Digital Commons Network^™

Leptin Receptor Signaling Is Required For Intact Hypoglycemic Counterregulation: A Study In Male Zucker Rats, Christopher D. Morrison, Marina A. Duvall, Cristal M. Hill, Redin A. Spann, David H. Mcdougal

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Hypoglycemia is a major barrier to clinical management of persons with diabetes. Emerging evidence supports a role for leptin in gating hypoglycemic counterregulation. This work demonstrates that male leptin receptor null, Zucker (fa/fa), rats display severe impairments in hypoglycemic counterregulation. Thus, augmenting leptin levels may have clinical utility for preventing hypoglycemia.

Effect Of Aerobic Exercise-Induced Weight Loss On The Components Of Daily Energy Expenditure, Nicholas T. Broskey, Corby K. Martin, Jeffrey H. Burton, Timothy S. Church, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Introduction Exercise usually results in less weight loss than expected. This suggests increased energy intake and/or deceased expenditure counteract the energy deficit induced by exercise. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in components of daily energy expenditure (doubly labeled water and room calorimetry) after 24 wk of exercise training with two doses of aerobic exercise. Methods This was an ancillary study in 42 (29 women, 13 men) sedentary, middle-age (47.8 ± 12.5 yr) individuals with obesity (35 ± 3.7 kg·m-2) enrolled in the Examination of Mechanisms of Exercise-induced Weight Compensation study. Subjects were randomized to three groups: …

Effect Of 2-Year Caloric Restriction On Organ And Tissue Size In Nonobese 21- To 50-Year-Old Adults In A Randomized Clinical Trial- To Calerie Study, Wei Shen, Jun Chen, Jane Zhou, Corby K. Martin, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Sustained calorie restriction (CR) promises to extend the lifespan. The effect of CR on changes in body mass across tissues and organs is unclear. Objectives: We used whole-body MRI to evaluate the effect of 2 y of CR on changes in body composition. Methods: In an ancillary study of the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) trial, 43 healthy adults [25-50 y; BMI (kg/m2): 22-28] randomly assigned to 25% CR (n = 28) or ad libitum (AL) eating (n = 15) underwent whole-body MRI at baseline and month 24 to measure adipose tissue in …

Foregut Exclusion Enhances Incretin And Insulin Secretion After Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, John P. Kirwan, Christopher L. Axelrod, Emily L. Kullman, Steven K. Malin, Wagner S. Dantas, Kathryn Pergola, Juan Pablo Del Rincon, Stacy A. Brethauer, Sangeeta R. Kashyap, Philip R. Schauer

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: Patients with type 2 diabetes experience resolution of hyperglycemia within days after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery.This is attributed, in part, to enhanced secretion of hindgut factors following exclusion of the gastric remnant and proximal intestine during surgery. However, evidence of the mechanisms of remission remain limited due to the challenges of metabolic evaluation during the early postoperative period. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the role of foregut exclusion in the resolution of type 2 diabetes after RYGB. Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 15) undergoing RYGB had a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placed in …

Dynamin-Related Protein 1 Regulates Substrate Oxidation In Skeletal Muscle By Stabilizing Cellular And Mitochondrial Calcium Dynamics, William T. King, Christopher L. Axelrod, Elizabeth R.M. Zunica, Robert C. Noland, Gangarao Davuluri, Hisashi Fujioka, Bernard Tandler, Kathryn Pergola, Gerlinda E. Hermann, Richard C. Rogers, Sandra López-Domènech, Wagner S. Dantas, Krisztian Stadler, Charles L. Hoppel, John P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Mitochondria undergo continuous cycles of fission and fusion to promote inheritance, regulate quality control, and mitigate organelle stress. More recently, this process of mitochondrial dynamics has been demonstrated to be highly sensitive to nutrient supply, ultimately conferring bioenergetic plasticity to the organelle. However, whether regulators of mitochondrial dynamics play a causative role in nutrient regulation remains unclear. In this study, we generated a cellular loss-of-function model for dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), the primary regulator of outer membrane mitochondrial fission. Loss of DRP1 (shDRP1) resulted in extensive ultrastructural and functional remodeling of mitochondria, characterized by pleomorphic enlargement, increased electron density of …

Practical Application Of In Vivo Mri-Based Brown Adipose Tissue Measurements In Infants, Emily W. Flanagan, Abby D. Altazan, Owen T. Carmichael, Houchun H. Hu, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: The role of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in infant metabolism remains poorly understood, primarily because of the inherent limitation of positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging to measure BAT, which is not suitable for infants. The aims of this method development study were to assess the feasibility, intra-rater reliability, interscan repeatability, and physiological relevance of measuring BAT in infants using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: A total of 10 nonsedated infants (mean age, 22.6 [1.3] days old) completed two 3-T MRI exams using chemical-shift-encoded water-fat scans 6.2 (2.8) days apart. Candidate BAT voxels in the supraclavicular region were identified based …

Legacy Of A 10-Year Multidomain Lifestyle Intervention On The Cognitive Trajectories Of Individuals With Overweight/Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Kathleen M. Hayden, Rebecca H. Neiberg, Joni K. Evans, José A. Luchsinger, Owen Carmichael, Gareth R. Dutton, Karen C. Johnson, Steven E. Kahn, Stephen R. Rapp, Sevil Yasar, Mark A. Espeland

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Introduction: Weight loss and increased physical activity interventions are commonly recommended for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity. We examined the impact of randomization to an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) on trajectories of cognitive function over 10 years in a cohort of participants in a randomized clinical trial who had T2D and overweight/obesity at baseline. Methods: Participants aged 45-76 years were enrolled in 2001-2004 and were randomized to the ILI or a diabetes support and education (DSE) condition. Cognitive function was assessed in 3,938 participants at up to 4 time points 8-18 years after randomization. General …

Carcass Yields And Physical-Chemical Meat Quality Characteristics Of Namibian Red Hartebeest (Alcelaphus Buselaphus) As Influenced By Sex And Muscle, Louwrens C. Hoffman, Diana L. Van Schalkwyk, Magdalena Muller, Tersia Needham, Kenneth W. Mcmillin

Faculty Publications

This study determined the carcass yields of red hartebeest from Namibia and compared the physical-chemical meat quality characteristics of six different muscles (biceps femoris, infraspinatus, longissimus thoracis et lumborum, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and supraspinatus) for both males and females. Red hartebeest males were heavier (133.92 kg) than females (114.20 kg) but the average dressing percentage did not differ between the two sexes. Muscles from females had a lower mean shear force value of 3.59 kg/1.27 cm ø, compared to males (4.23 kg/1.27 cm ø). The most tender muscle was the infraspinatus of the female treatment group, while the semimembranosus of the …

Increases In Adiposity Among Children And Adolescents Over Time: Moving Beyond Bmi, Amanda E. Staiano, Peter T. Katzmarzyk

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ehealth Interventions Targeting Nutrition, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Or Obesity In Adults: A Scoping Review Of Systematic Reviews, Melinda J. Hutchesson, Claire Gough, Andre Matthias Müller, Camille E. Short, Megan C. Whatnall, Mavra Ahmed, Nicole Pearson, Zenong Yin, Lee M. Ashton, Carol Maher, Amanda E. Staiano, Chelsea E. Mauch, Ann Desmet, Corneel Vandelanotte

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

A vast body of evidence regarding eHealth interventions for nutrition, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and obesity exists. This scoping review of systematic reviews aimed to evaluate the current level of evidence in this growing field. Seven electronic databases were searched for systematic reviews published until October 27, 2019. The systematic reviews must have included adult participants only and have evaluated eHealth behavioral interventions with the primary aim of changing nutrition, physical activity, and sedentary behavior or treating or preventing overweight and obesity. One hundred and six systematic reviews, published from 2006 to 2019, were included. Almost all (n = 98) …

More Vigorous Efforts Are Needed To Fight Obesity, A Serious Public Health Problem In China, Gang Hu

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Preference, Expected Burden, And Willingness To Use Digital And Traditional Methods To Assess Food And Alcohol Intake, Christoph Höchsmann, Nicole Fearnbach, James L. Dorling, Tera L. Fazzino, Candice A. Myers, John W. Apolzan, Corby K. Martin

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

We conducted an online survey to examine the preference, expected burden, and willingness of people to use four different methods of assessing food and alcohol intake such as food/drink record, 24-h recall, Remote Food Photography Method© (RFPM, via SmartIntake® app), and a novel app (PortionSize® ) that allows the in-app portion size estimation of foods/drinks by the user. For food (N = 1959) and alcohol (N = 466) intake assessment, 67.3% and 63.3%, respectively, preferred the RFPM/SmartIntake®, 51.9% and 53.4% preferred PortionSize®, 48.0% and 49.3% the food records, and 32.9% and 33.9% the 24-h recalls (difference in preference across all …

Social Marketing Campaigns To Promote Healthy Eating In Low-Income Louisiana Environments: A Mixed Methods Formative Assessment, Linda Fergus

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A healthy diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) is associated with reduced risk of obesity and chronic disease. Many people do not consume a healthy diet, especially those with limited resources. The purpose of this research was to study social marketing campaigns and message design factors that promote healthy eating and improved physical activity (PA) behaviors to low-income populations in Louisiana (LA) and to describe the attitudes, beliefs, and barriers of the rural, low-income LA population regarding healthy eating.

In a scoping literature review, an evidence map of publications regarding social marketing campaigns that aim to promote …

Introgression Of Maize Diversity For Drought Tolerance: Subtropical Maize Landraces As Source Of New Positive Variants, Pedro Augusto Medeiros Barbosa, Roberto Fritsche-Neto, Marcela Carvalho Andrade, César Daniel Petroli, Juan Burgueño, Giovanni Galli, Martha C. Willcox, Kai Sonder, Víctor A. Vidal-Martínez, Ernesto Sifuentes-Ibarra, Terence Luke Molnar

Faculty Publications

Current climate change models predict an increased frequency and intensity of drought for much of the developing world within the next 30 years. These events will negatively affect maize yields, potentially leading to economic and social instability in many smallholder farming communities. Knowledge about the genetic resources available for traits related to drought tolerance has great importance in developing breeding program strategies. The aim of this research was to study a maize landrace introgression panel to identify chromosomal regions associated with a drought tolerance index. For that, we performed Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) on 1326 landrace progenies developed by the …

Hydrophobically Modified Polypeptoids And Uses Thereof, Donghui Zhang, Vijay T. John, Yueheng Zhang, Sunting Xuan

College of Science Patents

A variety of hydrophobically modified polypeptoids are provided. The hydrophobically modified polypeptoids can include a polyamide backbone having a random copolymer of two or more different types of repeat units, where one or more of the repeat units have nitrogen atom having a hydrophobic substituent attached thereto. Methods of making the hydrophobically modified polypeptoids are also provided, as well as uses of the hydrophobically modified polypeptoids, for example in liposomal drug delivery.

Blue Carbon In South Florida's Mangroves: The Role Of Large Roots And Necromass, Zoë I. Shribman

LSU Master's Theses

Blue carbon sequestration and storage in mangroves largely result from belowground biomass allocation in response to flooded anaerobic soil conditions and nutrient availability. Biomass allocation to belowground roots is a major driver of mangrove soil formation and organic matter accumulation leading to blue carbon storage potential. Belowground biomass sampling in mangroves is labor intensive, limiting data availability on biomass stocks, particularly for large roots (>20 mm diameter) and necromass (dead roots). The mangrove nutrient model (NUMAN) uses mostly literature values to parameterize a soil cohort approach to simulate depth distribution of root mass and organic carbon concentration. We evaluated …

Eating For Hunger Or Pleasure: A Serotonin Model, Zili Yan, Yanlin He, Xing Cai, Gang Shu, Yong Xu

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Managing Corpses From Different Castes In The Eastern Subterranean Termite, Jizhe Shi, Chi Zhang, Sirui Huang, Austin Merchant, Qian Sun, Chuan Zhou, Kenneth F. Haynes, Xuguo Zhou

Faculty Publications

Corpse management is essential for social animals to maintain colony health. In the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, workers carry out undertaking behaviors to mitigate the risks associated with the dead. In this study, we hypothesized that termites would respond differently to the corpses from different castes based on their postmortem chemical signatures. To test this hypothesis, we 1) documented the behavioral responses of the workers toward corpses from different castes, and 2) profile the chemical signatures of these corpses. Corpses from all castes were retrieved inside the nests and cannibalized when they were decomposed <64 >h, regardless of the presence …

Biology, Ecology, And Pest Management Of The Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus Lineolaris (Palisot De Beauvois) In Southern Row Crops, Justin George, James P. Glover, Jeffrey Gore, Whitney D. Crow, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Faculty Publications

The tarnished plant bug, Lygus lineolaris (Palisot de Beauvois), (Hemiptera: Miridae) is considered the most damaging pest of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in the mid-southern United States, although it is established throughout the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. The introduction of transgenic crops for the control of moths in the Heliothine complex and eradication of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis, from much of the United States led to greatly reduced pesticide use in cotton fields, which allowed L. lineolaris to emerge as a new primary pest of cotton in the mid-southern United States. Since the publication of a …

Development Of A Method For Rearing Nezara Viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) On A Semi-Solid Artificial Diet, Maribel Portilla, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Faculty Publications

A method for rearing the southern green stinkbug, (Nezara viridula L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), using a modified lygus semi-solid artificial diet was developed. First to second-instar nymph were reared in a density of 631.5 ± 125.05 eggs per Petri-dish (4 cm deep × 15 cm diam). Second instar to adult were reared in a density of 535.0 ± 112.46 s instar nymphs per rearing cage (43 × 28 × 9 cm). Mating and oviposition occurred in popup rearing cages (30 × 30 cm), each holding 60-90 mixed sex adults of similar age. Adults emerged 35.88 ± 2.13 d after oviposition and …

Fgf21 Prevents Low-Protein Diet-Induced Renal Inflammation In Aged Mice, Han Fang, Sujoy Ghosh, Landon C. Sims, Kirsten P. Stone, Cristal M. Hill, Denisha Spires, Daria V. Ilatovskaya, Christopher D. Morrison, Thomas W. Gettys, Krisztian Stadler

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Low-protein (LP) diets extend lifespan through a comprehensive improvement in metabolic health across multiple tissues and organs. Many of these metabolic responses to protein restriction are secondary to transcriptional activation and release of FGF21 from the liver. However, the effects of an LP diet on the kidney in the context of aging has not been examined. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to investigate the impact of chronic consumption of an LP diet on the kidney in aging mice lacking FGF21. Wild-Type (WT; C57BL/6J) and FGF21 knockout (KO) mice were fed a normal protein diet (20% casein) or …

Effects Of Testosterone Undecanoate On Performance During Multi-Stressor Military Operations: A Trial Protocol For The Optimizing Performance For Soldiers Ii Study, Alyssa N. Varanoske, Melissa N. Harris, Callie Hebert, Emily E. Howard, Neil M. Johannsen, Steven B. Heymsfield, Frank L. Greenway, Lee M. Margolis, Harris R. Lieberman, David D. Church, Arny A. Ferrando, Jennifer C. Rood, Stefan M. Pasiakos

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Previously, young males administered 200 mg/week of testosterone enanthate during 28 days of energy deficit (EDef) gained lean mass and lost less total mass than controls (Optimizing Performance for Soldiers I study, OPS I). Despite that benefit, physical performance deteriorated similarly in both groups. However, some experimental limitations may have precluded detection of performance benefits, as performance measures employed lacked military relevance, and the EDef employed did not elicit the magnitude of stress typically experienced by Soldiers conducting operations. Additionally, the testosterone administered required weekly injections, elicited supra-physiological concentrations, and marked suppression of endogenous testosterone upon cessation. Therefore, this …

Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract Concomitantly Supplemented With Chemotherapy Worsens Tumor Progression In Mice With Triple Negative Breast Cancer And Obesity, Elizabeth R.M. Zunica, Shengping Yang, Ann Coulter, Christy White, John P. Kirwan, Linda A. Gilmore

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and highly metastatic breast cancer subtype with limited treatment options. Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with a worse prognosis in those with TNBC. Moringa oleifera (moringa) is a tropical edible plant used for both food and medicinal purposes and found to have anti-obesity and anti-cancer effects in vitro and in preclinical models. The anti-cancer effects of moringa seed extract alone and in combination with chemotherapy were evaluated in immunocompromised female mice with diet-induced obesity bearing MDA-MB-231-derived xenograft tumors. Moringa supplementation protected against high-fat diet-and chemotherapy-induced increases in fasting glucose and improved …

Eating Behaviors And Dietary Patterns Of Women During Pregnancy: Optimizing The Universal ‘Teachable Moment’, Maryam Kebbe, Emily W. Flanagan, Joshua R. Sparks, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Understanding women’s perceptions of eating behaviors and dietary patterns can inform the ‘teachable moment’ model of pregnancy. Our objectives were to describe eating behaviors and dietary patterns in pregnancy. This was a cross‐sectional, national electronic survey. Women were ≥18 years of age, living in the United States, currently pregnant or less than two years postpartum, and had internet access. Age, education, race, and marriage were included as covariates in ordinal and binary logistic regressions (significance p < 0.05). Women (n = 587 eligible) made positive or negative changes to their diets, while others maintained pre‐existing eating behaviors. The majority of women did not try (84.9 to 95.1% across diets) and were unwilling to try (66.6 to 81%) specific dietary patterns during pregnancy. Concerns included not eating a balanced diet (60.1 to 65.9%), difficulty in implementation without family (63.2 to 64.8%), and expense (58.7 to 60.1%). Helpful strategies included being provided all meals and snacks (88.1 to 90.6%) and periodic consultations with a dietitian or nutritionist (85 to 86.7%). Responses differed across subgroups of parity, body mass index, and trimester, notably in women with obesity who reported healthier changes to their diet (p < 0.05). Our study underscores the importance of tailoring care early to individual needs, characteristics, and circumstances.

Effects Of Experimental Sleep Restriction On Ambulatory And Sleep Blood Pressure In Healthy Young Adults: A Randomized Crossover Study, Naima Covassin, Jan Bukartyk, Prachi Singh, Andrew D. Calvin, Erik K. St Louis, Virend K. Somers

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Although insufficient sleep is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, evidence of a causal relationship is lacking. We investigated the effects of prolonged sleep restriction on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and other cardiovascular measures in 20 healthy young participants (aged 23.4±4.8 years, 9 females), who underwent a randomized, controlled, crossover, 16-day inpatient study consisting of 4 days of acclimation, 9 days of sleep restriction (4 hours of sleep/night) or control sleep (9 hours), and 3 days of recovery. Subjects consumed a weight maintenance diet with controlled nutrient composition throughout. A 24-hour BP (primary outcome) and cardiovascular biomarkers were measured repeatedly. …

Translating Family-Based Behavioral Treatment For Childhood Obesity Into A User-Friendly Digital Package For Delivery To Low-Income Families Through Primary Care Partnerships: The Mo-Cord Study, Lauren A. Fowler, Sarah E. Hampl, Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette, Amanda E. Staiano, Chelsea L. Kracht, Andrea K. Graham, Sherri Gabbert, Kelly Springstroh, Fanice Thomas, Lisa Nelson, Aubrie E. Hampp, Jordan A. Carlson, Robinson Welch, Denise E. Wilfley

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Background: Significant gaps exist in access to evidence-based pediatric weight management interventions, especially for low-income families. As a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project 3.0 (CORD), the Missouri CORD (MO-CORD) team aims to increase access to and dissemination of an efficacious pediatric obesity treatment, family-based behavioral treatment (FBT), among low-income families. This article describes the MO-CORD team's approach to translating FBT into a digital package for delivery to low-income families through primary care practices. Methods: Using digital technology, the primary care setting, and existing reimbursement mechanisms, the MO-CORD team is developing a …

Implementation Of A Scalable Family-Based Behavioral Treatment For Childhood Obesity Delivered Through Primary Care Clinics: Description Of The Missouri Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration Study Protocol, Denise E. Wilfley, Lauren A. Fowler, Sarah E. Hampl, Meredith L. Dreyer Gillette, Amanda E. Staiano, Andrea K. Graham, Anne Claire Grammer, Lisa Nelson, Jordan A. Carlson, Derek S. Brown, Sherri Gabbert, Kelly Springstroh, Fanice Thomas, Melissa Ramel, Robinson Welch, William Johnson

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Background: Significant gaps exist in access to evidence-based pediatric weight management interventions, especially for low-income families who are disproportionately affected by obesity. As a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration project (CORD 3.0), the Missouri team (MO-CORD) aims to increase access to and dissemination of an efficacious pediatric obesity treatment, specifically family-based behavioral treatment (FBT), for low-income families. Methods/Design: The implementation pilot study is a multisite matched-comparison group pilot of packaged FBT in pediatric clinics for low-income children with obesity, of ages 5 to 12 years old. The study is implemented in two …

Sympathetic Innervation Of The Mouse Kidney And Liver Arising From Prevertebral Ganglia, Hayden Torres, Clara Huesing, David H. Burk, Adrien J.R. Molinas, Winfried L. Neuhuber, Hans Rudolf Berthoud, Heike Münzberg, Andrei V. Derbenev, Andrea Zsombok

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) plays a crucial role in the regulation of renal and hepatic functions. Although sympathetic nerves to the kidney and liver have been identified in many species, specific details are lacking in the mouse. In the absence of detailed information of sympathetic prevertebral innervation of specific organs, selective manipulation of a specific function will remain challenging. Despite providing major postganglionic inputs to abdominal organs, limited data are available about the mouse celiac-superior mesenteric complex. We used tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine β-hydroxylase (DbH) reporter mice to visualize abdominal prevertebral ganglia. We found that both the TH …

An Examination Of Retail-Level Purchasing Behavior For Healthful Food In Louisiana, Marcus Coleman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Consumer access and choice for quality and affordable healthful foods at the retail-level is at the forefront of discussions related to the nutritional status of consumers in many communities across the United States. In Louisiana, many consumers live in food environments where retail options for quality and affordable healthful foods are limited, not affordable, or not available. Addressing these issues is complicated by the fact that literature focused on consumer access and choice for healthful foods at the retail-level in Louisiana is inadequate to play a significant role in addressing issues related to purchasing behavior for healthful foods faced by …

Gene (Co)Expression Networks And Alternate Transcripts Induced In Cotton In Response To Aspergillus Flavus Infection, Mohit Verma

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L) is an economically important crop that generates billions of dollars in annual revenue worldwide. However, contamination of cottonseed with a highly carcinogenic aflatoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus limits the use of cottonseed in the oil and animal feed industries. Much success has been achieved by the application of atoxigenic strains of A. flavus for controlling aflatoxin contamination in cotton, peanut, and maize. Understanding the gene (co)expression network in response to A. flavus infection with both toxigenic and atoxigenic strains of A. flavus pericarp and seed of cotton through genome-wide transcriptome profiling will not only unravel …