Life Sciences Commons^™

Auranofin Targets Thioredoxin Reductases In Trichomonas Vaginalis, Jose Jauregui

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Trichomonas vaginalis is an anaerobic, parasitic protozoan, responsible for trichomoniasis, the world’s most common, non-viral sexually transmitted infection. Lacking many of the defenses present in other organisms to combat oxidative stress, Trichomonas vaginalis relies extensively on the thioredoxin system—NADPH, thioredoxin reductase, and thioredoxin—as a means to protect against exposure to excess oxygen. Current trichomoniasis treatment relies exclusively on the 5-nitroimidazole drugs, but fear of drug-resistant strains and allergic reactions to 5-nitroimidazole treatment necessitate the discovery of a new treatment method for trichomoniasis. Previous research has shown that auranofin, an FDA-approved drug, was effective at inhibiting activity of one of Trichomonas …

Studies On Development In Euphilomedes Ostracods: Embryology, Nervous System Development, And The Genetics Of Sexually Dimorphic Eye Development, Kristina Koyama

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Model organism studies have been fundamental in understanding evolutionary and developmental biology. However, non-model organisms present opportunities to study unique characteristics and as comparisons to model organisms, leading us toward broader and more relevant perspectives on diversity. The Euphilomedes genus of ostracods is an example of a non-model group with potential for evolutionary and developmental studies.

Ostracoda is an ancient, basally branching lineage of Crustaceans with a complete and prodigious fossil record. Despite the group’s promise for evolutionary studies, much remains unknown about the basic biology of this clade. There are a limited number of embryogenesis studies in Ostracoda; here, …

Isolating The Targets Of Six Transcription Factor In Ephydatia Muelleri And Identifying The Role Of The Superoxide Dismutase 6 In Host Immune Response To Trichomonas Vaginalis, Gurbir Kaur Gudial

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Sponges are the descendants of the oldest members of the metazoan phylogenetic lineage and their genome contains animal specific genes but lack true tissues, organ systems, and neurons. Thus, the sponge model system can be used to elucidate origin of developmental processes. The PSED (RDGN) network (Pax/Six/Eya/Dac) is important in development of eyes, muscles, and other structures in Bilaterians. Similarly, sponges contain a precursor Pax-Six gene network. The Ephydatia muelleri (Em) PaxB protein binds to a

Pax2/5/8 consensus sequence site and two cis-regulatory elements upstream and one intron sequence of EmSix1/2 (Rivera et al., 2013).

This study aimed to determine …

Morphological Variation In The Monardella Odoratissima – Monardella Villosa Complex, Monica Estiandan

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

In this study, morphological characters were investigated to better characterize the species boundaries between members of the Monardella odoratissima – M. villosa complex (Lamiaeceae). Traditionally, it has been very difficult to identify and separate members of this complex. Monardella linoides, M. purpurea, and M. sheltonii populations are distributed in the overlapping boundaries of these two species (M. odoratissima and M. villosa) and considered within the complex as well. Previous studies and floral manuals have found that the vegetative plant parts from these five Monardella species intergrade with the other taxa in the complex throughout their distribution in California and in …

Monitoring Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms In Culex Tarsalis From Sutter County, California, Bridgette Danielle Hughes

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Culex mosquitoes are known for carrying several harmful viruses in the United States. Culex tarsalis is found in rural as well as some residential areas in the Western United States, so they are under insecticide pressure from both agricultural spraying and vector control. In response to insecticide pressure, mosquitoes can evolve two primary resistance mechanisms: target site insensitivity, as a result of DNA mutation, and elevated levels of detoxifying enzymes (GST, alpha and beta esterases, and P450 oxidases). The two types of target site insensitivity studied here in Cx. tarsalis are kdr, which is a mutation in the para-type voltage …

Characterization Of Phytocystatin-Like Cysteine Protease Inhibitors Of Trichomonas Vaginalis, Ryan Michael John Faucher

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Trichomoniasis is a common STD caused by the parasitic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. The parasite is estimated to have infected roughly 3.7 million Americans. Complications from trichomoniasis can lead to cervical cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. One of the mechanisms of the parasite employs is using cysteine proteases to break down the cellular matrix of its host. However, three endogenous phytocystatin-like protease inhibitors have been found within the parasite’s genome. By recombinantly expressing these cystatins we have been able to test their ability to inhibit cysteine proteases such as papain and those found in T. vaginalis to find …

Vector Competence Of Aedes Sierrensis And Culex Pipiens Complex (Diptera: Culicidae) For Dirofilaria Immitis (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) In Northern California, Jeffrey Allan Kurosaka

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Dirofilaria immitis Leidy (dog heartworm) is a life-threatening parasite transmitted by mosquitoes to domestic dogs. Endemic in the eastern United States, cases have become more prevalent over the last few decades. While prevalence in California is generally low, Lake and San Joaquin Counties have reported rates comparable to the East Coast at 3.73% and 0.71%(CAPC 2017), respectively. Aedes sierrensis is thought to be responsible for transmission in California, but in some cases, it exists in inadequate quantities and temporal ranges to explain parasite activity. Based on Huang et al. (2013) and Tran (2016), bloodfeeding patterns, and other vector criteria, Culex …