Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Molecular Analysis Of Mchm Toxicity In Zebrafish, Cassandra Pelton

Honors College Theses

In early 2014 Freedom Industries, located in Charleston, WV, leaked approximately 10,000 gallons of 4-methylcyclohexane methanol into the Elk River. This river serviced approximately 300,000 people as a source of municipal water. Its effects on the people and surrounding wildlife is largely unknown.

Chemicals in surface runoff have the potential to induce aquatic animal trait changes, such as altered movement and feeding, that can ultimately alter predator-prey dynamics in aquatic systems. However, chemicals with high potential to enter aquatic systems, like 4-methylcyclohexane methanol (MCHM) used to clean coal, were tested using only short-term, single-species studies prior to use. Data from …

Examining The Mechanistic Roles Of Integrin Alpha-6 In Cancer Metastasis., Chase T. Clark

Honors College Theses

Metastasis- the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to the surrounding tissues- is responsible for 90% of cancer deaths. Integrin alpha-6 (ITGA6) is a specific transmembrane cell surface protein that functions in cell surface adhesion and signaling. ITGA6 is upregulated in many types of cancers and promotes the migration and invasion of cancer cells to surrounding tissues. It is my objective to determine the mechanism through which ITGA6 facilitates the migration of cancer cells through the extracellular matrix (ECM). These experiments helped to establish the role of ITGA6 in tumor development and provide focus for possible chemotherapeutic treatment. …

Presence Of Dirofilaria Immitis In Mosquitoes In Southeastern Georgia, Angelica C. Tumminello

Honors College Theses

Canine heartworm disease is caused by the filarial nematode Dirofilaria immitis, which is transmitted by at least 25 known species of mosquito vectors. This study sought to understand which species of mosquitoes are present in Bulloch County, Georgia, and which species are transmitting canine heartworm disease. This study also investigated whether particular canine demographics correlated with a greater risk of heartworm disease. Surveillance of mosquitoes was conducted in known heartworm-positive canine locations using traditional gravid trapping and vacuum sampling. Mosquito samples were frozen until deemed inactive, then identified by species and sex. The mosquitoes were then either dissected under …

Discovery And Optimization Of Anti-Cancer Properties Of Traditional Herbal Medicines Using Zebrafish-Human Tumor Xenografts, Ashleigh M. Solheim

Honors College Theses

Cancer is one of the most well-known diseases around the world. It hurts everyone in some way, whether they have it themselves or they know someone that is diagnosed. But the problem is not just this brutal disease, the problem is its invasive treatments. The most common treatments for cancer have harmful and painful side-effects that occur in most cases. As a solution to invasive cancer treatments, this experiment is testing herbal medications Neem, Nilavembu, Ashwagandha and Tulsi as potential nontoxic cancer treatments. First, the maximum tolerable dosage for each herbal agent was found. This dosage was used for the …

Identification Of Bird-Associated Nonpoint Sources Of Microbial Contamination In Sediments, Savannah D. Mullins

Honors College Theses

Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), such as Enterococci, are commonly used to monitor the microbial contamination of recreational beach waters based on standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Sediment and sand may also harbor FIB and reintroduce these bacteria to the water column. Enterococci may be originated from various non-point sources such as humans and wildlife. Recent literature has shown that avian feces also harbor high concentrations of Enterococci. The purpose of this study is identify the relationship between Enterococci and avian-associated markers in sediments. Sediment samples were collected monthly from four sites at Kings Ferry Beach in …

Analysis Of Genes Encoded By A Chromosomal Insert In Rickettsia Philipii, Sydney A. Wright

Honors College Theses

Background: Spotted Fever group rickettsiae are obligate intracellular arthropod-borne bacteria. Rickettsiae are globally distributed yet typically confined to the distribution of their vector(s). Rickettsia rickettsii and Rickettsia philipii are closely related human pathogens endemic to the United States and cause similar febrile illness with differing morbidity and mortality. Genomic comparison found the presence of a 19 kilobase insert containing eleven genes in Rickettsia philipii. The functions of proteins encoded by this insert are speculated to affect virulence and pathogenicity.

Materials and Methods: Bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify functional motifs in four proteins encoded by the insert. Homologous proteins …

The Behavioral Response Of Mosquitoes To Different Snake Odors, Caitlyn E. Hicks

Honors College Theses

Due to it causing high mortality rates, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEEV) is considered to be one of the most medically important encephalitic viruses in the Eastern United States. In order to be able to control the transmission of this virus, understanding of vector behavior and feeding preferences is necessary. In this study, the response of Culex nigripalpus to different snake skin odors was tested to determine if this species of mosquito responded to particular snake species. Culex nigripalpus showed the greatest response to Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and Cottonmouth (A. piscivorus) snakes, as compared to other venomous …

Blow Fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Responses To Different Colors Of Baited Traps, Oluwadamilola Olufunso Oke

Honors College Theses

Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are usually the first insects to colonize human remains. By determining the time of colonization, a postmortem interval (PMI), or “time of death”, can be estimated. To develop more accurate PMI estimates, it is important for forensic entomologists to understand the cues that Blow flies use to locate vertebrate remains. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Blow flies use visual cues, in addition to olfactory cues, to locate carrion. Two colors of fly traps, clear and green, were constructed and chicken gizzard used as bait. Three Blow fly species exhibited a significant preference …

Identification Guide To Larval Stages Of Ticks Of Medical Importance In The Usa, Kymbreana Coley

Honors College Theses

Scanning Electron Micrographs were prepared of four morphologically diagnostic regions (dorsal capitulum, ventral capitulum, scutum, leg coxae) for the larval stage of the 16 species of ixodid (hard) ticks known to parasitize humans in the USA. These species are: Amblyomma americanum, A. maculatum, A. mixtum, A. tuberculatum, Dermacentor albipictus, D. andersoni, D. occidentalis, D. variabilis, Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, Ixodes angustus, I. cookei, I. pacificus, I. scapularis, I. spinipalpis, I. texanus, and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Based on the morphological characters observed, a dichotomous identification key to ixodid larvae that parasitize humans in the USA was prepared. Common names, hosts and geographical distributions are …