Biology Commons^™

Elucidation Of Potential Antimicrobial Properties Of Chalcones, Caleb Howell

Theses

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a growing concern for the medical and biological community. Increased use of antibiotics has led to increased development of bacterial tolerances. This phenomenon, driven by the principles of evolution, has been exacerbated by the improper antibiotic use of these antibiotics. Often, individuals stop taking antibiotics once symptoms subside, mistakenly believing the infection is cured. This practice allows bacteria or fungi to develop resistance.

These antibiotics have been developed from secondary metabolites. While we have many effective antibiotics we are facing new threats. Chalcones are being looked at for their potential in addressing this issue. …

The Role Of Obesity In The Development Of Disordered Breathing, Sarah N. Framnes-Deboer

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Obesity is a complex disease that is defined by an excess amount of body fat. Obesity can have physical, neurological, and endocrine effects and detrimental effects on health. Some obese co-morbid conditions, such as type 2 diabetes have known mechanisms, while others, such as sleep disordered breathing do not. Moreover, there are common respiratory diseases associated with obesity, such as obstructive sleep apnea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome. Furthermore, individuals with obesity or obstructive sleep apnea have a blunted hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR) (120), which is indicative of impaired chemosensitivity, as HCVR is a measure of how well an individual responds …

Uncovering Over 150 Years Of Herbarium Specimen Data To Examine The Impacts Of Climate Change On Alpine Plant Phenology In The Southern Rocky Mountains, Erin Berkowitz

Museum Studies Theses

Due to generalized botanical collecting practices, herbarium specimens provide important long term data dating back hundreds of years. The historical data preserved in herbaria can be used to study biological responses to climate change, such as changes in plant phenology, across various habitats including understudied alpine ecosystems. This study will use historical data from over one hundred years of plant collecting, along with updated collecting and community science efforts, to investigate how climate change is influencing alpine plant phenology in the Southern Rocky Mountains. These records will be analyzed alongside historical climate data to explore phenological sensitivities to climate change, …

The Ecological Applications Of Δ17O: Validating A Novel Technique For Assessing Animal Metabolism And Water Intake, Zachary Taylor Steele

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Animals obtain water via different processes such as drinking, consuming food, and through metabolic processes like at the end of the electron transport chain when atmospheric oxygen is combined with hydrogen to form ‘cytochrome oxidase water’. Assessing animal water flux and metabolism has mainly been conducted via stable isotope analysis (SIA) of biological samples using hydrogen (²H) and oxygen isotopes (¹⁶O, ¹⁷O, and ¹⁸O; Δ¹⁷O), typically using enriched isotope tracers. However, natural abundance isotope modeling offers an approach for conducting SIA of biological samples that differs because it relies on the unique, …

Investigating The Antimicrobial Potential Of Bovine Lactoferrin Against The Neonatal Pathogen, Staphylococcus Capitis, Anna Desmond, Lesley Cotter, Des Field, Fiona O'Halloran

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Lactoferrin is an antimicrobial glycoprotein that demonstrates a broad-spectrum of activity against a wide variety of clinical pathogens. This study investigated the potential of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) against multidrug resistant Staphylococcus capitis (S. capitis) strains. Growth curve analysis and time-kill curves demonstrated that at 750 µg ml−1 lactoferrin significantly inhibited (50.6%, P < 0.05) the growth of most isolates tested (90%), and this effect was based on a bacteriostatic mechanism. At the same concentration, bLf also significantly inhibited (30%, P < 0.05) biofilm formation in 40% of strains tested. Combinations of bLf with selected antibiotics were assessed for enhanced antimicrobial activity using growth curves. BLf combined with β-lactam antibiotics reduced the growth of S. capitis strains, however, the effects were not significant. BLf displays antimicrobial effects against multidrug resistant S. capitis isolates, but with strain-specific effects.

Accessory Eyes And Dynamic Color Change In Palaemon Vulgaris, Nicholas Raymond Steichmann

Theses and Dissertations

Eyes are physiologically costly organs to produce and maintain, making the development of secondary eyes intriguing. Caridean shrimp possess reflecting superposition primary eyes, but some species across fourteen families possess an additional pair of eyes called accessory eyes along the dorso-posterior margin of the primary eyes. Secondary eyes are found in lizards, lampreys, and insects, where they often function as illumination detectors. Some shrimps may use accessory eyes to signal endocrine organs in their eyestalks to alter the pigmentation of their carapace providing better camouflage through disruptive coloration. To investigate the role of accessory eyes in dynamic color change we …

A Careful Examination Of The Parameters Impacting The Study Of Plant/Bacteria Interactions, Caroline Victoria Royals

Theses and Dissertations

Our laboratory has been studying how different Caulobacter strains impact Arabidopsis plant growth. While reading papers published by other laboratories, I noticed inconsistencies in the methods used by different plant/bacteria interaction studies. For example, a variety of different variables have been used for defining a bacterium as Plant Growth Promoting (PGP). To establish a baseline, I conducted longitudinal studies that examined the impact of bacteria on all phases of a plant’s life. I found that individual Caulobacter wild type strains impact different aspects of plant growth. In addition, I continuously encountered problems with within and between pot variation in plant …

New Insights On Hybridization In Potamogeton Floridanus (The Florida Pondweed), Kaitlyn R. Sampson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most important and highest threatened habitats in the world, and aquatic plants play an important, but often-overlooked, role in maintaining them. Potamogeton is a diverse and ecologically important aquatic plant genus well known for taxonomic difficulty and rampant hybridization. lbis study aimed to 1) test the hypothesis that Potamogeton jloridanus (Florida pondweed) is a hybrid between P. oakesianus and P. pulcher, and 2) to investigate correlations in ecological conditions for the focal species. This study revealed the discovery of a new population of P. jloridanus in Big Coldwater Creek in Santa Rosa Co., FL, …

Evidence Of Lactobacillus Strains Shared Between The Female Urinary And Vaginal Microbiota, Haley Atkins, Baani Sabharwal, Leah Boger, Natalie Stegman, Alexander Kula, Alan J. Wolfe, Swarnali Banerjee, Catherine Putonti

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Lactobacillus species are common inhabitants of the ‘healthy’ female urinary and vaginal communities, often associated with a lack of symptoms in both anatomical sites. Given identification by prior studies of similar bacterial species in both communities, it has been hypothesized that the two microbiotas are in fact connected. Here, we carried out whole-genome sequencing of 49 Lactobacillus strains, including 16 paired urogenital samples from the same participant. These strains represent five different Lactobacillus species: L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. iners, L. jensenii, and L. paragasseri. Average nucleotide identity (ANI), alignment, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and CRISPR comparisons between strains from the …

Draft Genome Sequences For A Staphylococcus Aureus And A Staphylococcus Haemolyticus Isolate From Nasal Swab Samples From Healthy Females, Sandra Jablonska, Hannah Brown, Helen Appleberry, Catherine Putonti, Alex Kula

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus are common members of the human microbiota, but they are also opportunistic pathogens. To identify antibiotic resistance in healthy individuals, we present the genome sequences of S. aureus 139 N-1 and S. haemolyticus 173 N-3, both isolated from nasal swab samples from asymptomatic female participants.

Natural Variation In Yeast Reveals Multiple Paths For Acquiring Higher Stress Resistance, Amanda N. Scholes, Tara N. Stuecker, Stephanie E. Hood, Cader J. Locke, Carson L. Stacy, Qingyang Zhang, Jeffrey A. Lewis

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Organisms frequently experience environmental stresses that occur in predictable patterns and combinations. For wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast growing in natural environments, cells may experience high osmotic stress when they first enter broken fruit, followed by high ethanol levels during fermentation, and then finally high levels of oxidative stress resulting from respiration of ethanol. Yeast have adapted to these patterns by evolving sophisticated “cross protection” mechanisms, where mild ‘primary’ doses of one stress can enhance tolerance to severe doses of a different ‘secondary’ stress. For example, in many yeast strains, mild osmotic or mild ethanol stresses cross protect against severe …

Isolation Of Naegleria Lustrarea N. Sp. (Excavata, Discoba, Heterolobosea) From The Feces Of Ambystoma Annulatum (Ringed Salamander) In Northwest Arkansas, Brian M. Becker, Idan Banson, James M. Walker, Anant Deshwal, Matthew W. Brown, Jeffrey D. Silberman

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The salamander, Ambystoma annulatum, is considered a “species of special concern” in the state of Arkansas, USA, due to its limited geographic range, specialized habitat requirements and low population size. Although metazoan parasites have been documented in this salamander species, neither its native protists nor microbiome have yet been evaluated. This is likely due to the elusive nature and under-sampling of the animal. Here, we initiate the cataloguing of microbial associates with the identification of a new heterlobosean species, Naegleria lustrarea n. sp. (Excavata, Discoba, Heterolobosea), isolated from feces of an adult A. annulatum.

Private Management Of African Protected Areas Improves Wildlife And Tourism Outcomes But With Security Concerns In Conflict Regions, Sean Denny, Gabriel Englander, Patrick Hunnicutt

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Protected areas can conserve wildlife and benefit people when managed effectively. African governments increasingly delegate the management of protected areas to private, nongovernmental organizations, hoping that private organizations’ significant resources and technical capacities actualize protected areas’ potential. Does private sector management improve outcomes compared to a counterfactual of government management? We leverage the transfer of management authority from governments to African Parks (AP)—the largest private manager of protected areas in Africa—to show that private management significantly improves wildlife outcomes via reduced elephant poaching and increased bird abundances. Our results also suggest that AP’s management augments tourism, while the effect on …

Characterizing The Quorum Sensing (Qs) System In The Model Eukaryote Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Kirstin Donnette Cutshaw

Theses and Dissertations

Group behaviors in microorganisms are often regulated by low-molecular weight molecules that enable them to sense population density, a signaling system known as quorum sensing (QS). QS in prokaryotes has provided insight into the role ‘social’ behaviors play in the bacterial world and refined our models of virulence, bacterial motility, and more. While less common, similar behaviors are observed in certain fungi, primarily yeasts, in which QS controls cell morphology, biofilm production, and other phenotypes. We have recently pursued the potential for QS to be more broadly distributed among unicellular eukaryotes, which could significantly alter our understanding of social behaviors …

Investigating Microbe-Plant Symbioses In Space, David Handy

Theses and Dissertations

As life has evolved on Earth, gravity has been a constant around which biological processes have developed, rather than a pressure that has been adapted to. As humanity ventures into space, we remove this constant and can observe a variety of changes in biological systems, such as bone loss in humans, stunted plant growth, or increased virulence in pathogens. The growing body of data shows that life adapts to spaceflight and microgravity in unique ways that, due to our limited understanding, can be difficult to predict. A particularly under-studied area is that of host-microbe interactions. Despite efforts to limit their …

Uses Of Herbal Extracts In Endodontology: A Literature Review, Reem Chamseddine, Roula S. Abiad

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The use of natural herbal extracts in the field of dentistry, and specifically in endodontology had gained a high popularity in the past few years. The main objective of endodontic treatment is to prevent and eliminate the infection from the root canal, seize the invasion of microorganisms to periradicular tissues and preserve the natural dentition. Studies had shown that some herbs are better alternatives to traditional chemical irrigants or medicaments used in root canal treatment, based on their potential antimicrobial effect, smear layer removal capabilities, tissue dissolution effect, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. Aim: The purpose of this literature review …

Problem-Based Learning Model Assisted With A Humanistic-Merdeka Belajar Approach Improved Biology Students’ Learning Ownership, Dita Tri Mulyani, Dwi Listyorini

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Fostering ownership over learning constitutes a pivotal aspect for students to cultivate a comprehensive understanding, employ cognitive strategies effectively, hone essential skills, and refine learning methodologies. Preliminary studies have underscored a prevalent deficiency in the learning ownership among biology students, categorizing it as notably low. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the effect of the Project Based Learning (PBL) model assisted with a Humanistic-Merdeka Belajar (HMB) approach, in nurturing students’ ownership of their learning endeavors. Employing a quasi-experimental design, the research adopts a pre-test post-test non-equivalent control group configuration, administered both prior to and following the intervention within …

Asistensi Mengajar (Am) Program In Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (Mbkm) As A Pedagogical Mastery Accelerator For Vocational High School Teacher Candidates, Muhammad Idris Effendi, Yoto Yoto, Widiyanti Widiyanti

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This research delves into the issue of inadequate pedagogical proficiency among vocational high school (SMK) teacher candidates, primarily stemming from the constrained timeframe of educational internships, typically spanning a mere two months. As an option, this study suggests the implementation of an Asistensi Mengajar (AM) initiative within the framework of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka Program (MBKM), extending over a semester’s duration. Employing a literature review methodology, the research highlights that the brevity of conventional two-month internships poses a significant impediment to the development of pedagogical acumen among SMK teacher candidates. The proposed option entails an AM program under MBKM, …

Identify Resources Activated By Students When Solving Straight Motion Kinematics Problems With Different Representation, Nur Utami Amaliah, Sutopo Sutopo, Eny Latifah, Hutkemri Zulnaidi

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This research aims to explore kinematic resources in linear kinematics by utilizing different forms of problem representation. The study was conducted by administering 15 reasoned multiple-choice questions to 146 high school students from three districts in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The research instrument covers topics in linear kinematics, including distance, displacement, speed, and velocity, presented through diagrammatic representations, graphs, and mathematical equations. The students’ written answers were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitative analysis was conducted to determine descriptive statistics from the data, while qualitative analysis identified the resources students activated when solving these questions. The findings reveal that the various …

Analysis Of Genetic Engineering Material Misconceptions In Biology Textbooks For Ninth-Grade In Yogyakarta, Silfi Pratiwi, Purwanti Pratiwi Purbosari, Oktira Roka Aji, Rinaldi Rizal Putra

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Textbooks play a pivotal role in the pedagogical landscape, serving as indispensable aids for learning, founts of knowledge, and platforms for practical application. This study endeavors to scrutinize the content of textbooks, specifically focusing on ninth-grade biology textbooks within the educational milieu of Yogyakarta City, and to juxtapose these contents with existing literature to discern potential misconceptions. Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the investigation centers on printed biology textbooks utilized in ninth-grade curricula across junior high schools in Yogyakarta. The selection of textbooks for analysis was based on their prevalence as instructional materials, as determined through survey data. Genetic engineering …

Students’ Science Literacy On Discussion-Based Contextual Approaches Of Human Reproductive System Learning, Yeni Mulyaningsih, Chaerul Rochman, Adam Malik, Tri Wahyu Agustina, Yulia Sukmawardani, Nur Hamidah, Nurul Annisa

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The aim of this study was to enhance students’ science literacy through a discussion-based contextual approach in the learning of the human reproductive system. This quantitative research employed an experimental method with a quasi-experimental posttest-only design. The study involved 60 students, with 30 students each in class XI MIPA 4 serving as the experimental group and class XI MIPA 5 serving as the control group. The control group received instruction through a conceptual approach-based lecture method, whereas the experimental group engaged in learning through a contextual approach-based discussion method. The research instrument comprised 10 open-ended science literacy questions pertaining to …

Amelioration By Morus Nigra Fruit Extract On Testes, Seminiferous Tubules And Spermatic Cells By Chromium Induced Histopathologies In Mice, Syeda Nadia Ahmad, Khawaja Raees Ahmad, Khalida Jabeen, Muhammad Ali Kanwal, Iram Inayat, Sadia Suleman, Asma Younas, Arifa Haider

Journal of Bioresource Management

Male toxicology in terms of histopathology of testes, histometery of seminiferous tubules and various spermatic cells against short-term hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) exposure & their ameliorations upon post treatment of Morus nigra fruit pulp extract (MnFPE) were studied. There were 3 groups of animals named as 1. Control (C) group: received free normal drinking water for 15 days; 2. Chromium (Cr VI) group: received hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) in drinking water for 10 days; 3. Chromium+Morus nigra (Cr VI+Mn) group: received Cr(VI) in drinking water for 10 days; additionally received 0.2mL MnFPE twice a day for next 5 days. The …

The Influence Of Recycled Water On Microbial Source Tracking Techniques That Aim To Identify Untreated Sewage In Surface Waters, Aldo E. Lobos

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fecal pollution in recreational waters can introduce pathogens that cause increased human health risk, where exposure can occur during recreational activities such as swimming, diving, surfing, and fishing. Furthermore, human fecal pollution (i.e., sewage) can introduce nutrients and other harmful chemicals that may negatively affect the environment and aquatic species. Generally, sewage is considered the highest risk to human health compared to animal fecal pollution because it typically contains a high diversity of pathogens (including human specific viruses), antibiotic resistant bacteria and genes associated with antibiotic resistance. However, pathogens are difficult to detect due to their low concentrations in the …

The Influence Of Childhood Trauma On Dna Methylation Patterns And Sex-Specific Cortisol Stress Reactivity: A Secondary Analysis, Isabella F. Correia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Childhood trauma has been shown to significantly impact physical and mental health outcomes, leading to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, and difficulties in decision-making and maintaining relationships. Exposure to such trauma has the potential to dysregulate an individual’s stress response system, resulting in abnormal cortisol levels. Many studies suggest a lasting impact of early-life stress on DNA methylation patterns and, separately, cortisol stress reactivity. In addition, there are known sex differences in exposure to childhood trauma and cortisol reactivity; yet studies to date have not investigated whether there is an association to DNA methylation. This study utilized a …

Roles Of Mitochondrial Chchd2 And Gpcr-Associated Β-Arrestin2 In The Pathogenesis Of Lewy Body Disorders, Teresa R. Kee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing 2 (CHCHD2) is a mitochondrial protein that plays important roles in cristae structure, oxidative phosphorylation, and apoptosis. Multiple mutations in CHCHD2 have been associated with Lewy body disorders (LBDs), such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), with the CHCHD2T61I mutation being the most widely studied. We generated the first transgenic mouse models expressing human CHCHD2WT and the PD-linked CHCHD2T61I mutation driven by the mPrP promoter. CHCHD2T61I Tg, but not CHCHD2WT Tg mice exhibit perinuclear mitochondrial aggregates, neuroinflammation, and have impaired long-term synaptic plasticity associated with synaptic dysfunction. Dopaminergic neurodegeneration, a hallmark of PD, …

Dietary Saturated Fatty Acids Modulate Host Innate Immunity, Amy Lorraine Seufert

Dissertations and Theses

Nutrition, cellular metabolism, and inflammatory regulation of the immune system are interconnected, and advancing our understanding of this will greatly improve treatment of metabolic and inflammatory disease. Specifically, dietary saturated fats are becoming increasingly appreciated for their ability to modify innate immune cell function in mammals following absorption into the blood and lymphatic circulation systems. The work herein focuses on the capacity for lipids in the diet to modulate innate immune memory. My thesis first broadly outlines fundamental background, including: the evolution of human nutrition, the discovery of innate immune memory, and key topics that reoccur throughout the text surrounding …

Feather Mites Through Genomic And Ecological Lenses: Host Specificity And Symbiosis At Multiple Levels Of Organization, Alix Elizabeth Matthews

Student Theses and Dissertations

Symbionts, or organisms that form close and persistent associations with hosts, are ubiquitous across the tree of life, and symbioses are among the most common interspecific interactions in the natural world. Symbionts play a fundamental ecological and evolutionary role across multiple levels of biological organization – from individuals to ecosystems – and can have strong effects on global biodiversity. However, many aspects of these relationships are poorly understood including symbiont genetic diversity (inter- and intraspecific), host specificity, and the mechanisms underlying their functional nature or any context-dependent patterns. This dissertation uses a model symbiosis between permanent, obligate, ectosymbiotic vane-dwelling feather …

O-Demethyl Galantamine Alters Protein Expression In Cerebellum Of 5xfad Mice, İrem Kiriş, Merve Karayel Başar, Büşra Gurel, Tomasz Mroczek, Ahmet Tarik Baykal

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one of the most common health issues, is characterized by memory loss, severe behavioral disorders, and eventually death. Despite many studies, there are still no drugs that can treat AD or stop it from progressing. Previous in vitro tests showed that O-demethyl galantamine (ODG) might have a therapeutic potential owing to its 10 times higher acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity than galantamine (GAL). Materials and methods: We aimed to assess effect of ODG on a molecular level 12-month-old 5xFAD Alzheimer’s mouse model. To this end, following the administrations of ODG and GAL, used as a positive control, protein …

Petox-Dope Nanoliposomes Functionalized With Peptide 563 In Targeted Bikdda Delivery To Prostate Cancer, Ayca Ece Nezi̇r, Zeynep Büşra Bolat, Ongun Mehmet Saka, Itir Ebru Zemheri̇, Sevgi̇ Gülyüz, Umut Uğur Özköse, Özgür Yilmaz, Asuman Bozkir, Fi̇kretti̇n Şahi̇n, Di̇lek Telci̇

Turkish Journal of Biology

BackgroundNanocarrier-based systems have cultivated significant improvements in prostate cancer therapy. However, the efforts are still limited in clinical applicability, and more research is required for the development of effective strategies. Here, we describe a novel nanoliposomal system for targeted apoptotic gene delivery to prostate cancer.MethodsPoly (2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) (PEtOx) dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) nanoliposomes were conjugated with the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting peptide GRFLTGGTGRLLRIS (P563) and loaded with BikDDA, a mutant form of the proapoptotik Bik. We selected 22Rv1 cells with moderate upregulation of PSMA to test the in vitro uptake, cell death, and in vivo anti-cancer activity of our formulation, P563-PEtOx-DOPE-BikDDA.ResultsBikDDA was …

The Apoptotic Effect Of Garlic (Allium Sativum) Derived Sevs On Different Types Of Cancer Cell Lines In Vitro, Naz Ünsal, Polen Koçak Deni̇zci̇, Hazal Yilmaz, Fi̇kretti̇n Şahi̇n, Merve Yildirim Canpolat

Turkish Journal of Biology

Small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) are known to have an impact on the physiological circumstances of the target cells, are a critical component of cell-to-cell communication and have been implicated in a variety of diseases. Although it has been proposed that edible plant-derived nanoparticles have effect on communication with mammalian cells, the influence of these nanoparticles on cancer cell development has yet to be explored. In order to characterize small extracellular vesicles obtained from garlic, specific SEV surface markers and antibodies and size detections were performed by using scanning electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Human hepatoma, Hep3B, human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y, …