Biology Commons^™

Human Surfactant Protein B Expression In Humanized Transgenic Mice, Mark C. Schoenborn

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Surfactant protein B (SP-B, gene name: sftpb) is essential for normal lung function. It reduces alveoli surface tension, thereby preventing the lung from collapse. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SP-B 1580 C/T) is associated with several lung diseases and altered N-linked glycosylation site at Asn¹²⁹ of SP-B. This change, present in the human population, has been associated with negative effects on SP-B precursor (proSP-B) processing and function. In this study, hSP-B humanized transgenic mice were generated without mouse SP-B background. Four founding lines, showing only the hSP-B gene, were selected via PCR-based DNA analysis. Genomic sequencing of these mice …

Fungicide Resistance In Botrytis Cinerea From Strawberry - Molecular Mechanisms And Management, Anja Grabke

All Theses

The United States is the largest producer of strawberries worldwide, generating approximately $2.4 billion worth of fruit each year. Strawberry production, however, is often threatened by pathogens. One of the most destructive fungal pathogens is Botrytis cinerea, the causal agent of gray mold disease. The control of gray mold in commercial fields is largely dependent on the application of fungicides, including the dicarboximide iprodione and the hydroxyanilide fenhexamid. Because both fungicides are prone to resistance development, a survey was conducted to determine the occurrence and prevalence of fungicide resistance. Single-spore isolates were collected from strawberry fields in Florida (for …

Regulation Of Gene Expression In Karenia Brevis, Skylar C. Rodgers

Honors Theses

Karenia brevis is species of dinoflagellate responsible for most of the harmful algal blooms that occur in the Gulf of Mexico. These blooms can be detrimental to the environment and the economy of a coastal region due to the brevetoxins produced by Karenia brevis. Currently, the cause of these blooms, as well as the mechanisms of associated toxin production, are unknown. Efforts to characterize Karenia brevis at a molecular level are ongoing. However, based on genomic findings, researchers have hypothesized that regulation of gene expression occurs post-transcriptionally. In many organisms, non-coding RNAs, such as natural antisense transcripts (NATs), play …

The Human Immune Response To The Flagellins Of Burkholderia Dolosa., Molly Mcdonald

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most commonly inherited lethal disorder in Caucasian populations. Chronic bacterial infection both decreases lung function and lowers the quality of the CF patient’s life. In one of the most recent CF epidemics, Burkholderia dolosa, an organism previously uncharacterized as an epidemic strain, infected over forty patients and led to the death of over seven patients at Children’s Hospital Boston. Preliminary research revealed that this strain of B. dolosa possesses genes for two distinct types of flagella, which is uncommon in bacterial pathogens. In this study we examine the interaction of human cells and B. dolosa, …

The First Successful Use Of A Low Stringency Familial Match In A French Criminal Investigation, Emmanuel Pham-Hoai, Frank Crispino, Greg Hampikian

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

We describe how a very simple application of familial searching resolved a decade-old, high-profile rape/murder in France. This was the first use of familial searching in a criminal case using the French STR DNA database, which contains approximately 1,800,000 profiles. When an unknown forensic profile (18 loci) was searched against the French arrestee/offender database using CODIS configured for a low stringency search, a single low stringency match was identified. This profile was attributed to the father of the man suspected to be the source of the semen recovered from the murder victim Elodie Kulik. The identification was confirmed using Y-chromosome …

Detection Methods For Small Analytes: Improvement Of Novel Spr Technology Detection Of Toxins And Toxicants, William B. Ollayos

Honors Scholar Theses

Humans are exposed to a variety of toxic substances in their day-to-day activities that may have adverse health effects if not properly identified. An integrated dual-mode instrument that combines grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GCSPR) and grating-coupled surface plasmon coupled emissions (GCSPCE) should allow for the efficient detection of toxic analytes in a high-content system using gold-coated superparamagnetic nanobeads. The goal of this study is to validate the binding characteristics of the reagents intrinsic to this innovative assay methodology. Competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays were conducted on NNK toxicants and SEB toxins, which were the …

The Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation Potential Of Gulf Of Mexico Native Coastal Microbial Communities After The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Anthony D. Kappell, Yin Wei, Ryan J. Newton, Joy D. Van Nostrand, Jizhong Zhou, Sandra L. Mclellan, Krassimira R. Hristova

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout resulted in oil transport, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. The microbial communities of these shorelines are thought to be responsible for the intrinsic degradation of PAHs. To investigate the Gulf Coast beach microbial community response to hydrocarbon exposure, we examined the functional gene diversity, bacterial community composition, and PAH degradation capacity of a heavily oiled and non-oiled beach following the oil exposure. With a non-expression functional gene microarray targeting 539 gene families, we detected 28,748 coding sequences. Of these sequences, 10% were uniquely associated with the severely oil-contaminated beach …

Context-Dependent Remodeling Of Rad51–Dna Complexes By Srs2 Is Mediated By A Specific Protein–Protein Interaction, Anna K. Lytle, Sofia S. Origanti, Yupeng Qiu, Jeffrey Vongermeten, Sua Myong, Edwin Antony

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The yeast Srs2 helicase removes Rad51 nucleoprotein filaments from single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), preventing DNA strand invasion and exchange by homologous recombination. This activity requires a physical interaction between Srs2 and Rad51, which stimulates ATP turnover in the Rad51 nucleoprotein filament and causes dissociation of Rad51 from ssDNA. Srs2 also possesses a DNA unwinding activity and here we show that assembly of more than one Srs2 molecule on the 3′ ssDNA overhang is required to initiate DNA unwinding. When Rad51 is bound on the double-stranded DNA, its interaction with Srs2 blocks the helicase (DNA unwinding) activity of Srs2. Thus, in different …

The Human Dimensions Of Waterfowl Hunters At Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, Barton County, Kansas, Jason K. Black

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

An on-site human dimension survey was applied at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (CHBW), Kansas, to evaluate waterfowl hunters’ support for three alternative management strategies. The strategies included in the survey were: 1) the creation of a refuge-in-time where hunting would be allowed for the entire day, but only on odd-numbered calendar dates, 2) the designation of an existing pool as a primitive pool, i.e., no motorized watercraft allowed, and 3) the creation of a refuge-in-time where hunting would only be allowed in a given pool from ½ hour before sunrise to 1300 hours, but hunting would be allowed every day …

Timing And Intensity Of Steer Use On Old World Bluestem (Bothriochloa Ischaemum) And Blue Grama (Bouteloua Gracilis) In Southern Mixed-Grass Prairie, Jessica Casey

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Yellow bluestem (Bothriochloa ischaemum), an invasive species, was introduced as a forage species and as a roadside grass for erosion control. Yellow bluestem can negatively interact with native grasslands and reduce biodiversity. Livestock tend to avoid yellow bluestem after accumulation of standing lignified tissue, particularly at the end of the growing season. Mowing has been used in pasture situations to remove excess grass for hay and over coarse grass left from the previous season. It is essential to understand the role livestock play as either a catalyst for control or preventing further invasion of yellow bluestem. Quantification of the timing …

Description Of An Unusual Cervical Vertebral Column Of A Plesiosaur From The Kiowa Shale, Ian N. Cost

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The Early Cretaceous (Albian) Kiowa Shale of Clark County, Kansas consists mainly of dark gray shale with occasional limestone deposits that represent a near shore environment. Faunal lists have been published based on fragmentary materials; however, few individual specimens have been described in the last 100 years. Here an unusual plesiosaur specimen (KUVP 16375) is described. The specimen consists of 17 cervical vertebrae: 10 articulated and 7 disarticulated. Some of the vertebrae are uniquely preserved with an atypical ventral excavation not present in known plesiosaur vertebrae. It is not clear whether or not this character is of phylogenetic or diagnostic …

Antimicrobial Resistance Of Channel Catfish Intestinal Microflora In The Arkansas And Ninnescah Rivers In Kansas, Jordan R. Hofmeier

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Antimicrobial compounds have been used by humans to counteract bacterial infections since 1910. Overuse of these compounds in clinical and agricultural applications has led to rapid evolution and global spread of antimicrobial resistance and rivers are the main receiving body for antimicrobials and resistant bacteria from urban effluents and agricultural runoff. When antimicrobial-resistant bacteria enter the aquatic environment, water acts as a physical pathway for their distribution. Subsequently, resistance genes become established in natural systems and pose threats to human health and ecological processes. Due to these potential threats, antimicrobial resistance in the aquatic environment should be closely monitored. To …

Bird-Habitat Associations Along A Canopy Cover Gradient Of Eastern Redcedar In Central Kansas, Scott W. Schmidt

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Grassland birds have declined more rapidly than any other avian taxa in North America. While woody encroachment is often cited as a threat, some grassland-dependent species requiring habitat with scattered trees or shrubs also are declining at statistically significant rates. To better understand the ecological costs and benefits of woody vegetation from a brush management perspective, I studied bird-habitat associations along a canopy cover gradient of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana). Habitat associations were tested by the comparing the relative abundance of breeding birds between 3 habitat treatment levels (0% eastern red cedar canopy cover [open grassland], < 5% eastern red cedar canopy cover [light encroachment], and > 5-25% eastern red …

Nest Survival Of Grassland Breeding Birds In A Southern Mixed-Grass Prairie Wetland, Clinton Helms

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

As a group, grassland birds have been declining significantly since European settlement of the prairie. The subsequent plowing of the prairie by settlers was compounded by fire suppression, resulting in a patchwork of cultivated fields with intermittent tracts of overgrown grassland. Over an interval of ~200 years, these practices lead to an estimated decline of 96 % of native tallgrass prairie habitat. Due to the imperiled status of grassland birds, an emphasis has been placed on managing for this particular group throughout the southern mixed-grass prairie region. I investigated the effects of adaptive three-pasture rotational grazing treatments (3ROT) versus traditional …

Possible Effects Of Black-Tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys Ludovicianus) On Abundance And Diversity Of Raptors And Small Mammals In Mixed And Shortgrass Prairie Of Western Kansas, Nina M. Luna

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is a burrowing rodent native to the Great Plains currently experiencing large population declines. It is debated whether prairie dogs are keystone species; however, areas with prairie dogs have higher levels of biodiversity and presumably increased biotic interactions. The goal of this study is to quantify the importance of black-tailed prairie dogs, hereafter prairie dog, by comparing abundance and diversity of raptors and small mammals on prairie dog (PD) and non-prairie dog (NON) inhabited prairie. A significant difference was detected between the two treatments (PD and NON) in the number of raptors counts; the …

Distance Sampling As A Technique To Monitor Pronghorn In Kansas, Jared H. Oyster

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Accurate and precise estimates of abundance are crucial for wildlife management. Wildlife agencies spend large amounts of time and money to obtain estimated abundance. The Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has conducted strip transect (ST) counts biannually since 1963 to estimate pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) abundance in Kansas. However, the accuracy and reliability of results are questionable. Distance sampling (DS) is a method used to estimate abundance of a biological population. All perpendicular distances of objects to the transect line are recorded; however, there is no designated strip width and no assumption that all objects are detected. I …

Dispersal Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Near Central Great Plains Feedlots, Jennifer R. Pfannenstiel-Klaus

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern in medical and veterinary settings. Resistance can be worsened by misuse and overuse of antibiotics. Such situations can give rise to highly resistant organisms. Ciprofloxacin, a synthetic, broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat gram-positive and gram-negative infections in humans, has similar chemical structure to enrofloxacin, which is used to treat animals. Cross-resistance might arise because of that similarity. This research describes the dispersal and prevalence of bacteria that exhibit ciprofloxacin resistance in relation to feedlots in the central Great Plains region. Six times in 2013, six feedlots were sampled for airborne bacterial communities at, upwind …

Comparison Of Small Mammal Communities In Ephemeral Wetlands And Wet Meadows During Drought, Brian M. Zinke

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Ephemeral wetlands are characterized by a cyclical hydropattern, ranging from complete inundation to a total absence of surface water. This cycle between wet and dry phases is necessary for the flora of ephemeral wetlands to perpetuate. However, little research has been done to study the response of the non-avian fauna to these cycles, particularly during the dry phase. I live trapped small mammals by using Sherman live traps and conducted vegetation surveys monthly (May–August in 2012 and May–July in 2013) in the ephemeral wetlands and the surrounding wet meadows of the Cheyenne Bottoms basin in central Kansas. Drought occurred both …

Inferring Herpetofaunal Distributions And Habitat Preferences For Conservation Planning, Lisa M. Prowant

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Global climate change is a serious threat to global biodiversity (IPCC, 2001). Due to their limited dispersal ability, reptiles and amphibians might be more vulnerable to rapid climate change than are other taxonomic groups (Gibbons et al., 2000). Herpetofauna in south-central Kansas was sampled from May through August in 2012 and 2013. Seven study sites spanning Meade, Clark, Comanche, and Barber counties were sampled. Drift fence and cover-board traps were arranged in transects at each site to capture reptiles and amphibians. Species were also sampled through surveys on all-terrain vehicles and on foot. Two thousand nine hundred and forty five …

Life History Of A Dune-Dwelling Rhaphidophorid, Utabaenetes Tanneri Tinkham, In The San Rafael Desert Of Utah, Ryan M. Shofner

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The camel cricket, Utabaenetes(tanneri Tinkham, has been little studied. This study gathered information on the basic life history and behavior of this species, which is found only in the San Rafael Desert and adjacent Colorado Plateau in areas of loose sand or active dunes. The daily activity pattern is matutinal, and individuals construct burrows for shelter in the afternoon. The diet of U.(tanneri is omnivorous, composed of plant material, detritus, and conspecific crickets. Utabaenetes(tanneri has been found in the diet of several predatory species, although the total number of observed predation instances is low. Utabaenetes(tanneri might be a Batesian mimic …

The Use Of Stable Isotopes To Assess Potential Effects Of Algal Blooms On Seagrass And Macroalgae Communities In The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, Alexandra Azcona

HIM 1990-2015

Algal blooms have caused significant losses in seagrass and macroalgae in the Indian River Lagoon, FL. To gain an understanding of these effects, samples of Gracilaria sp., Halodule wrightii, pinfish, and white mullet were taken throughout October and November of 2013. Samples from 2001 of Gracilaria sp., Halodule wrightii, Syringodium filiforme, Thalassia testudinum, pinfish, spotted seatrout, and white mullet were also obtained. Stable isotope data were obtained from these samples and compared by year and species. Halodule wrightii and pinfish had a significantly larger 2013 [delta]C13 values. Halodule wrightii also displayed lower total %C and total %N averages for 2013 …

A Model Of Hip Dysplasia Reductions In Infants Using The Pavlik Harness, Wissam Hadri

HIM 1990-2015

Hip dysplasia, also known as congenital dysplasia of the hip (CDH) or Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), is a mal-alignment of the hip joint. Left untreated within the first nine months, DDH could lead to permanent disability. Luckily however, this condition is diagnosed at an early age and is usually treated without surgery through the use of the Pavlik harness. In this thesis, a 3D computational model and dynamic finite element analysis of the muscles and tissues involved in hip dysplasia and the mechanics of the Pavlik harness, as rendered by Dr. Alain J. Kassab’s research group in the …

Interactions Between Human Neutrophils And Mycobacterium Smegmatis : A Comparative General Analysis., Irina Miralda

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Mycobacteria smegmatis is an abundant soil and water inhabitant with which humans are continuously in contact. Despite the fact that it is typically considered non-­‐pathogenic, a few rare cases of M. smegmatis-­‐caused infections have been reported and it has been shown that M. smegmatis is able to modulate inflammatory responses in macrophages. Neutrophils are the innate immune system’s first line of centralized defense against invading microbes, especially the frequently encountered M. smegmatis. However, very little information is known of the mechanism by which neutrophils eliminate environmental bacteria. In this study, the hypothesis that M. smegmatis regulates neutrophil functional responses, and …

Epidemiology And Virulence Of Clostridium Difficile : An Evolutionary Perspective., Lindsey E. Hastings

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

The emergence of virulent, antibiotic-resistant Clostridium difficile ribotypes over the past thirty years has greatly concerned both the medical and research communities. As of 2010, C. difficile has surpassed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a cause of nosocomial infections and is now found in both healthcare settings and outside communities in the United States. Attendant-borne transmission in hospitals has been associated with the evolution of increased virulence in other nosocomial pathogens, but evolutionary theory has yet to be applied to the epidemiology and virulence of C. difficile. Differences between nosocomial C. difficile infections (CDI) and community-associated CDI (CA-CDI) mortality and …

Effects Of Mode Of Cedar (Juniperus Ashei) Removal On Grassland Species Composition In The Texas Hill Country, Cade C. Bradshaw

Biology Honors Theses

Globally, arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystems are being invaded by woody tree and shrub species. Over the past 200 years in the United States in central and western Texas and throughout the Southwest such an invasion has altered the landscape from dominant C4 perennial bunchgrass vegetation to closed canopy forests of mainly Juniperus spp. and Prosopis spp. There have been widespread campaigns to remove these woody species to increase grassland acreage and biodiversity for forage and as wildlife habitat. Nonetheless, removal efforts have been foiled due to the invasion by an exotic species introduced to improve rangelands. King Ranch Bluestem …

Analysis Of Social Dominance In The Green Anole, Jordan Mckenzie Bush

Biology Honors Theses

Dominance relationships are an important aspect of the social organization of many species. Male dominance often results in successful territory defense and/or access to potential mates, and thus is a central component in establishing social rank. In this study, I used mathematical models to consider social interactions of the green anole lizard (Anolis carolinensis) in both territorial and hierarchical contexts. I then identified the behavioral and morphological traits associated with dominance in this species.

I first analyzed a series of ranking algorithms to evaluate their effectiveness as a novel approach to quantifying animal social status. I found that all eight …

Minimizing The Cost Of Competition In The Black-Crested Titmouse: Status Signaling, Dominance, And Foraging Behavior, Philip Queller

Biology Honors Theses

Status signals allow senders and receivers to minimize the costs of competition by minimizing the need for costly physical fights. While much research has focused on demonstrating that individuals respond to status signals in both breeding and non-breeding contexts, less is known about how the function of status signals may change as resource availability changes seasonally. In this thesis, I provide a basic review of status signaling in birds and report the results of an investigation on status signaling in the black-crested titmouse during different environmental conditions. The black-crested titmouse is a socially monogamous passerine that defends territories throughout the …

Defining The Sites Of Interaction Of The Fancd2, Fance, And Fancl Proteins, Joseph Mcclanaghan

Senior Honors Projects

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a rare genetic disease characterized by congenital defects, bone marrow failure and increased cancer susceptibility. FA is caused by mutations in any one of 16 genes. These genes encode for proteins that function in the FA-BRCA pathway to repair damaged DNA. Because of its important r­­­ole in DNA repair, this pathway is considered a major cellular tumor suppressor pathway, i.e. is critical for the prevention of cancer. Underscoring this fact, several of the FA genes - including BRCA2, BRIP1, PALB2, and RAD51C - are bona fide breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes.

My …

The Promise Of Sonodynamic Therapy: Using Ultrasonic Irradiation And Chemotherapeutic Agents As A Treatment Modality, Matthew Trendowski

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a potential cancer treatment modality that has been gaining support due to its effectiveness in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The therapeutic method combines ultrasonic irradiation with drugs known as sonosensitizers that amplify its ability to inflict preferential damage on malignant cells. This is based on the idea that ultrasonic waves have the ability to exhibit profound physical and chemical changes on cellular structure. The mechanisms by which ultrasound disrupts cellular functioning can be further amplified when sonosensitizers are applied. Combining multiple sonosensitizers with ultrasound to create a substantial synergistic effect could be an …

Differences In The Communicative Behavior And Neurobiology Of Chimpanzees (Pan Troglodytes) And Bonobos (Pan Paniscus), Brittany Moore

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

Chimpanzees and bonobos have distinctly different vocalizations, but it is unclear why these differences have evolved. We hypothesized that differences in habitat and feeding ecology have selected for bonobos to have an increased reliance on vocal communication compared to chimpanzees. To evaluate this hypothesis 1571 chimpanzee vocal events and 612 bonobo vocal events were analyzed. After analyzing and coding video of communicative interactions it was determined that chimpanzees are more likely than bonobos to utilize multimodal communication and to direct vocalizations to an individual conspecific. Bonobos were more likely than chimpanzees to produce a vocalization that was not bound to …