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2013

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Articles 721 - 750 of 1508

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Antimicrobial Producing Bacteria Isolated From Petroleum-Laced Hypersaline Soil, Joanna L. Fay May 2013

Antimicrobial Producing Bacteria Isolated From Petroleum-Laced Hypersaline Soil, Joanna L. Fay

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Given the alternative functions of “antibiotics” as communication molecules or participants in metabolism, it seems probable that production might be influenced by factors such as nutrient availability, interactions with neighboring microbes, and/or colony or community structure and maturity. With this in mind, the present study aimed to broaden the scope of the search for novel antibiotics by experimenting with the following parameters: source of bacterial isolation, growth and assay media, and culturing techniques. Bacteria for this study were isolated from two categories of soil (petroleum-contaminated or uncontaminated) to compare diversity and antimicrobial activity. Compared to the uncontaminated soil, isolates of …

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Influence Of Wind Turbines On Mammalian Occupancy Patterns, Brian P. Tanis May 2013

Influence Of Wind Turbines On Mammalian Occupancy Patterns, Brian P. Tanis

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Wind energy is among the most rapidly growing energy industries in the United States, with support for development coming from both state and federal governments. While the industry depicts an environmentally friendly image, the addition of infrastructure associated with wind farms alters landscapes in novel ways. Numerous studies have documented impacts wind turbines have on bird and bat mortality; however, far less attention has been directed towards responses of non-volant, terrestrial organisms. Mammalian mesocarnivores are model organisms to assess the alteration of communities surrounding wind turbines as they respond to addition of turbines and human activity, addition and improvement of …

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Evaluating The Effects Of Capture And Handling Time On Plasma Corticosterone And Heterophil/Lymphocyte Ratios In The Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus Bicolor), Michael A. Carlo May 2013

Evaluating The Effects Of Capture And Handling Time On Plasma Corticosterone And Heterophil/Lymphocyte Ratios In The Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus Bicolor), Michael A. Carlo

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

Birds have a protective physiological response to stress, which consists of three main components: the hormonal response, the immune response and the intracellular response. This study evaluates the effects of acute distress due to capture and handling on plasma corticosterone (CORT) and heterophil/lymphocyte ratios (H/L) , physiological indicators of the hormonal and immune components of the stress response in the Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), as well as the relationship between the two biomarkers. These stress indicators are currently used in both basic and applied avian research. But their relationship with each other and their responses to specific stressors such as …

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Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix Regulates Basal And Stimulated Macrophage Activation., Lauren G. Poole May 2013

Sinusoidal Endothelial Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrix Regulates Basal And Stimulated Macrophage Activation., Lauren G. Poole

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Fatty liver disease, be it from alcohol (ALD), obesity (NAFLD) or other sources (e.g. viral infection), share similar mechanisms of disease progression. One potential mechanism is that altered sinusoidal endothelial cell (SEC) extracellular matrix (ECM) favors a more inflammatory phenotype in resident macrophages (i.e., Kupffer cells). Here, the hypothesis was tested that SEC-derived matrices directly affect the inflammatory response of macrophages. Methods. Transformed sinusoidal endothelial cells (TSECs) were cultured for 24 or 72 hours. Culture plates were then washed with a solution that selectively removed the cells, but preserved the ECM. Cultured macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) were then seeded on …

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Targeting The Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome To Induce Mitotic Arrest In Ovarian Cancer., Douglas John Saforo May 2013

Targeting The Anaphase Promoting Complex/Cyclosome To Induce Mitotic Arrest In Ovarian Cancer., Douglas John Saforo

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Taxanes are a class of chemotherapeutic drug that act to disrupt microtubule function and cause mitotic arrest and cell death. These drugs are commonly used for cancer treatment, however their effectiveness is dependent on the presence of a functioning spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). As a result, it is possible for cancer cells to become resistant to microtubule disrupting drugs by inactivating the SAC. The anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that acts as the master regulator of cell cycle progression. Inhibition of the APC/C should result in disruption of the cell cycle, resulting in arrest during mitosis …

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Characterization Of Bioreducible Poly(B-Amino Ester) Nanoparticles For Sirna Delivery, Bolivia Hurtado De Mendoza May 2013

Characterization Of Bioreducible Poly(B-Amino Ester) Nanoparticles For Sirna Delivery, Bolivia Hurtado De Mendoza

Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most malignant brain tumors affecting adults. It is characterized by necrotic tissue and abnormal vasculature, making it highly resistant to current cancer treatments. A promising alternative to standard cancer therapeutics is the use of drug delivery systems such as polymeric nanoparticles (NP) that deliver silencing RNA (siRNA) exclusively to tumor cells for gene knockdown. Presently, nonviral delivery vectors, such as poly(B-amino ester) (PBAE) NP, are beneficial delivery systems because they are less immunogenic and easier to chemically modify than vectors delivered by viruses. Although current formulations of PBAEs allow cargo release via hydrolytic …

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The Effects Of Glutathione And Its Derivatives On The Survival Of Mycobacterium Bovis-Bcg Vegetative And Persistent Organisms, Neil Patel May 2013

The Effects Of Glutathione And Its Derivatives On The Survival Of Mycobacterium Bovis-Bcg Vegetative And Persistent Organisms, Neil Patel

Honors College Theses

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for nearly 2 million deaths yearly. Upon inhalation,mycobacteria are engulfed by alveolar macrophages. These cells produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates (ROI’s and RNI’s), which normally kill pathogens, but are ineffective against invading mycobacteria. What ensues, is the formation of a tubercle to sequester the infected macrophages, and the initiation of a latent tuberculosis infection, in which the mycobacteria enter a state of non-replicative persistence (NRP). Glutathione (GSH), a host tripeptide thiol-based detoxification molecule, protects host cells from ROI/RNI toxicity.Recently, it has been demonstrated that GSH is toxic to in vitro and early infection mycobacteria, but …

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Molecular Characterization And Functional Significance Of The Vti Family Of Snare Proteins In Tick Salivary Glands, Ashley M. Villarreal, Steven W. Adamson, Rebecca E. Browning, Khemraj Budachetri, Muhammad Sohail Sajid, Shahid Karim May 2013

Molecular Characterization And Functional Significance Of The Vti Family Of Snare Proteins In Tick Salivary Glands, Ashley M. Villarreal, Steven W. Adamson, Rebecca E. Browning, Khemraj Budachetri, Muhammad Sohail Sajid, Shahid Karim

Faculty Publications

Exocytosis involves membrane fusion between secretory vesicles and the plasma membrane. The Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment proteins (SNAPs) and their receptor proteins (SNAREs) interact to fuse vesicles with the membrane and trigger the release of their sialosecretome out of the tick salivary gland cells. In this study, we examined the functional significance of the Vti family of SNARE proteins of blood-feeding Amblyomma maculatum and Amblyomma americanum. Vti1A and Vti1B have been implicated in multiple functional roles in vesicle transport. QRT-PCR studies demonstrated that the highest transcriptional expression of vti1a and vti1b genes occurs in unfed salivary glands, suggesting that …

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Socio-Ecology Of The Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys Palustris) And The Spatio-Temporal Distribution Of Bayou Virus In Coastal Texas, Tyla S. Holsomback, Christopher J. Van Nice, Rachel N. Clark, Alisa A. Abuzeineh, Jorge Salazar-Bravo May 2013

Socio-Ecology Of The Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys Palustris) And The Spatio-Temporal Distribution Of Bayou Virus In Coastal Texas, Tyla S. Holsomback, Christopher J. Van Nice, Rachel N. Clark, Alisa A. Abuzeineh, Jorge Salazar-Bravo

Faculty Publications

Along the southeastern coast of the United States of America (USA), the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) is the primary host for the hantavirus genotype Bayou. According to the socio-ecological model for a territorial, polygamous species, females should be distributed across space and time by habitat resources and predation risks, whereas males should space themselves according to the degree of female aggregation and reproductive synchrony. To investigate how females affect the male-male transmission paradigm of Bayou virus, rodents were captured, marked, released, and re-captured in two macrohabitat types across a 30-month period. Microhabitat cover variables were quantified around …

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Evaluating The Effects Of Fungicides And Other Pesticides On Non-Target Gut Fungi And Their Aquatic Insect Hosts, Emma R. Wilson May 2013

Evaluating The Effects Of Fungicides And Other Pesticides On Non-Target Gut Fungi And Their Aquatic Insect Hosts, Emma R. Wilson

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Pesticides are widespread and have been long used to combat the attack and destruction of crops. Fungicides have been used to prevent the establishment of many fungal pathogens, yet little is known about the impacts of fungicides on non-target fungi. With these considerations, it was predicted that trichomycetes, or gut fungi, a group of symbiotic fungi associated with aquatic macroinvertebrates and other arthropods, might be a candidate system to study because of the intimate association with their hosts. Field and laboratory studies were initiated to assess non-target impacts of fungicides on gut fungi. Field surveys were conducted on four streams …

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The Affect Of Low Tide On The Digestion Of Balanus Glandula, The Acorn Barnacle., Jesse Osborn May 2013

The Affect Of Low Tide On The Digestion Of Balanus Glandula, The Acorn Barnacle., Jesse Osborn

Scripps Senior Theses

The rocky intertidal zone, experiencing fully marine and fully terrestrial conditions, has become increasingly investigated as a model ecosystem for studying the future implications of climate change. The barnacle, Balanus glandula, a common rocky intertidal inhabitant, plays an important role as a key prey item for many organisms. Low tide can be particularly challenging for barnacles as they are marine organisms subjected to the abiotic conditions of a terrestrial environment. The most stressful of these are increased temperature and decreased oxygen availability. This study aimed to investigate how low tide impacts the energy budget, specifically the digestion, of B. …

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How Do Prey Refuges Affect Predator-Prey Interactions?, Justin Vendettuoli May 2013

How Do Prey Refuges Affect Predator-Prey Interactions?, Justin Vendettuoli

Senior Honors Projects

While it is well known that predators eat their prey, prey that avoid predation risk can also incur substantial fitness costs through risk-induced changes in survival and reproduction, growth, and morphology. Changes in prey that occur without the predator physically consuming the prey are referred to as ‘non-consumptive effects’. One way to reduce the risk of predation is to use a refuge. While refuge use may reduce predation risk, however, it may also be costly to the prey. These costs may include within-refuge competition for resources, which can alter prey population dynamics, coexistence, and metapopulation dynamics. While these costs may …

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Shape Changes In Hyoid Arch Elements In Four Shark Species, Isabel S. Nowinowski May 2013

Shape Changes In Hyoid Arch Elements In Four Shark Species, Isabel S. Nowinowski

Senior Honors Projects

The hyoid arch is critical in expanding the oral cavity during feeding and ventilation in fishes. The elements of the hyoid arch vary widely in morphology among fish taxa. The hyoid arch is medial to the jaws and is made up of paired hyomandibular cartilages (HY) dorsally, paired ceratohyal cartilages (CH) ventral to the HY, and a single, medial basihyal cartilage (BH) that interconnects the two sides. As the jaws open, the CH-BH complex is depressed expanding the floor of the oral cavity. The coracohyoideus muscle pulls the BH ventroposteriorly, which in turn swings the CH ventroposteriorly. As the coracohyoideus …

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Competition In A Simple Pond: A 3d Agent Based Model Approach., Emil W.H. Montano May 2013

Competition In A Simple Pond: A 3d Agent Based Model Approach., Emil W.H. Montano

Undergraduate Honors Theses

If two species are competing for a limited resource, the species that uses the resource more efficiently will eventually eliminate the other. This is known as the principle of competitive exclusion developed by Georgy Gause. To determine the effect of this competition, a simple three-dimensional model of a pond is created in which two species compete for a single source of energy (algae). The model is based solely on the conservation of the energy that flows through an ecosystem where primary production is the only source of energy. The first scenario tested is of two competing species with identical life …

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Recombination And Screening Of Putative Grapefruit Glucosyltransferase 4 Expressed In Pichia Pastoris., Peri Loftis May 2013

Recombination And Screening Of Putative Grapefruit Glucosyltransferase 4 Expressed In Pichia Pastoris., Peri Loftis

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Flavonoids are a group of plant secondary metabolites that are vital to the cell systems of plants. The intake of these chemicals is advantageous to animals for their antioxidant properties that affect the function of immune and inflammatory cells. The bitter taste of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) and other citrus species is caused by the accumulation of glycosylated flavonoids. Glucosyltransferases (GTs) are enzymes that add glucose moieties to a carbon or hydroxyl group of natural products. The function of a putative secondary product GT clone was tested. In previous research, putative GT 4 was cloned into a pCD1 modified …

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Putative Glucosyltransferase 11 From Citrus Paradisi: Cloning, Recombinant Expression In Yeast, And Substrate Screening., Bruce E. Williams May 2013

Putative Glucosyltransferase 11 From Citrus Paradisi: Cloning, Recombinant Expression In Yeast, And Substrate Screening., Bruce E. Williams

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Plant secondary products, which include the flavonoids, have a variety of roles in plant systems. Their roles include UV protection, antifeedant activity, pollinator attraction, stress response, and many others. Flavonoids also have effects on human physiology. Glucosylation is an important modification of many flavonoids and other plant secondary products. In grapefruit, glucosylation is important in the synthesis of the bitter compound naringin. Glucosyltransferases catalyze glucosylation reactions. Putative plant secondary product glucosyltransferases may be identified by the loosely conserved “PSPG box” amino acid sequence, and eleven have been isolated to date in Citrus paradisi. With current knowledge, however, biochemical characterization …

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A Novel Therapeutic Approach In Breast And Hematopoietic Cancers: Inhibition Of Sh2-Domain Containing Inositol 5' Phosphatase (Ship), Amamda Balch May 2013

A Novel Therapeutic Approach In Breast And Hematopoietic Cancers: Inhibition Of Sh2-Domain Containing Inositol 5' Phosphatase (Ship), Amamda Balch

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Aberrant hyperactivation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) cell-signaling pathway, one of the most prominent cell growth, proliferation and survival pathways in the human body, has been observed in many forms of cancer. Upon deregulation, this pathway can facilitate the evasion of programmed cell death, the stimulation of autonomous growth, and the evasion of regular growth-inhibitory signals. While it was initially believed that the dephosphorylation activity of lipid phosphatases served to counteract the pathway by hydrolyzing phosphatidylinositol(3,4,5)trisphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3) to phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2), emerging evidence suggests that SH2-domain containing inositol 5’ phosphatase 1 and 2 (SHIP1/2) may in fact …

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Recent Characterizations Of Mscs And Its Homologs Provide Insight Into The Basis Of Ion Selectivity In Mechanosensitive Channels, Grigory Maksaev, Elizabeth S. Haswell May 2013

Recent Characterizations Of Mscs And Its Homologs Provide Insight Into The Basis Of Ion Selectivity In Mechanosensitive Channels, Grigory Maksaev, Elizabeth S. Haswell

Biology Faculty Research

The bacterial mechanosensitive channel MscS provides an excellent model system for the study of mechanosensitivity and for investigations into the cellular response to hypoosmotic shock. Numerous studies have elucidated the structure, function and gating mechanism of Escherichia coli MscS, providing a wealth of information for the comparative analysis of MscS family members in bacteria, archaea, fungi and plants. We recently reported the electrophysiological characterization of MscS-Like (MSL)10, a MscS homolog from the model flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we summarize our results and briefly compare MSL10 to previously described members of the MscS family. Finally, we comment on how …

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Interactions Between Protozoan Prey (Phylum Protista) And Their Mosquito Predators (Order Diptera, Family Cuclicidae) Prey Size And Predator Behavior Effects, Jeffrey Jay Skiff May 2013

Interactions Between Protozoan Prey (Phylum Protista) And Their Mosquito Predators (Order Diptera, Family Cuclicidae) Prey Size And Predator Behavior Effects, Jeffrey Jay Skiff

Master's Theses

Mosquitoes (Diptera. Culicidae) are insects that are medically important as adults as they vector numerous diseases. Yet, understanding the ecology of the larval stage can lead to surveillance and control of adult populations. Aedes albopictus, Aedes triseriatus, Cu/ex corona/or, and Culex quinquefasciatus are four species of mosquito that co-occur in discarded automobile tires. Mosqui-to larvae feed on microorganisms (including protozoans) and particulate organic matter Most larval feeding experiments. howt:ver, have dealt exclusively with bacteria, fungi , and particulate organic matter Although bactena and fungi are important sources of nitrogen and lipids, they may be 111sufficient sources of carbon, which may …

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Generation Of A Transgenic Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Expressing The Transcriptional Repressor Inducible Camp Early Repressor (Icer), Theodora Tsatsos May 2013

Generation Of A Transgenic Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Expressing The Transcriptional Repressor Inducible Camp Early Repressor (Icer), Theodora Tsatsos

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) has been known to moderate cAMP antiproliferative actions. It has ovarian- specific properties and its gene product has been shown to act as a tumor suppressor. It has been previously shown that ICER has been targeted for expression in the ovaries via a transgenic mouse model to create an increased level of ovulation. In this paper, we cloned the following ovarian-specific promoters: CYP19A1, FSH, ZP3, and GDF9. Plasmid DNA was constructed with the aforementioned ovarian specific promoters using a three-fragment vector construction method and EGFP was used as a marker to follow whether plasmid DNA …

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A Bird In The Binoculars: Understanding Birdwatchers' Potential To Contribute To Sustainable Development And Biological Conservation, Sheri Lynn Glowinski May 2013

A Bird In The Binoculars: Understanding Birdwatchers' Potential To Contribute To Sustainable Development And Biological Conservation, Sheri Lynn Glowinski

Dissertations

The three studies comprising this research drew from local economic development and environmental sociology to understand aspects of human dynamics that influence the conservation of birds. Using survey data collected from birdwatchers visiting coastal Alabama, the first study examined the local economic impact of birdwatching tourism and the factors that participants deemed important with respect to their recreation. Birdwatchers spent $103,305 during the four month study period. The total annual economic impact of this recreation on the area was estimated at $937,470, producing a multiplier of 1.48 and the equivalent of 20.3 full time jobs. Infrastructural variables (parking, bathrooms, site …

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Investigating The Function Of The Mold Specific Gene M46, In The Pathogenic Dimorphic Fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum, Davida Lashaundra Crossley May 2013

Investigating The Function Of The Mold Specific Gene M46, In The Pathogenic Dimorphic Fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum, Davida Lashaundra Crossley

Dissertations

Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) is a dimorphic fungus that is the etiologic agent for the respiratory infection histoplasmosis. The fungus is found in the environment in contaminated soils of birds and bat excreta as a multi-cellular saprophytic mold. Once the soil is disturbed, spores are released and are inhaled into the lungs. In the lungs, the fungus converts to uni-cellular parasitic yeast (Maresca & Kobayashi, 1989). The conversion from mold to yeast is a requirement for pathogenesis. Previously, several mold specific genes have been isolated by our laboratory from a subtracted cDNA library. One such gene, is M46. M46 is a …

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Effects Of Food Dispersion On Dominance Related Behaviors In Garnett's Bushbaby (Otolemur Garnettii)?, Kyle Daniel Edens May 2013

Effects Of Food Dispersion On Dominance Related Behaviors In Garnett's Bushbaby (Otolemur Garnettii)?, Kyle Daniel Edens

Dissertations

Socio-ecological theorists tie primate social structure diversity to variations in habitats within which primate species reside. This premise permits laboratory researchers to investigate specific factors that influence or relate to social structure formation and maintenance. The focus of the current investigation was three fold. We first aimed to determine the relationships between traditional and non-traditional behavioral measures of dominance, then evidence for dominance hierarchy formation was examined, and various hypotheses were tested to discern if adjustments in the foraging context altered social behaviors in Garnett’s bushbaby (Otolemur garnettii). It was determined that animals likely to displace conspecifics were …

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Interrelationships Between Testosterone, Aggression, And Parental Care Of A Temperate-Zone, Resident Songbird, The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis Cardinalis), Margaret Susan Devries May 2013

Interrelationships Between Testosterone, Aggression, And Parental Care Of A Temperate-Zone, Resident Songbird, The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis Cardinalis), Margaret Susan Devries

Dissertations

Interrelationships among testosterone (T), aggression, and parental care have received much investigative attention. Within birds, many studies have focused on examining such relationships using species characterized by relatively brief periods of territoriality and breeding. Few have investigated links between circulating T and reproductive behavior in birds that are year-round territorial residents and have lengthy breeding seasons, such as the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). The following six chapters report and discuss findings from this dissertation’s examination of aspects of T production and potential interconnections with circulating T, aggression, and parental care in male and female cardinals. This work suggests …

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Differences In The Health Of Domesticated Sheep (Ovis Aries) Pastured In Wild And Agricultural Landscapes, Corine Giroux May 2013

Differences In The Health Of Domesticated Sheep (Ovis Aries) Pastured In Wild And Agricultural Landscapes, Corine Giroux

Biological Sciences

The purpose of this study was to compare the health of sheep grazed in a quasi-wild landscape (Norman’s Kill Farm, an abandoned dairy) as part of a targeted grazing research project, to that of sheep in a conventional agricultural pasture setting (Longfield Farm). This study tested the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the health and nutrition of sheep in a domestic setting and those in a wild setting. Sheep on the quasi-wild landscape were healthier than those on the agricultural setting, having healthier body condition scores. The mean body condition scores of the sheep at Longfield was …

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Molecular Modulation Of Single And Multi-Species Biofilm Formation By Orally-Associated Bacteria, Daniel Sellers May 2013

Molecular Modulation Of Single And Multi-Species Biofilm Formation By Orally-Associated Bacteria, Daniel Sellers

Biological Sciences

Biofilms are aggregates of bacterial cells attached to a surface. Oral biofilms (“plague”) are major contributors to tooth decay (dental caries) and are a potential conduit for infection and disease. These biofilms have been shown to be resistant to removal by traditional oral hygiene practices. Novel prophylactic and in situ treatment methods are therefore needed to address this problem. While Oral biofilms have been shown to contain hundreds of species of bacteria we focus on three relevant organisms: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Actinomyces naeslundii (A. oris). Of the many bacteria involved in cavity formation and tooth decay, S. mutans …

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Chemical And Biological Triggers For The Improved Intercalation And Release Of Glucose Oxidase (Go) In The Galleries Of Α-Zirconium Phosphate Nanolayers For A Noninvasive Oral Alternative To Insulin Drug Therapies, Momina Kamal Afrede May 2013

Chemical And Biological Triggers For The Improved Intercalation And Release Of Glucose Oxidase (Go) In The Galleries Of Α-Zirconium Phosphate Nanolayers For A Noninvasive Oral Alternative To Insulin Drug Therapies, Momina Kamal Afrede

Honors Scholar Theses

Noninvasive treatment alternatives for diseases from diabetes to hypercholerestemia are at the cutting edge of research. Although many noninvasive drug delivery routes, including oral nasal, buccal, dermal, and pulmonary have been investigated no one route has been fully approved for patient use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards as an alternative to current needle dependent subcutaneous insulin delivery. 10 12 This thesis focuses on two novel oral protein drug delivery systems α-Zr(IV) phosphate (α-ZrP)-protein-Divalent Metal Ion and α-Zr(IV) phosphate (α-ZrP)-protein- cationized Bovine Serum Albumin BSA. Glucose oxidase (GO) serves as a model protein in this thesis for noninvasive …

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In Vitro Characterization Of Avian Influenza Virus Isolates With A Truncated Ns1 Gene Segment, Aaron Dick May 2013

In Vitro Characterization Of Avian Influenza Virus Isolates With A Truncated Ns1 Gene Segment, Aaron Dick

Honors Scholar Theses

Avian Influenza Virus represents a significant threat to the world poultry population, and is a potential threat to humans due to the possibility of cross-species AIV infection. Our approach is to characterize a number of avian virus populations with respect to their content of biologically active particles that include hemagglutinating particles (HAP), plaque forming particles (PFP), interferon inducing particles (IFP), interferon induction-suppressing particles (ISP), defective-interfering particles (DIP), cell-killing particles (CKP) and non-infectious cell killing particles (niCKP) using unique in vitro assays developed for avian influenza virus in the Marcus-Sekellick Laboratory. Specifically, we will use a strain of Avian influenza virus, …

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The Varied Roles Of Induced Plant Responses In Species Interactions, Justine B. Roths Ms May 2013

The Varied Roles Of Induced Plant Responses In Species Interactions, Justine B. Roths Ms

All Student Scholarship

In this review, I will discuss indirect species interactions that occur as a result of herbivore-induced trait changes in plants. Species interactions are at the very core of the field of ecology. In particular, plant–insect herbivore interactions are of central importance as these two groups together consist of over 75% of the macroscopic diversity on earth. Historically, research has focused on pair-wise direct interactions however, more recently, the importance of indirect interactions has been widely acknowledged. Indeed, indirect interactions may be as strong and as common as direct interactions. Indirect interactions have been actively investigated in plant–insect systems, which are …

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Unexpected Phylogenetic Positions Of The Genera Rupirana And Crossodactylodes Reveal Insights Into The Biogeography And Reproductive Evolution Of Leptodactylid Frogs, Antoine Foquet, Boris Leonardo Blotto, Maximiliano Manuel Maronna, Vanessa Kruth Verdade, Flora Acuña Juncá, Rafael O. De Sá, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues May 2013

Unexpected Phylogenetic Positions Of The Genera Rupirana And Crossodactylodes Reveal Insights Into The Biogeography And Reproductive Evolution Of Leptodactylid Frogs, Antoine Foquet, Boris Leonardo Blotto, Maximiliano Manuel Maronna, Vanessa Kruth Verdade, Flora Acuña Juncá, Rafael O. De Sá, Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues

Biology Faculty Publications

Despite major progress in deciphering the amphibian tree of life by molecular phylogenetics, we identified two questions remaining to be answered regarding relationships within Hyloidea, the clade of South American origin that comprises most extant anuran diversity. A few genera like Rupirana and Crossodactylodes have enigmatic phylogenetic positions, and relationships among major lineages within some families like Leptodactylidae remain ambiguous. To resolve these specific questions we used two approaches (1) a complete matrix approach representing >6.6 kb, including most major Hyloidea lineages (61 terminals) combining different methods of phylogenetic reconstruction and measures of node support; and (2) a supermatrix approach …

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