Life Sciences Commons^™

Behavior Of Polymers And In-Vitro Evaluation On Gastroretentive Nifedipine Sustained Release Floating Tablets, H. K. Pradeep, Juturu Thimmasetty, P.R. Sathesh Babu, S. Gururaj, N. Sreeharsha

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Nifedipine is one of the calcium channel blockers widely employed in indications such as high blood pressure and angina pectoris. In the present study, a prompt attempt is done in the formulation of gastro retentive sustained-release tablets. The effect of polymers and their combination on release pattern, initial burst release, and floating behavior were studied. Out of four polymers, two polymers such as cellulose derivatives like highly viscous polymer Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) K100, low viscous HPMC K4M and their combinations, and other two polymers used were from natural sources like xantham gum, guar gum and their combinations were studied. The …

Acute And Sub-Acute Toxicity Profile Of Methanol Leaf Extract Of Geophila Obvallata On Renal And Hepatic Indices In Wistar Rats, Osafanme Lucky Iserhienrhien, Paulinus Ngozi Okolie

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction: Geophila obvallata (Rubiaceae) is a medicinal herb used for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative damage. Objective: The study investigated the toxic effects of acute and sub-acute oral doses of methanol extracts of G. obvallata (GOE) in rats. Materials and Methods: In acute toxicity study, extract doses of 1600, 2900, and 5000 mg/kg were orally administered. The rats were observed for signs of toxicity for 2 weeks. In sub-acute toxicity study, the extract was administered to rats at doses of 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for 28 days, while control rats received only water. At the end of …

Efavirenz Listed In The World Health Organization Prequalification Program: A Successful Case Study Of A Public Private Collaboration For Technology Transfer In Pharmaceutical Production And Quality Control In Thailand, Yupadee Sirisinsuk, Mukdavan Prakobvaitayakit, Nusaraporn Kessomboon, Usawadee Sutapuk, Kannikar Kijtiwatchakul, Noppawan Angkulsansanee

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Pharmaceutical technology transfer is an important tool for enhancing production development and quality control. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) is the state enterprises under the Ministry of Public Health, whose main mission is to produce high quality medicines with reasonable price to increase accessibility to the Thai people. GPO has received the technology transfer from an overseas pharmaceutical company for the successful production of the efavirenz 600 mg tablet that was certified by the WHO Prequalification Program. The research objective was to study how this success has been achieved with the support of technology transference as well as the relevant …

A Review On Ethnomedicinal And Phytopharmacological Potential Of Traditionally Wild And Endemic Plant Berberis Tinctoria Lesch., Arumugam Vignesh, Ramamoorthy Sivalingam, Subramaniam Selvakumar, Krishnan Vasanth

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction: Berberis tinctoria an evergreen shrub, endemic and predominantly found at a higher altitude of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India. This leaf and fruit are edible, which are also used in homeopathic remedies for countless illnesses. Objectives: B. tinctoria with diverse ethnomedicinal uses was focused in the prevailing study to detailed the phytochemical and pharmacological properties for further imminent research in this species. Materials and methods: Published data in this review were all gathered from the online bibliographical databases: PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and local ethnic community peoples of Kurumba and Toda. Results: B. tinctoria was …

Gastroprotective Effect Of Phyllanthus Reticulatus Poir. Against Pylorus Ligation-, Ethanol-Induced, And Stress-Induced Ulcer Models In Wistar Rats, Saravanan Jayaram, G. Thamotharan, N. Senthilkumar

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Objective: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the antiulcer property of ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir. against pylorus ligation-, ethanol-induced, and stress-induced ulcer models in Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Three models – pylorus ligation-induced ulcer, ethanol-induced ulcer, and swim stress-induced ulcer – were used to induce ulcer in Wistar rats. The animals were treated with 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg p. o of the ethanolic extract of P. reticulatus Poir, to estimate the gastroprotective potential. The effect of P. reticulatus Poir. on pH of the gastric juice, volume of acid secretion, total and free …

Synthesis And Cytotoxic Activity Of N-(2,4-Dichloro)Benzoyl-N’-Phenylthiourea Against Human Breast Cancer Cell Line, Dini Kesuma, Anwar Medika, Tegar Achsendo Yuniarta

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction: Urea- and thiourea-based compound has shown a potency to be further developed as anticancer compound. Objective: Another novel phenylthiourea analog (N-(2,4-dichloro)benzoyl-N’-phenylthiourea) was synthesized through Schotten-Baumann reaction followed by the assessment of its cytotoxic activity. Methods: N-(2,4-dichloro)benzoyl-N’-phenylthiourea was synthesized using N-Phenylthiourea and 2,4-dichlorobenzoyl chloride as starting materials. The reaction started at low temperature for 30 min followed by reflux for 8 h to yield target compound. Cytotoxicity assay was then performed against MCF-7, T47D, and Vero normal cell line. Results: The compound has been synthesized and its structure has been verified using infrared, 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C-NMR, various 2D …

Job Scheduling For Stability Testing Of Pharmaceutical Products Using Mathematical Model, Kantanat Pridaphatrakun, Nuchanad Bunkerd, Netnawee Umin, Narueporn Sutanthavibul, Wipawee Tharmmaphornphilas, Phanphen Wattanaarsakit

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The pharmaceutical industry plays an important role in the nation’s economy and society since pharmaceutical products are one of the factors that affect people’s lives and their health. At present, the domestic pharmaceutical industry is developing and adapting to meet the needs of customers and is also very competitive. Therefore, each stage of the production process must be as efficient as possible to achieve competitive advantages without compromising the product quality. One important process in production is pharmaceutical product stability testing, which ensures that the products have the necessary quality, efficacy, and safety. Managing time in a way that maximizes …

Review On Drug Delivery Applications Of Ethosomes: Current Developments And Prospects, Mayuri Shitole, Sopan Nangare, Udaykumar Patil, Namdeo R. Jadhav

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Transdermal drug delivery system networks are primarily affected by poor penetration of therapeutically active compounds. The stratum corneum (SC) is the foremost barrier of the skin, which restricts the permeation of the drug molecule. In this context, to date, numerous approaches have been implemented to overcome the SC barrier limitations. Out of this, few advanced approaches including liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, and transferosomes are majorly used to boost the permeation of drug and cosmetic agents across the SC barrier. Among these vesicles, ethosomes are stand out as the best substitute for topical drug delivery. In a nutshell, ethosomes are the elastic …

Amelioration Of Cadmium Chloride Testicular Toxicity By Plukenetia Conophora Aqueous Leaves Extract In Wistar Rats, Tomilola Olaolu, Tamaratare Ogu, Damilare Rotimi, Charles Nwonuma, Oluwakemi Awakan, Ayotunde Olaolu, Akpor Oghenerobor

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Cadmium accumulates in different organ and tissues of the body including the testes, impeding normal metabolism. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of Plukenetia conophora leaves extract on antioxidants and testicular function indices of cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-administered Wistar rats. A total of 25 Wistar rats (100–120 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups (A-E) and received orally, once daily for 21 d as follows: A (distilled water); B (6.5 mg/kg body weight of CdCl2; C (CdCl2 + 150 mg/kg body weight of extract); D (CdCl2 + 300 mg/kg body weight extract); and E (CdCl2 + 600 mg/kg body weight …

Analytical Method For Simultaneous Estimation Of Ranolazine And Metformin Hydrochloride By Validated Rp-Hplc-Dad Method, Ashok B. Patel, Dhruvanshi A. Gol, Rahul L. Makwana, Amitkumar J. Vyas, Ajay I. Patel, Nilesh K. Patel, Shital D. Faldu, Arvind N. Lumbhani

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: In the present study, a simple, sensitive, rapid, accurate, and precise reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method with diode array detection was developed and validated for simultaneous estimation of Metformin hydrochloride (MET) and Ranolazine (RANO) in a synthetic mixture. Material and Method: The method was developed using isocratic elution mode on a reversed-phase. Chromatographic separation was performed on ACE CN C18 (250 mm, 4.5 mm, 5 μm) column and a mobile phase consisting of methanol: acetonitrile:ammonium formate (45:45:10% v/v/v) with 10% formic acid to adjust the pH to 6.0, at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. Detection and quantification …

Preparation And Characterization Of Curcumin-Loaded Liposomes For Delivery To The Lungs, Safura Binti Mohd Mohari, Kevin M. G. Taylor, Nattika Nimmano

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Curcumin-loaded liposomes comprising dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (72:8:20 mole ratio) were prepared by the thin-film hydration method, followed by probe sonication to achieve a mean diameter (FSI) pre-cooled at 2–8°C for at least 90 min at 15 L/min. Curcumin recovered from the impactor and nebulizer was quantified using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. Overall, 2.5% w/w curcumin-loaded liposomes was the optimal formulation based on the maximum encapsulation efficiency of approximately 87% and mean hydrodynamic diameter of 97 nm. This chosen curcumin concentration was effectively aerosolized with a fine particle fraction of 53.25%, and a fine particle dose of 53 …

Phytochemical Screening And Potential Anticonvulsant Activity Of Aqueous Root Extract Of Decalepis Nervosa Wight & Arn., Kuntal Das, M. Saifulla Khan, A. Muthukumar, Sayani Bhattacharyya, M. Usha, S. Venkatesh, James Sounder

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The effect of phytochemicals in the aqueous root extracts of Decalepis nervosa Wight & Arn. (ARDN) (Family: Apocynaceae) was investigated on an anticonvulsant action in laboratory animals (mice). The DN roots were extracted using microwave extraction method with aqueous solvent using two parameters, such as temperature variation and extraction time. The phytochemical screening followed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) studies was performed. The pentylenetetrazole and isoniazid models were used with two doses, 250 mg and 500 mg, for the anticonvulsant effects of the ARDN extract. The microwave extraction during 15 min at 60°C temperature revealed the …

Development Of A Notification System For Intravenous-To-Oral Antibiotic Switch Therapy In Pediatric Wards Using Value Stream Mapping, Nissara Srisura, Nusaraporn Kessomboon, Ancharee Leechaipichikul, Thawatchai Khummuang

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Objective: This research developed a notification intravenous-to-oral antibiotic switch therapy system using value stream mapping (VSM) through the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) method. Materials and Methods: The action research took place in two target groups: Group 1 included a multidisciplinary team and Group 2 included pneumonia patients admitted to two pediatric wards. The system had two phases: In Phase I, Situation analysis reviewed 400 medical records and In Phase II, a system was developed that used PDSA as follows: Plan: analysis of the methods. Do: The demonstrated process used VSM. Study: A system designed. Act: Comparing each step used VSM. The system …

Antibacterial Activity Of Ethanol Extract Of Asam Gelugur (Garcinia Atroviridis) Fruits From Southern Thailand, Atchara Niyomdecha, Chaiyawan Wattanachant, Jessada Rattanawut, Patimaporn Plodpai, Wanwisa Ngampongsai

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Objective: The present study investigated the antibacterial activities of asam gelugur (Garcinia atroviridis) fruit extracts against two Gram-negative bacterial strains (Escherichia coli (gi: CP033762.1) and Salmonella enterica (gi: KX355299.1)). Materials and Methods: The powder form of G. atroviridis fresh fruit was extracted with 95% ethanol (2:4 L) (w/v). The mixtures were filtered and evaporated using a rotary evaporator at 50–55°C. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure hydroxycitric acid (HCA) in the extract. The antibacterial assay was determined by disk diffusion method, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Results: HPLC analysis measured approximately 495.01 ± …

Geographic Range Size As A Predictor Of Dispersal-Dependent Behavioral Traits In Two Clades Of A Terrestrial Salamander, Teah Evers

Masters Theses

Animal movement has the potential to affect diverse processes within ecology and evolution including range expansion, gene flow, adaptation, and speciation. Two aspects of animal personality that are germane to dispersal are exploratory and aggressive behavior. These behavioral categories may represent a trade-off such that energy invested in territorial defense leaves little energy for movement and dispersal. The Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is a wide ranging, dispersal limited, terrestrial salamander with well documented phylogeographic divisions. I examined dispersal-relevant behavioral traits within two clades of P. cinereus with disparate geographic ranges. The Northern Clade (NC) has a range extending from …

Analysis Of Hematocrit Levels In Walleye Sander Vitreus From Similar Waterbodies, Alyssa Hauser

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Walleye Sander vitreus are a popular fish among anglers and hold a prominent place in Minnesotan’s identity as their state fish. Because of this, multiple management practices are used to ensure the continued health of their populations within Minnesota waters. In this study, the process of analyzing hematocrit levels was used to determine if the analysis of hematological parameters could be a useful tool in detecting differences in population health. To evaluate this, blood samples were acquired from age-0 and age-1 fish from two similar lakes and run through a hematocrit centrifuge to separate platelets from plasma to read the …

The Effects Of Diet On Yellow Perch Morphology Throughout Lake Bemidji, Quiana L. Radaich

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Morphology is very important as it looks at the arrangement of an organism’s parts to determine their functionality, development, and how they could have changed through evolution. It is also important for the identification of species as it can show how closely species are related. This study examines if the morphology of yellow perch changes throughout Lake Bemidji. Along with examining a subset of five stomachs for each group (A-F) of yellow perch collected to determine if diet was a driving force behind morphological changes. The data collected in this study suggested that morphology does change throughout Lake Bemidji and …

Model Definition For Genetic Evaluation Of Purebred And Crossbred Lambs Including Heterosis, Napoleón Vargas Jurado, David R. Notter, Joshua B. Taylor, Daniel J. Brown, Michelle R. Mousel, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Crossbreeding is a common practice among commercial sheep producers to improve animal performance. However, genetic evaluation of U.S. sheep is performed within breed type (terminal sire, semi-prolific, and western range). While incorporating crossbred records may improve assessment of purebreds, it requires accounting for heterotic and breed effects in the evaluation. The objectives of this study were to: 1) describe the development of a paternal composite (PC) line, 2) determine the effect of direct and maternal heterosis on growth traits of crossbred lambs, 3) estimate (co)variance components for direct and maternal additive, and uncorrelated maternal environmental, effects, and 4) provide an …

Interaction Of Urea With Frequency And Amount Of Distillers Grains Supplementation For Growing Steers On A High Forage Diet, Haley F. Linder, Josh E. Sebade, Zac E. Carlson, Hannah C. Wilson, Tyler J. Spore, Mary E. Drewnoski, Jim C. Macdonald

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Two studies were conducted to determine interactions of urea inclusion to a dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS; 29.4% crude protein, 5.48% ether extract) supplement fed at two amounts and two frequencies to steers on a high forage diet. In Exp. 1, 120 (247 kg; SD = 20) steers were fed individually for 84 d. Steers received ad libitum grass hay (6.8% crude protein) and one of eight treatments. Treatment design was a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial. Supplement was fed daily or three times per week, amount of supplement fed was 6.36 kg dry matter (DM)/week [0.37% body …

Production Cow-Calf Responses From Perennial Forage-Based And Integrated Beef-Cropping Systems, Zac E. Carlson, Levi Mcphillips, Galen E. Erickson, Mary E. Drewnoski, Jim C. Macdonald

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

An experiment was conducted to measure production responses of an alternative cow-calf production system integrated into a cropping system without access to perennial forage compared to a traditional cow-calf system utilizing perennial forage. Multiparous, cross-bred beef cows (n = 160; average age = 6.2 ± 2.8 yr) were utilized in a randomized complete block experimental design and unstructured treatment design. Upon initiation, cows were blocked by age and stratified by source, assigned randomly to one of two production systems, each with four replicates (n = 20 cows/replicate). Once allotted to their treatment groups, cows remained in their experimental units for …

Evaluation Of A Novel Computer Vision-Based Livestock Monitoring System To Identify And Track Specific Behaviors Of Individual Nursery Pigs Within A Group-Housed Environment, Ty B. Schmidt, Jessica M. Lancaster, Eric T. Psota, Benny E. Mote, Lindsey E. Hulbert, Aaron Holliday, Ruth Woiwode, Lance Perez

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Animal behavior is indicative of health status and changes in behavior can indicate health issues (i.e., illness, stress, or injury). Currently, human observation (HO) is the only method for detecting behavior changes that may indicate problems in group-housed pigs. While HO is effective, limitations exist. Limitations include HO being time consuming, HO obfuscates natural behaviors, and it is not possible to maintain continuous HO. To address these limitations, a computer vision platform (NUtrack) was developed to identify (ID) and continuously monitor specific behaviors of group-housed pigs on an individual basis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the capabilities …

Assessing Population Structure And Genetic Diversity In Us Suffolk Sheep To Define A Framework For Genomic Selection, Carrie S. Wilson, Jessica L. Petersen, Harvey D. Blackburn, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Long-term sustainability of breeds depends on having sufficient genetic diversity for adaptability to change, whether driven by climatic conditions or by priorities in breeding programs. Genetic diversity in Suffolk sheep in the United States was evaluated in four ways: 1) using genetic relationships from pedigree data [(n = 64 310 animals recorded in the US National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP)]; 2) using molecular data (n = 304 Suffolk genotyped with the OvineHD BeadChip); 3) comparing Australian (n = 109) and Irish (n = 55) Suffolk sheep to those in the United States using molecular data; and 4) assessing genetic relationships …

Site Of Infusion Of A Commercially Available Direct-Fed Microbial On Performance And Digestibility In Lactating Holstein Cows, K. S. Thompson, A. G. Mckeith, C. R. Krehbiel

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate site of infusion of a commercially available direct-fed microbial (DFM) containing 10⁹ cfu/g of Lactobacillus acidophilus and 10⁹ cfu/g Propionibacterium freudenreichii on DMI, rumen kinetics, ruminal VFA, digestibility, milk production, milk components, and blood metabolites in lactating dairy cows.

Materials and Methods: Four Holstein cows equipped with ruminal cannulas were used in a Latin square design experiment with 4 periods. Each 37-d period consisted of 14 d of no treatment to prevent crossover contamination, 14 d of adaptation to treatments, 8 d of sampling, and 1 d for …

Functional Foods: Promising Therapeutics For Nigerian Children With Sickle Cell Diseases, Oladeji John Alabi, Fikayo Noah Adegboyega, Dolapo Samuel Olawoyin, Oluwakemi Arinola Babatunde

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Sickle cell disease (SCD), also known as sickle cell anemia (SCA) is one of the structural hemoglobinopathies that occurs due to a single nucleotide mutation from GAG to GTG, which changes the amino acid of a β-globin chain of hemoglobin (Hb) from glutamate to valine. This singular mutation results to disorderliness in red blood cells (RBCs) with advent of changes in RBC morphology and other pathological conditions. In the 1980s, intermittent red blood cell transfusions, opioids, and penicillin prophylaxis were the only available therapy for SCA and were commonly reserved for acute, life threatening complications. So far, the US Food …

The Effect Of Anti-Aging Treatment On Expression Of Aging Markers In A Mouse Model Of Huntington Disease, Mary Isabelle E. Guerra

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Huntington disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by CAG tract expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which results in production of mutant huntingtin (mtHTT) protein. Although mtHTT is expressed throughout life, onset of HD symptoms typically begins in mid-life, around 35 to 50 years of age. Characteristic HD symptoms include motor, cognitive, and psychiatric abnormalities. The emergence of symptoms in adulthood suggests that aging may play a role in HD pathogenesis. Furthermore, markers of accelerated aging can be observed in HD patients, including telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our lab has previously observed that …

A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Relationship Between The Creb Protein's Neuroplastic Functions And The Implications In Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Possible Link Between Synaptic Plasticity And Neurodegenerative Diseases, Mani Sarmast

Honors Undergraduate Theses

In this two-part study, I investigated whether the cyclic-adenosine monophosphate response element-binding (CREB) protein has the potential to be clinically modulated as a therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Part one consisted of a systematic review that was conducted on select articles gathered through a stepwise method to explore (1) the relationship between diseased, neurodegenerative brains and levels of active, phosphorylated CREB (pCREB), (2) increased activation of CREB as a treatment for neurodegenerative symptoms, and (3) a potential therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases that can target CREB signaling. The results of the systematic review showed evidence that suggested …

A Novel Drug To Induce Apoptosis In Advanced Prostate Cancer Cells, Parshva A. Sanghvi

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death for men in America as approximately 1 in 41 men will have prostate cancer. In this research, we focus on enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer cells as cell resistance to enzalutamide is a prevalent obstacle in treating prostate cancer. We tested a novel compound library at different doses and observed each compound's efficacy in inducing apoptosis in enzalutamide-resistant cells. Furthermore, we analyzed the mechanism by which apoptosis was induced in compounds that showed a high efficacy at lower doses. Overall, we found that Darapladib shows promising results in treating cells that have …

Leveraging Community Health Workers’ Expertise In The Community To Address Food Insecurity In Appalachia, Alexis Kimbro Scott

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Residents of the Appalachian region of Kentucky are disproportionately affected by poor social determinants of health that contribute to the persistence of food insecurity and diet related diseases in this region. Poverty levels persist in rural areas of the Appalachian region while they improve throughout the rest of the United States. As this further perpetuates food insecurity in rural Appalachia, it is critical to identify culturally sensitive solutions to food insecurity. Utilizing Community Health Workers (CHWs), lay members of the community who have deep understanding of the communities they live in and serve, may be the answer to this problem. …

Investigating Anxiety-Like Behavior As A Non-Motor Side Effect Of Deep Brain Stimulation Of The Subthalamic Nucleus In A Parkinsonian Rat Model, Carter Mulder

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is estimated to impact nearly 10 million people globally and is estimated to increase in the future. PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that worsens through continuous cell death of dopaminergic neurons. This cell death can create motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, tremor, and muscular rigidity. Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation, STN DBS, is a surgical intervention which places stimulating electrodes in the STN greatly improving motor symptoms. However, STN DBS has been reported to possibly influence non-motor symptoms such as anxiety both acutely and long-term, which decreases the quality of life for those with PD. We …

Multiomic Hypotheses Underlying Behavioral Manipulation Of Camponotus Floridanus Ants By Ophiocordyceps Camponoti-Floridani Fungi, Ian Will

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Parasitic manipulation of host behavior lies at the intersection of disease, animal behavior, and coevolutionary processes. In many of these interactions, the underpinning biology is brought into sharp focus as they are obligate relationships, under strong selection to bring about specific changes in host behavior that determine if the parasite will transmit or die. However, experimental and molecular techniques to understand these interactions are still developing and identification of the mechanisms of manipulation is a primary goal in the field. As such, we investigated host-parasite interactions between Camponotus floridanus (Florida carpenter ant) and Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani (Florida zombie ant fungus) from …