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Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
Determining The Key Residues For Capsule Production In The Gbs Cpsa Protein, Anna Struba
Determining The Key Residues For Capsule Production In The Gbs Cpsa Protein, Anna Struba
Honors College
Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) is a common bacterium found commensally in the vaginal mucosa of healthy adults. GBS also causes severe infection in neonates, often leading to meningitis, which can cause lifelong health consequences including impaired hearing and seizures. Infection of newborns mainly arises from a colonized mother, either before birth through ascending infection or during labor. Ascending infection, where the bacteria travel to the fetus from the vaginal mucosa, is especially concerning as it can lead to loss of pregnancy or premature birth. The most common method of neonatal GBS disease prevention is antibiotic prophylaxis during delivery, though this method …
Evolutionary And Molecular Analysis Of Conserved Vertebrate Immunity To Fungi, Erin Carter
Evolutionary And Molecular Analysis Of Conserved Vertebrate Immunity To Fungi, Erin Carter
Honors College
The innate immune system is highly conserved amongst all multicellular organisms. Yet a constant battle exists between host cells and pathogens due to the rapid evolution of immune system components. Functional genomics and in silico methods can be employed to elucidate the evolutionary patterns of vertebrate immunity to pathogenic fungi such as Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen that can cause lethal candidiasis in the immunocompromised. Mammals such as humans and mice possess conserved C-type lectin receptors that recognize the C. albicans cell wall. However, these receptors have not been identified in fish. Here I describe how we identified potential …
The Role Of Traf2 In Zebrafish, Bradie N. Manion
The Role Of Traf2 In Zebrafish, Bradie N. Manion
Honors College
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor 2 (Traf2) is suspected to be involved in the anti-apoptotic pathways of the innate immune system in the zebrafish. The expression of three different forms of Traf2, 2a1, 2a2, and 2b, was knocked down in pairs using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides in zebrafish embryos. A rescue was attempted by knocking down a potential receptor for the Traf2 to pathway. After infection with snakehead rhabdovirus (SHRV), mortality was quantified and the apoptotic effects of each of the Traf2 genes was assessed. Cell death was quantified using the TUNEL technique. The findings indicated that at least …
In Vivo Imaging Of Transport And Biocompatibility Of Single Silver Nanoparticles In Early Development Of Zebrafish Embryos, Kerry J. Lee, Prakash D. Nallathamby, Lauren M. Browning, Christopher J. Osgood, Xiao-Hong Nancy Xu
In Vivo Imaging Of Transport And Biocompatibility Of Single Silver Nanoparticles In Early Development Of Zebrafish Embryos, Kerry J. Lee, Prakash D. Nallathamby, Lauren M. Browning, Christopher J. Osgood, Xiao-Hong Nancy Xu
Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications
Real-time study of the transport and biocompatibility of nanomaterials in early embryonic development at single-nanoparticle resolution can offer new knowledge about the delivery and effects of nanomaterials in vivo, and provide new insights into molecular transport mechanisms in developing embryos. In this study, we directly characterized the transport of single silver nanoparticles into an in vivo model system (zebrafish embryos) and investigated their effects on early embryonic development at single-nanoparticle resolution in real time. We designed highly purified and stable (not aggregated and no photodecomposition) nanoparticles and developed single-nanoparticle optics and in vivo assays to enable the study. We …