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Life Sciences Commons

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Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology

The University of Maine

Series

2018

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Finalizing The Genome Annotation Of Model Cluster E Mycobacteriophage Ukulele Via Rna-Seq Analysis, Jackson R. Foley May 2018

Finalizing The Genome Annotation Of Model Cluster E Mycobacteriophage Ukulele Via Rna-Seq Analysis, Jackson R. Foley

Honors College

Mycobacteriophage (phage) are viruses that infect bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium, including pathogenic M. tuberculosis and non-pathogenic M. smegmatis. Temperate phages are capable of undergoing both lytic and lysogenic infection. In lytic infections, phage lyse the host cell after replication. In lysogenic infection, the phage integrates its genome into the host genome (prophage) and replicates with the host. All pathogenic strains of Mycobacterium carry prophage that potentially contribute to host virulence and fitness. Formation and maintenance of these prophage is not well understood, particularly for cluster E phage. This project characterizes gene product (gp) 53, a potential Cro-like …


Identification Of Tnfaip8l1 Binding Partners Through Co-Immunoprecipitation And Mass Spectrometry, Audrey Hoyle May 2018

Identification Of Tnfaip8l1 Binding Partners Through Co-Immunoprecipitation And Mass Spectrometry, Audrey Hoyle

Honors College

The expanded understanding of the gene families and mechanisms governing tumorigenesis pathways has enormous potential for improving current cancer therapies and patient prognoses. One such gene family that participates in the regulation of tumorigenesis is the tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 8 (TNFAIP8) gene family, which is comprised of four members: TNFAIP8, TNFAIP8L1, TNFAIP8L2, and TNFAIP8L3. The TNFAIP8L1 gene is thought to function as a tumor suppressor, but the mechanisms by which it exerts this function have yet to be elucidated. We hypothesize that the TNFAIP8L1 protein acts as a tumor suppressor through protein-protein …


Determining The Role Of Saly In Streptococcus Pyogenes Immune Evasion Using Fluorescence Microscopy, Taaniel Kiidli May 2018

Determining The Role Of Saly In Streptococcus Pyogenes Immune Evasion Using Fluorescence Microscopy, Taaniel Kiidli

Honors College

Streptococcus pyogenes, the etiologic agent for several life-threatening invasive diseases, utilizes numerous mechanisms to evade the host immune response and establish a successful infection causing a significant source of morbidity and mortality risks for patients. The bacterium is known to cause necrotizing fasciitis in both humans and zebrafish, with extensive necrotic damage to tissues but surprisingly lacking in an inflammatory response for a systemic infection. This suggests that the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the site of infection is inhibited. To observe this in real-time, we used the zebrafish model of Streptococcal pathogenesis to analyze immune cell recruitment in …


Defining The Role Of Ip3r-Medicated Er Calcium Flux In Jc Polyomavirus Infection, Ashley N. Soucy May 2018

Defining The Role Of Ip3r-Medicated Er Calcium Flux In Jc Polyomavirus Infection, Ashley N. Soucy

Honors College

The human JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) persists as an asymptomatic infection in the kidneys of healthy individuals within the majority of the global population. Viral infection of JCPyV is established through peroral transmission due to poor sanitary practices. In severely immunocompromised individuals, JCPyV migrates to the central nervous system (CNS), resulting in the fatal and incurable demyelinating disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Virus-host cell interactions regulate infectious processes and influence viral pathogenesis. JCPyV attachment to host cells is mediated by α2,6-linked LSTc while internalization is mediated by 5-hydroxytryptamine serotonin type 2 receptors (5-HT2Rs). Activation of 5-HT2Rs can …