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Genetic Mechanisms Underlying Maladaptation In Specialized Species Interactions, Nitin Ravikanthachari

Theses and Dissertations

Adaptation has been used as the framework to understand the power of natural selection in structuring biodiversity and driving biological interactions. However, recent examples have indicated that many organisms are maladapted to their local conditions. Maladaptation can result from various causes including rapid environmental change, novel environments, interplay of evolutionary forces (viz: gene flow-selection balance) and anthropogenic disturbance.

To dissect the genetic mechanisms underlying maladaptation, I used the interaction between Pieris macdunnoughii (Remington) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) which lays eggs on an invasive mustard Thlaspi arvense (L.) (Brassicaceae), which is lethal to the larvae.

First, local adaptation to avoid laying eggs on …

The Effect Of Bisphenol A (Bpa) Substitutes On Cd4+ T Cell Immunity, Cassandra Poole

Longwood Senior Theses

CD4+ helper T cells are an important cell of the immune system. One key factor in the mediation of the immune system in general, and T cells in particular, is the female sex hormone estrogen. Abnormal estrogen levels are associated with a variety of conditions, including autoimmune diseases, and several types of cancer, including breast cancer. BPA is a well-known estrogen mimicking compound, used in the manufacturing of plastics, epoxy resins, and polystyrenes. As the negative effects of BPA become more apparent, many BPA substitutes have been developed. While the effect of estrogen on T cells is understood, the effect …

Neurogenetic Function Of Host Cell Factor-1, Victoria Lynn Castro

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Neural precursor cells (NPCs) are the stem-like cells of the developing brain. These cells differentiate into the differentiated cell types of the central nervous system. If disruption occurs in the number of total NPCs formed or their survival, various disorders including learning disabilities, behavioral problems, or epilepsy can occur. This dissertation describes how the HCFC1 gene controls the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs. HCFC1 encodes for a transcriptional co-factor that regulates the growth and metabolism of stem cells, including NPCs. Mutations in HCFC1 cause cblX syndrome, a neural developmental disorder that affects the nervous system and causes microcephaly, epilepsy, and …

Characterization And Genomic Analysis Of Two Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Bacteriophages Isolated From Pigeons, Mohamad I. Alolama

Dissertations

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, also known as EHEC, is a subset of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and it has recently been identified as one of the principal foodborne pathogens. E. coli O157:H7 is the most important serotype of STEC for its role in causing foodborne illnesses. E. coli O157:H7 could cause various gastroenteritis symptoms such as diarrhea, hemolytic uremic syndrome, hemorrhagic colitis, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and may cause death. Elimination of E. coli O157:H7 during food processing and storage is a possible solution. Bacteriophages have a significant impact on bacterial populations in nature due to their ability to …

Pathogen Risk Assessment On Arabian Felines In The United Arab Emirates, Laia Montserrat Stefano

Dissertations

The Arabian Peninsula has been known to harbour five species of felines, namely leopards (Panthera pardus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), caracals (Caracal caracal), sand cats (Felis margarita), and wildcats (Felis silvestris). Currently, their situation in the wild is critical in the region and ex situ breeding efforts are the greatest hope to restore their populations. However, these efforts need to go hand-in-hand with focus on their health, since pathogens are known to be a serious threat to animals under managed care. Globally, the potential pathogens of these five species include viruses, …

E-Cigarette Aerosols Of Propylene Glycol Impair Bk Channel Activity And Parameters Of Mucociliary Function, Michael D Kim, Samuel Chung, Nathalie Baumlin, Liang Sun, Neerupma Silswal, John S Dennis, Makoto Yoshida, Juan Sabater, Frank T Horrigan, Matthias Salathe

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Propylene glycol (PG) is a common delivery vehicle for nicotine and flavorings in e-cigarette (e-cig) liquids and is largely considered safe for ingestion. However, little is known about its effects as an e-cig aerosol on the airway. Here, we investigated whether pure PG e-cig aerosols in realistic daily amounts impact parameters of mucociliary function and airway inflammation in a large animal model (sheep) in vivo and primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) in vitro. Five-day exposure of sheep to e-cig aerosols of 100% PG increased mucus concentrations (% mucus solids) of tracheal secretions. PG e-cig aerosols further increased the activity …

Dnmt3a-Coordinated Splicing Governs The Stem State Switch Towards Differentiation In Embryonic And Haematopoietic Stem Cells, Raghav Ramabadran, Jarey H Wang, Jaime M Reyes, Anna G Guzman, Sinjini Gupta, Carina Rosas, Lorenzo Brunetti, Michael C Gundry, Ayala Tovy, Hali Long, Tianpeng Gu, Sean M Cullen, Siddhartha Tyagi, Danielle Rux, Jean J Kim, Steven M Kornblau, Michael Kyba, Fabio Stossi, Rachel E Rau, Koichi Takahashi, Thomas F Westbrook, Margaret A Goodell

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Upon stimulation by extrinsic stimuli, stem cells initiate a programme that enables differentiation or self-renewal. Disruption of the stem state exit has catastrophic consequences for embryogenesis and can lead to cancer. While some elements of this stem state switch are known, major regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. Here we show that this switch involves a global increase in splicing efficiency coordinated by DNA methyltransferase 3α (DNMT3A), an enzyme typically involved in DNA methylation. Proper activation of murine and human embryonic and haematopoietic stem cells depends on messenger RNA processing, influenced by DNMT3A in response to stimuli. DNMT3A coordinates splicing through recruitment …

Acoustic Telemetry Provides Insights For Improving Conservation And Management At A Spawning Aggregation Site Of The Endangered Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus Striatus), Richard S. Nemeth, Elizabeth Kadison, Jonathan Jossart, Mahmood Shivji, Bradley Wetherbee, Jordan Matley

Biology Faculty Articles

Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus, Serranidae) were one of the most important fishery species in the Caribbean, but are now listed as critically endangered. Population collapse in most places occurred primarily by fishers targeting their spawning aggregation sites, where thousands of fish gathered during full moon periods from December to April. Identifying management options for protecting this vulnerable period is crucial for their survival. In the US Virgin Islands, we tagged 24 Nassau grouper with acoustic transmitters at a fish spawning aggregation (FSA) site called the Grammanik Bank, a 1.5 km2, marine protected area (MPA) closed each year from …

Recruitment Behaviour In An African Meliponine Bee Species (Hymenoptera, Apidae: Meliponini): Understanding Glandular Origin And Pheromonal Components, Bridget O. Bobadoye, Olaniyi T. Alamu, Jennifer A. George-Onaho, John A. Ete, Ayangbade E. Ayandokun, Ifeoluwa S. Agboola, Olubusola T. Adeoye, Popoola J. Adekola

Tanzania Journal of Science

Meliponine bees are speculated to use a variety of communication mechanisms to effectively recruit workers of a colony to collect sufficient amounts of food to nourish the entire nest population. Mechanisms used to convey such information include thoracic vibrations and trophallaxis within the nest; footprint secretions and pheromone marks deposited in the field, or a combination of these signals and cues. There have been numerous discrepancies about the origin of trail pheromone production from the head, thorax, abdomen and leg regions of meliponine bees. Because the glandular origin of pheromone marks deposited by African meliponine bee’s species has not yet …

Prevalence Of Endoparasites And Haematology In Redbelly Tilapia From A Shallow Tropical Reservoir In Ghana, Elliot H. Alhassan, Samuel A. Osei, Akwasi Ampofo-Yeboah, Samuel O. Dandi

Tanzania Journal of Science

The goal of this study was to assess common endoparasites on Tilapia zillii in the Tono Reservoir, as well as to investigate the mean intensity and prevalence of these parasites. A total of 175 fish specimens were examined during the study. Endoparasites of three metazoans and one protozoan were observed from the Tilapia zillii gills, intestines, and stomach. The findings showed that the most common endoparasites affecting Tilapia zillii are Ichthyopthirius multifiliis, Bothriocephalus sp., Contracaecum sp., and Dactylogyrus sp. Also, Contracaecum sp had the highest prevalence of 29.71, followed by Bothriocephalus sp (18.86), Ichthyopthirius multifiliis (12), and Dactylogyrus sp (6.86). …

Evidence Of Distinct Genetic Stocks Of The Bottlenose Wedgefish (Rhynchobatus Australiae) In The Indo-West Pacific, Rehema J. Simwanza, Cyrus Rumisha

Tanzania Journal of Science

Populations of the bottlenose wedgefish (Rhynchobatus australiae) in the Indo-West Pacific (IWP) have declined by nearly 80% in recent decades. In response, IWP countries are establishing sanctuaries to provide refuge for the fish. However, little is known about the genetic stock structure of the fish in the region. Hence, this study analysed partial sequences (610 base pairs) of the cytochrome oxidase subunit (COI) gene from eight bottlenose wedgefish populations in the IWP to assess the genetic stock structure of the fishery. The sequences revealed that Western Indian Ocean (WIO) populations are genetically distinct from those in the West Pacific (WP) …

Land Cover Change As A Proxy Of Changes In Wildlife Distribution And Abundance In Tarangire-Simanjiro-Lolkisale-Mto Wa Mbu Ecosystem, Thobias Anthony, Nyimvua Shaban, Cuthbert Nahonyo

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study analyzed the land use and land cover (LULC) changes from 2000 to 2020 and examined its influence on wildlife distribution and abundance. LULC from satellite imagery for 2000, 2012 and 2020 were acquired from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Supervised classification along with a maximum likelihood algorithm was used to classify satellite imagery into eight LULC classes: bareland, woodland, wetland, shrubland, grassland, waterbodies, cropland and built-up land. The results showed that grassland, wetland and woodland had declined, while shrubland, cropland and built-up land increased from 2000 to 2020. Grassland, wetland and woodland decreased from 48.1%, 14.1% and …

Using Augmented Reality For Geometry Learning: Indonesian Elementary School Teachers' Experiences, Asep Nuryadin, Karlimah Karlimah, Dindin Abdul Muiz Lidinillah, Ika Fitri Apriani, Ikairn Rachmawati Putri, Lilis Susilawati, Ginna Islamiati, Dede Nurhidayah

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to discover Indonesian elementary school teachers' experiences (n = 257) of using Augmented Reality (AR) for learning, especially related to one of the topics in mathematics learning, namely, geometry. AR is considered to be an alternative instructional media that can be utilized for teaching geometry, including the topic of three-dimensional shapes. A questionnaire consisting of both close-ended and open-ended questions was used to collect data in this study. This study has successfully revealed teachers' use of digital instructional media during the COVID-19 pandemic, their familiarity with AR, frequency of AR use for geometry learning, and challenges in …

Application Of The Recitation Method To Improve The Competence Of Medical Laboratory Technology Students In The Immunology Field, Patricia Gita Naully, Perdina Nursidika

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

An accredited mid-level MLT (Medical Laboratory Technology) must have the competence to perform medical laboratory examinations from pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic stages in several fields, one of which is immunology. Many D3 MLT students are facing obstacles to passed the immunology course. This obstacle is not only experienced by students of D3 MLT but also by medical students, pharmacy students, and similar majors. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of recitation method in the form of animation video making and immunology based device on the competence of Diploma 3 (D3) MLT students. This research is a …

Ecoliteracy Analysis And Science Teaching Materials: A Survey In Junior High Schools, Ghina Nisrina Ramadhanti, Indarini Dwi Pursitasari, Indriyani Rachman

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The study aims to analyze ecoliteracy and the teaching materials required for 21st century learning these days. The study employs the survey method by involving population of 104 junior high school students in grade VIII in Bogor City. The data are collected using ecoliteracy tests and interviews and analyzed using descriptive statistics techniques. The results showed that 48 students (46.15%) fall into the category of lacking ecoliteracy cognitive competence. The results of the questionnaire on the competence of attitudes, skills, and human relations with nature fall into the medium category. Therefore, in order to support the improvement of students’ ecoliteracy, …

Preliminary Analysis Of Landscape Associations For Virginia Opossum Roadkills, Lucy Beck

Graduate Research Showcase

Methods for mitigating wildlife-vehicle collisions are important for the health of local wildlife populations and for driver safety. A variety of spatial, temporal, and biological factors are known to influence these collisions, and the combination of these factors varies for any given road. Therefore, understanding the spatial distribution of roadkill on the local landscape scale is required for effective mitigation planning. Furthermore, the distribution of roadkill on a local scale aids in our understanding of species’ ranges and the environmental factors associated with habitat use. A total of 620 Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) roadkills were recorded during a 10-year period …

Emerging Vibrio Harveyi And Vibrio Campbellii Pathogens In Georgia Waters, Cameron Brown

Graduate Research Showcase

In the face of global warming and ocean acidification, waterborne pathogens are geographically expanding and rapidly evolving. The Vibrio genus contains a number of pathogens of humans and aquatic animals, many of which benefit from elevated temperatures and low pH conditions. Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio campbellii belong to the Harveyi clade and are barely distinguishable upon their genetic make-up. Natively found in warm waters of Asia and South America, these species are well-established pathogens that infect fish, shrimp, and mollusks. Due to climate change, the Southeastern United States is potentially becoming an accommodating environment for these pathogens, however this has …

The Effect Of Callery Pear (Pyrus Calleryana) On Soil Macrofauna (Diplopoda And Oligochaeta), Joseph M. Mcgee, Bruce Snyder

Graduate Research Showcase

Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana) is a relatively recent invader of North America. Its ecological effects are still being explored, including those affecting soil macrofauna such as millipedes (Diplopoda) and earthworms (Clitellata: Oligochaeta). These animals play important roles in many soil processes so understanding how they respond to invasive species is vital to soil health. A previous study exploring potential herbicide control was completed in 2019, however as of 2022 there are still treatment zones with little to no Callery pear alongside fully invaded plots, providing an optimal habitat mosaic for comparison. This allowed us to pursue two research goals: To …

Effects Of Roadways On Seasonal Movement Strategies And Mate Location Success In An Imperiled Pit Viper (Crotalus Horridus), Elizabeth J. Noble

Graduate Research Showcase

Understanding animal movement behavior is fundamental to effective conservation and management. Within populations, various movement strategies can be displayed in search of critical resources, and these strategies are influenced by multiple factors related to individuals and the environment. Mating partners are one critical resource that affect movement during mating seasons. For many large-bodied snakes, male mate-searching movements are the primary determinant of mate location success, however, males incur significant risks associated with elevated movement. In an increasingly human-modified world, this often includes increased interactions with anthropogenic landscape features. A recent range-wide status assessment for Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) identified roadways …

Comparison Of Avian And Non-Avian Reptile Digestion On Small Mammal Remains And The Implications For Palaeoecological Interpretations., Todd B. Bennett*

Graduate Research Showcase

Small mammals are a uniquely important group in understanding paleoecology due to their restricted habitat and sensitivity to changing environments. The use of small mammal fossils has been widely documented in taphonomical and paleontological research, mainly in the form of owl pellet analysis. However, few studies have focused on other animal clades, though a small number have examined digestive damage due to mammals and reptiles. Research presented here examines digestive modification of small mammals caused by various species of snakes, a previously unresearched taxa, compared to previous work done on owl pellets. This study lays out a systematic approach for …

The Influence Of Gmos On The Composition Of The Gut Microbiome, Shawnia Rakhshani, Hailey Wight

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Genetically modified organisms have been used for decades in agriculture across the world. The use of GMOs has been advertised as a solution to many agricultural issues. However, people have raised concerns about GMOs reshaping human health, and more importantly, the composition of the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome has a vital role in human health through digestion, immune abilities, and protection against disease-causing bacteria. If any disturbances occur in the microbiome, it can have negative effects on an individual’s overall health and wellbeing. Our paper investigates the pros and cons of ingesting GMOs in relation to our human gut …

Development Of A Novel Cox Ii Mitochondrial Dna Marker For Rat Fecal Contamination.**, A'Aden Redhead

Graduate Research Showcase

Rodent feces can contain dangerous human microbial pathogens that are a serious health hazard to the human population. Currently, there is no known rapid assay to detect rodent fecal contamination. In this study, a rapid PCR-based mitochondrial DNA primer pair was constructed as it enabled the detection of rodent fecal pollution in environmental samples. Environmental samples were all tested using end-point PCR after filtration and then extraction of DNA using the DNeasy Powersoil pro kit. These primers were designed to specifically detect rodent feces that belong to the Rattus Sp. taxonomic group. Rodent samples from various counties in Georgia were …

Body Dimension And Length-Weigh Relationships Of Invasive Exotic Earthworm Species In Huron Mountains Forests, Paula Arroyo, Xiaoyong Chen, Timothy Gsell, John A. Yunger, Mary E. Carrington

Research Days

Invasive exotic earthworms have undesired ecological effects on structure, function, and biodiversity of forest ecosystems in the Great Lakes region. Biological parameters including body length, weight, growth rate, and regeneration patterns of earthworms are necessary to understand their life cycle and impacts on ecological processes such as nutrient biogeochemistry cycling and carbon sequestration in the forests, as well as for forest management practices. In this work, earthworms were surveyed in main forest types of the Huron Mountains Preserve of Michigan, Upper Peninsula during the period of May 2021 to October 2022. Earthworms were captured from established sampling quadrates using a …

Nutrient Resorption And Stoichiometric Characteristics Of Wuyi Rock Tea Cultivars, Dehuang Zhu, Suhong Peng, Wenzhen Liu, Shengjie Yu, Dafeng Hui

Biology Faculty Research

Nutrient resorption is an important strategy for plants to retain critical nutrients from senesced leaves and plays important roles in nutrient cycling and ecosystem productivity. As a main economic crop and soil and water conservation species, Wuyi Rock tea has been widely planted in Fujian Province, China. However, foliar nutrient resorptions of Wuyi Rock tea cultivars have not been well quantified. In this study, three Wuyi Rock tea cultivars (Wuyi Jingui, Wuyi Rougui, and Wuyi Shuixian) were selected in the Wuyishan National Soil and Water Conservation, Science and Technology Demonstration Park. Resorption efficiencies of nitrogen (NRE), phosphorus (PRE), and potassium …

Calpain Activity Is Negatively Regulated By A Kctd7-Cullin-3 Complex Via Non-Degradative Ubiquitination, Jaiprakash Sharma, Shalaka Mulherkar, Uan-I Chen, Yan Xiong, Lakshya Bajaj, Byoung-Kyu Cho, Young Ah Goo, Hon-Chiu Eastwood Leung, Kimberley F Tolias, Marco Sardiello

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Calpains are a class of non-lysosomal cysteine proteases that exert their regulatory functions via limited proteolysis of their substrates. Similar to the lysosomal and proteasomal systems, calpain dysregulation is implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease and cancer. Despite intensive efforts placed on the identification of mechanisms that regulate calpains, however, calpain protein modifications that regulate calpain activity are incompletely understood. Here we show that calpains are regulated by KCTD7, a cytosolic protein of previously uncharacterized function whose pathogenic mutations result in epilepsy, progressive ataxia, and severe neurocognitive deterioration. We show that KCTD7 works in complex with Cullin-3 and Rbx1 …

Small Rnas >26 Nt In Length Associate With Ago1 And Are Upregulated By Nutrient Deprivation In The Alga Chlamydomonas, Yingshan Li, Eun-Jeong Kim, Adam Voshall, Etsuko Moriyama, Heriberto D. Cerutti

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Small RNAs (sRNAs) associate with ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins forming effector complexes with key roles in gene regulation and defense responses against molecular parasites. In multicellular eukaryotes, extensive duplication and diversification of RNA interference (RNAi) components have resulted in intricate pathways for epigenetic control of gene expression. The unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii also has a complex RNAi machinery, including 3 AGOs and 3 DICER-like proteins. However, little is known about the biogenesis and function of most endogenous sRNAs. We demonstrate here that Chlamydomonas contains uncommonly long (>26 nt) sRNAs that associate preferentially with AGO1. Somewhat reminiscent of animal PIWI-interacting RNAs, …

Rna Virus-Mediated Changes In Organismal Oxygen Consumption Rate In Young And Old Drosophila Melanogaster Males, Eli Hagedorn, Dean Bunnell, Beate Henschel, Daniel Smith Jr, Stephanie Dickinson, Andrew Brown, Maria De Luca, Ashley Turner, Stanislava Chtarbanova

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Aging is accompanied by increased susceptibility to infections including with viral pathogens resulting in higher morbidity and mortality among the elderly. Significant changes in host metabolism can take place following virus infection. Efficient immune responses are energetically costly, and viruses divert host molecular resources to promote their own replication. Virus-induced metabolic reprogramming could impact infection outcomes, however, how this is affected by aging and impacts organismal survival remains poorly understood. RNA virus infection of Drosophila melanogaster with Flock House virus (FHV) is an effective model to study antiviral responses with age, where older flies die faster than younger flies due …

Comparing Mortality In Response To Simulated Climate Change In The Harvester Ant, Pogonomyrmex Badius, And The Fire Ant, Solenopsis Invicta, Haley Depner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the rapid transport of plants, produce, and goods out of its South American home, the fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, has invaded continents on a global scale. In the United States alone, S. invicta is responsible for an estimated $1 billion in damages annually. In contrast to the invasive fire ant, Florida’s native harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex badius, is a keystone seed disperser, providing seed relocation benefits to Florida’s sandhill wildfire-adapted habitats. Seed relocation reduces seedling competition for nutrients with the parent plant, reduces predation of seeds by rodents, increases nutrient loads associated with ant mound soils, and protects seeds from …

Diatom Diversity And Functional Groups In 72 Florida Lakes: Assessing Ecological Changes For Improved Protection And Management, Francesca M. Lauterman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Florida lakes are diverse ecosystems and are an important part of the state's biodiversity and ecosystem services. As human population and development increase across the state, many lakes have been documented as nutrient impaired and are unable to maintain essential ecological functions. In this study, diatom diversity and functional groups in 72 Florida lakes were assessed for their relationships with associated water-quality data. Common alpha diversity indices, including Shannon-Weiner Index, the Gini-Simpson Index, and Hill’s numbers were utilized to measure trends in diatom communities, while the relationships between diatom lifeform characteristics and environmental data were explored using multivariate methods and …

Increasing Capture Rates Of Grassland Birds Over Thirteen Years Indicates Successful Restoration, Katie Stumpf, Charles Muise

Georgia Journal of Science

Grassland bird populations are being lost at an alarming rate due to human modifications to grassland ecosystems. Grassland restoration has been shown to mitigate population declines for many species that use these habitats at some point in their annual cycles. We examined capture rates of adult, breeding, and hatch-year birds at a restored grassland site in the piedmont of central Georgia to determine whether colonization, breeding success, hatching success, and recruitment processes were impacting populations of grassland birds. We banded birds approximately twice per month from January 2009 through December 2021 at Panola Mountain State Park. Restoration efforts started in …