Biology Commons^™

Understanding How Chaperones Influence Protein Aggregation, Hannah Buchholz

Dissertations (1934 -)

Cells depend on properly folded proteins to function and remain healthy. If proteins adopt a nonnative conformation, they may have an increased propensity to clump together or aggregate, which can compromise cell viability. Unwanted aggregates are linked to a class of diseases called proteinopathies, which include fatal disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Fortunately, cellular factors, known as molecular chaperones, help maintain protein homeostasis by limiting and disassembling protein aggregates. However, the mechanisms that underlie how chaperones modify protein aggregation are poorly understood. The goal of this dissertation is to explore the molecular mechanisms used by …

What Do We Know About Insect Responses To Global Change? A Review Of Meta-Analyses On Global Change Drivers, Mayra C. Vidal, Mariana Abarca, Kristi Backe, Anne E. Curé, Deborah L. Finke, Amanda M. Koltz, Alycia C.R. Lackey, J. Christina Mitchell, Rebecca M. Prather, Ellen A.R. Welti, Gina M. Wimp, Shannon M. Murphy

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

1. Global change is causing major declines in biodiversity, especially of insects. Scientific interest in global change impacts on insects has increased in recent years, resulting in many different meta-analyses examining questions within this topic.

2. We performed a comprehensive review of meta-analyses examining the effects of global change stressors on insects to identify well-studied questions and gaps in our knowledge and synthesise the responses of insects to those stressors. We identified 75 meta-analyses that fit our scope, accounting for 905 meta-results and spanning 18 global change stressors.

3. Our synthesis identified several global change stressors that are relatively well-studied …

Coyote (Canis Latrans) Macronutrient Consumption And Diet Relative To Seasonality And Urbanization, Katherine C. B. Weiss, Sean C. P. Coogan, Pierre Deviche, Jesse S. Lewis, Savage C. Hess, Jan Schipper, Eric G. Strauss, Beckett Sterner

Biology Faculty Works

Diet selection informs the health, fitness, and behavior of wild predators. Due to assumptions that vertebrate prey contains similar compositions of macronutrients (i.e., protein, carbohydrates, and lipids), whole prey items traditionally define carnivore diets. However, increasing evidence suggests that prey differ in terms of their macronutrient compositions, particularly relative to body size. Furthermore, omnivorous predators, like coyotes (Canis latrans), integrate both prey and nonprey diet items whose macronutrient compositions vary. This is particularly important in urbanized systems, which introduce or alter the distributions of prey (e.g., domestic pets) and nonprey (e.g., ornamental plants) foods in ways that contribute …

Analyzing The Inhibition Of Chemical Compounds On Collagenase In P. Aeruginosa, Elaine Vanterpool

Student Posters

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that poses significant challenges in clinical treatment due to its production of collagenase. This bacterium can cause several infections including pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, and a host of other diseases. Collagenase acts as a key virulence factor by breaking down collagen in the host’s extracellular matrix, allowing bacteria to invade tissues. This study hypothesized that the effects of cell secreted collagenase would be inhibited by metronidazole, vanillin, and silver nanoparticles to reduce the pathogenicity of Ps. aeruginosa related infections. With the use of a spectrophotometric assay, collagenase activity was measured in treated and untreated bacterial …

Using Camera Stations To Investigate Occupancy Probability And Habitat Associations Of Island Spotted Skunks (Spilogale Gracilis Amphiala) On Santa Rosa And Santa Cruz Islands, Desirae Thomaier

Master's Theses

The California Channel Islands are unique in that two islands (Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz) support two endemic mesocarnivores, the island fox (Urocyon littoralis) and the island spotted skunk (Spilogale gracilis amphiala). Following the near-extinction of island foxes in the early 2000s, island spotted skunk populations increased significantly. Now that foxes have recovered, skunk captures have precipitously declined - possibly due to interspecific competition with foxes who have a similar diet but a larger body size and wider temporal niche. It has been proposed that skunks selectively use canyon bottoms and drainages with high vegetation cover and that these areas …

Adipocyte-Derived Cchamide-1, Eiger, Growth-Blocking Peptide 3, And Unpaired 2 Regulate Drosophila Melanogaster Oogenesis, Chad Simmons, Isaiah H. Williams, Tancia W. Bradshaw, Alissa R. Armstrong

Faculty Publications

In addition to energy storage, adipose tissue communication to other organs plays a key role in regulating organismal physiology. While the link between adipose tissue dysfunction and pathophysiology, including diabetes, chronic inflammation, and infertility, is clear, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these associations have not been fully described. We use Drosophila melanogaster as a model to better understand how adipose tissue communicates to the ovary. In this study, we utilized D. melanogaster’s robust genetic toolkit to examine the role of five adipokines known to control larval growth during development, CCHamide-1, CCHamide-2, eiger, Growth-blocking peptide 3, and unpaired 2 in regulating …

Diverse Microbial Prey In The Guts Of Gelatinous Grazers Revealed By Microscopy, Terra C. Hiebert, Anne W. Thompson, Kelly R. Sutherland

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mucous mesh grazers including pelagic tunicates and thecosome pteropods play a key role in oceanic food webs. They are taxonomically and morphologically diverse and can be highly abundant. Using their fine mucous meshes, these pelagic grazers ingest a wide range of plankton prey and link pelagic and benthic marine ecosystems. Characterizing the diet of this group is central to fully understanding marine food webs and developing accurate food web models. However, gelatinous grazers are challenging to study owing to their physically delicate composition so studying their feeding ecology requires numerous complementary techniques. Microscopy has largely been supplanted by other methods, …

Analysis Of Mapt On Alzheimer’S Disease, Elaine Vanterpool

Student Posters

There are multiple factors that contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. These include genetic causes, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices. Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau. (MAPT) is a gene that is associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. There are 2 main alleles of the APOE gene: H1 haplotype and H2 haplotype. H1 haplotype is the more common variant and is associated with an increased risk of developing tau-related neurodegenerative diseases.H2 haplotype is less common and is thought to have originated from an ancient inversion on chromosome 17q21. It may have some protective effects against certain tauopathies. The H1 haplotype is …

Analysis Of Mutations Of Hydin Gene Associated With Hypertension, Elaine Vanterpool, Savania Simms

Student Posters

Hypertension also called “High Blood Pressure” is a disorder caused by factors such as old age, genetics, weight, physical activeness, and diet. Today hypertension affects 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide (Mayo Clinic, 2024). When hypertension is in the range of 180/120 it can cause symptoms such as headache, chest pain, dizziness, blurred vision, and other symptoms . It is important to study the genes associated with this disorder because it helps to identify what genetic risk factors cause this as well as it helps develop more treatments for it. The gene HYDIN associated with hypertension has 51 variants …

Silver Nanoparticles And Vanillin Can Inhibit Collagenase Activities Of Serratia Marcescens, Elaine Vanterpool, Mya St. Louis, Josel Bryant, Kennedi Ewan, Taylor Hall, Leah Marcelle, Mayah Seal

Student Posters

Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative, disease-causing agent that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family. This rod-shaped microbe causes many infectious diseases such as urinary and respiratory infections, wound infections, and peritonitis, which can result in fatal bacteremia. Collagenase is an enzyme that breaks down collagen, while also playing a key role in the extracellular matrix. Collagenase uses zinc to operate that helps it break down the peptide bonds in collagen. Testing Agents ❖ Metronidazole is an antimicrobial drug used to treat infections caused by different anaerobic bacteria, such as infections in the blood, liver, bones, joints, and meninges. ❖ Vanillin is …

Silver Nanoparticles And Natural Compounds Can Modulate Proteolytic Activities Of Escherichia Coli, Elaine Vanterpool, Simone Chotan, Wendolyn Johnson, Emilee Duany, Antonio Ward

Student Posters

Investigating the impact of antibacterial agents on Escherichia coli (E. coli) protease activity is vital for advancing new approaches to combat bacterial infections. Proteases are crucial enzymes in bacterial physiology that contribute to immune system evasion, biofilm development, and host tissue degradation. Due to these enzymes being directly involved in E. coli virulence, understanding how antibacterial compounds affect protease function may lead to innovative treatment strategies. E. coli is a gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium that exists both as a harmless intestinal commensal and a significant human pathogen. Many lives have been negatively affected by severe E. coli infections in the …

Analyzing The Inhibition Of Chemical Compounds On Protease In P. Aeruginosa, Elaine Vanterpool, Micah Andrews, Marielle Cooper, Mitspah Eshette, Anaya Moodie-Lee, Jayda Russell, Jordon Vanterpool

Student Posters

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative, bacillus-shaped opportunistic pathogen, notorious for invading immunocompromised individual leading to secondary infections. These opportunistic microbes typically are implicated mild to more severe infections including burn or wound infections to more serious systemic infections. The bacterium Ps. aeruginosa utilizes a variety of virulence factors to enhance the pathogenicity of the organism. Virulence factors secreted by Ps. aeruginosa include its pili, adhesins, capsule, exotoxin A, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The proteases produced by Ps. aeruginosa are powerful virulence factors that can lead to tissue destruction and immune invasion. It is imperative that we find ways of regulating the …

Improving Biocompatibility And Structural Integrity Of Decellularized Biomaterials, Elaine Vanterpool, Jayden Vanterpool, Ayanna Liburd, Andrew Mcintosh, Cayden Pyform, Cameron Scott, Jea Joseph Msie

Student Posters

Venous grafting using synthetic and biomaterials has been one of the forefront issues of the scientific community. For years, in vitro experimentation of both bio and synthetic materials has been carried out with the hope of treating issues like chronic venous insufficiency, heart attacks, artery blockage, etc. Within these issues, there has been much success. Numerous cases have made it to clinical trials with grafts lasting as long as two years within the patient. Nonetheless, some common and persistent issues occur within all the cases observed. Despite extensive experimentation and development of the most prestigious technology, thrombosis, negative immune response, …

Using Secreted Biomarkers In The Development Of The Detection Of Advanced Cancer Screening System, Elaine Vanterpool, Jaydan Vanterpool, Jordon Vanterpool, Robert Lister, Shania Swain, Enock Ngoga, Jovaughn Redley, Imani Shields, Dalen Jones, Santiago Moreno, Ronnie Nichalson, Jea Joseph Msie

Student Posters

As of 2020, there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and almost 10 million cancer deaths. Among the different types of cancers in the world, the most prevalent cancer, lung cancer, accounted for 23% of all cancer deaths (CDC) and has been relatively steady since 1999. However, by using Detection of Advanced Cancer Screening (D.A.C.S), many patients with cancer cases would receive efficient, reliable treatment in a timely manner. According to Cancer.gov, multiple participants reported being screened for cancer, “After they had ‘aged out of the recommended range for routine cancer screening”. (Dr. Moss) “We found that over …

Mutations In The Pms1 Gene Associating With Ovarian Cancer, Elaine Vanterpool, Erin Hough

Student Posters

Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the ovaries grow and divide uncontrollably, destroying healthy body tissue. Common symptoms of ovarian cancer include weight loss, fatigue, discomfort in the pelvic area, or changes in bowel habits. This study focuses on how ovarian cancer is related to the PMS1 gene. The PMS1 gene encodes MLH1, a protein involved in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. MMR helps connect errors that occur during DNA replication, preventing mutations and potential cancer development. When this gene is mutated, there is an increased risk of developing ovarian and other endometrial cancer. Bioinformaic softwares allow us to …

Impact Of Msx1 And Irf6 Gene Variants On Orofacial Cleft And Facial Development, Elaine Vanterpool, Lisa Banks

Student Posters

A cleft lip or palate is a congenital anomaly that occurs when a baby's mouth doesn’t form properly during pregnancy. It happens when the tissues that shape the upper lip or roof of the mouth fail to join during development. It is among the most common birth defects associated with genetic conditions or syndromes. Orofacial cleft can be caused by a combination of genes and other factors like the mother's exposure to environmental things, diet, and medications during pregnancy. Examining the genes involved and making connections that provide insight into the improper formations of the maxillary tissues during fetal stages …

Effects Of Cell-Free Supernatants Of Commercial Yogurt Products On Salmonella Survival, Juliet Durant, Akayla King

Student Posters

Salmonellosis remains a global public health challenge and Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and Typhimurium are the primary causes. Salmonella virulence mechanisms involve attachment and invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. Gut microbiota and probiotics that contain Lactobacillus species have been shown to prevent Salmonella infection. Yogurt is a commonly consumed probiotic product containing Lactobacillus species. Yogurts made under laboratory conditions and the cell-free supernatants have been shown to inhibit Salmonella growth. The many commercial yogurt products on the market may vary in antimicrobial components based on production methods. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the survival of 5 log CFU/mL …

Title: An Analysis Of Hmbs Variants Associated With Acute Intermittent Porphyria, Elaine Vanterpool, Jason Kahari

Student Posters

HMBS, also known as hydroxymethylbilane synthase, is a gene that is responsible for providing instructions for making the enzyme named hydroxymethylbilane synthase. This enzyme is involved in the creation of a molecule called heme. Heme plays an important part in all of the body’s vital organs. It is important to all organs however, it is most prevalent in the blood, bone marrow, and liver. Heme is essential in making iron-containing proteins called hemeproteins. To produce heme, an eight-step process must occur that requires 8 different enzymes. “Hydroxymethylbilane synthase is responsible for the third step in this process, which combines four …

The Association Of Abca3 Variants In Hypertension Pathogenesis, Elaine Vanterpool, Jea Joseph

Student Posters

Hypertension affects around 48.1% of people living in the United States. This number of adults with hypertension between the ages of 30-70 has increased from 650 million to 1.28 billion in the last 30 years. Hypertension is characterized as a condition that affects the arteries of the blood. High blood pressure and high cholesterol have a huge correlation to each other. When the body cannot rid cholesterol from the blood stream, it can deposit along artery walls and clog them, making blood flow harder and increases blood pressure. ABCA3 is a member of the ATP binding cassette family of proteins …

An Analysis Of Oas1 Variants Associated In Diabetes Mellitus, Elaine Vanterpool, Ashley Tannis

Student Posters

Type 1 diabetes is caused by a combination of multiple genetic and environmental factors that precipitate autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreas. Individuals with type 1 diabetes have higher frequencies of OAS1 GG and GA genotypes than nondiabetic's.OAS1, an interferon-induced gene, also known by its official name, 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1, encodes proteins that play a crucial role in innate cellular antiviral response which prevents viral replication by activating the adaptive immune system to erase the virus trying to spread. OAS1 is also involved in additional cellular processes such as cell growth and cell death. This gene is …

Local Stabilising Density Effects In The Context Of Ecological Disturbance And Community Assembly, Cole J. Doolittle, Joseph A. Lamanna

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The maintenance of species diversity in ecological communities has many promising explanations, including certain types of local biotic interactions that generate differential effects on the performance of conspecific and heterospecific individuals. To date, most studies of these local biotic interactions have focused on relatively stable systems, such as mature forests or undisturbed grasslands. However, many ecosystems are far from a stable state, especially under accelerating global climate change. Here, we present a synthesis of local differences between conspecific and heterospecific interactions following disturbances—and how disturbances may alter the strength and scaling of these effects to population growth and species diversity. …

When Can We Detect Lianas From Space? Toward A Mechanistic Understanding Of Liana-Infested Forest Optics, Stefan A. Schnitzer

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Lianas, woody vines acting as structural parasites of trees, have profound effects on the composition and structure of tropical forests, impacting tree growth, mortality, and forest succession. Remote sensing could offer a powerful tool for quantifying the scale of liana infestation, provided the availability of robust detection methods. We analyze the consistency and global geographic specificity of spectral signals—reflectance across wavelengths—from liana-infested tree crowns and forest stands, examining the underlying mechanisms of these signals. We compiled a uniquely comprehensive database, including leaf reflectance spectra from 5424 leaves, fine-scale airborne reflectance data from 999 liana-infested canopies, and coarse-scale satellite reflectance data …

Three Reference Genomes For Freshwater Diatom Ecology And Evolution, Wade R. Roberts, Andrew J. Alverson

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Diatoms are an important component of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Although the majority of described diatom species live in freshwater systems, genome sequencing efforts have focused primarily on marine species. Genomic resources for freshwater species have the potential to improve our understanding of diatom ecology and evolution, particularly in the context of major environmental shifts. We used long- and short-read sequencing platforms to assemble reference genomes for three freshwater diatom species, all in the order Thalalassiosirales, which are abundant in the plankton of oceans, lakes, reservoirs, and rivers worldwide. We targeted three species that cover the breadth of phylogenetic diversity …

Therapeutic Role Of Bioactive Peptides Derived From Hemoglobin, Priya Antony Pereppadan

Dissertations

Bioactive peptides are peptide fragments derived from the proteolytic cleavage or maturation of functional proteins that have shown promising therapeutic potential in addressing major health challenges, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and pain management. Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose levels due to insufficient insulin production or utilization. There are several therapeutic targets for managing diabetes, and one key target is dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) due to its role in glucose metabolism. In hypertension, angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) is critical for regulating blood pressure by forming angiotensin II, and its inhibition represents an established treatment strategy. Additionally, the …

From Microplastic Impact To Biodegradation Solutions: Investigating Microplastic Pollution, Microbial Responses, And Efficacy Of Synthetic Microbial Consortia In Plastic Degradation, Rener Sahot De Jesus

Dissertations

Plastics, including microplastics, pose significant environmental threats due to their widespread presence and harmful ecological effects. This dissertation present three distinct, yet interconnected studies. First, a study on microplastic contamination in urban recreational parks was conducted in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Results showed that low-density microplastics were present in 87% of soil samples, with spectroscopic analysis identifying synthetic polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Additionally, these microplastics were found to negatively affect soil pH and moisture levels, emphasizing the need for enhanced monitoring and management strategies. Second, the effects of ground microplastics on Photobacterium leiognathi strains, a marine luminous …

Culex Quinquefasciatus Mosquitoes In Abu Dhabi Emirate: Assessing Deltamethrin Insecticide Resistance And Associated Microbial Communities, Amgdsayed Ismat Ali

Theses

Culex quinquefasciatus is a major vector of West Nile virus, lymphatic filariasis, and arboviruses, which represent public health risk. Widespread application of pyrethroid insecticides has increased resistance in mosquito populations threatening the effectiveness of control strategies. This study aims to (1) assess deltamethrin resistance in Culex quinquefasciatus populations across the Abu Dhabi Emirate, (2) characterize the microbial communities associated with these mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes from sites around the Abu Dhabi Emirate were collected and genomic DNA extracted for molecular analysis. PCR and allele-specific primers were used to detect knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the sodium channel gene, classifying mosquitoes as susceptible …

A Personalized And Adaptive Distribution Classification Of Actigraphy Segments Into Sleep-Wake States, Austin G. Vandegriffe, V. A. Samaranayake, Matthew S. Thimgan

Research Data

Wearable actimeters have the potential to greatly improve our understanding sleep in natural environments and in long-term experiments. Current technologies have served the sleep community well, but they have known weaknesses that introduce errors that can compromise reliable and relevant clinical and research sleep and wakefulness profiles from these data. Newer data collection technologies, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), offer opportunities to gather movement data in different forms and at higher frequencies, making new analytical methods possible and potentially advantageous.

We have developed a novel statistical algorithm, called the Wasserstein Algorithm for Classifying Sleep and Wakefulness (WACSAW), that is based …

Expanding The Lexa Bacterial Two-Hybrid System For Human Protein-Protein Interaction Screening: Application To Tumor Suppressor Par-4, Rebecca M. Richardson

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Protein-protein interactions (PPI) are fundamental to cellular function, influencing processes such as signaling, structural organization, and disease progression. Disruptions in PPIs are implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting their importance as therapeutic targets. However, traditional methods for studying human PPIs, such as yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry, are costly and technically demanding. This dissertation explores the LexA-based bacterial two-hybrid (LexA-B2H) system as a cost effective and accessible alternative for investigating human PPIs.

This study focuses on the interaction between glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and cleaved prostate apoptosis response-4 (cl-Par-4), a tumor suppressor protein involved in apoptosis and neurodegenerative …

Crispr-Induced Mutagenesis Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Gene Apetala3, Hazel Frans, Tara Phelps-Durr

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This project aims to create CRISPR-CAS9 mutations in the APETELA3 (AP3) gene of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. AP3 is a class B gene critical to the petal and stamen development of Arabidopsis flowers. AP3 is defined in a MADS domain, which binds directly to DNA and may be responsible for the expression of the CaRG-box genes. AP3 works in conjunction with PISTILLATA (PI), AGAMOUS (AG), APETALA1 (AP1), and SEPALLATA (SEP) genes to specify the development in the second and third whorls of the flower. While several alleles of AP3 already exist, these alleles are strong alleles that knockout gene …

Optimizing Transcription Efficiency Through Mutations In The T7 Rna Polymerase, Claire N. Novak

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The production of RNA is vital for many commercial and research purposes, with one of the more notable reasons being vaccine production. The RNA polymerase, derived from T7 bacteriophage, is commonly used for RNA production due to its ability to produce full-length RNA transcripts. However, researchers have faced limitations in optimizing this polymerase. For example, the polymerase generates heterogeneous RNA products that require additional purification steps during RNA production. Here, we selected three amino acid point substitutions based on a recent publication from Moderna that showed increased RNA purity compared to the wild type T7 RNA polymerase sequence. We created …