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The Effects Of Triiodothyronine, Glucose, Alanine, And Iodide As Nutrients On The Survival And Successful Metamorphosis Of Aeolidiella Stephanieae Veligers, Bryan Tate

All Theses And Dissertations

During early life stages, nutrients are crucial to the proper development of larval marine invertebrates. Many such larvae are lecithotrophic and therefore do not actively feed; however, a large body of research has shown that lecithotrophic larvae take in dissolved organic material (DOM) including amino acids and sugars, contributing heavily to metabolic requirements. Another dissolved nutrient, iodine, is useful to marine invertebrates for the production of organic compounds. Some of these compounds (thyroid hormones, THs) are historically thought to be used almost exclusively by vertebrates, though studies have shown that THs are also useful to some marine invertebrates for developmental …

Canonical Bmp Signaling Is Required For Allodynia In Drosophila Melanogaster, Taylor L. Follansbee

All Theses And Dissertations

In the United States alone over 100 million people suffer from chronic pain and unfortunately, even still, there is a lack in scientific understanding for the mechanisms of abnormal pain sensitivity. The present study utilized a candidate gene approach to identify novel components required for modulation of the tissue damage induced pain sensitization pathway in Drosophila melanogaster. We have shown that RNAi silencing of decapentaplegic (dpp), a member of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling pathway, specifically in the class IV multidendritic nociceptor neurons significantly attenuated UV-induced nociceptive sensitization. Furthermore, overexpression of dpp in nociceptor neurons was sufficient to …

Two Cryptic Species Within Astragalus Cusickii Delimited Using Molecular Phylogenetic Techniques, Jay Christopher Zimmers

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the source of phenotypic variability is a challenge in the biological sciences. Variation in phenotypes is the result of variation in the genetics and environment the organism experiences, but elucidating the relative contribution of these two parameters can pose problems, especially in the field of systematics. Systematists are challenged to classify biological diversity into groups that share common ancestry. Phenotypic variation can be useful to demonstrate common ancestry, but only when the primary contributor to the variation is under strong genetic control, and thus heritable. Cusick’s milkvetch (Astragalus cusickii) is a perennial forb endemic to the intermountain …

Metabolic Profiles Of Household Pseudomonas Species Groups., Ogochukwu S. Onyiri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Resources influence the distribution, behavior, growth and reproduction of bacterial species. Understanding how closely related species utilize resources will shed light on the ecological traits or principles that shape biogeographic patterns and promote coexistence of species. Twelve Pseudomonas strains isolated from a single human home and PA01, the standard laboratory strain were evaluated in Luria Bertani media to understand whether their growth traits are influenced by their species group and/or their environment of isolation. Total growth, growth rate, early cumulative area under the growth curve (CUC) over 48 hours and viability (viable bacteria count per ml) at 24 and 48 …

Elucidating The Molecular Function Of Reprolysin Metalloproteases In Tick-Host-Pathogen Interaction, Jaclyn Bo Williams

Master's Theses

Ticks are ectoparasites that attach to their host for many days to weeks, feeding to engorgement and continuing their species life cycle. The mechanisms behind the successful feeding and manipulation of host immune responses have been associated with the secretion of their specialized saliva. Tick saliva includes a variety of modulatory molecules that must disrupt and counteract defense mechanisms, including a variety of proteases. Reprolysin Metalloproteases, in the Zn²⁺ dependent family, is secreted as a proenzyme and is shown to have proteolytic activity, degrading fibrinogen and gelatinase activity, as well as disturbing homeostasis¹². Previous work with …

Physiological Performance Of Warm-Adapted Marine Ectotherms : Thermal Limits Of Mitochondrial Energy Transduction Efficiency., Eloy Martinez, Eric Hendricks, Michael Menze, Joseph Torres

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Thermal regimes in aquatic systems have profound implications for the physiology of ectotherms. In particular, the effect of elevated temperatures on mitochondrial energy transduction (i.e. energy from carbon substrates to ATP) in tropical and subtropical teleosts may have profound consequences on organismal performance and population viability. Upper and lower whole-organism critical temperatures for teleosts suggest that subtropical and tropical species are not susceptible to the warming trends associated with climate change, but sub-lethal effects on energy transduction efficiency and population dynamics remain unclear. The goal of the present study was to compare the thermal sensitivity of processes associated with mitochondrial …

Evidence For The Persistence Of Food Web Structure After Amphibian Extirpation In A Neotropical Stream, Thomas R. Barnum, John M. Drake, Jose Checo Colón-Gaud, Amanda T. Rugenski, Therese C. Frauendorf, Scott Connelly, Susan S. Kilham, Matt R. Whiles, Karen R. Lips, Catherine M. Pringle

Biology: Faculty Publications

Species losses are predicted to simplify food web structure, and disease‐driven amphibian declines in Central America offer an opportunity to test this prediction. Assessment of insect community composition, combined with gut content analyses, was used to generate periphyton–insect food webs for a Panamanian stream, both pre‐ and post‐amphibian decline. We then used network analysis to assess the effects of amphibian declines on food web structure. Although 48% of consumer taxa, including many insect taxa, were lost between pre‐ and post‐amphibian decline sampling dates, connectance declined by less than 3%. We then quantified the resilience of food web structure by calculating …

Assessing Feeding Preferences And Spatial Patterns Of Lagodon Rhomboides Linnaeus, Alexandria V. Lamle

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Mesograzers have the ability to greatly mitigate the effects of eutrophication in seagrass systems. In this study we look at pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides Linnaeus) as a potential epiphytic grazer and assess feeding preferences during a transitional stage in the ontogenetic diet shift exhibited by these fish. Since pinfish are abundant in seagrass meadows in the northern Gulf of Mexico, their dietary preferences have the potential to greatly impact seagrasses in this system. Twenty-four hour feeding trials were conducted to determine pinfish preference between seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) and algal epiphytes. St. Joseph Bay, FL was also surveyed to …

Influence Of Native And Processed Cereal Grain Fibers On Gut Health, Junyi Yang

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cereal fibers that can be metabolized by gut microbiota have been shown to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Increased consumption of cereal fibers may improve host / gut microbiota interactions in obesity and other metabolic diseases by normalizing gut dysbiosis. The present dissertation describes four research projects to assess the impact of cereal dietary fibers on gut microbiota and host metabolism. In the first study, we determined the treatment temperatures for production of soluble, non-digestible, feruloylated oligo- and polysaccharides (FOPS) from maize bran and wheat bran, and determined the fermentation properties of partially purified FOPS from …

Delineation Of Aeromonas Hydrophila Pathotypes By Dectection Of Putative Virulence Factors Using Polymerase Chain Reaction And Nematode Challenge Assay, John Metz

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Aeromonas hydrophila is a Gram-negative, bacterial pathogen of humans and other vertebrates. To delineate pathotypes, the genomes of twenty-eight Aeromonas isolates were screened by PCR to determine the presence of virulence factors including: aerolysin (aerA), cytotoxic enterotoxin (act), hemolysin (ahh1), elastase (ahyB), enolase (eno), S-layer protein (ahsA), serine protease (ser), Type IV Aeromonas pilus (tapA), lipase (lip), and Type Three Secretion System (T3SS) components (aopB, ascV). Genes for ahh1, lip, ser, and ahyB …

Century-Long Warming Trends In The Upper Water Column Of Lake Tanganyika, Benjamin Kraemer, Simon Hook, Timo Huttula, Pekka Kotilainen, Catherine M. O'Reilly, Anu Peltonen, Pierre-Denis Plisnier, Jouko Sarvala, Rashid Tamatamah, Yvonne Vadeboncoeur, Bernhard Wehrli, Peter B. Mcintyre

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Lake Tanganyika, the deepest and most voluminous lake in Africa, has warmed over the last century in response to climate change. Separate analyses of surface warming rates estimated from in situ instruments, satellites, and a paleolimnological temperature proxy (TEX86) disagree, leaving uncertainty about the thermal sensitivity of Lake Tanganyika to climate change. Here, we use a comprehensive database of in situ temperature data from the top 100 meters of the water column that span the lake’s seasonal range and lateral extent to demonstrate that long-term temperature trends in Lake Tanganyika depend strongly on depth, season, and latitude. The observed spatiotemporal …

Functional Characterization Of A Cathepsin L In Drosophila Melanogaster, Qian Dong

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Drosophila dorsal Air Sac Primordium (ASP) is a tracheal tube that invasively grows toward and into the wing imaginal disc. The unfolding of Drosophila wing is a process following eclosion with a cuticular bilayer replacing epithelial cells originally packing the wing. We reasoned that protease functions might be needed for the invasion of ASP into the wing imaginal disc as well as the rearrangement of epithelia cells during wing unfolding. Our study is particularly focused on understanding the role of a Cathepsin L like cysteine protease (CP1) in the development of dorsal ASP and wing development of Drosophila melanogaster. …

Bactericera Cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae): Nearly Complete Mitochondrial Genome, Single Mitochondrial Genes And Complete Mitochondrial Genome Comparison, And Insecticide Resistance Genes Of Potato Psyllid Populations From North America, Amalia Rosa Lopez Montiel

Biology Theses

The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc.), is an economic pest of potatoes and other solanaceous crops, and the vector of the causal agent of zebra chip disease. The expanded distribution of the potato psyllid has resulted in the differentiation of biotypes (central and western), and haplotypes (southwestern and northwestern), according to analysis of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI). In this study, the nearly complete (part of the control region unsequenced) mitochondrial genome from potato psyllid populations occurring in North America: Texas, Nebraska, California, Washington, northwest (Washington) and southwest (Arizona), were sequenced using next generation sequencing technology. The raw …

An Insight Into The Sialome Of The Lone Star Tick, Ambylomma Americanum, With A Glimpse On Its Time Dependent Gene Expression, Shahid Karim, José M.C. Ribeiro

Faculty Publications

Hard ticks feed for several days or weeks on their hosts. Blood feeding is assisted by tick saliva, which is injected in the host skin regularly, alternating with blood ingestion. Tick saliva contains hundreds or thousands of different peptides and other bioactive compounds that assist feeding by inhibiting their hosts’ blood clotting, platelet aggregation, vasoconstriction, as well as pain and itching. Immunomodulatory and antimicrobial peptides are also found in tick saliva. Molecular characterization of tick salivary compounds, or its sialome (from the Greek sialos = saliva), helps identification of possible antigens that might confer anti-tick immunity, as well as identifying …

Functional Analysis Of The Mms19 Gene In Carica Papaya, Jorge A. Trujillo

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

All organisms face DNA-damaging radiation in the form of UV light and must have mechanisms to repair or undo damage. Plants being stationary organisms must cope with damaging UV rays in a molecular fashion and so have developed many forms of resistance. MMS19 is implicated in DNA repair indirectly as a nuclear encoded gene that binds onto protein assembly complexes in the cytosol. A mutant within the SunUp variety of Carica papaya has a large deletion for MMS19 and presents a diminutive phenotype. Deficient DNA repair mechanisms will shunt cells out of the natural cell cycle and reduce cell proliferation …

Mesquite (Prosopis Juliflora): Livestock Grazing, Its Toxicity And Management, Kainaat William, Laila Jafri

Journal of Bioresource Management

Prospis juliflora is an invasive tree native to Northern South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. It has been used as a folk remedy for catarrh, cold, diarrhea, dysentery, excrescences, flu, hoarseness, inflammation, measles, sore throat, and in the healing of wounds. Its antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antitumor, and anthelminitic activities are also reported and it contain phytochemicals such as flavonols, alkaloids, tannins, ellagic acid, glycosides, steroids, and various phenolic compounds. It is reported to be used as feed for cattle worldwide. Low intake of this plant doesn’t affect the health of cattle but excessive intake is harmful and can cause …

Morphometry And Average Temperature Affect Lake Stratification Responses To Climate Change, Benjamin Kraemer, Orlane Anneville, Sudeep Chandra, Margaret Dix, Esko Kuusisto, David M. Livingstone, Alon Rimmer, S. Geoffrey Schladow, Eugene Silow, Lewis M. Sitoki, Rashid Tamatamah, Yvonne Vadeboncoeur, Peter B. Mcintyre

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Climate change is affecting lake stratification with consequences for water quality and the benefits that lakes provide to society. Here we use long-term temperature data (1970–2010) from 26 lakes around the world to show that climate change has altered lake stratification globally and that the magnitudes of lake stratification changes are primarily controlled by lake morphometry (mean depth, surface area, and volume) and mean lake temperature. Deep lakes and lakes with high average temperatures have experienced the largest changes in lake stratification even though their surface temperatures tend to be warming more slowly. These results confirm that the nonlinear relationship …

Traversing Swanton Road, 20th Ed., James A. West

Academic, Government & Associated Organizational Research Resources

Situated at the northwest end of Santa Cruz County and occupying circa 30 square miles of sharply contrasted terrain, the Scott Creek Watershed concentrates within its geomorphological boundaries, at least 10-12% of California's flora, both native and introduced. Paradoxically, the use/abuse that the watershed has sustained over the past 140+ years, has not necessarily diminished the biodiversity and perhaps parallels the naturally disruptive but biologically energizing processes (fire, flooding, landslides and erosion), which have also been historically documented for the area for +60 years. This is an early edition of an extensive document by James A. West. Please visit the …

Ecological, Localization And Functional Analysis Of Two Lysosomal Enzymes In Dictyostelium Discoideum, Sanaa Talib Jawed

Theses and Dissertations

Dictyostelium discoideum is a primitive eukaryote that has recognized useful in studying various aspects of lysosomal enzymes as well as development since it can differentiate from unicellular amoebae into a multicellular.In this study, we investigated the localization, ecological and molecular function of two lysosomal enzymes, hexosaminidase (NagA) and,,-glucosidase (GluA) proteins, by overexpressing the genes encoding them in D. discoideum. Separate cell-lines overexpressing a GFP-tagged versions of the full length DdNagA gene (GFP-NagA), mutant version of the NagA gene (GFP-NagA (N214S)), a GFP-tagged version of the full length DdGluA gene (GFP-GluA) and a mutant version of first 83 amino acids DdGluA …

Suspension Model For Blood Flow Through A Tapering Catheterized Inclined Artery With Asymmetric Stenosis, Devajyoti Biswas, Moumita Paul

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

We intend to study a particle fluid suspension model for blood flow through an axially asymmetric but radially symmetric mild stenosis in the annular region of an inclined tapered artery and a co-axial catheter in a suitable flow geometry has been considered to investigate the influence of velocity slip at the stenotic wall as well as hematocrit, shape parameter. The model also includes the tapering effect and inclination of the artery. Expressions for the flow variables have been derived analytically and their variations with various flow parameters are represented graphically. The results for the different values of the parameters involved …

The Biological Consequences Of Kaolin Geophagia, Deloris Alexander, Desire Richardson, Lakisha Odom, Kara Cromwell, Dejuana Grant, Micoya Myers, Eddy Cadet, Hamid Mahama, Vijaya Rangari, Ralphenia Pace, Ramble Ankumah, Kokoasse Kpomblekou-A, Curtis Fluker

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Abstract

Kaolin geophagia is associated with the relief of gastrointestinal distress, but it may also cause adverse health effects on the body. This study was designed to: assess kaolin composition; test if 129SvEv mice would consume kaolin and determine the consequences of consumption; and assess rotational stress modulation of consumption. Thirteen kaolin samples were purchased from Alabama and Georgia stores. Chemical and physical properties were characterized for each sample using a Munsell chart, pH meter, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Visible Near-InfraRed Spectra, and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry. Kaolin was then given to mice as food supplements and …

Lignocellulose Metabolism In A Fungus-Gardening Ant Symbiosis, Alexandria Demilto

Biology Theses

Fungus-gardening ants exhibit a unique interaction with specific fungi in an obligatory symbiosis; ants feed and prune their fungal symbiont in exchange for nourishment. Cellulose is the most abundant plant compound found on earth and may serve as a rich carbon source to ants. Recent studies show that leaf-cutting (Atta and Acromyrmex) ants' fungus does not typically digest cellulose, but there have been few comparisons to the other higher attine fungus gardening ants. In this study, I measured the lignocellulose consumption of the higher fungus-gardening ants Trachymyrmex septentrionalis and Trachymyrmex arizonensis. Colonies were fed either a diet of Texas Red …

Do Differently Managed Dairy Cows With Production-Related Metabolic Diseases Have Similar Protein And Fat Species In Colostrum And Milk?, Holly Martin, Dr. Beverly Roeder

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Production-related metabolic diseases (PRMDs) in dairy cows threaten the livelihood of the animals as well as the productivity and success of the dairy industry. Because dairy cows supply an important food source for humans, understanding, managing, and preventing these diseases protects this source. Management and prevention of these diseases would increase production and profit margins for the dairy industry.

Manipulation Of The Solenopsis Invicta Virus-1 By Rna Interference In The Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis Invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), And Examination Of Differences In Resulting Micro Rna Expression, Patrick Rydzak

Biology Theses

The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), is an invasive ant species from South America to the United States and is responsible for approximately six billion dollars (U.S.) every year. In 2004, as part of an effort to find a self-sustained, long term biological control agent against S. invicta, researchers discovered the first ever known virus to infect Solenopsis sp., the Solenopsis invicta virus-1 (SINV-1). RNA interference (RNAi) is a known regulator of biological systems in insects and was used in this study to manipulate viral titers of SINV-1 in individual S. invicta workers and whole S. invicta …

Control Of Cell Cycle Progression By Mtor, Amrita Chatterjee

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Over the past few years it has become apparent that cancer cells require the activation of a set of intra-cellular signals that promote cell cycle progression and survival. One of the most common survival signals activated in human cancers is mediated by mTOR -the mammalian target of rapamycin. mTOR is a critical nutrient and energy sensor in cells that lets the cell know that there is sufficient material available for a cell to double its mass and divide. mTOR causes the phosphorylation of downstream targets ribosomal subunit S6 kinase and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) binding protein-1 (4E-BP1), which promotes …

Testing Visual Ecology Hypotheses In Avian Brood Parasite-Host Systems: The Role Of Uv-Light Perception And Egg-Nest Contrast In Foreign Egg Rejection, Zachary Aidala

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Color signals are highly important features of animal communication systems, particularly among birds, which possess exquisitely complex visual perception systems. Birds possess tetrachromatic vision, and some species are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. Because human and avian visual systems dramatically differ (i.e. humans are not sensitive to UV wavelengths), biologically relevant sensory models are necessary to accurately assess the function of avian color signals. In this dissertation, I primarily use brood parasite-host interactions as a model for studying the behavioral function of avian-perceivable visual stimuli. In Chapter 1, I review the importance of employing biologically relevant sensory-perceptual visual models when …

Environmental Stimuli And Intragenerational Epigenetics, Nicholas J. Napier

Student Scholarship

Epigenetics is the study of any change in gene expression that is not mediated by DNA sequence. The effects of environmental stimuli on epigenetic changes have been studied extensively in recent years. Multiple reviews have provided comprehensive summations of the effects of environmental stimuli on transgenerational epigenetic changes, but few reviews have focused upon environment-induced intragenerational epigenetic changes. This review will summarize current knowledge of the intragenerational epigenetic changes that are induced by two groups of well-studied environmental stimuli: nutritional deficiencies and carcinogens. This survey of intragenerational epigenetic changes will focus upon the mechanisms behind them, the disorders associated with …

Ketone Body Metabolism Preserves Hepatic Function During Adaptation To Birth And In Overnutrition, David Graham Cotter

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Mammalian ketone body metabolism partially oxidizes hepatic acyl-chains to ketone body intermediates, which can serve as alternative fuels in extrahapetic tissues during carbohydrate restricted states. Ketone body production (ketogenesis) occurs primarily in liver, due to hepatocyte-specific expression of the fate committing ketogenic enzyme, mitochondrial 3-hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase (HMGCS2). In contrast, the fate committing enzyme of ketone body oxidation, mitochondrial Succinyl-CoA:3-oxoacid CoA Transferase (SCOT), is expressed ubiquitously, except in liver. Here I demonstrate novel roles for ketone body metabolism during a classically ketogenic period, the transition to birth, and in a classically `non-ketogenic' state, overnutrition, using novel genetic mouse models, high-resolution measures …

Understanding Escherichia Coli Urinary Tract Infection: A Niche Perspective, Drew Joel Schwartz

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide, costing greater than $2 billion in healthcare costs and lost wages yearly in America alone. The lifetime risk for a woman exceeds 50% with 25-40% of these suffering recurrent infections. Two of the most important risk factors for recurrent UTI are prior UTIs and sexual intercourse. Over 80% of UTIs are caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), which binds and invades superficial facet cells lining the bladder surface. UPEC expresses extracellular fibers called type 1 pili with a terminal mannose-binding adhesin, FimH, which interacts with mannosylated uroplakin residues …

Assessing Vascular Inflammation With Bioluminescence Imaging, Reece Joseph Goiffon

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs in the developed world and is often undiagnosed until clinical presentation with a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) content is an emerging biomarker for risk, progression, and prognosis at different stages of CVD. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are currently used to measure clinical plasma MPO concentration, but ELISAs are costly and time-intensive. Luminol is a chemiluminescent compound with specificity for MPO activity in vivo, but is not sensitive enough for use as a bioluminescence reporter of plasma MPO oxidation. The luminol derivative L-012 …