Biology Commons^™

Fighting Modern Battles, Brawling A Breast Cancer From The Past: A New Combination Therapy Technique Combining A Platinum-Based Agent And Hdac Inhibition Agent, Matthew I. Hyder, Jackson D. Southern

Biology Presentations

Carboplatin and tucidinostat are two often-used chemotherapeutic drugs in combating cancers. After seeding BT-549 cells in vitro and single-drug treatments were completed, IC50 values and treatment curves were determined for both drugs with CompuSyn software. The Tucidinostat IC50 value of 0.28614 µM indicates effective 50% inhibitory activity at less than one micromolar. Carboplatin treatment revealed an IC50 value of 273.792 µM, indicating ineffective treatment. Combination therapy revealed an antagonistic effect with a CI50 value of 210.406. This may be due to experimental errors with pipetting or cell seeding, or drug-ailment mismatch.

Dna And Bioinformatics Tools For Estimating Biodiversity In The Narragansett Bay, Emma Barry

Biology Student Scholarship

Emma Barry ’25, Environmental Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Jeffrey Markert, Biology

A Natural Short Sleep Mutation Promotes Longevity Through Mitochondrial Respiration In Drosophila, Pritika Pandey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Aging is an irreversible process characterized by progressive physiological decline and an increased risk of metabolic disorders, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration. Disruptions to the circadian clock—whether due to genetic mutations or behavioral factors—accelerate aging and age-related pathologies, highlighting a strong link between circadian regulation and longevity. However, certain individuals harbor a dec2^P384R mutation, which enables natural short sleep without the detrimental effects of chronic sleep deprivation. This suggests that these individuals have evolved adaptations that activate pro-health pathways, allowing them to function optimally with reduced sleep. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying these changes, we developed a …

Passive Integrated Transponders: An Effective Marking Technique For Individual Identification Of Anaxyrus Fowleri?, Emily Leprell

Honors College Theses

With the rise of fungal disease such as Chytridiomycosis, known as chytrid, causing massive population declines for many species of frogs and toads (order Anura), specific conservation strategies are needed now more than ever. In many cases, being able to mark and identify individuals is a necessary step in developing an effective conservation plan. Individual identification allows researchers to obtain accurate population estimates, which are needed to test the progress and validity of conservation management decisions. However, due to their unique life history, including cutaneous respiration and a dichotomous lifestyle, anurans are among the most difficult wildlife species to …

Exploring Ddr2’S Role In Caf Extracellular Matrix Production And Tumor Progression, Favour Ayomide Akinjiyan

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer has poor survival outcomes particularly for advanced stage, metastatic disease. Metastasis is promoted by interactions of stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), with tumor cells. CAFs play a key role in tumor progression by remodeling the TME and extracellular matrix (ECM) to result in a more permissive environment for tumor progression. It has been shown that fibroblasts, in particular myofibroblasts, utilize metabolism to support ECM remodeling. However, the intricate mechanisms by which CAFs support collagen production and tumor progression are poorly understood. In this study, we show that the fibrillar collagen receptor, …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Cannibalism And Disease Transmission In The Fall Armyworm, Kale Rougeau

LSU Master's Theses

Climate change may alter host-pathogen dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems due to rising global temperatures and carbon dioxide levels. Here, we examined cannibalism and disease transmission using the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), an invasive agricultural pest, and its species-specific lethal baculovirus, Spodoptera frugiperda multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SfMNPV), under various potential challenges of climate change. We used three temperature treatments (cooler, optimal, warmer) based on the fall armyworm’s thermal performance curve to simulate a changing climate and four artificial diets with various protein-to-carbohydrate ratios (low, equal, high, standard) to manipulate resource quality from altered carbon dioxide levels. We found that higher …

A Geospatial Livestock-Carrying Capacity Model (Glcc) In The Akmola Oblast, Kazakhstan, Jiaguo Qi, Zihan Lin, Mark A. Weltz, Kenneth Spaeth, Gulnaz Iskakova

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Spatial disparities in rangeland conditions across Kazakhstan complicate field-based assessments of livestock-carrying capacity (LCC), a critical metric for the country's food security and economic planning. This study developed a geospatial livestock-carrying capacity (GLCC) modeling framework to quantify LCC spatio-temporal dynamics at the Oblast level, by integrating satellite-derived data on vegetation, water resources, and terrain with in situ measurements. By providing ground-truth observations and contextual detail, field-based measurements complement remote sensing data and help to validate estimates and improve the reliability of the GLCC model. The modeling framework was successfully applied and validated in a case study in the Akmola Oblast, …

Yellow Stingray (Urobatis Jamaicensis) Jaw, Marissa Rosas, David Kerstetter

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

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Lithium On Intracellular Myo-Inositol Levels In Human Lymphoblasts Of Bipolar Disorder Patients, Ntakirutimana Francine

Honors Theses

Bipolar disorder is a chronic disorder characterized by mood swings of mania and depression. Bipolar I is characterized by intense mania, while bipolar II is characterized by hypomania and depression. Currently, there is no cure for bipolar disorder; however, one mainstay of treatment is lithium, which is hypothesized to alleviate symptoms by reducing myo-inositol.

In this study, the effect of lithium on intracellular myo-inositol was determined in lymphoblasts derived from bipolar disorder patients and compared to that of lymphoblasts from a neurotypical individual. At 1mM lithium, the data showed increased myo-inositol levels across cell lines; however, the results were not …

Effects Of Cooking Oil And Bitter Gourd On Obesity Development In C57bl/6j Mice, Justin Talmadge Mcguire

Honors Theses

This study examined the use of different oils in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), with bitter gourd incorporated into unhealthy diets to assess its effects. A total of 72 mice were divided into six groups. Two of these groups were gavaged with an aqueous solution of bitter gourd, with one group additionally receiving corn oil and the other receiving lard. The four groups that did not receive bitter gourd were each fed a different diet containing either corn oil, lard, canola oil, or olive oil. Measurements of weight, food intake, water consumption, blood glucose levels, …

Effects Of Pharmacologic And Genetic Manipulation Of Gaba-A Receptors On Network Activity, Peter Michael Lambert

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the central nervous system. A rich diversity of receptor subtypes are produced by the combination of various GABA receptor subunits into a heteropentameric chloride channel. Inhibitory signaling through GABAARs occurs on timescales ranging from fast synaptic events lasting milliseconds to tonically active receptors providing standing inhibitory tone. GABAARs are modulated by many clinically important drugs including anesthetic, hypnotic, anxiolytic, and antidepressant agents. Of note, GABAARs are modulated by neurosteroids, which have recently been developed as novel therapeutic agents for psychiatric disease. The synchronized activation of GABAARs through coordinated activity of …

Roles Of Cpsa And Slamf1 In The Innate Immune Response To Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Steven Grigsby

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), possesses an arsenal of virulence factors to evade host immunity. Not only is Mtb able to evade innate immunity, but adaptive immunity also often fails to adequately control Mtb infection. A mechanistic understanding of how Mtb establishes infection and evades immunity is critical to the development of a protective vaccine and novel therapeutics. The Mtb protein CpsA protects Mtb against the host NADPH oxidase and LC3-asociated phagocytosis of the innate immune system. Consequently, a ΔcpsA mutant is initially attenuated in vivo but eventually reaches the same bacterial burden in the lungs …

Image Analysis Of Pupal Sex Ratio In Honey Bee Hives, Anna Tattelman, Grace O’Brien

Biology Student Scholarship

Anna Tattelman ’27, Environmental Biology major

Grace O’Brien ’26, Biology major

Faculty mentor: Dr. Rachael Bonoan, Biology

Our project analyzes honey bee hive development over time. We are specifically looking at drone comb production over a four-week period with varying hive conditions and treatments. It has become more difficult to manage bee hives due to parasitic mites, such as Varroa Destructor. A common method beekeepers use to protect honey bees against these threats is adding drone comb to attract then remove mites. Through drone comb analysis we can determine how honey bees are responding to the treatments by evaluating their …

Intervention Strategies To Overcome Hpv Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanic Immigrants In The Usa: A Video-Based Ap-Proach, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

These data come from a nationwide survey administered by Qualtrics testing a video intervention to help Hispanic Immigrants overcome barriers to HPV vaccination.

Associations Between Linguistic Factors And Vaccine Attitudes In A Hispanic Immigrant Population In The United States, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

Data are results of a nationwide survey administered by Qualtrics to Hispanic Immigrants concerning HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy factors.

Designing An Optimal Thermal Preference Arena For Southern Cricket Frog (Acris Gryllus) Juveniles, Eleanor E. Briggs, David M. Phillips Jr.

Honors Theses

Climate change has been altering ecosystems across the world at a substantial rate, disrupting the delicate ecophysiological relationships between ecosystems and the organisms that live in them. Ectotherms, such as amphibians, rely on external temperatures to behaviorally thermoregulate, making it especially imperative to study their thermal biology. Thermal preference, which assesses the environmental temperature an organism would seek out in the absence of external stimuli, provides valuable information about an amphibian’s thermal biology and can be used to predict the effects of climate change on a species or population. A commonly used method to measure thermal preference is an arena …

Characterizing The Host-Microbe Interactions Of Citrullus Colocynthis, Miranda Procter

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Desert ecosystems impose substantial plant growth and survival limitations, including high radiation, temperatures, and drought. To endure these extreme conditions, plants have developed a range of physiological and biochemical adaptations and established symbiotic partnerships with microbes that significantly enhance their resilience. Citrullus colocynthis, the wild relative of domesticated watermelon, has multiple applications in pharmacology and the biomedical field. Although many studies have examined this plant, few have investigated its microbiome, and those that did often focused on limited aspects. Understanding the microbes associated with this plant and their contributions to its survival can yield important insights into developing C. colocynthis …

Senescent Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Mediate Immunosuppression And Promote Breast Cancer Progression, Jiayu Ye

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, and aging is the largest risk factor for breast cancer development. The process of aging is typically accompanied by a progressive accumulation of senescent cells, which are characterized by a series of markers such as p16INKA4 (p16) positivity and a distinctive profile of secretory factors including mitogens, cytokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that are collectively recognized as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Numerous data so far have shown that senescent stromal cells play critical roles in modulating tumor microenvironment and progression. For example, senescent fibroblasts induced in vitro could …

Novel Therapeutics For Myeloid Malignancies, Tim Kong

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Myeloid malignancies are a group of heterogenous and clonal disorders that include myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These blood cancers are driven by characteristic oncogenes and propagated by pro-inflammatory niches; MPNs demonstrate hyperactive JAK-STAT signaling and upregulate cytokines including TNF, IL-6, and IL-8. Current therapeutics such as ruxolitinib targeting JAK2 providing symptomatic benefit to MPN patients but are not curative and do not prevent disease transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As such, greater understanding of the underlying disease biology is still required with means of uncover cancer dependencies. Here, we utilize a series of multi-omic approaches …

The Effects Of Diverse Bitter Gourds On Newly Formed Mcf-7/G1p3 And Mcf-7/Vector Cancer Cells, Eder Colmenero

Honors Theses

Breast cancer has become one of the deadliest cancers to affect women worldwide. Although treatments have been developed, no cure has been found for this disease. An emerging field with cancer treatments shows how isoflavones can be critical to limiting hormone-related cancers. In this study, the effects of Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) extracts will be investigated in two separate cell lines. These cell lines include MCF-7 and G1P3 with the G1P3 cell line being the more aggressive cancer. Bitter gourd, which is mainly harvested in Asia, has been shown to display apoptotic features when contracting cancer. Although it is unknown …

Early Detection Of Colon Cancer Through Colonoscopy: Analysis Of Tumor Size And Resection Length, Alyssa Haddock

Honors Theses

Colon cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with early detection critical for improved outcomes. Colonoscopy is a primary screening tool that can reduce incidence rates through the identification and removal of precancerous polyps. This study examines how undergoing a colonoscopy prior to diagnosis impacts two key surgical outcomes: tumor size and colon resection length. Data were collected from 70 de-identified patients who underwent colon resection for colon cancer between 2019 and 2024 at two regional hospitals in East Texas: Hunt Regional Medical Center and Mother Christus Frances Hospital. Using pathology reports, tumor size and …

The Effects Of Maclura Pomifera On Mcf-7/Vector And Mcf-7/G1p3 Breast Cancer Cells, Khushi Bhatt

Honors Theses

Breast cancer is considered one of the most common types of cancer, mainly affecting women worldwide. The most aggressive type is Triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for approximately 10-15% of the total amount of breast cancer cases. The majority of breast cancer cases are regarded as estrogen receptor-positive, accounting for 70% of the total number. Current treatment options consist of immunotherapy, surgery, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy. Research in breast cancer treatment has been a topic of interest in recent years, as the rate of individuals becoming diagnosed is increasing. The Osage orange, or Maclura pomifera, is a fruit native to …

Perfectionism, Anxiety, And Depression: A Comparison Of Student Mental Health At East Texas A&M University: Honors Vs Non-Honors, Connor Hall

Honors Theses

Honors students at East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) may have higher expectations to succeed due to greater course load and pressure versus students who are not in the honors program. These expectations can lead to stress that may cause perfectionism, anxiety, or depression (Rice, 2006; Wan, 2022; Van Praag, 2004). This study sought to determine if higher expectations and course load could lead to differences in mental health in honors versus non-honors students at East Texas A&M University. In order to determine these mental health characteristics, data was gathered using responses to a Qualtrics survey sent to 7527 ETAMU undergraduate …

Models And Mechanisms Of Chemotherapy-Induced Side Effects, Junwei Du

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of various cancers; however, it often leads to a range of debilitating side effects that compromise its efficacy and profoundly impact patients' quality of life and psychosocial well-being. These side effects can be broadly categorized into short-term effects, such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, and neutropenia, and long-term effects which can persist months or even years after treatment, including peripheral neuropathies, cognitive impairment, cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Among the most common and dose-limiting side effects are chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and cardiotoxicity (CTX). …

Neotropical Catfish Diversity In Rivers Of The Guiana Shield: A Combined Approach Using Taxonomic, Functional, And Isotopic Tools, Joseph Sheffield

Undergraduate Research Conference

Rivers of the Guiana Shield in South America are very heterogenous, containing a mosaic of habitats and environmental characteristics ideal for maintaining high freshwater biodiversity. The connection between the Essequibo and Amazon rivers via the Rupununi River during the wet season plays an important role for the great diversity of Neotropical ichthyofauna. Neotropical catfishes (Siluriformes) are the second most diverse group of freshwater fishes, after the Characiformes. They span a wide range of body sizes and exhibit diverse trophic specializations, making them ideal organisms for studying the influence of body size variation on community organization and ecosystem function. We explored …

Antimicrobial Resistance (Amr) Emergence In Sewage Wastewater: An Investigation Based On Advanced Genomics Methods, Shahana Seher Malik

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health worry, which makes the treatment of infectious diseases difficult by compromising the effectiveness of antimicrobial medications. This issue got worsen by the use of antibiotics without proper prescription and care during the time of COVID-19. At that time more than 78% of patients were prescribed with the use of medications like azithromycin and cephalosporins. The urban wastewater systems like wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), hospital effluents, and residential wastewater were found to be bursting with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs). This research used advanced metagenomics and LC-MS/MS techniques for the examination of …

Missense Mutation Of Msh6 Leucine 696 Has No Apparent Effect On The Dna Mismatch Repair Process, Razan H. Hammad, Rafia Rashid, Essence Tarrence, Christopher Bolden, Joanna E. Haye-Bertolozzi

XULAneXUS

Lynch Syndrome and Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency are human diseases implicated in mutations of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. This experiment tested a mutation of an MMR gene, MSH6, and evaluated how the mutation affected overall MMR effectiveness. Using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we performed the CAN1 forward mutation assay to study msh6-L696F and its implications in the MMR process. We hypothesized that there would be a significant change in molecular function in the Msh6 protein in the presence of this mutation. Bioinformatic tools predicted that this amino acid change would have deleterious effects on MMR function. However, …

Life After Death: Investigating The Resistance And Recovery Of Fungal Communities To Foundation Tree Mortality, Jessie F. Marlenee

Biology ETDs

Tree mortality can have cascading effects on the composition and resilience of interacting fungal communities. Yet, little is known about the impact tree mortality, distinct from abiotic drivers (i.e., drought), has on these communities. This dissertation focuses on the resilience of fungal communities to experimental tree mortality in a piñon-juniper woodland. In chapter one, I found that piñon mortality reduced piñon fine root biomass and piñon mycorrhizal fungal diversity, whereas juniper mycorrhizal fungi were unaffected by juniper mortality. In chapter two, I revealed that piñon mortality altered the composition and spatial structure of mycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi in the soil, …

Effects Of Chronic Metal Exposure And Metamorphosis On The Microbiomes Of Larval And Adult Insects And Riparian Spiders Through The Aquatic-Riparian Food Web, Brittany G. Perrotta, Karen A. Kidd, Amy Marcarelli, Gordon Paterson, David M. Walters

Michigan Tech Publications

The macroinvertebrate microbiome controls various aspects of the host's physiology, from regulation of environmental contaminants to reproductive output. Aquatic insects provide critical nutritional subsidies linking aquatic and riparian food webs while simultaneously serving as a contaminant pathway for riparian insectivores in polluted ecosystems. Previous studies have characterized the transport and transfer of contaminants from aquatic to riparian ecosystems through insect metamorphosis, but both contaminant exposure and metamorphosis are energetically intensive processes that may cause host microbiomes to undergo radical transformation in structure and function, potentially affecting the host's physiology. We collected arthropods from three sites within Torch Lake, a historical …

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

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

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, UAE. Results showed that low-density microplastics were present in 87% of soil samples, with FTIR analysis identifying synthetic polymers such as PE and PP. 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 spp., a marine luminous bacterium, were …