Biology Commons^™

Identification Of Mimas, A Multifunctional Mega-Assembly Integrating Metabolic And Respiratory Biogenesis Factors Of Mitochondria, Rosemary A. Stuart

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The mitochondrial inner membrane plays central roles in bioenergetics and metabolism and contains several established membrane protein complexes. Here, we report the identification of a mega-complex of the inner membrane, termed mitochondrial multifunctional assembly (MIMAS). Its large size of 3 MDa explains why MIMAS has escaped detection in the analysis of mitochondria so far. MIMAS combines proteins of diverse functions from respiratory chain assembly to metabolite transport, dehydrogenases, and lipid biosynthesis but not the large established supercomplexes of the respiratory chain, ATP synthase, or prohibitin scaffold. MIMAS integrity depends on the non-bilayer phospholipid phosphatidylethanolamine, in contrast to respiratory supercomplexes whose …

Developmental Patterns Underlying Variation In Form And Function Exhibited By House Gecko Toe Pads, Aaron H. Griffing, Tony Gamble, Ashmika Behere, Timothy E. Higham, Greta M. Keller, John Resener, Thomas J. Sanger

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Adhesive toe pads have evolved numerous times over lizard evolutionary history, most notably in geckos. Despite significant variation in adult toe pad morphology across independent origins of toe pads, early developmental patterns of toe pad morphogenesis are similar among distantly related species. In these distant phylogenetic comparisons, toe pad variation is achieved during the later stages of development. We aimed to understand how toe pad variation is generated among species sharing a single evolutionary origin of toe pads (house geckos—Hemidactylus). We investigated toe pad functional variation and developmental patterns in three species of Hemidactylus, ranging from highly …

Remediating Fibrosis To Restore Salivary Gland Function, Jennifer Morrissey

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Fibrosis is defined by the overgrowth, hardening, and scarring of various tissues and is attributed to excess deposition of extracellular matrix components including collagen. In the case of persistent injury or autoimmunity, as in Sjogren’s Disease, the ECM persists. Fibrosis can be studied in multiple animal models. Our lab has published the use of a mouse submandibular salivary gland partial resection model. In this procedure 40% of the left distal tip of the submandibular salivary gland (SMG) is excised. This leads to a chronic sustained fibrotic response in a localized region. The use of the non-obese diabetic mouse (NOD) has …

Facilitative And Competitive Interactions Among Dune Grass Species In Monoculture And Polyculture Communities, Anne M. Sciolino

Theses and Dissertations

Coastal dunes are natural barriers between land and sea and are imperative to the protection and preservation of inland ecosystems and human infrastructure. However, due to global warming, seal level rise, and coastal development, coastal dunes are under constant threat of destruction. Restoration efforts have been implemented to rebuild the protective function of dunes through the planting of dune building grasses. Dune grasses build and maintain these vital sand dunes. However, little is known about facilitative and competitive relationships among the grasses. In order to maximize restoration efforts, research is needed to better understand the biotic interactions among restorative grass …

Evaluation Of Alternative Methods For Dna Recovery Of Compromised Skeletal Remains, Ciara N. Rhodes

Theses and Dissertations

Skeletal remains frequently serve as the sole source of genetic material available for developing a profile in cases concerning unidentified human remains or mass casualties. Nevertheless, as unidentified skeletal remains age and are exposed to uncontrolled environmental conditions, the success rates of conventional methods of bone analysis diminish significantly. The physical and mechanical processing of skeletal remains into fine powder for DNA isolation and downstream analysis can substantially impact the quality and quantity of recoverable genetic information. This concern may be exacerbated when dealing with degraded forensic skeletal remains. Few studies have explored whether pulverization of bone samples contributes to …

Opossums And Pathogens: A Survey Of Vector-Borne And Zoonotic Pathogens From Didelphis Virginiana In The Midwest, Usa, Cassandra C. P. Strehl

Masters Theses

Didelphis virginiana are at elevated risk of exposure to many zoonotic and vector-borne pathogens (ZVBP) as a result of their unfastidious diets, large geographic ranges, and diverse habitat types. Didelphis virginiana are synanthropic animals, which is concerning considering the spillover risk of pathogens D. virginiana present as a result. 81 D. virginiana from Ohio and Illinois were screened for Rickettsia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, Trypanosoma cruzi, and apicomplexan pathogens. Live D. virginiana were trapped in wire cage traps to perform venipuncture for blood collection. Samples collected as roadkill or from animal control companies were dissected and spleen …

The Sewage Microbiome Dynamics Of Different Serving Neighborhoods In Charleston, Illinois, Sandra Chiamaka Okoye

Masters Theses

The complex microbial ecosystem within sewage systems holds significant implications for environmental and public health. Unlike studies on wastewater treatment plant microbiomes, upstream sewage systems have not been studied widely. This research investigated the dynamic sewage microbiome across diverse serving neighborhoods in Charleston, Illinois, encompassing residential, hospital, industrial, and university areas. Drawing upon recent advancements in microbiome research, the study aimed to unravel the spatial and temporal variations in microbial structures. Three times between June to December 2023 sewage samples were collected from manholes in the areas mentioned above. Community DNA was extracted and sequenced for the V4-V5 region of …

Sediment Carbon Storage In Subtidal Beds Of The Invasive Seagrass Halophila Stipulacea Along An Extreme Water Depth Gradient, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Demian A. Willette, Kelsey M. Vaughn, Allie Durdall, Marilyn Brandt, Sophia Costa, Kristin Wilson Grimes

Biology Faculty Works

Blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds are found globally and are fundamental to fisheries production, storm surge protection, and carbon sequestration. The contribution of seagrass ecosystems to global carbon stocks is still not well understood, including in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI). No study has been published to-date assessing the sediment carbon density (SCD) in seagrass beds in the USVI. This study focused on the carbon storage ability of the invasive species, Halophila stipulacea, which is compact in size compared to common native seagrasses and has spread rapidly to become a dominant seagrass in …

Inhaling The Unseen: Exploring The Presence Of Microplastics In The Human Respiratory Tract, Kara Coffman-Rea

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Microplastics (plastic pieces less than 5 mm) have emerged as a pervasive form of pollution acknowledged as a universal threat to both environmental and human health. Their small size and widespread distribution pose significant risks to marine life, terrestrial ecosystems, and ultimately human health. Microplastics have been reported in food and drink items designated for human consumption, in cosmetics and consumer goods designed for human use, and within the air we breathe, each providing an entry route for microplastics to enter the human body. Recently, microplastic particles have been detected in a variety of human tissue samples (e.g., lung tissue). …

Longevity,Feeding Behavior, And Egg Production Of Adult House Flies (Musca Domestica) Provided With Potential Farm Foods, Anna Elise Grimenstein

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

House flies (Musca domestica) are cosmopolitan pests to both humans and livestock, and they can vector many diseases. House flies are especially associated with livestock facilities, as adult flies lay eggs in rotting organic matter such as manure. While it is understood that the diet an adult fly receives can affect biological parameters such as longevity and egg production, not much research has been done to address foods that are accessible to house flies in their natural habitat. The present study examined the longevity, feeding behavior, and egg production rates of adult house flies given different foods they would have …

A Wasteside Story: Establishment And Evolution Of A Wastewater Surveillance Lab, Through The Pandemic And Beyond, Syed Shahrukh Hyder

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Wastewater based epidemiology is a fast growing and practical solution to monitor the spread of disease within a population. As the COVID-19 pandemic grounded the world to a standstill, methods to monitor its spread and prepare appropriate responses became vital to begin the return to normalcy. Such was the case in universities around the world where the campus and surrounding community were vital in fulfilling the educational mission in the face of a generational health crisis. The population in a midsize higher educational institute such as Northern Illinois University (NIU) is a broad mix of on-campus and off campus students, …

The Energetics Of Seasonality In Wild Diademed Sifaka (Propithecus Diadema): A Technical And Biological Validation Of Fecal Triiodothyronine Radioimmunassay, Casey Farmer

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The energetic state of an animal has vital consequences for its fitness, but it can be difficult to detect through behavioral observations. The development of techniques to determine an animals’ energetic state non-invasively would allow conservation planners to rapidly assess the energy balance and conservation potential of individuals, groups, and populations. Thyroid hormones like triiodothyronine (T3) regulate and reflect metabolic state in mammals. T3 is a non-invasive biomarker that can be detected in feces and could potentially be used for this purpose. I perform the first validation of a commercially available T3 radioimmunoassay designed for humans on a wild strepsirrhine …

Evaluation Of Conservation Strategies For Blanding’S Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii), Callie Klatt Golba

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Across the globe, biodiversity is threatened due to anthropogenic changes to the environment and large numbers of freshwater species, especially turtles, are facing population declines. Resources for conservation are limited, making empirically based conservation planning of utmost importance. Effective management strategies incorporate relevant biological information to outline specific and feasible actions that will mitigate the greatest threats to a species. Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) are a long-lived, semi-aquatic, freshwater species that are classified as endangered in Illinois and internationally. As with other species of concern, Blanding’s Turtles are threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. They are also threatened by …

Ascertaining A Biochemical Approach To Chlorophyll D Biosynthesis In Acaryochloris Spp., Rashmi Shivni

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Photosynthesis is one of the most abundant metabolic systems on Earth, and specifically, oxygenic photosynthesis primed the planet for complex, multicellular life. The hallmark of modern oxygenic photosynthesis is the photopigment chlorophyll a found in nearly all oxygenic phototrophs as their primary photopigment in their photosynthesis pathways. There are also many organisms that tap into a variety of chlorophylls to extend the energetic limits of photosynthesis, which are largely found as accessory pigments. One genus of cyanobacteria, Acaryochloris, has garnered attention for the ability to undergo photosynthesis by harnessing the far-red part of the visible light spectrum using chlorophyll d …

An Environmental Isolate Of Pseudomonas, 20ei1, Reduces Aspergillus Flavus Growth In An Iron-Dependent Manner Affecting The Expression Of Numerous Genes, Elizabeth Marion Wyman

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus that infects oilseed crops worldwide. When colonizing the plants, it produces mycotoxins, including carcinogenic compounds such as aflatoxins. Mycotoxin contamination results in an important economic and health impact. The design of new strategies to control A. flavus colonization and mycotoxin contamination is paramount. In this study, we identified a promising new isolate of Pseudomonas spp., 20EI1, and observed that it is able to reduce the growth of A. flavus AF70. Furthermore, we determined that this growth inhibition is iron-dependent. To further elucidate the nature of this bacterial-fungus interaction, we performed metabolomics and transcriptomics …

Bidirectional In-Situ Analysis And Visualization Of Fluid Structure Interactions With Applications In Blood Flow, Nazariy Tishchenko

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Interactive blood flow simulation has applications in the understanding of complex fluids,training medical professionals, diagnostics, and surgical procedure planning. Bidirectional in situ visualization and analysis are much needed to streamline the analysis of large-scale patient-specific blood flow simulations. The in situ component ensures the live visualization of the simulation results while the simulation is running, and the bidirectional component allows for real-time control and configuration of the simulation parameters (i.e., setting and retrieving the simulation parameters and data based on need). In this project, a highly accurate multiphysics simulation was instrumented to work with an existing bidirectional in situ framework. …

The Glutamine-Asparagine Interplay: Exploring The Role Of Asparagine Synthetase In Hepatocellular Cancer Cells, Babatunde George Olawuni

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a liver cancer that accounts for a significant proportion of cancer-related deaths globally; likewise, as the primary metabolic regulatory center in the body, the liver undergoes profound metabolic shifts in carcinogenesis, with net glucose and glutamine consumption. Much attention has been focused on the myriad roles of glutamine in supporting cellular growth over the past several decades, but more recently, the relationship between glutamine and the other amide-bearing amino acid, asparagine, has garnered attention. Asparagine is synthesized from glutamine, aspartic acid, and ATP via the enzyme Asparagine Synthetase (ASNS). Extracellular asparagine reliance has been targeted in …

Effects Of Isoacids Supplementation In Lactating Cows’ Diet Varying In Forage Fiber Level On Performances, Feed Efficiency, And Milk Fatty Acids Profile, Sumon Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Automatic Detection Of Birds In Images Acquired With Remotely Piloted Aircraft For Managing Wildlife Strikes To Civil Aircraft, Maurycio Rodrigues Oviedo, Flavio A. C. Mendonca Ph.D., Jose Cabrera, Cole A. Mcnall, Raymond Ayres, Ricardo Luís Barbosa, Rodrigo Gallis

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

Wildlife strikes represent a significant threat to aviation safety and economics, as evidenced by notable incidents such as the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledges this growing concern, as evidenced by its report on Wildlife Strikes to Civil Aircraft in the United States from 1990 to 2019.To address the need for improved risk management, airports conduct Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHA), a laborious process typically relying on visual identification by Qualified Airport Wildlife Biologists (QAWB). However, technological advancements, such as Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) and machine learning (ML), offer promising solutions to …

Lighting Pathways To Success In Stem: A Virtual Laboratory Meeting Programme (Lamp) Mutually Benefits Mentees And Host Laboratories, Katie E. Lotterhos, Moisés A. Bernal, Megan Phifer-Rixey, Torrie Hanley

Biology Faculty Publications

Developing robust professional networks can help shape the trajectories of early career scientists. Yet, historical inequities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields make access to these networks highly variable across academic programmes, and senior academics often have little time for mentoring. Here, we illustrate the success of a virtual Laboratory Meeting Programme (LaMP). In this programme, we matched students (mentees) with a more experienced scientist (mentors) from a research group. The mentees then attended the mentors’ laboratory meetings during the academic year with two laboratory meetings specifically dedicated to the mentee’s professional development. Survey results indicate that mentees …

Restricted Dispersal And Phenotypic Response To Water Depth In A Foundation Seagrass, Erik E. Sotka, Randall Hughes, Torrie Hanley, Cynthia G. Hays

Biology Faculty Publications

Species conservation and management benefit from precise understanding of natural patterns of dispersal and genetic variation. Using recent advances in indirect genetic methods applied to both adult plants and dispersed seeds, we find that the mean seed dispersal in a threatened marine foundation plant (the eelgrass Zostera marina) is approximately 100-200 m. This distance is surprisingly more similar to that of wind-dispersed terrestrial seeds (~10s to 100s of meters) than the passive dispersal of marine propagules via currents (~10s to 100s of kilometres). Because nearshore marine plants like Zostera are commonly distributed across strong selective gradients driven by bathymetry (depth) …

In Vitro Assessment Of The Anti-Biofilm Effectiveness Of Copper And Zinc Enhanced Borate Bioactive Glass Using Processed Microscopic Images, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

The escalating burden of nosocomial infections presents a formidable challenge to healthcare systems worldwide, leading to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and elevated healthcare costs. These infections are often resistant to conventional antibiotic therapies due to their association with biofilms which contribute to the persistence and resistance of pathogens. In addressing the challenge of biofilm-associated nosocomial infections, borate bioactive glasses (BBGs) have emerged as promising biomaterials. Doping these glasses with antimicrobial metals could potentially harness their antibacterial properties to prevent biofilm formation. This study undertakes a rigorous evaluation of the anti-biofilm efficacy of copper and zinc-doped BBGs by employing processed …

Comparing Ionoregulation And Modes Of Nitrogen Excretion Across The Life Cycle Of Parasitic And Non-Parasitic Lamprey Species, Shannon Davidson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Abstract

Ionoregulation and nitrogenous waste (N-waste) metabolism in fishes has been extensively documented in teleosts and elasmobranchs, but less so in lampreys (Petromizontiformes). All lamprey species undergo metamorphosis which drastically changes their physiology and modes of feeding. However, differences in ionoregulatory mechanisms due to anadromous versus non anadromous life history strategies emerge following metamorphosis in different lamprey species. Furthermore, some species, such as anadromous juvenile sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), are parasitic and migrate to seawater (SW) to ingest blood protein from host fishes, while juveniles of freshwater (FW), non-parasitic species, such as the American brook lamprey …

Impacts Of Environmental Stressors On Mummichog (Fundulus Heteroclitus) Growth And The Gh-Igf1 Pathway Using A Laboratory Bioassay, Olena Kuntyj

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Using a flow-through laboratory bioassay, experiments investigated the effects of limited feeding, increased temperature, ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE₂) on juvenile mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) growth. Weight measurements were taken every three days as the apical growth endpoint. Gene expression was examined by qPCR for genes in the GH (growth hormone)-IGF1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) pathway, including gh, igf1, and their receptors (ghra, ghrb, igf1ra, igf1rb). In Experiment 1, juvenile mummichog were exposed to excess or limited feed for 21 days. The limited-fed mummichog weighed less, were …

Assessing Stormwater Management Pond Water Quality, Function, And The Potential Biotic Effects To Receiving Waters, Mitchell Elstone

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The use of stormwater management ponds (SWMPs) has been increasing over the past five decades. However, an in-depth understanding of the daily performance of SWMPs and functionality during cold periods is limited. This is in part because mandated monitoring is relatively infrequent, and the assumption that SWMPs are inactive between storm events and during the winter. The goals of this research were to better understand daily stormwater (SW) characteristics, the performance of SWMPs based on current forms of evaluation and assess the potential for SWMP effluent to impact downstream biota. Influent and effluent samples from two SWMPs were collected daily …

Characterizing The Targeting Pathway Of Chloroplast Outer Membrane Protein Oep18 In Arabidopsis Thaliana And Other Targeting Signals Utilized By Outer Envelope Membrane Proteins, Ceaira Hiemstra

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Approximately 95% of chloroplast proteins are encoded by nuclear DNA and are post-translationally targeted to the chloroplast. Over half of the 138 known or predicted chloroplast outer membrane (OM) proteins are predicted to utilize four non-canonical targeting pathways. The first two pathways are characterized by containing a single α-helical transmembrane domain (TMD) within the first or last 50 amino acids (AAs), the third pathway is utilized by β-barrels, and the last requires an N-terminal cleavable transit peptide (TP). Recently, a fifth novel pathway called Toc159-like (TOC159L) has been characterized by the presence of a C-terminal reverse TP in Toc159. Subsequent …

Investigating The Role Of The Mammalian Dsrnai Pathway In Preventing Infection By Respiratory Syncytial Virus And Human Coronavirus, Iliana Portelli

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

dsRNA interference (dsRNAi) is an antiviral innate immune response that uses long dsRNA (>40bp) to inhibit gene expression through the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. dsRNAi is an important antiviral defense mechanism in plants, invertebrates, and fungi. However, its use as an antiviral mechanism in vertebrates is not well understood. Evidence proving the significance of dsRNAi in vertebrate cells does exist, but there is still a lack of research in this area, particularly with the use of long dsRNA. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are two single stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses that infect airway cells. This study …

Elucidating Mechanisms Of Enhanced Dsrna-Nanophytoglycogen Innate Immune Responses In Healthy Human Cells, Nicholas Jadaa

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Immunostimulatory nucleic acids, such as long double-stranded RNA (ds)RNA, can stimulate innate immune responses in a non-sequence specific manner. These molecules are recognized by pattern-recognition receptors in the cytoplasm, endosome, and on the cell surface. Activation leads to the production of mediators of innate immune pathways, including type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokines. Although these receptors are present in all cells, their role in non-immune cells is often overlooked due to their lower level of responsiveness. Nanocarriers can enhance these nucleic acid-mediated responses, allowing for exploration of innate immune pathways in non-immune cells. Nanoparticles as carriers of nucleic acids can …

Plasmid-Borne Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Within A Permanently Stratified Marine Water Column, Paraskevi Mara, David Geller-Mcgrath, Elizabeth A. Suter, Gordon T. Taylor, Maria G. Pachiadaki, Virginia P. Edgcomb

BCES: Faculty Publications

Plasmids are mobile genetic elements known to carry secondary metabolic genes that affect the fitness and survival of microbes in the environment. Well-studied cases of plasmidencoded secondary metabolic genes in marine habitats include toxin/antitoxin and antibiotic biosynthesis/resistance genes. Here, we examine metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from the permanently-stratified water column of the Cariaco Basin for integrated plasmids that encode biosynthetic gene clusters of secondary metabolites (smBGCs). We identify 16 plasmid-borne smBGCs in MAGs associated primarily with Planctomycetota and Pseudomonadota that encode terpenesynthesizing genes, and genes for production of ribosomal and non-ribosomal peptides. These identified genes encode for secondary metabolites that are …

A Molecular-Informed Species Inventory Of The Order Ceramiales (Rhodophyta) In The Narragansett Bay Area (Rhode Island And Massachusetts), Usa, Thomas Irvine, Brian Wysor, Alicia Beauvais

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Narragansett Bay is an estuarine system in the western North Atlantic Ocean that harbors a diverse marine flora, providing structure, habitat, and food for native biodiversity. This area has been the center of numerous environmental, biological, ecological, and oceanographic studies; however, marine macroalgae have not been extensively examined using modern molecular methods. Here, we document the biodiversity of the red algal order Ceramiales based on DNA sequence comparisons of the 3′ end of the RuBisCo large subunit (rbcL-3P) and the universal plastid amplicon (UPA). Thirty-seven distinct species of this order were identified and validated with molecular data, including five new …