Life Sciences Commons^™

Amaranthus Spp. Control And Sweetpotato Tolerance To Fluridone-Containing Herbicide Programs, Stephen L. Meyers, Katherine M. Jennings, Mark W. Shankle, Jeffrey L. Main

Publications

Click on author name to view affiliation information Article Category: Research Article Online Publication Date: 12 Sept 2025 Page(s): 843 – 847 Volume/Issue: Volume 35: Issue 5 DOI: 10.21273/HORTTECH05727-25

Open Access

Abstract

Field studies were conducted at the Pontotoc Ridge–Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station in Pontotoc, MS, USA and the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Clinton, NC, USA in 2015 to determine pigweed (Amaranthus spp.) control and sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) crop response to fluridone herbicide. Treatments consisted of 168 g·ha⁻¹ a.i. fluridone alone or tank-mixed with 54 g or 107 g·ha⁻¹ a.i. flumioxazin applied pretransplanting, fluridone/flumioxazin …

A Novel Sialylation Pathway Mediated By Extracellular Vesicles In Aggressive Prostate Cancer, Camila A. Bach, Md Niamat Hossain, Ishan J. Chaudhari, Cecilia E. Verrillo, Nicole M. Naranjo, Isabella Amoroso, Anna Testa, Samuel Sey, W. Kevin Kelly, Susan L. Bellis, Aurelio Lorico, Ada G. Blidner, Gabriel A. Rabinovich, Lucia R. Languino

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Altered cell surface glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer; among aberrant glycan structures, hypersialylated proteins contribute to disease progression. The enzyme ST6 β-galactoside α2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) mediates α2,6-linked sialylation of N-glycosylated proteins and is upregulated in many cancers, including prostate cancer (PrCa). We propose that ST6GAL1 may be released by cancer cells in small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in the PrCa tumor microenvironment to potentially modulate cell surface sialylation in recipient cells. We isolated sEVs from PrCa cells by density gradient separation and characterized them by nanoparticle tracking analysis using ZetaView and immunoblotting analysis. We identified ST6GAL1 in both its membrane-bound …

Resolution Of Physics And Deep Learning-Based Protein Engineering Filters: A Case Study With A Lipase For Industrial Substrate Hydrolysis, Spencer Gardiner, Peter Dollinger, Filip Kovacic, Jörge Pietruszka, Daniel Ess, Karl-Erich Jaeger, Gunnar F. Schröder, Dennis Della Corte

Faculty Publications

Computational enzyme design remains a powerful yet imperfect tool for optimizing biocatalysts, especially when targeting non-natural substrates. Using design tools we investigated Pseudomonas aeruginosa LipA, a lipase with a flexible lid domain crucial for substrate binding and turnover, aiming to enhance its hydrolysis of the industrially relevant substrate Roche ester. We generated an initial set of single-point mutations based on structural proximity to the active site and evaluated their effects using a computational pipeline integrating molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and ensemble-based energy scoring. While we identified several active variants, attempts to rank them by activity …

Systematics And Phylogeography Of Mundochthonius Chamberlin, 1929, In The Pacific Northwest (Chelicerata, Pseudoscorpiones), Amanda Rai Montoya-Cowan

Dissertations and Theses

Understanding the processes that drive genetic divergence and species formation is central to evolutionary biology. Invertebrates with low dispersal ability, such as pseudoscorpions, are especially prone to cryptic diversification due to their occupancy of niche microhabitats and sensitivity to landscape barriers. Despite their ecological roles as predators and bioindicators, pseudoscorpions remain one of the least studied arachnid groups, with limited taxonomic resolution and few integrative studies. This research focuses on the genus Mundochthonius in the Pacific Northwest, particularly M. pacificus, a morphologically conserved species whose true diversity and distribution remain poorly understood.

Field surveys guided by a GIS-based habitat …

Loss Of Ptdss1 In Tumor Cells Improves Immunogenicity And Response To Anti-Pd-1 Therapy, Jielin Liu, Shelley Herbrich, Sreyashi Basu, Yulong Chen, Ashwat Nagarajan, Swetha Anandhan, Sangeeta Goswami, Liangwen Xiong, Baoxiang Guan, Padmanee Sharma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PTDSS1 (phosphatidylserine synthase 1) encodes an enzyme that facilitates production of phosphatidylserine (PS), which mediates a global immunosuppressive signal. Here, based on in vivo CRISPR screen, we identified PTDSS1 as a target to improve anti-PD-1 therapy. Depletion of Ptdss1 in tumor cells increased expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-regulated genes, including B2m, Cxcl9, Cxcl10, and Stat1, even in the absence of IFN-γ stimulation in vitro. Loss of Ptdss1 in tumor cells also led to increased expression of MHC-I, enhanced cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, and increased frequency of an iNOS+ myeloid subset. A gene signature derived from the …

Observations On Predation Of The Flatback Turtle Natator Depressus By The Saltwater Crocodile Crocodylus Porosus At A Major Rookery In Northern Australia, Casper Avenant, James Gee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Context: We examined predation by the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) on the flatback turtle (Natator depressus), an Australian endemic, at Cape Domett, a significant nesting site in Cambridge Gulf, northern Australia, where crocodile populations have recovered since legislative protection was implemented in the 1970s. Aims: The investigation aimed to document crocodile predation on flatback turtles across hatchling and adult life stages, assess predation strategies, and evaluate ecological impacts on this genetically distinct turtle stock. Methods: Conducted over three Austral winters (2021–2023), the study utilised infrared videography, unmanned aerial vehicles, and beach patrols to observe predation events in a population of …

Guiding With Love: Building Self-Regulation Through Structure And Warmth, Kylie Collette

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

The Value Of Play In Improving Children’S Experiences With Healthcare, Kylie Howes

Family Perspectives

Hospitalization can be a distressing experience for children, often resulting in heightened anxiety and pain due to unfamiliar environments, procedures, and personnel. This literature review examines the effectiveness of Child Life Play Interventions—specifically Developmentally Supportive Play, Psychological Preparation Play, and Distraction Play—in reducing pediatric patients’ healthcare- related anxiety and pain. Developmentally supportive play provides children with familiar, age-appropriate activities that help maintain normalcy and routine, thereby reducing stress during extended hospital stays. Psychological preparation play uses role-playing and hands-on demonstrations to enhance children’s understanding of medical procedures, alleviating anxiety and decreasing perceived pain. Distraction play shifts children’s attention away from …

When Evidence Is Shocking: The Value Of Struggling With Uncomfortable Ideas, Cortney Evans-Stout, Christin L. Porter

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

Marital Conflict And Male Depression: The Role Of Emotional Withdrawal And Hostility, Nicolas Enzo Mouhsen

Family Perspectives

This literature review investigates the relationship between marital conflict and male depression, focusing on emotional withdrawal and spousal hostility as key contributing factors. Male depression, often underreported due to differences in symptom expression such as anger and irritability, is explored in the context of marital dynamics. Emotional withdrawal, characterized by avoidance behaviors during conflict, is particularly prevalent among men and linked to rigid gender role perceptions. This behavior correlates with increased depressive symptoms and reduced well-being. Additionally, spousal hostility, including verbal aggression and criticism, exacerbates male depression through both the perception of aggression from a partner and self-awareness of hostile …

Divorced After Age 50: What Gray Divorced Women Can Do To Move Forward, Sheri Duvall

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

The Benefits Of Combining Center-Based And Home-Based Care For Preschool Children, Savannah Christensen

Family Perspectives

Abstract: Research shows that the quality of care children receive in early childhood—whether from a parent, relative, or formal child care provider—significantly influences their cognitive, behavioral, and emotional development. This article analyzes several peer-reviewed sources to examine how different caregiving environments impact development and how these effects are moderated by the quality of care and the home environment. It also addresses how socioeconomic status can shape the quality of care children receive and the long-term outcomes associated with each caregiving type. While parents are typically seen as the ideal caregivers, children in nonparental care, such as with relatives or in …

Probiotic Biogeography In The Neonatal Intestine, Sierra Hansen

All ETDs from UAB

Neonatal infection remains a leading cause of both neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in preterm infants. Probiotic bacteria have been demonstrated to protect against the development of neonatal intestinal dysbiosis, however, formulations and efficacy vary substantially, highlighting a critical gap in the current understanding of the mechanisms governing probiotic efficacy in this population. This gap is exacerbated by regulatory standards which favor economic expansion over scientific rigor. Furthermore, current studies on probiotic efficacy largely rely on indirect or relative readouts of intestinal bacterial burden. Herein, we directly quantify the probiotic effects of Ligilactobacillus murinus V10 and Escherichia coli Nissle …

Lineage-Associated Zinc Metalloprotease B And Its Impact On Cardiac Damage Elicited During Invasive Pneumococcal Disease, Jennifer Nichelle Luck

All ETDs from UAB

During invasive disease, certain strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) can invade the myocardium, damaging cardiomyocytes and predisposing patients to life-threatening cardiac complications. To identify genetic loci involved in pneumococcal cardio-virulence, we performed a bacterial genome-wide association study using 825 genomes corresponding to 17 distinct Spn lineages associated with varying rates of cardiac complications during hospitalization for pneumonia. This led to the identification of an allele of zmpB, the gene encoding Zinc metalloprotease B (ZmpB). Infection of mice with a ZmpB deficient mutant, i.e., TIGR4ΔzmpB, found that ZmpB was required to form foci of infection in the heart, i.e., cardiac microlesions. …

Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination: Implications For The Ecology, Evolution, And Conservation Of Sea Turtles, Forrest William Collins

All ETDs from UAB

For reptiles, their method of sex determination is temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). This is where the environmental temperature directly influences the sex ratio being produced within a clutch. For sea turtles, sex is determined within a thermosensitive period (TSP) in which incubation temperatures will result in either males (cooler), females (warmer), or 50:50 even sex ratio. For this dissertation, 2 species of sea turtles were evaluated for their TSD and its implications on their ecology, evolution, and conservation: the Hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempii). For the Hawksbill, a major rookery in the …

Binding Of A [2fe-2s] Cluster Drives Dimerization Of Ferric Uptake Regulator (Fur) In Escherichia Coli, Fatemeh Najafi, Aidan G. Purcell, Finbar H. Homes, Huangen Ding

Faculty Publications

The ferric uptake regulator (Fur) is a global transcription factor that reversibly binds an iron-sulfur [2Fe-2S] cluster via the cysteine residues (site 3) in response to elevation of intracellular free Fe content in Escherichia coli. Here, we report that when E. coli Fur is expressed in E. coli cells grown in M9 medium supplemented with Fe or zinc (Zn), purified Fur binds a [2Fe-2S] cluster or Zn(II), respectively. While apo-form Fur is a monomer and has no DNA-binding activity, both the [2Fe-2S] cluster-bound Fur and the Zn(II)-bound Fur are homodimers and have a similar binding activity for the DNA sequence …

Winter Supplementation Of Beef Cows In The Intermountain West, David Secrist

All Current Publications

Feed costs are the most significant expense of most ranching operations in the Intermountain West. Year-round grazing opportunities, hay cost and availability, calving season, cow size, milk production, and feeding logistics are all considerations in a supplementation program. The key to effective winter feeding is to balance the cost/benefit ratio of the supplementation programs while meeting nutritional demands at a minimal cost.

The Colonic Crypt: Cellular Dynamics And Signaling Pathways In Homeostasis And Cancer, Anh L. Nguyen, Molly A. Lausten, Bruce M. Boman

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

The goal of this review is to expand our understanding of how the cellular organization of the normal colonic crypt is maintained and elucidate how this intricate architecture is disrupted during tumorigenesis. Additionally, it will focus on implications for new therapeutic strategies targeting Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). The colonic crypt is a highly structured epithelial unit that functions in maintaining homeostasis through a complex physiological function of diverse cell types: SCs, transit-amplifying (TA) progenitors, goblet cells, absorptive colonocytes, Paneth-like cells, M cells, tuft cells, and enteroendocrine cells. These cellular subpopulations are spatially organized and regulated by multiple crucial signaling pathways, including …

Responding To Rising Waters And Temperatures: Greenhouse Gas Flux From A High-Latitude Coastal Wetland, Katharine C. Kelsey, A. Joshua Leffler, Matteo Petit Bon, Briana N. Barr, Karen H. Beard

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Climate change is exposing coastal landscapes to more flooding, in addition to rapidly rising temperatures. These changes are critical in the Arctic where the effects of sea level rise are exacerbated by the loss of sea ice protecting coasts, subsidence as permafrost thaws, and a projected increase in storms. Such changes will likely alter the land-atmosphere gas exchange of high-latitude coastal ecosystems, but the effects of flooding with warming remain unexplored. In this work we use a field experiment to examine the interacting effects of increased tidal flooding and warming on land-atmosphere CO₂ and CH₄ exchange in the …

Roadkill Scavenging Behavior Of White-Throated Magpie-Jay (Cyanocorax Formosus) In Northwestern Costa Ricacomportamiento De Carroñeo En Carretera De La Urraca Copetona (Cyanocorax Formosus) En El Noroeste De Costa Rica, Juan De Dios Astorga-Acuña, José Manuel Mora

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Corvids are opportunistic omnivores and facultative scavengers, but there are no direct records of Cyanocorax species scavenging on carrion. We documented opportunistic feeding behavior of the White-throated Magpie-Jay (Cyanocorax formosus) on a road-killed Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) in northwestern Costa Rica. On 25 August 2023, we observed three White-throated Magpie-Jays feeding on the carcass of a Common Pauraque, likely killed by collision with a vehicle, along a gravel road near the Taboga Forestry Reserve. This provides de first documented evidence of the White-throated Magpie-Jay scavenging on roadkill, and of carrion consumption by a Central American corvid. Given the White-throated Magpie-Jay's …

Evaluating Gains In Student Self-Efficacy In Scientific Literacy Associated With A Brief Curricular Intervention, Radhika Reddy, Olivia M. Ainsworth, Mackenzie J. Gray, Andrea Hildebrand, Jazzmine Waugh, Jennifer Lindwall, Javier Huerta, Thomas E. Keller

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Undergraduate research experiences (UREs) are high-impact practices that enhance retention, motivation, and self-efficacy in science, particularly for students with limited prior exposure to scientific environments. However, many students-especially those from underrepresented or marginalized backgrounds-enter these experiences with low research self-efficacy, stemming from limited familiarity with academic language, scientific literature, and research communication. The Research Induction Curriculum (RIC) was designed to address this challenge by providing early, structured training in scientific literacy through scaffolded journal club discussions. The RIC introduces students to progressively more complex scientific articles, supports peer discussion, and builds confidence in reading, interpreting, and presenting scientific information. This …

Breath Acetone As A Biomarker For Concussion, Allyn Abadie

All ETDs from UAB

Concussions represent a critical public health concern, affecting millions annually yet remain challenging to diagnose and manage. Concussions involve a range of often invisible signs and symptoms. Traditional assessments rely heavily on subjective symptom reporting, with limited objective data which may complicate return-to-play decisions. Objective physiological biomarkers are needed to complement traditional methods, detect subtle disruptions, and improve decision-making. Following concussion, the brain undergoes a neurometabolic cascade involving disrupted glucose utilization, ionic imbalances, neurotransmitter release, and reduced cerebral blood flow. This cascade creates a metabolic crisis, potentially shifting energy metabolism toward alternative substrates such as ketones. Breath acetone, a measurable …

The Role Of Histone Deacetylase Complexes In Cardiomyocyes And Heart Diseases, Meimei Wang

All ETDs from UAB

Histone deacetylase complexes play pivotal roles in cardiac biology, however their specific functions in cell fate transitions and adult heart maintenance re-main unclear. We identified the role of HDAC complex in vitro during direct cardiac repro-gramming and in vivo through specific cardiomyocyte deletion of ELMSAN1, a core component of the MiDAC complex. We perform direct cardiac reprogram-ming using a polycistronic construct (hMGT133) expressing MEF2C, GATA4, TBX5, and miR-133. MEF2C expression peaked early, while cardiac markers such as cardiac troponin and α-actinin emerged by Day 9. HDAC1 levels and global histone acetylation (H3K9ac, H3K14ac, H3K27ac) declined over time. An RNAi screen …

Structural Basis For Promoter Recognition By Pseudomonas Phage Dev Virion Associated Rna Polymerase, Brittney Bird

All ETDs from UAB

Bacteriophage DEV, a member of the Schitoviridae family, encodes a large virion-associated RNA polymerase (vRNAP) and shows significant potential for use in phage therapy. However, many aspects of DEV’s biology remain poorly understood, especially how it regulates transcription once inside the host. Recent work in our lab suggests that gene product 71 (gp71) functions as a DNA-dependent vRNAP. Analogous to the vRNAP of coliphage N4, gp71 likely initiates transcription by recognizing single-stranded DNA templates that contain early gene hairpin promoters. Based on this, my working hypothesis is that specific interactions between gp71 and the DEV early promoters PE1 and PE5 …

Characterizing The Role Of Pneumococcal Surface Protein A And Humoral Immunity To Biofilm Antigens During Streptococcus Pneumoniae Colonization, Jessica Lane

All ETDs from UAB

Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), or “the pneumococcus”, is a Gram-positive bacterium that colonizes the upper respiratory tract as a pathobiont. Spn is a deadly human pathogen, and one of the leading etiological agents of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). One virulence factor of Spn is pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), a choline-binding protein (CBP) at the surface of the bacteria that interacts with the host environment. Here, we demonstrated a novel role for PspA involving adhesion to dying host nasal epithelial cells via a multimeric complex with host lactoferrin (LF) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). We found that the PspA-GAPDH complex aggregated the bacteria …

The Hepatic Glucagon Receptor As A Novel Regulator Of Lifespan, Alexander Tate Lasher

All ETDs from UAB

In developed nations the average lifespan has nearly doubled over the last 200 years, and the proportion of humans living into old age is ever increasing. While this is certainly a testament to the effectiveness of modern medicine and infrastructure, it presents a unique challenge to public health. Gains to health have not necessarily kept pace with the gains in lifespan, and the expanding aged population positions age-associated diseases to reach unprecedented prevalence. In light of this challenge, a mechanistic understanding of the aging process is necessary to identify factors that control longevity and to ultimately develop strategies for healthy …

Effect Of Fiber Structure Heterogeneity On The Estimation Of Material Parameters For Cardiac Scar Tissue Mechanics, Desmond Maximilian Flanagan

All ETDs from UAB

Over one million Americans suffer from myocardial infarction (MI) per year. After MI, the heart muscle is replaced by scar, whose mechanical properties play a critical role in outcomes for surviving patients. Previously, Caggiano et al. induced MI in rats, and ex-tracted the scar tissue samples for microscopy and mechanical testing. Building on this, we investigate the effect of incorporating microscopy-derived fiber heterogeneity on the estimation of stress and material parameters. We studied the effect of fiber orientation heterogeneity on the mechanical characteriza-tion of scar tissues using finite element models (FEM) that replicated biaxial tests. We used three constitutive models—Mooney-Rivlin, …

Influenza A Virus Increases Susceptibility To Streptococcus Pneumoniae By Damaging The Airway Epithelium, Erin Yepsen Earnhardt

All ETDs from UAB

Influenza A Virus (IAV) is commonly complicated by secondary bacterial infections with Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn), leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Recent work from our lab demonstrates that an IAV-induced loss of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the airway disrupts the rheostatic properties of the airway surface liquid (ASL). In cystic fibrosis, caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, there is an increase in the bacterial burden of the airway. However, the underlying mechanisms and damage caused by IAV-induced CFTR dysfunction in the airway remains unknown. Using a primary differentiated human bronchial airway epithelial cell culture (HBEC) system, …

The Role Of The Glycerol Metabolism Regulator Glpr On Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’S Physiology, Nicholas Jordan Evans

All ETDs from UAB

Chronic infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people with cystic fibrosis. P. aeruginosa persists in the CF lung through adaptations, including altering the expression of metabolic genes to acquire nutrients that are abundant in the CF airway. Glycerol in the airway is imported and metabolized by proteins encoded in the glp regulon, which is regulated in part by GlpR. The loss of GlpR was previously shown to increase biofilm development in a P. aeruginosa CF isolate compared to a wound isolate. In the first half of this work, we investigated the influence that …

Analysis Of Telomeric Conformational Dynamics At The Single Molecule Level, Arianna Lacen

All ETDs from UAB

In eukaryotes, the telomere serves as a safeguard against DNA damage and loss during replication and other events. To do so, telomeric DNA folds into a variety of protective secondary and tertiary structures whose formation and conformational dynamics have not been well characterized. We have identified a slow conformational rearrangement in telomeric single stranded DNA that results in a G-Quadruplex (G4) that cannot be unfolded by a complementary strand. We have also determined how the accessibility of G4 forming sequences changes in response to different high K+ environments, which may have implications on how the nascent telomeric overhang interacts with …