Life Sciences Commons^™

Assessing Ecotoxicity Of Surface Water And Sediment In The Little Scioto River, Leah Suzanne Morgan

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Aquatic toxicology evaluates the impact of pollution on freshwater and marine biota. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one class of chemicals prevalent in the environment that impair aquatic organisms. This study examined the effect of contaminated surface water and sediments from a former wood treatment facility on four aquatic species: Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow), Ceriodaphnia dubia (water flea), Chironomus dilutus (midge), and Daphnia magna (water flea). The findings showed that sediment contamination had no significant effect on survival and growth of C. dilutus or on survival of D. magna. Surface water contamination began to have a significant effect on …

Influence Of Developmental Stage, Habitat, And Captivity On Thecutaneous Bacterial Communities Of Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus Alleganiensis Alleganiensis) In West Virginia, Rachel Fern Arrick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Microbes inhabit virtually all surfaces of multicellular animal hosts, with microbial cells outnumbering the hosts’ own cells 10:1. Symbiont microbes, collectively referred to as the microbiome, can have profound impacts on the metabolism, development, behavior, and disease resistance of their multicellular hosts. Because the community structure of symbiont bacteria can influence host health, the characterization of amphibian microbiomes is becoming an increasingly important tool for future conservation in the face of global amphibian declines. Eastern hellbenders are good candidates for a microbiome study because they have seen substantial declines in recent decades and learning more about the environmental and physiological …

A Comparative Analysis Of Stress Responses In Diverse Acanthamoeba Isolates, Mallory Jean Douthitt

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Acanthamoeba are free-living amoebae which can differentiate from vegetative, trophozoite forms into dormant cysts upon encountering unfavorable conditions. Acanthamoeba isolates FLA9, BP, and FLA22 are known to have unusual tolerance to environmental conditions which would promote encystment in the type strain, Neff. To facilitate further research into the behavior of these isolates, the phenotypic variables of instantaneous growth rate (μ), mean exponential encystment rate (Ԑ), and overall encystment success are calculated for the study isolates a variety of environmental conditions. Results indicate that BP and FLA22 may prefer growth conditions that are intolerable to the Neff strain. Findings suggest genomic …

An Assessment Of West Virginia Watersheds Through The Use Of Geographic Information System (Gis), Nathan Thomas Hoxie

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Analysis of West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) agency’s Stream Condition Index and habitat assessment data compared two cycles of data. Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to develop a kriging model to project scores. Scores were calculated for Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) eight and ten using Zonal statistics. The Getis-Ord Gi Star was used to identify high and low value clusters. Land use and impervious surface data was gathered from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to assess impacts to watersheds. The results for WVSCI and habitat assessment showed that there was an improvement between cycles. Negative WVSCI …

Genetic Regulation Of Mucoidy In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, T. Ryan Withers

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that results from mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator gene. These mutations cause a disruption in the chloride transport in mucosal tissues causing the accumulation of dehydrated mucus, and a decrease in the mucocilliary removal of environmental pathogens within the lungs. Additionally, the accumulation of dehydrated mucus within the lungs provides a hospitable environment for various bacteria, including the Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa uses the overproduction of a surface polysaccharide called alginate to form a biofilm to evade the host’s immunological defenses. The overproduction of alginate, often referred to as …

A Reproductive And Trophic Transfer Study Associated With Selenium Concentrations In The Upper Mud River Watershed, Amanda Lee Wilson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Selenium in mining-related discharges has created concern in the Appalachian Region where coal is a significant resource. In West Virginia, evaluation of streams receiving mining discharges focused attention on the Mud River watershed where bioaccumulation of selenium was highest in preliminary surveys. Chronic exposure (mainly dietary) of mature female fish to selenium has the potential to cause developmental abnormalities in developing embryos due to the maternal transfer of selenium into the eggs. Literature suggests that factors affecting the bioaccumulation rate of selenium, and the concentration of selenium associated with the aforementioned effects are site-specific. The purpose of this study was …

Effects Of Land Use In The Ohio River Basin On The Distribution Of Coliform And Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria In The Ohio River, Gene Chou

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Recent studies indicate that antibiotic resistant bacteria can be useful as indicators of water quality (1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10). Studies in our laboratory have shown that fecal pollution did not fully explain the distribution or the frequency of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the Ohio River (27, 28). Therefore, it is important to understand the factors that affect the distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria in aquatic habitat. The purpose of this study was to examine the correlations between land use, water quality, and concentration of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the Ohio River. Mid-channel water samples were collected at …

High Resolution Single Molecule Optical Localization Of Multiple Fluorophores On Dna Origami Constructs Fluorophores On Dna Origami Constructs, Anuradha Rajulapati

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

An ongoing challenge in the development of nanoelectronics and nanophotonics is the nondestructive, high-resolution localization in space of single molecules and multi-molecular assemblies. The apparent barrier to the use of optical microscopy at the sub-100 nm scale is the well known Abbe Limit, the diffraction limit to resolution. This laboratory has adapted a technique called Single-molecule high resolution imaging with photobleaching (SHRIMP). We have developed methods for utilizing SHRIMP for the determination of the separation of two fluorophores in single DNA origami constructs.

DNA Origami is extremely useful because it can address nanocomponents down to 2nm separation. It should be …

Shear Stress Induced Mtor Signaling In Cultured A7r5 Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Line, Sriram Prasad Mupparaju

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Vascular intervention procedures such as balloon angioplasty and stent implantation lead to denudation of endothelium exposing the underlying smooth muscle layer to effects of blood shear stress. The effect of shear stress on smooth muscle cell signaling has not been studied in depth. In this study, we examined time dependent changes in activation of Akt, mTOR and p70S6k related signaling in response to orbital shear stress on cultured A7r5 cells. A7r5 cells cultured to subconfluence on 150mm culture dishes were subjected to orbital shear of 9.8dynes/cm 2 for zero, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1h, 4h and 24h. The …

Antibiotic Resistant And Coliform Bacteria In The Ohio River; 2002 To 2004, Lisa Marie Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

During 2002 and 2003 samples, collected every five miles along the Ohio River, were analyzed for total cultivable bacteria, ciprofloxacin resistant bacteria, erythromycin resistant bacteria, tetracycline resistant bacteria, and fecal coliforms. During 2004 samples were analyzed for total cultivable bacteria, ciprofloxacin resistant bacteria, sulfamethizole resistant bacteria, tetracycline resistant bacteria, Virginiamycin resistant bacteria, total coliforms, and Escherichia coli. The objectives of this study were to systematically collect data on fecal coliforms, E. coli, and antibiotic resistant bacteria in the Ohio River and its major tributaries; to determine if antibiotic resistance populations are correlated to each other or to coliforms; and …

The Effects Of Dams In The Big Sandy Watershed Using A Novel Bacteria-Based Bioindicator Of Water Quality, Kathleen Riha Loughman

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

During 2003, water samples from the Big Sandy watershed were collected in conjunction with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Objectives were to determine the effects of dams on bacterial populations and to test a bioindicator of water quality based on antibiotic-resistant and fecal indicator bacteria. Thirty-five samples were taken each season within the Big Sandy Watershed, which includes six USACE dams. Total cultivable, ciprofloxacin-resistant, erythromycin-resistant, tetracycline- resistant, total coliform, and fecal coliform bacteria were enumerated. Data on water chemistry and physical parameters were collected by the USACE in the spring and summer seasons. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fecal …

Developing Methods For The Rapid Molecular Assessment Of Aquatic Microbial Communities, Traci D. Hudson

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Molecular investigations of microbial community structure and dynamics involve costly and time-consuming methods. This approach is limiting when rapid assessment and detection of microbial organisms are needed. In aquatic environments, especially freshwater environments which may be used as a water source, rapid detection of pathogenic microbes is essential. Likewise, monitoring for the presence or absence of various functional genes can be used to indicate the type of microbial community present in the environment of interest. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and optimize methods necessary for the rapid assessment of freshwater microbial community structure and dynamics. Primers …

A Mechanistic Study Of Myoglobin Nephrotoxicity, Jennifer L. Minigh

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Myoglobin is an endogenous protein that can become nephrotoxic under certain conditions such as crush injuries, drug overdose, and seizures where prolonged contraction of muscle leads to cell death and leakage of myoglobin. The mechanism of myoglobin-induced nephrotoxicity is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to characterize the sequence and mechanistic events associated with the in vitro toxicity of myoglobin in renal cortical slices. Renal tissue was isolated from Fischer 344 rats. Slices of renal cortex were prepared by freehand. These slices were then incubated for 60-180 minutes with myoglobin (0-12 mg/mL) pretreated with 4 mM ascorbic …

Characterization Of Host-Bacteria Interactions Contributing To Group B Streptococcus Colonization, Jennifer Marie Smith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is the leading cause of life-threatening bacterial infections during the first three months of life. GBS is also a frequent cause of maternal postpartum infections. Both types of infections stem from maternal vaginal and/or rectal colonization with GBS in the perinatal period. Limited information is available concerning how the colonization process occurs and what role the host immune system may play in the establishment of persistent colonization by GBS. The complex interactions between the immune system and GBS normally should end in clearance of the bacteria. However, since colonization by GBS occurs in a large number …

A Comparative Study Of The Benthic Population In Weir Ponds Draining Watersheds Of The Fernow Experimental Forest, Parsons, West Virginia, Kevin Dwayne Brittingham

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A study of the benthos of weir ponds draining watersheds of the Fernow Experimental Forest (FEF) was conducted in 1994-1995. The objectives of this study were: (1) to relate differences in weir pond faunas to watershed treatments on the FEF, and (2) to compare current weir pond faunas to those described in 1973 by Steve Harris. In 1971-1972, there were fewer invertebrates but greater taxa richness than in 1994-1995. Total density varied among weir pond and between studies with numbers in the 1971- 1972 study ranging from 26,168 to 79,259 individuals collected, while numbers in the 1994-1995 study raged from …