Biology Commons^™

Neglected Nematodes: The Neurolenin Solution, Kevin M. Shea, Steven Williams

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Over 1 billion people worldwide are affected by Neglected Topical Diseases (NTDs). This group of pathogens encapsulates viruses, bacteria and parasites, and disproportionately affects the world’s poorest and most vulnerable communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) is an NTD caused by a parasitic nematode infection. The larvae of these filarial nematode worms are transmitted via mosquito bites and disrupt the functioning of the infected individual’s lymphatic system. LF can be caused by three types of filarial worms, Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Brugia timori, which are transmitted by the Culex, Anopheles and Aedes mosquito families. Symptomatic …

Semester-Long Course-Based Research Project In Second-Semester Organic Chemistry: Synthesizing Potential Lead Compounds For The Treatment Of A Neglected Tropical Disease, Kerry L. Barnett, Kevin M. Shea, Catherine Mcgeough, Kristine Trotta, Steven A. Williams, Minh Ly, Kathryn Aloisio

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

A semester-long research project for second-semester organic chemistry lab sections was developed. Student projects were based on preliminary data from faculty research that suggested the natural product neurolenin B to be a treatment for lymphatic filariasis. Students isolated neurolenins from the Central American plant Neurolaena lobata and proposed syntheses of previously unknown analogues using reactions learned in first- and second-semester organic chemistry. Using literature-based procedures, students ran reactions on neurolenins and analyzed their results by TLC and NMR spectroscopy. The semester culminated with a public poster session and final report using the Organic Letters template. Students in a total of …

Deconvoluting The Effects Of Surface Chemistry And Nanoscale Topography: Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm Nucleation On Si-Based Substrates, Zhang Zhang, Jingling Huang, Carmen Say, Robert L. Dorit, Kate Queeney

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Hypothesis

The nucleation of biofilms is known to be affected by both the chemistry and topography of the underlying substrate, particularly when topography includes nanoscale (nm) features. However, determining the role of topography vs. chemistry is complicated by concomitant variation in both as a result of typical surface modification techniques. Analyzing the behavior of biofilm-forming bacteria exposed to surfaces with systematic, independent variation of both topography and surface chemistry should allow differentiation of the two effects.

Experiments

Silicon surfaces with reproducible nanotopography were created by anisotropic etching in deoxygenated water. Surface chemistry was varied independently to create hydrophilic (OH- terminated) …