Biology Commons^™

Analysis Of Phenotypic Expression Associated With Different Genotypes Of The Blue/Brown Eyes Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, Jade Riddle, Taylor Mckinney

Fall Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

No abstract provided.

The Trichloroethylene Metabolite S-(1,2-Dichlorovinyl)-L-Cysteine Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation Transcriptomic Pathways And Cytokine Secretion In A Macrophage Cell Model, Sean M. Harris, Kelly M. Bakulski, John Dou, Ethan Houskamp, Eleanor Scheeres, Emily Schellenboom, Olivia Harlow, Rita Loch-Caruso, Erica Boldenow

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Studies have shown that the trichloroethylene metabolite S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-l-cysteine (DCVC) inhibits cytokine secretion in pathogen stimulated fetal membrane tissue but little is known about the mechanism for these effects, including which cell types or transcriptomic pathways are impacted. Macrophages play a critical role in fetal membrane immune responses during infection. We tested the hypothesis that DCVC inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated inflammation pathways in macrophage-like THP-1 cells. We treated THP-1 cells for 24 h then treated with 1, 5, or 10 μM DCVC for 24 h. After a 4 h incubation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we collected RNA and cell media. We performed …

2022 Fall Newsletter, Plaster Creek Stewards

Newsletters

Highlights:

Reflections on Our Mission

Fall Event 2022: Future Thriving

Parking Lot Retrofits - A New PCS Strategy

Research Updates

Betty Kliewer Joins the Team

Planting Partners, Interns, and Community Organizations

Support Our Work

Upcoming Event: End-of-Year Celebration

Regulation And Function Of The Mec-8/Rbpms Rna Binding Protein In Vivo, Xiaoyu Liang

Biological Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Alternative splicing is a major form of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression which plays a pivotal role in cell/tissue- specific identity, diversity, and function. The mechanisms of alternative splicing are well studied; however, the functional consequences of the spliced transcripts are relatively less demonstrated. Therefore, many efforts are needed to understand the physiological relevance of alternative splicing. RNA binding proteins are critical regulators of alternative splicing, their malfunction disrupt the normal networks, and further underlies many diseases. To understand how alternative splicing contributes to the physiological functions in the cells or tissues, we explored the regulatory networks of RNA binding …

Mate Sampling Behavior Determines The Density Dependence Of Sexual Selection, J. Colton Watts, Eileen A. Hebets, Brigitte Tenhumberg

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Theory predicts that the strength of sexual selection (i.e., how well a trait predicts mating or fertilization success) should increase with population density, yet empirical support remains mixed. We explore how this discrepancy might reflect a disconnect between current theory and our understanding of the strategies individuals use to choose mates. We demonstrate that the density dependence of sexual selection predicted by previous theory arises from the assumption that individuals automatically sample more potential mates at higher densities. We provide an updated theoretical framework for the density dependence of sexual selection by (1) developing models that clarify the mechanisms through …

Testing Ssa4::Ade3 Reporters For Mcs Screening, Chloe Ledford, Rebecca Adams Phd

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Gene expression is essential to life and occurs through the processes of transcription of mRNA in the nucleus, export of transcripts to the cytoplasm through the nuclear pore complex (NPC), and translation of the mRNA into protein in the cytosol. The budding yeast S. cerevisiae is a eukaryotic model system used to explore the regulation of mRNA export. Transcripts are able to exit the nucleus through interaction with Mex67 which binds mRNA via adaptor proteins and allows crossing through NPCs. However, during heat shock (42°C) known adaptor proteins are rendered dysfunctional thus halting general mRNA export. Under these conditions, specific …

Explore The Regulatory Roles Of Micrornas In Sperm Formation And Function Of C. Elegans, Lu Lu

Dissertations (1934 -)

Gene regulation mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs) at the post-transcriptional level is important for producing functional sperm in diverse species including C. elegans. However, the specific regulatory roles of miRNAs in this process are largely unknown. The central goal of my dissertation is to address this question. I proposed to study the function of miRNAs enriched in male gonads, which are approximately 95% germ cells and 5% somatic cells. I isolated adult gonads of males and hermaphrodites for small RNA sequencing and the analysis revealed a differential miRNA expression profile between hermaphrodite and male gonads. 29 male gonad-enriched miRNAs have the …

Meta-Analysis Reveals Challenges And Gaps For Genome-To-Phenome Research Underpinning Plant Drought Response, Anthony E. Melton, Stephanie J. Galla, Carlos Dave C. Dumaguit, John M.A. Wojahn, Stephen Novak, Marcelo Serpe, Peggy Martinez, Sven Buerki

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Severe drought conditions and extreme weather events are increasing worldwide with climate change, threatening the persistence of native plant communities and ecosystems. Many studies have investigated the genomic basis of plant responses to drought. However, the extent of this research throughout the plant kingdom is unclear, particularly among species critical for the sustainability of natural ecosystems. This study aimed to broaden our understanding of genome-to-phenome (G2P) connections in drought-stressed plants and identify focal taxa for future research. Bioinformatics pipelines were developed to mine and link information from databases and abstracts from 7730 publications. This approach identified 1634 genes involved in …

Filamentous Green Algae (Cladophora Glomerata) In Near Shore Lake Ontario: An Investigation Of Tissue And Water Nutrient Dynamics Through A Period Of Growth And Decomposition., James L. Wagner Jr

Biology Theses

Cladophora glomerata, a filamentous green alga abundant in the Laurentian Great Lakes, has long been considered a nuisance throughout the region. Previous phosphorus (P) abatement practices and legislation successfully reduced the abundance of the algae, but with the introduction of dreissenid mussels, a resurgence has been observed. Though there is substantial literature and modeling of the growth cycle of Cladophora, relatively little research has been dedicated to the decomposition stage of the algae, a period which may contribute to a substantial influx of nutrients to near-shore environmental regions. By first examining a period of in-situ growth within Lake …

Ontogeny Of The Paraphalanges And Derived Phalanges Of Hemidactylus Turcicus (Squamata: Gekkonidae), Aaron H. Griffing, Tony Gamble, Aaron M. Bauer, Anthony P. Russell

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Gekkotan lizards of the genus Hemidactylus exhibit derived digital morphologies. These include heavily reduced antepenultimate phalanges of digits III and IV of the manus and digits III–V of the pes, as well as enigmatic cartilaginous structures called paraphalanges. Despite this well-known morphological derivation, no studies have investigated the development of these structures. We aimed to determine if heterochrony underlies the derived antepenultimate phalanges of Hemidactylus. Furthermore, we aimed to determine if convergently evolved paraphalanges exhibit similar or divergent developmental patterns. Herein we describe embryonic skeletal development in the hands and feet of four gekkonid species, exhibiting a range of …

Genome-Wide Identification Of The A20/An1 Zinc Finger Proteon Family Genes In Ipomoea Batatas And Its Two Relatives And Function Analysis Of Ibsap16 In Salinity Tolerance, Hao Xie, Qiangqiang Yang, Xiaoxiao Wang, Michael Schläppi, Hui Yan, Meng Kou, Wei Tang, Xin Wang, Yungang Zhang, Qiang Li, Shaojun Dai, Yaju Liu

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Stress-associated protein (SAP) genes—encoding A20/AN1 zinc-finger domain-containing proteins—play pivotal roles in regulating stress responses, growth, and development in plants. They are considered suitable candidates to improve abiotic stress tolerance in plants. However, the SAP gene family in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and its relatives is yet to be investigated. In this study, 20 SAPs in sweet potato, and 23 and 26 SAPs in its wild diploid relatives Ipomoea triloba and Ipomoea trifida were identified. The chromosome locations, gene structures, protein physiological properties, conserved domains, and phylogenetic relationships of these SAPs were analyzed systematically. Binding motif analysis of IbSAPs indicated that …

Thank You For Biting: Dispersal Of Beneficial Microbiota Through 'Antagonistic' Interactions, C.G.B. Grupstra, Nathan P. Lemoine, Chelsea N. Cook, Adrienne M.S. Correa

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Multicellular organisms harbor populations of microbial symbionts; some of these symbionts can be dispersed through the feeding activities of consumers. Studies of consumer-mediated microbiota dispersal generally focus on pathogenic microorganisms; the dispersal of beneficial microorganisms has received less attention, especially in the context of 'antagonistic' trophic interactions (e.g., herbivory, parasitism, predation). Yet, this 'trophic transmission' of beneficial symbionts has significant implications for microbiota assembly and resource species (e.g., prey) health. For example, trophic transmission of microorganisms could assist with environmental acclimatization and help resource species to suppress other consumers or competitors. Here, we highlight model systems and approaches that have …

[Tilapia (Oreochromis)] Neurocranium, Kaylee J. Czachorowski, Mackenzie S. Magyar, Haley Minne, David William Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

Neurocranium [Oreochromis] by Kaylee Czachorowski, Haley Minne, Mackenzie Magyar

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

Senior Theses

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

Leaf Phenology And Freeze Tolerance Of The Invasive Tree Pyrus Calleryana (Roseaceae) And Potential Native Competitors, Margaret E. Maloney, Abby Hay, Eric B. Borth, Ryan W. Mcewan

Biology Faculty Publications

Pyrus calleryana is one of the most problematic invasive species in the eastern United States. The mechanisms that enable Py. calleryana to establish and outcompete native plants are not fully understood but likely include a profile of advantageous traits. Extended leaf phenology is a characteristic noted in many woody invasive plants. Leaf phenology of Py. calleryana and two native woody species, Populus deltoides and Platanus occidentalis, was observed in natural areas near Dayton, OH from December 2019 to November 2020. A frost event in May also gave us the serendipitous opportunity to assess frost tolerance of these species. We …

Wetlands In Our Backyard: A Review Of Wetland Types In Virginia State Parks, Kirsten Bauer, Benjamin K. Campbell

Virginia Journal of Science

Wetlands constitute a significant component of Virginia’s natural resources and heritage. Though historically they have been discounted—and often denigrated—the exceptional value of wetlands is currently growing in recognition and appreciation. In addition to the value provided by extracted resources and ecological regulation, wetlands also offer people the opportunity to enrich themselves through cultural, educational, and recreational pursuits. The state parks of Virginia provide access to a variety of ecosystems, including a wide array of wetland types. In this review, we document the diversity of wetlands in Virginia State Parks through a typology that groups wetland systems into the three principal …

Teratogenic Effects Of Cannabinoid And Serotonin Receptor Disruption On Neural Crest Development, Brian K. Wells

Biology Theses

Neurotransmitters are well-studied in adults and have often been the focus of many treatments for both physical and psychological ailments. This thesis explores the teratogenicity of altering the activity at the serotonin 2B and 2C receptors (5-HT2B; 5-HT2C) and the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) in the serotonergic and endocannabinoid systems, respectively. This investigation is focused on neural crest derivative structures. Chapter 1 reviews the background information behind cardiac and cranial neural crest cells and overviews the serotonergic and endocannabinoid systems. In Chapter 2, using a pharmacological agent, 1-methylpsilocin (1-MP), we disrupt the activity of 5-HT2B and 5-HT2C in the early …

Investigations Into The Negative Impact Of Temperature Stress On Fertility In Wild Strains Of Caenorhabditis Elegans, Nicholas B. Sepulveda

Dissertations (1934 -)

Sexual reproduction and its coincident genetic recombination are powerful adaptive strategies. However, sexual reproduction has disadvantages. One ancient and conserved disadvantage is temperature sensitivity. In organisms diverse as plants, insects, nematode worms, and humans, as temperatures increase, fertility decreases. The goal of this dissertation is to examine the negative impact of elevated temperature stress on fertility in sexually reproducing organisms using wild strains of Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans presents a unique opportunity to study these effects broadly in two contexts, as worms may be either self-fertile hermaphrodites that produce both egg and sperm or males which produce only sperm. In …

Redox-Mediated Inactivation Of The Transcriptional Repressor Rcrr Is Responsible For Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli’S Increased Resistance To Reactive Chlorine Species, Sadia Sultana, Mary E. Crompton, Kennadi Meurer, Olivia Jankiewicz, Grace H. Morales, Colton Johnson, Elise Horbach, Kevin Pierre Hoffmann, Pooja Kr, Ritika Shah, Greg M. Anderson, Jonathan E. Schmitz, Maria Hadjifrangiskou, Alessandro Foti, Jan-Ulrik Dahl

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

The ability to overcome stressful environments is critical for pathogen survival in the host. One challenge for bacteria is the exposure to reactive chlorine species (RCS), which are generated by innate immune cells as a critical part of the oxidative burst. Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the most potent antimicrobial RCS and is associated with extensive macromolecular damage in the phagocytized pathogen. However, bacteria have evolved defense strategies to alleviate the effects of HOCl-mediated damage. Among these are RCS-sensing transcriptional regulators that control the expression of HOCl-protective genes under non-stress and HOCl stress. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), the major causative agent …

Somatostatin Regulates Circadian Clock Function And Photic Processing, Deborah A. M. Joye

Dissertations (1934 -)

Daily and seasonal rhythms are programmed by neural circuits that use daily timing and duration of light to anticipate predictable environmental changes (i.e., day length, temperature, food, predation). Daily and annual changes in light modulate human health to produce both positive and negative effects, but neural mechanisms underlying light-driven changes in the brain remain poorly understood. In mammals, light is processed and encoded by the brain’s central clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN also encodes day length (i.e., photoperiod) to regulate annual fluctuations in mammalian physiology, but it’s not clear precisely how the SCN network achieves this. One signal …

The Ventral Hippocampus Dynamically Regulates Amygdala Encoding And Learned Fear, Matthew Richard Herbst

Dissertations (1934 -)

The nervous system has evolved a set of survival circuits optimized to respond to environmental threats. Adaptive threat responding requires learning to predict when and where a threat may occur based on available cues. Such learning depends on a distributed network of brain structures, but there is much we do not understand about how these brain areas interact to support fear memory. Addressing this gap is crucial for understanding anxiety- and fear-related disorders as dysfunction in fear learning networks is implicated in the development and persistence of pathological fear states. In my dissertation work, I used a rodent model of …

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

Genome-Wide Identification And Salt Stress Response Analysis Of The Bzip Transcription Factor Family In Sugar Beet, Yongyong Gong, Xin Liu, Sixue Chen, Hongli Li, Huizi Duanmu

Faculty and Student Publications

As one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, bZIP transcription factors play important regulatory roles in different biological processes, especially in the process of stress response. Salt stress inhibits the growth and yield of sugar beet. However, bZIP-related studies in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) have not been reported. This study aimed to identify the bZIP transcription factors in sugar beet and analyze their biological functions and response patterns to salt stress. Using bioinformatics, 48 BvbZIP genes were identified in the genome of sugar beet, encoding 77 proteins with large structural differences. Collinearity analysis showed that three pairs …

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

Functionality Of The Gracilis Collateral Is Impaired Following Arteriogenesis And Cell Transplantation, Ada A. Tadeo

Biomedical Engineering

Peripheral Arterial Disease involves narrowed arteries, reducing blood flow to limbs. Increasing blood flow to those extremities is possible by redirecting the blood to flow through natural bypasses (i.e. collateral arteries), which can enlarge via arteriogenesis to maintain blood supply once the prominent arteries have become occluded. This study aims to investigate how arteriogenesis affects collateral function, if myoblast transplantation can stimulate collateral growth, and how that in turn may affect collateral function. Femoral artery ligation was performed to mimic the blockage that occurs in patients with ischemic diseases on lean mice and mice with diet induced obesity (DIO). A …

Stable Coexistence Or Competitive Exclusion? Fern Endophytes Demonstrate Rapid Turnover Favoring A Dominant Fungus, Brett Steven Younginger, Nathan U. Stewart, Mehmet Ali Balkan, Daniel J. Ballhorn

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fungal endophytes are critical members of the plant microbiome, but their community dynamics throughout an entire growing season are underexplored. Additionally, most fungal endophyte research has centred on seed-reproducing hosts, while spore-reproducing plants also host endophytes and may be colonized by unique community members. In order to examine annual fungal endophyte community dynamics in a spore-reproducing host, we explored endophytes in a single population of ferns, Polystichum munitum, in the Pacific Northwest. Through metabarcoding, we characterized the community assembly and temporal turnover of foliar endophytes throughout a growing season. From these results, we selected endophytes with outsized representations in …

Sources And Distribution Of Microplastics In The United Arab Emirates, Rana Zeeshan Habib

Dissertations

Microplastics (plastic pieces size) are an emerging environmental contaminant that is ubiquitously present in terrestrial, aquatic and aerial environments. United Arab Emirates (UAE) is categorized among the highest domestic waste producing countries (on per capita basis) in the world. A large portion of waste ends up in the environment and contains macro-, meso- and microplastics. No comprehensive study has been carried out in the UAE to investigate the abundance, sources, distribution and impact of microplastics on its environment. Therefore, a comprehensive study to analyze the sources and distribution of microplastics in the UAE was urgently needed. The objective of the …

Evaluation Of Natural Antifungal Compounds From Artemisia Afra And Its Effectiveness On Prevention Of Aflatoxins, Noela G. Kilenga, Daniel Maeda, Oscar Kibazohi, Lilian D. Kaale

Tanzania Journal of Science

Artemisia afra is a medicinal plant with antimicrobial activities, known to treat tuberculosis, measles, cough, and influenza. In consequence, its applications have increasingly become pivotal to control various microbes which cause different diseases. This study therefore, evaluated the chemical composition and the antifungal activity of A. afra essential oil. The extraction of essential oil was done using steam distillation. The essential oil chemical composition was analysed by GC-MS. The analysis revealed 19 compounds from A. afra. The main compounds were borneol (71.529%), terpinen-4-ol (8.582%), β-thujone (3.283%), β-terpineol (2.590%), α-terpineol (1.791%), chrysanthenone (1.507%), myrtenal (1.393%), eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) (1.263%), cis-sabinene hydrate (1.172%) …

Population Characteristics Of Selected Small Pelagic Fish Species Along The Tanzanian Coast, Godfrey Fabiani, Leonard J. Chauka, Christopher A. Muhando

Tanzania Journal of Science

Although small pelagic fishing in Tanzania is rising, lack of information on population structure has been a significant concern in its management. This study aimed to determine the species composition, length-weight relationship and length at first maturity of Amblygaster sirm, Encrasicholina heteroloba, Encrasicholina punctifer, Stolephorus commersonii, and Spratelloides gracilis landed at Kilwa Kivinje, Kipumbwi and Shangani along the Tanzanian coast. These landing sites were chosen because of their locations and importance in the small pelagic fishery. Sampling was done monthly from October 2018 to June 2020. The catch composition was site specific such that  E. heteroloba dominated at Kilwa Kivinje …

Characterisation And Antimicrobial Potential Of Actinobacteria Isolated From Momela Soda Lakes, Tanzania, Witness S. Lema, Ally Mahadhy, Modester Damas, Joan J.E. Munissi, Thomas J. Lyimo

Tanzania Journal of Science

Extreme environments such as soda lakes are potential sources of microbes with biotechnological applications in different sectors. This study aimed at isolation, characterization and investigation of antibacterial potential of actinobacteria from Momela Soda Lakes, at Arusha National Park in Tanzania. One hundred and twenty (120) isolates were recovered from soil and water samples using the dilution plate technique. The isolates were morphologically and biochemically characterized, and further, screened for antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method as well as the micro dilution technique. Cytotoxic effects were determined using the brine shrimp lethality test. Results showed that, all 120 isolates were Gram-positive …