Biology Commons^™

Environmental Bacteriophage Detection On Coastal Carolina University Campus, Madison Gentilo, Hailey Oldfield, Gavin Ockert, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. These viruses are found ubiquitously in the environment and are more abundant than any living organism on Earth, including bacteria. Eleven sites are designated for weekly sample collection on the campus of Coastal Carolina University. Water samples are filtered and amplified using strains of E. coli B and E. coli K12 to allow potential coliphages in the sample to proliferate to detectable levels. Plaque assays are used as a microbial screen for the presence of bacteriophage. Samples that test positively using the microbial test are analyzed through a molecular test using PCR to identify …

3,6-Dimethoxyxanthone From 2,2’,4,4’- Tetrahydroxy-Benzophenone Via Microwave-Assisted Annulation, Sarah E. Knisely, Faith R. Rosario, Salem F. Gebeyehu, Paige E. Heiple, Robert E. Lee Sr

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Xanthones are tricyclic aromatic compounds that have multiple pharmacological uses due to their anti-tumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and potentially chemopreventive properties. The target of this research was to optimize a two-step synthesis of 3,6-dimethoxyxanthone (3) from 2,2’,4,4’-tetrahydroxy-benzophenone (1) via microwave-assisted (200 °C, 30-40 min., 150 W) sodium acetate-catalyzed annulation. The product, 3,6-dihydroxyxanthone (2), was then methylated to (3) using dimethyl sulfate (DMS) and sodium carbonate in acetone at reflux. The product yields were 93% (>99% purity) for (2) and 94% (>99% purity) for (3). Characterization was accomplished using ¹H NMR, FTIR, melting point, TLC, HPLC, and GCMS. …

The Effects Of Human Behavioral Changes Due To The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Reservoir Of Lytic Escherichia Coli And Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteriophage On Humans At A South Carolina University, Korinne M. Swanson, Owen R. Smith, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Bacteriophages are viruses, whose unique ability to infect and lyse bacterial cells may provide valuable insight for evading the repercussions of a post-antibiotic era in medicine. This study isolated and characterized Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophage on students and faculty at Coastal Carolina University as a means to understand the viability of human bacteriophage reservoirs for bacteriophage therapy. From September 2021 to March 2022, nasal and postauricular swab samples and a behavioral survey were collected from ninety-three randomly selected participants. Additionally, sixteen participants contributed nasal and postauricular swab samples and a behavioral survey on a monthly basis in a …

Berbamine Enhances The Efficacy Of Doxorubicin Treatment For Breast Cancer In Vitro And In Vivo, Kristina G. Borglum

Senior Theses

Doxorubicin (Dox) is a commonly used chemotherapy drug for treating breast cancer. While it is very effective, the main limitation of Dox treatment is subsequent cytotoxicity. Berbamine dihydrochloride (BBM) is a natural benzylisoquinoline alkaloid that is extracted from the plant, Berbaris amurensis. It has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat individuals with inflammatory diseases for many centuries. It has already been shown that combining BBM with Dox synergistically enhances the efficacy of Dox treatment on breast cancer in vitro. To eventually translate these findings into a clinical setting, this study aims to explore this therapeutic potential in vivo …

Natural Variation Of Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase In Colias Butterflies, Andrea Blair Stokes

Theses and Dissertations

In a process known as the evolutionary recursion, it is possible to follow how adaptation affects natural selection at successive stages of a species’ life cycle. Through studying allele and genotype frequencies of enzymes in glycolysis, a central metabolic pathway, it is possible to document how polymorphisms can shift the evolving functionality of enzymes within or among species. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) is an enzyme in gluconeogenesis that converts fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to fructose 6- phosphate. It is also known to convert the unused amino acid carbon skeletons of glycolysis into glycogen storage. Appearing to play a vital role in the acquisition, storage, and …

Uncovering The Diverse Roles Of The Human Cst (Ctc1-Stn1-Ten1) Complex In Resolving Genomic Stress, Percy Logan Schuck

Theses and Dissertations

The CST (CTC1-STN1-TEN1) complex is a heterotrimeric single-stranded DNA binding protein known to stimulate polymerase α-primase (Pol α) and promote telomere length regulation, genome-wide DNA replication and double strand break repair. However, much of its cellular function remains unknown. The focus of my dissertation work was to uncover novel roles of CST in DNA stress response pathways. In particular, my work relates to understanding the function of CST in sister chromatid cohesion (SCC) and base excision repair (BER) as well as characterizing CST protein interactions. SCC is established following DNA replication by loading of the cohesion complex, which encircles replicated …

Estimating R0 From Early Exponential Growth: Parallels Between 1918 Influenza And 2020 Sars-Cov-2 Pandemics, Grant Foster, Bret D. Elderd, Robert L. Richards, Tad Dallas

Faculty Publications

The large spatial scale, geographical overlap, and similarities in transmission mode between the 1918 H1N1 influenza and 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemics together provide a novel opportunity to investigate relationships between transmission of two different diseases in the same location. To this end, we use initial exponential growth rates in a Bayesian hierarchical framework to estimate the basic reproductive number, R₀, of both disease outbreaks in a common set of 43 cities in the United States. By leveraging multiple epidemic time series across a large spatial area, we are able to better characterize the variation in R₀ across the …

The Marine Gastropod Conomurex Luhuanus (Strombidae) Has High-Resolution Spatial Vision And Eyes With Complex Retinas, Allison R. Irwin, Suzanne T. Williams, Daniel Isaac Speiser, Nicholas W. Roberts

Faculty Publications

All species within the conch snail family Strombidae possess large camera-type eyes that are surprisingly well-developed compared with those found in most other gastropods. Although these eyes are known to be structurally complex, very little research on their visual function has been conducted. Here, we use isoluminant expanding visual stimuli to measure the spatial resolution and contrast sensitivity of a strombid, Conomurex luhuanus. Using these stimuli, we show that this species responds to objects as small as 1.06 deg in its visual field. We also show that C. luhuanus responds to Michelson contrasts of 0.07, a low contrast sensitivity …

Snapping Shrimp Have Helmets That Protect Their Brains By Dampening Shock Waves, Alexandra C.N. Kingston, Sarah A. Woodin, David S. Wethey, Daniel Isaac Speiser

Faculty Publications

Shock waves are supersonic high-amplitude pressure waves that cause barotrauma when they transfer kinetic energy to the tissues of animals.1, 2, 3, 4 Snapping shrimp (Alpheidae) produce shock waves and are exposed to them frequently, so we asked if these animals have evolved mechanisms of physical protection against them. Snapping shrimp generate shock waves by closing their snapping claws rapidly enough to form cavitation bubbles that release energy as an audible “snap” and a shock wave when they collapse.5, 6, 7, 8 We tested if snapping shrimp are protected from shock waves by a helmet-like extension of their exoskeleton termed …

All Is Perception, Robert Friedman

Faculty Publications

This editorial addresses the universality and importance of the science of perception. In particular, recently published studies in this journal illustrate the natural variations in perception. These articles are a reminder of perception as a natural process with inherent variations and that any two individuals are not guaranteed to form the same representation of an object, regardless of whether it originates from the senses or not. Since perception is a foundation for higher cognition, it also has an immense influence on studies of humanity and interpretations of natural processes.

Optimising Predictive Models To Prioritise Viral Discovery In Zoonotic Reservoirs, Daniel J. Becker, Gregory F. Albery, Anna R. Sjodin, Timothée Poisot, Laura M. Bergner, Binqi Chen, Lily E. Cohen, Tad Dallas, Evan A. Eskew, Anna C. Fagre, Maxwell J. Farrell, Sarah Guth, Barbara A. Han, Nancy B. Simmons, Michiel Stock, Emma C. Teeling, Colin J. Carlson

Faculty Publications

Despite the global investment in One Health disease surveillance, it remains difficult and costly to identify and monitor the wildlife reservoirs of novel zoonotic viruses. Statistical models can guide sampling target prioritisation, but the predictions from any given model might be highly uncertain; moreover, systematic model validation is rare, and the drivers of model performance are consequently under-documented. Here, we use the bat hosts of betacoronaviruses as a case study for the data-driven process of comparing and validating predictive models of probable reservoir hosts. In early 2020, we generated an ensemble of eight statistical models that predicted host–virus associations and …

Mir-489 Confines Uncontrolled Estrogen Signaling Through A Negative Feedback Mechanism And Regulates Tamoxifen Resistance In Breast Cancer, Mithil Soni, Ozge Saatci, Gourab Gupta, Yogin Patel, Manikanda Raja Keerthi Raja, Jie Li, Xinfeng Liu, Peisheng Xu Ph.D., Hongjun Wang, Daping Fan, Ozgur Sahin, Hexin Chen

Faculty Publications

Approximately 75% of diagnosed breast cancer tumors are estrogen-receptor-positive tumors and are associated with a better prognosis due to response to hormonal therapies. However, around 40% of patients relapse after hormonal therapies. Genomic analysis of gene expression profiles in primary breast cancers and tamoxifen-resistant cell lines suggested the potential role of miR-489 in the regulation of estrogen signaling and development of tamoxifen resistance. Our in vitro analysis showed that loss of miR-489 expression promoted tamoxifen resistance, while overexpression of miR-489 in tamoxifen-resistant cells restored tamoxifen sensitivity. Mechanistically, we found that miR-489 is an estrogen-regulated miRNA that negatively regulates estrogen receptor …

Post-Embryonic Phase Transitions Mediated By Polycomb Repressive Complexes In Plants, Valerie Hinsch, Samuel Adkins, Darren Manuela, Mingli Xu

Faculty Publications

Correct timing of developmental phase transitions is critical for the survival and fitness of plants. Developmental phase transitions in plants are partially promoted by controlling relevant genes into active or repressive status. Polycomb Repressive Complex1 (PRC1) and PRC2, originally identified in Drosophila, are essential in initiating and/or maintaining genes in repressive status to mediate developmental phase transitions. Our review summarizes mechanisms in which the embryo-to-seedling transition, the juvenile-to-adult transition, and vegetative-to-reproductive transition in plants are mediated by PRC1 and PRC2, and suggests that PRC1 could act either before or after PRC2, or that they could function independently of each other. …

Khsrp Loss Increases Neuronal Growth And Synaptic Transmission And Alters Memory Consolidation Through Rna Stabilization, Sarah L. Olguin, Priyanka Patel, Courtney N. Buchanan, Michela Dell'orco, Amy S. Gardiner, Robert Cole, Lauren S. Vaughn, Anitha Sundararajan, Joann Mudge, Andrea M. Allen, Pavel Ortinski, Jonathan L. Brigman, Jeffery L. Twiss, Nora L. Perrone-Bizzozero

Faculty Publications

KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KHSRP) regulates levels of several neuronal mRNAs linked to nervous system development and function.

The KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KHSRP) is an RNA-binding protein linked to decay of mRNAs with AU-rich elements. KHSRP was previously shown to destabilize Gap43 mRNA and decrease neurite growth in cultured embryonic neurons. Here, we have tested functions of KHSRP in vivo. We find upregulation of 1460 mRNAs in neocortex of adult Khsrp(-/-) mice, of which 527 bind to KHSRP with high specificity. These KHSRP targets are involved in pathways for neuronal morphology, axon guidance, neurotransmission and long-term memory. Khsrp(-/-) mice …

Leaf Development In Medicago Truncatula, Liren Du, Samuel Winright Adkins, Mingli Xu

Faculty Publications

Forage yield is largely dependent on leaf development, during which the number of leaves, leaflets, leaf size, and shape are determined. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize recent studies of leaf development in Medicago truncatula, a model plant for legumes, with a focus on factors that could affect biomass of leaves. These include: floral development and related genes, lateral organ boundary genes, auxin biosynthesis, transportation and signaling genes, and WOX related genes.

Molecular And Morphological Investigations Of Grouper (Serranidae) Biodiversity In Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Saeed Al Jazza Alqahtani

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: The seas surrounding the Arabian Peninsula, which represent the northernmost portion of the Indian Ocean, are considered to have the highest aquatic biodiversity among the worlds marine regions. Seas that surround the Arabian Peninsula include the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Gulf. In aggregate, this area harbors a large number of endemic and more widespread marine species, including fishes, echinoderms, and corals.

There are unique challenges involved in grouper species identification in the Arabian region including ‘familiar’ Arabic species designations that are not standardized in the Arabic …

Methyltransferase Mystery: Epigenetic Mechanisms Induced By Food Limitation In Daphnia Pule, Trenton C. Agrelius

Theses and Dissertations

Daphnia are ecologically important organisms that have been well studied in the context of evolution, ecology, ecotoxicity, and genomics. Daphnia have strong maternal effects in which the environment experienced by the mother can alter offspring disease resistance, life history traits, and morphology, as well as gene expression and methylation for multiple generations. Coupled with their ability to reduce genetic differences via parthenogenesis, Daphnia are an ideal system for epigenetic studies involving the transmission of maternal effects. Using two clones of Daphnia pulex, we investigated the plasticity of life history and DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) gene expression with respect to food …

In Vivo And In Vitro Investigations Of Mammalian Stem Cell Development: Neurogenesis And Pituitary Progenitors, Allison Culver

Theses and Dissertations

Human development is tightly regulated by complex mechanisms to pattern the early embryo and form specialized tissues. Understanding this regulation is of fundamental importance and can help further understand disease pathologies. Because it is difficult to observe the processes of interest, researchers must rely on the use of model systems. Our research goal is to combine both animal models and in vitro stem cell cultures to address key questions about the mechanisms of development for both the pituitary gland and brain. It is estimated that there are 290-455 cases per million of congenital hypopituitarism. In addition, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) …

Mechanisms Of Connectivity In Neuronal Development, Janay Vacharasin

Theses and Dissertations

The development of neuronal connectivity requires the careful orchestration of multiple cellular processes including the control of neuronal arborization and synapse formation or function. Defects in these processes during neuronal development will give rise to disorders of neuronal connectivity like autism. In the present work, we examine the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that build the neuronal wiring of the developing brain. We use human stem cell-derived neurons to study neuronal arborization and function focusing on genetic and environmental risk factors of neurodevelopmental disorders that include autism and intellectual disability. Specifically, we focused on the contribution of the endomembrane, chromatin, and …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Long Chain Fatty Acids And Virulence Repression In Intestinal Bacterial Pathogens, Mary K. Mitchell, Melissa Ellermann

Faculty Publications

When bacterial pathogens enter the gut, they encounter a complex milieu of signaling molecules and metabolites produced by host and microbial cells or derived from external sources such as the diet. This metabolomic landscape varies throughout the gut, thus establishing a biogeographical gradient of signals that may be sensed by pathogens and resident bacteria alike. Enteric bacterial pathogens have evolved elaborate mechanisms to appropriately regulate their virulence programs, which involves sensing and responding to many of these gut metabolites to facilitate successful gut colonization. Long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) represent major constituents of the gut metabolome that can impact bacterial …

Intra-Axonal Translation Of Khsrp Mrna Slows Axon Regeneration By Destabilizing Localized Mrnas, Priyanka Patel, Courtney N. Buchanan, Matthew D. Zdradzinski, Pabitra K. Sahoo, Amar N. Kar, Seung Joon Lee, Lauren S. Vaughn, Anatoly Urisman, Juan Oses-Prieto, Michela Dell'orco, Devon E. Cassidy, Irene Dalla Costa, Sharmina Miller, Elizabeth Thames, Terika P. Smith, Alma L. Burlingame, Nora Perrone-Bizzozero, Jeffery L. Twiss

Faculty Publications

Axonally synthesized proteins support nerve regeneration through retrograde signaling and local growth mechanisms. RNA binding proteins (RBP) are needed for this and other aspects of post-transcriptional regulation of neuronal mRNAs, but only a limited number of axonal RBPs are known. We used targeted proteomics to profile RBPs in peripheral nerve axons. We detected 76 proteins with reported RNA binding activity in axoplasm, and levels of several change with axon injury and regeneration. RBPs with altered levels include KHSRP that decreases neurite outgrowth in developing CNS neurons. Axonal KHSRP levels rapidly increase after injury remaining elevated up to 28 days post …

Can Coastal Habitats Rise To The Challenge? Resilience Of Estuarine Habitats, Carbon Accumulation, And Economic Value To Sea-Level Rise In A Puget Sound Estuary, Monica M. Moritsch, Kristin B. Bryd, Melanie Davis, Anthony Good, Judith Z. Drexler, James T. Morris, Isa Wood, Lisamarie Windham-Myers, Eric Grossman, Gynnis Nakai, Katrina L. Poppe, John M. Rybczyk

Faculty Publications

Sea-level rise (SLR) and obstructions to sediment delivery pose challenges to the persistence of estuarine habitats and the ecosystem services they provide. Restoration actions and sediment management strategies may help mitigate such challenges by encouraging the vertical accretion of sediment in and horizontal migration of tidal forests and marshes. We used a process-based soil accretion model (Coastal Wetland Equilibrium Model) combined with a habitat classifcation model (MOSAICS) to estimate the efects of SLR, suspended sediment, and inland habitat migration on estuarine habitats, soil carbon accumulation, and economic value of climate change mitigation of carbon accumulation (social cost of carbon dioxide) …

The Mitogenome Relationships And Phylogeography Of Barn Swallows (Hirundo Rustica), Gianluca Lombardo, Nicola Rambaldi Migliore, Giulia Colombo, Marco Rosario Capodiferro, Giulio Formenti, Manuela Caprioli, Elisabetta Moroni, Leonardo Caporali, Hovirag Lancioni, Simona Secomandi, Cristina Cereda, Valerio Carelli, Lauren Gillespie, Yang Liu, Yosef Kiat, Alfonso Marzal, Cosme López-Calderón, Javier Balbontín, Timothy Mousseau, Piotr Matyjasiak, Anders Pape Møller, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) poses a number of fascinating scientific questions, including the taxonomic status of postulated subspecies. Here, we obtained and assessed the sequence variation of 411 complete mitogenomes, mainly from the European H. r. rustica, but other subspecies as well. In almost every case, we observed subspecies-specific haplogroups, which we employed together with estimated radiation times to postulate a model for the geographical and temporal worldwide spread of the species. The female barn swallow carrying the Hirundo rustica ancestral mitogenome left Africa (or its vicinity) around 280 thousand years ago (kya), and her descendants …

Dyt-Prkra Mutation P222l Enhances Pact's Stimulatory Activity On Type I Interferon Induction, Lauren S. Vaughn, Kenneth Frederick, Samuel B. Burnett, Nutan Sharma, D. Cristopher Bragg, Sarah Camargos, Francisco Cardoso, Rekha C. Patel

Faculty Publications

DYT-PRKRA (dystonia 16 or DYT-PRKRA) is caused by mutations in the PRKRA gene that encodes PACT, the protein activator of interferon (IFN)-induced double-stranded (ds) RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR). PACT participates in several cellular pathways, of which its role as a PKR activator protein during integrated stress response (ISR) is the best characterized. Previously, we have established that the DYT-PRKRA mutations cause enhanced activation of PKR during ISR to sensitize DYT-PRKRA cells to apoptosis. In this study, we evaluate if the most prevalent substitution mutation reported in DYT-PRKRA patients alters PACT’s functional role in induction of type …

To Stick Or Not To Stick: The Multiple Roles Of Cell Adhesion Molecules In Neural Circuit Assembly, Trevor Moreland, Fabienne E. Poulain

Faculty Publications

Precise wiring of neural circuits is essential for brain connectivity and function. During development, axons respond to diverse cues present in the extracellular matrix or at the surface of other cells to navigate to specific targets, where they establish precise connections with post-synaptic partners. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) represent a large group of structurally diverse proteins well known to mediate adhesion for neural circuit assembly. Through their adhesive properties, CAMs act as major regulators of axon navigation, fasciculation, and synapse formation. While the adhesive functions of CAMs have been known for decades, more recent studies have unraveled essential, non-adhesive functions …

Pickle Associates With Histone Deacetylase 9 To Mediate Vegetative Phase Change In Arabidopsis, Tieqiang Hu, Darren Manuela, Valerie Hinsch, Mingli Xu

Faculty Publications

• The juvenile-to-adult vegetative phase change in flowering plants is mediated by a decrease in miR156 levels. Downregulation of MIR156A/MIR156C, the two major sources of miR156, is accompanied by a decrease in acetylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac) and an increase in trimethylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3) at MIR156A/MIR156C in Arabidopsis.

• Here, we show that histone deacetylase 9 (HDA9) is recruited to MIR156A/MIR156C during the juvenile phase and associates with the CHD3 chromatin remodeler PICKLE (PKL) to erase H3K27ac at MIR156A/MIR156C.

• H2Aub and H3K27me3 become enriched at MIR156A/MIR156C, and the recruitment of Polycomb Repressive Complex …

The Interplay Between Hydrogen Sulfide And Phytohormone Signaling Pathways Under Challenging Environments, Muhammad Saad Shoaib Khan, Faisal Islam, Yajin Ye, Matthew Ashline, Daowen Wang, Biying Zhao, Zheng Qing Fu, Jian Chen

Faculty Publications

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) serves as an important gaseous signaling molecule that is involved in intra- and intercellular signal transduction in plant–environment interactions. In plants, H₂S is formed in sulfate/cysteine reduction pathways. The activation of endogenous H₂S and its exogenous application has been found to be highly effective in ameliorating a wide variety of stress conditions in plants. The H₂S interferes with the cellular redox regulatory network and prevents the degradation of proteins from oxidative stress via post-translational modifications (PTMs). H₂S-mediated persulfidation allows the rapid response of proteins in signaling networks …

Lis1 And Ndel1 Regulate Axonal Trafficking Of Mitochondria In Mature Neurons, Jai P. Pandey, Liang Shi, Remi A. Brebion, Deanna S. Smith

Faculty Publications

Defective mitochondrial dynamics in axons have been linked to both developmental and late-onset neurological disorders. Axonal trafficking is in large part governed by the microtubule motors kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein 1 (dynein). Dynein is the primary retrograde transport motor in axons, and mutations in dynein and many of its regulators also cause neurological diseases. Depletion of LIS1, famous for linking dynein deregulation to lissencephaly (smooth brain), in adult mice leads to severe neurological phenotypes, demonstrating post-developmental roles. LIS1 stimulates retrograde transport of acidic organelles in cultured adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) axons but findings on its role in mitochondrial …

Functional Facets Of Intergenic Hairpin Structures In Genus Caulobacter, Geetha Saarunya Clarke

Theses and Dissertations

DNA replication, recombination and repairs maintain bacterial genome stability. But these processes may also induce genome rearrangements leading to inter andintra chromosomal structural variations. Genus Caulobacter undergoes extensive genome rearrangements. Genomic studies in bacteria usually focus on the codingregions, but there is important information present in the intergenic DNA spaces inaddition to the regulatory elements involved in transcription. Recently, Ely published a new model for recombination in genus Caulobacter with simultaneousloss and gain of genes resulting from preferential recombination at non- homologous regions flanked by regions of homology. In my dissertation, I observedand catalogued hairpin structures at known sites of …