Life Sciences Commons^™

Does Manuka Honey Induce Antibiotic Resistant Bacterial Persisters And Viable But Non-Culturable Subpopulations?, Bryn Tennyson

2022 Symposium

Long-term antibiotic use has allowed microbes to develop resistance and cause chronic infectious diseases that were previously treatable. Resistance is phenomenon in which bacteria survive treatment with a concentration of antibiotics that was once lethal. Bacteria resist antibiotic treatment by genetic change or initiating states of dormancy called persisters or Viable but Non-Culturable (VBNCs) cells. These subpopulations of antibiotic resistant persisters and VBNCs increase with exposure to stresses, including antibiotic treatment, and are a major cause of reoccurring infections that result in significant morbidity and mortality. Manuka honey (MH), a well-known alternative broad-spectrum antimicrobial, is a promising treatment for cutaneous …

The Use Of Probiotic Applications In Early Life Stages To Mitigate Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis Infections In Rana Luteiventris (Columbia Spotted Frogs), Autumn N. Holley

2022 Symposium

Chytridiomycosis, an amphibian skin disease caused by a chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been linked to global amphibian declines. Some amphibian populations are resistant to severe infection due to symbiotic antifungal skin bacteria, but attempts to develop probiotics from these bacteria have been inconsistently successful because bacteria fail to persist on the skin. Studies have largely been conducted on adult and juvenile amphibians, despite amphibians having fewer known mechanisms for microbiome regulation prior to metamorphosis. We hypothesize that probiotics will persist longer and thus be more effective against pathogen infection if they are applied at an early life …

A Review Of Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Their Importance For Palouse Prairie Restoration And Management, Rachael Sv Pentico

2020 Symposium Posters

A plant-soil feedback (PSF) is the process in which plants alter both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the soil they grow in. These changes in the soil composition alter which plants can grow and survive there in the future. Negative PSFs occur when plants struggle to grow in soil that was previously inhabited, due to a buildup of soil pathogens. Positive PSFs, however, provide benefits to the plants due to an abundance of soil microbes, such as AMF. Understanding the effects that PSFs have on plant communities and dynamics could be vital for restoring damaged ecosystems, like the Palouse …

Effect Of Soil Moisture On Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza Sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. Establishment, Sarah E. Hill

2020 Symposium Posters

Every spring, Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt.) dots the landscape across the inland Pacific Northwest. Balsamroot’s copious blooms, numerous leaves, long lifespan, and resilience once established, make it popular in restoration seed mixes, although balsamroot displays erratic germination in the restoration context. Understanding the effects of variables, like the availability of soil moisture on the germination and establishment of balsamroot, could provide insights into the successes of restoration plantings, or planning. This study examines the relationship between soil moisture availability and balsamroot establishment, tracking growth and survival of balsamroot seedlings during their first season, across a range of …

Preliminary Microbiome Analysis Of Freshwater Bivalves From Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Dechen Edwards

2020 Symposium Posters

Eukaryotic hosts and their associated microbes exhibit variable relationships. Some are driven by well-documented benefits including microbial contributions to host digestion; others are less understood. In this project, we seek to understand how a host’s microbiome is differentiated from the surrounding, free-living microbial community and whether this process is altered by the presence of pollution. Here we present a protocol developed for the extraction, isolation, and identification of the microbial population found in freshwater “fingernail” clams (Sphaeriidae) based on modified methods from the Earth Microbiome Project and studies of freshwater amphibian and marine bivalve microbiomes. We first developed …

Size Scaling In The Skull Of North American Felids As Adaptations For Prey Acquisition, Ashley Destin, Judd A. Case

2020 McNair Scholar Collection

This comparative study explores the relationship between skull morphology and general body size among felids (house cat, lynx, puma), mustelids (minks, weasels, badgers), and canids (foxes, coyotes, wolves); with a focus on North American felids, as it relates to prey acquisition. Previous studies have focused on the evolution of the carnivore skull shape, which include the species examined in this study. Using measurement methods laid out by Radinsky (1981a; 1984), the size of skull components are compared to overall body size to determine the rate of scaling of skull features with body size.

Statistical evaluations of skull measurements within and …

Effects Of A Neonicotinoid Insecticide On The Growth Of Honey Bee Gut Microbes, Macee Mitchell, Daniel Franzese, Taylor Morales, Shane Lucht, Jesse Steele, Jenifer Walke

2020 Symposium Posters

The gut microbiome plays an essential role in the overall health of organisms. However, the presence and abundance of these microbes may be altered by environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides. The goals of this project were to understand 1) the prevalence of pesticide residues in honey bees in eastern Washington, and 2) the impact of pesticides to the honey bee gut microbiome. Accordingly, we tested bees from 24 hives among six sites across eastern Washington. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to detect the presence and concentration of six commonly used agricultural pesticides: Carbaryl, Chlorpyrifos, Coumaphos, Cypermethrin, …

Bull Trout (Salvelinus Confluentus) Can Detect Conspecific Pheromones In A Two Choice Y-Maze, Hannah M. Coles, Allan T. Scholz, Raymond Ostlie, Paul Spruell, Mark Paluch, Jason Connor

2019 Symposium

Two stocks of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) were tested in a two choice Y-maze to determine if they could detect pheromones from the same natal population (population specific pheromones PSP) or from a different (conspecific) population of Bull Trout (CSP). Fish from the Pack River (PR), Idaho and the Metolius River (MR), Oregon were transferred to a fish hatchery where Y-maze studies were conducted. The Y-maze was constructed to supply well water at 12°C (blank) to both arms with the temperature and discharge of each arm matched to within 0.1°C and 0.01 l/s. One arm was randomly selected …

Environmental And Anthropogenic Factors Affecting Coral Health, Kristin Jones

2019 Symposium

Plastic pollution is a large and growing problem in our ever producing world. Not only does it litter our cities, but it is cluttering up the natural world as well, the largest being our oceans. Plastic is dumped into the seas where it floats and slowly breaks down into microplastics that are then ingested by marine animals. I will conduct an experiment to test the effects of micro plastics on coral health by subjecting palythoa corals to different plastic levels in a controlled environment. I hypothesize that corals will ingest micro plastics and will suffer health consequences, leading to a …

A Dichotomous Key For The Identification Of Nine Salmonids Of The Inland Northwest Using Six Diagnostic Skull Bones : And Associated Equations To Estimate Total Length And Weight From Bones Ingested By Piscivores Or Found In Archeological Sites, Aaron G. Stroud, Allan T. Scholz, Fisheries Research Center (Cheney, Wash.)

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Fishes Of Eastern Washington: A Natural History, Volume 4, Allan T. Scholz, Josh Smith, Amanda Maifeld, Judy Mcmillan, Larry Conboy, Eastern Washington University. Department Of Biology., Eastern Washington University. University Graphics.

Biology Faculty Publications

Volume 4 of 4.

CHAPTER 6: KEY TO FAMILIES OF EASTERN WASHINGTON FISHES (REVISED), CHAPTER 18: FAMILY PERCOPSIDAE: TROUT-PERCHES, CHAPTER 19: FAMILY GADIDAE: CODS, CHAPTER 20: FAMILY POECILIIDAE: LIVEBEARERS, CHAPTER 21: FAMILY GASTEROSTEIDAE: STICKLEBACKS, CHAPTER 22: FAMILY COTTIDAE: SCULPINS, CHAPTER 23: FAMILY CENTRARCHIDAE: SUNFISHES, CHAPTER 24: FAMILY PERCIDAE: PERCH, CHAPTER 25: FISH WITH RARE OR UNCERTAIN STATUS IN EASTERN WASHINGTON, CHAPTER 26: LIMINOLOGY, WATER QUALITY, AND FISH HABITAT

Fishes Of Eastern Washington: A Natural History, Volume 1, Allan T. Scholz, Tyler Basler, Josh Smith, Judy Mcmillan, Larry Conboy, Eastern Washington University. Department Of Biology., Eastern Washington University. University Graphics.

Biology Faculty Publications

Volume 1 of 4.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION, CHAPTER 2: CHECKLISTS OF EXTANT AND FOSSIL FISHES FOUND IN EASTERN WASHINGTON, CHAPTER 3: THE DISCOVERERS, CHAPTER 4: GEOLOGY, CHAPTER 5: COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN HYDROLOGY AND FISH DISTRIBUTION IN EASTERN WASHINGTON

Fishes Of Eastern Washington: A Natural History, Volume 2, Allan T. Scholz, Tyler Basler, Josh Smith, Judy Mcmillan, Larry Conboy, Eastern Washington University. Department Of Biology., Eastern Washington University. University Graphics.

Biology Faculty Publications

Volume 2 of 4.

CHAPTER 6: KEY TO FAMILIES OF EASTERN WASHINGTON FISHES, CHAPTER 7: FAMILY PETROMYZONTIDAE: LAMPREYS, CHAPTER 8: FAMILY ACIPENSERIDAE: STURGEON, CHAPTER 9: FAMILY CLUPEIDAE: HERRINGS, CHAPTER 10: FAMILY CYPRINIDAE: CARPS AND MINNOWS, CHAPTER 11: Family Catostomidae: Suckers, CHAPTER 12: FAMILY ICTALURIDAE: BULLHEAD CATFISHES, CHAPTER 13: Family Esocidae: Pikes

Fishes Of Eastern Washington: A Natural History, Volume 3, Allan T. Scholz, Josh Smith, Amanda Maifeld, Judy Mcmillan, Larry Conboy, Eastern Washington University. Department Of Biology., Eastern Washington University. University Graphics.

Biology Faculty Publications

Volume 3 of 4.

CHAPTER 14: FAMILY SALMONIDAE: SALMON, TROUT, CHARR, WHITEFISH AND GRAYLINGS, CHAPTER 15: FAMILY SALMONIDAE (SUBFAMILY COREGONINAE): WHITEFISH, CHAPTER 16: FAMILY SALMONIDAE (SUBFAMILY MONINAE): SALMON, TROUT AND CHARR, CHAPTER 17: FAMILY SALMONIDAE (SUBFAMILY THYMALLINAE): GRAYLINGS

Pcr Amplification Of The Green Fluorescence Protein Gene For Sub-Cloning, Royce Hogue

2014 Symposium

We developed a plasmid cloning by PCR technique for the green fluorescence protein gene. PCR was used to amplify the GFP gene on the pGLO plasmid with custom PCR primers. The primer design included three sequences: 1) a leader sequence, 2) a restriction endonuclease recognition sequence for the cloning site, and 3) a complimentary sequence to the GFP gene. The GFP gene amplicon was ligated to pre-cut pUC18. The recombinant pUC18 was transformed using chemically competent E. coli DH5a. A blue/white screening method was used to identify the recombinant clones.

Evolution Of A Higher Intracellular Oxidizing Environment In Caenorhabditis Elegans Under Relaxed Selection, Joanna Joyner-Matos, Kiley A. Hicks, Dustin Cousins, Michelle Keller, Dee R. Denver, Charles F. Baer, Suzanne Estes

Biology Faculty Publications

We explored the relationship between relaxed selection, oxidative stress, and spontaneous mutation in a set of mutation-accumulation (MA) lines of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and in their common ancestor. We measured steady-state levels of free radicals and oxidatively damaged guanosine nucleosides in the somatic tissues of five MA lines for which nuclear genome base substitution and GC-TA transversion frequencies are known. The two markers of oxidative stress are highly correlated and are elevated in the MA lines relative to the ancestor; point estimates of the per-generation rate of mutational decay (DM) of these measures of oxidative stress are similar to …

Sensory Exploitation And Indicator Models May Explain Red Pelvic Spines In The Brook Stickleback, Culaea Inconstans, Andrew Hodgson, A. Ross Black, Ryan Hull

Biology Faculty Publications

Background: Sensory bias models explaining the evolution of sexually selected traits predict that trait preferences evolve as an artifact of a pre-existing preference for certain components of the environment such as specifically coloured prey. Indicator models, in contrast, predict that sexually selected traits indicate mate condition. We investigate the potential for sensory exploitation and condition indication models to explain the evolution of what appears to be a recently evolved sexually selected trait. Question: Did red pelvic spine coloration in male Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) evolve to exploit a pre-existing sensory bias for red prey, thus …

Conserved Transcriptional Unit Organization Of The Cag Pathogenicity Island Among Helicobacter Pylori Strains, Linda H. Ta, Lori M. Hansen, William E. Sause, Olga Shiva, Aram Millstein, Karen M. Ottemann, Andrea Castillo, Jay V. Solnick

Biology Faculty Publications

The Helicobacter pylori cag pathogenicity island (cag PAI) encodes a type IV secretion system that is more commonly found in strains isolated from patients with gastroduodenal disease than from those with asymptomatic gastritis. Genome-wide organization of the transcriptional units in H. pylori strain 26695 was recently established using RNA sequence analysis (Sharma et al., 2010). Here we used quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction of open reading frames and intergenic regions to identify putative cag PAI operons in H. pylori; these operons were analyzed further by transcript profiling after deletion of selected promoter regions. Additionally, we used a promoter-trap system to …

A Meta-Analysis Of Resource Pulse-Consumer Interactions, Louie H. Yang, Kyle F. Edwards, Jarrett E. Byrnes, Justin Bastow, Amber N. Wright, Kenneth O. Spence

Biology Faculty Publications

Resource Pulses are infrequent, large-magnitude, and short-duration events of increased resource availability. They include a diverse set of extreme events in a wide range of ecosystems, but identifying general patterns among the diversity of pulsed resource phenomena in nature remains an important challenge. Here we present a meta-analysis of resource pulse-consumer interactions that addresses four key questions: (1) Which characteristics of pulsed resources best predict their effects on consumers? (2) Which characteristics of consumers best predict their responses to resource pulses? (3) How do the effects of resource Pulses differ in different ecosystems? (4) What are the indirect effects of …

Fishes Of The Columbia And Snake River Basins In Eastern Washington, Allan T. Scholz, Holly J. Mclellan, Fisheries Research Center, Eastern Washington University

Biology Faculty Publications

"This book was prepared through a grant from the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)."

Chapter 1 Introduction, Chapter 2 Checklist of Fishes Found in Eastern Washington, Chapter 3 Fish Identification and Classification Aids to Identification of Fishes, Chapter 4 Key to Families of Eastern Washington Fishes, Chapter 5 Family Petromyzontidae: Lampreys, Chapter 6 Family Acipenseridae: Sturgeon, Chapter 7 Family Clupeidae: Herrings, Chapter 8 Family Cyprinidae: Carps and Minnows, Chapter 9 Family Catostomidae: Suckers, Chapter 10 Family Ictaluridae: Bullhead Catfishes, Chapter 11 Family Esocidae: Pikes, Chapter 12 Family Salmonidae: Salmon, Trout, Whitefish, Grayling, Chapter 13 …

Field Guide To The Fishes Of Eastern Washington, Allan T. Scholz, Holly J. Mclellan, Judy Mcmillan, Larry Conboy, Michelle Kirkendall, Angela Davis, Eastern Washington University. Department Of Biology., Eastern Washington University. University Graphics., United States. Bureau Of Land Management.

Biology Faculty Publications

"This book was prepared through a grant from the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)."

Recombination-Based In Vivo Expression Technology Identifies Helicobacter Pylori Genes Important For Host Colonization, Andrea Castillo, Andrew J. Woodruff, Lynn E. Connolly, William E. Sause, Karen M. Ottemann

Biology Faculty Publications

Here we undertook to identify colonization and gastric disease-promoting factors of the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori as genes that were induced in response to the stomach environment. Using recombination-based in vivo expression technology (RIVET), we identified six promoters induced in the host compared to laboratory conditions. Three of these promoters, designated Pivi10, Pivi66, and Pivi77, regulate genes that H. pylori may use to interact with other microbes or the host. Pivi10 likely regulates the mobA, mobB, and mobD genes, which have potential roles in horizontal gene transfer through plasmid mobilization. Pivi66 occurs in the cytotoxin-associated gene pathogenicity island, a …

Investigations Of Migratory Bull Trout (Salvelinus Confluentus) In Relation To Fish Passage At Albeni Falls Dam, Allan T. Scholz, Holly J. Mclellan, David R. Geist, Richard S. Brown, United States Department Of The Army Corps Of Engineers, Seattle District, Eastern Washington University

Biology Faculty Publications

Final report prepared for the United States Department of the Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District. Contract No. DACW68-02-D-001

Ethanol: A Better Preservation Technique For Daphnia, A. Ross Black, Stanley I. Dodson

Biology Faculty Publications

A 4% formalin-40% sucrose solution has been used by limnologists for three decades as the preferred freshwater zooplankton preservative because it kills and fixes cladocera (Branchiopoda) with relatively little distortion. Because of the increasing evidence of health hazards related to formalin, we sought an alternative, safer preservative that satisfies the need for low distortion. Our results suggest the ethanol preservative methods (70% and 95% treatments) are as good or better as using 4% sugar formalin to fix and store samples. Our results indicate the best method is to fix samples in 95% EtOH followed by storage in 70% EtOH. This …

Genotypic Diversity In Populations Of A Fungal Endophyte From Douglas-Fir, Timothy L. Mccutcheon, George C. Carroll, Suzanne Schwab

Biology Faculty Publications

Rhabdocline parkeri, an endophyte of Douglas fir, forms symptomless infections within single epidermal cells of healthy needles. Rhabdocline parkeri strains were isolated from trees growing in various habitats ranging from virgin old growth forests to a single young tree growing isolated in a meadow. Different genotypes of R. parkeri were distinguished by using the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. A significantly lower number of R. parkeri genotypes per unit foliage were isolated from trees within a 20-year-old managed stand and from an isolated tree than from old growth trees. Foliage from young trees (20 years old) in a stand …

Muscle Activities That Stretch The Mind, James L. Hanegan, Heather Mckean

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Hands-On Activities That Relate Mendelian Genetics To Cell-Division, Heather Mckean, Linda S. Gibson

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.