Life Sciences Commons^™

The Genetic Architecture And Evolution Of Brain Cortical Folding In A Pedigreed Primate Population, Elizabeth Grace Atkinson

Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Elevated neurological faculty, related to the dramatic increase in brain volume, is a hallmark of the primates. Cognitive capacity, the processing power and speed of the brain, is directly related to the number of neurons in the cerebral cortex and the connectivity network underlying information processing in the brain. Increased cortical folding (gyrification) allows for more neurons to be contained within the volume of the braincase and the arrangement of folds and ridges across the cerebral cortex is an indication of the underlying neural network connecting regions. The goal of this dissertation is to develop a better understanding of the …

Two Genetic Effects At The Irf5/ Tnpo3 Locus Are Independently Associated With The Development Of Specific Lupus Symptoms, Samantha Hawtrey

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that can affect every tissue in the body. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IRF5 and TNPO3 genes are statistically associated with the development of SLE. My research identified correlations between IRF5/TNPO3 SNPs and specific lupus symptoms. Logistic regression analyses were conducted using 101 genetic variants in the IRF5/TNPO3 region that were genotyped in over 6,000 lupus patients of different ethnicities, with admixture covariates applied. Three clinical phenotypes displayed significant correlation (p < 1.6x10-5) in subjects of European ancestry. For each of these phenotypes, a step-wise conditional analysis was conducted using two lupus associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at this genetic loci. In Europeans, lupus disease onset (p-valueEU=2.44x10-16, OR=0.67*) and the presence of anti-Ro (p-valueEU=2.09x10-7, OR=0.67) and anti-dsDNA (p-valueEU=4.15x10-7, OR=0.75) antibodies were associated with SNPs in the IRF5/TNPO3 genes. SNPs in the IRF5 promoter and those spanning IRF5 and TNPO3 were both associated with disease onset. The presence of anti-Ro and anti-dsDNA antibodies is only associated with SNPs in the IRF5 promoter. Genetic variants at the IRF5/TNPO3 locus are associated with lupus disease onset and production of anti-dsDNA and anti-Ro antibodies in lupus patients. SNPs in the promoter region of iii IRF5 (associated with rs4728142) and SNPs spanning the IRF5 and TNPO3 genes (associated with rs12534421) contribute independently to these symptoms.

Population Genetics Of The Western Toad (Bufo Boreas) In The Central Valley Of California, Morgan Murrell

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

A worldwide decline in amphibian populations has intensified the need for data comparing the influence of habitats on population dynamics and the potential for local extinction. From a conservation perspective it is important to understand the connections between ecology, geography, and genetics across landscapes that are increasingly affected by human influences and other uncontrollable environmental events such as climate change. The purpose of this study is to examine the landscape-level genetic patterns of Western toads, Bufo (Anaxyrus) boreas, and to conclude if gene flow is occurring between ponds. This will allow conservation practitioners to understand geographic features that might impede …

A Novel Rcc1-Like Protein Is A Crucial Regulator Of The Intraerythrocytic Cycle Of The Human Malaria Parasite, Plasmodium Falciparum., Marcus Davon Skaflen

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

Malaria is a deadly infection caused by a single celled protozoan of the Plasmodium genus. Plasmodium spp. are transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, and initially invade the liver, but the disease is caused by the blood stage of the infection. Approximately 500 million cases of malaria are documented annually and over 1 million of those result in death. Plasmodium falciparum is the most lethal of five species known to infect humans. To further compound this problem, drug-resistant parasite strains have been documented for every currently available antimalarial drug, making the need to identify new drug targets more urgent than ever. …

Effects Of Excitation Pressure On Variegation And Global Gene Expression In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Rainer Bode

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

I assessed the effects of photosystem II excitation pressure on chloroplast biogenesis and leaf sectoring in the Arabidopsis thaliana variegated mutants im, spotty, var1, var2, chs5 and atd2. The plants were grown under varying degrees of excitation pressure induced by growth at increasing irradiance at different temperatures and the extent of variegation was quantified throughout the plant’s development. I found that the degree of variegation was positively correlated with excitation pressure, regardless of whether high light or low temperature was used to induce increased excitation pressure in all the mutants tested. This was irrespective of …

Toward Target 2 Of The Global Strategy For Plant Conservation: An Expert Analysis Of The Puerto Rican Flora To Validate New Streamlined Methods For Assessing Conservation Status, James S. Miller, Gary A. Krupnick, Hannah Stevens, Holly Porter-Morgan, Brian Boom, Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, James Ackerman, Duane Kolterman, Eugenio Santiago, Christian Torres, Jeanine Velez

Publications and Research

Target 2 of the 2020 Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) calls for a comprehensive list of the world's threatened plant species. The lack of such a list is one of the greatest impediments to protecting the full complement of the world's plant species, and work to achieve this has been slow. An efficient system for identifying those species that are at risk of extinction could help to achieve this goal in a time frame sensitive to today's conservation needs. Two systems that efficiently use available data to assess conservation status were tested against a provisional International Union for Conservation …

Foraging Ecology, Sexual Selection, And Divergence In Sunfish (Lepomis Spp.), Scott F. Colborne

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The origins of novel traits and their contribution to biodiversity have long been of interest to biologists. My research focused on the links between foraging ecology and both natural and sexual selection, and how these mechanisms interact to shape the phenotypic diversification of natural populations. Using bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus), I examined three major questions: 1) how are diet and morphological variation related to alternative reproductive tactics in bluegill; 2) are sexual selection and disruptive selection driving divergence between foraging ecomorphs in pumpkinseed; and 3) how are human-induced changes to prey communities …

Cellular Roles Of Dna Polymerase Beta, Sreerupa Ray, Miriam-Rose Menezes, Ali Senejani, Joann Balazs Sweasy

Biology and Environmental Science Faculty Publications

Since its discovery and purification in 1971, DNA polymerase ß (Pol ߆) is one of the most well-studied DNA polymerases. Pol ß is a key enzyme in the base excision repair (BER) pathway that functions in gap filling DNA synthesis subsequent to the excision of damaged DNA bases. A major focus of our studies is on the cellular roles of Pol ß. We have shown that germline and tumor-associated variants of Pol ß catalyze aberrant BER that leads to genomic instability and cellular transformation. Our studies suggest that Pol ß is critical for the maintenance of genomic stability and that …

Mitochondrial Dysfunction And Reactive Oxygen Species In Neurodegeneration, Leah Farina

Honors Theses

Neurodegeneration leads to the loss of normal anatomy and physiology of the neuronal system in a human body. The hallmark of most neurodegenerative diseases is abnormal folding and accumulation of proteins within neuronal cell bodies that is not present in healthy people. These changes in normal protein metabolism often lead to neuronal cell death and failure of the affected regions of the central nervous system. Abnormal protein accumulation may be attributed to dysfunctional mitochondria and damage by reactive oxygen species. In addition to causing altered protein accumulation, dysfunctional mitochondria and an excess of reactive oxygen species also lead to errors …

Fumarate Inhibits Tnf-Α Release, Megan Kelly

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Vertebrates utilize two forms of immunity to combat pathogens. Innate immunity is considered the first line of defense that utilizes immediate action and three barriers. Innate immunity responses typically occur within minutes of pathogen exposure resulting in cellular receptor activation and acute pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Inflammatory macrophages engage bacterial endotoxins, including Gram-negative lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Gram-positive lipoteichoic acid (LTA). And respond by releasing tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). While beneficial for neutralizing acute pathogen exposure, prolonged TNF-α release results in chronic inflammation and tissue damage. In the present study, we examined two methylated derivatives of a citric acid cycle intermediate, fumarate, …

Functional Environmental Screening Of A Metagenomic Library Identifies Stla; A Unique Salt Tolerance Locus From The Human Gut Microbiome, Roy D. Sleator, Et. Al.

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Functional environmental screening of metagenomic libraries is a powerful means to identify and assign function to novel genes and their encoded proteins without any prior sequence knowledge. In the current study we describe the identification and subsequent analysis of a salt-tolerant clone from a human gut metagenomic library. Following transposon mutagenesis we identified an unknown gene (stlA, for “salt tolerance locus A”) with no current known homologues in the databases. Subsequent cloning and expression in Escherichia coli MKH13 revealed that stlA confers a salt tolerance phenotype in its surrogate host. Furthermore, a detailed in silico analysis was also …

Evolution And Functional Morphology Of The Cephalic Lobes In Batoids, Samantha Lynn Mulvany

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cephalic lobes are unique structures derived from the anterior pectoral fins, found in select myliobatid stingrays. Many benthic batoids utilize undulatory locomotion and use their pectoral fins for both locomotion and prey capture. Pelagic myliobatids that possess cephalic lobes utilize oscillatory locomotion, using their pectoral fins to locomote and their cephalic lobes for prey capture. Despite differences in habitat usage and locomotor modes, these batoids feed on very similar benthic organisms. The purpose of this study was to 1.) compare the morphology of the cephalic lobes and anterior pectoral fins in lobed and lobeless species, looking at skeletal elements, musculature …

Life In Groups: The Roles Of Oxytocin In Mammalian Sociality, Allison M.J. Anacker, Annaliese K. Beery

Psychology: Faculty Publications

In recent decades, scientific understanding of the many roles of oxytocin (OT) in social behavior has advanced tremendously. The focus of this research has been on maternal attachments and reproductive pair-bonds, and much less is known about the substrates of sociality outside of reproductive contexts. It is now apparent that OT influences many aspects of social behavior including recognition, trust, empathy, and other components of the behavioral repertoire of social species. This review provides a comparative perspective on the contributions of OT to life in mammalian social groups. We provide background on the functions of OT in maternal attachments and …

The Effect Of Testosterone On The Spring Migratory Phenotype Of A North American Songbird (Zonotrichia Albicollis), Caitlin L. Vandermeer

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

In passerines, the endocrine modulators responsible for seasonal changes in migratory behaviour and physiology are unclear. Spring photoperiods alter androgen levels, influencing muscle mass and fat deposition rates to power migration, as well as enhance nocturnal migratory restlessness activity (Zugunruhe). My study compared physiological indicators and migratory restlessness in castrated and intact white-throated sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) following photoperiod and hormone manipulation. Nocturnal restlessness activity was highest in migratory intact males or migratory castrated males that received testosterone replacement. Liver mass decreased in all photostimulated migratory groups regardless of testosterone treatment. Likewise, oxidative enzyme activity was unrelated to testosterone, …

The Evolution Of Floral Symmetry Across The Plant Order Lamiales, Jinshun Zhong

Dissertations

Bilaterally symmetrical corollas have evolved independently numerous times from radially symmetrical ancestors and are thought to represent adaptation to specific pollinators. However, evolutionary losses of bilateral symmetry have occurred sporadically in different lineages. CYC2-like and RAD-like are genes needed for the normal development of bilateral symmetry in snapdragon corollas. However, exactly how changes in the floral symmetry patterning genes correlate with the origin and loss of floral bilateral remains poorly known. To address this question, a densely sampled phylogeny of CYC2-like genes across the order Lamiales was inferred and calibrated. The expression patterns of these genes in early diverging and …

Genetic Sex Conditions And Redefining Sex, Jayce O'Shields

Student Scholarship

Western culture has a tendency to value binaries and discreet categories that separate its social structure and provide a sense of order and organization. The value placed on binaries and categories may be advantageous in some aspects, but when it starts to infringe upon the legal and medical rights of individuals not easily placed in either binary category, it can become less advantageous.

A baby is usually classified as either male or female shortly after birth, and all future legal, social, and economic actions and rights of that individual are more or less decided according to this classification. A problem …

Elucidating The Factors That Modulate The Distribution Of Avian Haemosporida Parasites Across A Community Of Hosts, Matthew Christopher Ikaika Medeiros

Dissertations

Parasites are heterogeneously distributed across host species, host populations, and host individuals within populations. A primary aim of infectious disease ecology seeks to uncover the factors that drive this heterogeneity. At a fundamental level, host infection is determined by exposure and susceptibility to a pathogen. My dissertation explores how evolutionary and ecological forces associated with these fundamental determinates of infection shape variation in parasite host breadth and host infection status. Here, I focus on a community of vector-borne avian Haemosporida parasites among suburban birds of Chicago, IL. These parasites exhibit strong variation in their distribution among available hosts, and provide …

Exploring The Local And Regional Effects Of Plant Diversity On Plant Herbivore Interactions, Diego Salazar

Dissertations

The study of biological diversity and its effects on ecosystem functioning and species interactions has always been a fundamental part of biology. The accelerating loss of species in conjunction with an increasing change in the natural environment has underlined the importance of the role that biodiversity has on the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of natural systems. In this dissertation I explore the effect of local and regional patterns of plant diversity in plant-herbivore interactions. Furthermore, this work goes beyond the classical concepts of taxonomical diversity and investigates the role of phylogenetic and chemical diversity on plant-herbivore interactions. In chapter one …

The Response Of Naive Channel Catfish To Chemical Cues Associated With Predation, Marinda Coulter

Theses and Dissertations

The chemosensory abilities of fishes, are important in order to understand how prey can perceive and avoid predators. Predator-naïve Channel catfish were exposed to four extracts over eight sessions (naïve bass water (NBW), bass that were fed catfish water (BFCW), catfish skin extract (CS), and naïve bass water paired with catfish skin extract (CO)) to determine whether they have an innate predator response to potential chemical cues indicating possible predation risk. Movement was quantified as grid squares crossed, directional changes, and tail beats. Response increased during the first minute following stimulus injection and decreased during the second minute. Channel catfish …

Geoexes - My Dos Executables - Use At Your Own Risk, George Mcnamara

George McNamara

The downloadable ZIP file contains old Turbo Pascal programs I wrote. These ran in Microscoft DOS and in early Windows (ex. Windows 3.1) DOS shells. They may or may not work in recent (Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7) cmd or command "shells". No warranty. Use at your own risk. I do not expect to ever program in Turbo Pascal again so if anyone wants to "take over" my old code (and adjust copyirght notices, warnings, etc), please email me. In particular, MATH.exe had 10,000 lines of pascal code in it. Another program is LUTSconv.exe which converted Fractint MAP lookup tables …

Who's Your Daddy? A Study Of Extra-Pair Copulation And Mating Behaviors Of Protonotaria Citrea, Morton Catherine Heidrich

Theses and Dissertations

Mating behavior has a profound impact on reproductive success and the resulting genetic structure of offspring. Extra-pair copulation is a widely observed behavior within avian species. This study explored the genetic effects of mating behaviors of Prothonotary warblers, Protonotaria citrea (Parulidae), using co-dominant microsatellite markers. Prothonotary warblers are migratory songbirds that build nests in cavities, commonly found in wetland habitats. A set of artificial nest boxes were initiated by Dr Robert Reilly in 2002 in Dutch Gap, Chesterfield County Virginia, USA, a tidal tributary off the James River. From this population, 28 nest boxes were surveyed yielding 47 adults and …

Mechanisms Of Neuroprotection Against Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss Using An In Vivo Glaucoma Model, Kevin Heinze

Honors Theses

Glaucoma is an incurable ocular disease characterized by apoptotic cell death and degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), and is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide (Quigley and Broman, 2006; Quigley et al., 1995). While current treatments are effective at slowing vision loss, glaucoma’s multifactorial etiology has made it difficult for researchers to identify a target for treatment that will permanently halt RGC degeneration. Previous studies have proposed a glutamate-induced excitotoxic mechanism of RGC death in glaucoma, and neuroprotective agents have been investigated to prevent this effect. One agent, acetylcholine, has been shown to initiate pro-survival signaling cascades …

Transformation Of Stimulus Correlations By The Retina, Kristina D. Simmons, Jason Prentice, Gašper Tkačik, Jan Homann, Heather K. Yee, Stephanie E. Palmer, Philip C. Nelson, Vijay Balasubramanian

Publications and Research

Redundancies and correlations in the responses of sensory neurons may seem to waste neural resources, but they can also carry cues about structured stimuli and may help the brain to correct for response errors. To investigate the effect of stimulus structure on redundancy in retina, we measured simultaneous responses from populations of retinal ganglion cells presented with natural and artificial stimuli that varied greatly in correlation structure; these stimuli and recordings are publicly available online. Responding to spatio-temporally structured stimuli such as natural movies, pairs of ganglion cells were modestly more correlated than in response to white noise checkerboards, but …

Immunolocalization Of An Amino-Terminal Fragment Of Apolipoprotein E In The Pick's Disease Brain, Troy T. Rohn, Ryan J. Day, Lindsey W. Catlin, Raquel J. Brown, Alexander J. Rajic, Wayne W. Poon

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Although the risk factor for apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been well described, the role that apoE plays in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Pick's disease, is not well established. To examine a possible role of apoE in Pick's disease, an immunohistochemical analysis was performed utilizing a novel site-directed antibody that is specific for an amino-terminal fragment of apoE. Application of this antibody, termed the amino-terminal apoE cleavage fragment (nApoECF) antibody, consistently labeled Pick bodies within area CA1 of the hippocampus in 4 of the 5 cases examined. Co-localization of the nApoECF antibody with PHF-1, a general …

Much Work Still To Be Done To Prevent Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, Kevin T. Kavanagh, Lindsay Calderon, Daniel Saman

Biological Sciences Faculty and Staff Research

Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSI) are all too common and often fatal events. To estimate the number of preventable CLABSIs, the authors analyzed SIR (Standardized Infection Ratio) and the number of CLABSI data from Hospital Com-pare. Several studies have suggested that an SIR of 0.35 may be achievable. If all institutions were able to perform at this level, then almost 50% of CLABSI would be prevented.

Transcriptional Regulation Of The Porcine Gnrh Receptor Gene By Glucocorticoids, Chanho Lee

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Binding of GnRH to its receptor (GnRHR) stimulates the synthesis and secretion of the gonadotropins, as well as up-regulation of GnRHR. Thus, the interaction between GnRH and GnRHR represents a central point for regulation of reproduction. Glucocorticoids alter reproduction by reducing GnRH responsiveness of gonadotropes within the anterior pituitary gland, potentially via transcriptional regulation of the GnRHR gene. Investigation into this mechanism, however, revealed that the murine GnRHR gene was stimulated by glucocorticoids. To determine the effect of glucocorticoids on porcine GnRHR gene expression, gonadotrope-derived αT3-1 cells were transiently transfected with a vector containing 5118 bp of 5’ flanking sequence …

Wood Decomposition In A Warmer World, Emily Elizabeth Austin

Doctoral Dissertations

Climatic warming is altering species distributions and ecosystem functions across the globe. Wood is an important carbon pool and the fungal communities in wood are relatively simple compared to those in soil. These factors make decomposing wood an ideal system for exploring the influence of decomposer community on the response of decomposition to warming. My research has focused on the effects of warming wood decomposition rates and wood decomposing communities. Using field and lab- based manipulative experiments and field observations I explore the influence of tree species, wood decomposition stage, geography and warming on fungal community structure and activity. In …

Census And Mapping Of Chorro Creek Bog Thistle In Reservoir Canyon, San Luis Obispo, Ca, Tyler Michael Lutz

Biological Sciences

Chorro Creek bog thistle (Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense) is a federally endangered variety of Fountain thistle endemic to western San Luis Obispo County. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service knows of nineteen populations, many with multiple colonies. A population was discovered in the Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve in 2001, but has not been monitored or described since the time of its discovery. In fall of 2013, a census of the population was performed, the four colonies were mapped, and a floristic survey was conducted. A field experiment was initiated to determine if reducing the riparian canopy coverage can …

Native Plant Establishment Success Influenced By Centaurea Stoebe Control Method, Laurelin Marie Martin

Masters Theses

Invasive species frequently hinder restoration efforts. While the effectiveness of differing control methods are often reported, the impacts these methods have on the establishment of a native plant community are often unknown. To determine methods that effectively reduce spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) while enhancing native species establishment, we tested 12 treatment combinations consisting of an initial site preparation (mowing, mowing + clopyralid, or mowing + glyphosate), with combinations of annual adult knapweed hand pulling, and/or burning. We established 48 plots and applied site preparation treatments during summer 2008, seeded 23 native forbs and grasses during spring 2009, pulled …

Cross Amplification Of Microsatellite Loci Developed For Atractosteus Spatula In Atractosteus Tropicus, Sandra Bohn, Enrique Barraza, Caleb Mcmahan, Brian Kreiser

Faculty Publications

Due to recent population declines in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus), a greater understanding of its population structure is needed. A key step in gaining this understanding is the development of microsatellite loci for use in this species. For this purpose, 33 microsatellite loci from alligator gar (A. spatula) were screened in 52 individuals from a population in Zanjón del Chino, El Salvador. Twenty-five of these loci successfully amplified in this species, and 9 of those loci were polymorphic in this population. These loci should provide a useful tool for genotyping A. tropicus, both in studying …