Digital Commons Network^™

Design, Synthesis, Cloning, And Expression Of Heme-Containing Peroxygenase From Cucurbita Moschata, Rebekah Walker

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Validating Methods For Monitoring Physiological Health Of Plethodon Hubrichti Along An Elevational Gradient, Taylor Salvigsen, Kyra Todd

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Study Of The Effect Of Post-Natal Day 26 Methotrexate Chemotherapy On Cognition, Hannah Davenport

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

Characterizing The Cutaneous Microbiome Of Eurycea Lucifuga As A Potential Defense Against Infectious Diseases, Madeline Key, Mckenzie Perkins

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Analysis And Synthesis Of Fluorescent Cell Stains For Biomedical Application, Richard Tuttle, Angielisa Sirard, Ashley Stubbs

Liberty University Research Week

Undergraduate

Basic

The Importance Of Rhodophyta Gracilaria Both Past And Present, Abhishiek Arora

Research and Creativity Symposium

Rhodophyta Gracilaria is a genus of Rhodophyta, red algae, found throughout the world and has played a variety of roles throughout the years. Gracilaria has previously been used medically in India and China for the treatment of dysentery and respiratory disease while in Malaysia as a remedy for inflammation. It has also been an ingredient in the cuisine of many different cultures from garnish on Poke bowls in Hawaii, to a component in Japanese Ogonori, a type of Japanese salad. Research on Gracilaria has increased throughout the years. This is indicative of its potential in a wide variety of fields …

Sex Ratios And The City: Is Parental Corticosterone A Mediator Of The Relationship Between Urbanization And Offspring Sex Allocation?, Denyelle Kilgour

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

The Trivers-Willard hypothesis states that mothers can adjust their offspring sex ratios according to their own condition and the environmental conditions they face during breeding. Past tests of this hypothesis in avian species have focused on how natural variation shapes sex allocation trade-offs. However, urbanization also influences individual condition and presents animals with novel challenges in optimizing their brood sex ratio. One likely mediator of the relationship between environmental conditions, parental condition, and sex ratios is corticosterone (CORT), the primary glucocorticoid in birds. However, no research has examined the links between urbanization, individual condition, CORT, and adaptive sex allocation within …

Temporal Variation Of Bacterial Community And Nutrients In Tibetan Glacier Snowpack, Yuying Chen, Keshao Liu, Yongqin Liu, Trista J. Vick‐Majors, Feng Wang, Mukan Ji

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The Tibetan Plateau harbors the largest number of glaciers outside the polar regions, which are the source of several major rivers in Asia. These glaciers are also major sources of nutrients for downstream ecosystems, while there is a little amount of data available on the nutrient transformation processes on the glacier surface. Here, we monitored the carbon and nitrogen concentration changes in a snowpit following a snowfall in the Dunde Glacier of the Tibetan Plateau. The association of carbon and nitrogen changes with bacterial community dynamics was investigated in the surface and subsurface snow (depth at 0–15 and 15–30 cm, …

Analysis Of Invasive Aedes Japonicus Populations And Bloodmeals In Rural, Suburban, And Urban Land-Use Conditions, Matthew Oberholtzer Ms

Student Scholarship

Adult female mosquitoes were collected at six sites with differing land-use and

livestock characteristics to characterize populations and bloodmeal habits of the invasive

vector mosquito species, Aedes japonicus in Southern Maine. Mosquitoes were collected

and DNA was extracted for PCR amplification of cytochrome C oxidase I (COi)

mitochondrial DNA for barcoding analysis of vertebrate bloodmeals. A total of 7460

adult female mosquitoes were collected, with 444 being Ae. japonicus (5.6%). This

indicates an established breeding population of Ae. japonicus in Southern Maine. The

rural site adjacent to livestock had the highest yield of total mosquitoes as well as the

catch …

Synthetic Hagfish Slime: Mechanical Characterization, Hayden Johns, Spencer Walker

Student Research Symposium

Hagfish are ancient animals that eject a strong slime when attacked by predators. The slime that the hagfish emit is composed of protein strands that cause it to have incredible strength. To defend against foes, the Navy launches plastic ropes into the propellers of enemy warships in order to decrease the thrust of the motors. In a push to find a more biodegradable solution, the utilization of hagfish slime has shown greatpromise in stopping propellers.We hope to understand how this remarkable biomaterial withstands the impact of a sharp and quickly rotating propeller, while simultaneously reducing the thrust of the propeller. …

Impacts Of Cftr Mutations On Pulmonary Development In Sheep, Kaden Bunch

Student Research Symposium

Due to various mutations, the loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function causes cystic fibrosis (CF), predisposing the lungs to chronic infection and inflammation. In young infants with CF, structural airway defects are increasingly recognized before the onset of significant lung disease, which suggests a developmental origin and a possible role in lung disease pathogenesis. The function of CFTR in lung development is unclear and developmental studies in humans with CF are not feasible. Young CF sheep show similar lung development and spontaneous postnatal lung disease similar to humans impacted by CF. We studied lung development in the …

Transgenic Mice Demonstrate The Level Of Contribution Of Protein Cd38 To Nad+ Decline Seen In Human Aging, Abby Tucker

Student Research Symposium

Niacin (NAD+) is a a vital molecule in human metabolism. NAD+ decline with age is well documented and low NAD+ levels may cause aging symptoms, however the molecular cause of NAD+ decline is poorly understood. Few pathways in the human metabolism fully consume NAD+ as it is usually recycled to NADH. One protein found on immune cells, called CD38, does fully consume NAD+ in its reaction, and so it may contribute to niacin deficiency by depleting the NAD+ in the body over time. To determine CD38’s role in causing niacin deficiency and aging, we knocked out the CD38 gene in …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Oxytocin Receptor Mutations, Oxytocin Receptor Binding And Autism, Ethan Dayley

Student Research Symposium

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common neurological disorder with a wide range of symptoms, many of them social in nature. Although there is a large body on research regarding ASD, up until now there is no gene-brain-behavior link that has shown the exact cause of ASD. In 2018, Dr. Sara Freeman's research showed differences in oxytocin receptor (OXTR) binding density in two brain regions between typically developing and ASD individuals. Here we show that about 50% of the variation seen in Dr. Freeman's study can be explained by genetic variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) in the OXTR gene, …

Prosthesis Grip Optimization, Taylor Thompson

Student Research Symposium

Custom prosthetics can be extremely expensive and any that are covered by health insurance have limited mobility. Those issues can become compounded when a young child outgrows their prosthetics quickly. One current solution to overcome these problems is 3D printed prosthetic hands. These can be produced quickly and be custom fit for the user, however, they are limited in mobility and grip options.The goal of this project was to develop a prosthesis that allowed each finger to move independently to increase mobility and grip options. After researching, designing, modeling, and printing, that goal was accomplished. The end product is a …

The Biology Behind Chemistry, Oakley Statham

Student Research Symposium

I have seen that majority of people find romance to be an abstract idea that can’t be defined. The research was aimed at finding out how much hormones affected people's relationships with each other. I knew that there was some effect but hypothesized that there was a large effect. I felt like this knowledge is important to understand because it would give readers an understanding of what is happening to them as they are navigating a relationship or wanting to begin one. Through the internet, library, and personal interviews I gathered sources that presented knowledge on my topic. By collecting …

Evolution Of Floral Microbes And The Resulting Effects On Pollinator Preferences, Hailey Hatch

Student Research Symposium

Floral microbes are an overlooked aspect of the extended floral phenotype. They mediate interactions between flowers, pollinators, and other floral microbes that have significant implications for pollinator and plant health by altering floral nectar chemistry. The interactions between floral microbes and pollinators are critically important to understand as pollinators have a key role in both the crop and natural ecosystem world. Our aim is to explore how floral nectar traits may affect evolution and competition within the floral yeast Metchnikowia reukaufii, the floral bacteria Bacillus subtilis, and other microbes isolated from Brassica rapa nectar. To address this, we are conducting …

Correction Of F508del And G542x Mutations In Sheep Fibroblasts Of Cystic Fibrosis Models Using Crispr/Cas9 And Piggybac, Kaden Bunch

Student Research Symposium

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a human genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. Among the ~2000 known CF mutations, F508del mutation is found in 84% and G542X in 4.6% of the CF patients in US, respectively. The F508del mutation occurs in the exon 11 and is characterized by the deletion of the ‘CTT’ nucleotides that ultimately deletes the Phenylalanine residue at the position 508 of CFTR. It causes the misfolding of the CFTR protein, which is further degraded by proteases. The G542X is a nonsense mutation found in the exon 12 and associated with …

What Makes For A Good Silk?, Elijah Moss

Student Research Symposium

In Dr. Justin Jones' research lab, research is being conducted on different silks. The quality of the silk must be evaluated, and so I have identified three paragons that each silk strain is compared to: commercial viability, the efficacy of transgenic antimicrobial peptides, and tensile strength.

Phylogeny And Historical Biogeography Of Uroleucon Aphids, Audrey Mullen

Student Research Symposium

The aphid genus Uroleucon (Aphididae: Aphidinae: Macrosiphini) is a diverse group of about 230 species feeding mainly on Asteraceae as host plants and found globally in most temperate regions. However, the origins of the South American species are unknown, as are the relationships of these taxa to northern hemisphere Uroleucon species. This study seeks to establish the relationships between Uroleucon aphids native to South America and their North American and Eurasian counterparts using genetic data. We will use phylogenetic analysis of cytochrome c oxidase subunits 1 and 2 mitochondrial genes as well as the elongation factor 1α nuclear gene to …

Effect Of Partner Loss On Oxytocin Measures In The Social Brain Of Monogamous Coyotes, Blake Nielson

Student Research Symposium

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is important in social behavior and in the formation of pair bonds between mates. One study found that oxytocin receptor levels in monogamous female prairie voles were lower in animals which had been separated from their mate for some time. In order to further study oxytocin's importance in social bond formation and to test for any possible effects partner loss could have on oxytocin in the brain, I conducted a study on monogamous female coyote brain tissue. Four brain specimens were examined from paired female coyotes, while three brain specimens were examined from widowed female …

Docosahexaenoic Acid May Reduce Risk Factors Of Cancer Development In A Mouse Model Of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer, Eliza Stewart, Marcus Hayden

Student Research Symposium

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide and has increased incidence in developed countries. There is a close link between CRC and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). A main symptom of IBD is colitis, which is inflammation of the colon. Diet plays a key role in the development of CRC, specifically a Western-type diet, which is characterized by energy dense and nutrient deficient foods. This dietary pattern is associated with both increased inflammation and dysbiosis of the gut microbiome, two factors that contribute to the development of CRC. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that …

Quantifying Predator Functional Responses Under Field Conditions Reveals Interactive Effects Of Temperature And Interference With Sex And Stage, Kyle E. Coblentz, Amber Squires, Stella Uiterwaal, John Delong

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

1. Predator functional responses describe predator feeding rates and are central to predator–prey theory. Originally defined as the relationship between predator feeding rates and prey densities, it is now well known that functional responses are shaped by a multitude of factors. However, much of our knowledge about how these factors influence functional responses is based on laboratory studies that are generally logistically constrained to examining only a few factors simultaneously and that have unclear links to the conditions organisms experience in the field.
2. We apply an observational approach for measuring functional responses to understand how sex/stage differences, temperature and predator densities …

The Effect Of Ethanolic Echinacea Purpurea Root Extracts On The Production Of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators In Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages, Trey T. Nguyen

Student Scholar Showcase

Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as the purple coneflower, is utilized in medicinal preparations due to potential immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Present bioactive metabolites such as alkamides, polysaccharides, and caffeic acid derivatives provide pharmacological elements essential to mitigating symptoms produced by upper respiratory illnesses. The chemical composition of E. purpurea holds medicinal value, but there remains controversy surrounding the efficacy of its use in medicine. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of an 75% ethanolic E. purpurea root extract on LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Treatment groups included ethanolic E. purpurea extract (3µL, 15µL, 30µL), …

The Plant And The Pathogen: Elucidating The Relationship Between Root-Knot Nematodes, Ph Levels, And Arabidopsis Thaliana Development, Rachel Garnett

Student Scholar Showcase

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) within the Meloidogyne genus are considered one of the largest threats to plant health and subsequent crop yield and profit (Forghani and Hajihassani 2020; Bernard et al. 2017). As a pest that presents global consequences, its mitigation through sustainable interventions may confer results for the treatment of similar plant pathogens. A member of the Brassicaeae family, Arabidopsis thaliana, was chosen for this study to determine plant responses to RKN-standard pH media. pH was varied between control and experimental groups, and phenotypic variables of primary root length and plant height were observed and analyzed. Wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana …

Sex Differences In The Fecal Microbiome And Hippocampal Glial Morphology Following Diet And Antibiotic Treatment, Anju Saxena, Roberta R M Moran, Meghan R. Bullard, Emma O. Bondy, Matthew Foster Smith, Lainie Morris, Nicaella Fogle, Jagroop Singh, Brendan Jarvis, Tammy Ray, Juhi Saxena, Linnea Ruth Freeman

Open Access Fund Publications

Rising obesity rates have become a major public health concern within the United States. Understanding the systemic and neural effects of obesity is crucial in designing preventive and therapeutic measures. In previous studies, administration of a high fat diet has induced significant weight gain for mouse models of obesity. Interestingly, sex differences in high-fat diet-induced weight gain have been observed, with female mice gaining significantly less weight compared to male mice on the same high-fat diet. It has also been observed that consumption of a high-fat diet can increase neurogliosis, but the mechanism by which this occurs is still not …

Lis1 And Ndel1 Regulate Axonal Trafficking Of Mitochondria In Mature Neurons, Jai P. Pandey, Liang Shi, Remi A. Brebion, Deanna S. Smith

Faculty Publications

Defective mitochondrial dynamics in axons have been linked to both developmental and late-onset neurological disorders. Axonal trafficking is in large part governed by the microtubule motors kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein 1 (dynein). Dynein is the primary retrograde transport motor in axons, and mutations in dynein and many of its regulators also cause neurological diseases. Depletion of LIS1, famous for linking dynein deregulation to lissencephaly (smooth brain), in adult mice leads to severe neurological phenotypes, demonstrating post-developmental roles. LIS1 stimulates retrograde transport of acidic organelles in cultured adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) axons but findings on its role in mitochondrial …

Sex And Starvation Influences Latrotoxin Expression In The Brown Widow Spider, Mattie Harris

Honors College Theses

Widow spiders (genus Latrodectus) are well-known for their potent venom. Seven latrotoxin proteins constitute the main components of widow spider venom. The vertebrate specific (α-latrotoxin) and insect specific (α-latroinsectotoxin) latrotoxins have been well-characterized with respect to structure and function. Regulation of latrotoxin gene expression is not well understood but sex and feeding could be factors influencing production. In this study, I used quantitative qPCR to (1) characterize the expression patterns of both the insect and vertebrate specific latrotoxins in male and female brown widow spiders (Latrodectus geometricus) to characterize sex-biased expression and to (2) study expression patterns …

Nutrient Uptake And Grafting In Ironwood Trees, Tyler Edvall

Student Academic Conference

No abstract provided.

Estradiol And Predator Cues Affect Behavior And Brain Responses Of Captive Female House Sparrows, Courtney Harding

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Exploring Gene Functions And Phage-Host Protein Interactions In Mycobacteriophage Island3, Annika Stecker, Steven Van Meeteren, Gracelyn Wager, Abigail Clarke, Jordyn Kramer, Lauren Pavich, Emily Schmidt, Krista Starr, Kaarina Van Berkum, Ashley Van Egdom

Celebration of Research

Island3 is an I1 mycobacteriophage that infects Mycobacterium smegmatis mc²155. It has a total of 76 protein coding genes, but only 17 of these genes have functions assigned by bioinformatics. To discover the functions of the additional genes, we cloned 72 of Island3’s genes and are assaying each gene product for two functions when expressed in the host M. smegmatis: the ability to reduce growth of the host (cytotoxicity) and the ability to protect the host from infection by Island3 or another phage (defense). So far, we have assayed more than 60 of Island3’s genes and found 14 genes that …