Biology Commons^™

Ophidiomyces Ophidiicola And Texas Snakes: A Field To Bench Study Of Ophidiomycosis, Kenlynn L. Volz

Biology Theses

Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (Oo), the primary cause of Ophidiomycosis, is a fungal pathogen recently detected in Texas snakes. Prior to this study, there were major knowledge gaps regarding Oo growth, spread, and suitable environmental conditions. This study filled those gaps using a field to bench approach involving sampling snakes across Texas, in vitro fungal growth, and ecological niche modeling. 103 snakes were sampled across Texas in 2023 and 2024 and six cases of Oo infection were detected. Results of the growth experiment suggest that Oo prefers more stable temperatures and high humidity to a point and that there is a …

Monitoring The Seasonal Presence Of The Blue Shiner, Cyprinella Caerulea, In Little River Canyon National Preserve Using Environmental Dna, Deanna Meadows

Theses

The study of environmental DNA (eDNA) has provided researchers with a more accessible and sensitive way to identify the presence of specific species compared to traditional monitoring methods. eDNA enables species detection by analyzing environmental samples such as water or soil, which contain genetic material shed by organisms in a given area. Research indicates that eDNA techniques have become a valuable method for monitoring threatened and invasive species, proving particularly reliable for detecting aquatic species compared to traditional techniques. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) has been used in numerous eDNA studies, as it provides for greater accuracy than conventional PCR. Cyprinella …

Oxidative Stress Responses In Arabidopsis Thaliana Plants To Uv-B Irradiation, Bolaji Olalere

Theses

The depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer has led to increased levels of harmful UV-B radiation reaching the Earth's surface, posing significant challenges for plant health and development. This study investigates the oxidative stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana when exposed to UV-B irradiation. Arabidopsis thaliana, a well-established model organism, is particularly sensitive to UV-B, making it ideal for understanding the effects of UV-B-induced oxidative stress. UV-B radiation, a mutagenic component of sunlight, disrupts key metabolic, molecular, and developmental processes, leading to DNA damage, impaired metabolism, and morphological changes. This research aims to explore how UV-B exposure affects the activities of …

Field-Based Courses Still Matter, But Not Like They Used To, Christopher T. Martine

Faculty Journal Articles

Increasingly, field-based courses are providing the first real opportunities for students to experience nature in meaningful ways. As a baseline, even before the content delivery and the graded assessments, this is already enough to change the way a person feels in the world and to spark an appreciation for the life around them.

(Part of a special feature on education in which recent winners of the Botanical Society of America's Charles E. Bessey Award share teaching philosophies and strategies.)

Metabolic Crossroads: Gaba Synthesis In Trichomonas Vaginalis Infection, Yesha Dhruv

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This study examines the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis pathway in Trichomonas vaginalis infection of human HCT-8 cells, focusing on key enzymatic processes in glutamate conversion to GABA and metabolic adaptations. The hypothesis tested was that T. vaginalis modulates GABA metabolism to enhance host cell invasion and adaptation. Infection time-point studies, RNA sequencing, and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) assays were conducted. Comparisons between T. vaginalis strains Casu 2 and Casu 2/MOZ 2 revealed distinct infection dynamics. Casu 2 rapidly attached and replicated within an hour, peaking at 24 hours, while Casu 2/MOZ 2 exhibited delayed replication, peaking at 48 to 72 hours, …

Bacteriostatic Effects Of Hydroxyl Radical-Generating Device On Klebsiella And Pseudomonas, Caroline Le '26, Philips Akinwole, Nipun Chopra

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) serve as one of the most pressing problems in the medical field. On any given day, one in 31 hospital patients has at least one HAIs and even though the average duration of inpatient admissions has decreased, the frequency of HAIs has increased. The most popular treatment for HAIs is antimicrobial medications such as antibiotics, however, bacteria have been documented to develop resistance to several antibiotics. Hydroxyl radical is being explored as an alternative preventative treatment to HAIs as it has microbicidal effects on planktonic bacteria and fungi over short treatment time, but few studies have looked …

Designing An Attachment Assay For Keratinocytes Stimulated By Fibroblast Conditioned Media, Linh "Kas" Do '26, Colleen L. Doçi

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Cell attachment involves the interaction between an individual cell with its neighbors and the extracellular matrix. These interactions are often regulated by the signaling molecules, including a variety of proteins, cytokines and growth factors. It is found in several studies that keratinocytes in the epidermis communicate with dermal fibroblasts in a bilateral paracrine model, in which they were simultaneously stimulated by the byproduct of the others. We developed this protocol with a simple, low-cost, and effective model to examine keratinocyte attachment that could be applied to examine the effects of fibroblasts on cell adhesion. For this method, we collected the …

A Quantitative Survey Of Goldenrods And Their Galls In Greencastle, Indiana., Chiamaka Ndubuokwu '27, Danielle Sommerman '25, Rose Keith

Annual Student Research Poster Session

During the spring to summer months, galls—an abnormal growth of plant tissue—are commonly found on goldenrod plants. Some of the most common galls that plague goldenrods are the rosette, ball, and elongated galls caused by different flies and midges. This study set out to quantitatively survey goldenrod galls of those three types in Greencastle, Indiana and their potential fitness effects. The literature currently available focuses heavily on the relationships between ball galls and goldenrods, while the other gall types are understudied. This finding was especially surprising considering that the results of our data analysis suggests that the rosette galls were …

Avoidance Behavior Of Oppia Nitens (Oribatid Mites) To Herbicide: Glyphosate Compared To Microplastics In Standard Artificial Soil., Thi Doan '27, Philips Akinwole

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Despite growing public interest in environmental issues, awareness of contaminants affecting soil organisms remains broadly lacking, despite decades of research. This study investigated the impacts of a common herbicide; glyphosate, (Roundup), on the avoidance behavior of Oppia nitens - a soil mite species used as an indicator of soil health, and soil moisture content. The study involved exposing O.nitens to standard artificial soil treated with glyphosate concentrations ranging from 47.8 to 501.6 mg/kg. Avoidance behavior was assessed by observing mite distribution between treated and untreated soil over a 48-hour period. Results demonstrated clear avoidance behavior at higher glyphosate concentrations (501.6 …

A Retrospective Analysis Of Sheep Generated By Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, Ying Liu, Rusty Stott, Misha Regouski, Zhiqiang Fan, Iuri Viotti Perisse, Tayler Patrick, Jacob Keim, Qinggang Meng, Irina A. Polejaeva

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is one of the primary methods for production of genetically engineered sheep, which allows for gene editing or transgene introduction in somatic cells. The use of SCNT eliminates the risk of genetic mosaicism in embryos and animals that is commonly observed after zygote micromanipulations. This retrospective analysis of SCNT in sheep performed at Utah State University, spanning from 2016 to 2021, examined parameters that may impact pregnancy and full-term development, including donor oocytes (donor age), donor cell lines, SCNT parameters (time of oocyte activation following SCNT, number of transferred embryos, in vitro maturation and culture …

Metabolic Adaptation Of Soil Microbial Communities To Metal Contamination: Assessment Of Cadmium Stress, Nina Shaffer '25, Emma Jacobs '25, Philips Akinwole

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Anthropogenic contamination of soil with heavy metals such as Cadmium (Cd2+) alters the metabolic activities and structure of soil microbial communities and has profound impacts on the soil ecosystem. In this study, we examined the effects of Cd2+ exposure on soil microbial communities by amending soil solutions with different concentrations of Cadmium nitrate tetrahydrate Cd(NO3)2 ● 4H2O (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.5 mM). 150 µL of the Cd2+ amended and control soil solutions were added to BIOLOG 96-well ecoplates and incubated (26 ±1oC) over a 7-day period for metabolic analysis of 31 selected carbon substrates. Average well-color development (AWCD) …

Phenotypic Variations In T. Repens (White Clover) Leaf Pigmentation, Danielle Sommerman '25, Chiamaka Nbubuokwu '27, Rose Keith

Annual Student Research Poster Session

There is a known variation in patterning amongst the leaves of variegated plants. The reasons as to why this polymorphism occurs has long been debated by botanists and biologists, but some hypotheses include thermoregulation, ultraviolet protection, and pollinator attraction among others (Kuo et al., 2024). We hypothesized that physical location may play a role in the leaf variegation of Trifolium repens (white clover). Starting mid July of 2024, we collected sample leaflets from multiple local populations from three distinct sites in Greencastle, IN. After collecting, we looked at the frequency of chevron presence as well as the size of the …

Comparison Of S100Β Expression In Sk-Mel-25 And A-375, Nev Hommel '26, Ayusha Pokharel '27, Nipun Chopra

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects more than 2 million Americans each year. S100β protein acts as a biomarker for TBI– studies have shown that micromolar levels of S100β are dangerous to neuronal health. Our plan for the summer was to experiment with whether miRNA-4705 could inhibit the production of S100β or not. To get started on the transfection, we had two hurdles to overcome. One of them was to find an efficient s100B primary antibody and the second was to ensure our s100B siRNA worked. By analyzing various research papers and their western blot, we identified and selected two s100B …

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Major Proteins And Pathways That Mediate The Effect Of 17-Β-Estradiol In Cell Division And Apoptosis In Breast Cancer Mcf7 Cells, Zhenqi Zhou, Brihget Sicairos, Jianhong Zhou, Yuchun Du

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite extensive research, the genes/proteins and pathways responsible for the physiological effects of estrogen remain elusive. In this study, we determined the effect of estrogen on global protein expression in breast cancer MCF7 cells using a proteomic method. The expression of 77 cytosolic, 74 nuclear, and 81 membrane/organelle proteins was significantly altered by 17-β-estradiol (E2). Protein enrichment analyses suggest that E2 may stimulate cell division primarily by promoting the G1 to S phase transition and advancing the G2/M checkpoint. The effect of E2 on cell survival was complex, as it could simultaneously enhance and inhibit apoptosis. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that …

Analysis Of Mybl1,Vxn, And Ccne2 Gene Relationships In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Sahia M. Bryant

Theses (2016-Present)

Accounting for 15-20% of all breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is the most aggressive subtype, with the worst prognosis. In previous studies, the MYBL1 gene, which is associated with several events that are key to tumor progression, has been identified as a powerful transcriptional activator that is overexpressed in TNBC. In earlier research, our lab knocked down MYBL1 expression in a TNBC cell line and identified a subset of genes impacted by the knockdown process. MYBL1 gene is located on the chromosome 8q locus. In addition to MYBL1 we identified 2 genes, VXN and CCNE2, also located at the …

Analysis Of Isoforms Associaated With The Mybl2 Gene In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Taylor Allen-Boswell

Theses (2016-Present)

Nearly every gene exists as transcript variants and protein isoforms. Variations of a particular gene are generated by small nuclear ribonucleoproteins which in many cases remove introns, so that exons can be joined together in varying configurations. Transcript variants are formed, which are then translated into protein isoforms. The resulting transcript variants have substantial sequence similarities; and the isoforms have substantial sequence similarities. Studies show that isoforms generated because of these processes can have different start sites and/or sizes that can lead to generations of different proteins with different biological roles in a cell. The isoforms might have different functions …

Characterization Of Developmentally Downregulated Nfe2l3 In Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival And Axon Regeneration, Lucy Homer

Holster Scholar Projects

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are central nervous system projection neurons essential for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain. Damage to RGCs, caused by conditions such as glaucoma and traumatic optic neuropathy (TON), may lead to vision loss or blindness, as adult RGCs lack regenerative capacity. This study focuses on Nfe2l3 (Nrf3), a developmentally downregulated transcription factor known to mediate cellular responses to oxidative stress, a key pathological event following optic nerve injury. We hypothesized that overexpressing Nfe2l3 in RGCs would enhance their survival and promote axon regeneration after optic nerve crush (ONC) injury. To test this, we …

(Si13-09) Numerical Methods For Solving Nonlinear Fisher Equation Using Backward Differentiation Formula, Vikash Vimal, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Liju Pannikkal

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper examines the numerical solution of the nonlinear Fisher equation that is used to find the growth of tumour cells in the brain. By employing new methods that transform nonlinear partial differential equations (PDE) into nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODE) through spatial discretization. The stability of the resulting nonlinear system is evaluated using Lyapunov’s criteria. Implicit stiff solvers, including various orders of backward differentiation formulas, are used to address the ODE system. The efficiency of these numerical methods is demonstrated through two examples, and a comparison with existing methods from the literature is conducted. Compared to traditional methods, the …

Exploring The Influence Of Molecular Chaperones On The Aggregation Of Transthyretin, Adam S. Knier

Dissertations (1934 -)

Molecular chaperones assist in maintaining protein homeostasis by limiting protein aggregation, including populations of protein aggregates that may be associated with the onset of debilitating and/or often fatal diseases. Chaperones are known to limit protein aggregate populations through disaggregase activity, in which chaperone complexes work together to disassemble multi-subunit aggregate species into smaller populations, or holdase activity, in which chaperones bind to proteins or smaller aggregates to prevent further aggregation. In this dissertation we assess if molecular chaperones can limit the aggregation of human transthyretin (TTR) expressed within a yeast system and explore the relationship between chaperone concentration and activity. …

A Dendrochronological Analysis Of Longleaf And Associated Pines From The Blackwater Ecological Preserve In Southeastern Virginia, Sarah Durham

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The field of dendrochronology utilizes annual tree ring growth data to create chronologies, which function as proxies to measure the effect of climate on radial growth. In the southeastern United States, dendrochronological studies involving the effect of climate on the growth of Pinus species exist, but significant gaps persist. For this study, I: 1) created chronologies of earlywood, latewood, and total ring-width growth for longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), loblolly pine (P. taeda L.), and pond pine (P. serotina Michx.) and 2) conducted a climate analysis on each species to determine how climatic factors affected radial …

Impacts Of Ing4-Deficiency On Hematopoietic Stem And Progenitor Cells & Characterizing The Concerns Of Novice Stem Graduate Teaching Assistant, Georgina Alice Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The hematopoietic compartment is tasked with the establishment and maintenance of the entire blood program in steady-state and in response to stress. Key to this process are hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which possess the unique ability to self-renew and differentiate to replenish blood cells throughout an organism’s lifetime. Recent work has illustrated the vast mechanisms involved in regulating stress-induced hematopoiesis, including cytokine-mediated lineage bias, gene signature changes in aged HSCs associated with chronic inflammation, the impact of clonal hematopoiesis and stress tolerance. Inhibitor of Growth 4 (Ing4) has been identified as a critical regulator of HSC homeostasis. We show that …

Plankton Dynamics In A Temperate Estuary:Size Structure And Trophic Implications, Nayan Mallick

Theses and Dissertations

Estuarine ecosystems provide goods and services to around 45% of the entire human population. In recent times, these ecosystems have been severely affected by multiple stressors such as pollution, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, sea level rise, and, most importantly, climate change. Increasing temperature associated with climate change can have pervasive impacts throughout the ecosystem’s functions and processes. Plankton, a conspicuous member of estuarine food web, are among the first to respond to the changes in temperature due to their high sensitivity to changing environmental conditions.

In this dissertation, I investigated the plankton dynamics in an estuarine ecosystem through a combination …

The Middle Domain Of Hsp104 Can Ensure Substrates Are Functional After Processing, Hannah Buchholz, Jane E. Dorweiler, Sam Guereca, Brett T. Wisniewski, James Shorter, Anita L. Manogaran

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Molecular chaperones play a central role in protein disaggregation. However, the molecular determinants that regulate this process are poorly understood. Hsp104 is an AAA+ ATPase that disassembles stress granules and amyloids in yeast through collaboration with Hsp70 and Hsp40. In vitro studies show that Hsp104 processes different types of protein aggregates by partially translocating or threading polypeptides through the central pore of the hexamer. However, it is unclear how Hsp104 processing influences client protein function in vivo. The middle domain (MD) of Hsp104 regulates ATPase activity and interactions with Hsp70. Here, we tested how MD variants, Hsp104^A503S and …

Morphology And Molecular Systematics Support A New Species Of Pseudogonatodes (Squamata: Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae) From Venezuela With A Remarkable Telescoped Skull, Walter E. Schargel, Christian Hernández-Morales, Juan D. Daza, Micheal J. Jowers, Andres Camilo Montes-Correa, Mayke De Freitas, Kathryn A. Sullivan, Tony Gamble, Aaron M. Bauer, Gilson A. Rivas

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

We describe a new species of miniaturized gecko (genus Pseudogonatodes) from the Peninsula de Paria in northeastern Venezuela. Externally, the new species resembles Pseudogonatodes furvus and Pseudogonatodes manessi, from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia and the Central Coastal Range in Venezuela, respectively; however, it differs from these species in terms of molecular genetic data (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, and c-mos), osteological characters, and scale counts. The new species is unique in skull osteology, and we adopt the term ‘telescoped’ from the literature to describe the overlap of bones in the snout, in particular the …

The Cretaceous Diatom Database: A Tool For Investigating Early Diatom Evolution, Karolina Brylka, Matt P. Ashworth, Andrew J. Alverson, David J. Conley

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The Cretaceous period is the time of the first appearance of the diatoms in the fossil record. These fossils give us direct evidence of the age and early evolution of the diatom lineage. The fossil record, however, is incomplete and therefore often extrapolated through time-calibrated phylogenies. These two approaches offer different perspectives on the early evolution of diatoms, which is still poorly understood. We compiled the first comprehensive Cretaceous Diatom Database, a tool to investigate the taxonomy, diversity, and occurrence of the earliest known diatom lineages. To further aid the integration and use of the oldest diatom fossils in molecular …

Replacing Traditional Labs With Virtual Labs For First-Year Biology Nonmajors, Tyjuanna R. Strickland Labennett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was the absence of a critical examination of laboratory exercises used with first-year nonbiology majors and the deployment of virtual laboratories in the biology department at the project site university without critical analyses associated with the efficacy of virtual labs. Grounded in Mayer’s cognitive theory of multimedia learning, this quantitative, correlational study was conducted to investigate the comparative effectiveness of virtual versus traditional face-to-face (F2F) laboratories for first-year nonbiology majors as measured by final course grade. A cohort of 184 students in an introductory biology course for non-majors formed the dataset, procured from the …

Radiopaque Femnn-Mo Composite Drawn Filled Tubing Wires For Braided Absorbable Neurovascular Devices, Adam J. Griebel, Petra Maier, Henry D. Summers, Benjamin Clausius, Isabella Kanasty, Weilue He, Nicholas Peterson, Carolyn Czerniak, Alexander A. Oliver, David F. Kallmes, Ramanathan Kadirvel, Jeremy E. Schaffer, Roger J. Guillory

Michigan Tech Publications

Flow diverter devices are small stents used to divert blood flow away from aneurysms in the brain, stagnating flow and inducing intra-aneurysmal thrombosis which in time will prevent aneurysm rupture. Current devices are formed from thin (∼25 μm) wires which will remain in place long after the aneurysm has been mitigated. As their continued presence could lead to secondary complications, an absorbable flow diverter which dissolves into the body after aneurysm occlusion is desirable. The absorbable metals investigated to date struggle to achieve the necessary combination of strength, elasticity, corrosion rate, fragmentation resistance, radiopacity, and biocompatibility. This work proposes and …

Cardiomyocyte Adaptation To Exercise: K+ Channels, Contractility And Ischemic Injury, Robert H. Fitts, Xinrui Wang, Wai-Meng Kwok, Amadou K.S. Camara

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and exercise-training (TRN) is known to reduce risk factors and protect the heart from ischemia and reperfusion injury. Though the cardioprotective effects of exercise are well-documented, underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This review highlights recent findings and focuses on cardiac factors with emphasis on K⁺ channel control of the action potential duration (APD), β-adrenergic and adenosine regulation of cardiomyocyte function, and mitochondrial Ca²⁺ regulation. TRN-induced prolongation and shortening of the APD at low and high activation rates, respectively, is discussed in the context of a reduced response …

Navigating Ethical Challenges In Online Wildlife Trade Research, Thais Q. Morcatty, Shan Su, Penthai Siriwat, Astrid Alex Andersson, Sadek Atoussi, Kim Feddema, Sergio Henriques, Jordi Janssen, Anushri Karve, Jennifer Pytka, Ruth M. Thompson, Vincent Nijman, Joss Wright, David L. Roberts

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The surge in internet accessibility has transformed wildlife trade by facilitating the acquisition of wildlife through online platforms. This scenario presents unique ethical challenges for researchers, as traditional ethical frameworks for in-person research cannot be readily applied to the online realm. Currently, there is a lack of clearly defined guidelines for appropriate ethical procedures when conducting online wildlife trade (OWT) research. In response to this, we consulted the scientific literature on ethical considerations in online research and examined existing guidelines established by professional societies and ethical boards. Based on these documents, we present a set of recommendations that can inform …

Comparative Analysis In The Effectiveness Of Real Vs. Virtual Labs In Enhancing Students’ Conceptual Understanding Of Archimedes’ Principle, Judeanto Edy, Sutopo Sutopo, Edi Supriana

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of virtual laboratories compared to real laboratories in improving students’ conceptual understanding of Archimedes’ principle. A quantitative approach was employed using a pretest-posttest design. The measurement instrument used in this study was a concept mastery test, consisting of 15 multiple-choice questions. Data were analyzed using an independent sample T-test. The research involved students from two XI IPA classes, each consisting of 33 students. The findings indicated that both virtual and real laboratories in the learning process could enhance students’ conceptual understanding. The study concluded that there was no significant difference between the virtual …