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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
House Dust Mite Induced Gene Expression And Cytokine Secretion By Human Dermal Fibroblasts, Jananie Rockwood
House Dust Mite Induced Gene Expression And Cytokine Secretion By Human Dermal Fibroblasts, Jananie Rockwood
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House dust mites are a group of mites that are commonly found in homes worldwide. The three most commonly found species of house dust mites in temperate environments in the United States are Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Euroglyphus maynei. House dust mite allergens are strongly associated with asthma, perennial rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Whole dust mite extracts contain both allergen and non-allergen molecules that can influence cell functions in the skin, mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, and epithelial linings of the lungs. Extracts from the three different house dust mite species contain different molecules that induce different …
Characterization Of Hiv-1 Rev Mutants, Jennifer Lynn Chang
Characterization Of Hiv-1 Rev Mutants, Jennifer Lynn Chang
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The HIV Rev protein has the ability to bind tubulin heterodimers and depolymerize microtubules (MTs) in vitro (Watts et al. 2000). These interactions may account for MT defects observed in HIV infected cells or cells that over-express Rev. Watts et al. hypothesized Rev interacts with MTs by a mechanism shared with Kinesin-13 (Kin13) proteins owing to the presence of a shared amino acid sequence. Kin13 proteins are potent MT depolymerizing agents affecting MT behavior during mitosis. To test this hypothesis, point mutations were introduced into Rev substituting amino acids shared with Kin13. In this study, eight mutant Rev proteins (T34A, …
The Role Of Plant-Soil Feedback In Exotic Plant Invasion: Soil Type, Biotic Or Abiotic Factors?, Kelly Dawn Schradin
The Role Of Plant-Soil Feedback In Exotic Plant Invasion: Soil Type, Biotic Or Abiotic Factors?, Kelly Dawn Schradin
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Plants alter soil characteristics in many ways causing changes in their subsequent growth resulting in either positive or negative feedback on their own fitness. Plants in their native ranges typically experience negative feedback from natural enemies, while feedback is often positive in invaded ranges where they escape enemies, experience new beneficial mutualisms, or bring with them a novel biochemical weapon. I conducted a fully factorial greenhouse experiment to examine plant-soil feedback in the invasive shrub Lonicera maackii and whether or not positive feedback may contribute to its successful invasion in southern Ohio. I also investigated whether the sign and strength …
Expression Of Inflamatory Response Genes In Ferrets Challenged With H5n1 Avian Influenza Virus, Brock M. Miniard
Expression Of Inflamatory Response Genes In Ferrets Challenged With H5n1 Avian Influenza Virus, Brock M. Miniard
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Influenza A H5N1 has emerged as a potential to be the next pandemic influenza. Ferrets are a promising model of H5N1 infection because the disease progression is similar to that known in humans, however reagents to characterize infections in ferrets are few. We developed real-time PCR assays for the ferret cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-12p40, TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, TGFB-β1, and TGFB-β2. Forty-eight ferrets were vaccinated with either one of three vaccine formulations (Vaccine 1, Vaccine 2, or Vaccine 3), or saline (0.9% NaCl), then challenged intranasally with a lethal dose of H5N1 strain A/Vietnam/1203/04. Cytokine assays were then …
Examining The Relationship Between Garlic Mustard (Alliaria Petiolata) And European Earthworms, Alexandra M. Zelles
Examining The Relationship Between Garlic Mustard (Alliaria Petiolata) And European Earthworms, Alexandra M. Zelles
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Our goal was to characterize the interactive feedback between garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and European earthworm species in southwest Ohio. Earthworm community composition, abundance and biomass were compared between 0.1 m2 plots of garlic mustard, cut-leaved toothwort (Cardamine concatenate), wild ginger (Asarum canadense), or no plant cover. Exotic earthworms were present in the study site. Earthworm abundance and biomass did not correlate with garlic mustard percent cover. There was a greater density of earthworms in the fall than in the spring. Worm abundance differed between garlic mustard and wild ginger plots and cut-leaved …
Effects Of Conductivity And Fish Grazing On Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Of Littoral Periphyton, Samuel A. Drerup
Effects Of Conductivity And Fish Grazing On Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Of Littoral Periphyton, Samuel A. Drerup
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Littoral periphyton plays an important role in whole lake primary production and is a substantial contributor to whole lake energy budgets in moderately deep oligotrophic lakes. Under conditions of nutrient deficiency, members of the periphyton community supplement the available nutrient pool through the production of intracellular and extracellular enzymes. These enzymes are used to convert bio-unavailable forms of nitrogen and phosphorous to forms usable by the periphyton community. In this paper, I will investigate how conductivity and fish grazing affect periphyton production and phosphorus acquisition in both field and laboratory experiments.
Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe Cruciferarum) Affects The Allelopathic And Competitive Abilities Of Invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria Petiolata), Andrew Russell Officer
Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe Cruciferarum) Affects The Allelopathic And Competitive Abilities Of Invasive Garlic Mustard (Alliaria Petiolata), Andrew Russell Officer
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Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) has been previously found to be significantly affected negatively by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cruciferarum). While we could not significantly corroborate those findings we did find evidence that E. cruciferarum does inhibit A. petiolata's allelopathic and competitive effects which benefits some target neighbor species such as Impatiens capensis and Elymus canadensis. We also found that the inhibition of A. petiolata by E. cruciferarum had negative consequences on another neighboring invasive species (Lonicera maackii) compared to those grown next to uninfected A. petiolata. Acer saccharum, a slow-growing species had no effect between neighbors. Sterilization treatments had variable effects …
Trading Resistance For Vigor: A Potential Mechanism For Invasion By The Asian Grass Microstegium Vimineum, Matthew Dickinson
Trading Resistance For Vigor: A Potential Mechanism For Invasion By The Asian Grass Microstegium Vimineum, Matthew Dickinson
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The Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability (EICA) hypothesis predicts that subsequent to introduction, non-native plants escape enemies and selection favors genotypes that invest more in growth and reproduction and less in resistance. Here, I evaluated if the invasive Asian grass Microstegium vimineum has developed decreased resistance in its introduced range of the eastern US, as predicted by the EICA hypothesis. Asian and US genotypes were evaluated for differences in enemy damage, leaf toughness, specific leaf area (SLA), and flowering in a common garden experiment. Leaf damage, SLA, and flower production were greater and leaf toughness lower in US plants. These …
Regulation Of Mitosis By Nuclear Speckle Proteins, Keshia Nicole Torres-Munoz
Regulation Of Mitosis By Nuclear Speckle Proteins, Keshia Nicole Torres-Munoz
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Mitosis is an intricate process that is monitored by multiple cell cycle regulator proteins. Errors in mitotic regulation have been linked to many types of cancer. Recently, evidence suggests an indirect regulation of mitosis by nuclear speckle proteins. Nuclear speckles are one of the multiple compartments found in the mammalian cell nucleus. They serve as assembly compartments for premRNA processing factors. Mass spectrometry analysis of purified nuclear speckles revealed 33 novel proteins including Son and TRAP150. The aim of my study was to determine how Son and TRAP150 can directly or indirectly impact mitosis. We and others recently reported that …