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Genomic And Metabolic Network Properties In Thermophiles And Psychrophiles Compared To Mesophiles, Amal Saeed Alblooshi

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Thermophiles and psychrophiles are extremophilic microorganisms that thrive in harsh conditions. Thermophiles are mostly located in hot springs, prosper in high temperatures. Psychrophiles thrive in extremely cold environments, including polar regions and deep-sea habitats. Although they play a crucial role in biotechnology and environmental research, their mechanisms of adaptation are still not well understood. The main objective of this thesis is to understand the genomic characteristics and metabolic network features in thermophiles and psychrophiles compared to mesophiles. The genomes of 59 species among thermophiles, psychrophiles, and mesophiles were collected from the NCBI database. These genomes were used to analyze their …

Tiny Fixers, Big Impact: Can This Bacteria Replace Your Fertilizer?, Jocelynn Burton, Abby Feragen, Tyler Miller, Landen Winder

Student Research Symposium

If cultured on a media lacking available nitrogen, then our isolated bacteria will continue to proliferate through the assimilation of nitrogen available in the air.

Effects Of Rapid Temperature Change On Soil Microbe Growth, Jordan Donahue, Gabby Pulsipher, Caylee Roe, Halli Fuller

Student Research Symposium

Many bacterial microbes have a maximum growth curve at 29-37 degrees Celsius. But, many microbes, like those found in soils, are exposed to the elements rather than an incubator. As the weather is becoming more unpredictable due to climate change, are our soil microbes suffering? If they are, we may be at risk of losing novel sources of antibiotics before they are discovered.

Bacterial Treatment Enhanced Root Growth In Acidic And Neutral Conditions, But Limited Arabidopsis Thaliana Leaf Development, Taylor Brenchley, Ryan Colqui, Alexis Tueller

Student Research Symposium

• Soil bacteria help plants tolerate pH stress, extreme pH (too acidic or basic) limits plant growth, including Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Some bacteria improve plant resilience, but their role in pH tolerance is unclear, we aim to bridge this knowledge gap further.
• Soil acidification from pollution threatens global food security.
• This study tests whether a bacterial isolate from acidic soil helps A. thaliana grow in different pH conditions, which can be used in agriculture.

How Does Salinity Affect Antibiotic Production?, Alec Backus, Madelyn Peel, Anika Shaw, Alexander Van Hamme

Student Research Symposium

Antibiotic production by microorganisms can be heavily influenced by environmental factors, such as salinity. In this experiment we investigated how varying environmental salinity affected antibody production of the isolate SP25-MRP-11, which was obtained from a filtrate of soil from the Dr. Gene Miller Life Science Garden.

Possibilities: Indoor Commercial Strawberry Pollination By Osmia Species, Annalise Mckinnon

Student Research Symposium

Commercial strawberries in greenhouses are traditionally pollinated using hand pollination, fans, or bumblebees. Osmia bee species are small, solitary, cavity nesting bees whose pollination habits are still being discovered. To increase knowledge of pollination possibilities, we used a caged indoor greenhouse experiment to test pollination and nesting capacity in 3 Osmia species (Fig. 1).

Pilrα Sustains Microglial Capacity To Process Myelin In A Mouse Model Of Demyelination, Kent Lin

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and neurodegeneration. Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), play a crucial role in AD pathogenesis by containing the spreading of Aβ plaques. Genetic studies have associated a variant of the receptor Paired Immunoglobulin-like Type 2 Receptor Alpha (PILRα) with reduced risk for AD. PILRα is a receptor found on myeloid cells, such as microglia, that binds to endogenous cell surface glycoproteins and sends inhibitory signals within the cell. Additionally, it serves as an entry receptor for Herpes Simplex Virus 1. To elucidate the role …

Induction Of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy In A Three-Dimensional Myocardial Model, Maelyn Andreasen

Student Research Symposium

Diabetic cardiomyopathy: Impairs and damages heart tissue through chronic exposure to hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, in diabetic individuals

The Effects Of Different Types Of Fertilizer On The Growth Of Pseudomonas Frederiksbergenis, Aspen Curtis, Nadia Greding, Kylie Fluckiger, Samantha Clements

Student Research Symposium

Which fertilizers will promote the growth of the isolate of Pseudomonas frederiksbergensis (P. frederiksbergensis)?

Pseudomonas Parafulva Confirmed To Have Antifungal Properties When Grown In Conjunction With Botrytis Cinerea, Caden Dupee, Kylee Eldredge, Zachary Elmer, Joshua Hartvigsen

Student Research Symposium

Widespread antibiotic use has led to antibiotic resistance of infectious bacteria. (Young, 2017) As part of the TinyEarth Program, the lab group collected and tested local soil samples for bacteria with hopes of finding novel antibiotic properties. From the soil samples, a bacteria was isolated, subsequently sequenced, and determined to be Pseudomonas parafulva. P. parafulva is a Gram-negative bacterium that has been known to frequent rice paddies of eastern Asian countries and has been collected in select regions of North America, including that of Cache Valley. P. parafulva has been linked to anti-fungal activities on plants. (Lui et …

The Effects Of Biodiversity On Plant Parasitic Nematodes, Josh Lund

Student Research Symposium

The Dilution Effect Hypothesis¹ argues that biodiversity reduces pathogen transmission risk due to dilution of susceptible hosts, enhanced microbial communities that suppress pathogens, interference competition, nutrient heterogeneity, and ecological stability.

A Look Into Frugivorous Interactions With Psychotria And Palicourea In Barro Colorado Island, Panama, Madison Smart, Gerald Schneider, Elsa Jos

Student Research Symposium

Importance of Seed Dispersal

• Seed dispersal is a vital ecological process that influences plant population dynamics and ecosystem structure.
• Half of all seed-bearing plants rely on frugivorous animals to disperse their seeds to new locations, promoting plant recruitment

How Peribacillus Simplex Influences Plant Growth In The Presence Of Pesticide, David Tolman, Luke Wilkinson, Tanner Thompson, Tori Richardson

Student Research Symposium

P. simplex is known for its biocontrol, bioremediation, antibiotic producing, and sustainable agriculture properties

Investigating The Oxytocin System Of The Brain In The Molecular Basis Of Self-Control, Kenzie Wachtel

Student Research Symposium

• Oxytocin (OXT) is a neuropeptide involved in social behaviors such as pair-bonding, maternal behavior, and attachment¹. At the core of these social bonds is reward. OXT has many interactions with neural reward circuits to produce the pleasurable effects of social contact².

Response To Induced Herbivory, Isis Cordova

Student Research Symposium

Herbivore attacks trigger complex changes in plant primary and secondary metabolisms. Secondary metabolites (SM), are hypothesized to respond synergistically to repeated herbivore attacks (Fig. 1).

Unearthing Connections: Characterizing Populations Of Local Harvester Ants, Carson Lyman

Student Research Symposium

What is Hybridization?

• Hybridization is the combination of two different species or subspecies, to create hybrid offspring¹.
• The offspring inherits some genetic material from both parents and so exhibits characteristics of both.

Determining Antibiotic Efficacy On A Species Of Pseudomonas Bacteria Isolated From A Soil Sample, Austin Taylor, Peyton Wells, Alyssa Smith

Student Research Symposium

The Pseudomonas genus contains a variety of species of bacteria that play essential roles in soil health, plant growth, and microbial competition. Certain species exhibit biocontrol properties by producing antimicrobial compounds to protect plants from harmful pathogens. While our Pseudomonas species is normally non-pathogenic to plants and humans, it could transfer antimicrobial resistance genes to harmful pathogens in the environment. By studying the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the isolated bacteria to several common antibiotics, we could identify antibiotic-sensitive strains that could be used in agriculture, or antimicrobial-producing strains that could serve as natural defenses for plants.

What Nesting Materials Are Best For An Insect Hotel?, Madison Smart

Student Research Symposium

• Native insects are important for pollination, natural pest management, and other ecological processes.

Identifying Compensatory Mutations In The Envelope Protein Of Japanese Encephalitis Virus That Restore Neurovirulence, Nathan Taylor, Jiyoun Kim

Student Research Symposium

• Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) is a positive sense, single stranded Enveloped virus

Solving The Structure Of An Ancestral Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Natalie Turcsanski, Edna Armah

Student Research Symposium

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) regulate cell signaling by removing phosphate groups from tyrosine residues. Malfunction of these enzymes can lead to diseases such as diabetes and cancer. A conserved feature among PTPs is the catalytic acid loop, essential for phosphate removal. Computational analysis of PTP structures revealed that ancestral PTPs have considerable variation in conformations of this loop, sparking interest in their further study. The Asgard group, identified as ancestral to eukaryotic PTPs, was successfully expressed and purified under optimized conditions. Current efforts focus on optimizing crystallization to obtain larger crystals for structural analysis. This project will investigate the allosteric …

Vaccine Stabilization With Spider Silk, Mallory Wootton

Student Research Symposium

Most vaccines must be stored between 2 - 8°C to maintain their efficacy, with some vaccines requiring temperatures as low as -70°C for long-term storage. These temperature requirements pose issues for vaccine distribution, notably to remote/rural areas, in hotter climates, and low- and middle-income countries which are largely dependent on vaccine imports. [1]

Distributor-Specific Variability In Balb/C Mouse Mortality Following Sars-Cov-2-Ma10 Infection, Taylor Kerr

Student Research Symposium

In recent years SARS-COV-2 has become a rapidly expanding area of research. To model human infections, this virus was adapted to mice enabling valuable insight into these processes.² Mice are often an effective research model due to their low cost, short reproduction time, and ability to adapt to a wide variety of viruses. Research into these immunological responses is crucial in developing vaccines, treatments, and furthering our understanding of this virus' behavior.¹ However, genetic variability in mouse models may be confounding previous and on-going research.

Activation Of Enkephalinergic Neurons Modulate Pain Within The Brain, Lucy N. Scribner, Oakley M. Statham, Greydon R. Durrant, Callie M. Newson

Student Research Symposium

The endogenous opioid system, consisting of three neuropeptides and canonical receptors, is ubiquitously expressed throughout the brain and is heavily involved in modulating pain[1]. However, research has placed tremendous focus on investigating the receptors of this system, and less attention has been devoted to the peptides. One such opioid peptide, enkephalin, is notably absent within the pain center of the brain, the periaqueductal gray (PAG)[2]. To further understand the role enkephalins play in modulating pain, we aimed to target and activate specific enkephalin-containing neurons that connect to the PAG. By activating these enkephalinergic projections, we hypothesized that this would lead …

Effects Of C-Section Birth On Vasopressin 1a Receptors In The Prairie Vole Brain, Caleb Hart

Student Research Symposium

The goal of this study was to understand how the brain might change depending on the birth experience: a vaginal birth or a cesarean section. C-sections have been associated with an increased risk of obesity and other behavioral and metabolic health conditions that are related to the function of hypothalamic hormones in the brain¹. Vasopressin is one neuropeptide hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus and influences a variety of metabolic functions and behaviors, including water balance and social pair bonding². This study used prairie voles to assess the effect of birth experience on the brain …

Seasonal And Sex-Based Variation In Coyote Responses To Social Olfactory Stimuli, Giuliana Carneiro

Student Research Symposium

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are socially complex, often forming strong pair bonds that can persist across multiple breeding seasons³. Scent marking, particularly urine marking, is a key form of communication used to establish territory, convey reproductive status, and maintain social hierarchies¹. This behavior is influenced by factors such as sex and season, and is central to understanding their social dynamics⁴. This preliminary study is part of a broader investigation into coyote behavior, specifically examining how these factors affect responses to olfactory stimuli from familiar and unfamiliar individuals².

In this study, coyote …

Latency To Approach Social Olfactory Stimuli In Female Coyotes: Pairmate Vs Sibling, Jenny Malm, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• Scent marking is a common form of communication among mammals, including coyotes¹.

Qualitative Assessment Of Coyote Olfactory Behavior In Response To Urine Stimuli, Sophie Isom, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• The coyote (Canis latrans) marks territorial boundaries with scent cues.¹

Diet, Bioaccumulation Of Heavy Metals, And Population Genomics Of Narrow-Barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus Commerson) From The Arabian Gulf, Shaima Malik

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Marine organisms are integral part of marine ecosystems, forming complex feeding interactions. Large predatory fish are especially important because they often govern food web structures through top-down influences. The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) is an ecologically and economically important fish species that feeds on small forage fish. The current study focuses on three aspects of the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (diet, bioaccumulation of heavy metals and population genomics). This species is considered near-threatened, as its population has been declining due to anthropogenic stressors. The Arabian Gulf experiences continuous natural stressors, which are further exacerbated by human activities, impacting the marine …

Does Bacillus Mycoides Inhibit The Growth Of Botrytis Cinerea?, Jaymen Brough, Macy Brooks, Jackson Bronsell, Brent Bowler

Student Research Symposium

Botrytis cinerea is a fungal pathogen shown to threaten agricultural stability. In attempts to find biological controls against such pathogens, some bacteria have demonstrated antifungal properties. Among these, Bacillus mycoides has been identified as a potential producer of antifungal agents that may be relevant to agricultural, horticultural, and medical settings (Kahn et al., 2018). In an effort to identify the effectiveness of B. mycoides as an antifungal biological control, we have tested whether Bacillus mycoides inhibits the fungal growth of Botrytis cinerea.

Gastric Survivability Of Streptomyces Narbonensis, Laramie Johnson, Laurel Hilterbrand, Ephraim Mohr, Eliza Lewis

Student Research Symposium

Human sciences and medicine have continually been advancing, and taken off in the last few centuries. This has included the development of many new medicines, antibiotics, and disinfectants. Antibiotics have to be able to survive and perform its duty within the human body, despite the changes in pH that occur naturally within the body in response to stimuli (Cotter, 2003). If a bacteria is unable to adapt to the pH environment of the human body in which it is placed, it will not be able to survive and continue to reproduce. The bacteria may be able to adapt via membrane …