Biology Commons^™

Assessing Endophyte Frequency Distributions And The Effect Of Epichloë Brachyelytri In The Chemotypic And Genotypic Diversity Of Brachyelytrum Erectum, Rachel Ann Sneed

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Seed-transmissible epichloid fungal endophytes are best known for their roles as defensive mutualists in cool-season grasses. Historically, the discovery of fungal endophytes was driven by investigations of plant toxicity to livestock, followed by extensive study of their alkaloids and protection against insects and nematodes. Epichloae can produce four classes of alkaloids: ergot alkaloids, lolines (saturated aminopyrrolizidines), indole–diterpenes, and peramine. It is increasingly evident that these hereditary symbionts have much more diverse chemical profiles both in individual populations and between them. To this end, differences in chemotypic profiles of these symbionts may translate to different evolutionary and environmental advantages across plant …

Quantum Dot Effect On Endocytic Pathways And Eisosome Organization, Onyinye Dorathy Okafor

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Despite the promising applications of Quantum Dots (QDs) in the biomedical field, the long-lasting effects of QDs on the cell remain poorly understood. To comprehend the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of QDs in yeast, I characterized defects associated with receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) as well as on pinocytosis using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model in the presence of CdSe/ZnS QDs. My findings revealed that QDs led to an inefficient RME at the early, intermediate, and late stage of endocytic patch maturation at the endocytic site, with the prolonged lifespan of GFP-fused yeast fimbrin (Sac6-GFP), a late marker of endocytosis. The …

An Investigation Into Splicing Variation And Expression Patterns Of Insulin-Like Peptide 4 (Ilp4) Within The Drosophila Genus, Zachary C. Griffith

Theses and Dissertations

The insulin-signaling pathway plays a crucial role in regulating metabolic homeostasis in both humans and insects. Dysregulation or mutation within this pathway can lead to various diseases, such as diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. The insulin-like peptide 4 (ILP4) in Drosophila is an interesting subject for study due to its similarity to mammalian insulin and its role in regulating sugar metabolism. In this study, we investigate a novel splicing variation within the Drosophila takahashii Insulin-Like Peptide 4 (ILP4) gene. Our investigation identified a splicing variation found in four Drosophila species that introduces an additional codon in one isoform, resulting in …

Characterizing The Effects Of Melatonin On Reproduction In Green Anoles (Anolis Carolinensis)., Nicholas T. Shankey

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that is involved in the regulation of seasonal behaviors in a variety of species. Specifically, high levels of melatonin are associated with short photoperiods, which often coincide with the non-breeding season in most animals, meaning that melatonin may have an inhibitory role in regulating seasonal reproduction. To exert effects on different target tissues, melatonin must bind to its receptors (MT1 and MT2). Like other seasonally breeding animals, green anole lizards (Anolis carolinensis), have large, active gonads, increased levels of testosterone and estradiol, and increased reproductive behaviors during the breeding season compared to the non-breeding …

Differential Photosynthetic Yield And Accumulated Degree Day Estimation For Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum Aquaticum) To Determine Invasive Potential In The Midwest, United States, Alyssa Anderson

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Thank you to the Aquatic Plant Management Society (APMS) and affiliated chapters for funding this project. I would like to thank Mississippi State University for sending my source parrotfeather for propagation throughout the course of this project. Thank you to Jenna Eklund, Allison Squires, Thomas Zellmer, Justin Kjorness, and others in the Weed Science lab for their assistance. Finally, I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to my committee members: Ryan Wersal, PhD, Christopher Ruhland, PhD, and Gray Turnage, PhD for their everlasting support and guidance throughout this project.

Assessing The Nutritional Quality And Fate Of Saginaw Bay Dreissenid Mussel Veligers, Mitch R. Kehne

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The introduction and establishment of dreissenid species including zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (D. bugensis) mussels into the Laurentian Great Lakes has resulted in significant biological and ecological change over the past 30 years. Much of the current research completed to date on understanding dreissenid mussel impacts in the Great Lakes has primarily focused on the adult life stages with less known about the larval veliger form. The goals of this thesis were to; i) investigate veliger energy densities and fatty acid profiles to compare and contrast these nutritional metrics against pelagic zooplankton and; ii) determine …

Copper Resistance In Staphylococcus Epidermidis: Role Of The Multicopper Oxidase Gene, Caroline Sundal

Scripps Senior Theses

The ongoing struggle against antibiotic resistance and the lack of new antibiotic discoveries being made is a threat to global health. Alternate forms of antibacterial treatment are an important area of research to increase the treatment efficacy of clinical antimicrobial applications. In this research paper, we examine the model organism Staphylcoccus epidermidis, one of the leading causes of nosocomial infection. S. epidermidis normally resides on skin and mucus, however, can become an opportunistic pathogen if it invades the body, entering the bloodstream via the insertion of medical and prosthetic devices. Copper was a traditional therapy in ancient Egypt used for …

Parasite Prevalence And Innate Immunity In Mud And Musk Turtles, Nicole Beckett

Honors Program Theses

Turtles are being infected by both ectoparasites (typically leeches) and endoparasites (typically blood parasites). It is unknown what the parasite intensity is of wild Central Floridian turtles is, and what effect this parasite load has on them. In order to determine these factors wild turtles (Sternotherus odoratus, Kinosternon baurii, and Kinosternon subrubrum) were caught from two locations, Mead Botanical Gardens, and Lake Virginia. Hoop traps were used to catch the turtles, which were then sampled and released. Captured turtles went through a series of measurements as well as a blood draw before release. Blood parasite levels were taken from the …

Pcb Remediation In Transitional Floodplain Forests Along The Housatonic River, Soleil Laurin

Scripps Senior Theses

Human development affects natural environments in more ways than climate change, from the introduction of nonnative species and deforestation to pollution and urbanization. This is a case study examining the effects of PCB remediation on transitional floodplain forest along the Housatonic River in Western Massachusetts. The Housatonic River had previously been contaminated with PCBs and portions had been remediated. This study aims to determine the effects this remediation had on transitional floodplain forests, as well as provide a preliminary biodiversity assessment for sites that are planned to be remediated of PCBs by the Environmental Protection Agency. The study was carried …

Genetic Diversity Of Paxistima Canbyi A. Gray: Conserving A Rare Plant Species Endemic To The Eastern United States, Isaac Buabeng

Master’s Theses

Premise: The glacial cycles of the Pleistocene period likely had a profound impact on the genetic diversity and phylogeographic patterns of numerous plant taxa in North America. However, the genetic diversity of rare, limestone-endemic woody species has not been highlighted. This study assesses genetic diversity in Paxistima canbyi A. Gray (Canby’s mountain lover or rat stripper), a rare limestone endemic small woody plant.

Methods: We investigated the genetic diversity of P. canbyi using genomic Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data from 165 individuals from 14 populations sampled from across the entire range distribution. We first; de novo assembled the SNP …

Farmland Effect On Local Water Quality, Rachel Burns

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

I will be conducting water quality testing in bodies of water in the area. The goal is to determine if there is a correlation between the water quality and the proximity to farmland or if areas are equally affected by nonpoint sources of pollution despite the distance. The data collection will take place over the course of a month or less, with a more detailed schedule in the proposal. Several samples will be taken at each body of water, with 3-5 bodies of water per treatment group. I will be testing the pH, nitrates, and dissolved oxygen levels of the …

Localization And Quantification Of Atpase, Ca2+ Transporting, Plasma Membrane 2 (Atp2b2) In The Developing Euthyroid And Hypothyroid Cochlea, Emily Gregersen

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Thyroid hormone (TH) is essential for auditory system development. Proper auditory function requires remodeling and transformation of cochlear structures during a critical developmental period. In rodent models, low TH during this timeframe delays remodeling and impacts ion channel function required for hearing to occur. TH receptors are ligand-dependent transcription factors that regulate expression of genes. Considering this, auditory deficits observed in hypothyroidism are thought to be largely the result of altered expression of specific TH receptor target genes. TH is reported to impact calcium signaling in several tissues, but whether regulators of calcium signaling are altered following developmental hypothyroidism is …

Compliance And Roughness In Relation To Gecko Locomotion, Brooklynn Campbell

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Geckos move efficiently through a variety of substrates, from swaying branches to wooden fences to the sides of structures. Previous studies have studied locomotion and adhesion on manmade and rough substrates; however, the work is limited when discussing locomotion and adhesion as a relationship of compliance and roughness. Ease of movement was quantified by speed, under the assumption that the faster a gecko moves, the easier it is for the gecko to cross the substrate. Gehyra oceanica geckos from Moorea, French Polynesia were tested on substrates varying in compliance and roughness with four different treatments in total. Compliance, roughness, and …

Microglia Regulate Light Evoked Retinal Responses In The Zebrafish Retina., Brittney Moore

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The primary goal of the project is to investigate the role of the interferon regulatory factor 9 (irf8) gene in the retinal function of zebrafish. My research aims to examine and compare the retinal responses of two subject groups: wildtype zebrafish and zebrafish with the irf8 gene knocked out. This project seeks to determine if irf8 knockout zebrafish lose visual system functionality before experiencing changes in retinal morphology. The primary technique to answer this research question is the electroretinogram, a commonly used method to examine retinal function. The final outcome of this project will be a scientific paper describing the …

The Effects Of Ethanol Exposure On Glucose And Lactate Levels In Crayfish, Mackenzie Kirwan

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of the project is to investigate and determine the effects of sunlight exposure and hormone levels. The circadian rhyth, which is heavily influenced by sunlight, not only affects the amount of sleep someone achieves, but is also related to behavior and mood, and heavily relies on the body’s hormones for proper regulation. The hormones that are prevelant to the circadian rhythm, and which will be studied in this experiment are cortisol, serotonin and melatonin. In this experiment, these three hormones will be extracted prior to alterations of light exposure. Animal test subjects will then undergo treatment of light …

Atg11 And Atg9 Interaction In Selective Autophagy, Chimi Dolker Sherpa

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Selective autophagy, induced by cellular stresses, degrades/recycles a specific cargo. Ithelps prevent diseases like Parkinson’s, Huntington's, cancer, and bacterial infections. It involves the formation of an autophagosome, a double-membrane vesicle that takes the cargo to the vacuole/lysosome for degradation. Atg11, the central organizer of selective autophagy, acts as a scaffold protein, interacting with Atg9, Atg1 and other Atg proteins. Our research focuses on finding mutations in Atg11 that specifically disrupt its interaction with Atg9 without affecting its dimerization or interaction with Atg1. We targeted residues 455-535 of Atg11 as a putative Atg9 interaction site, performing mutagenesis on four key residues …

Borate-Based Bioactive Glasses Properties: Clinical And Biomedical Applications, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Borate bioactive glasses (BBGs) constitute the recently produced bioactive glasses (BGs) in the domain of bioactive materials, offering enhanced functionalities over conventional silicate and phosphate BGs. This advancement is primarily characterized by BBGs' rapid yet controllable degradation rates, superior bioactivity, and the ability to swiftly form a hydroxyapatite layer (HAP) upon interaction with physiological fluids. A distinguishing feature of BBGs lies in their customizability; doping with therapeutic metal ions tailors their bioactivity towards specific physiological responses, including promoting angiogenesis, antibacterial activity, and osteogenesis. This versatility of BBGs' applications extends to bone regeneration, wound healing, drug delivery systems, and potentially nerve …

Biology News 2024, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Biology.

Biology News

Contents:

Letter from the Department Head --- 2
Bolton Award Winner --- 3
Goldwater Scholarship Winner --- 3
Purple and Old Gold Award Winner --- 3
Faculty News Roundup --- 4
New Hires --- 6
UNI Botanical Center --- 7
Alumni Information Request --- 7
Support Our Programs --- 8
Floyd Fellowship Award Winner --- 8

The Effectiveness Of Constructed Treatment Wetland Systems At Removing Microplastic Pollution, Katherine L. Johnsen

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Plastics are a highly utilized material in modem society, leading to environmental concerns surrounding plastic pollution. Microplastics, which are defined as plastic particles less than 5mm in size, have additionally become increasingly recognized as a harmful pollutant in aquatic systems. Constructed treatment wetland systems (CTWSs) are highly effective at removal and mitigation of pollutants, including anthropogenic nutrient inputs. This study aims to understand the potential of a CTWS to remove microplastic pollution from tertiary-treated municipal wastewater before discharge into a local natural water body. Microplastic percent removal was determined through the manual quantification of microplastics in triplicate 500mL surface water …

Transient Interactions Modulate The Affinity Of Nf-Κb Transcription Factors For Dna, Tianjie Li, Shandy Shahabi, Tapan Biswas, Oleg V. Tsodikov, Wenfei Pan, De-Bin Huang, Vivien Ya-Fan Wang, Yi Wang, Gourisankar Ghosh

Biology Faculty Publications

The dimeric nuclear factor kappa B (NF- κB) transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression by binding to a variety of κB DNA elements with conserved G:C-rich flanking sequences enclosing a degenerate central region. Toward defining mechanistic principles of affinity regulated by degeneracy, we observed an unusual dependence of the affinity of RelA on the identity of the central base pair, which appears to be noncontacted in the complex crystal structures. The affinity of κB sites with A or T at the central position is ~10- fold higher than with G or C. The crystal structures of neither the complexes nor …

Ai Is A Viable Alternative To High Throughput Screening: A 318-Target Study, Martin St. Maurice

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

High throughput screening (HTS) is routinely used to identify bioactive small molecules. This requires physical compounds, which limits coverage of accessible chemical space. Computational approaches combined with vast on-demand chemical libraries can access far greater chemical space, provided that the predictive accuracy is sufficient to identify useful molecules. Through the largest and most diverse virtual HTS campaign reported to date, comprising 318 individual projects, we demonstrate that our AtomNet® convolutional neural network successfully finds novel hits across every major therapeutic area and protein class. We address historical limitations of computational screening by demonstrating success for target proteins without known binders, …

Bacillus Subtilis-Derived Peptides Disrupt Quorum Sensing And Biofilm Assembly In Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, Kyle R. Leistikow, Daniel S. May, Won Se Suh, Gabriel Vargas Asensio, Adam J. Schaenzer, Cameron R. Currie, Krassimira R. Hristova

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most clinically important pathogens in the world, with infections leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality in both humans and animals. The ability of S. aureus to form biofilms protects cells from antibiotics and promotes the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes; therefore, new strategies aimed at inhibiting biofilm growth are urgently needed. Probiotic species, including Bacillus subtilis, are gaining interest as potential therapies against S. aureus for their ability to reduce S. aureus colonization and virulence. Here, we search for strains and microbially derived compounds with strong antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant S. …

The Blackfeet Nation’S Bison Conservation Herd Management Plan, Brandon Kittson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This document is meant to act as a guide to understanding Bison reintroduction on the Blackfeet reservation and serve as a resource for bison management. This report and plan will: 1) review bison ecology and the history of reintroduction efforts on the reservation; 2) identify potential issues and barriers to successful reintroduction; 3) present a summary of current land policies and patterns of land use on the reservation; and 4) provide recommendations for dealing with those potential issues. Recommendations will be based on analyses of previous knowledge of bison and bison behavior.

Understanding Cellular Dynamics: Investigating A Yeast-Two Hybrid Protein-Protein Interaction, Riok3:Cse1l; Also By Investigating Trogocytosis Of Cd4+ T Cells From Rhog-/- Mice, Brittnee N. Crane

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a negative-sense virus that was first described in 1930 when it was isolated from sheep during an outbreak. In the last 25 years there has been a spread in the geographical range into the Middle East. The most susceptible animals are cattle, goats, sheep, and camels. The most overt symptom of livestock infection is that infected pregnant animals experience spontaneous abortion. Humans are susceptible as well and symptoms range from mild febrile illness to liver necrosis, blindness, hemorrhagic fever, and death. An important player in the cellular innate response to RVFV infections is the …

Repatriation And A Biological Profile Of Indigenous Remains Of West Texas, Haley P. Rebardi

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) was created in response to the injustice, mishandling, looting, and trafficking of Native American remains and cultural artifacts. However, even with the latest amendment in December of 2023, there are still gray areas in the context and language. Notably, an issue with NAGPRA is the act only includes institutions and organizations that receive and are supported by Federal funding. Consequently, the act does not cover private collections. The main concern in these contexts is the lack of communication, awareness, and/or permission with and from descendant tribes or potential descendants when it …

The Biobehavioral Effects Of Embryonic Exposure To Neural Inflammation And Oxidative Stress In Zebrafish, Dalton J. Anderson

Honors College Theses

The purpose of this research is to improve understanding of the neurodevelopmental effects of embryonic exposure to elevated inflammation and oxidative stress induced by the antipyretic drug acetaminophen (APAP). Our study was the first to examine the interactive effects of APAP and inflammation in zebrafish embryos and how the treatments affect brain development and larval behavior. Experimental groups of zebrafish larvae were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation, APAP, or LPS + APAP and larval behavior was analyzed using Ethovision automated behavioral tracking software. We also measured changes in whole-brain Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (GSK3B) and GSK3B phosphorylation, …

Functional Investigation Of Shaggy, An Inhibitor Of Canonical Wnt Signaling, In The Tardigrade Hypsibius Exemplaris, Raul A. Chavarria

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Tardigrades have a highly simplified anteroposterior (AP) axis. The mechanisms that regulate the development of this secondarily simplified AP axis are not known. In many animals, the canonical Wnt (cWnt) signaling pathway regulates primary axis establishment through antagonistic interactions with inhibitors of cWnt signaling. This study investigated the roles of shaggy, an inhibitor of cWnt signaling, in regulating development in the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris. Gene expression patterns of shaggy and other components of the cWnt signaling pathway were analyzed alongside markers of anterior and posterior identity using Hybridization Chain Reaction in situ in H. exemplaris. RNA interference …

Evaluating The Use Of Baited Remote Underwater Video (Bruv) In Assessing Shark And Fish Populations In A Low Visibility Estuarine System, The Tolomato River, Fl, Usa, Sarah Worthington

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recently, there has been increasing use of baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys for assessing shark and fish populations in marine ecosystems. This approach can be useful because it may provide a non-destructive, non-extractive, and cost-effective alternative to traditional fishing-based methods. However, to date, most studies using BRUVs have focused on their use in high-visibility ecosystems, such as tropical reefs. Furthermore, few studies have compared results from BRUV surveys with those obtained using traditional methods to evaluate the efficacy of this approach. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using BRUV surveys to assess shark …

Improving Growth Models Of Cultivated Sugar Kelp, Saccharina Latissima, By Accounting For Intraspecific Variation In Thermal Tolerance, Ruby Krasnow, Sara Gonzalez, Scott Lindell

Student Publications [Scholarly]

Dynamic models of sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima) growth are used to estimate the production potential of seaweed aquaculture in many regions around the world. These models do not currently account for the existence of S. latissima ecotypes that are adapted to regional environmental conditions, particularly temperature. We tested the hypothesis that recalibrating the temperature parameters of a dynamic energy budget model using literature data for S. latissima from regions with a similar climate to the region of interest would result in more accurate predictions than using a general species-wide temperature response curve. Calibrating the model using data from warm regions …

Targeting Ocean Conservation Outcomes Through Threat Reduction, Joseph A. Turner, Malcolm Starkey, Nicholas K. Dulvy, Frank Hawkins, Louise Mair, Adeline Serckx, Thomas Brooks, Beth Polidoro, Stuart H. M. Butchart, Kent Carpenter, Minna Epps, Rima W. Jabado, Nicholas B. W. Macfarlane, Leon Bennun

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Nations have committed to reductions in the global rate of species extinctions through the Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15, for ocean and terrestrial species, respectively. Biodiversity loss is worsening despite rapid growth in the number and extent of protected areas, both at sea and on land. Resolving this requires targeting the locations and actions that will deliver positive conservation outcomes for biodiversity. The Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric, developed by a consortium of experts, quantifies the contributions that abating threats and restoring habitats in specific places offer towards reducing extinction risk based on the IUCN Red List …