Digital Commons Network^™

The Allometry Of Daily Energy Expenditure In Hummingbirds: An Energy Budget Approach, Anushu Shankar, Donald R. Powers, Liliana M. Dávalos, Catherine H. Graham

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

1. Within-clade allometric relationships represent standard laws of scaling between energy and size, and their outliers provide new avenues for physiological and ecological research. According to the metabolic-level boundaries hypothesis, metabolic rates as a function of mass are expected to scale closer to 0.67 when driven by surface-related processes (e.g. heat or water flux), while volume-related processes (e.g. activity) generate slopes closer to one.

2. In birds, daily energy expenditure (DEE) scales with body mass (M) in the relationship log (DEE)=2.35+0.68×log (M), consistent with surface-level processes driving the relationship. However, taxon-specific patterns differ from the scaling slope of all birds. …

Targeting Cancer-Anorexia Cachexia Syndrome And Septic Inflammatory-Based Atrophy With R/S 1,3 Butanediol Acetoacetate Diester, Andrew P. Koutnik

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer anorexia cachexia syndrome (CACS) is a distinct atrophy disease negatively influencing multiple aspects of clinical care and patient quality of life. Although it directly causes 20% of all cancer-related deaths, there are currently no model systems that encompass the entire multifaceted syndrome, nor are there any effective therapeutic treatments. Here, we show that the VM-M3 mouse model of systemic metastasis demonstrates a novel, immunocompetent, logistically feasible, repeatable phenotype with progressive tumor growth, spontaneous metastatic spread, and the full multifaceted CACS with expected sex dimorphisms across tissue wasting. We also demonstrate that the ubiquitin proteasomal degradation pathway was significantly upregulated …

Polyphenol-Rich Purple Corn Pericarp Extract Adversely Impacts Herbivore Growth And Development, Mandeep Tayal, Pavel Somavat, Isabella Rodriguez, Tina Thomas, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Rupesh R. Kariyat

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Plant secondary metabolites such as terpenes, phenolics, glycosides, and alkaloids play various functional roles including pigmentation, foliar and floral volatile synthesis, hormonal regulation, and direct and indirect defenses. Among these, phenolic compounds are commonly found in plants, but vary in the distribution of their specific compounds among plant families. Polyphenols, including anthocyanins and tannins, are widely distributed and have been well documented for their roles- primarily in plant pigmentation and also in plant defenses. However, commercialization of such compounds for use in insect pest management is severely hampered by expensive, inefficient, and time-consuming extraction protocols. Using a recently developed inexpensive …

Strain Improvement Of Pleurotus Giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & K. D. Hyde Via Conventional Mating Techniques, Kwan Yun Ha

Student Works (2020-2029)

Recently, a commercial strain of Pleurotus giganteus (Berk.) Karunarathna & K.D. Hyde from China has been cultivated in Malaysia. Pleurotus giganteus was prone to insect infestation which led to heavy losses for farmers. The aim of this study was to generate new hybrids of P. giganteus that maybe resistant to pest and contamination. The commercial strain of P. giganteus from China (KLU-M 1227) and a wild strain from Malaysia (KLU-M 1391) were subjected to intraspecific breeding. Of the 56 combinations, 16 hybrids were obtained. All the 16 hybrids together with the parents were subjected to radial and linear growth study. …

Maternal Weight Affects Placental Dna Methylation Of Genes Involved In Metabolic Pathways In The Common Marmoset Monkey (Callithrix Jacchus), Laren Narapareddy, Derek E. Wildman, Don L. Armstrong, Amy Weckle, Aleeca F. Bell, Crystal L. Patil, Suzette D. Tardif, Corinna N. Ross, Julienne N. Rutherford

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of placental DNA methylation (DNAm) is a mechanism linking maternal weight during pregnancy to metabolic programming outcomes. The common marmoset, Callithrix jaccus, is a platyrrhine primate species that has provided much insight into studies of the primate placenta, maternal condition, and metabolic programming, yet the relationships between maternal weight and placental DNAm are unknown. Here, we report genome-wide DNAm from term marmoset placentas using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing. We identified 74 genes whose DNAm pattern is associated with maternal weight during gestation. These genes are predominantly involved in energy metabolism and homeostasis, including the regulation …

Host Population Genetics And Biogeography Structure The Microbiome Of The Sponge Cliona Delitrix, Cole Easson, Andia Chaves-Fonnegra, Robert W. Thacker, Jose Lopez

Biology Faculty Articles

Sponges occur across diverse marine biomes and host internal microbial communities that can provide critical ecological functions. While strong patterns of host specificity have been observed consistently in sponge microbiomes, the precise ecological relationships between hosts and their symbiotic microbial communities remain to be fully delineated. In the current study, we investigate the relative roles of host population genetics and biogeography in structuring the microbial communities hosted by the excavating sponge Cliona delitrix. A total of 53 samples, previously used to demarcate the population genetic structure of C. delitrix, were selected from two locations in the Caribbean Sea and …

Investigating The Relationship Between Corticosterone And Glucose In A Reptile, Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Spencer B. Hudson, Alison C. Webb, Susannah S. French

Biology Faculty Publications

The glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (CORT) has classically been used in ecophysiological studies as a proxy for stress and energy mobilization, but rarely are CORT and the energy metabolites themselves concurrently measured. To examine CORT's role in mobilizing glucose in a wild reptile, we conducted two studies. The first study measured natural baseline and stress-induced blood-borne CORT and glucose levels in snakes during spring emergence and again when snakes return to the denning sites in autumn. The second study manipulated the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis in male snakes in the autumn by taking a baseline blood sample, then subjecting individuals to one …

Development And Characterization Of A Wee1 Kinase Degrader, Zhengnian Li, Benika J Pinch, Calla M Olson, Katherine A Donovan, Radosław P Nowak, Caitlin E Mills, David A Scott, Zainab M Doctor, Nicholas A Eleuteri, Mirra Chung, Peter K Sorger, Eric S Fischer, Nathanael S Gray

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The G1/S cell cycle checkpoint is frequently dysregulated in cancer, leaving cancer cells reliant on a functional G2/M checkpoint to prevent excessive DNA damage. Wee1 regulates the G2/M checkpoint by phosphorylating CDK1 at Tyr15 to prevent mitotic entry. Previous drug development efforts targeting Wee1 resulted in the clinical-grade inhibitor, AZD1775. However, AZD1775 is burdened by dose-limiting adverse events, and has off-target PLK1 activity. In an attempt to overcome these limitations, we developed Wee1 degraders by conjugating AZD1775 to the cereblon (CRBN)-binding ligand, pomalidomide. The resulting lead compound, ZNL-02-096, degrades Wee1 while sparing PLK1, induces G2/M accumulation at 10-fold lower doses …

A Mafg-Lncrna Axis Links Systemic Nutrient Abundance To Hepatic Glucose Metabolism, Jenny Link, Martha Pradas-Juni, Nils R. Hansmeier, Elena Schmidt, Bjørk Ditlev Larsen, Paul Klemm, Nicola Meola, Hande Topel, Rute Loureiro, Ines Dhaouadi, Christoph A. Kiefer, Robin Schwarzer, Sajjad Khani, Matteo Oliverio, Motoharu Awazawa, Peter Frommolt, Joerg Heeren, Ludger Scheja, Markus Heine, Christoph Dieterich, Hildegard Büning, Ling Yang, Haiming Cao, Dario F. De Jesus, Rohit Kulkarni, Branko Zevnik, Simon E. Tröder, Uwe Knippschild, Peter A. Edwards, Richard G. Lee, Masayuki Yamamoto, Igor Ulitsky, Eduardo Fernandez-Rebollo, Thomas Q. De Aguiar Vallim, Jan-Wilhelm Kornfeld

Biology

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are global emergencies and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are regulatory transcripts with elusive functions in metabolism. Here we show that a high fraction of lncRNAs, but not protein-coding mRNAs, are repressed during diet-induced obesity (DIO) and refeeding, whilst nutrient deprivation induced lncRNAs in mouse liver. Similarly, lncRNAs are lost in diabetic humans. LncRNA promoter analyses, global cistrome and gain-of-function analyses confirm that increased MAFG signaling during DIO curbs lncRNA expression. Silencing Mafg in mouse hepatocytes and obese mice elicits a fasting-like gene expression profile, improves glucose metabolism, de-represses lncRNAs and impairs mammalian target of …

Endangered Whale Species In A Pristine Environment: Pollutant Concentrations Indicative Of A Problem?, Briana R. Coulter

Scientific Communication News

No abstract provided.

How Exercise Impacts The Brain And Cognition, Cody Larson

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Physical exercise has been shown to impact the brains composition and functionality. The changes that arise in the structure of brain, as result of engaging in physical exercise, give rise to cognitive changes. Structural changes are observed most notably in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These changes are preceded by elevations in cerebral blood flow, and growth factors, resulting increased neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Frequency, duration, intensity, and type of physical exercise can have differing effects on the brain. Moderate intensity aerobic exercise presents the most profound improvements in memory, and inhibitory control over time.

Epigenetic Modifications Due To Maternal Diet, Amanda Thaler

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Obesity is a growing exponentially to be a health issue globally. Worldwide the rate of obesity has nearly doubled since 1980, with approximately 200 million adult men and 300 million adult women now being considered obese. We are also seeing growing percentages of woman of reproductive age being considered obese (BMI>30). Maternal obesity is known to increase the likelihood of developing complications during the pregnancy such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. These conditions create the environment for the growing fetus that are more difficult than that of a healthy pregnancy. The Developmental programming hypotheses links the environment of development …

Comparison Of Anticarcinogenic Properties Of Viburnum Opulus And Its Active Compound P-Coumaric Acid On Human Colorectal Carcinoma, Serdar Karakurt, Gülsüm Abuşoğlu, Zeki̇ye Ceren Arituluk

Turkish Journal of Biology

Resistance to therapeutic agents and the highly toxic side effects of synthetic drugs has spurred new research in the treatment of colon cancer, which has high morbidity and mortality ratios. This study aims to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the anticarcinogenic properties of methanol extract of Viburnum opulus L. (EVO)and its main active compound, trans-p-coumaric acid (p-CA), on human colon cancer cells (DLD-1, HT-29, SW-620, Caco-2) and healthy colon epithelial cells (CCD-18Co). The effects of EVO on controlled cell death (apoptosis) and the cell division cycle were determined by flow cytometry. Alteration in mRNA and protein expressions of switch genes …

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Induces Apoptosis In Colorectal Cancer Cells Via Inhibition Of Survivin, Ceren Sari, Ceren Sümer, Fi̇gen Celep Eyüpoğlu

Turkish Journal of Biology

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Drug resistance and drug-induced damage of healthy tissues are major obstacles in cancer treatment. Therefore, to develop efficient anticancer therapy, it is necessary to find compounds that affect tumor cells, but do not exhibit toxicity to healthy cells. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) has been demonstrated to have anticancer properties in many types of cancer. In this study, the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of CAPE on the RKO colorectal cancer cell line and CCD 841-CoN normal colorectal cell line was investigated. In addition, changes in the survivin expression were …

Anxiolytic, Antioxidant, And Neuroprotective Effects Of Goji Berry Polysaccharides In Ovariectomized Rats: Experimental Evidence From Behavioral, Biochemical, And Immunohistochemical Analyses, Fatma Pehli̇van Karakaş, Hami̇t Coşkun, Hayri̇ye Soytürk, Bi̇hter Gökçe Bozat

Turkish Journal of Biology

Recent studies have indicated that polysaccharides, the main component of the Lycium barbarum L. fruit, have beneficial effects (e.g., anxiolytic, antioxidant, and neuroprotective) on humans and rodents. However, the effects of different dosages of such polysaccharides on ovariectomized rats and their underlying mechanisms in the brain have not been evaluated in the literature. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of the high and low doses of polysaccharides obtained from Lycium barbarum fruits (HD-LBP and LD-LBP, respectively) on anxious behaviors via behavioral (using the OFT and EPM), biochemical (using ELISA), and immunohistochemical (using immunohistochemical staining) measures in detail. Two weeks …

Gut-Lung Axis And Dysbiosis In Covid-19, Büşra Aktaş, Belma Aslim

Turkish Journal of Biology

COVID-19, a novel infectious disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2, affected millions of people around the world with a high mortality rate. Although SARS-CoV-2 mainly causes lung infection, gastrointestinal symptoms described in COVID-19 patients and detection of the viral RNA in feces of infected patients drove attentions to a possible fecal-oral transmission route of SARS-CoV-2. However, not only the viral RNA but also the infectious viral particles are required for the viral infection and no proof has been demonstrated the transmission of the infectious virus particles via the fecal-oral route yet. Growing evidence indicates the crosstalk between gut microbiota and lung, that …

Maternal Diabetes And Obesity Influence The Fetal Epigenome In A Largely Hispanic Population, Heather E. Rizzo, E. N. Escaname, Nicholas B. Alana, E. Lavender, J. Gelfond, R. Fernandez, Matthew A. Hibbs, Jonathan M. King, N. R. Carr, C. L. Blanco

Biology Faculty Research

BACKGROUND:

Obesity and diabetes mellitus are directly implicated in many adverse health consequences in adults as well as in the offspring of obese and diabetic mothers. Hispanic Americans are particularly at risk for obesity, diabetes, and end-stage renal disease. Maternal obesity and/or diabetes through prenatal programming may alter the fetal epigenome increasing the risk of metabolic disease in their offspring. The aims of this study were to determine if maternal obesity or diabetes mellitus during pregnancy results in a change in infant methylation of CpG islands adjacent to targeted genes specific for obesity or diabetes disease pathways in a largely …

Effects Of A Neonicotinoid Insecticide On The Growth Of Honey Bee Gut Microbes, Macee Mitchell, Daniel Franzese, Taylor Morales, Shane Lucht, Jesse Steele, Jenifer Walke

2020 Symposium Posters

The gut microbiome plays an essential role in the overall health of organisms. However, the presence and abundance of these microbes may be altered by environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides. The goals of this project were to understand 1) the prevalence of pesticide residues in honey bees in eastern Washington, and 2) the impact of pesticides to the honey bee gut microbiome. Accordingly, we tested bees from 24 hives among six sites across eastern Washington. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to detect the presence and concentration of six commonly used agricultural pesticides: Carbaryl, Chlorpyrifos, Coumaphos, Cypermethrin, …

Is Fecal Microbiota Transplantation A Safe And Effective Treatment For Gastrointestinal Diseases?, Shaindel Pinsky

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a method of transferring feces from an individual with a healthy microbiome to a patient whose healthy gut bacteria is deficient. While this method is not a new one, it is constantly being explored and studied to determine if it can be an effective way to treat patients with different bowel diseases. The main target of most of these studies are patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections. Many studies were done to determine if the method is safe, and which method is most effective, as well as who can be a good donor or recipient …

Causes And Mechanisms Of Crohn’S Disease, Chana Weis

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most prevalent inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) in Jewish and Caucasian populations, affecting as many as one in 250 individuals. Nevertheless, the underlying causes of both disorders are not yet fully understood and remain unknown. However, current evidence suggests that the exaggerated inflammatory response, more commonly referred to as IBD, is believed to arise from dysregulation of the gastrointestinal (GI) immune system in genetically predisposed individuals who are exposed to environmental triggers. Recent advances have identified multiple IBD susceptibility genes; however, only a few environmental determinants of IBD have been consistently identified. The …

Effects Of High Fat Diets, Esther Abady

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

With obesity on the rise, and subsequently numerous diseases, many people are looking for newer ways to counter the effects of the influx of fatty, high sugar and unhealthy foods they are consuming. The most common and widely used method is a diet plan. The key to both a healthy and effective diet is knowing what the diet does to the body. There are short term diets which have adverse effects if kept for too long and long-term diets which are aimed for a healthy lifestyle. Every diet is based on the increased and decreased consumption of different macronutrients and …

Full Issue-- Volume 3 Issue 1, 2020, Issue 1 Volume 3

Pursue: Undergraduate Research Journal

PURSUE: Undergraduate Research Journal

Volume 3 Issue 1, 2020

Article 1 - Harvesting Electrical Energy Produced by Electrogenic Bacteria in Microbial Fuel Cells

Article 2 – The Effects of Fertilizer Rate on the Growth of Egyptian Spinach in a Greenhouse

Article 3 – Exploring the Association Between Nutrition and Mental Health in Adolescence: A Systematic Literature Review

Article 4— Biological Pathways Associated with Wild and Domestic Animals

Validation And Optimization Of Hyperspectral Reflectance Analysis-Based Predictive Models For The Determination Of Plant Functional Traits In Cornus, Rhododendron, And Salix, Milton I. Valdiviezo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) has become increasingly widespread throughout various fields as an alternative method for efficiently phenotyping crops and plants at rates unparalleled by conventional means. With growing reliability, the convergence of NIR spectroscopy and modern machine learning represent a promising methodology offering unprecedented access to rapid, high throughput phenotyping at negligible costs, representing prospects that excite agronomists and plant physiologists alike. However, as is true of all emergent methodologies, progressive refinement towards optimization exposes potential flaws and raises questions, one of which is the cornerstone of this study. Spectroscopic determination of plant functional traits utilizes plants' morphological and …

Variation In The Maternal Provisioning Of Alkaloids In The Strawberry Poison Frog Oophaga Pumilio: The Relationship Between Mothers And Their Tadpole Offspring, Olivia L. Brooks

Masters Theses

Within and among populations, alkaloid defenses of strawberry poison frogs (Oophaga pumilio) vary spatially, temporally, and with life history stage. Natural variation in defense has been implicated as a critical factor in determining the level of protection afforded to an individual from predators and pathogens. Oophaga pumilio tadpoles sequester defenses from nutritive eggs and are thus entirely dependent on their mothers for their alkaloids. However, it remains unclear how the alkaloid composition of a tadpole relates to that of its mother and if maternally provisioned defenses are effective against predators. Here, I demonstrate that natural variation in the alkaloid composition …

Cereus Fun: An Introduction To Microbiological Techniques, Holly Ahern, Jessica Habashi

Course Materials

Microbiology is a field of science devoted to the study of organisms that are too small to see; therefore, an engaging laboratory experience is often the key to capturing students' interest. It was with this in mind that this book was first conceived and developed. The goal was to provide undergraduate microbiology students with an engaging and meaningful laboratory experience that nurtured a sense of discovery and encouraged greater interest in microbiology as a topic, a field of study, or a career.

This lab manual – which has been field-tested by hundreds of microbiology students over several years – builds …

Can The Fut 2 Gene Variant Have An Effect On The Body Weight Of Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery? - Preliminary, Exploratory Study, Natalia Komorniak, Alexandra Martynova-Van Kley, Armen Nalian, Wiktoria Wardziukiewicz, Karolina Skoniecznaa-Zydecka, Daniel Styburski, Joanna Palma, Bartosz Kowalewski, Krzysztof Kaseja, Ewa Stachowska

Faculty Publications

Background: The FUT2 gene (Se gene) encoding the enzyme α-1,2-L-fucosyltransferase 2 seems to have a significant effect on the number and type of bacteria colonizing the intestines. Methods: In a group of 19 patients after bariatric surgery, the polymorphism (rs601338) of FUT2 gene was analyzed in combination with body mass reduction, intestinal microbiome (16S RNA sequencing), and short chain fatty acids (SCFA) measurements in stools. Results: Among the secretors (Se/Se polymorphism of the FUT2 gene rs601338, carriers of GG variant), correlations between waist-hip ratio (WHR) and propionate content and an increase in Prevotella, Escherichia, Shigella, and Bacteroides were observed. On …

Topography And Disturbance Influence Trait‐Based Composition And Productivity Of Adjacent Habitats In A Coastal System, Joseph K. Brown, Julie C. Zinnert

Biology Publications

Coastal systems experience frequent disturbance and multiple environmental stressors over short spatial and temporal scales. Investigating functional traits in coastal systems has the potential to inform how variation in disturbance frequency and environmental variables influence differences in trait‐based community composition and ecosystem function. Our goals were to (1) quantify trait‐based communities on two barrier islands divergent in topography and long‐term disturbance response and (2) determine relationships between community trait‐based composition and ecosystem productivity. We hypothesized that locations documented with high disturbance would have habitats with similar environmental conditions and trait‐based communities, with the opposite relationship in low‐disturbance locations. Furthermore, we …

Gut Microbiome And Opioid-Induced Analgesic Tolerance, Sach D. Thakker, Karan H. Muchhala

Biology Publications

The gut microbiome plays an important role in maintaining health and homeostasis. Chronic usage of opioids leads to microbial dysbiosis in the gut. This dysbiosis leads to several severe diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Here, we discuss the literature on how opioids affect the gut-microbiome axis and how these changes alter the ability of morphine to produce analgesic tolerance. Chronic morphine exposure leads to increases in gut permeability due to disruption of tight junction proteins and increases in inflammation due to release of proinflammatory cytokines, both of which promote tolerance to morphine. Additionally, it …

Female Salamanders Experience Higher Parasitism Compared To Males: A Cost Of Female Reproduction?, Matthew D. Venesky, Joseph Alan Demarchi, Rachel Marbach, Keva Periyar, Cari-Ann M. Hickerson, Carl D. Anthony

2020 Faculty Bibliography

Males tend to experience higher rates of parasitism compared to females, a phenomenon associated with ecological factors, the fact that males engage in risky behaviors, and because testosterone is known to be immunosuppressive. However, females could experience higher rates of parasitism if energy is allocated from costly immune responses towards producing eggs. We used pooled data sets from laboratory experiments to investigate sex-specific differences in salamander (Plethodon cinereus) resistance to the emerging fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (‘‘Bd’’). Contrary to our predictions, we found that female salamanders had a higher prevalence of infection (~56%) and carried a higher Bd infection burden …

Lifelines Winter 2020, Southern Adventist University

Lifelines - Biology Department Newsletter

The Winter 2020 issue of Lifelines contains articles on students in service, insights from the professor, and departmental happenings.