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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Foraminifera As A Model Of Eukaryotic Genome Dynamism, Caitlin Timmons, Kristine Le, H. B. Rappaport, Elinor G. Sterner, Xyrus X. Maurer-Alcaláh, Susan T. Goldstein, Laura A. Katz Mar 2024

Foraminifera As A Model Of Eukaryotic Genome Dynamism, Caitlin Timmons, Kristine Le, H. B. Rappaport, Elinor G. Sterner, Xyrus X. Maurer-Alcaláh, Susan T. Goldstein, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

In contrast to the canonical view that genomes cycle only between haploid and diploid states, many eukaryotes have dynamic genomes that change content throughout an individual’s life cycle. However, the few detailed studies of microeukaryotic life cycles render our understanding of eukaryotic genome dynamism incomplete. Foraminifera (Rhizaria) are an ecologically important, yet understudied, clade of microbial eukaryotes with complex life cycles that include changes in ploidy and genome organization. Here, we apply fluorescence microscopy and image analysis techniques to over 2,800 nuclei in 110 cells to characterize the life cycle of Allogromia laticollaris strain Cold Spring Harbor (CSH), one of …


How Development And Survival Combine To Determine The Thermal Sensitivity Of Insects, Mariana Abarca, Anna L. Parker, Elise A. Larsen, James Umbanhowar, Chandra Earl, Robert Guralnick, Joel Kingsolver, Leslie Ries Jan 2024

How Development And Survival Combine To Determine The Thermal Sensitivity Of Insects, Mariana Abarca, Anna L. Parker, Elise A. Larsen, James Umbanhowar, Chandra Earl, Robert Guralnick, Joel Kingsolver, Leslie Ries

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Thermal performance curves (TPCs) depict variation in vital rates in response to temperature and have been an important tool to understand ecological and evolutionary constraints on the thermal sensitivity of ectotherms. TPCs allow for the calculation of indicators of thermal tolerance, such as minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures that allow for a given metabolic function. However, these indicators are computed using only responses from surviving individuals, which can lead to underestimation of deleterious effects of thermal stress, particularly at high temperatures. Here, we advocate for an integrative frame- work for assessing thermal sensitivity, which combines both vital rates and survival …


A Snapshot Into The Lives Of Elephants: Camera Traps And Conservation In Etosha National Park, Namibia, Jodie L. Berezin, Amanda J. Odom, Virginia Hayssen, Caitlin E. O'Connell-Rodwell Nov 2023

A Snapshot Into The Lives Of Elephants: Camera Traps And Conservation In Etosha National Park, Namibia, Jodie L. Berezin, Amanda J. Odom, Virginia Hayssen, Caitlin E. O'Connell-Rodwell

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Knowledge of elephant movement and grouping patterns in the wild is critical for their management and conservation. Much of these data come from GPS collar data and aerial surveys, which have provided invaluable information, but data from these methods are often limited to small groups or entire populations. Effective elephant management requires both generalized and localized methodologies. Here, we propose the expanded use of camera traps in research relating to elephant localized movements and grouping patterns as an additional tool for elephant conservation management. In this study, we use a battery-powered camera trap to provide daily high-resolution data of African …


Effect Of Tamoxifen On Proteome Expression During In Vitro Myogenesis In Murine Skeletal Muscle C2C12 Cells, Emily A. Morris, Ahlenne Abreu, S. P. Scordilis Aug 2023

Effect Of Tamoxifen On Proteome Expression During In Vitro Myogenesis In Murine Skeletal Muscle C2C12 Cells, Emily A. Morris, Ahlenne Abreu, S. P. Scordilis

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Tamoxifen (TMX), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, is commonly used in the treatment of hormone-responsive cancers. However, the effects of TMX in anabolic tissues harboring estrogen receptors, such as skeletal muscle, are poorly understood. We report a tandem mass-tag approach to TMX-treated myogenesis in C2C12 cells, a well-characterized model of in vitro murine skeletal muscle differentiation. A longitudinal analysis of >10,000 proteins identified in untreated C2C12 myogenesis revealed a novel subset of 1,062 myogenically regulated proteins. These proteins clustered into five distinct longitudinal expression trends which significantly overlap those obtained in similar analyses performed …


Updated Virophage Taxonomy And Distinction From Polinton-Like Viruses, Simon Roux, Matthias G. Fischer, Thomas Hackl, Laura A. Katz, Frederik Schulz, Natalya Yutin Feb 2023

Updated Virophage Taxonomy And Distinction From Polinton-Like Viruses, Simon Roux, Matthias G. Fischer, Thomas Hackl, Laura A. Katz, Frederik Schulz, Natalya Yutin

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Virophages are small dsDNA viruses that hijack the machinery of giant viruses during the co-infection of a protist (i.e., microeukaryotic) host and represent an exceptional case of “hyperparasitism” in the viral world. While only a handful of virophages have been isolated, a vast diversity of virophage-like sequences have been uncovered from diverse metagenomes. Their wide ecological distribution, idiosyncratic infection and replication strategy, ability to integrate into protist and giant virus genomes and potential role in antiviral defense have made virophages a topic of broad interest. However, one limitation for further studies is the lack of clarity regarding the nomenclature and …


Updated Virophage Taxonomy And Distinction From Polinton-Like Viruses, Simon Roux, Matthias G. Fischer, Thomas Hackl, Laura A. Katz, Frederik Schulz, Natalya Yutin Jan 2023

Updated Virophage Taxonomy And Distinction From Polinton-Like Viruses, Simon Roux, Matthias G. Fischer, Thomas Hackl, Laura A. Katz, Frederik Schulz, Natalya Yutin

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Virophages are small dsDNA viruses that hijack the machinery of giant viruses during the co-infection of a protist (i.e., microeukaryotic) host and represent an exceptional case of “hyperparasitism” in the viral world. While only a handful of virophages have been isolated, a vast diversity of virophage-like sequences have been uncovered from diverse metagenomes. Their wide ecological distribution, idiosyncratic infection and replication strategy, ability to integrate into protist and giant virus genomes and potential role in antiviral defense have made virophages a topic of broad interest. However, one limitation for further studies is the lack of clarity regarding the nomenclature and …


Targeting A Highly Repetitive Genomic Sequence For Sensitive And Specific Molecular Detection Of The Filarial Parasite Mansonella Perstans From Human Blood And Mosquitoes, Nils Pilotte, Tamara Thomas, Michael F. Zulch, Allison R. Sirois, Corrado Minetti, Lisa J. Reimer, Steven A. Williams, Lori J. Saunders Dec 2022

Targeting A Highly Repetitive Genomic Sequence For Sensitive And Specific Molecular Detection Of The Filarial Parasite Mansonella Perstans From Human Blood And Mosquitoes, Nils Pilotte, Tamara Thomas, Michael F. Zulch, Allison R. Sirois, Corrado Minetti, Lisa J. Reimer, Steven A. Williams, Lori J. Saunders

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background Mansonella perstans is among the most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases and is believed to cause more human infections than any other filarial pathogen in Africa. Based largely upon assumptions of limited infection-associated morbidity, this pathogen remains understudied, and many basic questions pertaining to its pathogenicity, distribution, prevalence, and vector-host relationships remain unanswered. However, in recent years, mounting evidence of the potential for increased Mansonella infection-associated disease has sparked a renewal in research interest. This, in turn, has produced a need for improved diagnostics, capable of providing more accurate pictures of infection prevalence, pathogen distribution, and vector-host interactions. …


Extracellular Dnases Facilitate Antagonism And Coexistence In Bacterial Competitor-Sensing Interference Competition, Aoi Ogawa, Christophe Golé, Maria Bermudez, Odrine Habarugira, Gabrielle Joslin, Taylor Mccain, Autumn Mineo, Jennifer Wise, Julie Xiong, Katherine Yan, Jan A.C. Vriezen Nov 2022

Extracellular Dnases Facilitate Antagonism And Coexistence In Bacterial Competitor-Sensing Interference Competition, Aoi Ogawa, Christophe Golé, Maria Bermudez, Odrine Habarugira, Gabrielle Joslin, Taylor Mccain, Autumn Mineo, Jennifer Wise, Julie Xiong, Katherine Yan, Jan A.C. Vriezen

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Over the last 4 decades, the rate of discovery of novel antibiotics has decreased drastically, ending the era of fortuitous antibiotic discovery. A better understanding of the biology of bacteriogenic toxins potentially helps to prospect for new antibiotics. To initiate this line of research, we quantified antagonists from two different sites at two different depths of soil and found the relative number of antagonists to correlate with the bacterial load and carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio of the soil. Consecutive studies show the importance of antagonist interactions between soil isolates and the lack of a predicted role for nutrient availability and, therefore, …


Integrated Xenosurveillance Of Loa Loa, Wuchereria Bancrofti, Mansonella Perstans And Plasmodium Falciparum Using Mosquito Carcasses And Faeces: A Pilot Study In Cameroon, Joseph Pryce, Nils Pilotte, Benjamin Menze, Allison R. Sirois, Michael Zulch, Jean Pierre Agbor, Steven A. Williams, Charles S. Wondji, Lisa Reimer Nov 2022

Integrated Xenosurveillance Of Loa Loa, Wuchereria Bancrofti, Mansonella Perstans And Plasmodium Falciparum Using Mosquito Carcasses And Faeces: A Pilot Study In Cameroon, Joseph Pryce, Nils Pilotte, Benjamin Menze, Allison R. Sirois, Michael Zulch, Jean Pierre Agbor, Steven A. Williams, Charles S. Wondji, Lisa Reimer

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background Community presence of loiasis must be determined before mass drug administration programmes for lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis can be implemented. However, taking human blood samples for loiasis surveillance is invasive and operationally challenging. A xenosurveillance approach based on the molecular screening of mosquitoes and their excreta/feces (E/F) for Loa loa DNA may provide a non-invasive method for detecting the community presence of loiasis. Methods We collected 770 wild mosquitoes during a pilot study in a known loiasis transmission area in Mbalmayo, Cameroon. Of these, 376 were preserved immediately while 394 were kept in pools to collect 36-hour E/F samples …


Taxon-Rich Transcriptomics Supports Higher-Level Phylogeny And Major Evolutionary Trends In Foraminifera, Roberto Sierra, Florian Mauffrey, Joana Cruz, Maria Holzmann, Andrew J. Gooday, Xyrus Maurer-Alcalá, Rabindra Thakur, Mattia Greco, Agnes K.M. Weiner, Laura A. Katz, Jan Pawlowski Sep 2022

Taxon-Rich Transcriptomics Supports Higher-Level Phylogeny And Major Evolutionary Trends In Foraminifera, Roberto Sierra, Florian Mauffrey, Joana Cruz, Maria Holzmann, Andrew J. Gooday, Xyrus Maurer-Alcalá, Rabindra Thakur, Mattia Greco, Agnes K.M. Weiner, Laura A. Katz, Jan Pawlowski

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Foraminifera, classified in the supergroup Rhizaria, are a common and highly diverse group of mainly marine protists. Despite their evolutionary and ecological importance, only limited genomic data (one partial genome and nine transcriptomic datasets) have been published for this group. Foraminiferal molecular phylogeny is largely based on 18S rRNA gene sequence analysis. However, due to highly variable evolutionary rates of substitution in ribosomal genes plus the existence of intragenomic variation at this locus, the relationships between and within foraminiferal classes remain uncertain. We analyze transcriptomic data from 28 species, adding 19 new species to the previously published dataset, including members …


Epigenetic Influences Of Mobile Genetic Elements On Ciliate Genome Architecture And Evolution, Caitlin M. Timmons, Shahed U.A. Shazib, Laura A. Katz Sep 2022

Epigenetic Influences Of Mobile Genetic Elements On Ciliate Genome Architecture And Evolution, Caitlin M. Timmons, Shahed U.A. Shazib, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are transient genetic material that can move either within a single organism's genome or between individuals or species. While historically considered “junk” DNA (i.e., deleterious or at best neutral), more recent studies reveal the potential adaptive advantages MGEs provide in lineages across the tree of life. Ciliates, a group of single-celled microbial eukaryotes characterized by nuclear dimorphism, exemplify how epigenetic influences from MGEs shape genome architecture and patterns of molecular evolution. Ciliate nuclear dimorphism may have evolved as a response to transposon invasion and ciliates have since co-opted transposons to carry out programmed DNA deletion. Another …


Evaluating Molecular Xenomonitoring As A Tool For Lymphatic Filariasis Surveillance In Samoa, 2018–2019, Brady Mcpherson, Helen J. Mayfield, Angus Mclure, Katherine Gass, Take Naseri, Robert Thomsen, Steven A. Williams, Nils Pilotte, Therese Kearns, Patricia M. Graves, Colleen L. Lau Aug 2022

Evaluating Molecular Xenomonitoring As A Tool For Lymphatic Filariasis Surveillance In Samoa, 2018–2019, Brady Mcpherson, Helen J. Mayfield, Angus Mclure, Katherine Gass, Take Naseri, Robert Thomsen, Steven A. Williams, Nils Pilotte, Therese Kearns, Patricia M. Graves, Colleen L. Lau

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Molecular xenomonitoring (MX), the detection of filarial DNA in mosquitoes using molecular methods (PCR), is a potentially useful surveillance strategy for lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination programs. Delay in filarial antigen (Ag) clearance post-treatment is a limitation of using human surveys to provide an early indicator of the impact of mass drug administration (MDA), and MX may be more useful in this setting. We compared prevalence of infected mosquitoes pre- and post-MDA (2018 and 2019) in 35 primary sampling units (PSUs) in Samoa, and investigated associations between the presence of PCR-positive mosquitoes and Ag-positive humans. We observed a statistically significant decline …


Phylogenomic Analyses Of 2,786 Genes In 158 Lineages Support A Root Of The Eukaryotic Tree Of Life Between Opisthokonts And All Other Lineages, Mario A. Cerón-Romero, Miguel M. Fonseca, Leonardo De Oliveira Martins, David Posada, Laura A. Katz Aug 2022

Phylogenomic Analyses Of 2,786 Genes In 158 Lineages Support A Root Of The Eukaryotic Tree Of Life Between Opisthokonts And All Other Lineages, Mario A. Cerón-Romero, Miguel M. Fonseca, Leonardo De Oliveira Martins, David Posada, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Advances in phylogenomics and high-throughput sequencing have allowed the reconstruction of deep phylogenetic relationships in the evolution of eukaryotes. Yet, the root of the eukaryotic tree of life remains elusive. The most popular hypothesis in textbooks and reviews is a root between Unikonta (Opisthokonta + Amoebozoa) and Bikonta (all other eukaryotes), which emerged from analyses of a single-gene fusion. Subsequent, highly cited studies based on concatenation of genes supported this hypothesis with some variations or proposed a root within Excavata. However, concatenation of genes does not consider phylogenetically-informative events like gene duplications and losses. A recent study using gene tree …


Illuminating Protist Diversity In Pitcher Plants And Bromeliad Tanks, Robin S. Sleith, Laura A. Katz Jul 2022

Illuminating Protist Diversity In Pitcher Plants And Bromeliad Tanks, Robin S. Sleith, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Many species of plants have evolved structures called phytotelmata that store water and trap detritus and prey. These structures house diverse communities of organisms, the inquiline microbiome, that aids breakdown of litter and prey. The invertebrate and bacterial food webs in these systems are well characterized, but less is known about microbial eukaryotic community dynamics. In this study we focus on microbes in the SAR clade (Stramenopila, Alveolata, Rhizaria) inhabiting phytotelmata. Using small subunit rDNA amplicon sequencing from repeated temporal and geographic samples of wild and cultivated plants across the Northeast U.S.A., we demonstrate that communities are variable within and …


Scientist's Warning On Climate Change And Insects, Jeffrey A. Harvey, Kévin Tougeron, Rieta Gols, Robin Heinen, Mariana Abarca, Et Al Jul 2022

Scientist's Warning On Climate Change And Insects, Jeffrey A. Harvey, Kévin Tougeron, Rieta Gols, Robin Heinen, Mariana Abarca, Et Al

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Climate warming is considered to be among the most serious of anthropogenic stresses to the environment, because it not only has direct effects on biodiversity, but it also exacerbates the harmful effects of other human-mediate threats. The associated consequences are potentially severe, particularly in terms of threats to species preservation, as well as in the preservation of an array of ecosystem services provided by biodiversity. Among the most affected groups of animals are insects—central components of many ecosystems—for which climate change has pervasive effects from individuals to communities. In this contribution to the scientists’ warning series, we summarize the effect …


Old Genes In New Places: A Taxon-Rich Analysis Of Interdomain Lateral Gene Transfer Events, Auden Cote-L’Heureux, Xyrus X. Maurer-Alcalá, Laura A. Katz Jun 2022

Old Genes In New Places: A Taxon-Rich Analysis Of Interdomain Lateral Gene Transfer Events, Auden Cote-L’Heureux, Xyrus X. Maurer-Alcalá, Laura A. Katz

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Vertical inheritance is foundational to Darwinian evolution, but fails to explain major innovations such as the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria and the origin of photosynthesis in eukaryotes. While lateral gene transfer (LGT) is recognized as an evolutionary force in prokaryotes, the role of LGT in eukaryotic evolution is less clear. With the exception of the transfer of genes from organelles to the nucleus, a process termed endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT), the extent of interdomain transfer from prokaryotes to eukaryotes is highly debated. A common critique of studies of interdomain LGT is the reliance on the topology of …


Of Mutualism And Migration: Will Interactions With Novel Ericoid Mycorrhizal Communities Help Or Hinder Northward Rhododendron Range Shifts?, Taryn L. Mueller, Elena Karlsen-Ayala, David A. Moeller, Jesse Bellemare Apr 2022

Of Mutualism And Migration: Will Interactions With Novel Ericoid Mycorrhizal Communities Help Or Hinder Northward Rhododendron Range Shifts?, Taryn L. Mueller, Elena Karlsen-Ayala, David A. Moeller, Jesse Bellemare

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Rapid climate change imperils many small-ranged endemic species as the climate envelopes of their native ranges shift poleward. In addition to abiotic changes, biotic interactions are expected to play a critical role in plant species’ responses. Below-ground interactions are of particular interest given increasing evidence of microbial effects on plant performance and the prevalence of mycorrhizal mutualisms. We used greenhouse mesocosm experiments to investigate how natural northward migration/assisted colonization of Rhododendron catawbiense, a small-ranged endemic eastern U.S. shrub, might be influenced by novel below-ground biotic interactions from soils north of its native range, particularly with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERM). We …


Comparing Physiological Responses To Hot And Cold Stress In A Cnidarian–Algal Holobiont, Exaiptasia Diaphana, Nicole Capozzi, Eyananda Ahmed, Ezra Curtis, Olivia Grandbois, Dominique Kelly, Kadin Kristjansson, Natalie Morgan, Louis Schlecker, Rachel M. Wright Jan 2022

Comparing Physiological Responses To Hot And Cold Stress In A Cnidarian–Algal Holobiont, Exaiptasia Diaphana, Nicole Capozzi, Eyananda Ahmed, Ezra Curtis, Olivia Grandbois, Dominique Kelly, Kadin Kristjansson, Natalie Morgan, Louis Schlecker, Rachel M. Wright

Other Student Projects

Coral bleaching—the breakdown of the cnidarian–algal symbiosis—is a major cause of reef decline. The sea anemone Exaiptasia diaphana, commonly known as Aiptasia, is used as a model to study cnidarian-algal symbiosis in laboratory settings. Aiptasia can live with or without symbionts, which allows scientists to study the host combined and separate from the influence of the symbionts. Scientists are able to trigger the breakdown of the symbiosis using heat or cold stress. Cold stress is more commonly used to render aposymbiotic Aiptasia because it seems to be less harmful to the host than bleaching under heat stress. Is cold …


Limited Range-Filling Among Endemic Forest Herbs Of Eastern North America And Its Implications For Conservation With Climate Change, Stephanie K. Erlandson, Jesse Bellemare, David A. Moeller Dec 2021

Limited Range-Filling Among Endemic Forest Herbs Of Eastern North America And Its Implications For Conservation With Climate Change, Stephanie K. Erlandson, Jesse Bellemare, David A. Moeller

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Biodiversity hotspots host a high diversity of narrowly distributed endemic species, which are increasingly threatened by climate change. In eastern North America, the highest concentration of plant diversity and endemism occurs in the Southern Appalachian Mountains (SAM). It has been hypothesized that this region served as a refugium during Pleistocene glacial cycles and that postglacial migration northward was dispersal limited. We tested this hypothesis using species distribution models for eight forest herb species. We also quantified the extent to which the geography of suitable habitat shifted away from the current range with climate change. We developed species distribution models for …


Insight Into The Evolution Of Anuran Foot Flag Displays: A Comparative Study Of Color And Kinematics, Nigel K. Anderson, K. V. Gururaja, Lisa A. Mangiamele, Erin C. Netoskie, Sarah Smith, Matthew J. Fuxjager, Doris Preininger Dec 2021

Insight Into The Evolution Of Anuran Foot Flag Displays: A Comparative Study Of Color And Kinematics, Nigel K. Anderson, K. V. Gururaja, Lisa A. Mangiamele, Erin C. Netoskie, Sarah Smith, Matthew J. Fuxjager, Doris Preininger

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Understanding how complex animal displays evolve is a major goal of evolutionary organismal biology. Here, we study this topic by comparing convergently evolved gestural displays in two unrelated species of frog (Bornean Rock Frog, Staurois parvus, and Kottigehara Dancing Frog, Micrixalus kottigeharensis). This behavior, known as a foot flag, is produced when a male ?waves' his hindlimb at another male during bouts of competition for access to mates. We assess patterns of variation in the color of frog feet and the kinematics of the display itself to help pinpoint similarities and differences of the visual signal elements. We find clear …


The Philosophy Of Outliers: Reintegrating Rare Events Into Biological Science, Chelsea N. Cook, Angela R. Freeman, James C. Liao, Lisa A. Mangiamele Dec 2021

The Philosophy Of Outliers: Reintegrating Rare Events Into Biological Science, Chelsea N. Cook, Angela R. Freeman, James C. Liao, Lisa A. Mangiamele

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Individual variation in morphology, physiology, and behavior has been a topic of great interest in the biological sciences.While scientists realize the importance of understanding diversity in individual phenotypes, historically the minority results (i.e., outlier observations or rare events) of any given experiment have been dismissed from further analysis. We need to reframe how we view outliers to improve our understanding of biology. These rare events are often treated as problematic or spurious, when they can be real rare events or individuals driving evolution in a population. It is our perspective that to understand what outliers can tell us in our …


A Shift To Human Body Temperature (37°C) Rapidly Reprograms Multiple Adaptive Responses In Escherichia Coli That Would Facilitate Niche Survival And Colonization, Anastasia Gant Kanegusuku, Isidora N. Stankovic, Pamela A. Cote-Hammarlof, Priscilla H. Yong, Christine A. White-Ziegler Nov 2021

A Shift To Human Body Temperature (37°C) Rapidly Reprograms Multiple Adaptive Responses In Escherichia Coli That Would Facilitate Niche Survival And Colonization, Anastasia Gant Kanegusuku, Isidora N. Stankovic, Pamela A. Cote-Hammarlof, Priscilla H. Yong, Christine A. White-Ziegler

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

One of the first environmental cues sensed by a microbe as it enters a human host is an upshift in temperature to 37°C. In this dynamic time point analysis, we demonstrate that this environmental transition rapidly signals a multitude of gene expression changes in Escherichia coli. Bacteria grown at 23°C under aerobic conditions were shifted to 37°C, and mRNA expression was measured at time points after the shift to 37°C (t = 0.5, 1, and 4 h). The first hour is characterized by a transient shift to anaerobic respiration strategies and stress responses, particularly acid resistance, indicating that temperature serves …


Diagnostics To Support Elimination Of Lymphatic Filariasis-Development Of Two Target Product Profiles, Kimberly Y. Won, Katherine Gass, Marco Biamonte, Daniel Argaw Dagne, Camilla Ducker, Christopher Hanna, Achim Hoerauf, Patrick J. Lammie, Sammy M. Njenga, Rahmah Noordin, Kapa D. Ramaiah, Reda Ramzy, Ronaldo G.Carvalho Scholte, Anthony W. Solomon, Ashley A. Souza, Jordan Tappero, Emily Toubali, Gary J. Weil, Steven A. Williams, Jonathan D. King Nov 2021

Diagnostics To Support Elimination Of Lymphatic Filariasis-Development Of Two Target Product Profiles, Kimberly Y. Won, Katherine Gass, Marco Biamonte, Daniel Argaw Dagne, Camilla Ducker, Christopher Hanna, Achim Hoerauf, Patrick J. Lammie, Sammy M. Njenga, Rahmah Noordin, Kapa D. Ramaiah, Reda Ramzy, Ronaldo G.Carvalho Scholte, Anthony W. Solomon, Ashley A. Souza, Jordan Tappero, Emily Toubali, Gary J. Weil, Steven A. Williams, Jonathan D. King

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

As lymphatic filariasis (LF) programs move closer to established targets for validation elimination of LF as a public health problem, diagnostic tools capable of supporting the needs of the programs are critical for success. Known limitations of existing diagnostic tools make it challenging to have confidence that program endpoints have been achieved. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a Diagnostic Technical Advisory Group (DTAG) for Neglected Tropical Diseases tasked with prioritizing diagnostic needs including defining use-cases and target product profiles (TPPs) for needed tools. Subsequently, disease-specific DTAG subgroups, including one focused on LF, were established to develop TPPs …


Quantitative Super-Resolution Microscopy To Assess Adhesion Of Neuronal Cells On Single-Layer Graphene Substrates, Silvia Scalisi, Francesca Pennacchietti, Sandeep Keshavan, Nathan D. Derr, Alberto Diaspro, Dario Pisignano, Agnieszka Pierzynska-Mach, Silvia Dante, Francesca Cella Zanacchi Nov 2021

Quantitative Super-Resolution Microscopy To Assess Adhesion Of Neuronal Cells On Single-Layer Graphene Substrates, Silvia Scalisi, Francesca Pennacchietti, Sandeep Keshavan, Nathan D. Derr, Alberto Diaspro, Dario Pisignano, Agnieszka Pierzynska-Mach, Silvia Dante, Francesca Cella Zanacchi

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Single Layer Graphene (SLG) has emerged as a critically important nanomaterial due to its unique optical and electrical properties and has become a potential candidate for biomedical applications, biosensors, and tissue engineering. Due to its intrinsic 2D nature, SLG is an ideal surface for the development of large-area biosensors and, due to its biocompatibility, can be easily exploited as a substrate for cell growth. The cellular response to SLG has been addressed in different studies with high cellular affinity for graphene often detected. Still, little is known about the molecular mechanism that drives/regulates the cellular adhesion and migration on SLG …


Dapi Staining And Dna Content Estimation Of Nuclei In Uncultivable Microbial Eukaryotes (Arcellinida And Ciliates), Ketty Munyenyembe, Caitlin Timmons, Agnes K.M. Weiner, Laura A. Katz, Ying Yan Oct 2021

Dapi Staining And Dna Content Estimation Of Nuclei In Uncultivable Microbial Eukaryotes (Arcellinida And Ciliates), Ketty Munyenyembe, Caitlin Timmons, Agnes K.M. Weiner, Laura A. Katz, Ying Yan

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Though representing a major component of eukaryotic biodiversity, many microbial eukaryotes remain poorly studied, including the focus of the present work, testate amoebae of the order Arcellinida (Amoebozoa) and non-model lineages of ciliates (Alveolata). In particular, knowledge of genome structures and changes in genome content over the often-complex life cycles of these lineages remains enigmatic. However, the limited available knowledge suggests that microbial eukaryotes have the potential to challenge our textbook views on eukaryotic genomes and genome evolution. In this study, we developed protocols for DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining of Arcellinida nuclei and adapted protocols for ciliates. In addition, image analysis …


A Common Endocrine Signature Marks The Convergent Evolution Of An Elaborate Dance Display In Frogs, Nigel K. Anderson, Eric R. Schuppe, K. V. Gururaja, Lisa A. Mangiamele, Juan Carlos Cusi Martinez, H. Priti, Rudolf Von May, Doris Preininger, Matthew J. Fuxjager Oct 2021

A Common Endocrine Signature Marks The Convergent Evolution Of An Elaborate Dance Display In Frogs, Nigel K. Anderson, Eric R. Schuppe, K. V. Gururaja, Lisa A. Mangiamele, Juan Carlos Cusi Martinez, H. Priti, Rudolf Von May, Doris Preininger, Matthew J. Fuxjager

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Unrelated species often evolve similar phenotypic solutions to the same environmental problem, a phenomenon known as convergent evolution. But how do these common traits arise? We address this question from a physiological perspective by assessing how convergence of an elaborate gestural display in frogs (foot-flagging) is linked to changes in the androgenic hormone systems that underlie it. We show that the emergence of this rare display in unrelated anuran taxa is marked by a robust increase in the expression of androgen receptor (AR) messenger RNA in the musculature that actuates leg and foot movements, but we find no evidence of …


Development Of A Novel Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay For The Sensitive Detection Of Schistosoma Japonicum In Human Stool, Sara Halili, Jessica R. Grant, Nils Pilotte, Catherine A. Gordon, Steven A. Williams Oct 2021

Development Of A Novel Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay For The Sensitive Detection Of Schistosoma Japonicum In Human Stool, Sara Halili, Jessica R. Grant, Nils Pilotte, Catherine A. Gordon, Steven A. Williams

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background Elimination and control of Schistosoma japonicum, the most virulent of the schistosomiasiscausing blood flukes, requires the development of sensitive and specific diagnostic tools capable of providing an accurate measurement of the infection prevalence in endemic areas. Typically, detection of S. japonicum has occurred using the Kato-Katz technique, but this methodology, which requires skilled microscopists, has been shown to radically underestimate levels of infection. With the ever-improving capabilities of next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analysis tools, identification of satellite sequences and other highly repetitive genomic elements for use as real-time PCR diagnostic targets is becoming increasingly common. Assays developed using these …


Parasitic Disease Surveillance, Mississippi, Usa, Richard S. Bradbury, Meredith Lane, Irene Arguello, Sukwan Handali, Gretchen Cooley, Nils Pilotte, John M. Williams, Sam Jameson, Susan P. Montgomery, Kathryn Hellmann, Michelle Tharp, Lisa Haynie, Regina Galloway, Bruce Brackin, Brian Kirmse, Lisa Stempak, Paul Byers, Steven Williams, Fazlay Faruque, Charlotte V. Hobbs Aug 2021

Parasitic Disease Surveillance, Mississippi, Usa, Richard S. Bradbury, Meredith Lane, Irene Arguello, Sukwan Handali, Gretchen Cooley, Nils Pilotte, John M. Williams, Sam Jameson, Susan P. Montgomery, Kathryn Hellmann, Michelle Tharp, Lisa Haynie, Regina Galloway, Bruce Brackin, Brian Kirmse, Lisa Stempak, Paul Byers, Steven Williams, Fazlay Faruque, Charlotte V. Hobbs

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Surveillance for soil-transmitted helminths, strongyloidiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis was conducted in Mississippi, USA. PCR performed on 224 fecal samples for all soil-transmitted helminths and on 370 samples for only Necator americanus and Strongyloides stercoralis identified 1 S. stercoralis infection. Seroprevalences were 8.8% for Toxocara, 27.4% for Cryptosporidium, 5.7% for Giardia, and 0.2% for Strongyloides parasites.


Raman Spectroscopy Reveals High Phloem Sugar Content In Leaves Of Canopy Red Oak Trees, Jess T. Gersony, Arthur Mcclelland, N Michele Holbrook Jul 2021

Raman Spectroscopy Reveals High Phloem Sugar Content In Leaves Of Canopy Red Oak Trees, Jess T. Gersony, Arthur Mcclelland, N Michele Holbrook

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

A robust understanding of phloem functioning in tall trees evades us because current methods for collecting phloem sap do not lend themselves to measuring actively photosynthesizing canopy leaves. We show that Raman spectroscopy can be used as a quantitative tool to assess sucrose concentration in leaf samples. Specifically, we found that Raman spectroscopy can predict physiologically relevant sucrose concentrations (adjusted R2 of 0.9) in frozen leaf extract spiked with sucrose. We then apply this method to estimate sieve element sucrose concentration in rapidly frozen petioles of canopy red oak (Quercus rubra) trees and found that sucrose concentrations are > 1100 mM …


Androgen Receptor Modulates Multimodal Displays In The Bornean Rock Frog (Staurois Parvus), Sarah M. Smith, Amelia R. Eigerman, Kerry M. Lecure, Eseza Kironde, Auxenia Grace Privett-Mendoza, Matthew J. Fuxjager, Doris Preininger, Lisa A. Mangiamele Jul 2021

Androgen Receptor Modulates Multimodal Displays In The Bornean Rock Frog (Staurois Parvus), Sarah M. Smith, Amelia R. Eigerman, Kerry M. Lecure, Eseza Kironde, Auxenia Grace Privett-Mendoza, Matthew J. Fuxjager, Doris Preininger, Lisa A. Mangiamele

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Multimodal communication is common in the animal kingdom. It occurs when animals display by stimulating two or more receiver sensory systems, and often arises when selection favors multiple ways to send messages to conspecifics. Mechanisms of multimodal display behavior are poorly understood, particularly with respect to how animals coordinate the production of different signals. One important question is whether all components in a multimodal display share an underlying physiological basis, or whether different components are regulated independently. We investigated the influence of androgen receptors (ARs) on the production of both visual and vocal signal components in the multimodal display repertoire …