Biology Commons^™

Investigating The Role Of Fnci-1 In The Development And Function Of The C. Elegans Nervous System, Meagan Collins

Open Access Master's Theses

Fanconi Anemia (FA) is a rare human genetic disease caused by mutation of any of twenty-three genes on the FA pathway, which functions in the repair of DNA damage and the maintenance of genome stability. FA is clinically characterized by congenital abnormalities and a predisposition to aplastic anemia and malignancies. Recently, progressive neurological symptoms and abnormal neurological findings on imaging have been noted in FA patients, including cerebral and cerebellar lesions, calcification, necrosis, gliosis, and associated acute and chronic neurological symptoms; this constellation of symptoms has been termed Fanconi Anemia-Associated Neurological Syndrome (FANS).

To elucidate the molecular etiology of FANS, …

Caspases Protect Against Hyperglycemia Induced Necroptosis-Like Cell Death In Brain Endothelial Cells, Aleena S. Mathew

Theses and Dissertations

Acute diabetes characterized by high spikes in blood glucose levels in association with severe hyperglycemia can lead to an increased risk of ischemic stroke in the brain. To better understand high blood glucose levels, hyperglycemia, in the brain we explored its effects on endothelial cells. Endothelial cells line the inner walls of blood vessels and are directly impacted in hyperglycemia. Brain endothelial cells are a major component of the blood brain barrier (BBB) which tightly regulates the brain’s microenvironment. The type of cell death such as apoptosis, caspase dependent, or necroptosis, caspase independent, can exacerbate diabetes associated complications. There is …

Exploring The Effects Of Road Salt On Earthworm Species, Alea Mry Koston

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This study examines the effects of two road salts, sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), on the health of two earthworm species: Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus terrestris. Over a 4-week period, approximately 168 earthworms were exposed to varying concentrations of either NaCl, CMA, or mixed ratios of both, with a control group included for comparison. The experiment involved monitoring the changes in earthworm weight and measuring their contraction rates to determine physiological responses. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in weight or activity between NaCl and CMA treatments for either species. However, higher concentrations of NaCl resulted in …

Elongate Locomotors Show Consistent Torque Patterns Across Substrates, Spencer Bradford, Henry Astley

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The four main movements found in snakes are understood mainly due to external study; however, muscular forces and resulting torques are poorly known. The main research objective is to study the torque production on different substrates using a snakebot. The study will give a rudimentary model for torque production on different substrates. It can then be compared against biological systems to understand snake movement at a muscular level. This study used a snakebot, allowing direct assessment of the current being run through each of its motors (proportional to torque). Data was then examined using a Principal Component Analysis test for …

Impact Of Tetrahydrocannabinol (Thc) On Daphnia Magna Heart Rate, Ashley Cosgrave

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Marijuana (Cannabis) is currently federally illegal within the United States and classified as a Schedule I drug. This leaves a large research gap on the impacts of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) use. Daphnia magna are frequently used as a model organism for the human heart and toxicology screenings due to their myogenic heart, similarities in physiological pathways, and sensitivity to toxins. As such, in order to bridge the research gap and uncover potential use of Daphnia magna as a model organism for humans in regard to impact on heart rate, we hypothesized that if Daphnia magna possess CB1 receptors or an equivalent …

Using Lateral Flow Assay To Assess The Prevalence Of Trachemys Hybridization, Lillian Groves

Honors Program Theses

The current study focuses on Trachemys species, which is a group of freshwater turtles found throughout the Greater Antilles. The role of studying an isolated island, such as the Dominican Republic, is significant because it serves as a way to better understand how the combined effects of species migration, mass tourism, and climate change can greatly impact isolated species. Of particular significance is how these forces interact in complex ways to reshape habitats and threaten biodiversity. Additionally, the introduction of a highly invasive species, Trachemys scripta elegans (T. scripta), in this environment pressures native species by acting as a source …

The Role Of Fruiting Bodies In Protecting A Community Of Myxococcus Xanthus Spores From The Environment, Dave Lall

Wayne State University Dissertations

Environmental microorganisms have evolved a variety of strategies to survive fluctuations in environmental conditions, including the production of biofilms and differentiation into spores. Myxococcus xanthus are ubiquitous soil bacteria that produce starvation-induced multicellular fruiting bodies filled with environmentally resistant spores (a specialized biofilm). Isolated spores have been shown to be more resistant than vegetative cells to heat, ultraviolet radiation, and desiccation. The evolutionary advantage of producing spores inside of fruiting bodies is not clear. Here, we examine a hypothesis that the fruiting body provides additional protection from environmental insults. We developed a high-throughput method to compare the recovery (outgrowth) of …

Characterizing The Targeting Of Toc159 Receptors To The Chloroplast Outer Envelope Membrane And Their Role In The Assembly Of Distinct Toc Complexes, Michael Fish

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Global agriculture and food security face challenges from climate change, population growth, and other human-driven pressures. Enhancing our understanding of plant biology, particularly chloroplast function, is critical for improving crop yield and stress resilience. As the sites of photosynthesis and key regulators of plant responses to environmental cues, chloroplasts depend on the precise import of thousands of nuclear-encoded proteins to maintain their biogenesis and function. While much is known about the core translocon components in the chloroplast outer envelope membrane that form the TOC complex, the mechanisms underlying their targeting, assembly, and regulation remain incompletely understood.

Plastids, including chloroplasts, evolved …

Reversible Degradation Of Peptidoglycan By Lytic Transglycosylases, Aaron Devereaux

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a burden on the global healthcare system with an estimated cost of billions of dollars and millions of deaths each year. Recently, there has been little to no development on new antibiotics to treat bacterial infection, and any that are developed become resisted to within a few years. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria contain a mesh-like layer called peptidoglycan (PG) that surrounds their cells providing strength, cell shape, and protection from their environments. This layer is a polymer of N-acetylmuramic acid (MurNAc) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) connected via a b-1,4-glycosidic bond, with each strand being cross-linked …

Interactions Of The Sars-Cov-2 Viral Genome 3’-Untranslated Region With Viral And Host Rnas, Caleb Frye, Mihaela Rita Mihailescu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the characterization of RNA-RNA interactions within the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome and with host microRNAs. As the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2 has evolved rapidly since its appearance. This has warranted prompt characterization of the virus particularly of its single stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome. By using a combination of bioinformatics, biophysics, and/or biological assays, we analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 viral genomic RNA and uncovered interactions of genomic RNA with host RNAs, highlighting an underutilized method of targeting RNA viruses. We showed here that the conserved elements in the viral genomic …

Investigating The Expression Of C-Myc And Birc5 In Trail And Pbox-15 Treated Metastatic Prostate Cancer Cells, Corinne Kai Leng Chew, Hannah O'Toole, Daniela M. Zisterer, Seema M. Nathwani, Jade K. Pollock

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Purpose Metastatic prostate cancer is associated with poor survival rate and limited treatment options. Overexpression of c-Myc and BIRC5 has been reported in prostate cancer cells which contribute to the development of the tumour environment. The specific tumour receptor mechanism of the death ligand TRAIL (tumour necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand) has attracted remarkable therapeutic interest. However, many cancer cells are resistant to TRAIL monotherapy. A novel microtubule-targeting agent, PBOX-15 is known to exhibit anti-tumour activity in cancer cell lines including those with multi-drug resistance. Previous studies demonstrated that PBOX-15 is capable in sensitising cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated cell …

Comparing Multivalent Cross-Linked Sodium Alginate/ Montmorillonite Beads Containing Curcumin Or Cayenne Pepper As Drug Carriers And Their Antimicrobial Resistance, Shionainn Traynor, Shubham Sharma

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

The aim of the following work was to investigate and compare curcumin and cayenne pepper in microbeads composed of sodium alginate (SA) crosslinked with montmorillonite (MMT) to act as drug carriers and their antimicrobial resistance. The microbeads were prepared through ion-exchange in multivalent solutions of CaCl₂, MgCl₂ and AlCl₃. The microbeads were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and the time required for intercalation of curcumin and cayenne pepper with MMT. Simulated intestinal fluid (pH 7.3) and gastric fluid (pH 1.2) at 37°C were used for comparison in swelling studies. …

Editorial - Sure Journal Vol 6, Anne M. Friel, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

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Development Of Novel Nanocarriers With Multi Modal Action Against Lung Cancer, Gayathri K

Theses and Dissertations

Lung cancer ranks among the top causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The deteriorating environment and unhealthy lifestyle in the modern era has further contributed to the exponential increase in lung cancer incidence across the globe. Lung cancers fall under two major types based on the location of the tumour in the lung namely, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) which is more aggressive, and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) which is more prevalent. Late diagnosis has been a major cause for poor prognosis as the cancer is detected only in an advanced stage.

Conventional therapies like chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy against lung cancer …

Soil Organic Matter Processes From The Treetops To The Clay Particle: The Role Of Climate, Minerals, And Organic Matter Chemistry In Soil Carbon Accumulation And Stability, Jessica G. Murray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Soils store more carbon than plants and the atmosphere, yet release ten times more carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the atmosphere than human activities each year. Small shifts in the balance of soil carbon storage and soil carbon emissions could make climate change less severe, by acting as a sink for the carbon plants pull from the atmosphere, or make climate change worse, by releasing even more planet-warming greenhouse gases. The processes governing whether soils store or release carbon depend on tiny soil microorganisms which convert plant carbon to soil organic matter, releasing CO₂ in the process. In …

A Multiplex Metabolomic Approach For Quality Control Of Spirulina Supplement And Its Allied Microalgae (Amphora & Chlorella) Assisted By Chemometrics And Molecular Networking, Nesrine Hegazi, Amira R. Khattab, Hamada H. Saad, Bishoy Abib, Mohamed A. Farag

Faculty Journal Articles

Microalgae species are of economic importance regarded as “green gold” being rich in bioactive compounds. Spirulina and Chlorella are the most popular microalgal species and are marketed as healthy food supplements. At the same time, Amphora holds potential as a source of healthy lipids and essential fatty acids. Yet, there are considerable variations in their reported chemical composition, and less is known about their compositional differences. A multiplexed metabolomic approach was adopted for the quality control (QC) of Spirulina supplements and to compare its constitutive metabolome to Chlorella and Amphora. The adopted protocol comprised gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), ultra-high performance …

Integrated Transcriptomics And Proteomics Study Of Starvation Selected Drosophila Melanogaster, Aavash Adhikari

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Drosophila melanogaster, selected for starvation resistance exhibits phenotypic traits such as increased body size, slower development, reduced fecundity and obesity like characteristics including higher lipid reserves and cardiac dysfunction. While prior studies have explored the metabolic and biochemical changes in these flies, the underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the gene expression and protein abundance in starvation-selected Drosophila through RNAseq, proteomics, and integrating both datasets using the MixOmics package in R. I found differential gene expression in the fat body at the third instar larval stage, particularly in pathways related to lipid metabolism, calcium …

Phagolysosomes Break Down The Membrane Of A Non-Apoptotic Corpse Independent Of Macroautophagy, Shruti Kolli, Cassidy J. Kline, Kimya M. Rad, Ann M. Wehman

Biological Sciences: Faculty Scholarship

Cell corpses must be cleared in an efficient manner to maintain tissue homeostasis and regulate immune responses. Ubiquitin-like Atg8/LC3 family proteins promote the degradation of membranes and internal cargo during both macroautophagy and corpse clearance, raising the question how macroautophagy contributes to corpse clearance. Studying the clearance of non-apoptotic dying polar bodies in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, we show that the LC3 ortholog LGG-2 is enriched inside the polar body phagolysosome independent of autophagosome formation. We demonstrate that ATG-16.1 and ATG-16.2, which promote membrane association of lipidated Atg8/LC3 proteins, redundantly promote polar body membrane breakdown in phagolysosomes independent of their role …

The Divergent Responses Of Salinity Generalists To Hyposaline Stress Provide Insights Into The Colonisation Of Freshwaters By Diatoms, Kathryn J. Judy, Eveline Pinseel, Kala M. Downey, Jeffrey A. Lewis, Andrew J. Alverson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Environmental transitions, such as the salinity divide separating marine and fresh waters, shape biodiversity over both shallow and deep timescales, opening up new niches and creating opportunities for accelerated speciation and adaptive radiation. Understanding the genetics of environmental adaptation is central to understanding how organisms colonise and subsequently diversify in new habitats. We used time-resolved transcriptomics to contrast the hyposalinity stress responses of two diatoms. Skeletonema marinoi has deep marine ancestry but has recently invaded brackish waters. Cyclotella cryptica has deep freshwater ancestry and can withstand a much broader salinity range. Skeletonema marinoi is less adept at mitigating even mild …

Rictor, A Mtorc2 Protein, Regulates Lymphatic Valve Formation And Maintenance Through The Akt-Foxo1 Signaling Axis, Richa Banerjee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The lymphatic vasculature maintains tissue fluid homeostasis by absorbing interstitial fluid to form lymph and transporting it back to the bloodstream. Collecting lymphatic vessels have lymphatic valves (LVs) that prevent the retrograde flow of lymph generated by hydrostatic pressure from the blood vasculature. Backflow and accumulation of lymph leads to a lymphatic pathology called lymphedema. This implicates the involvement of defective LVs in the pathogenesis of lymphedema and warrants the study of lymphatic valve development and maintenance. The LVs are formed through a process called mechanotransduction which signals through the intracellular PI3K-AKT pathway in lymphatic endothelial cells. However, the activation …

Water Quality Of Silver Creek, A Buried Urban Stream, Nick Bultje, Valerie Krause, Rebecca Nulty

Student Papers and Reports

There are many sources of pollution that can affect a watershed. These pollutants can impact the water's pH, temperature, conductivity, and dissolved solids. Escherichia coli is a specific pollutant that comes from waste products of humans and animals. High levels of E. coli cause serious health problems. This study examines Silver Creek, a tributary within the Plaster Creek watershed. Silver Creek runs mostly underground and has storm drainage systems that flow into the creek. The goal was to explore the effects of the underground section of Silver Creek on water quality and E. coli levels. The water quality and levels …

Oxidative Stress Responses In Arabidopsis Thaliana Plants To Uv-B Irradiation, Bolaji Olalere

Theses

The depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer has led to increased levels of harmful UV-B radiation reaching the Earth's surface, posing significant challenges for plant health and development. This study investigates the oxidative stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana when exposed to UV-B irradiation. Arabidopsis thaliana, a well-established model organism, is particularly sensitive to UV-B, making it ideal for understanding the effects of UV-B-induced oxidative stress. UV-B radiation, a mutagenic component of sunlight, disrupts key metabolic, molecular, and developmental processes, leading to DNA damage, impaired metabolism, and morphological changes. This research aims to explore how UV-B exposure affects the activities of …

Metabolic Crossroads: Gaba Synthesis In Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection, Yesha Dhruv

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This study examines the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis pathway in Trichomonas vaginalis infection of human HCT-8 cells, focusing on key enzymatic processes in glutamate conversion to GABA and metabolic adaptations. The hypothesis tested was that T. vaginalis modulates GABA metabolism to enhance host cell invasion and adaptation. Infection time-point studies, RNA sequencing, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) assays were conducted. Comparisons between T. vaginalis strains Casu 2 and Casu 2/MOZ 2 revealed distinct infection dynamics. Casu 2 rapidly attached and replicated within an hour, peaking at 24 hours, while Casu 2/MOZ 2 exhibited delayed replication, peaking at 48 to 72 hours, …

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Major Proteins And Pathways That Mediate The Effect Of 17-Β-Estradiol In Cell Division And Apoptosis In Breast Cancer Mcf7 Cells, Zhenqi Zhou, Brihget Sicairos, Jianhong Zhou, Yuchun Du

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite extensive research, the genes/proteins and pathways responsible for the physiological effects of estrogen remain elusive. In this study, we determined the effect of estrogen on global protein expression in breast cancer MCF7 cells using a proteomic method. The expression of 77 cytosolic, 74 nuclear, and 81 membrane/organelle proteins was significantly altered by 17-β-estradiol (E2). Protein enrichment analyses suggest that E2 may stimulate cell division primarily by promoting the G1 to S phase transition and advancing the G2/M checkpoint. The effect of E2 on cell survival was complex, as it could simultaneously enhance and inhibit apoptosis. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that …

The Seat Of Singular Gene Choice: Dissecting The Role Of Odorant Receptor Enhancer Elements That Lead To Mammalian Olfactory System Expression, Alessandro M. Rosa

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Odorant receptors (ORs) were first identified in 1991 and the initial data strongly suggested that ORs were part of a large superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors. Within a few years of the discovery of the OR superfamily, it became clear that each OR allele was exclusively expressed in olfactory sensory neurons (OSN), and that this singular expression leads to cellular identity. Many studies over the past thirty years have sought to unlock the mysteries of the mechanism for monoallelic and monogenic OR gene activation and expression in OSNs, however no definitive model for singular gene expression has emerged.

Using a series …

Unraveling The Role Of Hid-1: Insights Into Sgii Regulation, Breanna L. Sellers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The regulated secretory pathway is important for the secretion of hormones and neuropeptides from large dense core vesicles (LDCVs). Dysregulation of the biogenesis of LDCVs can result in metabolic and neurological diseases. Recent studies have suggested that the peripheral membrane protein HID-1 plays a role in the sorting and storage of granins which contribute to LDCV biogenesis. To further understand how HID-1 influences the regulation of granins, we investigated potential HID-1 interactors. We determined that while HID-1 is likely functioning in the same pathway as USP25, a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB), the cause of reduced cellular SgII levels is likely not …

Akt Disruption Leads To Non-Canonical Apical Constriction In Drosophila Embryos, Vincent Brown

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Akt/mTOR pathway (Akt pathway) has largely been examined in terms of its role as the primary nutrient sensing pathway due to its ability to recognize nutrient availability within a cell, particularly amino acids and glucose. Among its nutrient sensing characteristics, this pathway also contributes to a large variety of other cell functions such as cell growth, proliferation, protein synthesis, and cell survival via anti-apoptotic signaling. Although many aspects of this pathway have been carefully studied, the extent to which it regulates embryonic development remains unclear. Here, I examine Akt function in the early Drosophila embryo and demonstrate that Akt …

Molecular Docking, Pharmacological Profiling, And Molecular Dynamics Simulation Of Potential Antihyperuricemic Agent From Secondary Metabolites Of Dillenia Philippinensis Rolfe (Dilleniaceae), Louie Rince C. Suyo, John P. Paulin, Nicole Clarence Louise L. Gapaz, Markus Brent S. Arevalo, Vince Tyrell P. Yongco, Librado A. Santiago

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Crystal accumulation in the joints due to increased serum uric acid (sUA) may lead to an inflammatory condition called gout. Increased sUA is caused by the excessive reabsorption of the urate anion transporter-1 (URAT-1). Therefore, URAT-1 inhibition will promote uric acid excretion and reduce the risk of having gout. Dillenia philippinensis Rolfe, often known as katmon, is an endemic plant in the Philippines with bioactive compounds associated with several therapeutic benefits. The present study represents the first scientific inquiry into the antihyperuricemic potential of compounds isolated from D. philippinensis. This study aimed to assess the interaction of URAT-1 with …

Diatom Abundance In The Polar Oceans Is Predicted By Genome Size, Wade R. Roberts, Adam M. Siepielski, Andrew J. Alverson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

A principal goal in ecology is to identify the determinants of species abundances in nature. Body size has emerged as a fundamental and repeatable predictor of abundance, with smaller organisms occurring in greater numbers than larger ones. A biogeographic component, known as Bergmann’s rule, describes the preponderance, across taxonomic groups, of larger-bodied organisms in colder areas. Although undeniably important, the extent to which body size is the key trait underlying these patterns is unclear. We explored these questions in diatoms, unicellular algae of global importance for their roles in carbon fixation and energy flow through marine food webs. Using a …

Role Of Sds-22/Pp1 Phosphatase In Polarizing The Germplasm Of Caenorhabditis Elegans Embryo, Aparna Nurni Ravi

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

During asymmetric cell division, cell polarity and cell cycle are tightly coupled to ensure robust segregation of cell fate determinants and generation of cellular diversity. In the one-cell C. elegans embryo, multiple cell cycle kinases regulate cell polarization and posterior segregation of germline fate determinants (germplasm). For example, PLK-1 kinase inhibits the retention of its germplasm substrate POS-1 in the anterior, driving POS-1 segregation to the posterior (Han et al., 2018). Additionally, MBK-2 kinase disassembles P granules in the anterior through phosphorylation of the P granule scaffold MEG-3, helping to drive P granule segregation to the posterior (Wang et al., …