Life Sciences Commons^™

Diversity Of Small Rna Expression During Zebrafish Caudal Fin Regeneration, Jefferson Adams

Honors College

Over the years microRNA have been shown to play a role in the regulation of genes involved in regeneration of zebrafish (Danio rerio) tissues. However, recent research suggest that there may be other types of small RNA that play a regulatory role in these regenerative processes. For the most part these other small RNA (sRNA), such as transfer RNA (tRNA) derived fragments, ribosomal RNA (rRNA) derived fragments, and small nucleolar RNA, are disregarded. Here I analyzed the expression pattern of these sRNA during the regeneration of the zebrafish caudal fin. High-throughput sequencing was used to characterize the expression of small …

Preliminary Analysis Of Β-Methylamino-L-Alanine Interactions With Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Zebrafish Models, Elizabeth Pflugradt

Honors College

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a terminal neurodegenerative disease

with symptoms including limb-onset muscle wasting, difficulties swallowing and breathing, leading to death. Sporadic ALS occurs in 90% of patients, while 10% of cases are familial (FALS). Twenty percent of FALS cases are a result of mutation in the copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene, leading to the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Meanwhile, a prominent cause of sporadic ALS is exposure to neurotoxins, such as β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA). BMAA has been suggested to induce selective motor neuron death, which is observed in ALS patients. While research has been done to how …

Innate Immune Recognition Of Candida Albicans In Zebrafish, Monique Elaine Theriault

Honors College

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that has the capability to switch from commensal to pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. Recognition of pathogens, like C. albicans, during infection is poorly characterized primarily due to the difficulties in visualizing the host/pathogen interaction without killing the host. Transparent animal hosts, such as Danio rerio (zebrafish), enable imaging of pathogen recognition while maintaining host viability. For pathogen recognition, zebrafish likely use immune receptors similar to mammalian receptors including C-type lectin receptors. Human C-type lectin receptors have already been shown to be crucial in recognition of fungal pathogens like C. albicans, and our goal …