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Conserved Domains In Promoters Of Differentially Expressed Genes Under High Night Temperature Stress In Rice: How To Find Them And What Can They Tell Us?, Emalynn Tobias, Jenna Handal, Paul Lup, Michael Egozi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Crop plant response to stress involves changes in gene expression patterns. The complex process of regulation of gene expression involves cis- and trans-acting components. One of the key steps in understanding changes in gene expression associated with a plant’s response to stress begins with identifying “conserved domains” in the promoters of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). By providing binding sites for transcription factors, the conserved domains can play a crucial role in gene regulation. In this study, we aim to identify the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in the promoters of 149 DEGs that were identified in the transcriptomic analysis of two rice …

Dehydration And Traumatic Brain Injury, Lauren Gray

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Boxers lose up to 15% of their body weight and on average 6.7% prior to weigh in. Boxers dehydrate to make the weight class and will rapidly rehydrate before fighting. During fights, boxers receive traumatic brain injuries. There is reason to believe that if boxers are not properly rehydrated the traumatic brain injuries could be exacerbated, however, this hypothesis had never been explored. This study aimed to determine the extent of fluid loss and traumatic brain injuries. This study utilized 48 mice. Half of the mice received dehydration followed by rehydration while the other half had normal fluid intake. Half …

Determining The Function Of The Protein Of Interest 2qru Using Bioinformatic Tools And Wet-Lab Experiments, Samhita Doranala, Michelle Milman, Marissa Bonsangue, Eliezer Gurovich

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Proteins are complex macromolecules that play a vital role in the facilitation of biological processes. Protein research and documentation are crucial for future advancements. They aid in developing medications, disease diagnosis and treatment, and the understanding of structural biology. Thousands of proteins have been stored in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) since 1971. Although their structures are known, many of their functions have yet to be determined.

This study was conducted in order to shed light on the biological role of a previously uncharacterized protein of interest (POI) with the PDB ID: 2QRU. A two-pronged approach involving both bioinformatics and …

Determining The Optimal Infection Temperature And Burst Size Of Gordonia Rubripertincta Bacteriophage, Genesis Aguilar, Bianca A. Gonzalez, Sarah Moya, Jose C. Padron, Dani Sheil

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antibiotic resistance represents a significant global health crisis, especially within hospitals, creating a necessity for the search for alternative therapeutic agents to combat drug-resistant pathogens. One source of treatment is phages specifically targeting G. rubripertincta, a gram-positive, aerobic actinomycete bacterium which has shown intrinsic resistance to some antibiotics. Furthermore, G. rubripertincta can cause endocarditis and CNS infections in immunocompromised individuals. Several phages such as Alyssamiracle, Fribs8, Genamy16, and NovaSharks, have been discovered that successfully target G. rubripertincta. The goal of this research is to determine the optimal infection temperature and the burst size of these phases. By growing …

Developing A Better Animal Model Of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Me/Cfs), Roberto Fileni, Amanda Lee, Medha Mageswaran

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a rare but extremely debilitating disease characterized by severe fatigue, even after only mild exertion. In fact, ¼-⅓ of patients are house- or bedridden, underscoring the urgent need for effective treatment. Patients with ME/CFS display hypocortisolism, overactive serotonergic systems, and elevated TGF-β levels, suggesting that ME/CFS includes dysfunction of the endocrine, nervous, and immune systems. Current animal models of ME/CFS use immune activators but lack the complex multisystemic nature of the disease and bear a closer resemblance to depression than ME/CFS. One recent study showed that an adrenalectomy (ADX) better matched the characteristics seen …

Diabetes Progression: From Statistical Analysis To Mathematical Modeling, Sandeep Dronavalli

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Diabetes constitutes one of the leading neuroendocrine conditions with nearly 9.4 % of the US population showing symptoms of it. Noteworthy, type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounts for 90 to 95 % of all cases. It is a chronic disease, and the clinical manifestations include hyperglycemia (prolonged blood glucose levels above normal), hyperinsulinemia (excess levels of insulin circulating in the blood) along with insulin resistance. This presentation includes a statistical analysis based on a cohort of 440 individuals where both, demographic and laboratory measurements are included. Based on these results, a mathematical model accounting for the obtained associations is solved. It …

Distributional Patterns Of Mesopelagic Scyphozoa Within The Monterey Submarine Canyon, California, Diana Phillips, Manuel Ploner

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Scyphozoans are a historically understudied taxonomic class, and it is unknown how genera that potentially compete coexist in resource-limited environments within the Mesopelagic Zone (200-1000m depth). Monitoring the affinities of various genera to fine-scale water mass differences demonstrates how apparent competitors in resource-limited environments occupy different habitats. Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROVs) pinpoint location information and oceanographic conditions of individual specimens, while providing better identification than other survey method options. During a 21-year period (2000 - 2020), images obtained by ROV operators annotated visual captures of scyphozoans, while integrating in situ sensor measurements of conductivity, temperature, depth, and dissolved oxygen (CTDO) …

Effective Use For Design, Aruhi Kodeboyina

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Flyers, which foster human connection and communication, are integral when looking at human interaction throughout various stages of life. They require a balance between attractability and simplicity through both words and visuals, and they can create and/or foster a space for discussion and discourse. In this study, I examine the relationship between texts, visuals, phrasing, and audience in the process of making flyers. Relevant scholarship suggests that the wording/framing on the flier has a large part in whether people are influenced by it. Using my own primary research methods, I also found that participants paid a lot of attention to …

Exploring Alternative Binding Locations Of 5-Ht Antagonist Ketanserin In Microtubules; Implications For Future Research, Caleb Siguenza, Tatum Hedrick

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Recently, it’s been demonstrated that classic psychedelic action is mediated via intracellular mechanisms rather than action at membrane receptors. This intracellular action elicits neuroplastic effect. The conclusion is that these effects are due to activation of intracellular 5-HT2AR based on using ketanserin as a selective antagonist based on its selectivity to bind to the membrane 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. However, neuroplasticity is dependent upon multiple mechanisms and signaling cascades including the dynamics of neuronal microtubules. As the targets of ketanserin’s biological intracellular activity are not fully elucidated, here we investigate the binding potential of ketanserin to domains of the microtubule constituent …

Fish Market, Aria Tan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Aria Nicolette Tan was born in the United States and then grew up on an island off the coast of Malaysia. After moving back to America, she moved frequently across the US. Influenced by her time in culturally diverse communities, Tan developed a fascination with the simplicity of the human experience. Generation Z's media is heavily centered in personal identity and how it strengthens the connection of an individual to society. This experience serves as an inspiration for Tan's art. Her creative motivation is to represent a journey that is accessible to anyone.

Her painting portfolio titled "Fish Market" contains …

Fluorescence Analysis Of Carboxyphenyl Porphyrins, Janani Prasanna, Ayush Desai, Andersen Cheong, Amanda Leon

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Studies to analyze the effects of metals on the fluorescence properties of porphyrins were carried out by comparing a metalloporphyrin (Cu(II) meso-Tetra(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin, abbreviated as Cu–4- CPP) with it freebase counterpart (meso-Tetra(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin, abbreviated as 4-CPP) at various emissions. These porphyrins were selected based on their solubility, structure, and electrochemical properties. A trial was carried out in the UV spectrophotometer to obtain the peak wavelengths of major absorption which were then used to carry out the trials in the spectrofluorometer. In each experiment, the resulting fluorescence peaks were obtained at various emission wavelengths. After analyzing the peaks, it was determined …

Fluoride-Mediated Gene Expression Regulated Epigenetically Via H3ac Modification In Ameloblast-Lineage Cells, Melanie Mendonca, Shohei Yamashita, Motoki Okamoto, Susanne Brueckner

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Objectives: Previously we reported that fluoride-mediated histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activation contributed to p53 acetylation to promote fluoride toxicity in mouse ameloblast-like cells (LS8). However, the roles of fluoride-mediated HAT activation in histone acetylation and epigenetic regulation of fluoride-mediated gene expressions remain unidentified. This study demonstrates that fluoride-mediated gene expression is regulated epigenetically via modification of histone acetylation status (H3K27Ac) in transcription start sites (TSS) in LS8 cells.

Methods: LS8 cells were treated with or without 5 mM fluoride for 24 h and subjected to chromatin isolation followed by immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and DNA purification. ChIP assay was performed using antibodies specific …

Genome Characterization And Annotation Of Two Newly Discovered Bacteriophages Makomanhole And Penjamin420, Janelle Bachman Rodríguez, Sara Faruqui, Caleb Siguenza, Taylor R. Butler, Christopher Huang, Brianna Khrakovsky, Kayle Mederos, Monserrat Montanez, Gabriella Nazarov, Ilan Nedjar, Anneliese Rodriguez, Laurent F. Zayas Diaz, Megana S. Guntur, Naitik K. Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

While many bacteria are beneficial, some can have negative impacts on humans, animals, and the environment. One avenue of exploration to combat these effects is using bacteriophages (phage). Phage are viruses that target and kill specific bacterial host cells. While approximately 10³¹ bacteriophages exist, 99% of them are undiscovered. In recent years, scientists have utilized phage in real-world applications including fighting antibiotic resistance, food biocontrol, bioremediation, and treating wastewater. Therefore, it is essential to genetically characterize novel bacteriophages for their use in these different bacterial control applications. The aim of this research was to annotate the genomes of newly …

How Do Residents Of South Florida Perceive Aquaculture?, Jayce Oldham

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Aquaculture is the raising of fish either extensively, in cages located in public waterways or coastal waters, or intensively, in closed-circuit tanks on land. Aquaculture is mainly done to produce seafood for human consumption. This study used an IRB-approved survey of South Florida residents to assess attitudes regarding the potential ability of aquaculture to produce seafood and how the process of aquaculture is viewed by the public. The survey used voluntary participants for the main results, with stratified sampling to select participants for a subsequent voluntary focus group. The focus group collected additional information about the views of the participants. …

Identification Of Genes Implicated In Low-Grade Gliomas And The Progression Into Higher Grade Gliomas Through Aberrant Dna Methylation, Mit Patel, Arun Jagarlamudi, Varun Toot

Undergraduate Student Symposium

DNA methylation is a critical epigenetic modification involving the addition of methyl groups to DNA as a regulatory mechanism; aberrant patterns contribute to various diseases. Low-grade gliomas (LGG) arise from aberrant cellular differentiation through altered gene expression of various genes, of which DNA methylation plays a crucial role. LGG’s are characterized as slow growing tumors from glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Grade IV gliomas or glioblastomas (GBM) are one of the most aggressive brain tumor types with a poor clinical prognosis and median survival of only 15 months. The purpose of this investigation is to analyze the …

Identification Of Regulatory Roles For Stress Responsive Transposable Elements In Rice, Jenna Handal, Paul Lup, Emalynn Tobias, Andy Pereira Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Transposable elements, or mobile DNA sequences, are known for their structural and functional roles in the rice genome. As sources of genetic variation and drivers of evolution, transposable elements have been extensively studied for their role in regulation of gene expression. In addition, transposable elements are shown to be activated in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses and can possibly serve as a contributor to heat stress adaptation by modification of gene expression. As the global temperature rises, heat stress threatens crop production worldwide by affecting optimal rice growth, development, and yield. Concern for food security amidst a growing …

Identifying The Binding Residues On Cyp3a4 To Naringin Using Protein Modeling And Docking, Parth Shah, Vraj Patel, Sanjana Ananthula

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cytochrome p450 3A4 (CYP3A4) is one of the most abundant cytochrome enzymes and is involved in the detoxification of many medically relevant drugs. Inhibition of CYP3A4 can increase the bioavailability and duration of the availability of medications in the bloodstream and is therefore of great medical relevance. CYP3A4 has been noted to be inhibited by naringin, a flavanone found in grapefruits and other citrus fruits. As no structure exists of naringin bound to CYP3A4, the binding residues to naringin were investigated using 3-D protein modeling and in-silico molecular docking simulations. The CYP3A4 protein structure was obtained from the RCSB Protein …

Impacts Of Pre- And Pro-Biotic Supplements On Microbial Composition Related To Colorectal Cancers, Shanay Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Early in the field of oncology, colorectal cancer was a rarely diagnosed form of cancer and often went undetected. Today, colorectal cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer and is responsible for over one million deaths annually worldwide. The human gut microbiome is a keystone of daily health and living, serving to help absorb nutrients, boost immune function, and is considered to be another organ within the human body. However, the gut microbiome is also thought to have a role in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disease like colorectal cancer. There has been extensive discussion within the …

Impaired Mitochondrial Ultrastructure In Peripheral Neurons Under Cholinergic Receptor Muscarinic 1 (Chrm1) Loss: Implications For Alzheimer's Disease And Sensory Neurodegeneration, Amrutha Venkat

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cholinergic Receptor Muscarinic 1 (CHRM1) is a G protein-coupled receptor expressed in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS). The degeneration of cholinergic neurons and cholinergic hypofunction are pathologies associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our recent studies have demonstrated a severe loss (≥50% decrease compared to non-demented individuals) of CHRM1 protein levels in the postmortem temporal cortices, which is associated with poor survival in AD patients. Moreover, investigations utilizing an enriched cortical synaptosomal mitochondrial fraction from wild-type and Chrm1 knockout (Chrm1^-/-) mice have revealed that Chrm1 loss leads to altered supramolecular assembly of oxidative phosphorylation-associated …

In Their Own Words: Collaborative Assessment Of Undergraduate Intellectual Curiosity, Amenia Farraj, Jaylynn Sylvain

Undergraduate Student Symposium

For the last decade, college enrollment across the U.S. has trended downward, which has been attributed to factors including increased college tuition and impacts of the pandemic (Welding, 2022). Others predict that digital technologies like AI will end academia as younger generations lean less into their intellectual curiosity (Marche, 2022). Yet, some universities like Nova Southeastern University have seen an increase in enrollment even while college enrollment generally declined by 7% between 2019 and 2022 (Welding, 2022). Much of these educational forecasts do not come from students but from older generations who sense a shift in how students learn. By …

Influence Of Variables On Vaping Behaviors Among College Students, Michelle Tiji

Undergraduate Student Symposium

E-cigarette use among youth in the United States has increased in the past decade, with the majority of vaping advertisements targeting adolescents and young adults. There are a multitude of individual, interpersonal, and community-level risk factors that influence the uptake of vaping behaviors. This study investigated the influence of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and parental/guardian vaping and smoking history on vaping behaviors among undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Additionally, this study evaluated the extent to which vaping history influences the perceived effectiveness of anti-vaping advertisements. A survey was administered to current students to measure their vaping behaviors and …

Invertebrate Cover Within A Submerged Lava Tunnel, Concha De Perla Lagoon, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Giavanna Iglio

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Shallow water (<10m depth) coastal benthic invertebrate communities in the Galápagos Archipelago are well-described. However, the submerged Concha de Perla lava tunnel is undescribed, despite being at a main tourist area in a lagoon near (~150m east) the main dock for the town of Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island. The tunnel is oriented along an east-west axis, is ~15m long, with an interior diameter of ~2m. This creates habitat for cavernicolous fauna in the interior, with more typical benthic cover at the entrances. Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) trees surround and grow on top of the tunnel. Benthic cover on the tunnel interior includes sponges, cnidarians, sea urchins and bryozoans. The most common invertebrates include the endemic sea urchin Eucidaris galapagensis, white sponges, bryozoans and the azooxanthellate orange cup coral Tubastrea coccinea. Algae is absent except for a patch of crustose coralline algae on the northern wall near the west opening that receives dim light in the late afternoons. This descriptive survey quantifies the contribution of each taxonomic group to the lava tunnel walls, ceiling, and floor. Community structure is …

Investigating The Impact Of Lipogenesis Inhibition On The Phospholipid Composition Of Melanoma Cells Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, Zahra Aziz, Alekya Mallampalli, Ana Sales, Emmanuela Pierre, Trisha Seal

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Melanoma, the most lethal variant of skin cancer, has a rate of incidence that continues to increase globally. The upregulation of lipogenesis is a primary feature of melanoma. However, the role of phospholipids (PLs) in the onset and progression of melanoma is not well-characterized. In this study we employed high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to elucidate alterations in the phospholipidomic profile of human melanoma cells after inhibition of fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme in lipogenesis. Our results show that inhibition of FASN decreased cell viability by ~30%, underscoring the importance of lipogenesis for the survival of melanoma …

Linguistics And Math: Using Math To Understand The History Between Languages, Diana E. Dancea

Undergraduate Student Symposium

We investigate the idea of calculating distances in higher dimensions and then mapping them to 2D data visualizations and observing the results. Applying the experiment to a real-world representation, we consider the linguistic concept of the Swadesh list, a list of 207 standard concepts across languages, and use mathematical methods to analyze the lexical distances between languages. A lexical distance is a measure that defines a method to analyze the similarity or difference between two distinct languages. In Linguistics, the Levenshtien distance represents the number of characters needed to transform one word into another, which fits perfectly with what we …

Microbial Insights Into Green Iguanas: Unraveling Gut Microbiome Composition And Pathogenic Implications In Invasive Species, David Giordano

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Green iguanas (Iguana iguana) pose a significant threat as invasive species in Florida and parts of the Caribbean, exerting a detrimental impact on local ecosystems. While their herbivorous diet has been recognized for its adverse effects, the microbial composition of their gut remains poorly understood, especially in terms of potential pathogens. This study aims to characterize the gut microbiome of wild Green iguanas in South Florida, focusing on the 16S ribosomal RNA (V4 region) gene. Fecal samples were collected and analyzed using QIIME2, revealing a dominance of Enterobacteraceae, Mycoplasmataceae, and Bilophila genus taxa in Green iguana gut microbiomes. …

Modeling The Binding Of Tetrodotoxin And Saxitoxin To The Nav1.7 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel, Smrithi Mukund, Isabella Fiore, Laasya Buddharaju

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Approximately 1.5 billion people suffer from chronic pain, with 68 million people suffering in the U.S alone. Chronic pain is pain that persists longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment. Within the U.S. about 5.5 million cancer patients experience chronic pain. Around 20% of these pains have neuropathic origins and develop from radiation therapy. Halneuron, a new drug in development, seeks to provide pain relief to those suffering from chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. This drug includes Tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent neurotoxin found in species of pufferfish. Our 3D-printed model displays the structural details of TTX as a pore blocker within …

More Than Movement, Allison Holland

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The documentary film “More Than Movement” explores the different aspects that make dance what it is, from the perspective of dancers. There are many different arguments about what dance is considered, such as a sport, an art, a hobby, exercise, or all of the above. Professional dancers spend many hours in rehearsals training their bodies for performances, similar to any athlete who goes to practice to train for a game. It can also be compared to 2-dimensional art, where time and space would be the canvas and the dancer would paint the canvas with the movements of their body. The …

Porphyromonas Gingivalis Raga Protein Induces Rankl-Independent Osteoclastogenesis, Maria Castellon, Shin Nakamura, Satoru Shindo, Maria Rita Pastore, Alireza Heidari, Xiaozhe Han, Jade Lubin, Maria Hernandez, Saynur Vardar-Sengul, Jan Potempa

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Periodontal diseases (PD; gum diseases) are arguably the highest prevalent disease of mankind (Guinness World Records 2001). Emerging paradigms support that PD can predispose individuals to several systemic diseases, such as, cardiovascular disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. Over-reaction of host immune responses to oral pathobionts, including, Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), is responsible for the development of pathogenic inflammatory bone resorption lesions of PD. Pg present in deep, but not shallow, periodontal pockets possess Rag gene locus distinctively. However, possible pathogenic roles of RagA and RagB proteins encoded in Rag locus of Pg are largely unknown. This study aims …

Psychosocial Impacts Of Celiac Disease: Insights Into Quality Of Life, Social Challenges, And Coping Mechanisms Of Celiac Disease Patients, Michelle Milman, Mit Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes one’s immune system to launch an inflammatory attack in response to the ingestion of gluten which damages the lining of the small intestine and leads to health complications. For optimal management and treatment of celiac disease, a strictly gluten-free diet is essential. This review analyzes the psychosocial effects and well-being of living with a celiac disease diagnosis based on peer-reviewed primary research articles found in PubMed and Google Scholar. Studies reveal a profound impact of celiac disease on psychological and social well-being across various demographic groups. Pronounced psychological distress can be linked …

Quantification Of Persistent Organic Pollutants In Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus Ursinus) Vibrissae: A Novel Approach, Courtney White

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are characterized by their biologically accumulative nature, toxicity to organisms, and persistence in the environment. The physical and chemical properties of these “forever chemicals” enhance their capacity for global transport, and the ocean serves as their ultimate sink. The Eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, represents of 70% of the global breeding population but has been experiencing a discontinuous decline since 1980. A proposed contributing factor to this decline is contaminant exposure. This study developed a novel technique for analysis of POPs in keratinous tissue. A …