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The Expression Of Dopamine-Related Genes And Behavioral Performance In Mice, Victoria Lynne Dershem

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While the neurotransmitter dopamine has been well-studied for its role in mood regulation and activation of the intrinsic reward pathway, several psychiatric disorders linked to dopamine are also known to cause memory impairment, a phenomenon which has attracted much less attention. In the current study, whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing was performed, and transcript levels of several dopamine-related genes were compared to results of behavioral assays designed to test spatial and emotional memory, as well as anxiety. The results suggest a positive relationship between expression level of Nurr1, a nuclear receptor known to initiate transcription of genes necessary for dopaminergic signaling, …

Development And Validation Of Virus And Ebola Misconceptions Assessment (Viremia): Ebola Virus Misconceptions In College Students, Michele Miller

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In this study an assessment (VirEMiA) on college students' knowledge and misconceptions of the Ebola virus was created and validated. VirEMiA was then used to determine what misconceptions college students have about Ebola, if there is a difference in misconceptions between students with and without a strong science background, and if Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) increases students' knowledge of Ebola and decreases their misconceptions. VirEMiA was shown to be a valid and reliable assessment whether confidence was integrated (seprel=0.97) or not (seprel=0.98), and for measuring misconceptions (seprel=0.97). If psychology and nursing majors were considered to have a strong background in science, …

Metabolism Of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infected Raw 264.7 Macrophages, Mary K. Jenkins

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Macrophages are immune cells that phagocytize pathogens and act as antigen presenting cells. Macrophages are critical in regulating the adaptive immune response and play a key role in neutralizing infection. Macrophages exhibit a variety of phenotypes which have different energy requirements. In the case of HSV-1 infection the virus has been shown to alter metabolic processes of its host. Utilizing a XF24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer the metabolic activity of M0, M1, and M2 (IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10) RAW 264.7 macrophages was quantified for both uninfected cells and in response to HSV-1 infection. The analysis showed uninfected M0 and M2 (IL-4, …

The Anti-Apoptotic Effect Of Hsv-1 On Murine Macrophages: Raw 246.7 Murine Macrophage Cell Line, Mofeda Abdussalam Alhanghari

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Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a worldwide pathogen that affects humans and has the ability to establish a latent state of infection in the sensory nerve ganglia after primary infection of epithelial cells (Boutell and Everett, 2003). HSV-1 is a very contagious virus, which can be transmitted from person to person and cause cold sores in the infected person. Rarely, infection can lead to more serious complications, such as encephalitis. Most HSV-1 infections usually occur in childhood with lifelong potential for symptomatic or asymptomatic viral shedding episodes (Looker et al., 2015). HSV- 1 infects 60%-80% of people throughout …

Clinical Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci; Identification, Characterisation And Treatment, Emma Gabriel

Theses

The work presented in this thesis focuses on clinically significant staphylococci (with an emphasis on coagulase-negative staphylococci) in terms of their isolation, identification, characterisation, and biocontrol.

CoNS are increasingly being recognised as true nosocomial pathogens yet remain under-characterised, particularly from an Irish clinical perspective. We examined a large cohort of clinically-derived CoNS, isolated from blood (n=l35), identifying them to species level. Extensive antibiotic resistance against nine clinically-relevant antibiotics was recorded. Additionally, widespread biofilm forming capabilities associated with increased virulence was detected both phenotypically and genotypically. We identified multiple species of CoNS in circulation in an Irish healthcare setting, and determined …

An Investigation Of The Use Of Natural Agents To Control Mycobacteria, Olga Lesniak

Theses

Economic losses that are caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) infections represent a major obstacle for farmers and also for the dairy industry. In order to control the population of MAP, alternative control agents must be investigated. One of the studies described in this thesis focused on using a bacteriophage therapy based approach to assess its efficacy on simulated industrial environments and food models. Another study described in this thesis investigated the antimicrobial effects of parsley and garlic on a range of mycobacteria species. Both studies used conventional microbiological methods such as plaque assays, AlamarBlue assay (MABA) and growth curves, …

Delineating ΔNp63α'S Function In Epithelial Cells, Suraj Sakaram

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ΔNp63α, the most physiologically relevant isoform of p63, a p53 family member protein, maintains the proliferative capacity of the basal layer of epithelial tissues and is highly expressed in non-melanoma skin cancer. It has been implicated in a variety of different cancers, including breast, lung, and prostate cancers, however the complex role it plays in disease remains poorly understood. Elucidating ΔNp63α’s regulatory network may provide insight into its role in epithelial tissues and in cancer progression. The objective of this thesis is to investigate ΔNp63α’s upstream regulation in the context of non-melanoma skin cancer as well as expand on ΔNp63α’s …

Species Differences In The Effects Of Tcdd On A Transcriptional Regulatory Region Within The Ig Heavy Chain Gene, Zahra J. Alfaheeda

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The immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (Igh) is regulated by numerous regulatory elements including the 3'Igh regulatory region (3'IghRR). Several transcription factors are involved in modulating the 3'IghRR including NF-B, AP-1, and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The AhR is a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates the transcription of genes involved in the metabolism of environmental toxicants such as TCDD. TCDD binds AhR and regulates immunoglobulin (Ig) expression in B cells of animal models. This modulation appears to be directly mediated by binding of the AhR to dioxin response elements (DRE) within the 3'IghRR. Structural differences have been found between the …

Comparing Antibody-Coated Immune Beads With Flow Cytometry To Measure Ss-2-Microglubulin+ Murine Spleen Cells, Amal Fahad Alajman

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In diseases like AIDS, Multiple Myeloma, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Type 1 Diabetes, and Systemic Lupus Erythromatosus the detection of major histocompatibility complex type 1 molecules (MHC 1) can be a helpful component of disease diagnosis and prognosis. Most somatic mammalian cells display to varying degrees major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class 1 antigen on the cell surface. MHC1 molecules consist of a polymorphic alpha a chain and a monomorphic beta chain, beta 2 microglubulin (ß2m). The ß2M composition is fairly constant within a species whereas the alpha chain is not. The polymorphic alpha chain is encoded by an MHC complex gene …

The Impact Of Hsv-1 Infection, Socs1 Peptide, And Socs3 Peptide Mimetic On Cell Viability, Morphology, And Cytoskeleton Proteins Of Unpolarized And Cytokine-Polarized M1 Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages, Mubarak Almutairi

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Mubarak Huraysan Almutairi. M.S. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wright State University, 2016. The Impact of HSV-1 Infection, SOCS1 peptide, and SOCS3 peptide mimetic on Cell Viability, Morphology, and Cytoskeleton Proteins of Unpolarized and Cytokine-Polarized M1 RAW 264.7 Murine Macrophages. The immune response against HSV-1 involves macrophages in both innate and adaptive immunity by limiting HSV-1 replication. In this study, the effects of HSV-1 challenge on cell viability, morphology, and cytoskeletal filament in unpolarized and cytokine-polarized murine RAW 264.7 macrophages at 24 and 48 hours were monitored. Because the distribution of cytoskeleton throughout the cell is critical in cell viability …

Correlating Innate Functional Recovery From Stroke Either With Stem Cell Proliferation And/Or Limb Rehabilitation, Devipriyanka Nagarajan

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In the present study 10-12 month female rats were examined for functional recovery from stroke and this recovery was compared with the stem cell/progenitor cell proliferation in the brain (which was measured by Ki67). The cell proliferation indicated by Ki67 showed a 6 fold increase in control animals compared to the rehabilitation animals. The contralateral functional recovery in control animals were 46.6% and in the rehabilitation animals were 24.5%. The physical rehabilitation was carried out to determine if limb rehabilitation can promote greater functional recovery. The results showed that when the animals were made to over use their impaired limb …

Complete Genome Sequence Of Highly Virulent Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus Variants That Recently Emerged In The United States, Aspen M. Workman, Timothy P.L. Smith, Fernando A. Osorio, Hiep L.X. Vu

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

A recent outbreak of particularly virulent disease caused by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus has occurred in swine herds across the United States. We report here the complete genome sequence of eight viral isolates from four Nebraska herds experiencing an outbreak of severe disease in 2016.

Domain I Of The 5′ Non-Translated Genomic Region In Coxsackievirus B3 Rna Is Not Required For Productive Replication, L. Jaramillo, S. Smithee, S. Tracy, N. M. Chapman

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Domain I is a cloverleaf-like secondary structure at the 5′ termini of all enterovirus genomes, comprising part of a cis-acting replication element essential for efficient enteroviral replication. 5′ genomic terminal deletions up to as much as 55% of domain I can occur without lethality following coxsackie B virus infections. We report here that the entire CVB structural domain I can be deleted without lethality.

Reversion To Wildtype Of A Mutated And Nonfunctional Coxsackievirus B3cre(2c), Shane Smithee, Steven Tracy, Nora M. Chapman

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

The cis-acting replication element (CRE) in the 2C protein coding region [CRE(2C)] of enteroviruses (EV) facilitates the addition of two uridine residues (uridylylation) onto the virus-encoded protein VPg inorder for it to serve as the RNA replication primer. We demonstrated that coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is replication competent in the absence of a native (uridylylating) CRE(2C) and also demonstrated that lackof a functional CRE(2C) led to generation of 5’ terminal genomic deletions in the CVB3 CRE-knock-out (CVB3-CKO) population. We asked whether reversion of the mutated CRE(2C) occurred, thus permitting sustained replication, and when were 5’ terminal deletions generated during replication. Virions …

Replicating Single-Cycle Adenovirus Vectors Generate Amplified Influenza Vaccine Responses, Catherine M. Crosby, William E. Matchett, Stephanie S. Anguiano-Zarate, Christopher A. Parks, Eric A. Weaver, Larry R. Pease, Richard J. Webby, Michael A. Barry

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Head-to-head comparisons of conventional influenza vaccines with ade- novirus (Ad) gene-based vaccines demonstrated that these viral vectors can mediate more potent protection against influenza virus infection in animal models. In most cases, Ad vaccines are engineered to be replication-defective (RD-Ad) vectors. In contrast, replication-competent Ad (RC-Ad) vaccines are markedly more potent but risk causing adenovirus diseases in vaccine recipients and health care workers. To harness antigen gene replication but avoid production of infectious virions, we de- veloped “single-cycle” adenovirus (SC-Ad) vectors. Previous work demonstrated that SC-Ads amplify transgene expression 100-fold and produce markedly stronger and more persistent immune responses than …

Anaplasma Marginale Actively Modulates Vacuolar Maturation During Intracellular Infection Of Its Tick Vector, Dermacentor Andersoni, Foregivemore Magunda, Chelsea Wright Thompson, David A. Schneider, Susan M. Noh

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

ABSTRACT Tick-borne transmission of bacterial pathogens in the order Rickettsiales is responsible for diverse infectious diseases, many of them severe, in humans and animals. Transmission dynamics differ among these pathogens and are reflected in the pathogen-vector interaction. Anaplasma marginale has been shown to establish and maintain infectivity within Dermacentor spp. for weeks to months while escaping the complex network of vacuolar peptidases that are responsible for digestion ofthe tick blood meal. How this prolonged maintenance of infectivity in a potentially hostile environment is achieved has been unknown. Using the natural vector Dermacentor andersoni, we demonstrated that A. marginale …

Determining The Role Of Poly [Adp-Ribose] Polymerase 1 (Parp-1) In Retroviral Infection, Luis Valdes Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Possible links between PARP-1 and HIV-1 have been previously reported but the role of this protein during viral infection has remained elusive. Based on the high evolutionary conservation of PARP-1, from Drosophila to humans, we have been able to counteract the difficulties related with the functional redundancy manifested in the PARP family by studying the influence of PARP-1 on the expression of an endogenous retrovirus using the chicken B lymphoblastoid cell line DT40, this cell line exhibits low PARP-1 functional redundancy and is viable after PARP-1 knockout. We have determined that the transcription level of the endogenous retrovirus RAV-1 is …

The Impact Of Urbanization On Mosquito-Borne Viruses, Nikhita Puthuveetil

UROP Posters

Mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, and West Nile are rapidly emerging across the globe. Their emergence is often aided by the growth of their vector population, or the organisms that transmit the virus to the host. Urbanization and land use often destroys the habitat of the virus and its vector. However, the virus and its vector often survive despite the changes to its environment. The goal of this paper is to find out exactly how urbanization and changes in land use affect mosquito-borne viruses and how these viruses survive despite the destruction of their habitats. To understand how …

The Contribution Of Marine Aggregate-Associated Bacteria To The Accumulation Of Pathogenic Bacteria In Oysters: An Agent-Based Model, Andrew M. Kramer, J. Evan Ward, Fred C. Dobbs, Melissa L. Pierce

OES Faculty Publications

Bivalves process large volumes of water, leading to their accumulation of bacteria, including potential human pathogens (e.g., vibrios). These bacteria are captured at low efficiencies when freely suspended in the water column, but they also attach to marine aggregates, which are captured with near 100% efficiency. For this reason, and because they are often enriched with heterotrophic bacteria, marine aggregates have been hypothesized to function as important transporters of bacteria into bivalves. The relative contribution of aggregates and unattached bacteria to the accumulation of these cells, however, is unknown. We developed an agent-based model to simulate accumulation of vibrio-type bacteria …

Effect Of Two-Year Caloric Restriction On Bone Metabolism And Bone Mineral Density In Non-Obese Younger Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Dt Villareal, L Fontana, Sk Das, Et Al.

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Although caloric restriction (CR) could delay biologic aging in humans, it is unclear if this would occur at the cost of significant bone loss. We evaluated the effect of prolonged CR on bone metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy younger adults. Two-hundred eighteen non-obese (body mass index [BMI] 25.1?±?1.7?kg/m(2) ), younger (age 37.9?±?7.2 years) adults were randomly assigned to 25% CR (CR group, n?=?143) or ad libitum (AL group, n?=?75) for 2 years. Main outcomes were BMD and markers of bone turnover. Other outcomes included body composition, bone-active hormones, nutrient intake, and physical activity. Body weight (-7.5?±?0.4 versus …

Phylogenetic Investigation Of Enteric Bovine Coronavirus In Ireland Reveals Partitioning Between European And Global Strains, Lynda Gunn, P. J. Collins, M. J. O'Connell, Helen O'Shea

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Background

Bovine coronavirus is a primary cause of neonatal calf diarrhea worldwide, and is also associated with acute diarrhea in adult cattle during the winter season. There are no reports on molecular characterization of bovine coronavirus in Ireland, and little data exists apart from serological studies.

Findings

In this study, 11 neonatal (mean age 9 days) calf BCoV strains from the south of Ireland were collected over a one year period and characterized using molecular methods. The spike gene which encodes a protein involved in viral entry, infectivity and immune response shows the most variability amongst the isolates and was …

Fungal Melanin: What Do We Know About Structure?, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Ruth E. Stark, Arturo Casadevall

Publications and Research

The production of melanin significantly enhances the virulence of many important human pathogenic fungi. Despite fungal melanin’s importance in human disease, as well as melanin’s contribution to the ability of fungi to survive in diverse hostile environments, the structure of melanin remains unsolved. Nevertheless, ongoing research efforts have progressively revealed several notable structural characteristics of this enigmatic pigment, which will be the focus of this review. These compositional and organizational insights could further our ability to develop novel therapeutic approaches to combat fungal disease and enhance our understanding of how melanin is inserted into the cell wall.

Immunogenic Compositions Comprising Slcified Virus And Methods Of Use, Kenneth M. Stedman, James R. Laidler, Keith Bahjat

Technology Transfer - Patents

It is disclosed herein that viruses coated in silica retain infectivity and the capacity to induce an immune response in an infected host. In addition, silicified virus is remarkably resistant to desiccation. Provided herein are methods of inducing a virus-specific immune response in a subject by administering to the subject an effective amount of silicified virus or silicified virus particles. Methods of enhancing a virus-specific cell-mediated immune response (such as a T cell-mediated immune response) in a Subject by administering to the subject a silicified virus or silicified virus particles are also described herein. Further provided are immunogenic compositions comprising …

Design And Testing Of Novel Anthrax Vaccines Utilizing A Tobacco Mosaic Virus Expression System, Ryan C. Mccomb

KGI Theses and Dissertations

Anthrax is a potentially fatal disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Infection and disease occur after spores gain entry into the body, germinate into vegetative bacteria, and produce toxin. Bacillus anthracis spores have been engineered as bioweapons and have been used repeatedly in warfare and terrorism to inflict casualties in military and civilian populations. Currently, only one vaccine has been approved for prevention of anthrax in the United States. This vaccine is an undefined product that is difficult to produce, requires a long vaccination schedule, and is reactogenic. Efforts to make an improved anthrax vaccine are being pursued. …

A Novel Consortium Of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus And Streptococcus Thermophilus For Increased Access To Functional Fermented Foods, Remco Kort, Nieke Westerik, L. Mariela Serrano, François P. Douillard, Willi Gottstein, Ivan M. Mukisa, Coosje J. Tuijn, Lisa Basten, Bert Hafkamp, Wilco C. Meijer, Bas Teusink, Willem M. Vos, Gregor Reid, Wilbert Sybesma

Microbiology & Immunology Publications

Background: The lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is the most studied probiotic bacterium with proven health benefits upon oral intake, including the alleviation of diarrhea. The mission of the Yoba for Life foundation is to provide impoverished communities in Africa increased access to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG under the name Lactobacillus rhamnosus yoba 2012, world's first generic probiotic strain. We have been able to overcome the strain's limitations to grow in food matrices like milk, by formulating a dried starter consortium with Streptococcus thermophilus that enables the propagation of both strains in milk and other food matrices. The affordable seed …

Fungi On White-Nose Infected Bats (Myotis Spp.) In Eastern Canada Show No Decline In Diversity Associated With Pseudogymnoascus Destructans (Ascomycota: Pseudeurotiaceae), Karen J. Vanderwolf, David Malloch, Donald F. Mcalpine

International Journal of Speleology

The introduction of the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) to North America has stimulated research on the poorly known mycology of caves. It is possible that the introduction of Pd reduces the diversity of fungi associated with bats hibernating in caves. To test this hypothesis we examined the fungal assemblages associated with hibernating bats (Myotis spp.) pre- and post- white-nose syndrome (WNS) infection in eastern Canada using culture-dependent methods. We found the mean number of fungal taxa isolated from bats/hibernaculum was not significantly different between pre-infection (29.6 ± 6.1SD) and post-infection with WNS (32.4 ± 4.3). Although …

Donor Platelet Plasma Components Inactivate Sensitive And Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Isolates, Chelsea M. Edelblute, Olga N. Pakhomova, Fanying Li, Barbara Y. Hargrave, Loree C. Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Acinetobacter baumannii is an environmentally resilient healthcare-associated opportunistic pathogen responsible for infections at many body sites. In the last 10 years, clinical strains resistant to many or all commonly used antibiotics have emerged globally. With few antimicrobial agents in the pharmaceutical pipeline, new and alternative agents are essential. Platelets secrete a large number of proteins, including proteins with antimicrobial activity. In a previous study, we demonstrated that donor platelet supernatants and plasma significantly inhibited the growth of a reference strain of A. baumannii in broth and on skin. This inhibition appeared to be unrelated to the platelet activation state. In …

Functional Characterization Of Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans Qsebc : A Bacterial Adrengeric Receptor And Global Regulator Of Virulence., Whitney Weigel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In order for a pathogen to successfully colonize the host, it must be able to acquire essential nutrients and regulate gene expression to respond to environmental fluctuations. One mechanism bacteria have evolved in order to detect these fluctuations and respond is the two component signal transduction systems (TCS). Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, a dental commensal associated with localized aggressive periodontitis, contains a TCS designated QseBC that was previously shown to regulate expression of several iron acquisition genes, biofilm formation and virulence, but the activating signal was unknown []. QseBC is a conserved TCS in the Enterobacteriaceae and Pasteurellaceae, but the activating signal …

Examination Of The Chagas Disease Vector, Triatoma Gerstackeri, In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Alfredo Flores

Theses and Dissertations

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is carried by an insect vector of the family Reduviidae, and of the subfamily Triatomina. The species Triatoma gerstaeckeri is identified as the primary vector of T. cruzi within the Rio Grande Valley. Species of Triatoma gerstaeckeri were trapped in La Sal del Rey National Refuge in 2012 and 2013.

Data indicates a seasonal dispersal pattern of activity for T. gerstaeckeri. Optimal time of capture was between 1-2 hours after sunset. Different methods were utilized to determine the best combination of lures. Results indicate that the UV-light alone is …

A Lipidomics Approach To The Viral–Host Dynamics Of The Unicellular, Eukaryotic Alga Chlorella Variabilis And Its Viral Pathogen, Pbcv-1, Suzanne L. Rose

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis focuses on the sterol and sphingolipid composition in the unicellular, green alga Chlorella variabilis and the lipidomic changes that occur during viral infection. Using lipid analysis by mass spectrometry, we have identified the major sterol, ergosterol and sphingolipid, glucosyl inositol phosphoceramide (GIPC) as constituents of C. variabilis cell membranes. Sterols and sphingolipids have essential biological functions such as hormone-based signaling, plant defense, and apoptosis as well as critical roles in structural components of the cell and organelle membranes. In chapters two and three, we focus on the characterization of sterol composition among both freshwater and marine alga …