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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Microglia Polarize In Response To Transactive Response Dna-Binding Protein-43 (Tdp-43) And Display Partial Recovery After Removal Of The Stimulus, Alicen Wilcox Sep 2021

Microglia Polarize In Response To Transactive Response Dna-Binding Protein-43 (Tdp-43) And Display Partial Recovery After Removal Of The Stimulus, Alicen Wilcox

Honors Theses

The proper response to protein signals is necessary for a healthy central nervous system (CNS), and protein dysregulation is a feature of neurodegenerative diseases. Transactive response DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is an intranuclear protein, but mislocalization is associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 is released into the extracellular space where it is sensed by microglia, the CNS-resident immune cells. Our data and the literature suggest that microglia respond to TDP-43 dysregulation by increasing CNS inflammation. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of TDP-43 on microglial function and the extent to which microglia recovery. To study the …


Analysis Of Differential Gene Expression Patterns During Spiral Intestine Development In Leucoraja Erinacea, Kelsey Cox Jun 2021

Analysis Of Differential Gene Expression Patterns During Spiral Intestine Development In Leucoraja Erinacea, Kelsey Cox

Honors Theses

The vertebrate gut is a specialized structure responsible for the intake and digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and expulsion of waste products. The organs of the digestive tract have been conserved over time, but modifications to the size and shape of individual structures exist within the different vertebrate lineages. The skate’s spiral intestine has evolved to maximize nutrient absorption within a compact structure to create space in the body cavity for the organs needed for buoyancy. Studying the unique intestinal morphology of Leucoraja erinacea, or the little skate, provides an opportunity to understand the role of differential gene expression …


Purification Of Pcbp2 And Its Effect On The Formation Of Dna I-Motifs And Secondary Structures, Nathan Redden May 2021

Purification Of Pcbp2 And Its Effect On The Formation Of Dna I-Motifs And Secondary Structures, Nathan Redden

Honors Theses

Several secondary, non-B forms of DNA are associated with the promoter regions of many oncogenes, including the intensely studied c-MYC gene that codes for a transcription factor. Two such secondary structures, G-quadruplexes, and i-motifs, have become topics of interest due to their prevalence within oncogenic promoters, as well as their potential accessibility for drug targeting. B-form DNA can adopt alternative structures under certain conditions. These alternative structures are favored when there is an asymmetric distribution of guanosine and cytosine on complimentary DNA strands. The strand rich in guanosine is able to form a quadruple stranded DNA complex termed a G-quadruplex. …


Molecular Characterization Of Galectin From Amblyomma Americanum In Context Of Α-Gal Syndrome, Sumar Beauti May 2021

Molecular Characterization Of Galectin From Amblyomma Americanum In Context Of Α-Gal Syndrome, Sumar Beauti

Honors Theses

The lone star tick Amblyomma americanum is a vector of various disease-causing pathogens and tick-borne alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) with rapidly expanding populations in the south- and northeast regions of the United States. This study aimed to molecularly characterize galectin and determine its involvement in galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-gal) synthesis, transport, reproductive fitness, and microbial homeostasis in this tick. The lone star tick galectin possesses two conserved carbohydrate recognition domains and shares homology with other Ixodid tick galectins. Time and tissue-dependent expression data shows that galectin is constantly expressed in salivary glands, midgut, and ovary tissues. An RNA interference approach was used to …


Defying The Darkness: Countering Cancer With Light, Travis Hankins Apr 2021

Defying The Darkness: Countering Cancer With Light, Travis Hankins

Honors Theses

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) accounts for upwards of 15% of reported breast cancer cases. This subtype of breast cancer poses a greater threat to those diagnosed as compared to other types of breast cancer due to the lack of treatment options available. Additionally, TNBC grows and spreads faster, tends to be more aggressive, and has a greater chance of recurrence than its counterparts. Altogether, TNBC cases generally have a worse prognosis over other types of breast cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is currently being researched as a way to treat TNBC. Photodynamic therapy agents are light-activated materials used for localized disease …


Honokoil Treatment On Glioblastoma Cells, Julianne Weaver Apr 2021

Honokoil Treatment On Glioblastoma Cells, Julianne Weaver

Honors Theses

Glioblastoma is a malignant brain tumor without effective treatment options available because of its resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. This specific type of cancer is difficult to treat because the cancer stem cells that are not actively growing. These cells are dormant, which means they will not react to treatment because they are not dividing, and it is these cells that result in the high prevalence of relapse. Honokiol is a Chinese magnolia species that is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and proapoptotic effects which make it an optimal candidate for glioma cell treatment. Honokiol was used in this experiment …