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Trypanosoma Cruzi Prevalence In The Domestic Canine Population In Central And Eastern Kentucky, Katelyn Cox

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Domestic canines are regarded as natural sentinelsfor the transmission of vector-borne pathogens since infection in an owner’s dog suggests the presence of the vector in or around the household. In collaboration with the University of Kentucky’s Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Lexington, Kentucky, we have investigated the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi (the causative agent of Chagas disease) in canines from central and eastern Kentucky via a serological test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and DNA sequencing. In addition, Canine SNAP 4Dx plus tests (Idexx Laboratories, Inc.) were used to determine the prevalence of four other vector-borne pathogens: Ehrlichia canis/ewingii, Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma …

Biological Sciences Newsletter - May 2015, Department Of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University

Biological Sciences Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Section Abstracts: Biology With Microbiology And Molecular Biology

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Biology with Microbiology and Molecular Biology Section for the 93rd Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 21-23, 2015, James Madison University, Richmond, Virginia

Development Of Quantitative Tools For The Characterization And Analysis Of The Blood Brain Barrier In Normal And Mps Iiib Mice, Sara M. Rigney

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) functions to control homeostasis within the central nervous system (CNS) via strict control over the passage of molecules into and out of the brain. The goal of this barrier is to protect the CNS from harmful external factors while allowing entry of essential nutrients and removal of metabolic byproducts. This restrictive nature of the BBB is due to the protein network at the borders of adjoining cerebral endothelial cells known as the tight junctions (TJs) and the relationship of other supporting cells and proteins such as astrocytes, pericytes, microglia, and the basement membrane and extracellular …

A Novel Family Of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Genes In Marsupials And Monotremes, Katina Krasnec

Biology ETDs

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I family of genes encode for molecules that have well-conserved structures, but have evolved to perform a diverse functions. The availability of an opossum genome from the grey, short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, has allowed for analysis of MHC class I genes in a marsupial. Traditional methods for gene discovery uncovered 13 MHC class I genes in the opossum. Utilization of a novel method to search for MHC domain structures discovered a family of 17 novel MHC class I genes. These genes, named ModoUT1-17, were located in a cluster on chromosome 1, unlinked to the …

Too Wet For Frogs, Too Dry For Lizards: Role Of Changing Precipitation On Tropical Frogs And Arid Lizards, Mason J. Ryan

Biology ETDs

During the course of the Anthropocene, humans have modified the landscape and atmosphere resulting in increased global temperatures and intensification of the hydrologic cycle over the last 100 years. Amphibians and reptiles are especially vulnerable to climate change because of their ectothermic physiology and sensitivity to changes in water availability. The role of moisture or precipitation in ectotherm responses to climate change has not been well studied, but moisture plays a vital role in all aspects of the lives of lizards and frogs. It is exceedingly difficult to study the ecological effects of changing precipitation patterns due the stochastic nature …

Characterization Of Ubiquitination Site Of Inducible Camp Early Repressor, Fanaye Woldeamanuel

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Inducible cAMP Early Repressor (ICER) is a negative transcriptional regulator found in eukaryotic cells. ICER has a tumor suppressive activity and is absent in several human cancers. Cancer cells get rid of ICER by a post-translational modification known as ubiquitination. Ubiquitin molecules, which are very small regulatory proteins, attach to lysine residues of a target protein to induce either a proteolytic or a non-proteolytic pathway. Both pathways target ICER levels inside the nucleus. In the case of the proteolytic pathway, ICER gets sent to the proteasome where it gets degraded and in the non-proteolytic pathway, ICER gets sent to the …

In Vitro Synergistic Antiviral Activity Of Black Tea Theaflavins And Acyclovir On Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 And 2 In A549 Cells, Cody James Berkefeld

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is responsible for one of the most common infections within the population. The primary antiviral used against HSV infections are nucleoside analog drugs such as acyclovir and its deviates. However, in recent years the number of cases of drug resistant HSV has increased, resulting in interest for new novel treatments. Promising antiviral agents are theaflavins found within black tea derived from Camellia sinensis. These theaflavins include theaflavin (TF1), theaflavin-3-monogallate (TF2A), theaflavin-3’-monogallate (TF2B), and theaflavin-3-3’-digallate (TF3). Previous studies have supported that theaflavins from black tea, specifically TF3, inhibit the process of viral absorption. Due to this mode …

Determination Of The Dermacentor Variabilis Ferritin Gene Exon And Intron Structure, Dana Sylvestre

Honors College Theses

The American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis is a hard body, 3-host tick that relies on the blood of small and large mammals to satisfy its metabolic demands. The excess iron consumed in its blood diet can cause cellular damage through oxidation. Ticks rely on the ferritin protein to metabolize iron. For this reason, it is important to further characterize the ferritin gene. After extracting DNA from D. variabilis ticks, the suspected ferritin gene was amplified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and purified. The putative ferritin DNA fragment was inserted into plasmids and isolated in a long PCR length gene cloning. …

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies Of Small Molecules Directed Against The T-Box Specifier Loop, Spencer Weintraub

Biological Sciences

High rates of antibiotic use have resulted in the pervasiveness of multi-drug resistant organisms. With rising drug-resistance the development of antibiotics with new targets against these pathogens is imperative. The T-box regulatory mechanism is a process specific to Grampositive bacteria and controls many essential genes including aaRS genes, which are code for the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases required to charge tRNA. The T-box Specifier Loop is a novel target for antibacterial drug discovery as we hypothesize that a small compound bound to the Specifier Loop will inhibit transcription of essential bacterial genes resulting in bacterial cell death or growth arrest. We used …

Manipulation Of The Microbiome And Its Impact On Functional Recovery Following Ischemic Stroke, Michal Jandzinski

Honors Scholar Theses

Each year, nearly 800,000 individuals residing in the United States will have a stroke. Of these, about 130,000 cases will prove fatal while many of the survivors will be forced to live with disability for the remainder of their lives. Out of all strokes over 87% are ischemic strokes. The widespread incidence of this debilitating condition costs the United States an estimated $36.5 billion dollars every single year. Despite this, clinicians are armed with very little to combat the disease. Recent research developments have brought about the rise in awareness about the importance of the microbiome, the various gut flora …

Seasonal Variation In Corticosterone, Stress Responses, And Physiology In The Northern Cardinal Cardinalis Cardinalis, Benjamin Matthew Duckworth

Master's Theses

Seasonal regulation of the adrenocortical response (e.g., ‘stress response’) appears to be ubiquitous in mid- to high-latitude vertebrates. Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are a Temperate dwelling passerine of Tropical-descent with a wide species range (tropics to Northern Temperate zones). This species encounters a wide variety of environmental conditions and strong seasonality, however corticosterone (CORT, the main adrenal stress hormone) has not been studied with regards to changes in seasonal levels. I initially analyzed samples from cardinals collected between 2007-2011 from the Lake Thoreau Environmental Research and Educational Center (Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA). The data suggested seasonal differences of CORT, with higher …

The Effects Of Zno Nanoparticles On Egg, Larva, And Adult Rough-Skinned Newts (Taricha Granulosa), Austin Reid Spence

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on egg, larva, and adult rough-skinned newts, Taricha granulosa. To date, little research has been done to investigate the potentially detrimental effects of nanoparticles on amphibians, especially salamanders and newts (caudates). Chronic toxicity was tested on eggs and larvae, and acute toxicity was tested on eggs, larvae, and adults. For eggs, chronic exposure to ZnO nanoparticles caused higher mortality at 10.0 and 100.0 mg/L compared to 0.0, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/L. When given an acute exposure (24h) to nanoparticles at a late incubation stage, …

Increasing Vaccine Accessibility Through Cost Alternative Manufacturing And Elimination Of The Cold Chain, Jorgen Madsen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Millions of people die each year from infectious diseases. This is partly due to the difficulty of transporting temperature dependent vaccines through what is called the cold chain in developing countries. I hypothesize that we can increase vaccine accessibility by finding cost effective alternatives to vaccine production and by eliminating the cold chain through vaccine stabilizers. The gold standard in purification of influenza virus is by means of ultracentrifugation. Although effective, this process is very expensive and thus impractical for developing countries. I hypothesize that column chromatography can be a cost efficient alternative that is as effective as ultracentrifugation. The …

Parasite Infection Mediates Trait Tradeoffs In Fundulus Heteroclitus, Sarah Dunn

Honors College Theses

To be successful, an animal must eat, grow, and reproduce. With limited resources, there are tradeoffs between these critical life history parameters but the direction of the tradeoffs is largely unknown in a changing environment. To determine whether environmental context affects life-history tradeoffs, I surveyed and quantified investment into reproduction, growth, and a proxy for immunity (parasitism), in the mummichog, Fundulus heteroclitus, a common inhabitant of salt marshes in Georgia. Three salt marsh sites along coastal Georgia (Shellman Bluff, Skidaway Island, and Tybee Island) were selected using a proxy for anthropogenic disturbance (impervious surface), which also fell along a …

Microbial Diversity: A Journey Through Carl Woese's Tree Of Life, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Review of: Microbial Diversity; James W. Brown; (2015). American Society for Microbiology Press, Washington, DC. 416 pages.

The Regulation Of Cathepsin L Activity By Estrogen And Bisphenols A & S: Relationship To Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Dylan T. Cuva

Biology Honors Papers

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that is linked to increased levels of estrogen. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental estrogen that may also play a role in SLE. BPA is used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, including use in the creation of cans and plastic bottles. This study investigated the role of BPA and other bisphenols on enzyme activity in a murine model for SLE.

An Analysis Of Bacterial Contamination Of Chicken Eggs And Antimicrobial Resistance, Holly Spitzer

Celebrating Scholarship & Creativity Day (2011-2017)

Chicken eggs are a major component of American diets, with an average yearly consumption of approximately 250 eggs per person (according to estimates made by the American Humane Society). While highly nutritious, eggs are also one of the leading causes of food poisoning and food borne illness in the United States. Eggs may become contaminated by a number of different types of bacteria during production, including Salmonella, a group of bacteria that, according to the CDC, causes more than 1.2 million cases of food borne illness in the United States every year. In an effort to decrease the frequency …

The Effects Of Digestion On Innate Immunity, Rachel L. Luoma

Honors College Theses

Following a meal, an animal can exhibit dramatic shifts in its physiology that can result in rapid growth of the gut and heart, as well as a massive (>40-fold) increase in metabolic rate associated with the energetic costs of processing the meal. However, little is known about the effects of digestion on an important physiological trait: immune function. Thus, I tested the following competing hypotheses. First, digesting animals may upregulate their immune systems due to increased microbial exposure from ingested food. This hypothesis predicts that animals will exhibit greater immune function during digestion. Second, digesting animals may downregulate their …

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

Honors College Theses

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

Phylogenomic Identification Of Regulatory Sequences In Bacteria: An Analysis Of Statistical Power And An Application To Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato, Che I. Martin, Tika Y. Sukarna, Saymon Akther, Girish Ramrattan, Pedro Pagan, Lia Di, Emmanuel F. Mongodin, Claire M. Fraser, Steven E. Schutzer, Benjamin J. Luft, Sherwood R. Casjens, Wei-Gang Qiu

Publications and Research

Phylogenomic footprinting is an approach for ab initio identification of genome-wide regulatory elements in bacterial species based on sequence conservation. The statistical power of the phylogenomic approach depends on the degree of sequence conservation, the length of regulatory elements, and the level of phylogenetic divergence among genomes. Building on an earlier model, we propose a binomial model that uses synonymous tree lengths as neutral expectations for determining the statistical significance of conserved intergenic spacer (IGS) sequences. Simulations show that the binomial model is robust to variations in the value of evolutionary parameters, including base frequencies and the transition-to-transversion ratio. We …

Is Green Tea The Panacea We’Ve Been Searching For? A Review Of The Scientific Literature On Green Tea And Human Health, Eleanor L. Axson

Senior Honors Projects

There are many claims surrounding the health benefits of consuming green tea, some of which involve its use in the treatment of medical conditions as wide ranging as cancer, diabetes, and neuro-degenerative disorders. The desire for the use of non-toxic and natural drugs to treat various diseases makes any health-benefitting claims about green tea and its components important to investigate for their potential public health benefits. I conducted a critical review of the research literature on green tea and its effects on human health and synthesized the results. There is convincing epidemiological evidence pointing to the health benefits derived from …

Alkaloid-Based Chemical Defenses In The Brazilian Poison Frog Melanophryniscus Simplex Inhibit Mycobacterial Growth, Megan A. Boyk

Senior Honors Projects

This study investigated the antimycobacterial properties of M. simplex alkaloids from geographically isolated populations against two species of mycobacteria, M. smegmatis, a soil-dwelling species, and M. phlei, a saprophytic species (Berney et al. 2014; Egamberdieva 2011). Both of these species are fast-growing, commonly found in the environment, and typically nonpathogenic in healthy animals (Balazova et al. 2014, Berney et al. 2014, Egamberdieva 2011). Both M. smegmatis and M. phlei are commonly used as model strains for the study of antimycobacterial agents (Zhang et al. 2014, Bruce-Micah et al. 2009). Optical density and colony-forming unit assays were used to evaluate …

Characterization Of A Novel Retrotransposon In New World Monkeys, Sreeja Sanampudi

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Instructor's Guide To Concepts Of Biology, Chapters 12-21, Molly Smith, Sara Selby

Biological Sciences Open Textbooks

Authors' Description:

This Instructor’s Guide contains the brief outlines of Chapters 12-21 as found in Concepts of Biology, though some underwent revision. Also, instructors will find detailed outlines of the text for use in lecturing, as well as structured outlines that may be used by students to take notes while reading the chapter or during lecture. All outlines are derived from the OpenStax text. Additionally, study guides that contain a variety of questions are provided for students.

The appendices contain Web resources where additional information can be found about the topics covered in the text; these Web resources may or …

Varying Influences Of Selection And Demography In Host-Adapted Populations Of The Tick-Transmitted Bacterium, Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Speciation And Evolutionary Genetics, Matthew Aardema, Friederike D. Von Loewenich

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: The host range of a pathogenic bacterial strain likely influences its effective population size, which in turn affects the efficacy of selection. Transmission between competent hosts may occur more frequently for host generalists than for specialists. This could allow higher bacterial population densities to persist within an ecological community and increase the efficacy of selection in these populations. Conversely, specialist strains may be better adapted to their hosts and consequently achieve greater within-host population densities, with corresponding increases in selection efficacy. To assess these different hypotheses, we examined the effective population sizes of three strains of the bacterium Anaplasma …

Adenovirus Entry From The Apical Surface Of Polarized Epithelia Is Facilitated By The Host Innate Immune Response, Poornima L.N. Kotha, Priyanka Sharma, Abimbola O. Kolawole, Ran Yan, Mahmoud Alghamri, Trisha L. Brockman, Julian Gomez-Cambronero, Julian Cambronero

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Prevention of viral-induced respiratory disease begins with an understanding of the factors that increase or decrease susceptibility to viral infection. The primary receptor for most adenoviruses is the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), a cell-cell adhesion protein normally localized at the basolateral surface of polarized epithelia and involved in neutrophil transepithelial migration. Recently, an alternate isoform of CAR, CAREx8, has been identified at the apical surface of polarized airway epithelia and is implicated in viral infection from the apical surface. We hypothesized that the endogenous role of CAR^Ex8 may be to facilitate host innate immunity. We show that IL-8, …

Environmental Impacts On Life History In Container Breeding Mosquitoes, Kathleen May Westby

Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation I explore different ways that the environment impacts life history in mosquitoes in ways that may alter vectorial capacity. In chapter I, I tested if short-term sugar deprivation experienced after exposure to La Crosse virus altered infection rates in Aedes albopictus and if sugar treatment and virus infection status altered blood feeding behavior and fecundity. I found no evidence that sugar deprivation impacted infection rates or fecundity. Sugar deprivation did increase blood feeding. There was no effect of infection status on blood feeding or fecundity. In chapter II, I tested for effects of seasonal cues (temperature and …

Fighting Microbial Drug Resistance: A Primer On The Role Of Evolutionary Biology In Public Health, Gabriel Perron, R. Inglis, Pleuni Pennings, Sarah Cobey

Biology Department Faculty Works

Although microbes have been evolving resistance to antimicrobials for millennia, the spread of resistance in pathogen populations calls for the development of new drugs and treatment strategies. We propose that successful, long-term resistance management requires a better understanding of how resistance evolves in the first place. This is an opportunity for evolutionary biologists to engage in public health, a collaboration that has substantial precedent. Resistance evolution has been an important tool for developing and testing evolutionary theory, especially theory related to the genetic basis of new traits and constraints on adaptation. The present era is no exception. The articles in …

Exploring The Antibacterial, Antioxidant, And Anticancerproperties Of Lichen Metabolites, Gajendra Shrestha

Theses and Dissertations

Natural products have been a significant source of new drugs, especially in treating cancer, infectious diseases, hypertension, and neurological disorders. Although many natural metabolites have been screened and yielded pharmaceutically important drugs, many potential sources of natural product drug therapies still need to be investigated, including lichens. Lichens are symbiotic systems consisting of a filamentous fungus and a photosynthetic partner (an eukaryotic alga and/or cyanobacterium). Lichens produce an impressive variety of unique secondary compounds and have been used as ingredients in folk medicines for centuries. Demonstrated biological roles based on lichen chemistry include: antibiotics, anti-proliferative, antioxidants, anti-HIV, anti-cancer, immunomodulation, and …