Biology Commons^™

Serotyping Group B Streptococci In A Small Community Hospital: An Analysis Of Distribution And Site Of Isolation, Jennifer M. Smith, Jason A. Rexroth, David G. Chaffin, Susan H. Jackman

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Objective: To determine the prevalence and site of isolation of different serotypes of group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization or infection at a small community hospital.

Methods: GBS isolates were obtained from a small community hospital and were then serotyped as la, Ib, II, III, IV, V or non-typeable. Hospital records were reviewed for patient sex, age and pregnancy status as well as the site of GBS isolation.

Results: GBS serotypes Ia, III and V were most common and accounted for over 60% of the total number of isolates. Serotype Ia was most prevalent in reproductive-age females, while serotypes V and …

Neuromotor And Cognitive Development In Children With Cerebral Palsy In Relation To Neural Plasticity, Vaniecea Pollard

McCabe Thesis Collection

Infants with neurological disabilities, such as cerebral palsy (CP) and Down syndrome (DS), show severe delays in motor and cognitive development relative to chronological age. Involvement of neural plasticity as a treatment of such neurological disorders is increasingly being seen. Previous studies have found that interventions involving sensory linked motor performance have been critical in facilitating motor improvement. The purpose of this study was to compare self-initiated mobility in children with CP and DS. Three infants, ages 8, 9, and 22 months, with diagnoses of no CP, DS, and CP respectively, participated in the study. The infants were videotaped in …

Regional Variation In Recruitment Of Hemlock Seedlings And Saplings In The Upper Great Lakes, Usa, Thomas P. Rooney, Ronald J. Mccormick, Stephen L. Solheim, Donald M. Waller

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mature eastern hemlock–northern hardwood forest cover decreased drastically in the upper Midwest following European settlement and has yet to rebound substantially. Previous studies show that stands retaining substantial hemlock canopy coverage have low hemlock seedling and sapling densities. Results from various geographically restricted studies suggest several possible mechanisms that could cause low seedling or sapling density. We examined the relative importance of these proposed mechanisms in the Southern Superior Uplands Section of the Laurentian Forest Province. We surveyed 294- m2 plots in 100 hemlock stands in northern Wisconsin and western upper Michigan to assess how these proposed mechanisms affect the …

Integronlike Structures In Campylobacter Spp. Of Human And Animal Origin, Brigid Lucey, D. Crowley, P. Moloney, B. Cryan, M. Daly, F. O'Halloran, E. J. Threlfall, S. Fanning

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Resistance to antimicrobial agents used to treat severe Campylobacter spp. gastroenteritis is increasing worldwide. We assessed the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Campylobacter spp. isolates of human and animal origin. More than half (n = 32) were resistant to sulphonamide, a feature known to be associated with the presence of integrons. Analysis of these integrons will further our understanding of Campylobacter spp. epidemiology.

Cartilage Regeneration On A Large Articular Surface Facilitated By Stress Shielding, Charles L. Mcdowell, Jennifer S. Wayne, Robert Tuten, Hunter H. Mcguire Jr.

Virginia Journal of Science

An animal model for the study of articular cartilage regeneration in-vivo facilitated by stress-shielding is introduced. The object of the model is to test the hypothesis that some form of cartilaginous tissue will grow upon a large joint surface in vivo with the joint in normal motion. The model utilizes the known capability of immature cells to differentiate. The source of cells is bleeding subchondral bone. In addition, the model provides a mechanically shielded environment in which cell differentiation and maturation can occur. The study showed that a substantial amount of tissue will grow in the animal model only when …

Purification Of 10-5a9 Antigen In Alzheimer's Disease, Gary Isaacs

Senior Honors Theses

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results in memory loss and reduced cognitive function. Characteristic lesions include senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Evidence for a previously unknown component, cockroach 10-5A9 antigen, within these lesions has recently been discovered. It is the purpose of this study to purify to 10-5A9 antigen for further analysis. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the antigen's presence in AD lesions and the Lewy bodies of Parkinson's disease. Although SDS-PAGE/Western blotting and immunoprecipitation techniques proved ineffective, the former indicated antigen presence in the particulate matter of AD brain homogenates. Negative results from ammonium sulfate experiments …

Field Sampling And Necropsy Examination Of Fish, A. S. Kane, A. Baya, R. Reimschuessel, K. M. St. Pé, C. A. Poukish, C. P. Driscoll

Virginia Journal of Science

This paper presents an overview of observational and fish sampling tech­niques for investigating fish lesions, morbidity and mortality. These sam­pling techniques and investigations are much like detective work and require attention to detail, common sense, technical proficiency and experience. To solve the mystery of a fish kill, the investigator must use available evidence and clues to piece together a series of events that often have long since passed. The cause of these field events may be chemical, biological or physical; more often, it is some combination of these. An initial categorization approach may be used to reduce the great number …

Top-Down Cascade From A Bitrophic Predator In An Old-Field Community, Matthew D. Moran, Thomas P. Rooney, L. E. Hurd

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We tested the hypothesis that a bitrophic (third and fourth level) arthropod predator can exert a cascading, top-down influence on other arthropods and plants in an early successional old field. First-stadium mantids, Tenodera sinensis, were added to replicated open-field plots in numbers corresponding to naturally occurring egg hatch density and allowed to remain for ≈ 2 mo. Sticky-trap dispersal barriers around both control and mantid-addition plots allowed us to monitor emigration of arthropods continuously during the experiment. Biomass of herbivores, carnivores, and plants, and abundances of arthropod taxa within plots were determined at the beginning, middle, and end of …

Cryptococcus Neoformans Serotype Groups Found In Clinical And Environmental Isolates, John Clauson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast responsible for severe meningoencephalitis. The importance of epidemiological studies on cryptococcosis has increased since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. C. neoformans exists in two varieties containing four serotypes, C. neoformans var. neoformans (serotypes A and D) and C. neoformans var. gattii (serotypes B and C). Locally C. neoformans var. neoformans has been associated with pigeon feces during those months having an average temperature of 64.2°F j(17.8°C) and above. Clinical and environmental isolates of C. neoformans obtained from regional hospitals and environmental samplings, respectively, have been grouped into their variety status utilizing canavanine-glycine-bromthymol blue …

The Effects Of Glutathione On Human Keratinocyte, Manisha N. Trivedi

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Cultured human keratinocytes were grown in vitro to assess the effects of glutathione, a thiol, on human keratinocyte proliferation. Single keratinocytes were harvested from newborn (greater than 5 days old) foreskin and were grown in culture flasks such that experiments could be performed in approximately 2 to 3 weeks. In order to evaluate the effects of glutathione (GSH) on keratinocyte growth, experiments were performed to determine the growth curve, plating efficiency, and incorporation of radiolabelled thymidine. Growth studies, performed with different concentrations of glutathione, revealed that 0.065 μM was the most effective concentration when compared to control cell cultures, and …

Methionine Metabolism In Fasciola Hepatica, Carol Theresa Ayer

Dissertations and Theses

5'-Deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) is derived from s-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) during the synthesis of the polyamines spermidine and spermine. Methionine can be regenerated from MTA by one of two mechanisms. In mammalian cells and some microorganisms, MTA is degraded to adenine and 5-methylthioribose-1-phosphate (MTR-1-P) via MTA phosphorylase. In certain other microbes, however, MTA is catabolized in two steps; first to adenine and 5-methylthioribose (MTR) via MTA nucleosidase followed by conversion of MTR to MTR-1-P via MTR kinase.

This study was to demonstrate the presence of MTA nucleosidase or MTA phosphorylase in both redia containing cercariae and adult Fasciola hepatica Linnaeus, 1758. If MTA …

Micronuclear Genome Organization In Euplotes Crassus: A Transposonlike Element Is Removed During Macronuclear Development, Scott Everet Baird, Gina M. Fino, Susan L. Tausta, Lawrence A. Klobutcher

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

After mating, hypotrichous ciliated protozoa transform a set of their micronuclear chromosomes into thousands of short, linear DNA molecules that form the macronuclear genome. To examine micronuclear genome organization in the hypotrich Euplotes crassus, we have analyzed two cloned segments of micronuclear DNA as well as the macronuclear DNA molecules that are derived from them. E. crassus was found to display a number of features characteristic of other hypotrich genomes, including (i) clustering and close spacing of the precursors of macronuclear DNA molecules, (ii) the frequent occurrence of internal eliminated sequences within macronuclear precursors, (iii) overlapping macronuclear precursors, (iv) lack …

Characterization Of Chromosome Fragmentation In Two Protozoans And Identification Of A Candidate Fragmentation Sequence In Euplotes Crassus, Scott Everet Baird, Lawrence A. Klobutcher

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Following the sexual cycle, hypotrichous ciliated protozoans fragment a set of their micronuclear chromosomes to generate the thousands of short, linear DNA molecules present in the transcriptionally active macronucleus. We have used a hybrid selection procedure to examine macronuclear DNA molecules for subtelomeric length heterogeneity to determine whether chromosome fragmentation occurs at unique or multiple sites. The results suggest that multiple, but closely spaced, chromosome fragmentation sites are used by Oxytricha nova. In contrast, Euplotes crassus uses unique chromosome fragmentation sites in a reproducible manner to generate the ends of macronuclear DNA molecules. Additional studies compared DNA sequences in …

Localization Of Specific Mrnas For Human Placental Lactogen And Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Alpha And Beta Subunits, Richard Fehn

Theses Digitization Project

No abstract provided.

Lethatlity Of And Elicitation Of Protective Antibody By Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Attc 17803, Richard Carlucci

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The LD₅₀ of Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17803 for 13- to 18-g male mice, strain ICR, as determined by the 50% endpoint method, was found to be an estimated 7 x 10⁷ CFU, when administered intraperitoneally in 0.5 ml of 24-h broth culture, O. D. 0.5 at 650 nm, diluted to 10^-0.72.

The elicitation of protective antibody by this bacterium in male New Zealand White rabbits was demonstrated by testing control, baseline, and hyperimmune rabbit sera for their protective effect against 2 LD₅₀ of the bacterium administered intraperitoneally in 13- to 18-g male mice, strain ICR. …

Some Aspects Of Carbohydrate Metabolism In The Cercariae Of Schistosoma Mansoni Sambon, 1907, A. Eugene Dunham Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Cercariac of Schistosoma mansoni were studied for glycogen utilization, uptake of glucose from solution, lactic acid production, and respiration.

Using the anthrone method of determination of carbohydrate, the amount of glycogen used by a single cercaria in 4 hours is determined as 43.2 x 10^-4 μg ± 6.6 x 10^-4 μg.

Glucose was not observed to have been used from solution under the conditions of the experiment, even in the presence of trehalose. The determinations were made by the Glucostat method.

After deproteinization and desugarization, aliquots of supernatant from cercarial suspensions were analyzed for lactic acid using p-phenylphenol …

Kymographic Recordings Of Muscle And Nerve Tissue From The Rana Pipiens, Guilbert K. Jones

Bachelors’ Theses

This Thesis is the result of several months of work done in the Physiology Laboratory in the Marquette University School of Medicine. The experiments performed will enable one to become familiar with the general principles involved in the recording of reactions of muscle and nerve tissue by Kymographic methods. Especial attention is directed to the results of these experiments.

Human Complement Protein C8: The “Hole” Story, James M. Sodetz

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.