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Evaluating Telmisartan's Impact On Metabolic Health And Cognitive Function In Mice Subjected To A High-Fat Diet, Julianna Bonetti, Ariana Hernandez, Iliana Uribe, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Chana Vogel, Nikhila Paleati, Natalia Noto

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A high-fat diet can induce metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In turn, metabolic diseases increase the likelihood of developing neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. dementia, anxiety, and depression). While telmisartan, an ARB (angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker), is known to treat hypertension, it can also reduce weight gain, while improving dyslipidemia and glucose metabolism in male mice fed a high-fat diet. However, it is unknown whether telmisartan can reverse behavioral changes caused by a high-fat diet. This study assesses the effects of treatment with telmisartan on metabolic outcomes and cognitive-behavioral function, …

Evaluating The Association Between Undergraduate Major And Telehealth Utilization, Nimisha Kumar, Rojie Ekanayake, Wardah Lodhi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Telehealth is a rapidly advancing phenomenon that utilizes technology to provide long-distance healthcare services to patients. The convenience of telehealth services is essential during emergency situations. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased awareness and reliance of telehealth services worldwide. Additionally, telehealth provides time-saving crisis intervention amongst the recent worsening of the fentanyl and opioid crisis. Telehealth’s increased flexibility and convenience benefits populations facing barriers to healthcare access. As telehealth rapidly evolves, it is crucial to understand the factors that influence its adoption. The purpose of this study is to evaluate any associations between undergraduate students’ majors and telehealth …

Exercise As A Natural Kappa Opioid Receptor To Treat Binge Drinking Withdrawal, Eleanor Wind, Iliana Uribe, Ariana Hernandez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Binge drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States especially among college students. Clinical trials demonstrate positive results for the treatment of alcohol abuse with aerobic exercise. Research in animal models aims to answer questions regarding implementation across sexes and age groups by studying underlying neurobiological mechanisms such as kappa opioid receptor (KOR) activation. KOR antagonists have been shown to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms associated with ethanol withdrawal. Chronic treadmill exercise reduces KOR binding and G-protein activation in rodents, suggesting exercise could have an effect on symptoms of ethanol withdrawal similar to KOR antagonists. Previous research …

Expanding Shelter Dog Research And Service To Encompass University Campus Communities, Lea Stephen, Richa Patel, Raquel Walton

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Many animal shelters are actively exploring social enrichment (SE) programs to alleviate animal stress and reduce residency times. SE invests in resources for focal animals (e.g. field trips, play groups, and/or augmented cages) to improve health, temperament, and adoption prospects. SE hinges on many factors, including strategic design and resource recruitment (e.g. human volunteers) to implement data-driven protocols. We propose that college students can help expand and refine SE efforts of campus-adjacent animal shelters, while meeting student needs for meaningful service and research opportunities. To demonstrate this, we completed diverse SE-related activities over the last two semesters using public data, …

Exploration Of Mdm2-Aurkb Regulatory Interaction: Implications For Cell Cycle Arrest And Cell Death In Lung Cancer, Akshara Sriram, Esha Surana

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Lung cancer is the most prevalent cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with a 5-year survival rate of 26.6% in the USA contributing to a higher mortality in comparison to other cancers. Among various abnormalities, MDM2 overexpression can positively influence the intracellular mechanisms and contribute to cancer progression through AURKB activation. Also, FOXO3A, a member of the Forkhead Box transcription factors linked to MDM2, serve as intermediates for various cellular mechanisms, including tumorigenesis, cell cycle progression, DNA damage, and cell death. Therefore, blocking MDM2 with specific inhibitors has become one of the promising strategies for the restoration of p53 mediated tumor …

Exploring Dysphagia In Alzheimer's Disease: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Literature Review, Katheline Hernandez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer's disease and dementia are progressive conditions that develop gradually, potentially heightening the risk of dysphagia, a condition characterized by difficulties in swallowing. As Alzheimer's disease advances, it can impact cognitive and motor functions, potentially causing challenges in coordinating the muscles involved in the swallowing process. The aim of this literature review was to investigate and determine the prevalence of dysphagia among individuals with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, identify symptoms associated with dysphagia associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, explore relevant dysphagia interventions employed by healthcare professionals, and pinpoint common assessments used to identify both dementia and dysphagia. The systematic …

Exploring The Genetic Elements Regarding The Early Onset Of Arthritis Due To Crohn's Disease, Vamsi Korisapati, Karam Asad

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Crohn’s disease is a rare inflammatory bowel disease that negatively impacts the lining of the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease increases the probability of early onset arthritis, both of which are commonly associated chronic conditions. An overactive immune response is the primary cause of inflammation in Crohn's disease, and this inflammation can damage not only the digestive tract but also other regions of the body such as the joints. However, patients who are diagnosed with arthritis are typically prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which are not recommended for patients with Crohn’s disease (ex. aspirin, naproxen, & celecoxib). On the other hand, disease-modifying …

Exploring The Therapeutic Potential Of Telmisartan Against High Fat Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Dose- And Sex-Dependent Study In Mice, Nitisha Dundigalla, Ariana Hernandez, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Chana Vogel, Iliana Uribe, Shalet James, Eleanor Wind, Natalia Noto, Valeria Cohen, Julianna Bonetti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver, often developing in response to poor diet consumption and associated metabolic disturbances (obesity, Type II diabetes). Telmisartan, an Angiotensin II receptor blocker commonly used for treating hypertension, may hold therapeutic value against the adverse metabolic effects of a high fat (HF) diet, including NAFLD. This project explores whether the effects of Telmisartan are dose- and sex-dependent in obese, prediabetic mice. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were fed high-fat (HF) or low-fat (LF) diet starting at ~3 months old; diet was maintained for the remainder …

Exploring Trends In Hate Crime Statistics And Trauma-Related Disorders In Asian And Black Americans, 2017-2021, Arun Jagarlamudi, Meghana Jagarlamudi, Varun Jagarlamudi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The rise of COVID-19 and social movements (i.e., protests) were also accompanied with the rise of hate crimes, specifically against Asian and Black communities. Along with physical threats from hate crimes, long-term consequences of this include trauma-related responses such as developing feelings of anger and facing higher risks of PTSD compared to other crimes committed against these groups. This project explored a 5-year trend analysis of the relationship between hate crimes and trauma-related mental health disorders among Black and Asian populations in the United States. It was hypothesized that hate crimes and trauma-related disorders would be positively correlated and would …

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 …

Flirting With Danger: A Review Of Mental Health Factors Associated With Sexual Risk Behaviors In Young Adult Women, Megana Guntur

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Sexual risk behavior is a global public health challenge that contributes to transmission of sexually transmitted infection, negatively affecting the health of young people all around the world, particularly young women. Both the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified reduction of sexually transmitted infections as a goal for which reducing sexual risk behavior is crucial. In recent years, as the prevalence of mental health issues has risen in young people, several studies have examined the associations between mental health factors and participation in risky sexual behaviors. The present review synthesizes findings from research …

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 …

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 …

Influence Of Growth Efficiency, Bacterial Density, And Metabolism On Antibiotic Resistance In Staphylococcus Aureus, Shreeya Patel, Estefania Marin Meneses

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antibiotic resistance presents a formidable challenge in medicine, with rising mortality rates and escalating hospital expenses attributed to infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. To address this critical issue, comprehending the mechanisms of bacterial resistance is paramount to the development of innovate drugs and treatment strategies. One such mechanism is the inoculum effect (IE), where the initial bacterial population density determines the minimum concentration of antibiotic required to eliminate the population. While previous work has shown that for gram negative bacteria, the relationship between ATP production and growth rate can account for the IE. However, it remains unclear as to if …

Interactions Between Atp Production, Growth Rate, And Antibiotic Lethality Determine The Inoculum Effect In Β-Lactamase-Expression Escherichia Coli, Ariane Kalifa, Philopatier Ibrahim, Kielan Singh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antibiotic resistance is a global threat, claiming approximately five million lives annually and impacting nations worldwide. In the U.S.A., this issue is significant, with 2.8 million diagnosed cases leading to 35,000 deaths each year. One way that bacteria can resist antibiotic treatment is through the inoculum effect (IE). IE explains how the concentration of antibiotics required to kill a population of bacteria increases as a function of bacterial density. Recently it was found that increasing ATP production/growth rate decreases the strength of IE. However, we do not know if this relationship can predict IE in bacteria that express β-lactamases as …

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 …

Ketogenic Diet Improves Cognitive-Behavioral Function In A Mouse Model Of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Chana Vogel, Lauren Rosenburg, Iliana Uribe, Ariana Hernandez, Bianca Echeverria

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), characterized by the accumulation of amyloid protein in cerebral vessels, is linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD), stroke, and cognitive impairment. Currently, there is no effective treatment or prevention for this condition. The ketogenic diet (KD), which is characterized by high fat, low carbohydrate, and moderate protein consumption, has gained considerable attention in recent years for its potential therapeutic use in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Studies in AD rodent models have found that KD and/or ketogenic supplements attenuate cognitive-behavioral impairments and dementia-related pathology. However, it is unknown whether KD can similarly benefit individuals with CAA. Considering KD’s …

Learning From Louisiana: How Legislation And Location Affect Lgbtq+ Youth Mental Health, Abhay Dharanikota

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Queer youth are disproportionately vulnerable to mental health challenges including elevated risks of social isolation and suicide ideation. Disparities in mental health outcomes among queer students exist across states, but the underlying factors contributing to these variations remain unclear. This research aims to understand why certain states exhibit better mental health outcomes among queer youth than others by analyzing nationwide LGBTQ+ mental health statistics. This knowledge can then inform effective programs and approaches to improving outcomes in other states. It is hypothesized that states offering accessible mental health services, safe spaces such as Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs), and LGBTQ-affirming …

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 …

Long-Term Outcomes Of Covid-19 Survivors With Pre-Existing Dementia, Roham Hadidchi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

It is known that patients with dementia are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to older age and may be susceptible to worse acute outcomes. Whether or not acute COVID-19 infection predisposes patients with pre-existing dementia to worse longer-term outcomes is unknown and few studies compare COVID-19 survivors with non-COVID controls. This retrospective study evaluated 9,806 patients with dementia in the Montefiore Health System in the Bronx (January 2016 to July 2023), which serves a large minority population in the epicenter of the pandemic. Patients who had pre-existing dementia at the time of COVID-19 infection (COVID-19 group) or the …

Metabolic Potentation Of Antibiotic Lethality From Carbon Source Preference In P. Aeruginosa And S. Aureus, Pooja Parikh, Trent Moudler

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health concern with a dire need for new solutions. This problem has only been exacerbated in recent years due to the misuse of antibiotics and globalization. As new antibiotic drugs are costly and time-intensive, it is imperative to understand and study creative new ways to combat AMR. In both natural ecosystems and clinical infections, microorganisms seldom exist in isolation. Rather, they flourish within polymicrobial communities, presenting unique challenges for therapeutic interventions owing to elaborate inter-species interactions. Two such pathogens are Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA); bacteria commonly found in patients with …

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 Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Knw For Possible Optimized Asthma Treatment, Sreejani Jonnalagadda, Shalet James

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Under-diagnosed and under-treated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, asthma has affected 262 million people globally in 2019. Cysteinyl leukotriene receptors (Cys-LTRs) are a δ-branch of class A G protein-coupled receptors associated with physiological functions in airways with allergic inflammation. Current antiasthmatic medications such as pranlukast inhibit CysLT1R, yet many patients still do not respond to this drug. To better understand this process, the related receptor CysLT2R has been identified as a promising drug target for not only asthma but also other conditions such as brain injury and cancer. CysLT1R is associated with bronchoconstriction, inflammation, and mucus production in the …

Molecular Diagnostics Of Toxoplasma Gondii, The World's Most Interesting Parasite, In Diverse Floridian Avifauna, Trisha Jaganathan, Sri Vaishnavi Konagalla, Roshini Bodicherla, Sonia Rao, Mihir Kurup, Adam Sewnarine, Pari Cribbins

Undergraduate Student Symposium

T. gondii is an intracellular parasite that infects terrestrial mammals and birds worldwide; it also has important impacts on human and wildlife health. Data on this parasite’s prevalence in our local (South Florida) ecosystem is lacking, which could help inform both public health and conservation efforts. Our questions for this study include: a) how prevalent is this parasite locally? b) do avian species differ in infection rates? c) does parasite abundance differ between localities?

Thus far, tissues have been dissected from carcasses provided by partner conversation facilities, including two very common South Florida bird species: Green Herons (a large wetland-associated …