Digital Commons Network^™

215— Schistosomiasis Infections In School Aged Children In Ghana, Katerina Pisciotta, Maia Mazzaferro

GREAT Day Posters

Schistosomiasis is a Neglected Tropical Disease caused by a parasitic blood fluke. There are currently over 240 million people affected globally. Humans become infected after coming into contact with water containing the infectious stage of the parasite. Our data consists of egg counts for Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni collected from school-aged children in Tomefa, Ghana, a marginalized informal community, between 2014 and 2019. Our research explores whether or not reinfections and continuous infections were occurring over the six-year period. Although the government conducts periodic mass drug administration, reinfections are likely given the social and environmental conditions in the community. …

352— Investigating The Function Of Mhc Class I In Xenopus Laevis Tadpoles, Stephanie Alvarez Merlos, Annika Mounts

GREAT Day Posters

Xenopus laevis, is an excellent model organism for transgenesis and immunological research due to their large eggs and the similarities between mammalian and amphibian immune systems. MHC Class I is found on nearly all cells and educates T cells to recognize between self and non-self which is an essential immune system function. However, tadpoles don’t have detectable MHC Class I expression while adult frogs do. Despite this tadpoles are still immunocompetent; thus the role of MHC Class I in tadpoles is unknown. To investigate MHC Class I function we inactivated the corresponding gene in Xenopus laevis using CRISPR/Cas9. The …

2014 Health Demographics Of A Rural Nicaraguan Community, Andrew Guymon, Brianna Mcgowen, Emma Foster

Research Symposium

In December 2014, a team of church members and associated healthcare workers from Owasso First Assembly in Owasso, Oklahoma, provided a free, two-day clinic and health assessment to the rural community of La Ceiba Dudu in Nicaragua. Services included medical exams, basic medications, dental extractions, and over the counter reading glasses. This report is a retrospective review of the patient records documented at that clinic. We analyzed the prevalence of parasites across five age cohorts and searched for correlations between parasite diagnosis and various patient metrics, including BMI, age, and gender. We searched for a relationship between occupants per household …

The Gut-Brain Axis And The Apparent Links To Autism Spectrum Disorders, Macgregor Thomas

Research Symposium

In recent years, researchers have pushed the boundaries of understanding of the human microbiome. Studies have pointed towards the involvement of gut bacteria in human health for decades, but now scientists have begun to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the symbiotic relationship that bacteria have with their hosts. Research shows that gut bacteria can influence an organism's neural and immune system development, behavior, mood, and even neurotransmitter concentrations. Like other systems in the human body, a delicate balance of homeostasis, acting through bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and the gut, keeps this system in check. Studies show …

Heterogeneity In Hosts And Environment: Implications For Schistosomiasis Control, Larissa Celeste Anderson

Biology ETDs

Schistosomiasis is a widespread neglected parasitic disease, endemic in 54 countries, for which 290 million people needed treatment in 2018. A major Schistosoma species, Schistosoma mansoni, is sustained via a life cycle that includes both human and snail hosts. Mathematical models of S. mansoni transmission are an integral tool for elucidating the complexities of the transmission cycle, interactions between parasite species and for the estimation of the impact of intervention efforts. We designed both deterministic and stochastic mathematical models to understand the impact of heterogeneity in host and parasite composition on projected infection control. These models indicate the impact of …

Predicting Cognitive Rehabilitation Needs In Patients With Central Nervous System Infections Using Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Matilde Ørum, Merete Storgaard, Paul Denton, Trine Hyrup Mogensen, Christina Kjærgaard Højbjerg, Mathilde Pedersen, Jesper Damsgaard Gunst

Biology Faculty Publications

Cognitive impairments are reported in some patients with central nervous system (CNS) infections after discharge. Our objectives were to evaluate the prevalence of CNS patients in need of rehabilitation after discharge and to assess whether the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) could be used as a screening tool to identify these patients. CNS patients admitted during a 2-year study period were included. The need for rehabilitation was assessed by physicians with the aid of an occupational therapy assessment, after which a MoCA was performed. The prevalence of needing rehabilitation was 58% among CNS patients. An abnormal MoCA score < 26 was the only variable strongly associated with higher odds of needing rehabilitation. In 42% of the CNS patients in need of rehabilitation, the MoCA score was ≥ 26, and most of these patients were aged 16 to 43 years (young adults). There is a need for rehabilitation among CNS patients after discharge. As a screening tool, MoCA was able to identify patients in need of rehabilitation. In young adults, MoCA scores were often normal despite a need for rehabilitation. Thus, MoCA cannot stand alone as a screening tool for identifying young adults in need of rehabilitation following CNS infection.

Low Stress Handling Techniques In Shelter Animals And The Overall Effects On Physiological Parameters, Ashley Swim, Courtney Smart, Amy Staton

2021 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Oral Presentations

Animal shelters tend to be a very stressful environment for dogs as there are many new sounds, smells, and animals. This stress is not only bad for their psychological health and can lead to behavioral issues, but it can also have an impact on their physical health. Stress impacts multiple systems of the body, resulting in increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, temperature and even blood glucose levels in dogs. The impact stress has on these systems can lead to a compromised immune system and increases the probabilities of the dog becoming ill. However, by using Fear Free methods, …

Streptococcus Mutans And The Oral Microbiome, Danielle Pintone

Honors Program Contracts

No abstract provided.

The Synchrony Of Pathogen Events, Tivon Eugene

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Use Of Imaging Flow Cytometry To Assess The Hematology Of Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus Catenatus), Jennifer H. Kovach

Masters Theses

The federally threatened eastern massasauga rattlesnake is faced with many threats, including the newly recognized snake fungal disease. Unfortunately, the immune response to the disease is unknown. Leukocyte profiles are used as health assessment tools for many species, and imaging flow cytometry can be used as an application to characterize leukocyte profiles. Our goal was to use imaging flow cytometry to identify leukocyte profiles of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes and determine differences in profiles between sexes, reproductive status, ages, location, and individuals with clinical signs of snake fungal disease. Blood samples from 201 individuals were collected from ten locations throughout the …

Laboratory Techniques In Public Health: Bi-520 Introduction To Public Health Lab Manual, Anuradha Srivastava

Open Educational Resources

This laboratory manual for a foundations course Public Health is unique in the sense that very rarely, a foundations course in the field has a lab component offered with the lecture. This lab manual provides basic laboratory exercises that could be useful to introduce undergraduate students to the basics of public health laboratory practices.

Mrna Vaccinations For The Prevention Of Viral Infections, Isaac Underhill

Senior Honors Theses

mRNA vaccines for the prevention of infection disease have gained significant traction in the last three decades, specifically with the recent emergency approval of two COVID-19 vaccines (Oliver, Sara E et al., 2020; Rauch et al., 2018a). mRNA vaccines occupy a unique space in immunology because of their utilization of cellular mechanisms to produce viral proteins, and their simplicity and ease of manufacture (Cullis & Hope, 2017). These vaccines have shown strong humoral and cell-mediated adaptive immune responses (Rauch et al., 2018b) . In addition, side effects of the vaccines have been limited and subject response is manipulatable by varying …

Gene Expression Associated With Disease Resistance And Long-Term Growth In A Reef-Building Coral, Emma R. Kelley, Robin S. Sleith, Mikhail V. Matz, Rachel M. Wright

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Rampant coral disease, exacerbated by climate change and other anthropogenic stressors, threatens reefs worldwide, especially in the Caribbean. Physically isolated yet genetically connected reefs such as Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) may serve as potential refugia for degraded Caribbean reefs. However, little is known about the mechanisms and trade-offs of pathogen resistance in reef-building corals. Here, we measure pathogen resistance in Montastraea cavernosa from FGBNMS. We identified individual colonies that demonstrated resistance or susceptibility to Vibrio spp. in a controlled laboratory environment. Long-term growth patterns suggest no trade-off between disease resistance and calcification. Predictive (pre-exposure) gene expression highlights …

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum Modulates Mammalian And Arthropod Signaling For Its Survival And Transmission, Supreet Khanal

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are illnesses transmitted to humans and other animals by arthropods such as ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas. These arthropod vectors transmit infectious pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, to humans during blood-feeding. We have very few control strategies to treat or control these diseases. Human anaplasmosis, caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is the second most common tick-borne disease in the United States. This work defines three studies elucidating Anaplasma phagocytophilum-mediated modulation of cell signaling in mammalian cells and arthropod vector Ixodes scapularis ticks.

The first study focused on mammalian PI3 kinases signaling in regulating …

Determination Of The Presence Of Rickettsia Spp. And Borrelia Spp. Carried By Tortoise Ticks From Madagascar, Anna Phan

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Ticks were removed from three species of Malagasy tortoises, Astrochelys yniphora, A. radiata, and Pyxis arachnoides (comprising two subspecies P. a. arachnoides and P. a. oblonga), between 2012 and 2015. The ticks were presumed to be from the genus Amblyomma. Ticks were morphologically identified and then checked molecularly to confirm their classification or identify any ticks that could not be morphologically identified. Molecular identification was done via end-point PCR that amplified tick cytochrome oxidase (CO1) and tick 12S rRNA genes. Ticks were screened via a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the presence of Rickettsia spp. …

A Crucial Role For Antimicrobial Stewardship In The Midst Of Covid-19, Bindu Mayi, Manda Mainville, Rida Altaf, Michelle Lanspa, Sheel Vaniawala, Thomas A. Ollerhead, Aarti Raja

Biology Faculty Articles

As the world deals with a pandemic, there remains another global challenge that cannot be ignored. Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may be justified, as we are trying to treat a novel disease condition, which, in turn, could lead to an increase in antimicrobial resistance. We can decrease morbidity, mortality, and health care costs by controlling antimicrobial resistance, but it requires antimicrobial stewardship. Major components of effective and timely antimicrobial stewardship are diagnostic stewardship, infection prevention and control, and integration of COVID-19-specific flags into electronic health records, all of which may be integrated into current strategies of COVID-19 mitigation and management. …

A Crucial Role For Antimicrobial Stewardship In The Midst Of Covid-19, Bindu S. Mayi, Manda Mainville, Rida Altaf, Michelle Lanspa, Sheel Vaniawala, Thomas A. Ollerhead, Aarti Raja

Biology Faculty Articles

As the world deals with a pandemic, there remains another global challenge that cannot be ignored. Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may be justified, as we are trying to treat a novel disease condition, which, in turn, could lead to an increase in antimicrobial resistance. We can decrease morbidity, mortality, and health care costs by controlling antimicrobial resistance, but it requires antimicrobial stewardship. Major components of effective and timely antimicrobial stewardship are diagnostic stewardship, infection prevention and control, and integration of COVID-19-specific flags into electronic health records, all of which may be integrated into current strategies of COVID-19 mitigation and management. …

Epigenetic Potential In An Introduced Passerine, Haley E. Hanson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Epigenetic modifications play a critical role in numerous processes throughout the lifetime of an organism by influencing gene regulation. Responsive to both endogenous cues and external stimuli, epigenetic modifications are key mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity. Epigenetic potential, or the capacity for phenotypic plasticity mediated by epigenetic modifications, can be encoded within the genome via genetic variation underlying aspects of epigenetic modifications. For example, one type of epigenetic modification, DNA methylation, predominately occurs at CpG motifs in vertebrates. The number of CpG sites within the genome then represents the capacity for DNA methylation to occur and is one form of epigenetic …

Ecological Physiology Of Rafinesque’S Big-Eared Bats (Corynorhinus Rafinesquii) Roosting In An Anthropogenic Structure In Arkansas, Benjamin N. Spitz

Student Theses and Dissertations

Rafinesque’s big-eared bats (Corynorhinus rafinesquii) are suffering habitat loss due to deforestation of bottomland hardwoods which an increase in agriculture forces maternity colonies to roost in anthropogenic structures. In Arkansas I explore how bats from maternity colonies in anthropogenic structures use torpor and how torpor is affected by chronic stress and ectoparasites. During June- August of 2018-2019, I surveyed a maternity colony inside a barn. Captured bats were tagged with temperature-sensitive transmitters and tracked to roost trees and the barn daily confirming day roosts. Using Lotek data loggers, data from transmitters were collected as skin temperature and compared to ambient …

Editorial Board

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

No abstract provided.

Gene Variants Of Coagulation Related Proteins That Interact With Sars-Cov-2, David Holcomb, Aikaterini Alexaki, Nancy Hernandez, Ryan Hunt, Jacob Kames, Nobuko Hamasaki-Katagiri, Anton A. Komar, Michael Dicuccio, Chava Kimchi-Sarfaty

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Increased blood clotting, especially in the lungs, is a common complication of COVID-19. Infectious diseases cause inflammation, which in turn can contribute to increased blood clotting. However, the extent of clot formation that is seen in the lungs of COVID-19 patients suggests that there may be a more direct link. We identified three human proteins that are involved indirectly in the blood clotting cascade and have been shown to interact with proteins of SARS virus, which is closely related to the novel coronavirus. We examined computationally the interaction of these human proteins with the viral proteins. We looked for genetic …

Utilization Of Recombinant Viruses And In Silico Protein-Protein Interactions To Investigate The Role Of Herpes Simplex Type-1 (Hsv-1) Us9, Gk, And Ul20 Proteins In Virion Assembly And Egress, Anna Reneé Naquin

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Reemergence Of Eradicated Disease Due To Ecological Impact Of Climate Change, Claudia Kolakowski

Theses and Dissertations

Global warming is radically changing aspects of the Earth. As scientists continue to research the effects, the ramifications of melting permafrost is coming to light. We build off of a previously existing Anthrax model in the hopes to include climate change as a factor in Anthrax spread. Chapter II develops a simplified version of an Anthrax model. Parameters for the model are found by using previous research and eigenvalues are analyzed in order to find thresholds and equilibria. Chapter III consider the general solutions of the model through eigenvalues and eigenvectors. This model is then extended to include a parameter …

Epigraph Hemagglutinin Vaccine Induces Broad Cross-Reactive Immunity Against Swine H3 Influenza Virus, Brianna L. Bullard, Brigette N. Corder, Jennifer Debeauchamp, Adam Rubrum, Bette Korber, Richard J. Webby, Eric A. Weaver

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Influenza A virus infection in swine impacts the agricultural industry in addition to its zoonotic potential. Here, we utilize epigraph, a computational algorithm, to design a universal swine H3 influenza vaccine. The epigraph hemagglutinin proteins are delivered using an Adenovirus type 5 vector and are compared to a wild type hemagglutinin and the commercial inactivated vaccine, FluSure. In mice, epigraph vaccination leads to significant cross-reactive antibody and T-cell responses against a diverse panel of swH3 isolates. Epigraph vaccination also reduces weight loss and lung viral titers in mice after challenge with three divergent swH3 viruses. Vaccination studies in swine, the …

Occurrence Of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) On Birds In Northwestern Lower Michigan, 2011-2019, William C. Scharf, Lisa Aukland, Gary W. Shugart, Sarah A. Hamer

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Abstract

Monitoring tick infestation of wildlife provides baseline tick

occurrence data that may have human or animal health implications. We collected 312 ticks of four species from 5,122 birds of 93 species while monitoring bird migration during 15 fall and spring seasons between 2011 and 2019 in the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Twenty-seven of 93 bird species hosted ticks with an overall prevalence (=at least one tick) of 3.6% (185/5,122). Median burden was one tick/per infested bird with a range of 1-16 ticks per infested bird. Tick species collected were primarily Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard) and Ixodes scapularis Say, with …

Isolation And Quantification Of Flavonoids From Kigelia Africana (Lam.) Benth Fruit And Bark And Their Antiradical And Antibacterial Activities, Pamhidzai Dzomba, George Mhini

Tanzania Journal of Science

Kigelia africana is an evergreen deciduous tree used in Zimbabwe folklore medicine for wound and diabetes ulcers healing. This paper reports the isolation and quantification of flavonoids from stem barks and fruits of K. africana as well as their antibacterial and antiradical activities. Flavonoids in ethanol and ethyl-acetate extracts were quantified using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and were found to be 213.490 ± 0.001 mg/L and 36.614 ± 0.001 mg/L, respectively per quercetin equivalent. The preparative and analytical thin layer chromatography was used to profile the flavonoids from fruits and barks using ethyl-acetate and petroleum ether (3:7 v/v) mobile solvent systems. Ethanol …

Poor Compliance With An Antibiotic Directive—A Call For Intensified Monitoring, Frederik Novak, Jens T. Hørlück, Jacob D. Redder, Paul Denton, Merete Storgaard

Biology Faculty Publications

Background

In April 2017, the Central Denmark Region Antibiotic Stewardship Committee issued a directive to reduce the general use of piperacillin-tazobactam and prescribe narrow-spectrum antibiotics for mild and moderate pneumonia. The directive was distributed to all regional hospital clinicians.

Methods

Electronic medical records were used to obtain de-identified details of all antibiotics administered (together with diagnosis codes) to all in-hospital patients (pre-directive and post-directive) in the nine regional hospitals. Average moving range statistical process control charts were used to analyze pre-directive and post-directive variation in antibiotic usage patterns.

Results

Upon the distribution of the directive, a period of decline of …

Efficacy And Safety Of The Mrna-1273 Sars-Cov-2 Vaccine, Lindsey R Baden, Hana M El Sahly, Brandon Essink, Karen Kotloff, Sharon Frey, Rick Novak, David Diemert, Stephen A Spector, Nadine Rouphael, C Buddy Creech, John Mcgettigan, Shishir Khetan, Nathan Segall, Joel Solis, Adam Brosz, Carlos Fierro, Howard Schwartz, Kathleen Neuzil, Larry Corey, Peter Gilbert, Holly Janes, Dean Follmann, Mary Marovich, John Mascola, Laura Polakowski, Julie Ledgerwood, Barney S Graham, Hamilton Bennett, Rolando Pajon, Conor Knightly, Brett Leav, Weiping Deng, Honghong Zhou, Shu Han, Melanie Ivarsson, Jacqueline Miller, Tal Zaks, Cove Study Group

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Vaccines are needed to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and to protect persons who are at high risk for complications. The mRNA-1273 vaccine is a lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA-based vaccine that encodes the prefusion stabilized full-length spike protein of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes Covid-19.

METHODS: This phase 3 randomized, observer-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 99 centers across the United States. Persons at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection or its complications were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive two intramuscular injections of mRNA-1273 (100 μg) or placebo 28 days apart. …

Data From: Recovery From Discrete Wound Severities In Side-Blotched Lizards (Uta Stansburiana): Implications For Energy Budget, Locomotor Performance, And Oxidative Stress, Susannah S. French, Spencer B. Hudson

Browse all Datasets

Wounding events (predation attempts, competitive combat) result in injuries and/or infections that induce integrated immune responses for the recovery process. Despite the survival benefits of immunity in this context, the costs incurred may require investment to be diverted from traits contributing to immediate and/or future survival, such as locomotor performance and oxidative status. Yet, whether trait constraints manifest likely depends on wound severity and the implications for energy budget. For this study, food intake, body mass, sprint speed, and oxidative indices (reactive oxygen metabolites, antioxidant capacity) were monitored in male side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) healing from cutaneous wounds of discrete …

Inhibition Of Biofilm Formation By The Synergistic Action Of Egcg-S And Antibiotics, Shrameeta Shinde, Lee Lee, Tinchun Chu

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Biofilm, a stress-induced physiological state, is an established means of antimicrobial tolerance. A perpetual increase in multidrug resistant (MDR) infections associated with high mortality and morbidity have been observed in healthcare settings. Multiple studies have indicated that the use of natural products can prevent bacterial growth. Recent studies in the field have identified that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, could disrupt bacterial biofilms. A modified lipid-soluble EGCG, epigallocatechin-3-gallate-stearate (EGCG-S), has enhanced the beneficial properties of green tea. This study focuses on utilizing EGCG-S as a novel synergistic agent with antibiotics to prevent or control biofilm. Different formulations of …