Digital Commons Network^™

Sexual Di(Et)Morphism: Using Experimental Evolution To Test Whether Resource Partitioning Promotes Divergence Of The Sexes In Drosophila Melanogaster, Owen A. Jamieson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Sexual dimorphism has been a long-studied phenomenon in the field of evolutionary biology. Usually, these differences in morphology, physiology and/or behaviour between the sexes are studied through the parsimonious lens of sexual selection. However, there are natural history cases where this lens does not seem applicable. Some species show sex specific morphological traits whose presence may not be due to a direct benefit to reproduction, but a difference in how each sex interacts with the environment and differing selective pressures from the environment on either sex. Darwin even brought up examples of this kind of dimorphism and pondered their existence, …

Leveraging Mammal Mycophagy To Determine Environmental Drivers Of Truffle Diversity, Brittany Hartsock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many mycorrhizal fungi are hypogeous (truffle-forming), producing underground fruiting bodies. Studying truffles is inherently challenging due to their hidden nature. However, mycophagous mammals provide a unique opportunity to study hypogeous fungi because they rely on truffles as a food source. Although several truffle species have recently been described in the southern Appalachian region, their fruiting patterns remain poorly understood. To address this, we quantified truffle richness and spore loads from 670 Peromyscus scat samples collected across 42 sites spanning an environmental gradient during 2024 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee. We found that truffle richness and spore abundance …

Radiological And Chemical Safety Assessment Of Drinking Water From Treatment Plants And Rivers In Kut City, Iraq, Ahmed A. Alswaty, Hadi D. Alattabi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Climate change and increasing anthropogenic activities, particularly wastewater discharge into rivers, have raised pollution levels in the water sources of Kut City, necessitating an assessment of the radiological and chemical safety of drinking water at the city's treatment plants. Thirteen water samples were collected, comprising ten treated and three raw water samples from the source rivers. An HPGe detector was used to measure the radionuclides ²¹⁴Bi, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹²Bi, ²¹²Pb, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs. All measured radionuclides were below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). ICP-OES analysis supported these findings, as U concentrations in most samples were …

Tarantulas Can Use Black And White Cues In A Discrimination Learning Task, Jordan Kolinski, Becky Hansis O'Neill, Amiee Dunlap

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Animals use vision to perceive light, shapes, colors, and movement. Many animals that have poor vision are understudied. The purpose of this experiment was to study color vision in tarantulas (Brachypelma hamorii). Researchers have found genes associated with color vision tarantulas, but no behavioral experiments have been done on this topic. Previous research has also shown that tarantulas can see polarized light. In this experiment, we wanted to know if tarantulas could use visual cues to move away from a noxious stimulus - vibration. There were twelve tarantulas being tested in this experiment for between twelve and fifteen …

Relationship Between Morphological And Behavioral Laterality In Astyanax Mexicanus, Allison Lendman, Michael Tobler, Erik Johnson

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Populations within the Astyanax genus have experienced extreme differences in environment, leading to distinct morphological adaptations. The cave populations of these fish are eyeless and have acquired fixed, cranial asymmetries. We explored a possible relationship between this physical asymmetry and behavioral laterality. We tested 28 adult fish, 14 male and 14 female, from the Pachón cave in controlled behavioral trials. We found that both sexes demonstrated behavioral laterality, observed as a consistent left-turn bias in these trials. This supports the hypothesis that these populations display behavioral laterality that is correlated to their physical asymmetries. Ongoing research comparing behavioral patterns in …

Winter Contents Of Tree Cavities In Oak Woodland Habitats, Lucy V. Roth, Addy Yoder, Jalene M. Lamontagne Phd

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Woodpeckers create cavities in dead and decaying trees and branches of live trees, many of which are used by a range of other animals, and are thus called “ecosystem engineers”. A species of conservation concern in the midwest is the red-headed woodpecker (RHWO). RHWO in the upper midwest are facultative migrators meaning some individuals stay in their territories over winter and others migrate south. Most tree-cavity research is done during the breeding season, leading to a knowledge gap of their use in the non-breeding season; therefore, studying them in winter could help us understand their ecological impact. RHWO require food …

Molecular Mechanisms, Evidence Levels, And Translational Prospects Of Natural Products In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Critical Narrative Review, Sakhawat Hussain, Muhammad Yousif, Habibullah Janyaro, Zahid Iqbat Rajput, Mohammad Farooque Hassan

Journal of Bioresource Management

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80–85% of lung cancers and remains a major cause of cancer mortality. Molecular heterogeneity, acquired resistance to targeted therapies, immune escape, and treatment-related toxicity continue to limit durable disease control. Natural products and standardized botanical formulations have contributed substantially to anticancer drug discovery and are being investigated as complementary approaches in NSCLC; however, the strength of evidence varies markedly across experimental and clinical settings. This critical narrative review evaluates molecular mechanisms, preclinical evidence, human studies, and translational barriers relevant to natural-product-based interventions in NSCLC. A structured literature update was performed in August …

Multivariate Ecological Assessment Of Flora Of Village Karri Haider, District Tank, Kp, Numan Khan, Muhammad Azeem, Muhammad Adnan Hamza, Muhammad Aleem, Arshad Rasool, Ammara Wakeel, Sehrish Sadia

Journal of Bioresource Management

Spatial and temporal patterns of vegetation change are influenced by multiple factors, including the physical environment, land-use history, prior disturbance, and initial vegetation composition. The primary aim of this study was to understand floristic vegetation features, species diversity, and the classification of plant communities in Village Karri Haider, District Tank, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Samples were collected from each transect using quadrats of 1 m × 1 m for herbs. Soil from three quadrats was mixed to make composite samples, and soil elements were quantified through laboratory analyses. Two surveys were conducted from July to December, 2023. In the first survey, …

Establishing Reference Values Of Haematological And Biochemical Blood Parameters In Kundhi Buffalo, Jahan Zaib Ahmed, Jamila Soomro, Moolchand Malhi, Mansoor Tariq, Saba Parveen, Abdul Salam Khoso

Journal of Bioresource Management

This study aims to establish haematological, biochemical parameters of healthy Kundhi buffalo calves from different areas of Hyderabad, Pakistan, under field conditions. The study was conducted on one hundred twenty (120) buffalo calves of both sexes, ranging in age from 03 to 12 months were chosen at random and divided into three age groups: 03-06 months, 07-09 months and10-12 months with both males and females represented in each group. Female calves from 07-09 months had the highest levels of hematological parameters such as hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, white blood cell count, red blood cell count and platelets count, where …

The Use Of Gadgets And Learning Motivation Among Grade Xi Students In Biology Learning At Sma Negeri 5 Palu, Yulia Citra, Mohammad Jamhari, Masrianih Masrianih, Lestari M.P Alibasyah, Mursito S. Bialangi, Yulia Windarsih

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to describe the profile of gadget use and learning motivation among Grade XI students in biology learning at SMA Negeri 5 Palu and to explore students’ and teachers’ experiences of gadgets as learning support tools and potential sources of digital distraction. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, supported by descriptive questionnaire profiling. A total of 74 students completed a 50-item questionnaire on gadget use and learning motivation, while 10 students and two biology teachers participated in semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, while interview data were analyzed thematically. The descriptive findings showed that …

Evaluation Of Carcinogenic Contaminants (Nitrates, Ammonium, Bromates, And Chloroform) In Baghdad Drinking Water And Their Removal Using Orange Peel Powder As A Bio Sorbent, Estabraq Ali Hameed, Hiba N. Sami, Eman Waleed Hayder

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The present study was carried out for six months to detect the presence of some important chemical contaminants (bromate, nitrate, chloroform, and ammonium) in the drinking water of Baghdad at ten sampling sites. The study suggested the use of orange peel powder (OPP) as a cheap and eco-friendly biosorbent. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the amorphous nature, surface and structural characteristics of OPP. Further, SEM investigation also showed very microporous surface. FTIR (Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy) analysis confirmed the presence of active carboxyl (-COOH) and hydroxyl (-OH) binding sites. Baseline studies show that the levels of nitrate and …

Bambara Groundnut (Vigna Subterranea L.) Supplementation Ameliorates The Histological Structure Of Skeletal Muscle In Protein-Deficient Mice, Raquellynda Fadilla Syafanisa, Rimonta Febby Gunanegara, Sunarti Sunarti, Siti Aeniah, Ardaning Nuriliani

Makara Journal of Science

Protein deficiency may cause histological alterations and pathological effects in skeletal muscle, leading to reduced mus-cle size and functional degeneration. Bambara groundnuts contain essential amino acids that have the potential to meet the body’s protein requirements. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of bambara groundnut supplemen-tation on skeletal muscle in protein-deficient mice. Twenty-five female mice were divided into five groups (control, pro-tein deficiency, and protein deficiency with 100, 200, and 300 g of bambara groundnut supplementation/kg of feed). The treatment was administered for 2 months. At the end of the experiment, the left gastrocnemius muscles of the mice …

Study Of Primer Efficiency And Relative Genetic Band Abundance In Different Genotypes, Mundher Kh. Jabbar

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This experiment was aimed to find some indicators related to primers and genetic variations. Six bread wheat genotypes were selected as the dataset. The RAPD marker technique was used with oligonucleotide primers as marker of study. The goal was to identify factors used for the relationship between primers and their ability to elicit DNA fragments through different genotypes, as well as the relative genetic band abundance among genotypes. After the designed factors, key findings emerged: in relative primer amplification rate, C1 genotype exhibited a higher relative primer amplification rate (RPAR) of fragments from OP-H01 but did not differ from OP-V19 …

Broadening The Community Of Nudibranch Enthusiasts Through Multilingual Educational Programming To Increase Climate Advocacy Engagement, Richelle Li Tanner, Cintya Felix Mendivil, Ashley Lam, Lorena Muñoz, Micah Kim, Elena G. Morales Poot, Gabrielle Keeler-May

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Environmental literacy and advocacy for environmental protections are essential components of responsible stewardship. For coastal communities, stewardship requires knowledge of ocean processes and the biological communities living within these ecosystems. While many studies highlight difficulties in engaging American audiences in environmental concern and stewardship due to hyper-individualistic societal values, tidepooling is one recreational pathway to coastal community engagement that strengthens sense of place, and therefore, responsibility to protect natural resources. We sought to broaden the tidepooling community to include more diverse voices through a participatory science program with inland city-dwelling, multilingual, and non-English speaking adults. Using nudibranchs as an environmental …

Gc-Ms Profiling And Antibacterial Activity Of Cold-Macerated Garlic Extracts Against Multidrug-Resistant Uropathogens, Fatima A. Khalaf, Saeed A. Fayadh

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The growing number of cases of multidrug-resistant (MDR) urinary tract infections has made the clinical management of urinary tract diseases a significant challenge; therefore, the need for effective adjunctive therapies cannot be overemphasized. This study evaluated the bioactive components and antibacterial efficacy of cold-macerated garlic extracts obtained using distilled water, 70% ethanol and hexane solvents against antimicrobial-resistant urinary isolates. Out of 250 urine samples that were analyzed, 124 (49.6%) showed significant microbial growth, with Escherichia coli being the most frequently isolated organism. The results of the phytochemical screening and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed that the ethanolic extract had …

Insect Monitoring Without Pitfalls: Seven Steps For Robust Insect Sensing Systems, Jamie Alison, Luca Pegoraro, Jarrett Blair, Yuval Cohen, Birgen Haest, Jacob Idec, Jacob Kamminga, Jenna Lawson, Meng Li, Leandro Aparecido Do Nascimento, Charlotte L. Outhwaite, Benjamin Rutschmann, Maximilian Sittinger, Mariana Abarca, Et Al

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

1. Data shortages fuel controversy about an ongoing insect biodiversity crisis. Insects are immensely diverse and functionally critical for ecosystems, yet data on their trends remain patchy and biased. Sensors, ranging from camera traps and acoustic recorders to weather radar stations, are set to transform data collection in entomol- ogy. Meanwhile, AI models that extract biological information from sensors are improving at a startling rate.

2. Realising the potential of automated monitoring means progressing from proof- of-concept studies to scalable insect sensing systems. However, stakeholders face severe operational challenges when adopting a growing suite of sensors, models and protocols for …

Patterns Of Autonomous And Conditional Neural Specification For The Brain And Ventral Nerve Cord In Annelida, Nicole B. Webster, Johnny A. Davila-Sandoval, Allan M. Carrillo-Baltodano, Skyler Duda, B. Duygu Özpolat, Neva P. Meyer

Biology

Evolution of central nervous systems is a long-debated topic. Similar mechanisms of conditional neural specification linked to dorsal-ventral (D–V) axis formation have been used to support homology across several taxa. We tested for autonomous versus conditional neural specification in two distantly related annelids, Capitella teleta and Platynereis dumerilii, using blastomere isolations and ablations. Our results demonstrate autonomous specification of anterior neural tissue in isolated first-quartet (1q) micromeres for both annelids. In both annelids, partial larvae derived from isolation of the somatoblast, micromere 2d, also resulted in the formation of trunk neural tissue (ventral nerve cord or VNC), suggesting that this …

Towards Identifying Fear And Safety Network States Across Sex, Rhonda Kolaric

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma- and stressor-related disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 5-6% in men, and 10-12% in women (National Center for PTSD). Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a highly prevalent anxiety- and depression-related psychiatric disorder with a lifetime prevalence of 1-2% in men, and 3-4% in women (National Institutes of Health). Both of these disorders disproportionately affect women. A hallmark feature of both disorders is the maladaptive generalization of fear, in which defensive responses extend beyond the original traumatic or threatening stimulus to neutral or unrelated cues. This overgeneralization can become debilitating, disrupting cognitive, emotional, and …

Infrared Detectability Of Whale Species And Behaviors To Enhance Automatic Detection For Real-Time Vessel Strike Avoidance, Laura J. Howes

Graduate Masters Theses

Real-time detection of large whales at sea is critical for mitigating serious injury and mortality from ship strikes and other human activities such as seismic surveys, especially for endangered species such as the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis). Traditional marine mammal observers are limited by environmental conditions and human factors, necessitating a robust, 24-hour solution. This study investigates the efficacy of a novel onboard detection tool infrared (IR) technology to detect whale blows and body parts. While IR is a promising advancement, its performance under varying sea conditions (e.g., fog, humidity) and its ability to …

Enhanced Osseointegration Of Functionally Graded Co˗Cr˗Mo˗Ti/Ha Implants: In Vitro And In Vivo Study In A Rabbit Model, Afrah M. Al Hussainey, Randa Kamel Hussain, Aseel Mustafa Abdul Majeed

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

    The present investigation aims to evaluate the effects of acid and laser surface treatments on the surface characteristics, biocompatibility, and osseointegration of functionally graded implants fabricated from a Co–Cr–Mo–Ti/HA alloy. The implant surfaces were modified using either an Nd: YAG laser or hydrochloric acid (HCl), while untreated implants served as controls. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the acid-treated surface exhibited the highest mean surface roughness (Sa) of 58.10 ± 0.24 nm compared to the laser-treated surface (42.64 ± 0.83 nm) and the untreated surface (37.73 ± 0.89 nm). The MTT assay also demonstrated a favourable cellular response on the …

Trophic Ecology Of A South Carolina Estuarine Predator Guild, Shane John Molander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Estuaries are among the world’s most productive ecosystems in the world and are characterized by the convergence of two distinct habitats, creating a mosaic of environmental conditions from inland rivers to the nearshore ocean. Many fishes occupy estuaries during various life stages for growth, reproduction, or foraging, and may reside in them seasonally. The co-occurrence of species, particularly upper-trophic level carnivores, can result in competitive interactions for prey resources within a shared environment. Identifying the degree of these interactions as well as understanding basal energy consumption can inform food web dynamics and how overlapping species use shared spaces. I used …

Hydrogels For Local Drug Delivery In Biofilm-Associated Periprosthetic Joint Infection: Current Progress And Future Directions, Karolina Kraus, Pawel Mikziński, Bindu Subhadra, Emil Paluch

Faculty Publications - Biological Sciences

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains one of the most serious complications of arthroplasty, largely due to the formation of microbial biofilms on implant surfaces. Biofilm-associated infections exhibit increased tolerance to antimicrobial therapy and host immune responses, making eradication difficult and often requiring repeated surgical interventions. Consequently, there is a growing need for effective local therapeutic strategies capable of delivering high concentrations of antimicrobial agents directly to the site of infection while minimizing systemic toxicity. Hydrogels have emerged as promising drug delivery platforms for the management of biofilm-associated PJI. Their biocompatibility, injectability, high water content, and tunable physicochemical properties enable controlled …

The Influence Of Circadian Rhythm Disruption And Apoe4 On The Prognosis And Progression Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Kayla Bradby

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss and is the most common form of dementia. Genetic factors such as apolipoprotein E have been significantly associated with AD development and progression, most specifically the APOE4 isoform. Emerging evidence has shown that when the body’s circadian rhythm, the 24-hour dark/light cycle, is disrupted, the potential to develop a neurodegenerative disease such as AD increases. The purpose of this literature review is to examine the relationship between AD, circadian rhythm, and the APOE isoforms. This review puts a particular emphasis on the APOE4 isoform, as it has been shown to …

Dissecting Tumor Evolution And Immune Composition In Prc2 Loss (H3k27me3 Loss) Vs Retained Mpnst, Kuangying Yang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas that arise sporadically or in the setting of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Although benign plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are common in NF1, only a subset undergo malignant transformation, and the molecular events that define high-risk progression remain incompletely understood. A major axis of biological heterogeneity in MPNST is loss of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), commonly detected through loss of H3K27me3 and frequently mediated by alterations in SUZ12 or EED. This dissertation integrates three manuscript-based studies to define genomic resources, tumor-intrinsic vulnerabilities, and immune microenvironmental remodeling in NF1-associated peripheral nerve sheath tumors, …

Probiotic Intervention In Colorectal Cancer: The Cytotoxic And Apoptotic Potential Of Lactobacillus Cell-Free Supernatants, Bahar Yilmaz, Berna Erdal

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Failures in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) have increased scientific interest in the potential of the bioactive compounds contained in cell-free supernatants (CFSs) obtained from probiotic bacteria for cancer treatment. The aim in this study was to investigate the effects of CFSs obtained from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (L. bulgaricus) and Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei (L. paracasei) on colorectal cancer cell lines (HT-29 and Caco-2) and a healthy colon epithelial cell line (CCD841 CoN).

Materials and methods: Cytotoxic effects on the cell lines were determined by MTT assay. In line with the IC50 values obtained, morphological changes were …

Antiatopic Dermatitis Activity Of Lissachatina Fulica Mucin: Network Pharmacology Analysis And Experimental Validation, Atin Supiyani, Wasmen Manalu, Lina Noviyanti Sutardi, Mawar Subangkit, Andriyanto Andriyanto

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Lissachatina fulica mucin (LFM) has been used as a nutraceutical, therapeutic agent, and cosmetic ingredient. The bioactivity of mucin depends on bioactive compounds whose composition is strongly influenced by the snail’s diet. This study investigated the bioactive compounds in L. fulica mucin as potential therapeutic agents for atopic dermatitis (AD).

Materials and methods: LFM was collected from snails fed long beans and melon rinds for 4 weeks, freeze-dried, and analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry followed by network pharmacology (NP) analysis to identify its bioactive compounds. A total of 60 BALB/c mice were sensitized on the dorsal skin with 1% …

The N-Terminal, Wd40, And C-Terminal Domains Of Wdr-31 Control Ciliary Localization And Cooperate With Elmod/Rp2 Gaps To Maintain Membrane Compartmentalization, Sebi̇ha Çevi̇k, Fatma Güzel

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: WD40 repeats are found in many ciliary proteins. Although the WD40 repeat-containing WD repeat-containing protein 31 (WDR-31) is known to regulate ciliary protein trafficking and morphology, the specific contributions of its N-terminal, WD40, and C-terminal domains to protein localization and ciliary gate integrity remain unclear. Aim of this study is to dissect the functional roles of WDR-31 domains by investigating their contributions to ciliary localization, ciliary protein trafficking, and gate integrity.

Materials and methods: Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we generated Caenorhabditis elegans strains with in-frame deletions that removed the N-terminus (WDR-31(ΔN)), WD40 (WDR-31(ΔWD)), and C-terminus (WDR-31(ΔC)). We next examined the …

Discovery And Functional Characterization Of Novel Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Monoclonal Antibodies, Nurşah Ersezen, Mai̇de Şeker, Arzu Aysan, Durmuş Akdoğan, Mehmet Ender Avci, Asli Kurden Pekmezci̇, Si̇bel Kalyoncu Uzunlar, Mehmet İnan, Tamer Yağci

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Targeted therapies with monoclonal antibodies provide cancer patients with better prognosis and diseasefree survival. The blockade of immune checkpoints, including programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1, with monoclonal antibodies may boost immune responses against tumors and is regarded as an effective strategy in cancer immunotherapy. We describe the generation of anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies with high affinity and specificity, and we assess their potential for therapeutic use in cancer.

Materials and methods: Hybridomas were selected for PD-L1 specificity and cross-reactivity with other immune checkpoint proteins and PD-L1 orthologs using indirect ELISA. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting assays were …

Beyond Autophagic Dysregulation: Vma21 Deficiency Reveals Altered Vesicle Trafficking And Broadens The Pathogenic Framework Of X-Linked Myopathy With Excessive Autophagy, Christian Suarez

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Maintenance of protein homeostasis is essential for cellular function and depends on the coordinated regulation of protein synthesis and degradation. The major intracellular pathways responsible for protein degradation are the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Disruption of these processes has been implicated in a broad range of diseases, including neuromuscular disorders. X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy (XMEA) is a rare vacuolar myopathy caused by mutations in VMA21, which encodes an assembly chaperone required for proper assembly of the vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase), the primary proton pump responsible for acidifying intracellular compartments, including lysosomes. Although impaired lysosomal acidification and autophagic dysregulation have …

The Gut-Bladder Axis: How Symbiont Microbes Alter Urinary Tract Infections, Benjamin S. Olson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide. Consequently, they are one of the leading indications for antibiotic prescription. Despite the typically successful treatment of an acute UTI, recurrent infections are exceedingly common, particularly among women. Nearly a quarter of otherwise healthy women will suffer recurrent UTIs (rUTI) after a primary UTI; why these select individuals are continually afflicted is unkown. There are no successful therapeutics to treat rUTI representing a gap not just in the medical toolkit but in our understanding of why rUTI is so prevalent. There are many hypotheses for the risk factors …