Digital Commons Network^™

Mucosal Immune System Of African Lungfish, Ryan D. Heimroth

Biology ETDs

Conquering land was an apex moment in the evolution of vertebrates. Physiologically, the first vertebrates to transition to life on land had to adapt in order to survive in an oxygen-rich environment where gravitational forces and limited water prevailed. Several extant vertebrates including anurans and lungfish, survive droughts by undergoing aestivation. Unfavorable environmental conditions trigger lungfish to aestivate. Aestivation is a process of metabolic torpor wherein the fish will encase itself in a mucus cocoon and not move until favorable environmental conditions (food and water) are reintroduced. Aestivation can be reproduced in laboratory settings and, thus, lungfish can be used …

A Multi‑Disciplinary Comparison Of Great Ape Gut Microbiota In A Central African Forest And European Zoo, Victor Narat, Katherine R. Amato, Noémie Ranger, Maud Salmona, Séverine Mercier‑Delarue, Stephanie Rupp, Philippe Ambata, Richard Njouom, François Simon, Tamara Giles‑Vernick, Jérôme Legoff

Publications and Research

Comparisons of mammalian gut microbiota across different environmental conditions shed light on the diversity and composition of gut bacteriome and suggest consequences for human and animal health. Gut bacteriome comparisons across different environments diverge in their results, showing no generalizable patterns linking habitat and dietary degradation with bacterial diversity. The challenge in drawing general conclusions from such studies lies in the broad terms describing diverse habitats (“wild”, “captive”, “pristine”). We conducted 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing to characterize intestinal microbiota of free-ranging sympatric chimpanzees and gorillas in southeastern Cameroon and sympatric chimpanzees and gorillas in a European zoo. We conducted …

Antibacterial Activity Of Selected Plant Extracts On Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Lubna Abdallah

Journal of the Arab American University مجلة الجامعة العربية الامريكية للبحوث

Based on the importance of herbal plants in medicine, this study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts of Thymbra spicata, Nepeta curviflora, and Verbascum fruticulosum against two clinical isolates (I and II) of the gram positive methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Agar well diffusion method was performed to examine the antibacterial activity of all studied plant extracts. Micro-broth dilution method was used to measure the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) then the minimum bacteriocidal concentration (MBC) for all active extracts. The examined isolates were susceptible to the prepared plant extracts. Ethanol and methanol extracts …

Chronic Ulcers And Malnutrition In An African Patient\, Timothy G Singer, Monica A Bray, Audrey Chan, Saki Ikeda, Brittany Walters, Maren Y Fuller, Carla Falco

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

An 11-year-old female with a congenitally malformed left hand, sickle-cell trait, asthma, and history of appendicitis was transferred from Zambia for evaluation and treatment of widespread suppurative and ulcerative skin lesions that typically appeared following trauma to her skin. The ulcers first presented 3 years earlier but had markedly worsened in the 9 months prior to transfer, spreading circumferentially on her extremities and abdomen at the site of an appendectomy. They were painful and did not resolve with multiple courses of intravenous (IV) antibiotics and close management by a Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist working for a non-governmental organization (NGO) in …

Antibacterial Activities Of The Extracts Of Allium Sativum (Garlic) And Allium Cepa (Onion) Against Selected Pathogenic Bacteria, Sherifat O. Enejiyon, Al-Hassan A. Abdulrahman, Abdulameen S. Adedeji, Ramatu Abdulsalam, Mary U. Oyedum

Tanzania Journal of Science

Although many antibiotics have been developed against bacterial diseases, the problems of antibiotic resistance and toxicity have made the continuous search for newer drugs an existential necessity. This study determined the phytochemical components and antibacterial activities of Allium sativum and Allium cepa against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The phytochemical analysis was carried out using standard methods. The antibacterial activities of the aqueous, ethanol and acetone extracts of both plants at different concentrations were determined against all the test organisms using agar well diffusion method. All the extracts were found to contain important phytochemicals …

Comparable Human Reconstitution Following Cesium-137 Versus X-Ray Irradiation Preconditioning In Immunodeficient Nog Mice, Anna Halling Folkmar Andersen, Stine Sofie Frank Nielsen, Rikka Olesen, Jakob Le Fèvre Harslund, Ole S. Søgaard, Lars Østergaard, Paul Denton, Martin Tolstrup

Biology Faculty Publications

Humanized mouse models are used extensively in research involving human pathogens and diseases. However, most of these models require preconditioning. Radio-active sources have been used routinely for this purpose but safety issues have motivated researchers to transition to chemical or X-ray based preconditioning. In this study, we directly compare 350 kV X-ray and Cs-137 low-dose precondition of NOG mice before human stem cell transplantation. Based on flow cytometry data, we found that engraftment of human cells into the mouse bone marrow was similar between radiation sources. Likewise, human engraftment in the peripheral blood was comparable between Cs-137 and three different …

Development Of “Sharkavir”: A New Hypothetical Inhibitor For Hiv-1 Protease, Feza Abbas

Trick to the Treat of Internships and Research

HIV has infected approximately 37 million people worldwide and results in over 1 million deaths annually. A key component of the HIV life cycle is the enzyme HIV-1 protease, which is involved in cutting newly made protein components of the HIV virion. Our research focused on how can molecular models be used to simulate the binding of various HIV-1 prtease inhibitors including Darunavir, Ritonavir, and a novel combination of these two named "Sharkavir".

Field Evaluation Of Recombinant Antigen Elisa In Detecting Zoonotic Schistosome Infection Among Water Buffaloes In Endemic Municipalities In The Philippines, Jose Ma. M. Angeles, Yasuyuki Goto, Masahi Kirinoki, Elena A. Villacorte, Kharleezelle J. Moendeg, Pilarita T. Rivera, Yuichi Chigusa, Shin-Ichiro Kawazu

Biology Faculty Publications

In this study, we investigated the use of recombinant antigens thioredoxin peroxidase-1 (rSjTPx-1) and tandem repeat rSj1TR in evaluating the antibody positivity rates of Schistosoma japonicum infection among water buffaloes from four endemic areas in the Philippines, two municipalities with high endemicity (Calatrava, Negros Occidental and Catarman, Northern Samar) and two municipalities nearing elimination with no cases of human schistosomiasis (Talibon and Trinidad, Bohol). These recombinant antigen ELISA assays were compared with other diagnostic tests including SEA-ELISA, FECT, and fecal-based PCR. Results showed that rSj1TR-ELISA has the highest agreement with PCR in all study areas. Furthermore, significant positivity rates among …

A Brain-Infecting Parasite Impacts Host Metabolism Both During Exposure And After Infection Is Established, Lauren E. Nadler, Erik Bengston, Erika J. Eliason, Cameron Hassibi, Siri H. Helland-Riise, Ida B. Johansen, Garfield T. Kwan, Martin Tresguerres, Andrew V. Turner, Kelly L. Weinersmith, Øyvind Øverli, Ryan F. Hechinger

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Datasets

1. Metabolic costs associated with parasites should not be limited to established infections. Even during initial exposure to questing and attacking parasites, hosts can enact behavioural and physiological responses that could also incur metabolic costs. However, few studies have measured these costs directly. Hence, little is known about metabolic costs arising from parasite exposure.
2. Further, no one has yet measured whether and how previous infection history modulates metabolic responses to parasite exposure.
3. Here, using the California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis) and its brain-infecting parasite (Euhaplorchis californiensis), we quantified how killifish metabolism, behaviour, and osmoregulatory phenotype changed upon acute …

Editorial Board

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

No abstract provided.

Alternative Treatments To Koalas With Chlamydia, Kelsey Thornton

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Koala populations have declined rapidly in the past 2 decades due to many reasons such as disease, vehicle collisions, dog attacks, urbanization and deforestation, and climate-related issues. Chlamydia is one of the leading causes for population declines in koalas. Koalas are difficult to treat for chlamydia because antibiotic treatment kills the specialized gut bacteria they have and need for degrading toxic compounds within eucalyptus leaves, their only source of food. I propose that doxycycline, a drug with a 97% cure rate and reduced dysbiosis, to be administered at higher concentrations less frequently. Additionally, I propose that koalas treated with antibiotics …

Combining Treatments For Opioid Addictions, Raquel Perez

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

  In 2018 the National Survey of Drug Use and Health reported that 9.9 million people misused prescription pain relievers out of 10.3 million who reported using opioids. Opioid abuse has grown from just being considered a medical dilemma, it has clearly become a social and economic issue (Eaton and Vettese, 2020). This proposal will be investigating the combination of pre-existing pharmacological treatments and support group therapy. This is not a new concept however because of the nature of opioid addictions having severe withdrawal symptoms most treatments are primarily medication base. Drug addictions have been known to carry a negative stigma …

Endothelial Cell Contributions To Covid-19, Alexandra E. Oxford, Fabio Halla, Evan B. Robertson, Brad E. Morrison

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding of the clinical, histological and molecular features of the novel coronavirus 2019 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) has remained elusive. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by this virus has unusual clinical presentation with regard to other related coronaviruses. Recent reports suggest that SARS-CoV-2, unlike other related viruses, infects and replicates within endothelial cells, which may explain a significant portion of the observed clinical pathology. Likewise, mounting evidence associates vascular and endothelial cell dysfunction with increased mortality. This review focuses on understanding how endothelial cell pathology is caused by SARS-CoV-2 at the molecular and cellular levels and how …

Impacts Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Global Education, Santanu De

Biology Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been one of the most dreaded, recent pandemics impacting multifarious global sectors, including education. To control contagion, affected nations ordered academic campus closures and home-schooling plans. Schools, colleges, and universities underwent a paradigm shift adopting internet-based delivery of lectures, synchronously or asynchronously (recorded), with virtual labs. Medical education suffered significantly; suspending student internships in hospitals decreased practical exposure to clinical specialties, impairing students’ performance, and competency.Teachers of traditional classes, with technical assistance, undertook rigorous trainings to restructure pedagogical and assessment strategies online using web/mobile applications and other digital tools.

Roosting Ecology Of A Declining Population Of Northern Long-Eared Bats (Myotis Septentrionalis) In The Ozark-St. Francis National Forest Of Arkansas, Kyle Norris Edmonds

Student Theses and Dissertations

Ecological and monetary values associated with bat species are immense. Unfortunately, these benefits are at risk as disease and habitat loss have resulted in significant declines of bat populations throughout the eastern United States. Wildlife biologists and managers work tirelessly to combat the effects of these threats. Collections of species-level data during surveys provide managers with invaluable information that can be used in identification of emerging population trends. This material can then be used to generate new habitat management plans or revise existing plans in order to address the objectives of primary management goals. This thesis outlines anthropogenic factors, interspecific …

A Review Of The Preclinical And Clinical Efficacy Of Remdesivir, Hydroxychloroquine, And Lopinavir-Ritonavir Treatments Against Covid-19, Dawid Maciorowski, Samir Z. El Idrissi, Yash Gupta, Brian J. Medernach, Michael B. Burns, Daniel P. Becker Ph.D., Ravi Durvasula, Prakasha Kempaiah

Chemistry: Faculty Publications and Other Works

In December of 2019, an outbreak of a novel coronavirus flared in Wuhan, the capital city of the Hubei Province, China. The pathogen has been identified as a novel enveloped RNA beta-coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a disease characterized by severe atypical pneumonia known as coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Typical symptoms of this disease include cough, fever, malaise, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal symptoms, anosmia, and, in severe cases, pneumonia.¹ The high-risk group of COVID-19 patients includes people over the age of 60 years as well as people with existing cardiovascular …

Did You Wash Your Caving Suit? Cavers’ Role In The Potential Spread Of Pseudogymnoascus Destructans, The Causative Agent Of White-Nose Disease, Violeta Zhelyazkova, Antonia Hubancheva, Georgi Radoslavov, Nia Toshkova, Sebastien J. Puechmaille

International Journal of Speleology

White-Nose Disease (WND) has killed millions of hibernating bats in the US and Canada. Its causative agent, the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans was introduced to North America, but is native to Europe and Asia, where it is not associated with mass mortality. Although it is nearly impossible to eradicate an emerging wildlife disease, research on P. destructans spread mechanisms can aid in prevention of new introductions and development of better environmental management strategies. It is of particular importance to quantify the potential role of people visiting caves (cavers, tourists, bat researchers, etc.) whom inadvertently move P. destructans spores between sites, and …

A Novel Bioaugmentation Technique Effectively Increases The Skin-Associated Microbial Diversity Of Captive Eastern Hellbenders, Erin K. Kenison, Obed Hernandez-Gomez, Rod N. Williams

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Faculty Scholarship

Captive environments are maintained in hygienic ways that lack free-flowing microbes found in animals’ natural environments. As a result, captive animals often have depauperate host-associated microbial communities compared to conspecifics in the wild and may have increased disease susceptibility and reduced immune function. Eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) have suffered precipitous population declines over the past few decades. To bolster populations, eastern hellbenders are reared in captivity before being translocated to the wild. However, the absence of natural microbial reservoirs within the captive environment diminishes the diversity of skin-associated bacteria on hellbender skin and may negatively influence their ability to …

Strategies Of Plant Biotechnology To Meet The Increasing Demand Of Food And Nutrition In India, Santanu De

Biology Faculty Articles

A groundbreaking application of biotechnology research during the recent past has been improvement of crop health and production. India being one of the most rapidly developing countries with an enormous population and remarkable biodiversity, plant biotechnology promises significant potential to contribute to characterization and conservation of the biodiversity, increasing its usefulness. However, India’s green revolution was noted to be insufficient to feed the country's teeming millions. Therefore, novel approaches in crop biotechnology had to be aimed at ensuring better productivity and quality of cultivars. This paper provides a comprehensive review of research undertaken mainly in the last couple of decades …

Are Pangolins Scapegoats Of The Covid-19 Outbreak-Cov Transmission And Pathology Evidence?, Siew Woh Choo, Jinfeng Zhou, Xuechen Tian, Siyuan Zhang, Shen Qiang, Stephen James O'Brien, Ka Yun Tan, Sara Platto, Klaus-Peter Koepfli, Agostinho Antunes, Frankie Thomas Sitam

Biology Faculty Articles

The COVID‐19 outbreak has infected over 6 million people across the world. The origin of COVID‐19 coronavirus (CoV) remains unknown, although pangolins have been suggested as potential hosts. We investigated two pangolins seized in Guangdong Province, China. Molecular screening revealed CoV in one pangolin (“Dahu”), while another (“Meidong”) was infected by Ehrlichia ruminantium. Dahu exhibited difficulty breathing, infections of lung, intestines, and nostrils, as revealed by computed tomography imaging and necropsy. Previous phylogenetic analyses showed bat coronavirus RaTG13 is closer to COVID‐19 CoV compared to pangolin coronavirus. Over 20 caregivers have had close physical contact with CoV‐positive Dahu, but …

Analyses Of The Expression, Immunohistochemical Properties And Serodiagnostic Potential Of Schistosoma Japonicum Peroxiredoxin-4, Minh-Anh Dang-Trinh, Jose Ma. M. Angeles, Kharleezelle J. Moendeg, Adrian Miki C. Macalanda, Thu-Thuy Nguyen, Luna Higuchi, Shotaro Nakagun, Masahi Kirinoki, Yuichi Chigusa, Yasuyuki Goto, Shin-Ichiro Kawazu

Biology Faculty Publications

Background

Schistosoma japonicum, which inhabits the mesenteric vein of the mammalian hosts for about 20 to 30 years, is subjected to the oxidative stresses from the host defense mechanism during their intra-mammalian stages. To counteract this host immune attack, the parasite utilizes their antioxidant system for survival inside the host. Peroxiredoxins (Prxs), thiol-specific antioxidant proteins, play an essential role for protecting the parasite against oxidative stress by reducing hydrogen peroxide to water. Only three types of 2-Cys Prxs have been previously characterized in S. japonicum whereas a fourth Prx has been identified for Schistosoma mansoni as Prx-4. A sequence …

Rectal Swabs As An Alternative Sample Collection Method To Bulk Stool For The Real-Time Pcr Detection Of Giardia Duodenalis, Jacqueline R.M.A. Maasch, Ahmed M. Arzika, Catherine Cook, Elodie Lebas, Nils Pilotte, Jessica R. Grant, Steven A. Williams, Jeremy D. Keenan, Thomas M. Lietman, Kristen Aiemjoy

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Though bulk stool remains the gold standard specimen type for enteropathogen diagnosis, rectal swabs may offer comparable sensitivity with greater ease of collection for select pathogens. This study sought to evaluate the validity and reproducibility of rectal swabs as a sample collection method for the molecular diagnosis of Giardia duodenalis. Paired rectal swab and bulk stool samples were collected from 86 children ages 0–4 years living in southwest Niger, with duplicate samples collected among a subset of 50 children. Infection was detected using a previously validated real-time PCR diagnostic targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Giardia duodenalis was …

Great Lakes Snake: Estimating The Occupancy And Detection Probabilities Of The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus Catenatus), Arin June Thacker

Masters Theses

Detailed knowledge of a species’ range and distribution is important for understanding species persistence and developing species management plans. This issue is particularly pronounced in threatened species with wide-spread range and a low detectability in their natural environment, as surveying and successfully encountering this type of species is oftentimes difficult. One such species is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus), a smallbodied pit viper with a distribution centered around the Great Lakes region. We used singleseason occupancy modeling in order to reassess the status of historic massasauga occurrences. We evaluated factors affecting eastern massasauga detection probability from a …

Parasitic Infection Surveillance In Mississippi Delta Children, Richard S. Bradbury, Irene Arguello, Meredith Lane, Gretchen Cooley, Sukwan Handali, Silvia D. Dimitrova, Fernanda S. Nascimento, Sam Jameson, Kathryn Hellmann, Michelle Tharp, Paul Byers, Susan P. Montgomery, Lisa Haynie, Brian Kirmse, Nils Pilotte, Steven A. Williams, Charlotte V. Hobbs

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Some recent studies suggest ongoing transmission of parasitic diseases in the American South; however, surveys in Mississippi children are lacking. We enrolled 166 children (median age 8 years, range 4–13 years) from the Mississippi Delta region and carried out multi-parallel real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Necator americanus, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Strongyloides stercoralis on their stool samples. Dried blood spots were obtained for multiplex serology antibody detection. Of 166 children, all reported having flushable toilets, 11% had soil exposure, and 34% had a pet dog or cat. None had prior diagnosis or treatment of parasitic disease. Multi-parallel real-time PCRs were …

Investigation Of Undocumented Heart Disease In Cadaveric Donors, Crystal Danae Passburg

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

For nearly a century, heart disease has been the leading source of death and disease in the United States, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of individuals every year and burdening millions more with diminished health and severe disability. However, despite the significant known prevalence of heart disease, studies suggest that many more individuals—and particularly those within the female and elderly populations—may possess undiagnosed heart disease which remains undetected even after death due to the lack of autopsy examination. In the absence of autopsy, many cases of heart disease may never be identified, resulting in a skewed understanding of …

Increased Diversity And Novel Subtypes Among Clinical Cryptosporidium Parvum And Cryptosporidium Hominis Isolates In Southern Ireland, Jennifer K. O'Leary, Liam Blake, Gerard D. Corcoran, Roy D. Sleator, Brigid Lucey

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Reported incidence rates of cryptosporidiosis in Ireland are consistently among the highest in Europe. Despite the national prevalence of this enteric parasite and the compulsory nature of incidence surveillance and reporting, in-depth analyses seeking to genotype clinical isolates of Cryptosporidium on an intra-species level are rarely undertaken in Ireland. This molecular epidemiology study of 163 clinical Cryptosporidium isolates was conducted in Southern Ireland, from 2015 to 2018, in order to ascertain population subtype heterogeneity. Analysis was conducted via real-time PCR amplification and gp60 gene sequencing, which successfully determined the subtype designation of 149 of the 163 (91.4%) tested isolates. Overall, …

A Mechanistic And Genomic Analysis Of Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Immune Evasion, Ian Benjamin Harvey

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is a common human-specific poxvirus with a proclivity forinfecting children and the immune-compromised. A characteristic MCV infection is restricted tothe epidermal layers of the skin and can persist for weeks to years in an otherwise healthyindividual. The high clinical burden of MCV is at odds with our limited knowledge regarding howit successfully evades the human immune response, which is in part due to the lack of an animalmodel or cell line to propagate the virus. Through this dissertation, we have uncovered andcharacterized a novel mechanism by which MC80, a protein encoded by MCV, downregulateshost MHC-I surface …

Genomic Analysis Of Diverse Bacterial Pathogens, Robert Potter

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Bacterial pathogens have been a historical scourge for the entirety of human existence but have been significantly thwarted since the 20th century due to the development of antibiotics. However, owing to the large selection pressure of antibiotics on bacterial populations, phenotypic antibiotic resistance from the development of vertically transmitted mutations and horizontally acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is increasing. The sum has produced multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) which have extremely limited treatment options. Epidemiological studies have determined that carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), Acinetobacter baumannii, and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE) are some of the most problematic MDRO infections. The advent of …

Structure And Evolution Of Lizard Immunity Genes, Trent Santonastaso

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

One of the most important gene families to play a role in adaptive immunity is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). MHC class II loci are considered to be the most variable loci in the vertebrate genome, and studies have shown that this variability can be maintained through complex co-evolutionary dynamics between host and parasite. Despite the rich body of research into the MHC, there is comparatively little understanding of its genomic architecture in reptiles. Similarly, loci associated with innate immunity have received little attention in reptiles compared to other vertebrates. In the first chapter, we investigated the structure and organization …

Combating Bacterial Infections With In-Situ Detection And Antibiotic Technology, Paul James Renick

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Currently, there is a looming crisis in the field of antibacterial drug therapy. The emergence of antibacterial drug resistance because of poor antibacterial stewardship, coupled with booming elderly populations, economic disparity and climate change leading to societal instability is undoing the successes of the 20th century in combating infectious disease. New approaches and methods are needed to reverse these trends. My dissertation focuses on three key areas: (1) develop a better understanding of device-related biofilm infections, (2) the use of a bacterial specific D-glutamine positron emission tomography tracer for the direct visualization of infection, and (3) the development of an …