Life Sciences Commons^™

Biochemical Evidence For Netrin-Signaling Homologues In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Fabio M. Herrera, Shelby E. Cornelius, Emily G. Fitts, Andrew T. Koenig, Kimberly J. Pompo, Joanna M. Weidensee, Jamie L. Weinhold, Heather G. Kuruvilla

Scholars Symposium

Netrins are pleiotropic guidance proteins that are involved in developmental signaling of branched structures within vertebrates. However, like many developmental pathways, dysregulation of the netrin pathway has been implicated in cancer progression and metastasis. Since Tetrahymena respond to guidance proteins, showing chemoattractant and chemorepellent behavior, we hypothesized that we could use these organisms as a model system for cancer signaling. We have previously found that netrin-1-peptided, netrin-3-peptide, and recombinant netrin-4 are all chemorepellents in this organism. Since netrin-1-peptide signals through a tyrosine kinase in Tetrahymena, we hypothesized that Tetrahymena might possess tyrosine kinases as well as a receptor homologous …

Quantifying The Concentration Of 33-Mer In Wheat Flour, Abigail E. Rivas, Kaylee A. Howell, Robert Paris

Scholars Symposium

Celiac Disease is a type IV hypersensitive response to gluten caused by HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 T-cell presentation, initiating destruction of intestinal epithelial cells. Currently, the only remedy for those suffering from celiac disease is the complete elimination of all gluten from the diet. Studies indicate that an indigestible fragment of the gluten molecule, alpha-gliadin subcomponent 33-mer, rich in proline and glutamine, is responsible for the hypersensitivity response. Determination of 33-mer concentration in wheat lines could be beneficial to the future development of wheat lines with reduced 33-mer concentration. In this study, gliadin protein from wheat flour was extracted and separated …

Netrin-3 And Netrin-4-Like Proteins Are Secreted From Tetrahymena Thermophila, Leah C. Anderton, Nicholas Bradley, Sorrel Paris, Aaron T. Vangeest, Reese Watkins, Kassie E. Young, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Netrins are signaling proteins, acting as chemorepellants or chemoattractants, and their role is especially important in early growth in organisms. In studies involving Tetrahymena thermophila, netrin proteins often act as chemorepellants, so research centered around verifying if this was also true for Netrin-4 protein. Since Netrin-1 and Netrin-3 have been shown to influence neurological and developmental growth in organisms, the implications for discovering the cellular effects of Netrin-4 are significant for human health and research. Through behavioral assays, we were able to confirm that Netrin4 does act as a chemorepellant. In addition, our ELISA and Western blots also helped substantiate …

Tetrahymena Thermophila Lack A Homologue Of The Caenorhabditis Elegans Lin-4 Mirna, Bryce H. Childers, Sorrel Paris, Emma Wessels, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The netrin family of proteins was first discovered because of their role in axonal guidance during development. Netrin homologues are important developmental signals in organisms ranging from vertebrates to the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, and netrin-like proteins have even been found in the ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena thermophila. Since the lin-4 miRNA regulates netrin signaling in C. elegans, we hypothesized that a lin-4 homologue might exists in Tetrahymena thermophila. In order to test this hypothesis, we purified total miRNA from T. thermophila, used this miRNA to make cDNA, then used RT-PCR to quantitate the amount of lin-4 specific cDNA we obtained. Our …

Characterization Of A Netrin-4 Like Protein In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Leah Anderton, Nicholas Bradley, Bryce Childers, Levi Fox, Kirstyn Kelley, Lauren Lightbody, Allison Mcclean, Estelle Viaud-Murat, Lydia Watson, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The netrin family of proteins has homeostatic roles in vertebrate development and angiogenesis, and pathophysiological roles in the progression and metastasis of cancer. We have previously characterized a netrin-1-like protein in Tetrahymena thermophila, and have shown that vertebrate netrin-1, netrin-3, and netrin-4 all serve as chemorepellents in this organism. We are currently using Western blotting and immunofluorescence to further characterize the netrin-like proteins in Tetrahymena. Western blotting with our anti-netrin-4 antibody shows a band that is clearly visible in whole cell extract, but shows little reactivity with secreted protein, indicating that most of our netrin-4-like protein remains within the cell. …

Recombinant Netrin-4 Does Not Signal Through The Netrin-1 Or Netrin-3 Pathway In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Nicholas Bradley, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Netrin 4 protein and its homologs are found throughout the animal kingdom. Netrin-4 is known to have a protective role against vascular damage. Previous studies have shown that human netrin-1 has a role in angiogenesis. This information about human netrin-1 and netrin-4 led us to research the pathway of netrin-4 in Tetrahymena thermophila. Our previous studies of the netrin proteins show that netrin-1 and netrin-3 are both repellents in Tetrahymena thermophila. The data in this study show that netrin-4 is also a repellent of Tetrahymena thermophila. These data suggest that netrin-4 could signal through the same pathway as netrin-1 and …

The Youngest Victims Of The Opioid Epidemic, Katelyn E. Miller, Abby Reed

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

When babies are born to opioid-addicted mothers, they often develop Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). NAS is characterized by symptoms associated with abrupt opioid withdrawal (“Neonatal Abstinence”, 2015). By preventing NAS in babies before they are born and properly caring for a baby with NAS after birth, we will aim to decrease the incidence of this condition and as its harmful effects in the lives of babies. In Ohio, there are many neonates suffering from NAS. The rates for babies born with NAS have quadrupled since 2011 when 2.2 out of every 1000 babies had NAS to 2015, where 12.3 out …

Small Mammal Diversity Varies By Vegetative Cover (Greene County, Ohio), Shannon Swicker, Kaytlin (Goodwin) Huizinga, Mark A. Gathany

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Although agricultural needs are pressing and crop sales are vital for the local economies in southern Ohio, the resulting clearing of land has removed much of the state’s forests and natural prairies. A variety of species depend upon these habitats that have been reduced resulting in a potentially narrower ecological niche. In this study, we seek to determine the species richness and diversity of small mammals in three habitats (old field, forest, and lawn) and to evaluate factors affecting their activity. Our experimental results supported our hypothesis that the lawn site would have lower diversity than the other two sites. …

Netrin-3: Tracking The Elusive Antimitotic Signal On The Western Frontier, Michael David Jolley, Kirsten P. Kelley, Jared E. Matz, Natalie S. Phillips, Emma Wessels, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Netrin-3 is a guidance protein expressed throughout the animal kingdom, and involved in the development of branched structures such as the nervous system, lung, and mammary gland. We have previously shown that peptides derived from this protein serve as chemorepellents and mitotic inhibitors in Tetrahymena thermophila. Our previous work shows that Tetrahymena synthesize and secrete a netrin-3-like protein, as detected by ELISA. In this study, we find that a netrin-3-like protein is present in whole cell extract and secreted protein, as detected by Western blotting. A protein of approximately 48 kD is consistently detected in our Western blots. In addition, …

Netrin-3 Signals Through Serine Phosphorylation In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Cayla C. Eckley, Rebecca N. Haught, Kyle J. Hooper, Jared E. Matz, Joshua L. Wilson, Bethany C. Khol, Katelyn R. Malik, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The netrin family of proteins are structurally related to laminin and, while first discovered in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, are now known to be present in species throughout the animal kingdom, including humans. These proteins also have a wide variety of roles that include inhibition of apoptosis, chemorepulsion, and axonal guidance. Due to the results of previous studies involving netrin-1 in vertebrate systems, the current prevailing assumption is that netrins, when acting as chemorepellents, signal using tyrosine kinases. However, data that we gathered through phosphoserine-targeting ELISA assays and immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrates that the netrin-3 peptides signal Tetrahymena thermophila through serine …

Mapping Netrin Signaling In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Katelyn R. Malik, Bethany C. Khol, Stephanie J. Hermann, Kenneth W. Ward, Daniele T. Modderman, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The netrin family of proteins, found throughout the animal kingdom, are well known for their roles in developmental signaling. Netrin-1, the best-studied member of this family, signals through four receptor types in vertebrates: the UNC-5 family, DCC, neogenin, and DSCAM. We have previously characterized a netrin-1-like protein in the ciliated protozoan, Tetrahymena thermophila. This protein is secreted from Tetrahymena, and functions as a chemorepellent. Since a netrin-like protein is produced by this organism, we hypothesized that some components of the vertebrate netrin signaling pathway might also be present in Tetrahymena. Through immunolocalization on the plasma membrane of the cell, we …

An Electrochemical Analysis Of Fretting Corrosion In Metal-On-Metal Hip Implants Subjected To High Impaction Loads, Joe Morin, Timothy L. Norman, Thomas K. Fehring

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty, a procedure where the hip joint is replaced by a femoral prosthesis with a metal femoral head and a metal socket, has been a popular option for patients requiring a hip joint replacement. Metal on metal hip implants have been a successful implant design until recently where there has been an increased number of failures of this type of implant due to fretting corrosion, believed to be caused from the use of large femoral heads. Fretting corrosion in hip implants results from cyclic micromotion at the taper-trunnion interface; this interface motion removes the protective oxidation …

3d Printing Of Biodegradable Scaffolds For Tissue Engineering Applications, Joe Morin, Michael Pickett, Amy Abraham, Tiera Martinelli

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

With the recent improvements in three dimensional (3D) printing technologies, the potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have significantly improved. One key idea in tissue engineering is to specifically design scaffolds to aid in the healing process by being incorporated into the body’s own tissue. The overall goal of this project is to investigate 3D printable scaffold design to access suitability for tissue replacement. This was accomplished by analyzing the effect of the material used to create the scaffolds, pore size, and pore shape on mechanical stiffness and cell culturability. Based on published literature, it was determined that, depending …

Netrin-3 Peptide (C-19) Is A Chemorepellent And A Growth Inhibitor In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Jennifer N. Felzien, Brandon R. Kalb, Bethany C. Khol, Katelyn R. Malik, Matthew S. Merical, Lois Parks, David Paulding, Shannon Rappaport, Kenneth W. Ward, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The netrins are a family of signaling proteins expressed throughout the animal kingdom. Netrins play important roles in developmental processes such as axonal guidance and angiogenesis. Netrin-1, for example, can act as either a chemoattractant or a chemorepellent for axonal growth cones depending upon the concentration of the protein as well as the cell type. Netrin-1 acts as a growth factor in some mammalian cell types and is also expressed by some tumor cells. Netrin-3 appears to share some signaling apparatus with netrin-1, but is less widely expressed, and its physiological roles are much less understood. Netrin-3 is also used …

Migration Frustrations Of Mir-146a Regulation, Emma Baccus, Victoria Gahman, Hannah Phillips, Shannon Rappaport, Alyssa Reiter, Kaleb M. Pauley

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The autoimmune disease, Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS), causes the degradation of salivary and lacrimal glands due to an influx of immune cells. In previous studies, a significant increase in miR-146a was observed in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of SS patients. Since immune cell infiltration is critical in SS pathogenesis, the following research examines the effect of miR-146a on cell migration. We hypothesize that transfecting THP-1 human monocytes with synthetic miR-146a will downregulate migration of the monocytes based on other studies stating that miR-146a downregulates migration in vivo. In order to execute our experiment, we transfected THP-1 cells with synthetic miR-146a …

E,E-Farnesol Inhibits Swarming Motility In Burkholderia Cepacia Through Rhamnolipid Production, Stephanie E. Nicholls, Alayna N. Sanderson, Andrea P. Schwartz, Lauren E. Ward, Jessica N. Weisensee, Molly Yandrofski, Tracy L. Collins

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Burkholderia cepacia and Candida albicans both exhibit cell-to-cell communication through the use of quorum-sensing molecules (QSM) known as autoinducers. E,E-farnesol is a QSM produced by C. albicans which regulates its conversion from yeast to mycelium. Because there is a positive correlation between the presence of B. cepacia and C. albicans in the lungs of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), we examined whether E,E-farnesol had an effect on swarming motility in B. cepacia. Swarming motility was inhibited when B. cepacia was exposed to 250 µM of E,E-farnesol. In addition, there was a 26.8% decrease in rhamnolipid production when cells were grown …

Genetic Variation In Concentration Of The 33-Mer Protein Subcomponent In Wheat, Robert L. Paris, Kaleb M. Pauley, Ryan K. Lokkesmoe, Sarah E. Lyon, James C. Dunlap, Julia M. Pierre, Timothy Vanwingerden, Finny J. Johns, Kyle J. Kilchrist, Tyler J. Reid, Caleb M. Winn

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Celiac Disease is a hypersensitive response to gluten caused by HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 T-cell presentation, initiating destruction of intestinal epithelial cells. Currently, the only remedy for those suffering from celiac disease is elimination of all gluten from the diet. Studies indicate that an indigestible fragment of the gluten molecule, alpha-gliadin subcomponent 33-mer, rich in proline and glutamine, is responsible for the hypersensitivity response. Determination of 33-mer concentration in wheat lines could be beneficial to future development of wheat lines with reduced 33-mer concentration. Protein from wheat flour was extracted and subjected to ELISA techniques in order to quantify the concentration …

Immunolocalization Of A Netrin-3 Like Peptide In Tetrahymena Thermophila Using Antibodies Against The N- And C-Terminus Of The Protein, Bethany C. Khol, Katelyn R. Malik, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Tetrahymena thermophila are free-living, unicellular, eukaryotic protozoans that live in a variety of aquatic environments. These organisms interact with their environment by responding to chemorepellents and chemoattractants which direct them toward favorable stimuli, such as food, and away from unfavorable stimuli, such as predators. We have previously described two netrin-like proteins, a netrin-1 like protein, and a netrin-3 like protein, which are secreted from Tetrahymena. Both of these proteins act as chemorepellents, and may allow cells to communicate with each other regarding population density, preventing them from outgrowing the available environmental resources. In our current study, we used antibodies …

2017 Symposium Overview, Cedarville University

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Click the "Download" button in the top right corner to view the abstract booklet.

The Effects Of Square-Stepping Exercise On Risk Of Falling And Balance In Senior Adults, Grace A. Miorelli, Michaela Nelson, Elizabeth A. Sled, Benjamin T. Massa, Mackenzi J. Clemens, Hope E. Mccoll, April D. Crommett

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

As people age, their body systems gradually deteriorate. Muscle function and the vestibular system slowly deteriorate leading to lower body instability. Older adults who struggle with dizziness and imbalance are more prone to falling. Dizziness and imbalance cause falls, and falls are the leading cause of hospitalization and accidental death in older adults (Shinichi & Tatsuya, 2015). It is possible to prevent and reduce the risk of falls through balance training. It is crucial that older adults take the steps needed to improve their balance and therefore reduce their risk of falling. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of a 10-week …

Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Water Quality Parameters In Cedar Lake (Cedarville, Ohio), Laura A. Cashman, William A. Smith, Shannon L. Swicker, Abigail L. Williams, Mark A. Gathany

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Cedar Lake is a man-made lake that is central to Cedarville University’s campus. This focal point of the campus is a source of aesthetic appeal and beauty of Cedarville University. The lake ranges in depth from 0.6-3.7m, is 140m by 150m across, an approximate volume of 40,000 m³ and demonstrates normal capabilities to support fish and other life. There is, however, some concern over Cedar Lake’s level of productivity as undesirable algae blooms are common during warmer months. In October and November 2016 we began to assess the spatial and temporal variability of water chemistry by measuring temperature (℃), …

Effect Of Metformin On Mir-146a Expression, S. Jackson Grout, Bryce C. Macturk, Amanda D. Sims, Kaleb M. Pauley

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Sjögren’s Syndrome (SjS) is an autoimmune disorder that affects secretory glands in the human body, restricting their function and causing extreme dryness in areas like the mouth and eyes. miR-146a is an anti-inflammatory microRNA that targets the NFκB activation pathway. Previous studies have shown that SjS patients have increased miR-146a expression, despite having high levels of inflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether metformin, a diabetes drug with a wide variety of effects and potential functions, reduces levels of miR-146a expression. Metformin is known to reduce inflammation by inhibiting the activation of NFκB. THP-1 human monocytes were …

Mir-146a Upregulation Of Phagocytosis In Human Macrophages, Ryan Marquardt, Daniel J. Stank, Kaleb M. Pauley

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Sjögrens Syndrome (SjS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks exocrine glands such as salivary and lacrimal glands resulting in severe dryness of the mouth and eyes. Previous studies have linked increased microRNA-146a (miR-146a) expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in SjS patients compared to healthy controls. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression, are known to play key regulatory roles in immune responses and have been implicated in a growing number of autoimmune disorders. Further investigation into the role of increased miR-146a expression in SjS revealed links to several immune functions including phagocytosis.Our goal was to …

Netrin-1 Signals Through Protein Kinases In Tetrahymena Thermophila, Bethany C. Khol, Katelyn R. Malik, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Netrins are a family of signaling proteins involved in developmental processes such as neuronal guidance and angiogenesis. The best characterized netrin, netrin-1, signals through a number of different receptors. When acting as a chemoattractant, netrin-1 primarily signals through the DCC receptor and associated protein tyrosine kinase and MAP kinase signaling pathways. When acting as a chemorepellent, netrin-1 signals through the UNC5 receptor, which involves recruitment of the protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP2.

While netrins are ubiquitously expressed throughout the animal kingdom, our laboratory was the first to describe a netrin-1 like protein in Tetrahymena. This netrin-1 like protein is secreted …

Netrin-3 Avoidance And Mitotic Inhibition In Tetrahymena Thermophila Involves Intracellular Calcium And Serine/Threonine Kinase Activity, Stephanie J. Hermann, Bailey L. Hixon, Bethany C. Khol, Ryan D. Kvarness, Jade Lee, Katelyn R. Malik, Gregg W. Mendel, Daniele T. Modderman, Lois Parks, David Paulding, Kenneth W. Ward, Matthew A. Sitler, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Netrins are a family of signaling proteins ubiquitously expressed throughout the animal kingdom. While netrin-1 has been well characterized, other netrins, such as netrin-3, remain less well understood. In our current study, we characterize the behavior of two netrin-3 peptides, one derived from the N-terminal and one derived from the C-terminal of netrin-3. Both peptides cause avoidance behavior and mitotic inhibition in Tetrahymena thermophila at concentrations as low as 0.5 micrograms (μg) per milliliter. These effects can be reversed by addition of the calcium chelator, EGTA; the intracellular calcium chelator, BAPTA-AM, or the serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, apigenin. The broad spectrum …

The Effect Of Photoactivated Tmp On Burkholderia Cepacia Biofilms, Reyna G. Osorio, Chandra N. Swiech, Tracy L. Collins

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Burkholderia cepacia is an opportunistic pathogen that causes infections in immunocompromised individuals such as cystic fibrosis patients. B. cepacia infections are typically characterized by the formation of complex communities of cells known as biofilms. Because B. cepacia biofilms are difficult to eradicate using antibiotics, it is important to pursue alternative treatment methods. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a type of therapy that uses light, a photosensitizer, and oxygen to elicit cell death through the production of reactive oxygen species. PDT has been shown in previous studies to be successful in killing both Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, we …

Further Biochemical Evidence For Secretion Of A Netrin-1 Like Protein From Tetrahymena Thermophila, Matthew S. Merical, Heather G. Kuruvilla

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Netrin-1 is a pleiotropic signaling molecule first characterized in its role as an axonal guidance molecule. Since then, additional physiological roles for netrin-1 have been found, implicating netrin signaling in processes such as angiogenesis and tumor progression. Netrins are expressed throughout the animal kingdom. We have previously found that Tetrahymena thermophila show avoidance to netrin-1 peptide, and that secreted proteins from Tetrahymena show evidence of netrin-1 activity when assayed by ELISA. In our current study, Western blotting using a polyclonal antibody against netrin-1 showed that a protein of approximately 52 kDa was present in both whole cell extract and secreted …

Optimization Of Fluorescent Phagocytic Assay Using Apoptotic Cells, Jacob L. Brown, Jason R. Leigh, Ryan Marquardt, Cambria R. Puffenberger, Daniel J. Stank, Kaleb M. Pauley

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Sjögren’s Syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the exocrine glands and is characterized by severe dry eyes and mouth. Previous studies have shown that there are elevated levels of the microRNA miR-146a in Sjögren’s patients. Mir-146a is a microRNA that has been found to be involved in down regulating inflammation. Yet, in patients with Sjögren’s Syndrome, there is a large upregulation of miR-146a that exists alongside chronic inflammation. This led us to investigate the role of miR-146a in Sjögren’s Syndrome. We found that miR-146a upregulates phagocytosis of E. coli by human macrophages. Therefore, we hypothesized that this …

Effects Of Social Support On Compliance In Rehabilitating Athletes, Sarah E. Orr, Hannah L. Stedge

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The purpose of the study was to better understand if social support has an effect at all on the athlete’s compliance in coming in to do their rehabilitation during an injury. Those who participated in this study were from the colleges and universities in the state of Ohio. The participants were collegiate athletes who were in a rehabilitation program for six or more weeks and had returned to play. Of the 56 surveys returned, 18 (32.14%) of those were fully completed, and nine (16.07%) of those, consisting of seven (77.78%) females and two (22.22%) males, met the criteria set. Athletes …

2016 Symposium Overview, Cedarville University

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Click the "Download" button in the top right corner to view the abstract booklet.