Digital Commons Network^™

Editing Genes In Baker’S Yeast To Model Rare Mitochondrial Diseases, Alyssa Dekker, Amy Wilstermann, Rachael Baker

Summer Research

BCS1L is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial member of the AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) family of proteins. BCS1L functions as a translocase in the integration of the Rieske Fe/S protein into respiratory chain complex III during assembly. BCS1L may also play a role in mitochondrial morphology

Electrophysiological Responses To Conspecific Odorants In Xenopus Laevis Show Potential For Chemical Signaling, Heather J. Rhodes, Melanie Amo

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Study Protocol To Prepare An Rbd Protein For Vaccine Against Covid-19, Z.M.G. Sarwar Jahangir, Arleta Helena Marnik

Publications and Research

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a global threat to humans and the world’s economy. Effective and safe vaccines against this virus are essential to control and eradicate the pandemic. The currently applied vaccines carry SARS-CoV-2 spike-protein mRNA/cDNA. These vaccines go through several cellular processes in the recipients for producing antigens. On the contrary, the SARS-CoV-2 RBD (receptor binding domain)-protein is an antigen. It will directly stimulate antibody production against SARS-CoV-2. Hence, we propose to produce SARS-CoV-2 RBD-protein as a fast acting, effective and safe vaccine.

Methods: We propose to reconstruct a plasmid carrying three types of DNA sequences: RBD cDNA, FP …

Inflammatory Response To Sleep Fragmentation In Skeletal, Cardiac, And Smooth Muscle Tissues In Female Mice, Patton Allen

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Sleep is a critical process that the body undergoes. When sleep is interrupted, so that an individual is awakened for some period before going back into sleep, the sleep can be described as fragmented. Studies in the past have shown that sleep fragmentation (SF) promotes an inflammatory environment, especially in the brain and peripheral tissue. However, studies have not been conducted to observe inflammatory responses in muscle. To examine this, C57BL/6J female mice were subjected to either a control group (no SF) or a SF group which involved using an automated SF chamber to disrupt sleep every 2 min over …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Dylan Brown

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Chapter 1- Revisiting Tamarisk Invasion in Riparian Ecosystems: An Argument Against Single Species Management of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)

Chapter 2- Temporal Trends of Tamarisk Remediation to Native Vegetation Establishment

Chapter 3- Assessing Effectiveness of Tamarisk Removal Treatments Through a Meta Regression Analysis

Chapter 4- Legal Challenges of Tamarisk Removal in the Southwestern United States

Impact Of Introductory Physics For The Life Sciences In A Senior Biology Capstone Course, Benjamin D. Geller , '01, Jack Rubien , '20, Sara Hiebert Burch, Catherine Hirshfeld Crouch

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Works

A goal of introductory physics for life sciences (IPLS) curricula is to prepare students to effectively use physical models and quantitative reasoning in biological and medical settings. To assess whether this goal is being met, we conducted a longitudinal study of the impact of IPLS on student work in later biology and chemistry courses. We report here on one part of that study, a comparison of written responses by students with different physics backgrounds on a diffusion task administered in a senior biology capstone course. We observed differences in student reasoning that were found to be associated with prior or …

Sulfated Flavonoids In The Asteraceae, Alyssa Rice

Senior Honors Projects

Gypsum soils are a unique soil type with high levels of calcium and sulfur, which creates a harsh living environment for plants. To survive these conditions, plants have evolved a suite of mechanisms to survive these excess minerals, such as sulfur. In this study we aimed to determine if gypsum status was related to sulfated flavonoid production in plants of the Asteraceae. Flower and leaf tissues were collected from herbarium specimens representing gypsophiles, gypsovags, and gypsofuges. These tissues were analyzed for the presence of sulfated flavonoids using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). We observed sulfated flavonoid production in leaf and flower …

Deoxybuzonamine Isomers From The Millipede Brachycybe Lecontii (Platydesmida: Andrognathidae), Tappy H. Jones, Daniel P. Harrison, Carla Menegatti, Emily Levers, Kenneth Knott, Paul Marek, Derek A. Hennen, Matt T. Kasson, Angie M. Macias, Brian Lovett, Ralph Saporito

2022 Faculty Bibliography

Millipedes (Diplopoda) are well known for their toxic or repellent defensive secretions. Here, we describe (6aR,10aS,10bR)-8,8-dimethyldodecahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline [trans-anti-trans-deoxybuzonamine (1a)] and (rel-6aR,10aR,10bR)-8,8-dimethyldodecahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline [trans-syn-cis-deoxybuzonamine (1b)], two isomers of deoxybuzonamine found in the chemical defense secretions of the millipede Brachycybe lecontii Wood (Colobognatha, Platydesmida, Andrognathidae). The carbon–nitrogen skeleton of these compounds was determined from their MS and GC-FTIR spectra obtained from the MeOH extract of whole millipedes, along with a subsequent selective synthesis. Their structures were established from their 1D (¹H, ¹³C) and 2D NMR (COSY, NOESY, multiplicity-edited HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY, HMBC) spectra. Additionally, computational chemistry (DFT and DP4) was used to identify the relative …

Om92, A Glp-1 Enhancer Mutation, Is An Allele Of Ekl-1, Samantha A. Stein, Olivia F. Zucaro, Harold E. Smith, Kevin F. O'Connell, Jill M. Spoerke, Eleanor M. Maine, James L. Lissemore

2022 Faculty Bibliography

Germline stem cell proliferation in C. elegans requires activation of the GLP-1/Notch receptor, which is located on the germline plasma membrane and encoded by the glp-1 gene. We previously identified several genes whose products directly or indirectly promote activity of the GLP-1 signaling pathway by finding mutations that enhance the germline phenotype of a glp-1(ts) allele, glp-1(bn18) . Here, we report phenotypic and molecular analysis of a new ekl-1 allele, ekl-1(om92) , that enhances the glp-1(bn18) phenotype. ekl-1(om92) is a 244 bp deletion predicted to generate a frameshift and premature termination codon, yielding a severely truncated protein, suggesting it is …

Roholtiella Volcanica Sp. Nov., A New Species Of Cyanobacteria From Kamchatkan Volcanic Soils, Lira A. Gaysina, Jeffrey R. Johansen, Aniket Saraf, Razeda Z. Allaguvatova, Sagarika Paul, Prashant Singh

2022 Faculty Bibliography

During a study of biodiversity of cyanobacteria in Gorely volcano soils (Kamchatka Peninsula), a strain of heterocytous, a false branching cyanobacterium with gradually tapered filaments, was isolated. Prominent features of the strain were purplish-grey trichomes and firm, distinct multilayered sheaths. Based on the results obtained from the morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA and 16S–23S ITS region, 16S–23S ITS secondary structure analysis, comparison of flanking regions of BoxB and V3 helices, and the p-distance between the 16S–23S ITS region, we describe our strain K7 as a novel species of the genus Roholtiella with the name Roholtiella volcanica …

Intestinal Endothelial Cells Promote Hiv Latent Infection In Resting And Activated Cd4+ T-Cells, Nathan Dapprich, Jessica Eddy, Fisher Pham, Anding Shen

Summer Research

No abstract provided.

Alkaloid-Based Chemical Defenses In 11 Species Of Bufonid Poison Frogs From Brazil (Bufonidae: Melanophryniscus), Emily Staufer

Masters Theses

The term ‘poison frog’ describes members of five anuran families that are capable of sequestering lipophilic, alkaloid-based chemical defenses from their prey. Alkaloid defenses can vary widely within and among poison frog species, mostly linked to differences in availability of arthropod prey at different scales. While research has mainly focused on alkaloid variation within the dendrobatid and mantellid poison frogs, bufonid poison frogs in the genus Melanophryniscus demonstrate high inter- and intra-species alkaloid variation, and some members are capable of both sequestering dietary alkaloids and synthesizing alkaloids metabolically. However, of the 31 species of Melanophryniscus, only eight have ever had …

“Albertania” And “Egbenema”, Panding Biodiversity In The Oculatellaceae (Cyanobacteria)., Mildred Akagha

Masters Theses

To conduct molecular studies of cyanobacteria of Lagos, Nigeria, a total of eight soil/subaerial samples were collected in Lagos State, Nigeria, and used to isolate cyanobacterial cultures that were characterized microscopically, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed. Within the resulting set of cultures, a number of Synechococcales were observed, particularly belonging to Oculatellaceae. “Egbenema” and two new putative species of the recently described genus Albertania were found. Both genera belong to a supported clade within the Oculatellaceae that includes Trichotorquatus and Komarkovaea. The two new putative species of Albertania, “A. egbensis” and “A. latericola”, were from …

Comparison Of Effects Of Sleep Fragmentation On Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Il-1Β Of Male And Female Adult Mice, Manzar Rzayeva

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Sleep plays an essential role throughout the body by affecting the physiological function and regulation of many systems. One of these systems that receives effects as a result of the adequacy of sleep is the immune system. Previous studies have demonstrated effects of sleep fragmentation upon the immune system; however, sexual differences of these effects have not been studied in depth. To analyze these variances amongst the genders, male and female adult mice were subjected to acute sleep fragmentation (SF) for 24 hours in an automated SF cage that includes a bar sweeping across the cage every two minutes. Meanwhile, …

Crossmodal Perception Of Object Shape: A Study On The Effect Of Modal Order On Successful Shape Recognition, Ashlyn Vale

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Visual and haptic (tactile) modes of perception, while occasionally exercised independently, most often occur concurrently. The degree to which the ordering of the two modes of perception affects successful recognition of three-dimensional shapes varies. Some have found that the cross-modal orders (vision followed by haptics or vice versa) produce equal performance (Caviness, 1964; Lacey, Peters, & Sathian, 2007; Norman et al., 2006), while other researchers found visual-haptic (VH) performance to be superior to haptic-visual (HV) performance (Davidson, Abbott, & Gershenfeld, 1974; Norman, Clayton, Norman, & Crabtree, 2008). The current experiment used an old-new recognition task (with cookie cutter stimuli). In …

Ms Environmental Biology Capstone Project, Samantha Ortega

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

This project is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Science in Environmental Biology at Regis University. Chapter 1 is a literature review that discusses the management implications of designing bird habitat on anthropogenic structures. Chapter 2 is a grant proposal to explore niche dominance by anthropophilic bird species in Denver, CO. Chapter 3 is a journal manuscript discussing how musth impacts captive bull Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) behavior at Denver Zoo. Finally, Chapter 4 is a stakeholder analysis for Northern Bobwhite recovery at Bridgestone-Firestone Centennial Wilderness Area, White County, Tennessee.

What Is The Best Method To Cure Hiv?, Israel Hacker

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a sexually transmitted retrovirus impacting millions of people worldwide. Strides have been made to cure and/or prevent various genetic mutations via gene editing. Scientists hope to rid of HIV on a genomic level which will also prevent Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) - a biproduct of HIV. HIV utilizes a mechanism that counteracts the innate, adaptive, and intrinsic immune systems. Because the virus’s replication takes place in the lymphatic organs, the infection traverses the entire bloodstream. Due to the complexity of HIV and AIDS, their constant evolution, and their effect on a genomic level, no cures …

Can Stem Cell Transplantation Restore Insulin Levels In Diabetics?, Nechama Mendelson

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

A recent public interest in stem cell research has led to new approaches to treat various pathologies, including diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels due to the inability of the β cells in the pancreas to produce insulin. Therefore, the standard diabetes treatment is introducing insulin to the bloodstream. With the advancement of stem cell therapy, a new approach to treating diabetes mellitus is being researched. Scientists are working to differentiate pluripotent stem cells into mature insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. These cells are then transplanted into in vivo models and observed after a glucose challenge for …

Dr. Laurie L. Consaul Herbarium (Uwo), Lauren H. Rego

Community Engaged Learning Final Projects

Along with the provided databased species, students scanned 257 specimens within the physical herbarium at Wester.

Decolorization Of Synthetic Textile Dyes By Fungal Endophytes Isolated From The Leaves Of Philippine Mangrove (Avicennia Marina), Steve P. Obanan, Resureccion B. Sadaba, Pamela Alva-Gatchalian, Annabelle V. Cadiz, Evelyn M. Basilio, Dennis B. Bela-Ong

Biology Faculty Publications

Textile dyes in wastewater can be harmful pollutants when released into the environment without treatment. Biodegradation of textile dye effluents by different microbes, including fungi, has become popular as an alternative to physicochemical methods. The mangrove Avicennia marina is known to harbor endophytic fungi which have the potential to carry out dye degradation. Therefore, this study assessed the ability to decolorize synthetic dyes of endophytic fungi isolated from the leaves of A. marina. Of the nine fungal endophytes, Aspergillus niger, Syncephalastrum racemosum and Penicillium citrinum exhibited the highest mycelial growths in solid media, while all endophytes adsorbed Congo red. Through …

Investigating The Antibacterial Activity Of Novel Metal Complexes Against Antimicrobial Resistant Pathogens, Megan O'Shaughnessy

Theses, Doctoral

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the serious global health challenges of our time. There is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutic agents to overcome AMR, preferably through alternative mechanistic pathways from conventional treatments. Interdisciplinary research in inorganic medicinal chemistry with biology is advancing the knowledge and implementation of transition metal complexes for therapy and is offering a realistic alternative to traditional antibiotics. Metal complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) ligands have demonstrated promising therapeutic capabilities with diverse biological activity. Consequently, there has been a resurgence in research of these complexes as possible alternatives or adjuvants to established antimicrobial clinical therapeutics. …

Ecological Risk Assessment For The Western Rock Lobster Resource : Workshop Procedure And Outcomes, R Stoklosa

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Rurality And Its Effects On Prenatal Care In Southcentral Kentucky, Kylee Eilers

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Despite ongoing efforts to increase positive healthcare outcomes for prenatal care in rural Kentucky, there continues to be limited access to adequate and quality resources. Research questions for this research project explored the prenatal care resources for Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, and Warren counties, compared healthcare disparities that exist in those counties with other rural regions of Kentucky, and identified limitations of such prenatal care resources in successfully achieving positive care outcomes. In addition to evaluation of applicable online resources through organizations local to the region, some healthcare professional and representatives were interviewed to find …

Isolating Bacteriophage For Potential Treatment Of Chronic Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia Coli Infections, Leila Oswalt

Honors Projects

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics has led to the intense rise in antibiotic resistance. As society transitions into the post antibiotic era, there will be a great need for new therapeutic strategies to address multiple drug resistant bacterial infections. One such method, called bacteriophage therapy, allows for specific targeting of certain pathogenic bacteria through the use of viruses that attack bacteria; termed “bacteriophage” or simply “phage”. Urinary tract infections are among the most common pathological human infections that rely heavily on the use of antibiotics, the major cause of which is the bacterium Escherichia coli. During the Spring 2021-Spring …

The Importance Of Protein Context In Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3, Sean Luis Johnson

Wayne State University Dissertations

Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3) is a member of the family of polyglutamine (polyQ) neurodegenerative disorders that includes Huntington's Disease and several other SCAs. SCA3, the most common dominant ataxia in the world, is caused by polyQ tract expansion in the protein, ataxin-3. How SCA3 occurs and how to treat it remain unresolved issues. The primary culprit of toxicity in all polyQ diseases is the glutamine repeat: its abnormal expansion leads to neuronal dysfunction and death. With that said, there is indisputable evidence that the way polyQ-dependent toxicity presents—areas impacted, cellular processes perturbed—is predicated in large part on regions outside …

For A Racially-Just, Inclusive, Open, Stem Education: The Rios Institute Imagines An Open Education As The Radical Idea That Education Should Be Affordable, Accessible, Equitable, Inclusive, And Relevant To Everyone, Kaitlin Bonner, Bryan Dewsbury, Sam S. Donovan, Karen Cangialosi, Krystie Wilfong, Jasmine Roberts-Crews, Jackson Skinner, Alnycea Blackwell, Sokona Mangane, Carrie Diaz Eaton

Biology Faculty/Staff Publications

As we engage in Open STEM Education, “Open for Whom?” becomes an increasingly urgent question. Why should we invest in an education that is free, if it does not attend to the inclusion of historically marginalized identities? Inclusive and socially-just science education should be part of the framework for investing in tomorrow’s science. The RIOS Institute (for Racially-Just, Inclusive, Open, STEM education) is a collaborative virtual organization that provides resources for STEM education and organization leaders to implement social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (SJEDI)-centered Open Education and Open Science pedagogy, materials, and resources. We work with, and provide support …

Sustainability And Justice: Challenges And Opportunities For An Open Stem Education, Carrie Diaz Eaton, Kaitlin Bonner, Karen Cangiaosi, Bryan Dewsbury, Maggie Diamond-Stanic, Jason Douma, Michelle Smith, Jeremy M. Wojdak, Robin Taylor

Biology Faculty/Staff Publications

Open Educational Resources or OER are teaching materials that reside in the public domain and are available under an open license. While the creation of high quality materials and cyberinfrastructure to share these resources is important, OER are much more than static resource repositories. Vibrant OER communities function as collaboration hubs and often include librarians, instructional technologists, instructors, education researchers, funders, open source software developers, and college administrators. Together these individuals work as a community to respond to changes in the education landscape, support student learning impacts both in terms of cost savings and student retention, and solve issues related …

Sustainability And Justice: Challenges And Opportunities For An Open Stem Education, Carrie Diaz Eaton, Kaitlin Bonner, Karen Cangialosi, Bryan Dewsbury, Maggie Diamond-Stanic, Jason Douma, Michelle Smith, Robin Taylor, Jeremy Wojdak, Krystie Wilfong

Biology Faculty/Staff Publications

Open Educational Resources or OER are teaching materials that reside in the public domain and are available under an open license. While the creation of high quality materials and cyberinfrastructure to share these resources is important, OER are much more than static resource repositories. Vibrant OER communities function as collaboration hubs and often include librarians, instructional technologists, instructors, education researchers, funders, open source software developers, and college administrators. Together these individuals work as a community to respond to changes in the education landscape, support student learning impacts both in terms of cost savings and student retention, and solve issues related …

Study Of Zyomogen Granule Movement Along Actin Filaments Using A Single Beam Optical Trap, Justin James Raupp

Wayne State University Dissertations

Zymogen granules are enzymatic vesicles in the pancreas. The surface of these zymogen granules (ZGs) has several different kinds of myosin molecules, such as myosin 1c, 6, 5c, and 7b. These molecular motors may contribute to ZG transportation in cells. To understand the molecular motors involved in the vesicle trafficking, we observed the in vitro motility of purified ZGs from rat pancreas and examined the stepping behavior and force that is generated using a single beam optical trap. To be involved in trafficking, molecular motors have certain characteristics, a high duty ratio and the ability to move continuously along actin …

Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Mercury In Upper And Lower Red Lake Walleye, Tyler Orgon

Biology Graduate Theses

Mercury is a global pollutant that is released into our environment by natural and anthropogenic processes resulting in extensive studies conducted on mercury cycling in aquatic ecosystems which has led to the issuance of human-health-based fish-consumption advisories. We examined total mercury concentrations in Walleye Sander vitreus from Upper and Lower Red Lakes, located in north central Minnesota, between 2019 and 2020. Upper and Lower Red Lake form a contiguous water body consisting of two large (483.1 and 665.6 km2, respectively) basins that are naturally connected by a 1.4 km-wide strait. Both basins are important fisheries for recreation, subsistence, and commercial …