Digital Commons Network^™

Genoprotective Potential Of Brassica Juncea (L.) Czern. Against Mercury-Induced Genotoxicity In Allium Cepa L., Sonia Sharma, Avinash Nagpal, Adarsh Pal Vig

Turkish Journal of Biology

Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. is an important species of the family Brassicaceae with immense medicinal value. The main goal of this study was to investigate the antigenotoxic effects of different concentrations (0.1%-1.0%) of chloroform extract of B. juncea seeds on mercury-induced (0.75 ppm) genotoxic effects in root cells of Allium cepa. Three different modes of treatment were performed: pretreatment, posttreatment, and simultaneous treatment. For pretreatment, freshly emerged root tips were first treated with different concentrations of seed extract for 3 h and then treated with Hg for 3 h. For posttreatment, the roots were first treated with Hg and then …

Effects Of \Alpha-Lipoic Acid On Dna Damage, Protein Oxidation, Lipid Peroxidation, And Some Biochemical Parameters In Sub-Chronic Thinner-Addicted Rats, Muhsi̇n Konuk, Tuğba Şahi̇n, İbrahi̇m Hakki Ci̇ğerci̇, Abdurrahman Fati̇h Fi̇dan, Safi̇ye Eli̇f Korcan

Turkish Journal of Biology

The present study was carried out to determine the effects of sub-chronic thinner addiction on the oxidant-antioxidant balance, the relation between toxicity and oxidative stress, and a possible protective effect of \alpha-lipoic acid against thinner toxication in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups as follows: control (K), olive oil (Z), \alpha-lipoic acid (L), thinner (T), and \alpha-lipoic acid + thinner (LAT). Each group was composed of 15 rats, and the study lasted 8 weeks. After completing the animal studies malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), methemoglobin (MetHb), toluol, and mononuclear leucocyte damage levels; protein oxidation, nitric oxide (NO_x) metabolites, …

A New Species Of Frog (Strabomantidae: Pristimantis) From Peru With Comments On Its Ectoparasites (Acari: Trombiculidae), Alan W. Brus

Honors Projects

In South America, frogs of the genus Pristimantis are diverse and can be found from lowland forests to elevations of about 4000 m in the Andes. The 444 known species of Pristimantis belong to 16 species groups. One of these groups is the Pristimantis orestes Group, the 14 members of which inhabit the páramo, puna, and upper montane forests in southern Ecuador (3 species) and Peru (11 species). Species of the Pristimantis orestes Group are characterized by having snout-vent lengths ranging from 18.0 to 29.4 mm, short robust bodies, relatively short snouts, narrow digital discs, and areolate ventral skin. Some …

Neuronal Synaptobrevin Promotes Longevity In Drosophila Photoreceptors, Adam Haberman

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Neurons have unique challenges relative to other cell types. Unlike most other cells, neurons must remain healthy and functional throughout the lifespan of an animal. Premature neuronal loss underlies many age-related neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. Despite previous research aimed at understanding the mechanisms of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, little is known about the mechanisms that allow neurons to remain functional for the lifetime of a healthy animal. Understanding these cellular and biochemical processes is essential to promote healthful aging and reduce the severity of neurodegenerative disease. Here we discuss our recent identification of neuron-specific proteins that regulate endosome …

Expression Of Cadherin-11 During Organogenesis In The Chick Embryo, Kacie D. Flaherty, Alicia F. Paulson, Ashley L. Adamson, Darrell J. Wiens

Faculty Work

Cadherin-11 (cad-11) is primarily a mesenchymal cadherin that appears in delaminating neural crest cells. Its expression correlates with morphogenetic events and the pattern has been studied in mouse, rat and Xenopus embryos, but not during avian organogenesis. Our purpose was to investigate this pattern in the chick embryo during organogenesis using immunolocalization and in situ hybridization. Cad-11 was expressed in mesenchyme around the pharynx and aortic arches, eyes, auditory vesicles, lung buds, stomach, and nasal placodes. Neural expression included some cranial ganglia and also new neuroepithelium within the tail bud region undergoing secondary neurulation. We also found expression in epithelia …

Comparative Analysis Of Microsatellite And Mitochondrial Genetic Variation In Ixodes Scapularis, Cynthia Tak Wan Chan

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Ixodes scapularis, the black legged tick, is a species endemic to North America with a range including most of the eastern-half of the United States and portions of Canada and Mexico. The tick is an important vector of diseases transmitted to humans and animals. Since its first description in 1821, the taxonomy of the species has been controversial. Biological differences have been identified in the northern and southern populations, yet no consensus exists on population structure and the causes of this disparity. Earlier molecular studies utilizing nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers have revealed the occurrence of two distinct lineages: …

An Assessment Of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria In Biosolid Used As Garden Fertilizer, Gwendolyn Lenore Hartman

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"Fertilizer grade biosolid is sold to the general public by the Cheney Wastewater Treatment Plant for use as garden fertilizer and as a soil conditioner. Moist biosolid samples were obtained from the Cheney Wastewater Treatment Plant and antibiotic resistant gram negative bacteria were isolated from it. Bacteria isolated from these samples were resistant to tetracycline, ampicillin, streptomycin, kanamycin and chloramphenicol. Tetracycline resistant bacteria were isolated on MacConkey's agar supplemented with tetracycline and their resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and kanamycin were also determined. A total of 48 isolates cultivated to determine the presence of plasmids which often contain antibiotic resistance …

Aging Phenotypes Of Common Marmosets (Callithrix Jacchus), Corinna N. Ross, K. Davis, G. Dobek, S. D. Tardif

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Characterizing the phenotypic changes associated with aging in a short-lived primate is necessary in order to develop better translational models for human health, aging, and disease research. A population of conventionally housed marmoset monkeys was assessed to determine if phenotypes of body composition, hematology, and morphometrical measures were associated with age or risk of death. We found that the cause of mortality in older marmosets was more likely to be due to cardiac and chronic kidney disease than in younger marmosets. Older marmosets have decreased fat mass, morphometric measures, and serum albumin. Older marmosets are more likely to show a …

A New Genus And A New Species Of Cladorchiidae (Digenea: Dadayiinae) From Podocnemis Expansa (Chelonia) Of The Neotropical Region, State Of Pará, Brazil, Marcelo Knoff, Daniel Rusk Brooks, Maria Cristina Mullins, Delir Corrêa Gomes

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

A new species of amphistome digenean from the stomach and intestine of Podocnemis expansa (Pelomedusidae), of the tropical rain forest, from the State of Pará, Brazil, is described and allocated to a new genus (Oriximinatrema noronhae). The new species is characterized by the presence of an esophageal bulb, an esophageal extension uncovered by an extension of the pharyngeal sacs, a well-developed cirrus sac, post-bifurcal genital sucker, a ventro-terminal acetabulum with an anterior lip, and medium-sized eggs. This is the first report of a Dadayiinae trematode infecting a reptilian host.

An Epidemiological Model Of Rift Valley Fever With Spatial Dynamics, Tianchan Niu, Holly D. Gaff, Yiannis E. Papelis, David M. Hartley

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

As a category A agent in the Center for Disease Control bioterrorism list, Rift Valley fever (RVF) is considered a major threat to the United States (USA). Should the pathogen be intentionally or unintentionally introduced to the continental USA, there is tremendous potential for economic damages due to loss of livestock, trade restrictions, and subsequent food supply chain disruptions. We have incorporated the effects of space into a mathematical model of RVF in order to study the dynamics of the pathogen spread as affected by the movement of humans, livestock, and mosquitoes. The model accounts for the horizontal transmission of …

In Vitro Propagation Of Candidatus Rickettsia Andeanae Isolated From Amblyomma Maculatum, Alison Luce-Fedrow, Chelsea Wright, Holly D. Gaff, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Wayne L. Hynes, Allen L. Richards

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae was identified during an investigation of a febrile outbreak in northwestern Peru (2002). DNA sequencing from two ticks (Amblyomma maculatum, Ixodes boliviensis) collected during the investigation revealed a novel Rickettsia agent with similarity to the spotted fever group rickettsiae. Since then, Candidatus R. similar to andeanae has been detected in A. maculatum ticks collected in the southeastern and southcentral United States, Argentina, and Peru. To date, Candidatus R. andeanae has not been successfully cultivated in the laboratory. We present evidence for the continuous cultivation in three cell lines of Candidatus R. similar to …

Brooding, Provisioning, And Compensatory Care In The Cooperatively Breeding Acorn Woodpecker, Walter D. Koenig, Eric L. Walters

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We analyzed reproductive investment in parental care (brooding and the provisioning of nestlings) in the acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), a cooperatively breeding species in which both polygynandry and helping-at-the-nest are common. As predicted based on the strategies pursued by birds of different sex and status, breeders generally invested more in parental care than helpers, and breeder females invested more than breeder males. Contrary to expectations, however, the degree to which individuals reduced their effort with increasing group size (i.e., patterns of load lightening or compensatory care) did not match overall investment. Instead, as group size increased, there was …

Functional Analysis Of Conserved Motifs In The Mechanosensitive Channel Homolog Mscs-Like2 From Arabidopsis Thaliana, Gregory S. Jensen, Elizabeth S. Haswell

Biology Faculty Research

The Mechanosensitive channel of Small conductance (MscS) of Escherichia coli has become an excellent model system for the structural, biophysical, and functional study of mechanosensitive ion channels. MscS, a complex channel with multiple states, contributes to protection against lysis upon osmotic downshock. MscS homologs are widely and abundantly dispersed among the bacterial and plant lineages, but are not found in animals. Investigation into the eukaryotic branch of the MscS family is in the beginning stages, and it remains unclear how much MscS homologs from eukaryotes resemble E. coli MscS with respect to structure, function, and regulation. Here we test the …

Antioxidant Responses In Mesopodopsis Zeylanica At Varying Salinity To Detect Mercury Influence In Culture Ponds, Xivanand Narayan Verlecar, Priya Brata Das, Karmabeer Jena, Dusmant Maharana, Somshekher Raghoba Desai

Turkish Journal of Biology

Antioxidant responses in the estuarine mysid, Mesopodopsis zeylanica, were used to assess mercury (Hg) metal contamination in relation to salinity. Natural mysids acclimatized at 5 psu were subjected to laboratory exposures of 5, 15, and 25 psu salinity singly and under the sublethal Hg concentration of 5 µg/L (one-fifth of 24 h LC_{50} value). Lipid peroxidation in the test species increased with salinity variation from 5 to 15 psu and retained the same up to 25 psu with no change after Hg addition. CAT increased significantly from 5 to 15 psu before Hg influence, and GST increased after addition of …

Diet And Reproductive Biology Of The Blacknose Shark (Carcharhinus Acronotus) From The Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, Ryan Michael Ford

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus) is a common small coastal shark species found in nearshore waters along the southeast coast of the United States, from North Carolina into the Gulf of Mexico and extending further south into the Bahamas. There has been some debate in recent years over the reproductive periodicity of C. acronotus in waters off the U.S. coast. Earlier studies have suggested that Gulf C. acronotus reproduce on an annual basis whereas the Atlantic populations of this species may reproduce biennially. Additionally, there have been no known studies on the diet of C. acronotus. The goal of the …

Population Structure And Nest Success Of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus Polyphemus), And Vegetative Response To Prescribed Burning In Northeast Florida, Kristine Constance Amatuli

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A gopher tortoise population on the campus of University of North Florida is part of an ongoing study initiated during the early 1990s, and this project presents data on this population collected during the 2009-2011 field seasons. The project has three major objectives: 1) measure population demographics including density and structure to assess long-term viability and recruitment, 2) evaluate decadal growth rates of individuals by comparing measurements of tortoises captured and marked in the 1990-1994 study done at the same site with those tortoises recaptured during the current study, and 3) assess the effect of prescribed burning on vegetation. In …

Nutrient Transport By Shrimp Hepatopancreas, Tamla A. Simmons

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purified brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were isolated to characterize primary cellular transport mechanisms for white shrimp. The ultimate goal is to determine the effective components of a shrimp’s diet, thereby enhancing growth, as well as nutrient content. Juvenile shrimp are dependent on plant material as a food source. Potassium is a key component of plants, thus it may play a role in nutrient transport. In addition, divalent metals have been shown to act as co-transporters in several other organisms, thus they may serve as a transport mechanism for shrimp.

Fresh, live, white or brown shrimp were obtained, and from …

Causes And Consequences Of Mitochondrial Variation In Caenorhabditid Nematodes, Kiley Ann Hicks

Dissertations and Theses

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that harbor their own stream-lined genome and generate much of the ATP necessary to sustain eukaryotic life via an electron transport chain (ETC). Because of the central role for mitochondria in organismal physiology, mitochondrial genetic and phenotypic variation can alter organismal fitness and affect population genetic and evolutionary outcomes. Despite the far-reaching relevance of mitochondria to evolutionary processes and human health, we lack a basic understanding of the causes and consequences of mitochondrial genetic and phenotypic variation. In this thesis, I quantified mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), membrane potential (δΨM), and mitochondrial morphological traits within Caenorhabditis …

Evaluation Of Protection Induced By Dna Vaccine Candidate Against Leishmania Mexicana In Balb/C Mice Model, Rosina Rodarte

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background and Significance. The leishmaniases are a diverse group of diseases with four major clinical manifestations: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral, and diffuse. Approximately 21 Leishmania species and 30 sandfly vectors have been implicated in human leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is endemic in 88 countries, 72 are developing countries. Currently, 350 million people live in leishmaniasis-endemic areas around the world. The true incidence of the disease is not known. However, the estimated incidence for visceral leishmaniasis is 500,000 cases per year, and for cutaneous and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis 1.5-2 million cases per year. Visceral leishmaniasis causes 70,000 deaths each year. In the Americas region, …

Growth Performance, Yields And Economic Benefits Of Nile Tilapia Oreochromis Niloticus And Kales Brassica Oleracea Cultured Under Vegetable-Fish Culture Integration, A. P. Shoko, A. Getabu, G. Mwayuli, Y. D. Mgaya

Tanzania Journal of Science

An experiment was conducted for 210 days to demonstrate the role of vegetable-fish culture integration in the growth, yields and economic benefits of fish and vegetables. Two 200 m2 earthen fishponds were stocked with Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus at 20,000 fish fingerlings per hectare. Pond A was fertilized with chicken manure and stocked fish fed on 35% crude protein supplementary diet referred to here as treated fish pond (TFP). Another fish pond was not fertilized and the fish stocked in it did not receive any supplementary diet referred to here as non treated fish pond (NTFP). Twelve vegetable plots of …

Variability In Parasites’ Community Structure And Composition In Cat Fish With Respect To Level Of Pollution In Mwanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Tanzania, C. J. Mwita

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study investigated the composition and structure of the parasite communities in Cat fish with respect to levels of water pollution in Lake Victoria. A total of 1071 Clarias gariepinus with mean TL range of 19 to 27 cm were analyzed from three localities in Mwanza Gulf (Kirumba, 298 fish infected with 15 parasite species), Nyegezi (376 fish, with 15 parasites species) and Malimbe (397 fish, with 16 parasites species). Trematodes and nematodes dominated the population with six (35.3%) and five (29.4%) species, respectively. Mean species richness and heteroxenous/monoxenous ratio showed significant changes (Fr = 8.000; p = 0.0046), being …

Natural Variation In Gestational Cortisol Is Associated With Patterns Of Growth In Marmoset Monkeys (Callithrix Geoffroyi), Aaryn C. Mustoe, Andrew K. Birnie, Andrew V. Korgan, Jonathan Bruce Santo, Jeffrey French

Psychology Faculty Publications

High levels of prenatal cortisol have been previously reported to retard fetal growth. Although cortisol plays a pivotal role in prenatal maturation, heightened exposure to cortisol can result in lower body weights at birth, which have been shown to be associated with adult diseases like hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study examines the relationship between natural variation in gestational cortisol and fetal and postnatal growth in marmoset monkeys. Urinary samples obtained during the mother’s gestation were analyzed for cortisol. Marmoset body mass index (BMI) was measured from birth through 540 days in 30- or 60-day intervals. Multi-level modeling was used …

Reverse Protection Assay: A Tool To Analyze Transcriptional Rates From Individual Promoters, Yan O. Zubo, Victor V. Kusnetsov, Thomas Börner, Karsten Liere

Dartmouth Scholarship

Transcriptional activity of entire genes in chloroplasts is usually assayed by run-on analyses. To determine not only the overall intensity of transcription of a gene, but also the rate of transcription from a particular promoter, we created the Reverse RNase Protection Assay (RePro): in-organello run-on transcription coupled to RNase protection to define distinct transcript ends during transcription. We demonstrate successful application of RePro in plastid promoter analysis and transcript 3' end processing.

Role Of Pseudomonas Produced Hydrogen Cyanide In Biological Control Of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes, Haytham Aly

Dissertations

Plant-parasitic nematodes are among the most devastating pests world-wide, causing extensive damage to important agriculture crops. The management of nematodes is challenging. Current methods used for nematode control rely mostly on using chemical nematicides and naturally resistant plants. Because of serious health and environmental problems associated with chemical control and over use of resistant plants resulting in resistant breaking strains of nematodes, alternative nematode-control methods are needed. Several potential nematode-biocontrol agents, including bacteria and fungi, have been studied for their antagonistic effect toward plant-parasitic nematodes. However, a concise picture about the biological agent’s mechanisms used to antagonize nematodes remains elusive. …

The Role Of The Nascent Polypeptide-Associated Complex In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Paul T. Arsenovic

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

The nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) is a highly conserved protein complex known to play an important role in the development of metazoan organisms, but its molecular function is not well understood. Recent evidence from experiments using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as model supported the hypothesis that the NAC is either a chaperone or a component of the cytosolic chaperone network that interacts with nascent peptides emerging from the ribosome. We tested this model in C. elegans and found that the homologues of the NAC , icd-1 and icd-2, behave like chaperones in the worm. Lack of icd-1 or icd-2 altered the worms …

Effects Of The Exotic Shrub Lonicera Maackii On The Plant Animal Interactions In The Invaded Habitat, Humberto De Paula Dutra

Dissertations

Invasive plants are an economical, political, social, and ecological problem. Some invasive species are a serious concern for society because some of them are diseases, some are agricultural pests, and some become major threats to the ecosystems. Most studies with invasive species are limited because they measure only the impact of the invasion via direct pathways. Unfortunately, the potential for non-native plant species to alter ecosystem functions via indirect pathways mediated by interactions with animals just recently became broadly recognized. This research investigates the interactions of Amur honeysuckle with native fauna and how these interactions indirectly affect other trophic levels …

Discrimination And Aggregative Patterns Among And Between Populations Of Entamoeba Spp., Katelyn M. Higgins

Honors Senior Capstones and Theses

Kin recognition facilitates the evolution of cooperation in animals, but its relevance in microorganisms and their behavior toward relatives remains unclear. The Entamoeba lineage constitutes an ideal model to determine the behavioral and signaling cues needed for aggregative preference. Chemical cues have been reported for E. histolytica but not E. dispar, suggesting cell-communication between con-specifics and behavioral differences with relevance for disease. Entamoeba varieties have been reported as ‘morphologically undistinguishable’. Two strains of E. invadens have been isolated from different hosts (VK-1: NS - Varanus komodoensis and IP1- serpentes) but were classified within the same ‘species’. Trophozoites …

Lesson Not Learned: Deepwater Horizon Research And Media Coverage Exposes Gaps In Knowledge And Risky Protocol Within The Oil Industry, Lauren Haller

Honors Theses

An insatiable thirst for oil has led poorly coordinated, risk-prone megasystems deeper into the ocean in search of new oil reserves. Profit-driven agendas at the corporate level have a top-down effect within these megasystems. Cost-cutting and risk-downplaying leaves the field employees unprepared to handle emergencies. A series of costly mistakes led to the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which caused extensive damage to an already fragile ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. The wealth and political influence of the oil industry overpowers lax regulatory agencies and legislation-even though media and research has exposed frustrating parallels between the Deepwater Horizon …

The Involvement Of 26s Proteasome Complex In Selenium Toxicity, Melissa Sabbagh

Honors Theses

Plants that hyperaccumulate elements like selenium to potentially toxic levels may use proteasome complexes to reduce toxicity. The 26S proteasome complex may be a pathway that these plants take to rid themselves of selenium toxicity by destroying damaged proteins caused by selenium. A method to test this hypothesis is to use a hyperaccumulator of selenium Stanleya pinnata and nonhyperaccumulators Populous tremula and Arabdopsis thaliana to evaluate their proteasome abundance without and with selenium. To compare these species western blots were made to show the differences in proteasome abundance. Also to compare the amount of oxidized and an ubiquinated protein in …

Aging Of Florida Blue Crabs, Callinectes Sapidus, Through The Biochemical Extraction Of Lipofuscin, Claire Elizabeth Crowley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, represents an ecologically and economically important component of marine and estuarine ecosystems. In Florida, blue crab landings accounted for $9.6 million dollars during the 2010 fishing season. Accurate stock assessments for this valuable fishery are essential. Age is a critical biological component of accurate stock assessments; however, blue crabs and other crustaceans are especially difficult to age because of the complex nature of discrete growth. Biochemical extraction of an aging pigment, lipofuscin, was developed using blue crab eyestalks. The current study investigated the effects of freezing preservation on lipofuscin extracts and examined whether the …