Life Sciences Commons^™

Solving The Structure Of An Ancestral Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Natalie Turcsanski, Edna Armah

Student Research Symposium

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) regulate cell signaling by removing phosphate groups from tyrosine residues. Malfunction of these enzymes can lead to diseases such as diabetes and cancer. A conserved feature among PTPs is the catalytic acid loop, essential for phosphate removal. Computational analysis of PTP structures revealed that ancestral PTPs have considerable variation in conformations of this loop, sparking interest in their further study. The Asgard group, identified as ancestral to eukaryotic PTPs, was successfully expressed and purified under optimized conditions. Current efforts focus on optimizing crystallization to obtain larger crystals for structural analysis. This project will investigate the allosteric …

Determining The Function Of Type Iv-B Crispr-Cas Systems, Eric Jenkins, Brendon Guinn

Student Research Symposium

CRISPR-Cas systems are a diverse group of prokaryotic adaptive immune systems that defend against Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs) such as bacteriophages and plasmids. CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins bind to guide RNAs (crRNAs) transcribed from a DNA repeat array (CRISPR array) containing spacers complementary to MGEs. Upon infection by a MGE, the Cas protein-crRNA complex binds to the target sequence in the invaders genome and cleaves the nucleic acid.

Distributor-Specific Variability In Balb/C Mouse Mortality Following Sars-Cov-2-Ma10 Infection, Taylor Kerr

Student Research Symposium

In recent years SARS-COV-2 has become a rapidly expanding area of research. To model human infections, this virus was adapted to mice enabling valuable insight into these processes.² Mice are often an effective research model due to their low cost, short reproduction time, and ability to adapt to a wide variety of viruses. Research into these immunological responses is crucial in developing vaccines, treatments, and furthering our understanding of this virus' behavior.¹ However, genetic variability in mouse models may be confounding previous and on-going research.

Activation Of Enkephalinergic Neurons Modulate Pain Within The Brain, Lucy N. Scribner, Oakley M. Statham, Greydon R. Durrant, Callie M. Newson

Student Research Symposium

The endogenous opioid system, consisting of three neuropeptides and canonical receptors, is ubiquitously expressed throughout the brain and is heavily involved in modulating pain[1]. However, research has placed tremendous focus on investigating the receptors of this system, and less attention has been devoted to the peptides. One such opioid peptide, enkephalin, is notably absent within the pain center of the brain, the periaqueductal gray (PAG)[2]. To further understand the role enkephalins play in modulating pain, we aimed to target and activate specific enkephalin-containing neurons that connect to the PAG. By activating these enkephalinergic projections, we hypothesized that this would lead …

Effects Of C-Section Birth On Vasopressin 1a Receptors In The Prairie Vole Brain, Caleb Hart

Student Research Symposium

The goal of this study was to understand how the brain might change depending on the birth experience: a vaginal birth or a cesarean section. C-sections have been associated with an increased risk of obesity and other behavioral and metabolic health conditions that are related to the function of hypothalamic hormones in the brain¹. Vasopressin is one neuropeptide hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus and influences a variety of metabolic functions and behaviors, including water balance and social pair bonding². This study used prairie voles to assess the effect of birth experience on the brain …

Mdpk Cell Lines Can Be Used For In Vitro Antiviral Testing With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5n1), Jada L. Westover

Student Research Symposium

• Outbreak in agricultural poultry starting in 2022
• In March 2024 first confirmed case in Dairy Cattle
• Tested drugs T705, Oseltamivir, Baloxivir, Ribavirin, EIDD-2947, and EIDD-2749 on three different cell lines
• Goal: See if MDBK cell lines could be used for in vitro studies

Seasonal And Sex-Based Variation In Coyote Responses To Social Olfactory Stimuli, Giuliana Carneiro

Student Research Symposium

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are socially complex, often forming strong pair bonds that can persist across multiple breeding seasons³. Scent marking, particularly urine marking, is a key form of communication used to establish territory, convey reproductive status, and maintain social hierarchies¹. This behavior is influenced by factors such as sex and season, and is central to understanding their social dynamics⁴. This preliminary study is part of a broader investigation into coyote behavior, specifically examining how these factors affect responses to olfactory stimuli from familiar and unfamiliar individuals².

In this study, coyote …

Latency To Approach Social Olfactory Stimuli In Female Coyotes: Pairmate Vs Sibling, Jenny Malm, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• Scent marking is a common form of communication among mammals, including coyotes¹.

Qualitative Assessment Of Coyote Olfactory Behavior In Response To Urine Stimuli, Sophie Isom, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• The coyote (Canis latrans) marks territorial boundaries with scent cues.¹

Unearthing Connections: Characterizing Populations Of Local Harvester Ants, Carson Lyman

Student Research Symposium

What is Hybridization?

• Hybridization is the combination of two different species or subspecies, to create hybrid offspring¹.
• The offspring inherits some genetic material from both parents and so exhibits characteristics of both.

What Nesting Materials Are Best For An Insect Hotel?, Madison Smart

Student Research Symposium

• Native insects are important for pollination, natural pest management, and other ecological processes.

Vaccine Stabilization With Spider Silk, Mallory Wootton

Student Research Symposium

Most vaccines must be stored between 2 - 8°C to maintain their efficacy, with some vaccines requiring temperatures as low as -70°C for long-term storage. These temperature requirements pose issues for vaccine distribution, notably to remote/rural areas, in hotter climates, and low- and middle-income countries which are largely dependent on vaccine imports. [1]

Internship As An In-Vivo Technician At The Institute For Antiviral Research, Ashlynn Clark

Student Research Symposium

The Institute for Antiviral Research (IAR), located at Utah State University, specializes in evaluating antiviral agents and vaccines against a wide array of human pathogenic viruses, such as influenza, enterovirus, West Nile virus, yellow fever, zika virus, polio, and SARS-CoV-2, utilizing in vivo and in vitro models.

Leaf Herbivory Effects On Plant Development And Parasitic Nematode Preference, Malori Gonzales

Student Research Symposium

Leaf herbivory triggers systemic plant responses that affect growth and development both above- and below-ground (Fig 1).

Effect Of Prolonged Water Immersion On Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Performance, Justus Rammell, Joonsun Park, Paxton Castillon

Student Research Symposium

• The aquatic environment may contribute to enhanced muscle strength by promoting cerebral blood flow and cortical activation, potentially driven by hydrostatic pressure-induced cephalad fluid shifts and sensory stimulation during static water immersion.

Response To Induced Herbivory, Isis Cordova

Student Research Symposium

Herbivore attacks trigger complex changes in plant primary and secondary metabolisms. Secondary metabolites (SM), are hypothesized to respond synergistically to repeated herbivore attacks (Fig. 1).

Creating A Stat2 Knock-Out Rat With Crispr/Cas9 Using I-Gonad, Isabella Dejesus, Yanan Liu, Don Joo, Nathan Merrill

Student Research Symposium

The STAT2 gene encodes a protein called Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 2. This protein is a part of the STAT family of transcription factors, which are involved in mediating cellular responses to various cytokines and growth factors, particularly those related to the immune response. Here, we established a successful procedure for creating a STAT2 knock-out (KO) Rat that can be used for more accurate disease testing of serious human ailments such as Lupus, Polio, Herpes, RSV, and even cancer.

Drivers Of Recruitment For A Population Of Cutthroat Trout In Northern Utah, Abbigail Lane, Austin Garner

Student Research Symposium

• Understanding recruitment dynamics informs effective management of sensitive populations (Camp et al. 2020).

Diet, Bioaccumulation Of Heavy Metals, And Population Genomics Of Narrow-Barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus Commerson) From The Arabian Gulf, Shaima Malik

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Marine organisms are integral part of marine ecosystems, forming complex feeding interactions. Large predatory fish are especially important because they often govern food web structures through top-down influences. The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) is an ecologically and economically important fish species that feeds on small forage fish. The current study focuses on three aspects of the narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (diet, bioaccumulation of heavy metals and population genomics). This species is considered near-threatened, as its population has been declining due to anthropogenic stressors. The Arabian Gulf experiences continuous natural stressors, which are further exacerbated by human activities, impacting the marine …

Cooling Potential Of Ornamental Vines Under Different Irrigation Regimes For Urban Heat Mitigation, Saroj Burlakoti

Student Research Symposium

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is a phenomenon where urban areas become significantly warmer than their surrounding rural areas (Debbage et al., 2015; Phelan et al., 2015; Yang et al., 2016)

Does Bacillus Mycoides Inhibit The Growth Of Botrytis Cinerea?, Jaymen Brough, Macy Brooks, Jackson Bronsell, Brent Bowler

Student Research Symposium

Botrytis cinerea is a fungal pathogen shown to threaten agricultural stability. In attempts to find biological controls against such pathogens, some bacteria have demonstrated antifungal properties. Among these, Bacillus mycoides has been identified as a potential producer of antifungal agents that may be relevant to agricultural, horticultural, and medical settings (Kahn et al., 2018). In an effort to identify the effectiveness of B. mycoides as an antifungal biological control, we have tested whether Bacillus mycoides inhibits the fungal growth of Botrytis cinerea.

Exploring The Role Of Ethanol In Bumblebee-Yeast Interactions, Austen Grizzell

Student Research Symposium

Why care? Bumblebees are known to be attracted to yeasts present in nectar when foraging. Yeasts produce ethanol via fermentation of sugars found in flower nectar and bee honey. Ethanol may act as a foraging cue for bumblebee species. This has wider implications for plant-pollinator interactions, including the pollination of dozens of bumblebee-pollinated crops such as tomato, eggplant, and strawberries.

Gastric Survivability Of Streptomyces Narbonensis, Laramie Johnson, Laurel Hilterbrand, Ephraim Mohr, Eliza Lewis

Student Research Symposium

Human sciences and medicine have continually been advancing, and taken off in the last few centuries. This has included the development of many new medicines, antibiotics, and disinfectants. Antibiotics have to be able to survive and perform its duty within the human body, despite the changes in pH that occur naturally within the body in response to stimuli (Cotter, 2003). If a bacteria is unable to adapt to the pH environment of the human body in which it is placed, it will not be able to survive and continue to reproduce. The bacteria may be able to adapt via membrane …

Laparoscopic Articulating Arm: In Collaboration With The Xenocor Saberscope, Zac Hastings, Lizbeth Pugliese, Rebecca Sweeten, Dallin Thomas, Dallin Treasure-Areno

Student Research Symposium

• Laparoscopy a minimally invasive procedure performed through small incisions using a laparoscope, a camera-equipped instrument, along with specialized tools.

• Laparotomy or "open" surgery, requires a large incision to perform an abdominal operation.

Peribacillus Simplex Does Not Exhibit Antimicrobial Properties Against Staphylococcus, Dallin Thomas, Jordan Wheeler, Natalie Yoho

Student Research Symposium

Antibiotics are powerful drugs that combat previously fatal diseases. These miracle drugs have saved countless lives, but have the tendency to be misused. They are used incorrectly to treat patients who don't need them, and given to animals for non therapeutic use. Antibiotics are also known to pollute soils and groundwater all around the world (3). As antibiotics are found more readily in the environment, they encourage evolution, recombination, and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (5). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (6) antibiotic resistance kills at least 1.27 million people worldwide for diseases that used to …

Does Peer Influence Impact Substance Use Intentions In Pre-Adolescence? A Longitudinal Examination, Aubrey Low

Student Research Symposium

• Substance use in adolescent populations remains a significant public health concern. Although many studies have explored the association between peer influence and adolescents' substance use intentions, little has focused on how pre-adolescent populations are impacted by peer influence and their susceptibility to substance use. This gap in knowledge presents to be concerning given the increased vulnerability to social pressures during this developmental stage. This study aims to close this gap by investigating the association of the role of peer influence in shaping pre-adolescents' intent to use substances.

Utah's Farm To Fork Landscape: Stakeholders' Perspectives On Root Causes And Potential Solutions, Utsav Bhandari

Student Research Symposium

• Farm to Fork encourages direct connection between producers and consumers reducing the intermediaries (i.e., schools, pre-schools, daycare centers, etc.)
• Empowers local producers, boosts the local economy, enhances physical and mental well-being, and promotes self-sufficiency
• Utah's Farm to Fork Task Force was formed in 2015

Mathematical Modeling Of Color Perception Using Differential Equation, Siavash Pooretemad

Student Research Symposium

Color perception begins in the retina, where three cone types (L, M, S) detect light and initiate neural signals. These signals are processed by horizontal and bipolar cells to form opponent color channels: red-green (RG), yellow-blue (YB), and light-dark (LD). Perception is not solely based on physical input but also shaped by neural adaptation and context.

This project models color perception using a differential equation approach, simulating how color contrast and adaptation emerge from interactions between photoreceptors and lateral inhibition.

We hypothesize that a system of differential equations can model how retinal cone cells respond to and process light intensity, …

A Microgravity Investigation Of The Subsurface At The United Arab Emirates University Campus, Fidha Farzana Ismail

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

This thesis investigates subsurface structures within the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) campus using microgravity survey. Gravity methods are widely used in geophysical exploration to detect density variations that may indicate subsurface anomalies. The primary objective of this research is to generate the Bouguer anomaly map of the UAEU campus to map subsurface structures and to assess potential geological hazards such as cavities. A total of 76 gravity stations were measured across the UAEU campus using the Scintrex CG-6 gravimeter. The acquired gravity data underwent standard processing to obtain the Bouguer anomaly, including tidal, instrumental drift, latitude, free air, Bouguer, …

Do Chaperones Promote Protein Splicing?, Christopher Powell, Christopher Lennon Dr

Scholars Week

Intervening proteins (inteins) are translated within host proteins and removed by protein splicing. Inteins are abundant in the microbial world and are often found within essential genes involved in DNA replications, recombination, and repair. Recent studies have made efforts to understand conditional proteins splicing, whereby intein removal and subsequent host protein activation is regulated by environmental factors. However, within the cellular context, factors influencing protein splicing are still largely unknown. In this work, we probe whether the chaperonin system GroEL/ES promotes protein splicing in vivo. Chaperonins, a family of chaperone proteins, help proteins fold under normal and stressed conditions. …