Biology Commons^™

Adaptations Of The Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy In Response To Covid-19, Sowmya Anjur, Dave Devol

Faculty Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

Plant-Soil Feedback Systems In Invasive Grass: Microstegium Vimineum, Bethany Lee, Kimberly Koenig, Sarah Emery

Undergraduate Research Events

Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimenium) is an invasive grass that dominates many southeast woodland areas which grows best under sunny conditions but can also thrive in shady areas.

We hypothesized that M. vimenium in invaded soils would have higher germination rates as compared to M. vimenium in native soils.

Mechanistic Insights Into Strigolactone Biosynthesis, Signaling And Regulation During Plant Growth And Development, Kaiser Iqbal Wani, Andleeb Zehra, Sadaf Choudhary, M Naeem, M. Masroor A. Khan, Christian Danve Castroverde, Tariq Aftab

Biology Faculty Publications

Strigolactones (SLs) constitute a group of carotenoid-derived phytohormones with butenolide moieties. These hormones are involved in various functions, including regulation of secondary growth, shoot branching and hypocotyl elongation, and stimulation of seed germination. SLs also control hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, and mediate responses to both abiotic and biotic cues. Most of these functions stem from the interplay of SLs with other hormones, enabling plants to appropriately respond to changing environmental conditions. This dynamic interplay provides opportunities for phytohormones to modulate and augment one another. In this article, we review our current mechanistic understanding of SL biosynthesis, receptors …

Metformin's Potential As A Form Of Anti-Aging Therapy, Heba Kourhabi, Erica E. Hassoun, Dae-Sung Hwangbo

Undergraduate Research Events

● Metformin is an oral medication used to treat Type II Diabetes and is the first line drug for treatment.

● Metformin is the fourth most prescribed medication in the United States and has been prescribed to over 78 million patients since 2017

● Metformin increases glucose uptake of cells and decreases hepatic glucose production, leading to lower blood glucose levels

● Metformin may help prevent cancer, improve cardiovascular health, and protect against inflammation, therefore focus has been directed on its potential to be an anti aging drug

Adaptive Genetic Potential And Plasticity Of Trait Variation In The Foundation Prairie Grass Andropogon Gerardii Across The Us Great Plains’ Climate Gradient: Implications For Climate Change And Restoration, Matthew Galliart, Sofia Sabates, Hannah Tetreault, Angel Delacruz, Johnny Bryant, Jake Alsdurf, Mary Knapp, Nora M. Bello, Sara G. Baer, Brian R. Maricle Ph.D., David J. Gibson, Jesse Poland, Paul St Amand, Natalie Unruh, Olivia Parrish, Loretta Johnson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Plant response to climate depends on a species’ adaptive potential. To address this, we used reciprocal gardens to detect genetic and environmental plasticity effects on phenotypic variation and combined with genetic analyses. Four reciprocal garden sites were planted with three regional ecotypes of Andropogon gerardii, a dominant Great Plains prairie grass, using dry, mesic, and wet ecotypes originating from western KS to Illinois that span 500–1,200 mm rainfall/year. We aimed to answer: (a) What is the relative role of genetic constraints and phenotypic plasticity in controlling phenotypes? (b) When planted in the homesite, is there a trait syndrome for each …

Incorporating Worksheets To Enhance Active Learning In A Laboratory Course, Zakiya S. Kelley

STEM Instructional Graduate Teaching Assistant Posters

Study Goals:

To create worksheets that would aid the students in properly completing the required experiments and challenge them to do more than just follow the instructions. Each week there were often multiple experiments to be completed and pre-made samples to be observed within the class period. By providing the worksheet, I ensured the students completed all tasks and comprehended the covered material before class ended.

Objectives:

• To improve student participation and information retention when completing laboratory experiments in the classroom
• To emphasize key points of the topic being explored

Nest Moisture Content Affects Loggerhead Hatchling Size And Neonate Development, Kelly M. Detmer

Scientific Communication News

No abstract provided.

Matrices (Re)Loaded: Durability, Viability, And Fermentative Capacity Of Yeast Encapsulated In Beads Of Different Composition During Long-Term Fed-Batch Culture, Jordan Gulli, Peter Yunker, Frank Rosenzweig

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Encapsulated microbes have been used for decades to produce commodities ranging from methyl ketone to beer. Encapsulated cells undergo limited replication, which enables them to more efficiently convert substrate to product than planktonic cells and which contributes to their stress resistance. To determine how encapsulated yeast supports long-term, repeated fed-batch ethanologenic fermentation, and whether different matrices influence that process, fermentation and indicators of matrix durability and cell viability were monitored in high-dextrose, fed-batch culture over 7 weeks. At most timepoints, ethanol yield (g/g) in encapsulated cultures exceeded that in planktonic cultures. And frequently, ethanol yield differed among the four matrices …

Lifelines Fall 2020, Southern Adventist University

Lifelines - Biology Department Newsletter

The Fall 2020 issue of Lifelines contains articles on Insights from the Professor, Alumni Highlight, and Department Happenings.

Character Displacement In The Midst Of Substantial Background Evolution In Anolis Lizard Island Populations, Ambika Kamath, Nicholas C. Herrmann, Kiyoko M. Gotanda, Kum C. Shim, Jacob Lafond, Gannon Cottone, Heather Falkner, Todd S. Campbell, Yoel E. Stuart

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Negative interactions between species can generate divergent selection that causes character displacement. However, other processes cause similar divergence. We use spatial and temporal replication across island populations of Anolis lizards to assess the importance of negative interactions in driving trait shifts. Previous work showed that the establishment of Anolis sagrei on islands drove resident Anolis carolinensis to perch higher and evolve larger toepads. To further test the interaction's causality and predictability, we resurveyed a subset of islands nine years later. Anolis sagrei had established on one island between surveys. We found that A. carolinensis on this island now perch higher …

Population Dynamics Of Waterfowl Wintering In The Mid-Atlantic Region, Usa, Abigail Harris, Thomas Hoke

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

A recent study (Rosenberg et al. 2019) has shown that bird populations in North America are experiencing major declines except for a few groups including waterfowl. However, this study focused only on the summer breeding populations and did not focus on regional dynamics. We utilized data from 62 Christmas Bird Count (CBC) count circles to evaluate population dynamics of common wintering waterfowl in the coastal Mid-Atlantic region (Delaware=7, Maryland=16, Virginia=18, North Carolina=21) since 1950. We found a 36% decline of wintering waterfowl relative abundance compared to 1950s. American wigeon and Canada goose had major population decreases while Snow goose had …

Adios Adjuvant: Combination Immunotherapy For Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (All) Patients, Arleigh Wood

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Cancer treatments are shifting from heavy adjuvant therapies to immunological approaches, such as carT cell therapy. By simultaneously administering two known successful treatments for ALL, Blinatumomab and Kymriah, a high rate of remission can be accomplished in pediatric patients with relapsed ALL. Higher rates of remission, prolonged immunity, and less side effects are the projected results based on previously published studies. Combining these two therapies will likely produce more successful results compared to if the drugs were administered independently. This will hopefully translate into a faster return to daily living activities and less chronic effects during such an important developmental …

Fish Assemblages Associated With Artificial Reefs Assessed Using Multiple Gear Types In The Northwest Gulf Of Mexico, Jeffrey D. Plumlee, Kaylan M. Dance, Michael A. Dance, Hay R. Rooker, Thomas C. Tinhan, J. Brooke Shipley, R. J. David Wells

Faculty Publications

Quantitative surveys of fishes associated with artificial reefs in the northwest Gulf of Mexico were conducted over a 4-yr period (2014-2017). Artificial reefs surveyed were comprised of three types: concrete structures, rig jackets, and decommissioned ships. All reefs were surveyed using vertical long line ( VLL), fish traps, and Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar (ARIS 1800). Mean fish abundance did not significantly differ using VLL [1.7 ind set(-1) (SD 2.2)] among the three reef types. However, relative abundance among all fishes collected was significantly highest on rig reefs using traps [6.2 ind soak(-1) (SD 3.8)], while results from sonar surveys indicated …

Diverse Community Of Arsenic Resistant Bacteria Display Arsenate Reducing Capabilities, Stephanie Maeda

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Naturally found in soil and water environments arsenic is toxic to many organisms, carcinogenic to humans, and poses a significant public health risk. Yet communities of bacteria found thriving in arsenic ridden environments have evolved mechanisms to tolerate and exploit both oxidation states of this heavy metal (arsenite and arsenate). As the site of an old arsenic mine, Black Mountain Open Space Park in San Diego, California has yielded concentrations of arsenic in the soil between 111-14,800 ppm. Exceeding average arsenic soil concentrations and levels considered safe in the environment by the World Health Organization, we sought to characterize the …

All-Atomic Molecular Dynamic Studies Of Human And Drosophila Cdk8: Insights Into Their Kinase Domains, The Lxxll Motifs, And Drug Binding Site, Wu Xu, Xiao-Jun Xie, Ali K. Faust, Mengmeng Liu, Xiao Li, Feng Chen, Ashlin A. Naquin, Avery C. Walton, Peter W. Kishbaugh, Jun-Yuan Ji

Faculty Publications

Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8) and its regulatory partner Cyclin C (CycC) play conserved roles in modulating RNA polymerase II (Pol II)-dependent gene expression. To understand the structure and function relations of CDK8, we analyzed the structures of human and Drosophila CDK8 proteins using molecular dynamics simulations, combined with functional analyses in Drosophila. Specifically, we evaluated the structural differences between hCDK8 and dCDK8 to predict the effects of the LXXLL motif mutation (AQKAA), the P154L mutations, and drug binding on local structures of the CDK8 proteins. First, we have observed that both the LXXLL motif and the kinase activity of CDK8 …

A Tree Frog (Boana Pugnax) Dataset Of Skin Transcriptome For The Identification Of Biomolecules With Potential Antimicrobial Activities, Yamil Liscano Martinez, Claudia Marcela Arenas Gómez, Jeramiah J. Smith, Jean Paul Delgado

Biology Faculty Publications

Increases in the prevalence of multiply resistant microbes have necessitated the search for new molecules with antimicrobial properties. One noteworthy avenue in this search is inspired by the presence of native antimicrobial peptides in the skin of amphibians. Having the second highest diversity of frogs worldwide, Colombian anurans represent an extensive natural reservoir that could be tapped in this search. Among this diversity, species such as Boana pugnax (the Chirique-Flusse Treefrog) are particularly notable, in that they thrive in a diversity of marginal habitats, utilize both aquatic and arboreal habitats, and are members of one of few genera that are …

Reducing Host Dna Contamination In 16s Rrna Gene Surveys Of Anthozoan Microbiomes Using Pna Clamps, Alicia M. Reigel, Sarah M. Owens, Michael E. Hellberg

Faculty Publications

Efforts to study the microbial communities associated with corals can be limited by inefficiencies in the sequencing process due to high levels of host amplification by universal bacterial 16S rRNA gene primers. Here, we develop an inexpensive peptide nucleic acid (PNA) clamp that binds to a target sequence of host DNA during PCR and blocks amplification. We then test the ability of this PNA clamp to mitigate host contamination and increase overall microbial sequence coverage on samples from three coral species: the gorgoniansEunicea flexuosaandGorgonia ventalina,and the scleractinianPorites panamensis. The 20-bp PNA clamp was designed using DNA fromE. flexuosa. Adding the …

Cardiac Neuroanatomy And Chronotropic Modulation Of The Adult Giant Danio Heart, Alyssa Koch, Emma Nelson, Pascal Lafontant

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Studies in non-mammalian models species have contributed significantly to our understanding of the biology and the nature of innervation in the heart. The giant danio (D. malabaricus) is a teleost fish species closely related to zebrafish, that is also capable of heart regeneration. We previously described the development and maturation of the giant danio (GD) heart. However, little is known about its innervation. We hypothesized that the pattern of innervation in the GD heart is anatomically and physiologically complex, and that the heart is responsive to physiological modulation similar to that seen in cyprinid fish and mammals. Using various neuronal …

Alternative Treatments To Koalas With Chlamydia, Kelsey Thornton

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

Koala populations have declined rapidly in the past 2 decades due to many reasons such as disease, vehicle collisions, dog attacks, urbanization and deforestation, and climate-related issues. Chlamydia is one of the leading causes for population declines in koalas. Koalas are difficult to treat for chlamydia because antibiotic treatment kills the specialized gut bacteria they have and need for degrading toxic compounds within eucalyptus leaves, their only source of food. I propose that doxycycline, a drug with a 97% cure rate and reduced dysbiosis, to be administered at higher concentrations less frequently. Additionally, I propose that koalas treated with antibiotics …

Combining Treatments For Opioid Addictions, Raquel Perez

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

  In 2018 the National Survey of Drug Use and Health reported that 9.9 million people misused prescription pain relievers out of 10.3 million who reported using opioids. Opioid abuse has grown from just being considered a medical dilemma, it has clearly become a social and economic issue (Eaton and Vettese, 2020). This proposal will be investigating the combination of pre-existing pharmacological treatments and support group therapy. This is not a new concept however because of the nature of opioid addictions having severe withdrawal symptoms most treatments are primarily medication base. Drug addictions have been known to carry a negative stigma …

Hsa-Mir-4520-2-3p: A Potential Modulator Of Covid-Related Ace2, Molly Ruggles, Nipun Chopra

Annual Student Research Poster Session

ACE2 is a transmembrane receptor located in cells in various tissues around the body. Its normal role is the conversion of Angiotensin II to Angiotensin 1-7 leading to vasodilation and a subsequent reduction in blood pressure via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. ACE2 also plays a pivotal role in the infection of COVID-19 as it determines entry of virus into human cells. SARS-CoV-2 uses one of its four structural proteins, the spike (S) glycoprotein, to bind to the ACE2 receptor. This entry into the cell begins the process of infection and spread of the disease; because of the abundance of ACE2 throughout …

A Preliminary Look Into Regional Primary Succession In The Depauw University Nature Park Quarry, Sophia Atkinson, Diana Borse, Dana Dudle

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Quarries are anthropogenic landscapes that when abandoned, leave a blank slate in the environment for species to come in and repopulate the area. This gives way to primary succession, a process that re-vegetates areas devoid of soil. The goal of this research is to investigate where the abandoned limestone quarry at the DePauw University Nature Park is in terms of its successional phase since extraction stopped in 1977. Throughout the summer of 2020, plant species were identified along with the specific region and sub-habitat, the main sub-habitats being the temporary ponds, quarry spoils, talus slopes, flat limestone areas, and damp …

Tools For Genotyping Of Nicotine-Seeking Zebrafish, Emma Kennedy, Aziza Shemet Pitcher, Sabrina Krause, Autumn Mcdaniel, Molly Ruggles, Henning Schneider

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Smoking is one of the main causes of preventable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Helping people quit using nicotine products is a main goal of our projects. Developing a zebrafish model for nicotine use behavior could provide a tool for studying the underlying genetic risks and neuronal elements of nicotine use behavior. The availability of large numbers of larval zebrafish, relatively short generation time and genetic tools present a major advantage for studying the genetic causes of nicotine use behavior. Here, we present our approach to test whether identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) …

A Comparison Of Invasive And Native Plants In An Abandoned Limestone Quarry, Diana Borse, Sophia Atkinson, Dana Dudle

Annual Student Research Poster Session

The abandoned limestone quarry in the DePauw Nature Park is a site of interest for research into plant community establishment due to the harsh, heterogenous, and fluctuating environment. Because the limestone floor of the quarry is a novel anthropogenic environment, every plant species in the quarry had to be introduced somehow. Perhaps native species that are able to establish populations in the quarry are more likely to share traits with invasive species. Using information collected from scientific articles, I compared traits of three pairs of plants with similar forms to compare their life history traits to see if any patterns …

Antibiotic Resistance And Variability In The Physiological Profiles Of Streambed Bacterial Communities: Implication Of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents, Madeline Draper, Amerti Guta, Philips Akinwole

Annual Student Research Poster Session

The effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) include a complex mixture of nutrients and toxic substances, thus, the potential exists for the effluent to significantly impact the biochemical characteristics and bacterial communities of the receiving freshwater ecosystem. Our findings highlight the worrisome impacts of WWTPs on microbial biomass, coliform forming units, bacterial metabolic diversity, and antibiotic resistance patterns on the receiving water. In this study, microbial biomass and coliform forming units were significantly higher at the WWTP outfall compared to the reference site. Furthermore, this report revealed significant differences in the composition of bacterial communities in the context of WWTP …

The Secrets Of Sobek – A Crocodile Mummy Mitogenome From Ancient Egypt, Evon R. Hekkala, Matthew L. Aardema, Apurva Narechania, George Amato, Salima Ikram, Matthew H. Shirley, Kent A. Vliet, Seth W. Cunningham, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Oliver Smith

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Previous investigations of genetic diversity across the distribution of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) confirmed the existence of two genetically distinct species of true crocodile (genus Crocodylus) in Africa. These taxa correspond roughly to an eastern/southern African species (Crocodylus niloticus) and a central/western African species (Crocodylus suchus). Analysis of historical museum specimens demonstrated that both species existed concurrently in the Sudanese Nile until the early 20th century and genetic analyses of historical museum specimens of mummified crocodile hatchlings from Egyptian tombs located along Egyptian Nile were found to be C. suchus. Here we present the first assessment of mitogenomic data …

Endothelial Cell Contributions To Covid-19, Alexandra E. Oxford, Fabio Halla, Evan B. Robertson, Brad E. Morrison

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding of the clinical, histological and molecular features of the novel coronavirus 2019 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) has remained elusive. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by this virus has unusual clinical presentation with regard to other related coronaviruses. Recent reports suggest that SARS-CoV-2, unlike other related viruses, infects and replicates within endothelial cells, which may explain a significant portion of the observed clinical pathology. Likewise, mounting evidence associates vascular and endothelial cell dysfunction with increased mortality. This review focuses on understanding how endothelial cell pathology is caused by SARS-CoV-2 at the molecular and cellular levels and how …

Comparative Study Of The Rates Of Dispersal Of Triadica Sebifera (Chinese Tallow) And Imperata Cylindrica (Japanese Blood Grass) In North America, Jamie W. Dinella, Meem Noshin Nawal Khan

Student Publications

Chinese Tallow (Triadica sebifera) and Japanese Blood Grass (Imperata cylindrica) are two invasive species that wreck havoc on their invaded areas by reducing the biodiversity of their new environments. We studied the rate of dispersal of these two species in North America to determine which species spreads faster. We hypothesized that Chinese Tallow spreads faster than Japanese Blood Grass since Chinese Tallow was introduced in North America long before Japanese Blood Grass and has a greater number of seed dispersal methods (e.g. wind, water, bird, etc.) than Japanese Blood Grass. To test our hypothesis, we collected the record of Chinese …

Soil Chemistry And Enzyme Data Examining Impacts Of Callery Pear Stem Cutting, Michaela J. Woods, Grace K. Attea, Ryan W. Mcewan

Five Rivers MetroParks Collaboration Data Archive

This dataset encompasses information following the collection of soil from underneath cut and treated Callery pear stems and untreated Callery pear trees. Soil was assessed for moisture, pH, and enzyme activities.

A Summary Of Current Research Into Neurodegenerative Disorders Using Drosophila Melanogaster, Chase Cortese

Honors Theses

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease are characterized by damage to neural cells causing widespread neurological deficits. Historically, these diseases were deemed as inevitable declines in cognitive and neurological function that occurred with aging. Recent research has revealed, however, that these diseases have molecular bases allowing potential clinical intervention. The groundbreaking discoveries have been made using differing model organisms, which can replicate the phenotype and physiological cause of these disorders. One major model organism that has been used is the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. They have served various roles in elucidating gene pathways and neurophysiological bases seen in these diseases. …