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Inhibition Of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection By Kalanchoe Pinnata Extract, Lance A. Stutz, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2014

Inhibition Of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection By Kalanchoe Pinnata Extract, Lance A. Stutz, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common infectious agent which infects more than 95% of adults worldwide (1). EBV is related to a number of diseases, including cancers such as Burkitt’s lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis (2). Upon infection, EBV invades antibody-producing immune cells known as B cells. Most people do not show signs or symptoms of the infection because EBV tends to hide in B cells in a latent state. Latent EBV infection contributes to the development of EBV-associated cancers. However, EBV can also be in an active or lytic state. In this …

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Ebi2 Expression In Different Latency Stages And Primary B Cells, Jillian Markham, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2014

Ebi2 Expression In Different Latency Stages And Primary B Cells, Jillian Markham, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Epstein-­‐Barr Virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis upon primary infection, commonly known as “mono.” Less commonly known is that EBV doesn’t get eradicated from your body after you recover from mono. EBV quietly occupies a small portion of B cells in 90% of human adults [1]. Besides mononucleosis, EBV infection is linked to cancers, lymphomas, and several autoimmune diseases [2.3].

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Evolution Of Ectoparastism In Earwigs (Insect: Dermaptera), Michael Naegle, Dr. Michael Whiting Apr 2014

Evolution Of Ectoparastism In Earwigs (Insect: Dermaptera), Michael Naegle, Dr. Michael Whiting

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Dermaptera (earwigs) is a small order of insects, typically characterized by the presence of cerci on the abdomen that are modified into forceps-like appendages (Giles, 1963). Dermaptera includes approximately 2200 extant species comprising 11 families (Kocarek 2013). The majority of earwigs are free-living feeding on detritus and other plant material (Sakai 1987). Two families, Arixeniidae and Hemimeridae are ectoparasitic, associating with Malay Peninsula bats and giant murid rats of sub- Saharan Africa respectively (Jarvis 2005).

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Population-Based Analysis Of Cetp Identifies Association Between I405v And Cognitive Decline: The Cache County Study, Caitlin Munger, Dr. John Kauwe Apr 2014

Population-Based Analysis Of Cetp Identifies Association Between I405v And Cognitive Decline: The Cache County Study, Caitlin Munger, Dr. John Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease and is the sixth leading cause of death in the US. There are currently no successful therapies to prevent or treat LOAD, and predicting disease status remains a challenge1. Apolipoprotein E (APOE)—a gene involved in cholesterol regulation—is the strongest genetic predictor for LOAD. Because of the association between APOE and LOAD, cholesterol levels were suspected and have since been shown to increase LOAD risk2. Similar to APOE, the Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) gene facilitates cholesteryl ester and triglyceride exchange between lipoproteins3 and is found in the same pathway as APOE, …

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The Effects Of Dna Methylation On Nucleosome Positioning, Marcus Vranes, Dr. Steven Johnson Apr 2014

The Effects Of Dna Methylation On Nucleosome Positioning, Marcus Vranes, Dr. Steven Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent studies have attempted to discover the correlation that exists between DNA methylation and nucleosome positioning, but none have explored the direct effect of DNA methylation on nucleosome formation and positioning. This research is directly testing the effects of DNA methylation on nucleosome positioning, and whether the histone octamer has preferred sequences to which it binds, which will add to our understanding of gene expression and regulation. A better understanding of these concepts will help to aid efforts in gene therapy to improve the quality of life for many people who suffer from various genetic conditions.

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Biofilm Regulation In Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis Through Elements Downstream Of The Bara/Uvry Two-Component System, Jeffrey Schachterle, Dr. David Erickson Apr 2014

Biofilm Regulation In Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis Through Elements Downstream Of The Bara/Uvry Two-Component System, Jeffrey Schachterle, Dr. David Erickson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The bacteria Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of bubonic plague, and its ability to form biofilm in fleas is essential for plague transmission by fleas [1]. Y. pestis recently evolved from Y. pseudotuberculosis (Y. pstb), and the two have nearly identical genomes. Y. pestis forms a biofilm in fleas that is capable of blocking the flea’s feeding. These biofilms are made up of bacteria stuck to a polysaccharide matrix that is made by the hmsHFRS gene products. Y. pstb is capable of infecting fleas, but will block the flea’s feeding [1]. Since the hmsHFRS genes themselves are identical, this …

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Detecting Endogenous Ccl28, Sara Mason, Dr. Eric Wilson Apr 2014

Detecting Endogenous Ccl28, Sara Mason, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Chemokines play a well-characterized and significant role in the immune system as chemoattractants for white blood cells. Some chemokines have also been shown to have antimicrobial properties in addition to their chemoattractant functions. CCL28 is a chemokine that aids in the recruitment of antibody secreting cells to mucosal surfaces of the body, especially in the large intestine and lactating mammary glands.1 Recent research has shown that, in addition to recruiting lymphocytes, CCL28 also exhibits antimicrobial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, and antifungal activity.2

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Development Of A Traveler’S Vaccine Against Dengue Infection, Arthur Lee, Dr. Bradford Berges Apr 2014

Development Of A Traveler’S Vaccine Against Dengue Infection, Arthur Lee, Dr. Bradford Berges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There are currently no vaccines available against dengue virus. Each year, about 400 million people become infected and half a million of them, especially children, develop complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

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Gpr55: A Potential Enhancer Of Learning And Memory In The Hippocampus, Rachel Schneider, Dr. Jeff Edwards Apr 2014

Gpr55: A Potential Enhancer Of Learning And Memory In The Hippocampus, Rachel Schneider, Dr. Jeff Edwards

Journal of Undergraduate Research

My project goal was to understand how G-protein coupled receptor 55, (GPR55), a novel cellular pathway in the hippocampus, contributes to learning and memory. Recent research of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s, has primarily focused on understanding how learning occurs and how memories are encoded within the brain. Understanding the process in a normal brain and then how it is disrupted in a diseased brain is essential to making headway on treatments for neurodegeneration. Some studies have shown that to encode memories, the brain changes neural synapses to either strengthen or weaken the electrical pathways, which is a process known as …

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Ceramides, Mitochondrial Fission, And Reactive Oxygen Species, A Novel Mechanism Of Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance, Braden Tucker, Dr. Benjamin Bikman Apr 2014

Ceramides, Mitochondrial Fission, And Reactive Oxygen Species, A Novel Mechanism Of Obesity-Induced Insulin Resistance, Braden Tucker, Dr. Benjamin Bikman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With the unabated rise in obesity in the United States and globally (1), increasing efforts are being devoted to understand and prevent both the onset and the consequences of excess fat gain. As evidenced by health trends, efforts to curtail weight gain have proven largely ineffective, as the number of obese adults in the U.S. is projected to grow by 2.4 million annually (2). The increased prevalence of obesity would not be noteworthy if such a trend were not accompanied by a substantial economic and personal cost—medical costs are roughly $150 billion annually and obese individuals may expect a loss …

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Heteroplasmic Mitochondria Project, Lyndsay Staley Apr 2014

Heteroplasmic Mitochondria Project, Lyndsay Staley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Unfortunately, my Heteroplasmic Mitochondria project was picked up by a commercial entity whom we had asked for the sequenced genomes, but they beat me to the answer before releasing the sequenced genomes. I worked on another project involving Alzheimer’s disease genetics. I was able to do the initial analyses in a genome-wide association study of cerebrospinal fluid levels of 59 Alzheimer’s Diseaserelated analytes from the Rules Based Medicine panel in two independently collected and measured series (ADNI and Knight ADRC). Now I am working with these results to further our knowledge of the genes that cause AD. We will be …

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Genome Annotation Of Novel Viruses And Discovery Of Critical Sequences In Genes Via Comparative Analysis Of B4 Mycobacteriophage, Cameron Sargent, Dr. Sandra Burnett Apr 2014

Genome Annotation Of Novel Viruses And Discovery Of Critical Sequences In Genes Via Comparative Analysis Of B4 Mycobacteriophage, Cameron Sargent, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Over the past few years at Brigham Young University and other colleges nationwide, members of the Phage Hunters program have endeavored to find and analyze novel mycobacteriophage in an attempt to create new treatment and research methods for the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis

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Comparative Genome Analysis Of Novel Paenibacillus Larvae Bacteriophage, Bryan Merrill, Dr. Sandra Burnett Apr 2014

Comparative Genome Analysis Of Novel Paenibacillus Larvae Bacteriophage, Bryan Merrill, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Honey bees pollinate one third of the crops in the U.S. diet. The spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae causes American Foulbrood (AFB), a highly contagious disease that is lethal in honey bee larvae. P. larvae is the most serious pathogen affecting honey bees. The spores can be found in any healthy beehive, are stable for 40 years or more, and cannot be killed by antibiotics. The disease manifests itself when worker bees feed P. larvae spores to larvae and the spores germinate. The bacteria then consume the larvae and turns back into a spore that the worker bees then transfer throughout …

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Genetic Variants In The Apoe Gene Region Responsible For Change In Cerebrospinal Fluid Ab42 Protein Levels, Spencer Foutz, Dr. John Kauwe Apr 2014

Genetic Variants In The Apoe Gene Region Responsible For Change In Cerebrospinal Fluid Ab42 Protein Levels, Spencer Foutz, Dr. John Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For the last several years, the e4 allele in the APOE gene region has been a strong determinant of the development of Amyloid Beta plaques in the brain’s cerebral spinal fluid. As these plaques aggregate, the deposits become increasingly deadly to neuronal cells, and can eventually lead to Alzheimers’ Disease. While the e4 allele is a strong indicator of change in Amyloid Beta levels, there are believed to be other genetic variants within the APOE gene region that also greatly influence this protein. Our purpose was to further evaluate previous studies on this gene region in order to determine other …

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Determining Gene Expression Levels In Healthy And Degraded Alpaca Spinal Discs, Loyd Christensen, Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater Apr 2014

Determining Gene Expression Levels In Healthy And Degraded Alpaca Spinal Discs, Loyd Christensen, Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (IDD) is a disease estimated to affect between 60 and 90 percent of the total population at some point in life. Evidence of spinal disc degeneration has been shown in 30 percent of individuals under 40 years old, with earliest symptoms visible at 21 years of age; its prevalence only increases with age. Symptoms of spinal disc degeneration account for more than 13 million doctor visits each year and result in costs of more than $200 billion in lost productivity and health-care related expenses in the US alone. Unfortunately, despite these staggering costs, no widely effective treatment …

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Robust And Versatile Bioinformatic Pipeline Development, Ryan Hillary, Dr. Seth Bybee Apr 2014

Robust And Versatile Bioinformatic Pipeline Development, Ryan Hillary, Dr. Seth Bybee

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With the many advances in sequencing technology and exponential growth of computational capacities there comes a huge demand for processing larger and larger quantities of data. With respect to Biology there can be hundreds of gigabytes of data that can be involved in a single research study that requires computational analysis. Since each research project is unique in terms of design and desired outcome, the programs and tools that are required can vary greatly, but there are some analyses that are similar and can be compiled and optimized. The current research being conducted by Dr. Bybee focuses on the visual …

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Biodiversity And Distribution Of Entomophilic Nematodes In Utah’S Mojave Region, Westen Archibald, Dr. Byron Adams Apr 2014

Biodiversity And Distribution Of Entomophilic Nematodes In Utah’S Mojave Region, Westen Archibald, Dr. Byron Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

To better understand the diversity and distribution of entomophilic nematodes in Utah’s Mojave region, I have begun a project that’s purpose is to develop phylogenetic maps of 55 nematode species that I have already extracted from the soils of the Beaver Dam wash ecotone. This project involves both the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships to recover biodiversity, and generating a species distribution map for the Beaver Dam wash ecotone.

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Understanding The Irf5 Gene Through Characterization Of Its Four Promoters, Lissenya Argueta, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2014

Understanding The Irf5 Gene Through Characterization Of Its Four Promoters, Lissenya Argueta, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF5) is a transcription factor involved with the innate antiviral immune response and primarily expressed in immune cells1. This protein is responsible for the regulation of interferon activity and cytokine signaling, namely that of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These processes play major roles in autoimmune diseases. IRF5 is also involved with control of cell cycle and apoptosis upon activation2, therefore in certain cancers it can be inactivated3,4. The IRF5 gene has four different promoters for each first exon: 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D. Each promoter is distinct, displaying unique correlations with certain proteins. However, the resulting IRF5 protein …

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The Wall-E Effect: Testing How Long-Term Growth Under Ideal Conditions Affects Bacterial Traits, Kevin Johnson, Dr. Joel Griffitts Apr 2014

The Wall-E Effect: Testing How Long-Term Growth Under Ideal Conditions Affects Bacterial Traits, Kevin Johnson, Dr. Joel Griffitts

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Organisms removed from their wild environment that are subjected to long term laboratory conditions can experience drastic change. We have specifically used Sinorhizobium meliloti as a model bacterium to address this topic. If soil bacteria containing large genomes necessary to survive in nutrient deficient and stressful conditions were suddenly subjected to nutrient rich and luxurious conditions for 2,500 generations, would they lose some survival based function? We hypothesize that without natural environmental stress, these bacteria would lose the metabolic flexibility previously required for survival resulting in large scale genome reduction.

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Engineering Pathogen Specific High Affinity T-Cell Receptors Linked To Cytokines For Targeting Of Antigen Presenting Cells, Bryce Anderson, Dr. Scott Weber Apr 2014

Engineering Pathogen Specific High Affinity T-Cell Receptors Linked To Cytokines For Targeting Of Antigen Presenting Cells, Bryce Anderson, Dr. Scott Weber

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In February last year I was awarded an ORCA grant which turned out to be the starting of one of my biggest learning experiences here at BYU. My research mentor, Dr. Weber, and I work with the immune system. This semester I have been able to see firsthand exactly how things in my field are moved forward. Along with that I have learned many numerous, invaluable techniques that I will no doubt continue to use for many years to come through post undergraduate school along with my career. Also, I was able to work one on one with my research …

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Irf7 Expression In B Cells Infected With Ebv, Michael Ahlborn, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2014

Irf7 Expression In B Cells Infected With Ebv, Michael Ahlborn, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly known simply as lupus, is an incurable autoimmune disorder that can cause inflammation and tissue damage in virtually any part of the body. Many studies have shown a correlation between lupus diagnosis and positive infection with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Scientists currently estimate that greater than 90% of the adult US population is infected with this human herpesvirus, probably because it is easily transferred through saliva. Although we do not entirely understand how it contributes to lupus it is apparent there is a link between the two. Other research has shown that EBV may also play a …

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Recombination And Evolution Of Hiv In Vivo, Sterling Adams, Dr. Bradford Berges Apr 2014

Recombination And Evolution Of Hiv In Vivo, Sterling Adams, Dr. Bradford Berges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Worldwide we have known about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus since the early 80’s, and since that time there has been research to find different “cures” for the disease that the virus causes called: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since the epidemic has started nearly 30 million people have died from AIDS related causes, and there are nearly 34 million people worldwide that are HIV positive. One of the striking features of the virus that makes it so difficult to treat is its rapid ability to evolve. When looking at an HIV positive patient, statistically speaking, if you were to take every …

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Histological Validation Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Cerebrovascular Disease Imaging Biomarkers, Brigham Barzee, Brett Gardiner, Dr. Jon Wisco Apr 2014

Histological Validation Of Alzheimer’S Disease And Cerebrovascular Disease Imaging Biomarkers, Brigham Barzee, Brett Gardiner, Dr. Jon Wisco

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this study is to analyze spatial co-localizations between amyloid beta (Aβ), tau, and iron in postmortem brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) patients. Iron is readily visible in T2* magnetic resonance images (MRI), and has been shown to be spatially correlated with Aβ plaques in AD. Neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein are also associated with AD, and Aβ plaques are also found in the walls of the vessels in CVD. If iron co-localizes with Aβ, then the location of the iron—parenchyma vs. sulci—as seen in MRI could reveal if the disease is possibly AD …

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Expression Of Htra1 And Tgfb1 In Osteoarthritis, Karl Andersen, Dr. David Kooyman Apr 2014

Expression Of Htra1 And Tgfb1 In Osteoarthritis, Karl Andersen, Dr. David Kooyman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Osteoarthritis increasingly debilitates and causes discomfiture to millions of people worldwide. Most people over 65 years of age suffer from symptoms of osteoarthritis. There has, up to this point, been effectively no clear understanding of the processes of the body that contribute genetically or mechanically to this severe condition. The result of this lack of knowledge is a general absence of prevention and treatment measures. As of today, treatments consist only of joint replacement and pain reduction measures.

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Understanding Chemokine Binding And Bacterial Response, Brittany Kartchner, Dr. Eric Wilson Apr 2014

Understanding Chemokine Binding And Bacterial Response, Brittany Kartchner, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For this project, I hypothesized that the amino acid composition of the C terminus of chemokine proteins allows some chemokines to bind to specific proteins on the cell membrane of bacteria. Previous research has shown that the C terminal region of the chemokine CCL28 is largely responsible for the antimicrobial activity (Liu, 2010). However, it has not been shown what the C terminus region of the chemokine binds to. The C terminus region could bind to the negatively charged LPS on the bacterial membrane, or have a specific protein target on the cell membrane. Polymyxin B, another antimicrobial protein that …

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Assessment Of Trem2 Rs75932628 Association With Alzheimer’S Disease In A Population-Based Sample: The Cache County Study, Josue D. Gonzalez Murcia, Cameron Schmutz, Caitlin Munger, Ammon Perkes, Aaron Gustin, Michael Peterson, Mark T. W. Ebbert, Maria C. Norton, Joann T. Tschanz, Ronald G. Munger, Christopher D. Corcoran, John S. K. Kauwe Apr 2014

Assessment Of Trem2 Rs75932628 Association With Alzheimer’S Disease In A Population-Based Sample: The Cache County Study, Josue D. Gonzalez Murcia, Cameron Schmutz, Caitlin Munger, Ammon Perkes, Aaron Gustin, Michael Peterson, Mark T. W. Ebbert, Maria C. Norton, Joann T. Tschanz, Ronald G. Munger, Christopher D. Corcoran, John S. K. Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent studies have identified the rs75932628 (R47H) variant in TREM2 as an Alzheimer’s disease risk factor with estimated odds ratio ranging from 2.9 to 5.1.

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Characterizing The Role Of Hspb2, Whitney Hoopes, Dr. Julianne Grose Apr 2014

Characterizing The Role Of Hspb2, Whitney Hoopes, Dr. Julianne Grose

Journal of Undergraduate Research

HSPB2 is one of ten known small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSP) that share a conserved structural element called the alpha-crystallin domain. Extreme heat or cold, oxidative & reductive stress, and heavy metal exposure can induce the expression of these sHSP. HSPB2 is located on Chromosome 11, only 958 base pairs upstream of CYRAB. The protein homology and proximity of these two genes suggests they share structural and regulatory elements and serve as a model of inverted gene duplication. Both CRYAB and HSPB2 act as molecular chaperones to form complexes around denatured proteins and help them to refold into their normal …

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Computerized Drug Screening Of The S31n Mutant Of The Influenza A Virus, Mitchell Gleed, David D. Busath Apr 2014

Computerized Drug Screening Of The S31n Mutant Of The Influenza A Virus, Mitchell Gleed, David D. Busath

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Influenza is responsible for millions of hospitalizations and deaths every year. Treating the influenza virus has become increasingly difficult since mutant viruses have rendered previously viable drugs ineffective. New drug-screening procedures are now necessary in order to speed up the process of viable drug discovery. Molecular simulations have proven valuable for studying drug effectiveness in wild-type flu viruses, but little has been done on prevailing influenza mutants. Influenza mutants often feature a change in the M2 proton channel, a critical component in the viral replication and infection cycle. To counter this, drugs must be discovered that can block the influenza …

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Protein Signaling Effects On Embryonic Limb Formation, Derrick Crawford, Dr. Jeffery Barrow Apr 2014

Protein Signaling Effects On Embryonic Limb Formation, Derrick Crawford, Dr. Jeffery Barrow

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Congenital limb malformations occur in approximately 1 in 500 live births. These defects are due largely because of genetic and developmental causes. In my experiments, I have researched the source of these defects to understand how cell to cell signaling affects digit and limb formation. I was able to manipulate signaling between limb tissues during development to understand better how proteins interact with each other to stimulate growth in chick embryos. These same proteins have been observed in mammals such as mice and hopefully in the future may be applied in human development as well. There are many key factors …

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Temperament In Social Dominance, Jason Lefrandt, Dr. James Higley Apr 2014

Temperament In Social Dominance, Jason Lefrandt, Dr. James Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the internship at the University of California, Davis Primate Center this summer 2013, I have had the privilege of learning in various capacities as a research assistant. My main project that I was involved with was under Erna Tarara, a trained primatologist that did her field studies in Africa working on baboons. Together, we collect behavioral data that would help John Capitatio’s BioBehavioral Assessment (BBA) research on rhesus macaques.

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