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Articles 1 - 15 of 15
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Generating Zika Vaccine Candidates Using Nhumirim Virus As A Backbone, Mariam A. Atobiloye
Generating Zika Vaccine Candidates Using Nhumirim Virus As A Backbone, Mariam A. Atobiloye
Honors Theses
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus that is causing significant world-wide health concern. There are currently no treatments or vaccines available for this virus, thus, there is an urgent need to develop a safe and effective vaccine to combat ZIKV infection. Nhumirim virus (NHUV) is also a mosquito-transmitted flavivirus, but it is unable to infect humans and other vertebrate animals, making it an ideal candidate to develop chimeric viral vaccines against other disease-causing flaviviruses, such as ZIKV. In this study, we generated chimeric viruses by replacing envelope (E) gene in the genome of NHUV with ZIKV E gene, which …
Molecular Characterization Of Wolbachia And Its Impact On The Microbiome Of Exotic And United States Ticks, Cailyn G. Bobo
Molecular Characterization Of Wolbachia And Its Impact On The Microbiome Of Exotic And United States Ticks, Cailyn G. Bobo
Honors Theses
Wolbachia endosymbionts are obligate intracellular bacteria in the phylum α-Proteobacteria. They infect approximately two-thirds of arthropods including insects and nematodes. These bacteria manipulate host reproductive biology through a series of mechanisms that include feminization of male progeny, parthenogenesis, male killing, and cytoplasmic incompatibility. These features make Wolbachia an effective agent of controlling insect populations, as previously reported in different mosquito species. Likewise, the bacteria have also shown promising ability to interfere with the ability of mosquitoes to transmit several viral pathogens. This study was conducted to fill an existing knowledge gap on the prevalence of Wolbachia in different tick species …
Cloning And Expression Of Human Synaptosome Associated Protein 29 In E. Coli, Logan M. Ryals
Cloning And Expression Of Human Synaptosome Associated Protein 29 In E. Coli, Logan M. Ryals
Honors Theses
Acting as the chief mediators of vesicular fusion, soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) play a role in many intracellular trafficking events by moving opposing membranes into close proximity. One such event takes place in the process of autophagy. A key SNARE involved in autophagy is Synaptosome Associated Protein 29 (SNAP-29), which acts on the autophagosome membrane to promote autophagosome and lysosome fusion. Kaposi’s Sarcoma Herpesvirus (KSHV) proteins ORF33 and ORF38 were demonstrated to interact with SNAP-29. The exact mechanism of this interaction is yet to be elucidated but it is hypothesized that these interactions allow KSHV to modulate …
The Effect Of Truncated Complement Constructs On Biofilm Formation, Protease Production, And Pigmentation, Cara L. Cothern
The Effect Of Truncated Complement Constructs On Biofilm Formation, Protease Production, And Pigmentation, Cara L. Cothern
Honors Theses
The msaABCR operon regulates virulence factors in Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive commensal organism that colonizes healthy individuals but can also be a human pathogen. These virulence factors include biofilm development, pigmentation, and extracellular protease production. The operon consists of the msaB gene, which produces a coding transcript, the msaA gene and the msaC gene, which produce noncoding RNAs, and msaR, which produces an antisense RNA. The latter three transcript regions of the operon are referred to as untranslated regions (UTRs) and are essential for the function of the operon, but only msaB encodes a protein. The mechanism of …
Amplification And Potential Transformation Of Human Syntaxin-17 Into Model E. Coli, Taylor H. Gore
Amplification And Potential Transformation Of Human Syntaxin-17 Into Model E. Coli, Taylor H. Gore
Honors Theses
Membrane fusion is key to organism homeostasis and occurs when a transport vesicle fuses with a target compartment, merging the two membranes into one while releasing the contents of the transport vesicle into the target compartment. This process is controlled by SNARE proteins. Syntaxin-17 protein plays a crucial role in the fusion of the autophagosome membrane with the lysosome membrane, allowing for degradation of misfolded intracellular components and pathogens. Intriguingly, Syntaxin 17 has been identified as a target of herpesvirus tegument proteins, although the pathological significance of the Syntaxin 17 and tegument protein interaction is unclear. As a first step …
Evaluating Biogenesis Of 5’-Tailed Mirtrons, Jonathan D. Hoover
Evaluating Biogenesis Of 5’-Tailed Mirtrons, Jonathan D. Hoover
Honors Theses
MicroRNAs are 22 nucleotide, non-coding RNAs that serve as substrates for Argonaute proteins to induce RNA interference pathways. Intron-derived miRNA precursors called “mirtrons” have been identified and classified primarily through deep sequencing methods. Unlike most miRNAs, mirtrons are derived from splicing events and also exhibit high levels of post-transcriptional nucleotide addition to hairpin precursors. Most relevant among these modifications is 3’ uridylation as it inhibits mirtron biogenesis in multiple model systems. Mirtrons may also possess additional nucleotides adjacent to the pre-miRNA hairpin at the 3’ and/or 5’ ends. These nucleotide “tails” are removed prior to Dicer cleaving the hairpin. In …
Assessing The Effect Of Bile And Oxygen Availability On The Redox Status Of Listeria Monocytogenes Strain F2365, Sukriti Bhattarai
Assessing The Effect Of Bile And Oxygen Availability On The Redox Status Of Listeria Monocytogenes Strain F2365, Sukriti Bhattarai
Honors Theses
Although bile is a bactericidal agent able to disrupt membrane structure and cellular homeostasis, including the induction of oxidative stress, Listeria can tolerate bile and also utilize it as a signal to enhance infection and virulence. Preliminary findings showed that under anaerobic conditions, exposure to bile significantly lowered the amount of oxidative damage present in bile-resistant strain F2365 cells. Similarly, Listeria further elicits an adaptive immune response, wherein pre-exposure of the bacterium to stress during food processing or in the host prior to entry into the intestine increases bile tolerance. Based on these previous studies, we hypothesized that bile induces …
A Comparison Of Egg Desiccation Tolerance And Development Under Different Temperatures For Three Common Aedes Mosquitoes, Shelby A. Hosch
A Comparison Of Egg Desiccation Tolerance And Development Under Different Temperatures For Three Common Aedes Mosquitoes, Shelby A. Hosch
Honors Theses
With the rise in global temperatures, invasive mosquito species like Aedes albopictus may be able to reach regions that were previously inhospitable to these species. Therefore, if A. albopictus were to potentially reach Puerto Rico, it would come into contact with the species of Aedes aegypti and Aedes mediovittatus in local containers, and it is unclear how the tropical temperatures and precipitation patterns would affect the co-occurrence of these three species. Egg desiccation and temperature dependent growth among the species were measured to test how these species hatched and developed during different humidity and temperature. It was hypothesized that there …
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Molecular Characterization Of Amblyomma Americanum Α-D-Galactosidase In Α-Gal Metabolism And Onset Of Red Meat Allergy, Ahmed A. Mohamed
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Molecular Characterization Of Amblyomma Americanum Α-D-Galactosidase In Α-Gal Metabolism And Onset Of Red Meat Allergy, Ahmed A. Mohamed
Honors Theses
Tick-borne red meat allergy is an IgE-mediated delayed hypersensitivity reaction, increasingly widespread in tick endemic areas in the United States of America, and worldwide. Bites from the lone-star tick (Amblyomma americanum) are believed to be involved as the source of the sensitization of humans to the oligosaccharide galactose-⍺-1,3-galactose (α-gal), which is found in most mammal-derived food products, including gelatin, broths, and red meat. The purpose of this study is to functionally characterize the lone-star tick α-D-galactosidase (AGS) enzyme and assess its role in α-gal metabolism. This enzyme cleaves terminal α-galactose moieties from glycoproteins and glycolipids. Hence, I hypothesized …
Investigating Roles For Rna Turnover Processes In Cell Signaling Through Drosophila Melanogaster Genetic Mosaics, Sudiksha Rathan Kumar
Investigating Roles For Rna Turnover Processes In Cell Signaling Through Drosophila Melanogaster Genetic Mosaics, Sudiksha Rathan Kumar
Honors Theses
The process of cell signaling is vital in organisms for proper development as it determines the fate and function of cells. This process is highly regulated by myriad interactions between signaling pathway components and gene expression mechanisms. RNA turnover is a type of RNA processing that degrades RNA. It plays an essential role in homeostasis and environmental changes; however, its influence on signaling pathways is currently unknown. In the present study, the effect of RNA turnover processes on cell signaling was analyzed using the genetic mosaics in Drosophila melanogaster. Fly mosaics were created by breeding RNAi lines targeting cellular …
Patterns Of Genomic Introgression In Topminnow Hybrid Zones, Amanda F. Ray
Patterns Of Genomic Introgression In Topminnow Hybrid Zones, Amanda F. Ray
Honors Theses
Hybridization and introgression are two important evolutionary mechanisms that can increase genetic diversity. Interesting introgression patterns can form when parental species have genes that confer some adaptive benefit to the organism. The Fundulus notatus species complex contains species with various identifying characterisics. Fundulus notatus, the blackstripe topminnow, and Fundulus olivaceus, the blackspotted topminnow, are closely related and occupy many of the same rivers in their preferred niches. These two species often hybridize and form hybrid zones where their niches overlap. We studied two hybrid zones located in the Tombigbee River and Spring River. Within each hybrid zone, we …
Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Are Sensitive To The Cytotoxicity Of Nitric Oxide: Biological Implications For Early Embryogenesis, Mckenzie C. Hargis
Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells Are Sensitive To The Cytotoxicity Of Nitric Oxide: Biological Implications For Early Embryogenesis, Mckenzie C. Hargis
Honors Theses
The early embryo, before implantation, is at a very vulnerable stage in development where it faces various inflammatory cytokines throughout the implantation process. In this stage, the cells in the blastocyst, the preimplantation stage embryo, must proliferate rapidly for tissue formation. However, it is known that inflammatory cytokines can inhibit cell proliferation. Previous studies have shown that embryonic stem cells (mESCs), the major cell component in the blastocyst, are unresponsive to treatments of tumor necrosis factor ⍺ (TNF⍺) and interferon 𝛾 (IFN𝛾), two inflammatory cytokines involved in the implantation process. Treatment of mESC-differentiated fibroblasts (mESC-FBs) with TNF⍺ and IFN𝛾 in …
The Effects Of Light On The Bacterial Biomass Of Decomposing Leaf Litter In Freshwater, Savannah L. Underwood
The Effects Of Light On The Bacterial Biomass Of Decomposing Leaf Litter In Freshwater, Savannah L. Underwood
Honors Theses
Recent evidence has suggested that the presence of light (and in conjuction, periphytic algae) stimulates the growth and production of bacteria on decaying plant litter. However, the current method of measuring bacterial biomass, flow cytometry, drastically underestimates the bacterial biomass levels associated with litter samples. To determine and correct for this underestimation, the present study determined conversion factors using direct counting methods via epifluorescence microscopy. These conversion factors were then applied to flow cytometry counts for seven different studies. The studies analyzed the effects of light and other covarying factors on the bacterial biomass associated with various samples of leaf …
Determining The Association Between Religious Participation And Spirituality And Diet And Physical Activity Behaviors In African Americans Of Mississippi, Nidhi Shrestha
Honors Theses
According to CDC, African Americans experience higher rates of chronic diseases when compared to other ethnic groups. Focusing on religiosity and spirituality may benefit the health status of this minority group where advanced healthcare facilities are not easily assessable. The purpose of this research is to 1. Examine demographic factors related to religiosity/spirituality factors among a sample of African American Mississippians; and 2. Determine the correlation between their religiosity, spirituality, and health behaviors. The study uses the data collected by the Mississippi INBRE Telenutrition Center at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Participants for this study were recruited from May …
Regulation Of Weak Acid-Dependent Cell Death By The Msaabcr Operon During Biofilm Formation Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Sarah-Elizabeth M. Polley
Regulation Of Weak Acid-Dependent Cell Death By The Msaabcr Operon During Biofilm Formation Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Sarah-Elizabeth M. Polley
Honors Theses
Staphylococcus aureus is a dangerous human pathogen and a leading cause of both nosocomial and community-associated infections. Infection by S. aureus is a growing health concern due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance and the capability to form robust biofilms. Major constituents of the biofilm extracellular matrix are demonstrated to be released via controlled autolysis of a subpopulation of the biofilm. As indicated in past studies, the programmed cell death (PCD) of S. aureus grown in a biofilm microenvironment is potentiated by the buildup of acetate, a byproduct of glucose metabolism, which causes cytoplasmic acidification. Furthermore, it has been shown …