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Articles 151 - 180 of 611
Full-Text Articles in Biology
Assessing The Level Of Perception Of Knowledge About Ticks And Tick-Borne Diseases Among The Residents Of Several Cities In The Transboundary Region Of U.S.-Mexico, Consuelo Aguilar
Theses and Dissertations
The transboundary region of U.S.-Mexico possesses similar weather conditions and habitats favoring insects (vectors) like ticks. Several tick species found in the transboundary region of U.S.-Mexico can transmit pathogens. In the last three years, a total of 40 cases of Rickettsial infections, 28 in Tamaulipas and 12 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, have been reported. A low level of knowledge about diseases that ticks can transmit along with a lack of appropriate protection practices can severely affect human health. Limited surveys on ticks and tick-borne disease are available. Our goal was to (1) assess the perception of knowledge of …
Understanding An Inflammatory Pathway In Diabetic Retinopathy, Reanna Raye Rodriguez
Understanding An Inflammatory Pathway In Diabetic Retinopathy, Reanna Raye Rodriguez
Theses and Dissertations
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. However, not much is known of its molecular pathway and how it attributes to increases in inflammatory response in the eye. One avenue we will investigate is the transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling pathway and its effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and cell viability. VEGF is the hallmark that exacerbates DR progression in prolonged diabetes. Some major concern that have arisen are the underlying effects of oxidants and antioxidants in elevating VEGF secretion in diabetes. In attempt to learn more, we evaluated how an …
Winners And Losers In Reforestation Efforts In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, And The Predictive Power Of Xylem Anatomy On Long-Term Growth And Survival, Clifton F. Albrecht
Winners And Losers In Reforestation Efforts In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, And The Predictive Power Of Xylem Anatomy On Long-Term Growth And Survival, Clifton F. Albrecht
Theses and Dissertations
Reforestation has been ongoing in the Lower Rio Grande Valley annually since the 1980s, and to date over 6400 ha of land has been reforested in this area. However, there has been little subsequent study of the change and development of those forests as they mature. This thesis consists of two, interrelated, studies: (1) surveys of a five-site chronosequence of restored forests and (2) quantification of xylem anatomical traits of a subset of species present at the reforestation sites. Surveys showed a consistent reduction in species diversity and stem number density on the landscape, and identified a suite of species …
Opa1 Modulation Of Mitochondrial Dynamics In Ac16 Cardiomyocytes, Patrick De La Torre Schutz
Opa1 Modulation Of Mitochondrial Dynamics In Ac16 Cardiomyocytes, Patrick De La Torre Schutz
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis explores mitochondrial dynamics in the AC16 cardiomyocytes. Mitochondria are capable of fission and fusion, controlled by specific proteins that respond to cell stress. The transmembrane potential(∆ψm) of the mitochondria is responsible for both bioenergetic functions and regulating the activation of the OMA-1 protein, which regulates the cutting of OPA-1. OPA- 1 has two isoforms: a long (active) and short (inactive) isoforms. Our research is exploring the impact of the levels of OPA1 expression on the observed ∆ψm threshold of mitochondrial fusion. Our laboratory has demonstrated that 143B cells lose L-OPA1 isoforms at [CCCP]> 4.75 µM and …
Understanding The Ecological Role, Population Dynamics, And Geographic Distribution Of Manihot Walkerae, Gisel Garza
Understanding The Ecological Role, Population Dynamics, And Geographic Distribution Of Manihot Walkerae, Gisel Garza
Theses and Dissertations
Walker’s Manihot, Manihot walkerae Croizat (Euphorbiaceae), is an endangered plant that is endemic to the Tamaulipan thornscrub ecoregion. Understanding M. walkerae’s geographic distribution, populations, and species interactions can provide essential information for the development of sound conservation strategies. To this aim, I asked the following questions: 1) What is the potential geographic distribution for M. walkerae? and, will it be affected by climate change? 2) Using global and regional extinction risk assessments, what is the extinction risk category for M. walkerae after incorporating species distribution models? 3) What do natural history observations reveal about M. walkerae’s population …
Physical And Chemical Defense Mechanisms In Aloe Barbadensis Against Insect Herbivores, Zachary Johnson
Physical And Chemical Defense Mechanisms In Aloe Barbadensis Against Insect Herbivores, Zachary Johnson
Theses and Dissertations
Chapter 1: This chapter provides an overview of insect herbivore impacts on plants and plant defense mechanisms to combat them. I particularly focused on physical and chemical defenses in the broader sense.
Chapter 2: This chapter describes the experiments that showed the effects of extracts from Aloe barbadensis on the growth and development of tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), model herbivores used to understand herbivore growth and plant defenses. This study shows that extracts from the Aloe differentially affected the growth and development of M. sexta and S. frugiperda. This chapter …
Exploration Of Antimicrobial And Cell Proliferation Properties Of Nanofibers Incorporating Nopal (O. Cochenillifera) Extract, Cristobal Rodriguez
Exploration Of Antimicrobial And Cell Proliferation Properties Of Nanofibers Incorporating Nopal (O. Cochenillifera) Extract, Cristobal Rodriguez
Theses and Dissertations
This study focused on the fabrication of Forcespinning® nanofibers composed of Opuntia cochenillifera, ‘nopal’, mucilage (N) extract, chitosan (CH), and pullulan (PL) (N/CH/PL) were developed with an optimum fiber average diameter of 406±127 nm, and studied for their ability to sustain adhesion and proliferation of mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH 3T3) cells. After a 6-day incubation period, N/CH/PL nanofibers displayed robust cell proliferation, while also exhibiting inhibitory properties through an N extract dip-coating process against gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli in a 24 h bacterial growth study. A demonstration of integrated natural bioactive compounds with combined biodegradable polymers, provide an enhanced …
Investigating Bmp7 Expression In Glioblastoma Multiforme, Yajaira Janett Macias
Investigating Bmp7 Expression In Glioblastoma Multiforme, Yajaira Janett Macias
Theses and Dissertations
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway regulates important cell processes such as growth, survival, motility, inflammation, proliferation, and apoptosis. In Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is aberrant as it is almost always active. This results in the deregulation of downstream molecules and ultimately leads to cancer progression and maintenance in GBM tumors. In this study, we used RNA-sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in U87MG GBM cells treated with NVP-BEZ235, a dual inhibitory drug targeting PI3K and mTOR. A total of 7,803 differentially expressed genes were identified via RNA-seq. GEPIA2 online tool was used to assess differential gene expression …
Effects Of Plant Secondary Metabolites And Host Specificity On Growth, Development, And Oviposition Of Lepidopteran Herbivores, Sukhman Singh
Effects Of Plant Secondary Metabolites And Host Specificity On Growth, Development, And Oviposition Of Lepidopteran Herbivores, Sukhman Singh
Theses and Dissertations
Chapter 1: This chapter provides a review of recent and critical literature on the role of polyphenols in mediating plant-insect interactions. I particularly focused on plant defense induction and mode of action of polyphenols, defense fitness trade-offs, and storage of polyphenols for future defense responses.
Chapter 2: This chapter is about the effects of polyphenol rich purple corn pericarp extract on the growth and development of generalist caterpillar i.e., fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). This study shows that purple corn pericarp extract rich in polyphenols negatively effects the growth and development of S. frugiperda.
Chapter 3: This chapter …
An Assessment On Microplastic Pollution In The Resacas Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Wesley D. Franklin
An Assessment On Microplastic Pollution In The Resacas Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Wesley D. Franklin
Theses and Dissertations
Microplastic pollution is a serious issue that impacts most aquatic environments. Microplastics have the potential to cause numerous detriments to the fitness and reproductive capability of many organisms. The resacas of the Lower Rio Grande are an understudied area that could be sinks for large congregations of microplastics. We analyze microplastic pollution in two species of fish as well as the sediment and water of eleven different pools from four resaca systems. We find that microplastics are present in every pool sampled.
Altogether 218 microplastic pieces are found from the water, sediment and fish samples. We find that microplastics are …
Fabrication Of Forcespinning® Nanofibers Incorporating Nopal Extract, Cristobal Rodriguez, Victoria Padilla, Karen Lozano, J. Andrew Mcdonald, Luis Materon, Alejandra Chapa, Fariha Ahmad, Carlos Trevino De Leon, Robert Gilkerson
Fabrication Of Forcespinning® Nanofibers Incorporating Nopal Extract, Cristobal Rodriguez, Victoria Padilla, Karen Lozano, J. Andrew Mcdonald, Luis Materon, Alejandra Chapa, Fariha Ahmad, Carlos Trevino De Leon, Robert Gilkerson
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
In this study, nanofibers composed of Opuntia cochenillifera nopal mucilage (N) extract combined with chitosan (CH) and pullulan (PL) (N/CH/PL) were produced via Forcespinning®. The developed nonwoven composite membranes are comprised of long, continuous, and homogenous fibers with fiber average diameter varying between 251±77 nm and 406±127 nm depending on the concentration of N. After crosslinking, the developed membranes were highly stable in water. The water absorption capacity of the N/CH/PL composite nanofiber membranes was shown to be 65% higher when compared to the CH/PL nanofiber membranes. Nopal dipcoated membranes show inhibition of gram-negative Escherichia coli, indicating antibacterial properties. These …
Understanding Water And Energy Fluxes In The Amazonia: Lessons From An Observation-Model Intercomparison, Natalia Restrepo-Coupe, Loren P. Albert, Marcos Longo, Ian Baker, Naomi M. Levine, Lina M. Mercado, Alessandro C. Da Araujo, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Marcos H. Costa, David R. Fitzjarrald
Understanding Water And Energy Fluxes In The Amazonia: Lessons From An Observation-Model Intercomparison, Natalia Restrepo-Coupe, Loren P. Albert, Marcos Longo, Ian Baker, Naomi M. Levine, Lina M. Mercado, Alessandro C. Da Araujo, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Marcos H. Costa, David R. Fitzjarrald
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Tropical forests are an important part of global water and energy cycles, but the mechanisms that drive seasonality of their land-atmosphere exchanges have proven challenging to capture in models. Here, we (1) report the seasonality of fluxes of latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H), and outgoing short and longwave radiation at four diverse tropical forest sites across Amazonia—along the equator from the Caxiuanã and Tapajós National Forests in the eastern Amazon to a forest near Manaus, and from the equatorial zone to the southern forest in Reserva Jaru; (2) investigate how vegetation and climate influence these fluxes; and …
Civic Agriculture In Review: Then, Now, And Future Directions, Allison Kaika, Alexis Racelis
Civic Agriculture In Review: Then, Now, And Future Directions, Allison Kaika, Alexis Racelis
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
"Civic agriculture," a term first coined by rural sociologist Thomas Lyson, refers to forms of agriculture that occur on a local level, from production to consumption, and are linked to a community's social and economic development. Sixteen years since its original articulation, the term "civic agriculture" has taken on greater significance in research, political activism, and community organizing. Grown from the roots of civic community theory, civic agriculture functions as a new branch of civic community theory that is ripe for theorization. In revisiting the foundations of the term, this review paper seeks to consolidate current and future research in …
A Method For Repeated, Longitudinal Sampling Of Individual Aedes Aegypti For Transmission Potential Of Arboviruses, E. Handly Mayton, Heather Hernandez, Christopher Vitek, Rebecca C. Christofferson
A Method For Repeated, Longitudinal Sampling Of Individual Aedes Aegypti For Transmission Potential Of Arboviruses, E. Handly Mayton, Heather Hernandez, Christopher Vitek, Rebecca C. Christofferson
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Mosquito-borne viruses are the cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Assessing risk for viral transmission often involves characterization of the vector competence of vector–virus pairings. The most common determination of vector competence uses discreet, terminal time points, which cannot be used to investigate variation in transmission aspects, such as biting behavior, over time. Here, we present a novel method to longitudinally measure individual biting behavior and Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission. Individual mosquitoes were exposed to ZIKV, and from 9 to 24 days post-exposure, individuals were each offered a 180 μL bloodmeal every other …
Mitochondrial Oma1 And Opa1 As Gatekeepers Of Organellar Structure/Function And Cellular Stress Response, Robert Gilkerson, Patrick De La Torre, Shaynah St. Vallier
Mitochondrial Oma1 And Opa1 As Gatekeepers Of Organellar Structure/Function And Cellular Stress Response, Robert Gilkerson, Patrick De La Torre, Shaynah St. Vallier
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Mammalian mitochondria are emerging as a critical stress-responsive contributor to cellular life/death and developmental outcomes. Maintained as an organellar network distributed throughout the cell, mitochondria respond to cellular stimuli and stresses through highly sensitive structural dynamics, particularly in energetically demanding cell settings such as cardiac and muscle tissues. Fusion allows individual mitochondria to form an interconnected reticular network, while fission divides the network into a collection of vesicular organelles. Crucially, optic atrophy-1 (OPA1) directly links mitochondrial structure and bioenergetic function: when the transmembrane potential across the inner membrane (ΔΨm) is intact, long L-OPA1 isoforms carry out fusion of the mitochondrial …
Local Adaptation To Continuous Mowing Makes The Noxious Weed Solanum Elaeagnifolium A Superweed Candidate By Improving Fitness And Defense Traits, Jesus Chavana, Sukhman Singh, Alejandro Vazquez, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Alexis Racelis, Rupesh R. Kariyat
Local Adaptation To Continuous Mowing Makes The Noxious Weed Solanum Elaeagnifolium A Superweed Candidate By Improving Fitness And Defense Traits, Jesus Chavana, Sukhman Singh, Alejandro Vazquez, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Alexis Racelis, Rupesh R. Kariyat
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
The role of disturbance in accelerating weed growth is well understood. While most studies have focused on soil mediated disturbance, mowing can also impact weed traits. Using silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), a noxious and invasive weed, through a series of field, laboratory, and greenhouse experiments, we asked whether continuous mowing influences growth and plant defense traits, expressed via different avenues, and whether they cascade into offspring. We found that mowed plants produced significantly less number of fruits, and less number of total seeds per plant, but had higher seed mass, and germinated more and faster. When three herbivores …
Mitochondrial Opa1 Cleavage Is Reversibly Activated By Differentiation Of H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts, Iraselia Garcia, Fredy Calderon, Patrick De La Torre, Shaynah St. Vallier, Cristobal Rodriguez, Divya Agarwala, Megan Keniry, Wendy Innis-Whitehouse, Robert Gilkerson
Mitochondrial Opa1 Cleavage Is Reversibly Activated By Differentiation Of H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts, Iraselia Garcia, Fredy Calderon, Patrick De La Torre, Shaynah St. Vallier, Cristobal Rodriguez, Divya Agarwala, Megan Keniry, Wendy Innis-Whitehouse, Robert Gilkerson
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Optic atrophy-1 (OPA1) is a dynamin-like GTPase localized to the mitochondrial inner membrane, playing key roles in inner membrane fusion and cristae maintenance. OPA1 is regulated by the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm): when Δψm is intact, long OPA1 isoforms (L-OPA1) carry out inner membrane fusion. Upon loss of Δψm, L-OPA1 isoforms are proteolytically cleaved to short (S-OPA1) isoforms by the stress-inducible OMA1 metalloprotease, causing collapse of the mitochondrial network and promoting apoptosis. Here, we show that L-OPA1 isoforms of H9c2 cardiomyoblasts are retained under loss of Δψm, despite the presence of OMA1. However, when H9c2s are differentiated to a more …
Importation And Preliminary Evaluation Of The Stem Boring Moth Buakea Kaeuae As A Potential Biological Control Agent Of Invasive Guineagrass, Megathyrsus Maximus, Ann T. Vacek, John A. Goolsby, Paul-Andre Calatayud, Bruno Le Ru, Boaz Musyoka, Rupesh R. Kariyat
Importation And Preliminary Evaluation Of The Stem Boring Moth Buakea Kaeuae As A Potential Biological Control Agent Of Invasive Guineagrass, Megathyrsus Maximus, Ann T. Vacek, John A. Goolsby, Paul-Andre Calatayud, Bruno Le Ru, Boaz Musyoka, Rupesh R. Kariyat
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Abstract. Guineagrass, Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L.Jacobs, is an African grass that is invasive in Florida, Hawaii, southern Texas, and northeastern Mexico. Buakea kaeuae Moyal et al., a stem-boring African moth found only on M. maximus, was imported from Kenya and evaluated for its ability to feed and develop on Guineagrass naturalized in southern Texas. Neither larvae nor adults developed or reproduced on Texas Guineagrass.
Resumen. El zacate Guinea (Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K.Simon & S.W.L.Jacobs), originario de África, es considerado invasivo en Florida, Hawaii, sur de Texas, y noreste de México. Buakea kaeuae Moyal et al. es una …
Biotic Homogenization Or Riparian Refugia? Urban And Wild Land Snail Assemblages Along A Subtropical Precipitation Gradient, Kathryn E. Perez, Briante S. Lewis Najev, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Jeffrey C. Nekola
Biotic Homogenization Or Riparian Refugia? Urban And Wild Land Snail Assemblages Along A Subtropical Precipitation Gradient, Kathryn E. Perez, Briante S. Lewis Najev, Bradley O. Christoffersen, Jeffrey C. Nekola
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
A noted impact of urbanization is the tendency for biotic homogenization, or the increase of similarity of geographically disparate communities. On the other hand, some urban habitats harbor biodiversity native to their region, a role potentially important in xeric landscapes, with irrigation increasing the coverage and availability of mesic habitats in an otherwise water-limited landscape. We assessed the relative importance of urban yards as agents of biotic homogenization or riparian refugia by characterizing community composition of Tamaulipan thornforest land snail assemblages across a pronounced precipitation gradient in far south Texas, USA. We quantified α- and β-diversity and assessed whether the …
Nvp-Bez235 Or Jaki Treatment Leads To Decreased Survival Of Examined Gbm And Bbc Cells, Neftali Vazquez, Alma Lopez, Victoria Cuello, Michael W. Persans, Erin Schuenzel, Wendy Innis-Whitehouse, Megan Keniry
Nvp-Bez235 Or Jaki Treatment Leads To Decreased Survival Of Examined Gbm And Bbc Cells, Neftali Vazquez, Alma Lopez, Victoria Cuello, Michael W. Persans, Erin Schuenzel, Wendy Innis-Whitehouse, Megan Keniry
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Cancer cells almost universally harbor constitutively active Phosphatidylinositol-3 Kinase (PI3K) Pathway ac-tivity via mutation of key signaling components and/or epigenetic mechanisms. Scores of PI3K Pathway in-hibitors are currently under investigation as putative chemotherapeutics. However, feedback and stem cell mechanisms induced by PI3K Pathway inhibition can lead to reduced treatment efficacy. To address therapeutic barriers, we examined whether JAKi would reduce stem gene expression in a setting of PI3K Pathway inhibition in order to improve treatment efficacy. We targeted the PI3K Pathway with NVP-BEZ235 (dual PI3K and mTOR inhibitor) in combination with the Janus Kinase inhibitor JAKi in glioblastoma (GBM) and …
An Ecotoxicological Approach To Microplastics On Terrestrial And Aquatic Organisms: A Systematic Review In Assessment, Monitoring And Biological Impact, Omar A. Vazquez, Saydur Rahman
An Ecotoxicological Approach To Microplastics On Terrestrial And Aquatic Organisms: A Systematic Review In Assessment, Monitoring And Biological Impact, Omar A. Vazquez, Saydur Rahman
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Marine and land plastic debris biodegrades at micro- and nanoscales through progressive fragmentation. Oceanographic model studies confirm the presence of up to ~2.41 million tons of microplastics across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian subtropical gyres. Microplastics distribute from primary (e.g., exfoliating cleansers) and secondary (e.g., chemical deterioration) sources in the environment. This anthropogenic phenomenon poses a threat to the flora and fauna of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as ingestion and entanglement cases increase over time. This review focuses on the impact of microplastics across taxa at suggested environmentally relevant concentrations, and advances the groundwork for future ecotoxicological-based research on microplastics …
Molecular Characterization Of A Marine Turtle Tumor Epizootic, Profiling External, Internal And Postsurgical Regrowth Tumors, Kelsey Yetsko, Jessica A. Farrell, Nicholas B. Blackburn, Liam Whitmore, Maximilian R. Stammnitz, Jenny Whilde, Catherine B. Eastman, Devon Rollinson Ramia, Ana C. Leandro
Molecular Characterization Of A Marine Turtle Tumor Epizootic, Profiling External, Internal And Postsurgical Regrowth Tumors, Kelsey Yetsko, Jessica A. Farrell, Nicholas B. Blackburn, Liam Whitmore, Maximilian R. Stammnitz, Jenny Whilde, Catherine B. Eastman, Devon Rollinson Ramia, Ana C. Leandro
School of Medicine Publications
Sea turtle populations are under threat from an epizootic tumor disease (animal epidemic) known as fibropapillomatosis. Fibropapillomatosis continues to spread geographically, with prevalence of the disease also growing at many longer-affected sites globally. However, we do not yet understand the precise environmental, mutational and viral events driving fibropapillomatosis tumor formation and progression.
Here we perform transcriptomic and immunohistochemical profiling of five fibropapillomatosis tumor types: external new, established and postsurgical regrowth tumors, and internal lung and kidney tumors. We reveal that internal tumors are molecularly distinct from the more common external tumors. However, they have a small number of conserved potentially …
The Multifunctional Roles Of Polyphenols In Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Sukhman Singh, Ishveen Kaur, Rupesh R. Kariyat
The Multifunctional Roles Of Polyphenols In Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Sukhman Singh, Ishveen Kaur, Rupesh R. Kariyat
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
There is no argument to the fact that insect herbivores cause significant losses to plant productivity in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. To counter this continuous onslaught, plants have evolved a suite of direct and indirect, constitutive and induced, chemical and physical defenses, and secondary metabolites are a key group that facilitates these defenses. Polyphenols—widely distributed in flowering plants—are the major group of such biologically active secondary metabolites. Recent advances in analytical chemistry and metabolomics have provided an opportunity to dig deep into extraction and quantification of plant-based natural products with insecticidal/insect deterrent activity, a potential sustainable pest management strategy. …
Using Yeast Two-Hybrid System And Molecular Dynamics Simulation To Detect Venom Protein-Protein Interactions, Ying Jia, Paulina Kowalski, Ivan Lopez
Using Yeast Two-Hybrid System And Molecular Dynamics Simulation To Detect Venom Protein-Protein Interactions, Ying Jia, Paulina Kowalski, Ivan Lopez
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Proteins and peptides are major components of snake venom. Venom protein transcriptomes and proteomes of many snake species have been reported; however, snake venom complexity (i.e., the venom protein-protein interactions, PPIs) remains largely unknown. To detect the venom protein interactions, we used the most common snake venom component, phospholipase A2s (PLA2s) as a “bait” to identify the interactions between PLA2s and 14 of the most common proteins in Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) venom by using yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) analysis, a technique used to detect PPIs. As a result, we identified PLA2s interacting with themselves, and lysing-49 PLA2 …
Weeds As Hosts Of Plant Parasitic Nematodes In Subtropical Agriculture Systems, Habraham F. Lopez, Pushpa Soti, Ganpati B. Jagdale, Parwinder Grewal, Alexis Racelis
Weeds As Hosts Of Plant Parasitic Nematodes In Subtropical Agriculture Systems, Habraham F. Lopez, Pushpa Soti, Ganpati B. Jagdale, Parwinder Grewal, Alexis Racelis
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
With a nearly year-round growing season, tropical and subtropical regions are plagued with a myriad of agro-nomic challenges, including near-continuous weeds and invertebrate pests including plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs). A poor understanding of the presence and geographical distributions of these pests complicate their man-agement, especially in organic farming systems. This work attempts to document the interaction of PPNs with the major weeds in the semi-arid region of south Texas. Five organically managed farms were surveyed for four weeds of regional agronomic importance including silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium), common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), false ragweed (Parthenium hysterophorus), and London rocket (Sisymbrium irio). Soil …
A Fresh Start In Ambersnail (Gastropoda: Succineidae) Taxonomy: Finding A Foothold Using A Widespread Species Of Oxyloma, Kathryn E. Perez, Marco A. Martinez Cruz, Brent W. Steury, Gary M. Barker
A Fresh Start In Ambersnail (Gastropoda: Succineidae) Taxonomy: Finding A Foothold Using A Widespread Species Of Oxyloma, Kathryn E. Perez, Marco A. Martinez Cruz, Brent W. Steury, Gary M. Barker
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
The ambersnails (Succineidae), found nearly worldwide, are considered a very challenging group to classify and identify with even genus-level identifications requiring dissection. In this study, we use mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers, shell morphometrics, and anatomical dissection to examine fresh material collected from the type localities of two nominal species in Oxyloma (Neoxyloma). We conclude from these evidence that Oxyloma salleanum (L. Pfeiffer, 1850) and Oxyloma effusum (L. Pfeiffer, 1853) are conspecific, and accordingly reduce O. effusum to the status of junior synonymy. We present a redescription of O. salleanum.
Type Vi Secretion System Mutations Reduced Competitive Fitness Of Classical Vibrio Cholerae Biotype, Benjamin Kostiuk, Francis J. Santoriello, Laura Diaz-Satizabal, Fabiana Bisaro, Kyung-Jo Lee, Anna N. Dhody, Daniele Provenzano, Daniel Unterweger, Stefan Pukatzki
Type Vi Secretion System Mutations Reduced Competitive Fitness Of Classical Vibrio Cholerae Biotype, Benjamin Kostiuk, Francis J. Santoriello, Laura Diaz-Satizabal, Fabiana Bisaro, Kyung-Jo Lee, Anna N. Dhody, Daniele Provenzano, Daniel Unterweger, Stefan Pukatzki
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
The gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae is the causative agent of the diarrhoeal disease cholera and is responsible for seven recorded pandemics. Several factors are postulated to have led to the decline of 6th pandemic classical strains and the rise of El Tor biotype V. cholerae, establishing the current 7th pandemic. We investigated the ability of classical V. cholerae of the 2nd and 6th pandemics to engage their type six secretion system (T6SS) in microbial competition against non-pandemic and 7th pandemic strains. We report that classical V. cholerae underwent sequential mutations in T6SS genetic determinants that initially exposed 2nd pandemic …
Tropical Milkweed Herbivore And Predator Dynamics In Suburban South Texas, Daniela Rivera, Jose Adrian Noval, Lilly Elliott, Hannah J. Penn
Tropical Milkweed Herbivore And Predator Dynamics In Suburban South Texas, Daniela Rivera, Jose Adrian Noval, Lilly Elliott, Hannah J. Penn
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Tropical milkweed is commonly grown to conserve pollinators, but the presence of non-caterpillar herbivores may prompt treatment. Management is limited to non-chemical methods like biological control, but potential natural enemies have not been well studied in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV). We documented the arthropod community on tropical milkweed in garden and potted settings then analyzed associations between organisms. In the garden, oleander aphids and large milkweed bugs were the primary herbivores, overlapping on seedpods. Natural enemies (lady beetles, syrphid fly larvae, and aphid parasitoids) were positively associated with oleander aphids but not milkweed bugs. The arthropod community experienced …
Aprendizaje Activo Y Pedagogía Culturalmente Relevante En Stem: Tres Lecciones Aprendidas Dentro Y Fuera Del Aula, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo
Aprendizaje Activo Y Pedagogía Culturalmente Relevante En Stem: Tres Lecciones Aprendidas Dentro Y Fuera Del Aula, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Uno de los mayores desafíos en la ciencia, la tecnología, la ingeniería y la educación matemática (STEM, por sus siglas en inglés) es mejorar el rendimiento y la retención de estudiantes de diversos orígenes. Existen grandes diferencias entre los logros académicos de los estudiantes de minorías subrepresentadas (EMS) con aquellos que no pertenecen a estas minorías. Las diferencias inician desde el kínder y continúan hasta los estudios de posgrado. El aprendizaje activo y la pedagogía culturalmente sensible/relevante han mostrado resultados exitosos minimizando estas diferencias educacionales. Desafortunadamente, el aprendizaje activo y la pedagogía culturalmente relevante no son métodos comunes de enseñanza …
Rivfishtime: A Global Database Of Fish Time-Series As A Currency For Global Change Ecology Research In Riverine Systems, Lise Comte, Juan Carvajal-Quintero, Pablo A. Tedesco, Ulrich Brose, Tibor Erős, Ana F. Filipe, Marie-Josée Fortin, Katie Irving, Claire Jacquet, Christopher M. Taylor
Rivfishtime: A Global Database Of Fish Time-Series As A Currency For Global Change Ecology Research In Riverine Systems, Lise Comte, Juan Carvajal-Quintero, Pablo A. Tedesco, Ulrich Brose, Tibor Erős, Ana F. Filipe, Marie-Josée Fortin, Katie Irving, Claire Jacquet, Christopher M. Taylor
School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)
Motivation
We compiled a global database of long-term riverine fish surveys from 46 regional and national monitoring programmes and from individual academic research efforts, with which numerous basic and applied questions in ecology and global change research can be explored. Such spatially and temporally extensive datasets have been lacking for freshwater systems in comparison to terrestrial ones.
Main types of variables contained
The database includes 11,386 time-series of riverine fish community catch data, including 646,270 species-specific abundance records, together with metadata related to the geographical location and sampling methodology of each time-series.
Spatial location and grain
The database contains 11,072 …