Life Sciences Commons^™

An Itpa Enzyme With Improved Substrate Selectivity, Nicholas E. Burgis, Kandise Vanwormer, Devin Robbins, Jonathan Smith

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Recent clinical data have identified infant patients with lethal ITPA deficiencies. ITPA is known to modulate ITP concentrations in cells and has a critical function in neural development which is not understood. Polymorphism of the ITPA gene affects outcomes for both ribavirin and thiopurine based therapies and nearly one third of the human population is thought to harbor ITPA polymorphism. In a previous site-directed mutagenesis alanine screen of the ITPA substrate selectivity pocket, we identified the ITPA mutant, E22A, as a gain-of function mutant with enhanced ITP hydrolysis activity. Here we report a rational enzyme engineering experiment to investigate the …

Meeting Minutes, October 16th, 2023, National Smokejumper Association Board Of Directors

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

1. Call to Order, Instructions, and Approval of the Agenda; 2. Approval of the Minutes; 4. Financials and Treasurer's Report; 5. Missoula Smokejumper Program; 5. Investment Committee; 6. TRAMPS; 7. Mann Gulch; 8. Grant Writer Report; 9. Scholarship Committee Report; 10. Historical Preservation Report; 11. Good Samaritan Fund Report; 12. Presentation to the Osher Life-long Learning Center (HO9); Northern California Use of Smokejumpers; and the Value of Associate Members; 13. Discussion of “Call to Action” by Michael Rains, for Possible NSA Support (H0a-n); 14. Motion Seeking Support of HR 934 Suppression of Wildfires. HO 11a, 11d-n); 15. Legislative Work on …

Meeting Minutes, April 24th, 2023, National Smokejumper Association Board Of Directors

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

Agenda: 1. Call to Order, Introductions, and Approval of the Agenda; 2. Board Protocol; 3. Consent Agenda; 4. Forest Service Smokejumper Program Update 2023; 5. Investment Committee, Financials, and Treasurer's Report; 6. TRAMPS; 7. Mann Gulch; 8. Nominations Committee; 9. Motion to Adopt the NAFSR position paper; 10. Motion to increase Office Compensation for Chuck to $500 per month; 11. Scholarship Committee; 12. Lisason to Active Jumpers Report; 13. Historical Preservation Committee; 14. Web Page Report; 15. Proposed Budget; 15. Brad Willard Donation; 16. Merchandise Summary 1998-2022; 17. Membership Report; 18. Malvin Brown Update; 19. Election of Officers; 20. Leadership …

Arginine-178 Is An Essential Residue For Itpa Function, Nicholas E. Burgis, Caitlin April, Kandise Vanwormer

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase (ITPA) enzyme plays a critical cellular role by removing noncanonical nucleoside triphosphates from nucleotide pools. One of the first pathological ITPA mutants identified is R178C (rs746930990), which causes a fatal infantile encephalopathy, termed developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 35 (DEE 35). The accumulation of noncanonical nucleotides such as inosine triphosphate (ITP), is suspected to affect RNA and/or interfere with normal nucleotide function, leading to development of DEE 35. Molecular dynamics simulations have shown that the very rare R178C mutation does not significantly perturb the overall structure of the protein, but results in a high level of structural …

Meeting Minutes, August 11th, 2022, National Smokejumper Association Board Of Directors

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

Agenda: 1. Call to Order; 2. Reunion Update; 3. Agenda and Consent Agenda; 4. National Hot Shot Association (NHSA) Report; 5. Financials and Treasurer’s Report (HO 5a and 5b); 6. Historical Preservation at Eastern Washington University (HO 6); 7. NSA Future (HO 7); 8. Forest Service Museum Proposed MOU (HO 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d); 9. NSA Website (HO 9a and 9b); 10. Soliciting Grants and Gifts (HO 10c); 11. Investment Committee (HO 11a); 12. Nominations Committee (HO 12); 13. Legacy Fund; 14. Budget (HO 13); 15. Report from Liaison to Active Jumpers; 16. Tramps Trail Program; 17. Facebook; 18. …

The Interaction Of Sulfate And Perchlorate And Its Implications On Bacterial Survival On Mars, Jack M. Richardson, Dylan Clark, Karly Kenny

2022 Symposium

Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus are all known spacecraft contaminants. This makes their viability to arrive and survive on Mars feasible, however, this could prove to be a great risk to the Martian environment. In order to test this possibility, all three species were grown within brines containing differing salts and salt concentrations. These salts and their corresponding concentrations are based on known data regarding Martian soil. Growth was measured over a course of 20 hours in solutions containing MgSO₄ at concentrations of 4.6% and 9.2%, Mg(ClO₄)₂ at concentrations of 0.6% and …

Characterization Of A Helicobacter Pylori Small Rna By Rt-Pcr, Roxanne Mcpeck, Andrea Castillo

2022 Symposium

Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial gastric pathogen infecting approximately 50% of the human population, produces gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancers. Colonizing the inhospitable and fluctuating environment in the stomach requires tight genetic control. However, H. pylori lacks many genetic regulatory elements present in other bacteria to control gene expression. Instead, over 200 small RNAs (sRNAs; noncoding RNAs shorter than 300 nucleotides) have been found in this bacterium, but few have been fully characterized. Of those, many are antisense to virulence genes. Characterizing these sRNAs is important in understanding the mechanisms of molecular genetics and potentially supporting medical management of this …

Does Manuka Honey Induce Antibiotic Resistant Bacterial Persisters And Viable But Non-Culturable Subpopulations?, Bryn Tennyson

2022 Symposium

Long-term antibiotic use has allowed microbes to develop resistance and cause chronic infectious diseases that were previously treatable. Resistance is phenomenon in which bacteria survive treatment with a concentration of antibiotics that was once lethal. Bacteria resist antibiotic treatment by genetic change or initiating states of dormancy called persisters or Viable but Non-Culturable (VBNCs) cells. These subpopulations of antibiotic resistant persisters and VBNCs increase with exposure to stresses, including antibiotic treatment, and are a major cause of reoccurring infections that result in significant morbidity and mortality. Manuka honey (MH), a well-known alternative broad-spectrum antimicrobial, is a promising treatment for cutaneous …

Using Lidar To Estimate Carbon Sequestration Of Evergreen Trees At Eastern Washington University (Ewu) Campus, Cheney, Washington, Kristy A. Snyder

2022 Symposium

EWU contains a variety of deciduous and evergreen trees across its campus, providing several benefits. However, no comprehensive record exists of the total number, location, species, or ages of these trees. This knowledge can inform facilities of proper care for individual trees and can be used to estimate carbon sequestration on campus. Traditional on-the-ground methods for assessing trees require tree cores or clinometers, making trees susceptible to pests or disease and leading to inaccurate results. Remote sensing using lidar data is a noninvasive, more precise method to measure tree height and subsequently assess tree age. This poster explores using point …

Reconstructing The Ecological Relationships Of Late Cretaceous Antarctic Dinosaurs And How Functional Tooth Morphology Influenced These Relationships, Ian D. Broxson

2022 Symposium

The Sandwich Bluff Formation of the James Ross Basin of Antarctica has recently yielded a group of five late Cretaceous dinosaurs that lived contemporaneously with each other, a first for Antarctica. These five dinosaurs include fragmentary remains of two differently sized elasmarian ornithopods, a possible megaraptor, a hadrosaur, and a nodosaur. In this study we will construct a model of the ecological relationships of late Cretaceous Antarctica. Additionally, we will look at what specific factors allowed this group of four herbivores and a carnivore to coexist in a restricted locality and what niches were filled by each species. Methods to …

Meeting Minutes, March 23rd, 2022, National Smokejumper Association Board Of Directors

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

Agenda: 1. Call to Order; 2. Agenda and Consent Agenda; 3. Financials and Treasurer’s Report. (HO #3a and 3b); 4. Investment Report. (HO #4a and 4b); 5. TRAMPS (HO #5a and 5b); 6. Life Member Fund Policy Amendment (HO #5); 7. Web site Update; 8. Legacy Fund Update; 9. Reunion; 10. Nominations Committee Policy Motion (HO #8); 11. Election of Board Members (HO #9); 12. Forest Service Museum Proposal Motion (HO #10a and 10b); 13. 1939 Smokejumper Experimental Group Nomination for FS Museum Honor Roll (HO #11); 14. NSA Proposed Position Statement HO #12; 15. Wrap-up; 16. Adjournment;

The Use Of Probiotic Applications In Early Life Stages To Mitigate Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis Infections In Rana Luteiventris (Columbia Spotted Frogs), Autumn N. Holley

2022 Symposium

Chytridiomycosis, an amphibian skin disease caused by a chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been linked to global amphibian declines. Some amphibian populations are resistant to severe infection due to symbiotic antifungal skin bacteria, but attempts to develop probiotics from these bacteria have been inconsistently successful because bacteria fail to persist on the skin. Studies have largely been conducted on adult and juvenile amphibians, despite amphibians having fewer known mechanisms for microbiome regulation prior to metamorphosis. We hypothesize that probiotics will persist longer and thus be more effective against pathogen infection if they are applied at an early life …

Meeting Minutes, October 13th, 2021, National Smokejumper Association Board Of Directors

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

Agenda: 1. Call to Order; 2. Consent Agenda; 3. Bob McKean introduced Pete Lannan, USFS Smokejumper Program, and Phil Lind, BLM Smokejumper Program; 4. Investment and Treasurer’s Report; 5. Financial Report; 6. 2021 Fire Year; 7. 1971 Rookie Class Reunion and Miss Montana; 8. Possible NSA Positions; 9. Trails and FS Museum Updates; 10. Keep the Flame Legacy Jump List; 11. Scholarship Project; 12. Membership Fee Revision Recommendation. Refer to handout #11; 13. Reunion. 14. Wrap-up; 15. Adjournment;

Nutrient Concentration For Cyanotoxins At Turnbull (Proposal), Mori Williams

2020 McNair Scholar Collection

The purpose of this study is to analyze the concentration of microcystins from cyanobacteria along with factors that increase the likelihood of microcystins found in water systems at the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) near Cheney, Washington. Cyanobacteria are oxygen-producing bacteria that use sunlight as an energy source to convert CO2 into biomass. This bacterium has been around for around 3 billion years. However, in recent years, cyanobacteria have been a major issue in drinking water and aquatic ecosystems due to eutrophication, rising CO2 levels, and global warming (Huisman et al). Due to anthropogenic sources such as agricultural run-off and …

Meeting Minutes, October 14th, 2020, National Smokejumper Association Board Of Directors

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Call to Order; Introduction of Guest: Pferron Doss; Approval of Agenda; Introduction of Guest: Joe Stutler; Approval of Minutes; Treasurer’s Report; Investment Report; Introduction of Guest: Mark Belitz; Trails Program; Scholarship Report; The NSA "Keep the Flame" Legacy Jump List; Executive Director Report; By-law Revision; Vacant Secretary Position;

Meeting Minutes, June 4th, 2020, National Smokejumper Association Board Of Directors

National Smokejumper Association Meeting Minutes

Agenda: Call to order, review and approval of Agenda; Consent Agenda; Information Items; Investment Report; Budget; Request for NSA Endorsement of USFS Covid 19 Preparedness Letter from National Wildfire Institute to Secretary Perdue; Trails Report; Scholarship Report; Keep the Flame Legacy Jump List; Q & A on Written Report; Identifying and Recruiting New Board Members; Information and Odds and Ends; In Attendance via Zoom;

Beaver Moderated Fire Resistance In The North Cascades, Wa, Usa, Joseph Weirich, Rebecca Brown Phd.

2020 Symposium Posters

Climate change and fire suppression have altered historic fire regimes creating conditions for larger, high severity fires. Intense burns denude vegetation, alter hydrology, and cause channel incision, impairing riparian function. Burn severity varies based on topography and increases with distance from water sources like lakes, streams, and wetlands. Beaver introduction is a passive technique to restore incised and degraded streams using their unique abilities to build dams, store water and create wetland environments. The objective of this study was to assess whether beaver impoundments increase landscape resistance to wildfire by increasing riparian soil and vegetation moisture levels. We hypothesize that …

Analysis And Exploration Of Novel Antibiotic-Producing Streptomyces Spp. In Spokane County, Washington, Kyle S. Kramer, Jenifer B. Walke Ph.D

2020 Symposium Posters

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a US citizen is infected by an antibiotic-resistant pathogen every 11 seconds, and every 15 minutes, a patient dies as a result of these infections. Due to the increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microbes, the study and exploration of novel antibiotics from novel environments are imperative as infectious diseases are the second leading cause of death in the United States. The purpose of this research is to investigate and analyze antibiotic-producing soil microbes in Spokane County, WA, with hopes of discovering novel antibiotic-producing microbes, specifically Streptomyces species, and explore some of …

A Late Blancan Local Fauna From Northern Idaho, Marlena Blua, Jonathon Welch, Neville Magone

2020 Symposium Posters

Mammal specimens from a new Pleistocene-age locality near Priest River, Idaho have been identified from at least nine different taxa including muskrat, beaver, porcupine, deer, horse, pronghorn antelope, canid, lynx and bear. A right mandible containing i1 and m1-m2 is of an Ondatra sp. of muskrat. The m1is significantly shorter, narrower and the L/W ratio smaller than that of extant and extinct O. zebethicus. Yet the m1 length and width are both larger than either O. idahoensis and O. annectens. The beaver is represented by an isolated incisor, two lower molars and one upper molar. All three molars share the …

Mutagenesis Of The Btea Gene Encoding A Bordetella Virulence Protein, Xiaolei Mao

2020 Symposium Posters

Bordetella Type III Secretion System Effector A (BteA) is a virulence protein found in members of the genus Bordetella which include important pathogens of humans and other mammals. Bordetella pertussis is a causative agent of the whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease that is especially dangerous, and sometimes deadly, for infants. The BteA protein appears to be an important factor in the ability of these pathogens to cause disease, as it leads to rapid killing of a wide range of mammalian cells. The aim of this project is to determine which regions of the DNA are important for mediating …

A Review Of Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Their Importance For Palouse Prairie Restoration And Management, Rachael Sv Pentico

2020 Symposium Posters

A plant-soil feedback (PSF) is the process in which plants alter both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the soil they grow in. These changes in the soil composition alter which plants can grow and survive there in the future. Negative PSFs occur when plants struggle to grow in soil that was previously inhabited, due to a buildup of soil pathogens. Positive PSFs, however, provide benefits to the plants due to an abundance of soil microbes, such as AMF. Understanding the effects that PSFs have on plant communities and dynamics could be vital for restoring damaged ecosystems, like the Palouse …

Molecular Docking Study Of Itpa Protein Substrate Complex, Aulane Mpouli

2020 Symposium Posters

Inosine Triphosphatase (ITPA) is an enzymatic molecule that works to prevent the amassed of an intermediate in the formation of purine nucleotides, Inosine Triphosphate (ITP). DNA consists of purine nucleotides, and its metabolic pathway includes the formation of this intermediate. Overpopulation of ITP causes mutations of DNA leading to cancers, increased Inosine levels in DNA and other immunodeficiencies. In order to regulate the ITP concentration, ITPA binds ITP creating a substrate/enzyme complex. In this study, we used computational docking to explore bound conformation and energy of the binding of ITP to ITPA protein. The docking results reveal how ITPA and …

Effect Of Soil Moisture On Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza Sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. Establishment, Sarah E. Hill

2020 Symposium Posters

Every spring, Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.) dots the landscape across the inland Pacific Northwest. Balsamroot’s copious blooms, numerous leaves, long lifespan, and resilience once established, make it popular in restoration seed mixes, although balsamroot displays erratic germination in the restoration context. Understanding the effects of variables, like the availability of soil moisture on the germination and establishment of balsamroot, could provide insights into the successes of restoration plantings, or planning. This study examines the relationship between soil moisture availability and balsamroot establishment, tracking growth and survival of balsamroot seedlings during their first season, across a range of …

Preliminary Microbiome Analysis Of Freshwater Bivalves From Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Dechen Edwards

2020 Symposium Posters

Eukaryotic hosts and their associated microbes exhibit variable relationships. Some are driven by well-documented benefits including microbial contributions to host digestion; others are less understood. In this project, we seek to understand how a host’s microbiome is differentiated from the surrounding, free-living microbial community and whether this process is altered by the presence of pollution. Here we present a protocol developed for the extraction, isolation, and identification of the microbial population found in freshwater “fingernail” clams (Sphaeriidae) based on modified methods from the Earth Microbiome Project and studies of freshwater amphibian and marine bivalve microbiomes. We first developed …

Testing Tick Repellent Effectiveness​, Katherine Bunakov, Caleigh Carlson, Marianna Denully, Kyle Keenan, Doug Gourley, Jordan Rupley

2020 Symposium Posters

In the animal kingdom, the largest biodiversity is found in arthropods. Specific species include, crabs, ticks, and spiders. Interestingly, ticks are a species responsible for transmitting at least 14 known pathogens in the United States, as well as newly emerging tick-borne diseases. It is notable that the tick species found in Washington state do not carry as many diseases as ticks of other states, however, the likelihood of disease is still relevant. Protective clothing, repellents, and staying out of tick-prone areas are the best preventative measures to becoming indisposed. Furthermore, studying which repellents are most effective allows individuals to prevent …

Size Scaling In The Skull Of North American Felids As Adaptations For Prey Acquisition, Ashley Destin, Judd A. Case

2020 McNair Scholar Collection

This comparative study explores the relationship between skull morphology and general body size among felids (house cat, lynx, puma), mustelids (minks, weasels, badgers), and canids (foxes, coyotes, wolves); with a focus on North American felids, as it relates to prey acquisition. Previous studies have focused on the evolution of the carnivore skull shape, which include the species examined in this study. Using measurement methods laid out by Radinsky (1981a; 1984), the size of skull components are compared to overall body size to determine the rate of scaling of skull features with body size.

Statistical evaluations of skull measurements within and …

Impacts Of Rock Climbing On Lichen And Bryophyte Cliff Communities In The Arid West, Giovanna M. Bishop

2020 Symposium Posters

Lichens and bryophytes make up the majority of the diversity and cover in cliff systems around the world. Recently, with the rapid rise of rock climbing, there are concerns rock climbers are negatively impacting cliff communities. My study will compare climbed and unclimbed granite cliffs to better understand the impacts of rock climbing on lichen and bryophyte diversity and cover in eastern Washington. The objectives of this study are to assess the impacts of rock climbing on lichen and bryophyte cliff community diversity and cover and improve route development and cliff management practices for lichens and bryophytes. This study will …

Heart Rate And Rating Of Perceived Exertion During High-Intensity Interval Training: Implications For Prescribing Intensity, Emily R. Dunston, Alan Coelho, Katie Taylor

2020 Symposium Posters

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a popular and effective time-efficient alternative to moderate-intensity continuous training for improving cardiorespiratory fitness. However, there is limited research investigating the most effective and practical way to prescribe training intensities for HIIT. PURPOSE: To determine heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) responses across a bout of HIIT. Additionally, the relationship between HR and RPE was examined. METHODS: Young adults (n=16; age 21.8±1.4 years; 10 females) visited the lab on two separate occasions. At the first visit, participants completed an incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer to determine peak power output (PPO). …

Effects Of A Neonicotinoid Insecticide On The Growth Of Honey Bee Gut Microbes, Macee Mitchell, Daniel Franzese, Taylor Morales, Shane Lucht, Jesse Steele, Jenifer Walke

2020 Symposium Posters

The gut microbiome plays an essential role in the overall health of organisms. However, the presence and abundance of these microbes may be altered by environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides. The goals of this project were to understand 1) the prevalence of pesticide residues in honey bees in eastern Washington, and 2) the impact of pesticides to the honey bee gut microbiome. Accordingly, we tested bees from 24 hives among six sites across eastern Washington. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to detect the presence and concentration of six commonly used agricultural pesticides: Carbaryl, Chlorpyrifos, Coumaphos, Cypermethrin, …

A Preliminary Checklist Of Lichens From Kamiak Butte County Park, Washington State, Emma Sell, Amanda Chandler

2020 Symposium Posters

The semiarid Palouse ecoregion of North America was once dominated by temperate prairies and connects areas of southeast Washington, north-central Idaho, and northeast Oregon. Transformation of nearly all habitats comprising this ecosystem into agricultural lands has drastically reduced extant native grasslands to small, highly fragmented pieces. These land conversion practices, coupled with the subsequent takeover of invasive plant species, have placed the Palouse ecoregion among the most critically endangered ecosystems in the United States, with < 1% of land remaining that is suitable to host native species. The enormous loss of biodiversity across the Palouse has prompted a need for further study regarding a wide variety of organisms. In particular, lichen diversity of the Palouse ecoregion has never been formally characterized, and there are overall very few detailed studies of lichens throughout eastern Washington. To improve knowledge of Palouse lichen diversity, we first reviewed collection data from historical herbarium specimens via the Consortium of North American Lichen Herbaria (CNALH) database. We then collected lichen voucher specimens from Kamiak Butte County Park (KBCP), one of the largest contiguous natural areas within the Palouse ecoregion as its relatively steep, rocky slopes make it ill-suited for agricultural conversion. KBCP consists of 298 acres of mixed Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) forest and native grassland that rises above the surrounding farmland, as well as an east-west ridgeline …