Life Sciences Commons^™

Investigating Host Defenses Of North American Salamanders Against The Recently Emerged Chytrid Pathogen, Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans, Kenzie Pereira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A recently emerged chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) threatens salamander biodiversity. Bsal susceptibility varies between and within salamander species, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying these differences. Susceptibility is likely influenced by numerous interacting factors, but my dissertation studied the role of host immune responses.

My first aim investigated between species differences by studying the bioactive properties of salamander skin peptides against Bsal and the related pathogen, B. dendrobatidis (Bd). Skin peptides were collected from five salamander species, used for in vitro assays, and analyzed by RP-HPLC. While skin peptides from one …

Basigin As An Immune Mediator In The Cns, Alicia Gonzalez

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders. Although the central nervous system (CNS) can stave peripheral pathogens from crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) through a network of continuous endothelia, astrocytes, and pericytes, prolonged exposure to a pathogen can comprise this barrier. Basigin, a cell adhesion molecule, is found on the surface of endothelial cells and has been demonstrated to interact with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). TLR4 recognizes lipopolysaccharide (LPS), found on the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The activation of TLR4 produces pro-inflammatory cytokines, like IL-6. The present study aims to address the expression pattern of Basigin gene …

Divalent Metal Cation Entry And Cytotoxicity In Jurkat T Cells: Role Of Trpm7 Channels, Alayna N. Mellott

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Humans are exposed daily to a variety of metals that can be harmful to our immune system. Although certain divalent metal cations are essential for numerous cellular functions and are critical trace elements in humans, the uptake mechanisms of these ions remain mostly unknown. Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7), which is expressed in a variety of human cell types, including lymphocytes and macrophages, conducts many divalent metal cations. TRPM7 channels are largely inactive under normal physiological conditions due to cytoplasmic magnesium acting as a channel inhibitor. Magnesium is a cofactor for many biochemical reactions. Low serum levels of magnesium, …

Immune Function And Metabolism Of Hibernating North American Bats With White-Nose Syndrome, Briana Nicole Anderson

MSU Graduate Theses

White-nose syndrome (WNS) causes substantial mortality in certain species of hibernating North American bats. The responsible agent is Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), a fungus which causes physiological complications such as increased arousals and energy depletion during the hibernation season. Tricolored bats (Perimyotis subflavus) and northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) suffer extensive WNS mortality, while gray bats (Myotis grisescens) and big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) are infected, but mortality is rarely observed. It is hypothesized that there is a difference in immune responses and/or hibernation metabolism between these bat species, resulting in this …

Out Of The Shell: Exploring The Phagocytic Capabilities Of The B Cell And Isolated Lymphoid Follicle-Lie Structures In The Red-Eared Slider, Trachemys Scripta, Marc A. Ashford Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Management of immunity is crucial for survival in all living organisms. While there is a large amount of research for established model organisms, such as the mouse model, much less is known about reptiles. When compared to immunity in mammals, we discover many differences such as susceptibility to certain pathogens, alteration of immune processes due to environmental temperature, the total absence of certain lymphoid organs contained in mammals, among many others. Despite this, the reptile has shown in many studies that they are worthy systems to study immunity in an evolutionary perspective and recent studies may show that they may …

The Effects Of 830nm Light On Inflammation In Retinitis Pigmentosa, Krystal Marie Bach

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal degenerative disease and the most common cause of blindness in developed countries, affecting approximately 1 in 4,000 people. RP is characterized by photoreceptor cell death and recent studies suggest that chronic inflammation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of RP. Currently, there are no known treatments or preventive measures to delay or halt the loss of photoreceptor cells. Photobiomodulation (PBM) by light in the far-red or near-infrared (NIR) range of the light spectrum has been documented to help promote cell survival and reduce inflammation in several disease states. Recent studies …