four birds. PCR and DNA sequencing utilizing trichomonad-specific primers targeting the ITS1 region of the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) revealed the presence of Tetratrichomonas gallinarum in the gastrointestinal tracts of five birds and Trichomonas spp. in the livers of two birds, one of which had a dual Te. gallinarum-Trichomonas …

Histomonas Elisa, Jessica L Martinez

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

Histomonas meleagridis is a protozoan parasite of avians and is the causative agent in Histomonosis, commonly known as Blackhead Disease. Current methods for diagnosing the presence of H. meleagridis are limited to parasite culture or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify target DNA. This project aims to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for faster and more sensitive diagnosis of Histomonas infections. Cultures of H. meleagridis parasites were purified, and surface antigens were extracted using a spectrum of chemical solutions. The various antigen solutions were subjected to an ELISA, with serum from birds immunized for H. meleagridis as positive controls. …

On The Construction And Interpretation Of Fitness Landscapes For Hiv: A Computational Perspective, Elizabeth Grace Johnson

Doctoral Dissertations

To identify vulnerable viral targets to incorporate into an immunogen, fitness landscapes for the viral proteome have been constructed. These landscapes describe the sum or synergistic replicative cost exacted on the virus for any combination of non-synonymous mutations. Here we attempt to assess the robustness of current computational methods for measuring the fitness cost of HIV polymorphisms in these landscapes. We also address in the following chapters assumptions and shortcomings that may underlie current landscape's uneven ability to predict fitness effects.

In the first chapter, I appraise the robustness of current frame-works that derive fitness costs from patient sequence data. …

Transmission Pattern Of Major Clonal Lineages Of Toxoplasma Gondii, Pooja Saraf

Doctoral Dissertations

Toxoplasma gondii is the most successful zoonotic pathogen known today. One-third of people are chronically infected worldwide. Different strains of T. gondii shows variability in mouse virulence which may potentially correlate with disease manifestation in humans. As a result, mouse is used as the model organism to study the virulence of T. gondii strains. To study the virulence on a global scale, it is necessary to establish a standardized approach for mice virulence assays. Thus, we review the methodologies used in different labs and put forth standardized approaches to study the T. gondii virulence in mice (Chapter 1). Recent …

Characterization Of Protein A And Sortase A In Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius: Potential Targets For Novel Therapeutic Approaches, Manasi Balachandran

Doctoral Dissertations

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an opportunistic pathogen in dogs and is the most frequent cause of canine pyoderma. The recent emergence of methicillin resistance and multidrug resistance has made it increasingly difficult to treat infections using conventional antibiotics. There is an urgent need for alternative strategies to prevent S. pseudintermedius infections. The development of a successful vaccine against S. pseudintermedius is complicated by several virulence and immune evasion factors. The objective of this project was to identify new targets for treatment and prophylaxis of methicillin-resistant and multidrug-resistant S. pseudintermedius infection. This was achieved using two strategies (a) understanding the roles of …

Improving Aedes Mosquito Surveillance And La Crosse Virus Screening In Eastern Tennessee, Cassandra Urquhart

Masters Theses

La Crosse virus (LACV), transmitted by infected Aedes triseriatus, Ae. albopictus, and Ae. japonicus mosquitoes is the leading cause of pediatric arboviral encephalitis. Severe cases of LAC encephalitis occur in individuals 16-years-old or younger and may cause permanent neurological damage or fatality. No vaccines exist making mosquito control and disease prevention crucial to public health. Effective screening and surveillance practices are key components to these goals. While a number of standard mosquito surveillance methods exist, continuous testing and improved understanding of vector biology to determine the best ways to implement these methods is important. Additionally, the current standard …

Anthrax Models Involving Immunology, Epidemiology And Controls, Buddhi Raj Pantha

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is divided in two parts. Chapters 2 and 3 consider the use of optimal control theory in an anthrax epidemiological model. Models consisting system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) and partial differential differential equations (PDEs) are considered to describe the dynamics of infection spread. Two controls, vaccination and disposal of infected carcasses, are considered and their optimal management strategies are investigated. Chapter 4 consists modeling early host pathogen interaction in an inhalational anthrax infection which consists a system of ODEs that describes early dynamics of bacteria-phagocytic cell interaction associated to an inhalational anthrax infection.

First we consider a …

A Study Of Hiv And Stigma At The University Of Tennessee: A Discussion Of Its Prevalence And How Hiv Awareness Correlates With Stigma, Renee L. Adamec

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Health Assessment Of Two Reintroduced Populations Of American Martens (Martes Americana) In Michigan, Maria Catherine Spriggs

Doctoral Dissertations

The American marten (Martes americana) was extirpated from Michigan during the early-20th century due to loss of vast areas of mature conifer forest and unregulated trapping. The species was reintroduced into the Upper Peninsula (UP) and Northern Lower Peninsula (NLP) during the mid-20th century. While the American marten population in the UP has grown and is doing well, the population in the NLP has been less successful. The reasons for the limited success of the NLP population are unknown, but may include lack of suitable habitat, limited reproductive success, poor genetic diversity, disease, or negative environmental impacts. American …

Development And Evaluation Of Novel Vaccination Strategies For Campylobacter Control In Poultry, Xiang Liu

Masters Theses

Chicken is the primary natural host of Campylobacter, the leading bacterial cause of human enteritis in the US and other developed countries. Thus, mitigation of Campylobacter in chicken using innovative approaches, such as vaccination, will have a significant impact on food safety and public health. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the two outer membrane proteins, CmeC (the essential component of the CmeABC multi-drug efflux pump) and CfrA (a ferric enterobactin receptor), are feasible candidates for immune intervention against Campylobacter. DNA vaccine has appeared to offer various advantages for poultry, particularly when combined with in ovo vaccination. Chitosan-encapsulated …

Fty720 (Fingolimod) Provides Insight Into The Molecular Mechanisms Of Multiple Sclerosis, Madelyn Elizabeth Crawford

Pursuit - The Journal of Undergraduate Research at The University of Tennessee

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a prolonged immune- mediated inflammatory response that targets myelin. Nearly all of the drugs approved for the treatment of MS are general immunosuppressants or only function in symptom management. The oral medication fingolimod, however, is reported to have direct therapeutic effects on cells of the central nervous system in addition to immunomodulatory functions. Fingolimod is known to interact with sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors, and the most widely- accepted theory for its mechanism of action is functional antagonism of the receptor. This review examines significant neuromodulatory effects achieved by functional antagonism of the …

Mathematical Modeling Of T Cell Clustering Following Malaria Infection In Mice, Reka Katalin Kelemen

Masters Theses

Malaria is the result of the immune system's unsuccessful clearance of hepatocytes (liver cells) infected by the eukaryotic pathogen of the Plasmodium genus. It has been shown that CD8 T cells are required and sufficient for protective immunity against malaria in mice [29, 36], but the mechanisms by which they find and eliminate infected hepatocytes are not known yet. Recently we reported the formation of CD8 T cell clusters consisting of up to 25 cells around infected cells [8]. Our mathematical modeling and data analysis revealed that malaria-specific T cells likely recruit each other and also non-malaria-specific T cells to …

Plasmodium Suppresses T Cell Responses To Heterologous Infections By Impairing T Cell Activation, Chelsi Elizabeth White

Masters Theses

Malaria is a devastating disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium falciparum, which is responsible for most malaria related fatalities, suppresses host immune responses during heterologous coinfections or following vaccination. However the mechanisms responsible for this defect are not well defined. The mechanism and to what extent this immunosuppression is occurring was investigated. This study demonstrates that both dendritic cell and T cell activation are impaired following a Plasmodium infection, ultimately altering the adaptive T cell response to secondary infections. T cell suppression is evident early on following a secondary infection and continues throughout the peak of parasitemia. …

Mechanisms Contributing To The Emergence Of Ranavirus In Ectothermic Vertebrate Communities, Roberto M. Brenes

Doctoral Dissertations

Ranaviruses have been linked to amphibian die-off events in ectothermic vertebrates worldwide. Differences in susceptibility and capacity of transmission among and within classes are poorly understood. My goal was to determine possible mechanisms influencing susceptibility to ranavirus infection in amphibian species and other aquatic vertebrate taxa, as well as the capacity of transmission between classes and the effects of amphibian community composition on ranavirus transmission. I tested 16 amphibian species from USA, Europe, and the pet trade, expanding an existing database developed by the Center for Wildlife Health to 35 amphibian species from 9 families. I also tested the susceptibility …

Trends In Borrelia Spp. Prevalence In Ixodes Spp. Ticks From The Southeastern Coastal United States, Lauren Paul Maestas

Masters Theses

The Lyme borreliosis (LB) cycle, involving Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), is well documented in the northeastern US, where LB is becoming increasingly prevalent. In coastal North Carolina, I. affinis has been shown to have a higher incidence of Bbss than I. scapularis. My objectives were, to assess changes in prevalence of Bbss in Ixodes spp. along a transect from Virginia to Florida, and to assess the value of dogs and mesomammals as sentinels for spread of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

Ixodes spp. were collected at sites from 37.4^o N to 30.0^{o …}

Prevalence And Transmission Potential Of Borrelia Burgdorferi In Three Species Of Wildcaught Plestiodon Spp. Skinks Of The Southeastern United States, Teresa Dianne Moody

Masters Theses

In the southeastern United States, blue-tailed skinks (Plestiodon spp.) are important hosts for Ixodes scapularis ticks, the principal vector of Lyme disease (LD) in this region. Skinks and other southeastern lizards are not thought to be reservoir competent for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), the etiological agent of LD in the United States. . Lizard-feeding by southeastern I. scapularis may tend to suppress sylvatic cycles of B. burgdorferi, and thus may be an important reason why LD case rates in the Southeast are much lower than in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Nevertheless, some skinks …

Contribution Of Micrornas And Robo4 Signaling After Herpes Simplex Virus Infection: Role For Regulatory Mechanisms, Sachin Vishvas Mulik

Doctoral Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection of the eye results in chronic immunopathological response in corneal stroma orchestrated by CD4 T cells. Due to its neurotrophic nature, HSV can also invade brain and leads to deadly encephalitis. HSV infection of the eyes leads to corneal neovascularization (CV), which is an important step in the pathogenesis of herpetic stromal keratitis (HSK), an important cause of human blindness. This study was undertaken to investigate the contribution of miRNAs and Robo4 signaling in HSK. The role of miR-132 and miR-155 was evaluated. In the first chapter, we review literature regarding the contribution of miRNAs …

Role Of Surface Antigens Of Mycobacterium Spp. In Diagnosis, Ashutosh Wadhwa

Doctoral Dissertations

Mycobacterial species are ubiquitous in nature and a worldwide concern for human and animal health. The major mycobacterial infections in animals are Johne’s disease (JD) and bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Controlling these infections is difficult due to the lack of highly sensitive and sensitive diagnostic test. Currently available diagnostic tests have to be carried out in laboratory settings with well experienced and trained examiners. My goal is to develop a sensitive on-site (in-field) device for diagnosis of Johne’s disease and bovine tuberculosis. The specific aims of this thesis were (1) to review currently-used or recently developed diagnostic tests for mycobacterial infections, …