Life Sciences Commons^™

Antiangiogenic Therapy Combined With Immune Checkpoint Blockade In Urothelial Cancer: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Mohammad Jad Moussa, Iuliia Kovalenko, Emanuele Crupi, Ekaterina Proskuriakova, Yimin Geng, Giuseppe Fallara, Raed Benkhadra, Daniele Raggi, Matthew T. Campbell, Pavlos Msaouel, Omar Alhalabi

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Antiangiogenic therapy had been tested in urothelial cancer (UC) without reaching the clinic.

Objective: We provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of trials to assess efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) combined with antiangiogenic agents in UC.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched for trials with at least one arm of patients with UC treated with ICI plus antiangiogenics. Data were analyzed with the "meta" package from R using a one-staged frequentist meta-analysis.

Results: After screening 13,708 titles and abstracts, 9 studies were selected for analysis with 14 identified cohorts comprising 621 patients: 448 were ICI-naïve (ICI-N) and 173 …

A Molecular-Informed Species Inventory Of The Order Ceramiales (Rhodophyta) In The Narragansett Bay Area (Rhode Island And Massachusetts), Usa, Thomas Irvine, Brian Wysor, Alicia Beauvais

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Narragansett Bay is an estuarine system in the western North Atlantic Ocean that harbors a diverse marine flora, providing structure, habitat, and food for native biodiversity. This area has been the center of numerous environmental, biological, ecological, and oceanographic studies; however, marine macroalgae have not been extensively examined using modern molecular methods. Here, we document the biodiversity of the red algal order Ceramiales based on DNA sequence comparisons of the 3′ end of the RuBisCo large subunit (rbcL-3P) and the universal plastid amplicon (UPA). Thirty-seven distinct species of this order were identified and validated with molecular data, including five new …

Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4dee) For Everyone: Teaching Ecology To Non-Majors, Vikki L. Rodgers, Sara E. Scanga, Justin R St Juliana, Erica S. Tietjen, Jon M. Honea, Loren B. Byrne, Zakiya H. Leggett, George Middendorf

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Originally developed for application to ecology courses for undergraduate majors, the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework offers possibilities for adaptation to courses with ecology content for many other audiences. Recognizing the extraordinary range of classroom contexts and constraints, we developed some general, flexible recommendations and approaches to guide instructors in adapting the 4DEE Framework for an array of non-major audiences and classroom context needs. Our hope is that 4DEE-aligned courses for non-majors will provide these students with greater appreciation of ecology and inspire them to use their knowledge to address many critical environmental issues in their personal and professional lives. …

Application Of Environmental Dna Metabarcoding To Differentiate Algal Communities By Littoral Zonation And Detect Unreported Algal Species, Sergei Bombin, Andrei Bombin, Brian Wysor, Juan M. Lopez-Bautista

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Coastal areas are the most biologically productive and undoubtedly among the most complex ecosystems. Algae are responsible for most of the gross primary production in these coastal regions. However, despite the critical importance of algae for the global ecosystem, the biodiversity of many algal groups is understudied, partially due to the high complexity of morphologically identifying algal species. The current study aimed to take advantage of the recently developed technology for biotic community assessment through the high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of environmental DNA (eDNA), known as the “eDNA metabarcoding”, to characterize littoral algal communities in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM). …

Forty Years Of Inferential Methods In The Journals Of The Society For Molecular Biology And Evolution, Claudia A.M. Russo, Adam Eyre-Walker, Laura A. Katz, Brandon S. Gaut

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

We are launching a series to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first issue of Molecular Biology and Evolution. In 2024, we will publish virtual issues containing selected papers published in the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution journals, Molecular Biology and Evolution and Genome Biology and Evolution. Each virtual issue will be accompanied by a perspective that highlights the historic and contemporary contributions of our journals to a specific topic in molecular evolution. This perspective, the first in the series, presents an account of the broad array of methods that have been published in the Society for Molecular Biology …

A Scoping Review Of Population Diversity In The Common Genomic Aberrations Of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Sean S. Kumar, Ninad Khandekar, Komal Dani, Saina R. Bhatt, Vinay Duddalwar, Anishka D'Souza

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Previous literature has shown that clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is becoming a more prevalent diagnosis and that the incidence and mortality differ both regionally and racially. While the molecular profiles for ccRCC are studied regionally through biopsy and sequencing techniques, the genomic landscape and ccRCC diversity data are not well-studied. We conducted a review of the known genomic data on 6 of the most clinically relevant DNA biomarkers in ccRCC: Von Hippel-Landau (vHL), Polybromo-1 (PBRM1), Breast Cancer Gene 1-Associated Protein 1 (BAP1), Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase Domain-Containing 2 (SETD2), Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), and Lysine-Specific Demethylase 5C (KDM5C). …

Plk1 Overexpression Drives Tumorigenesis In A Prostate Cancer Mouse Model, Emile Kachouh

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide, and the development of resistance to existing treatments necessitates the exploration of new therapeutic strategies, including combination therapies. This study investigates the role of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), located on chromosome 16p12.2, as an oncogene in prostate cancer. We generated a transgenic mouse model with prostate-specific overexpression of PLK1 to closely mimic human prostate cancer progression. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis was employed to characterize the molecular profile of PLK1, revealing its implication in multiple pathways. To further elucidate the functional consequences of PLK1 overexpression, we confirmed phenotypic progression …

Method For Continuous Fabrication Of Multi-Functional Nanogels, Hu Yang, Da Huang

Patents

Nanogels and methods of synthesizing and using these nanogels are provided. The nanogels are formed by mixing a building block (e.g., polymer), crosslinker, preferably a target (e.g., biomedical compound or molecule), and a solvent in a multi-inlet vortex mixer, so as to cause the polymer and crosslinker to react and form a chemically crosslinked polymer network. In embodiments including a target, the target will be interspersed in and among that network and can be physically embedded and/or chemically bound therein.

Comparative Microbiome Diversity In Root-Nodules Of Three Desmodium Species Used In Push-Pull Cropping System, Isack H. Adan, George Ochieng Asudi, Saliou Niassy, Abdul A. Jalloh, Johnstone Mutiso Mutua, Frank Chidawanyika, Fathiya Khamis, Zeyaur Khan, Sevgan Subramanian, Thomas Dubois, Daniel Munyao Mutyambai

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Desmodium species used as intercrops in push-pull cropping systems are known to repel insect-pests, suppress Striga species weeds, and shift soil microbiome. However, the mechanisms through which Desmodium species impact the soil microbiome, either through its root exudates, changes in soil nutrition, or shading microbes from its nodules into the rhizosphere, are less understood. Here, we investigated the diversity of root-nodule microbial communities of three Desmodium species- Desmodium uncinatum (SLD), Desmodium intortum (GLD), and Desmodium incanum (AID) which are currently used in smallholder maize push-pull technology (PPT). Methods: Desmodium species root-nodule samples were collected from selected smallholder farms in …

Integrating Vegetables In Push-Pull Technology: Gendered Preferences Of Smallholder Farmers In Western Kenya, F. O. Ouya, J. O. Pittchar, F. Chidawanyika, Z. R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Transformative rural smallholder agriculture addressing biophysical constraints requires farmer-led innovations for increased technology adoption. Following the need to further intensify the cereal push-pull technology (PPT) for pest and weed control through integration with vegetables, we conducted surveys to determine suitable vegetables across three different counties in Kenya namely Homabay, Siaya, and Trans-Nzoia. Farming in these areas is predominantly maize based and introducing vegetables to the system will improve household food and nutritional security, together with income. A systematic random sampling method was used to sample a total of 124 smallholder farmers who were interviewed during field days where farmer awareness …

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Infesting Cattle In Coastal Kenya Harbor A Diverse Array Of Tick-Borne Pathogens, Joseph Wang Ang A. Oundo, Shewit Kalayou, Quirine Ten Bosch, Jandouwe Villinger, Constantianus J.M. Koenraadt, Daniel Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Ticks and the microbes they transmit have emerged in sub-Saharan Africa as a major threat to veterinary and public health. Although progress has been made in detecting and identifying tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) across vast agroecologies of Kenya, comprehensive information on tick species infesting cattle and their associated pathogens in coastal Kenya needs to be updated and expanded. Ticks infesting extensively grazed zebu cattle in 14 villages were sampled and identified based on morphology and molecular methods and tested for the presence of bacterial and protozoan TBPs using PCR with high-resolution melting analysis and gene sequencing. In total, 3,213 adult ticks …

Effects Of Four Potent Entomopathogenic Fungal Isolates On The Survival And Performance Of Telenomus Remus, An Egg Parasitoid Of Fall Armyworm, Junitor Chepkemoi, Ken Okwae Fening, Felicitas Chaba Ambele, Joseph Munywoki, Komivi Senyo Akutse

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda is a generalist pest known to feed on more than 300 plant species, including major staple crops such as rice, maize and sorghum. Biological control of FAW using a combination of a major indigenous egg parasitoid Telenomus remus and entomopathogenic fungi was explored in this study. Metarhizium anisopliae strains (ICIPE 7, ICIPE 41, and ICIPE 78) and Beauveria bassiana ICIPE 621 which demonstrated effectiveness to combat the pest, were evaluated through direct and indirect fungal infection to assess their pathogenicity and virulence against T. remus adults, S. frugiperda eggs and their effects on T. remus …

Ribosome Hibernation Factor Induces Antibiotic Persisters Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Neutrophil-Rich Lung Lesions, Jamie Corro

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis, is a prescient global health threat and the leading cause of death by an infectious agent. Treatment of Mtb infection involves administering 2-4 antibiotics for a minimum of 6 months. This extended drug regimen is required to target a subpopulation of persistent bacilli. As their name implies, these bacteria can “persist” by acquiring nonhereditary and transient antibiotic tolerance. Although the precise mechanism is unknown, it’s often attributed to slowing cellular growth and metabolic processes. During zinc deprivation, bacteria can remodel their ribosomes by replacing their zinc-binding paralogues containing the CXXC motif (C+) …

Remediating Fibrosis To Restore Salivary Gland Function, Jennifer Morrissey

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Fibrosis is defined by the overgrowth, hardening, and scarring of various tissues and is attributed to excess deposition of extracellular matrix components including collagen. In the case of persistent injury or autoimmunity, as in Sjogren’s Disease, the ECM persists. Fibrosis can be studied in multiple animal models. Our lab has published the use of a mouse submandibular salivary gland partial resection model. In this procedure 40% of the left distal tip of the submandibular salivary gland (SMG) is excised. This leads to a chronic sustained fibrotic response in a localized region. The use of the non-obese diabetic mouse (NOD) has …

The Study Of Ribosome-Amplified Metabolism, Rambo, Effect In Vitro And In Live Cells, Jianchao Yu

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Quinary interactions arise due to the extreme macromolecular crowding inside live cells. Quinary interactions affect intracellular protein stability, activity, and homeostasis. Ribosomes, traditionally known for their role in protein synthesis, have been found to engage in quinary interactions with metabolic enzymes, modulating their activity and thereby revealing a potential regulatory role for ribosomes in cellular metabolism. This phenomenon, termed the Ribosome-Amplified MetaBOlism (RAMBO) effect, was investigated in this dissertation through a series of in vitro and in vivo studies using primarily Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

Firstly, an NMR-based direct enzyme assay compatible with ribosome was developed and validated using …

Developing Cellular Systems To Elucidate Rna Structural Dynamics Of Cag Expansion Transcripts In Spinocerebellar Ataxias, Victoria Demeo

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a diverse group of over 40 genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders, many of which are caused by a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of specific genes. These expansions lead to the production of polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts that interfere with normal protein function, triggering cellular dysfunction and contributing to disease pathogenesis. The most well-known of these SCAs, such as SCA1, SCA2, and SCA3, exhibit progressive neurodegeneration, yet the precise mechanisms through which these mutations cause disease remain poorly understood.

A significant challenge in studying CAG repeat expansion disorders lies in the complexity of the disease …

Androgen Regulation Of The Hpa Axis And Stress-Related Behaviors In Mice: The Role Of Crf And Crf Receptor 1, Krystyna Ann Rybka

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Mood disorders such as anxiety and depression are nearly twice as prevalent in women when compared to men, with potential contributing factors involving sex-dependent exposure to gonadal hormones and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Androgen actions through androgen receptors (AR) or actions at estrogen receptors such as ERα, following the conversion of androgens to estradiol, have been shown to regulate stress-related behaviors as well as HPA axis responsiveness. Where androgen actions at AR appear to decrease the stress response and subsequent stress-related behaviors, actions at ERα seem to do the opposite and increase HPA axis reactivity. When the HPA …

Transcription And Translation Regulation Of Germ Cell To Maternal Transition, Noor Kotb

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In sexually reproducing organisms, the process of gametogenesis produces mature eggs and sperms required for fertilization to occur. The egg's quality is crucial for the healthy development of the next generation, making oogenesis a tightly regulated process with multiple benchmarks. To investigate the intricacies of oogenesis, we utilized the Drosophila oogenesis system as our primary model. This choice was motivated by several factors. Firstly, the process of egg development in Drosophila is conserved across species, making it a valuable proxy for understanding oogenesis in other organisms, including humans. Secondly, Drosophila melanogaster has long been established as a powerhouse in genetic …

Robust Phylogenetic Regression, Richard Adams, Zoe Cain, Raquel Assis, Michael Degiorgio

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Modern comparative biology owes much to phylogenetic regression. At its conception, this technique sparked a revolution that armed biologists with phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs) for disentangling evolutionary correlations from those arising from hierarchical phylogenetic relationships. Over the past few decades, the phylogenetic regression framework has become a paradigm of modern comparative biology that has been widely embraced as a remedy for shared ancestry. However, recent evidence has shown doubt over the efficacy of phylogenetic regression, and PCMs more generally, with the suggestion that many of these methods fail to provide an adequate defense against unreplicated evolution—the primary justification for using …

Density Dependent Calling Behavior In North Pacific Humpback Whales, Lucas J. Anderson

Honors Theses and Capstones

Animal density can define factors such as mating success, food acquisition, and communication. Inferring animal density from vocal rates is an important tool for estimating abundance and space use in difficult-to-study species like marine mammals and requires an understanding of the relationship between social context and calling rates. The goal of this project was to investigate the relationship between animal density and call rate in Southeast Alaskan humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Passive acoustic monitoring data were collected along with visual observations gathered near Frederick Sound and Stephen’s Passage, Southeast Alaska, over two summers (2019, 2022). Observers watched whales …

Assessment Of Open Top Chambers To Simulate Effects Of Climate Change On Soil Temperature And Cover Crop Response In Agricultural Systems, Gretchen Bahmueller

Honors Theses and Capstones

Climate change is expected to yield warmer winters that have the potential to place additional stress on our already stressed agricultural systems. Understanding how agricultural systems may respond to these changes is essential to creating crop and land management plans that ensure food security for future generations. To better understand how warming winters can/will affect air and soil temperatures and cover crop performance, open top chambers (OTCs) were deployed post cover crop seeding in a field experiment at the UNH Kingman Research Farm in Madbury, NH. The experiment consisted of four cover crop treatments sown into or after corn: an …

Utilizing Plasmid Dna Hydrogels For Cell-Free Protein Production, Tinotenda Duche

Honors Theses and Capstones

Proteins play an important role in various biological processes and are crucial components in biomedical research and therapeutics. Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has provided a valuable approach for rapid protein production outside living cells, involving both transcription and translation processes. However, traditional CFPS methods encounter challenges such as high cost, relatively low yields, and scalability. The end goal of our project is to incorporate our template into the hydrogel. In this work, we report advancements towards that by trying to optimize our solution of CFPS. Unfortunately, the standards for pDNA hydrogel synthesis are not met by the pDNA production and …

Distribution Of Tick Species On Free-Ranging Ungulates In Northern New England, Karisa Graham

Honors Theses and Capstones

In Northern New England, ungulates are often parasitized by ticks, which is one of the leading causes for the decline in population. Ungulates are a good host for ticks, specifically deer ticks and winter ticks, and these ticks cause many tick-borne diseases in humans as well. The purpose of this study was to assess passive sampling from harvested animals as a means of tick surveillance in Vermont and New Hampshire. Ticks were collected from deer and moose and mapped throughout the two states by ArcGIS to visualize the trends in distribution. Relative abundance was greater in southeastern Vermont, with no …

Investigation Of The Effects Of Ocean Acidification On Juvenile Homarus Americanus Feeding Behavior, Sophia Roy

Honors Theses and Capstones

Climate change has led to increased CO2 absorption by ocean surface waters, resulting in decreased pH levels, a phenomenon known as ocean acidification (OA). A primary class of marine organism behavior is impacted by OA, in particular, olfactory-mediated behaviors related to foraging and feeding success. However, the biological mechanisms responsible for the documented impairment of foraging and feeding-related behaviors remains in question. We find that juvenile American lobsters (H. americanus) exhibit significantly faster rates of total feeding times in response to short-term low pH exposure. However, total search time and total handling time were not affected by pH when examined …

Financial Considerations For U.S. Equine Rescues: A Comparison Of Adoption-Based Vs. Sanctuary-Based Organizations, Carolyn V. Frank

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Prospective Associations Of Fish Consumption In Cognitive Function And Depressive Symptoms Among Puerto Rican Adults, Johanna Grace Koroma

Honors Theses and Capstones

Johanna Koroma, Anne Bodenrader, and Sherman Bigornia

Objectives

Fish intake has been linked to certain neural benefits, specifically in slowing cognitive decline and attenuating depressive symptoms. However, existing evidence is conflicting and insufficient. The present study aimed to investigate the association of fish consumption with depressive symptoms and cognitive function among Puerto Rican adults.

Methods

Data is acquired from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, comprised of 1517 adults residing in the Boston Metro Area. Dietary patterns were evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with follow-up surveys conducted 2 years from baseline. Consumption was organized into quartiles based …

The Influence Of Drd2 Polymorphism Exon 8 C/T (Rs6276) On Manifestations Of Delirium Tremens & Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures, Naomi Schneider

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study explores the correlation between the DRD2 Polymorphism exon 8 C/T (rs6276) and manifestations of delirium tremens (DT). DT is a condition that is clinically diagnosed utilizing two characteristic symptom manifestations: the presence of delirium and severe alcohol withdrawal. It is not entirely understood why DT can occur in some patients, but evidence has suggested that genetic predisposition can play a role. Utilizing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us Research database and performing a secondary analysis of existing genomic data, this candidate gene association study aims to determine the genotype frequencies within three cohorts: a healthy …

Impact Of Hdac Inhibitors On The Efficiency Of Cardiomyocyte Differentiation, Lauren Mary Sargent

Honors Theses and Capstones

Heart disease and injury is the leading cause of death worldwide, with much of its severity caused by the low regenerative capacity of cardiomyocytes (CMs). One of the strategies to counteract the poor regeneration of CMs is the production of CMs via differentiating stem cells. However, the low efficiency of obtaining CMs from stem cells is an issue because there are numerous inconsistencies in the process. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been researched as ways to increase efficiency of CM differentiation by increasing histone acetylation, and thereby allowing differentiation to occur more efficiently. In this study, the HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin …

Investigating The Function Of Protein S-Acyltransferase 2 In Arabidopsis Thaliana Using Crispr Mutants, Nicole Benjamin

Honors Theses and Capstones

Arabidopsis thaliana contains 24 Protein Acyl Transferases (PATs). These enzymes are responsible for catalyzing the addition of a palmitate to a target substrate (palmitoylation). However, beyond its broad enzymatic function, it is unknown how PATs interact on a cellular level. This research focuses on identifying the function of PAT2. CRISPR-Cas9 was used to create deletion mutations that would result in a non-functional PAT. Two plants homozygous for a pat2 deletion were identified: pat2-5 and pat2-6. Preliminary results suggest that pollen grains in both pat2 mutants are larger in both length and width. Additionally, it appears that mutant pollen tends to …

The Potential Effects Of Abiotic Stresses On Ziziphus And Acacia Species Grown Under Uae Climate Condition, Almaha Abdulla Alneyadi

Theses

This comprehensive thesis delves into a comparative analysis of two prominent desert plant species, namely Acacia and Ziziphus, shedding light on their distinct adaptive features in response to challenging environmental conditions. The exploration spans various facets, including the germination process, tap root development, and their reactions to water stress, ultimately revealing the superior hardiness and adaptability of Acacia over Ziziphus. In the realm of germination, Acacia stands out with its swift and efficient initiation, indicating a robust mechanism for establishing its presence in arid landscapes. The examination of tap root development further underscores the resilience of Acacia, as it demonstrates …