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Development Of An Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Capable Of Detecting Antibodies Specific To The Cytomegalovirus, Rachel Bird

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The cytomegalovirus (CMV) is capable of causing serious illness and death in immunocompromised individuals. The objective of this research is to develop a method of detecting antibodies against CMV. This has lead to the development of an Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) that is capable of detecting CMV or anti-CMV antibodies. The process in the development of such an assay involves; 1) the purification of Hyperimmune Rabbit Serum containing anti-CMV antibodies, 2) determination of the appropriate concentrations necessary to provide a clear and concise response to the test, and 3) testing of monoclonal antibodies to determine their specificity towards the …

Phylogenetic Studies Of The United States Bluetongue Viruses And Characterization Of The Viral Vp4 Protein, I-Jen Huang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is transmitted by arthropod vectors and causes bluetongue disease with serious economic loss in many regions of the world. The replication mechanism of bluetongue virus is still not clear. To have a better understanding regarding the viral replication, the function of each individual protein has to be identified. This study used molecular biology techniques to investigate the function of the inner core protein VP4.

The M1 genes of United States bluetongue virus serotypes-2, -10, -11, -13, and -17 were cloned and sequenced. The length of each of the five M1 genes is 1981 nucleotides. The coding region …

Reversal Of Cell Fate Determination In Caenorhabditis Elegans Vulval Development, Susan Euling, Victor Ambros

Dartmouth Scholarship

In Caenorhabditis elegans, the fates of the multipotent vulval precursor cells (VPCs) are specified by intercellular signals, The VPCs divide in the third larval stage (L3) of the wild type, producing progeny of determined cell types, In lin-28 mutants, vulva development is similar to wild-type vulva development except that it occurs precociously, in the second larval stage (L2), Consequently, when lin-28 hermaphrodites temporarily arrest development at the end of L2 in the dauer larva stage, these otherwise determined VPC progeny become reprogrammed back to the multipotent, signal- sensitive state of VPCs. Our results indicate that VPC fate determination by intercellular …

Immunolesions Using Site Specific Injections Of 192-Lgg Saporin Into The Basal Forebrain Fail To Affect Radial Arm Maze Performance In The Male Rat, Lesley J. Hickman '96

Honors Projects

In this study I investigated the effects of 192-lgG saporin injections into the medial septal area.(MSA) and nucleus basalis magnocel/ularis (NBM) on radial arm maze performance in the male rat. The results of the present study reveal that combined injections of 192-lgG saporin into the basal forebrain failed to disrupt RAM performance when compared to vehicle-injected controls. In addition, intraperitoneal injections using a muscarinic receptor blocker, scopolamine, failed to reveal a compensatory response of the cholinergic basal forebrain that may have explained the lack of behavioral effects of 192IgG saporin. Consequently, the results of this study suggest that a selective …

In Vitro Systems And Cultured Cells As Specimens For X-Ray Microanalysis, Godfried M. Roomans, Jarin Hongpaisan, Zhengzhu Jin, Ann-Christin Mörk, Ailing Zhang

Scanning Microscopy

In vitro systems and cultured cells are recognized as useful systems in many areas of biomedical research, including X-ray microanalysis. To be reliable, in an vitro system should have an elemental composition close to that of the tissue in situ, react in the same way to stimuli, and retain the in situ regulation of ion transport. In the present paper, four of the most commonly used in vitro systems will be reviewed: incubated tissue slices (liver and pancreas), isolated glands (submandibular gland acini, sweat glands), primary cell cultures (sweat glands, endometrium), and cell lines (the colon cancer cell line …

Estrogen Levels In House Wren (Troglodytes Aedon) Egg Yolks, V. Brook Waggoner '96

Honors Projects

Estrogen, when present in early embryonic development, regulates sexual differentiation in the avian nestling and adult. In this study, I developed a procedure to extract and quantify levels (by radioimmunoassay) of the estrogen, 17[beta]-estradiol, in house wren (Troglodytes aedon) egg yolk. Levels of 17[beta]-estradiol found in one clutch of eggs increased with the order of laying, indicating female house wrens may be capable of regulating the levels of 17[beta]-estradiol received by the offspring. Since the attraction of mates is often aided by the display of sex differences, maternal control of 17[beta]-estradiol levels in the embryo may influence the future reproductive …

Accessing Nuclear Structure For Field Emission, In Lens, Scanning Electron Microscopy (Feisem), T. D. Allen, G. R. Bennion, S. A. Rutherford, S. Reipert, A. Ramalho, E. Kiseleva, M. W. Goldberg

Scanning Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has had a shorter time course in biology than conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) but has nevertheless produced a wealth of images that have significantly complemented our perception of biological structure and function from TEM information. By its nature, SEM is a surface imaging technology, and its impact at the subcellular level has been restricted by the considerably reduced resolution in conventional SEM in comparison to TEM. This restriction has been removed by the recent advent of high-brightness sources used in lensfield emission instruments (FEISEM) which have produced resolution of around 1 nanometre, which is not …

Angiogenesis In The Gonadal Capillary Network Of The Chick Embryo, F. J. Pérez-Aparicio, A. Carretero, M. Navarro, J. Ruberte

Scanning Microscopy

Seventy-one chick embryos of both sexes at the 35 Hamburger and Hamilton (H-H) developmental stage were processed for scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and of critical point dried specimens, as well as transmission electron- and light microscopy, in order to study the angiogenic structures. The gonadal subepithelial capillary network was located at the level of the tunica albuginea under the covering epithelium. The casts showed a densely-meshed capillary network and numerous sprouting (nodular protrusions or capillary sprouts) and non-sprouting (enlarged vessels and angiogenic holes) angiogenic structures that were randomly distributed and mixed. Four types of angio-genic holes were …

Coordinate Cell Cycle Control Of A Caulobacter Dna Methyltransferase And The Flagellar Genetic Hierarchy, Craig Stephens, Gary Zweiger, Lucy Shapiro

Biology

The expression of the Caulobacter ccrM gene and the activity of its product, the M.Ccr II DNA methyltransferase, are limited to a discrete portion of the cell cycle (G. Zweiger, G. Marczynski, and L. Shapiro, J. Mol. Biol. 235:472-485, 1994). Temporal control of DNA methylation has been shown to be critical for normal development in the dimorphic Caulobacter life cycle. To understand the mechanism by which ccrM expression is regulated during the cell cycle, we have identified and characterized the ccrM promoter region. We have found that it belongs to an unusual promoter family used by several Caulobacter class II …

Effects Of Insulin And Insulin-Mimetics On Mrna Levels Of C-Fos And C-Jun In Primary Rat Hepatocytes In Culture, Guangmin Li

Masters Theses

Insulin is capable of regulating cellular and metabolic processes as well as gene expression. Selenate and vanadate are two compounds that have been found to mimic the action of insulin in several tissue and cell types. cFos and cJun are the products of immediate early responsive genes c-fos and c-jun. They are members of the family of the AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) transcription factors. AP-1 transcription factors bind as cJun.cJun homodimer or cJun.cFos heterodimer to the TRE found in the promoter regions of several genes. AP-1 is characterized by its ability to alter gene expression in response to various peptide …

The Role Of Nitric Oxide In The Modulation Of The Leukocyte-Endothelial Cell Interactions During Ischemia And Reperfusion, Fernando López-Neblina

Masters Theses

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in several metabolic pathways and physiological phenomena. The role of NO in inflammation after ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) is controversial. The early phases of inflammation include the leukocyte-endothelial (L/EC) cell interactions which have been divided in rolling, activation, adhesion and migration.

The first experiment was to demonstrate the role of NO in a model of renal I/R. We demonstrated that exogenous NO improves survival and renal function tests after renal I/R, while endogenous NO does not appear to be an important contributor to renal I/R. We also demonstrated that NO modulate the infiltration of neutrophils …

Radioimmunoassay Analysis Of Testosterone Levels In Clutches Of House Wrens (Troglodytes Aedon) Egg Yolks, Kimberly A. Fryzel '96

Honors Projects

Recent evidence indicates that variation in intensity of aggressiveness and competitive ability among nestlings of a clutch may be attributed, at least partly, to differences in maternally deposited yolk testosterone that affects embryonic development (Schwabl 1993). We developed a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for measuring yolk testosterone levels in house wren (Troglodytes aedon) eggs. This procedure was used in initial studies to determine whether yolk testosterone varies within a clutch of house wren eggs. The analysis revealed the presence of higher levels of testosterone in yolks of eggs laid later in the clutch sequence. Because later laid eggs tend to hatch later …

The Evaluation Of Succinylcholine Chloride For Harmful Effects Upon Early-Stage Mouse Embryos, Francis Warren Prescott

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Succinylcholine (SCh) chloride is a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent used to paralyze patients for surgical procedures. Over 1,800 clinical observations of newborn infants have demonstrated that succinylcholine does not cross the placenta in quantities detrimental to fetuses (Kolstad, et al., 1957, Bakhoum, et al., 1957, Hodges, et al., 1959, Duffield, et al., 1958, Dennis, et al., 1954, 1956, McNab, 1955, Coleman, et al., 1956, Lund, 1953). Later investigations which involved comparison of blood levels of SCh in the mother to those in fetuses bolstered the finding that SCh fails to cross the placenta in significant amounts (Moya and Kvisselgaard, 1961, …

Energy Dispersive X-Ray Microanalysis Of The Dentin In Rat Molars After Corticosteroid Treatment, Karin Nasstrom, Rolf Odselius, Arne Petersson

Scanning Microscopy

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) composition of corticosteroid induced dentin was the same as in normally developed dentin. Seven rats were given corticosteroids intravenously and three rats served as controls. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX) was carried out on the axially sawn roots of the molars. Measurements were made at 20 sites, equally distributed in the buccal, mesial, lingual and distal direction. The results showed that the Ca/P ratio (weight %) was slightly above 2.0 in both the experimental and the control group, indicating that the corticosteroid induced dentin had …

Patterns Of Calcium Oxalate Crystal Production By Three Species Of Wood Decay Fungi, Jon H. Connolly, Howard J. Arnott, Jody Jellison

Scanning Microscopy

Wood decay experiments using red spruce wood resting on moist soil were conducted to discern temporal and spatial patterns of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal production by three species of fungi over the course of decay. All three species produced crystals of calcium oxalate dihydrate, but not monohydrate, in and on wood. Over the course of decay, the production of CaOx crystals was shown to be heterogeneous in both space and time. The relative quantity, morphology and longevity of CaOx crystals varied among species. Gloeophyllum (G.) trabeum produced substantial quantities of "free" crystals; Fomitopsis (F.) pinicola produced encrusting crystals; and Trichaptum …

Regenerating Synovial Lining Of The Normal Rabbit Knee: A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study, Haim Stein, Daniel Levanon

Scanning Microscopy

Regeneration of the synovial lining in the synovectomized rabbit knee was studied using the scanning electron microscope. The resected synovia regenerated considerably 3 weeks after synovectomy. However, 44 weeks following excision, their surface morphology was still very different from that of the normal tissue of intact animals. The regenerated synovia were characterized by three main features: the large number of various patterns, the many fields harboring fibrillation and the almost total lack of a bubble layer (the latter was formerly shown to be predominant on normal, intact synovia). The surface morphology of the non-operated (contralateral) knee differed greatly from that …

Cultural Values Lower Redwood Creek, Susie Van Kirk

Susie Van Kirk Papers

Levee construction on lower Redwood Creek from near its mouth to the mouth of Prairie Creek was completed by the Corps of Engineers in 1968, resulting in significant impairment of the estuary's hydrology and its biological functions. In an effort to reestablish those functions and more particularly the fisheries of the creek, Redwood National and State Parks is developing a plan for estuary management. The following general statement about cultural values in the project area and vicinity was prepared to expand the historical information in the draft plan.

A Report On The Issues Affecting The Use Of The Dampier Archipelago, Peter Driscoll

Fisheries Management Papers

This report was commissioned by the Minister for Fisheries following concerns about resource sharing, allocation of licences and leases for pearling and aquaculture, recreational and commercial fishing opportunities, and local residents continued ability to access the islands and marine areas of the Dampier Archipelago. The purpose of this report is to provide a scoping document for a marine planning study for the Dampier Archipelago for the Fisheries Department and the Minister for Fisheries.

Fishermen's Views On The Future Management Of The Rock Lobster Fishery: A Report Prepared On Behalf Of The Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee, The Marketing Centre, Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee

Fisheries Management Papers

In June 1995, a self-completion survey of fishermen in the rock lobster fishery was sent out by The Marketing Centre to 589 licensees. A total of 206 valid responses were received. The questionnaire was fairly long and dealt with a number of complex issues. As such, this response rate of 36.0% compares favorably with the average for postal surveys of around 40.0%. The following represents the main findings from the survey.

Same Fish - Different Rules - Proceedings Of The National Fisheries Management Network Workshop Held As Part Of The Third Australasian Fisheries Managers Conference August 1995, F. B. Prokop

Fisheries Management Papers

This workshop represents the third time that a specific recreational fisheries workshop has been held in conjunction with the Australasian Fisheries Managers Conference. It is designed to analyse the different management approaches from the various fisheries agencies which have responsibility for selected species. The case studies that make up the workshop have been selected to represent the diversity of situations including freshwater, marine, pelagic and invertebrate species.

Soleus Fiber Force And Maximal Shortening Velocity After Non-Weight Bearing With Intermittent Activity, Jeffrey J. Widrick, J. J. Bangart, M. Karhanek, Robert H. Fitts

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

This study examined the effectiveness of intermittent weight bearing (IWB) as a countermeasure to non-weight-bearing (NWB)-induced alterations in soleus type I fiber force (in mN), tension (P_o; force per fiber cross-sectional area in kN/m^-2), and maximal unloaded shortening velocity (V_o, in fiber lengths/s). Adult rats were assigned to one of the following groups: normal weight bearing (WB), 14 days of hindlimb NWB (NWB group), and 14 days of hindlimb NWB with IWB treatments (IWB group). The IWB treatment consisted of four 10-min periods of standing WB each day. Single, chemically permeabilized soleus fiber segments …

Early Post-Radiation Changes Of Red Blood Cell Shape In Rats, V. D. Zharskaya, A. B. Chukhlovin

Scanning Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of red blood cells in whole blood samples from rats was performed following acute γ-irradiation of animals with 0.25 to 1 Gy. Increased incidence of echinocytosis was observed and found to be dose- and time-dependent. At a higher radiation dose (1 Gy), echinocytosis was revealed within 5 minutes after treatment and persisted up to 3 weeks. The data demonstrate the applicability of SEM for detecting minimal radiation-induced lesions of red blood cells.

A Cell Cycle-Regulated Bacterial Dna Methyltransferase Is Essential For Viability, Craig Stephens, Ann Reisenaur, Rachel Wright, Lucy Shapiro

Biology

The CcrM adenine DNA methyltransferase, which specifically modifies GANTC sequences, is necessary for viability in Caulobacter crescentus. To our knowledge, this is the first example of an essential prokaryotic DNA methyltransferase that is not part of a DNA restriction/modification system. Homologs of CcrM are widespread in the Cl subdivision of the Proteobacteria, suggesting that methylation at GANTC sites may have important functions in other members of this diverse group as well. Temporal control of DNA methylation state has an important role in Caulobacter development, and we show that this organism utilizes an unusual mechanism for control of remethylation of newly …

Crystallization And Stone Formation Inside The Nephron, Dirk J. Kok

Scanning Microscopy

A model is presented visualizing the events leading to calcium-salt, crystal- and stone-formation inside the nephron. For each nephron segment, handling of urine components relevant to stone formation is considered and urine composition determined. This information was applied to nucleation experiments simulating passage of urine through a nephron. The model and in vitro experiments suggest that within normal transit times for the respective nephron segments, particles of a hydroxyapatite-like material first form near the bend in the Loop of Henle of juxtamedullary nephrons. From there on, calcium oxalate particles start to appear: first dihydrate, then monohydrate. In the collecting duct …

Use Of Rostral Characters For Identifying Adult Billfishes (Teleostei: Perciformes: Istiophoridae And Xiphiidae), Harry L. Fierstine, Nicole L. Voigt

Biological Sciences

Seven species of the family Istiophoridae and Xiphias gladiu6 were identified using only features of their rostrum. In the Istiophoridae, two rostral regions were emphasized, one-fourth and one·half the distance between the distal tip and the orbital margin of the lateral ethmoid bone. Characters studied in each region were the depth and width of rostrum and height, width, and position of nutrient canals (as seen in cross-section). Characters studied without reference to region were the distribution of denticles on both dorsal and ventral surfaces of the bilI and position of the prenasal bone. In the Xiphiidae, the only characters studied …

Trade-Offs In Parasitology, Evolution And Behavior, Marlene Zuk, M. J. Bryant, Gita R. Kolluru, V. Mirmovitch

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

Balancing The Scales: Access And Equity In Fisheries Management - Proceedings Of The Third Australasian Fisheries Managers Conference, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, 2-4 August 1995, Patricia Summerfield

Fisheries Management Papers

The papers reproduced in this volume were presented at the Third Australasian Fisheries Managers Conference held at Kingstown Environmental Education Centre, Rottnest Island, Western Australia, from 2-4 August 1995. Two presentations have not been received in full written form and one paper was not available for publication due to copyright being held elsewhere. Abstracts of these papers are included in the proceedings. The papers are arranged in order of presentation at the Conference. The scenarios used in the workshop sessions are reproduced at the end of the proceedings for information.

Management Arrangements For Specimen Shell Collection In Western Australia, 1995, Jonathon Hs Barrington, C A. Campbell

Fisheries Management Papers

The Specimen Shell Fishery in Western Australia is based on the collection of marine species of the phylum Mollusca for the purposes of display, collection, cataloguing, classification and sale. Specimen shells may be alive or dead at the time of take and include beach-washed shells. Fossilised shells do not constitute specimen shells. This document has been prepared to detail the legislative requirements of the Western Australian Government, as well as to fulfill the requirements under the Commonwealth Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982 to allow for the export of specimen shells from Western Australian waters and the …

Behavioral Basis Of Second Intermediate Host Specificity Among Four Species Of Haematoloechus (Digenea: Haematoloechidae), Scott D. Snyder, John J. Janovy Jr.

Biology Faculty Publications

Cercarial behavior patterns were examined in four species of frog lung flukes (Haematoloechus spp.). Cercariae of Haematoloechus complexus, Haematoloechus medioplexus, Haematoloechus longiplexus, and Haematoloechus varioplexus were exposed to three species of experimental arthropods and an inanimate control. The number of cercariae attached to an experimental host at 5 min postexposure was recorded. Haematoloechus longiplexus and H. complexus cercariae attached to experimental hosts at higher rates than cercariae of H. medioplexus and H. varioplexus. Cercariae of H. longiplexus attached to experimental hosts in approximately the same numbers as H. complexus, but H. longiplexus penetrated only damselfly naiads, …

Multiple Labeling In Electron Microscopy: Its Application In Cardiovascular Research, M. M. H. Marijianowski, P. Teeling, K. P. Dingemans, A. E. Becker

Scanning Microscopy

The heart is a muscular pump kept together by a network of extracellular matrix components. An increase in collagens, as in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF), is thought to have a negative effect on cardiac compliance and, thus, on the clinical condition. Conventional electron microscopy allows for the study of cellular and extracellular components and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can put these structures in three-dimensional perspective. However, in order to study extracellular matrix components in relation to cells, immunoelectron microscopy is superior. We have used this technique in our studies on heart failure. Heart specimens were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde …