Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Morphological Characteristics Of The Mediophyceae Diatom Lampriscus Cf. Shadboltianus Var. Crenulatus Collected From Gili Meno, Indonesia, Arief Rachman, Riani Widiarti, Setiarti Sukotjo, Mark Wells

Makara Journal of Science

Diatoms are the most common and abundant microalgae group in seawater, with an estimated 200 genera and 200,000 species categorized into three distinct taxonomic classes: Mediophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, and Coscinodiscophyceae. This study describes the morphological characteristics of Lampriscus GM052022, a diatom belonging to the Mediophyceae family, which was collected from Gili Matra, Lombok, Indonesia. Analysis using light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM) showed that the morphological characteristics of the Lampriscus GM052022 specimen are similar to those of Lampriscus shadboltianus var. crenulatus due to the distinct crenulation lines on the frustule, which differentiate this variation from Lampriscus shadboltianus. However, the …

Bacillus Subtilis Parb C-Terminal Lysine Residues Are Essential For Dimerization And In Vivo Function, Indicating Their Roles In Dna Sliding, Aleksey Aleshintsev, Lindsey E. Way, Ngoc Khanh Lai, Bianca Guerra, Paloma Dorantes, Lois Akosua Serwaa, Sealtiel Anulao, Miranda Molina, Xindan Wang, Hyeongjun Kim

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

The broadly conserved ParB protein performs crucial functions in bacterial chromosome segregation and replication regulation. The cellular function of ParB requires it to dimerize, recognize parS DNA sequences, clamp on DNA, then slide to adjacent sequences through nonspecific DNA binding. How ParB coordinates nonspecific DNA binding and sliding remains elusive. Here, we combine multiple in vitro biophysical and computational tools and in vivo approaches to address this question. We found that five conserved lysine residues in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of ParB play distinct roles. While the two central rigid lysine residues provide the structural platform for the CTD, the …

College Of Natural Sciences 2025 Year-End Publication, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Page 2 Dean's Message 
Page 3 Department Highlights 
Page 4 One Day for State 
Page 5 Ice cores reveal volcanic eruptions in 13th century 
Page 5 How do our cells interpret stress 
Page 6-7 Faculty Excellence
Page 8 New chemical biology consortium will accelerate cancer research
Page 9 SDSU to combat crop disease, biofilms in new NSF-back project 
Page 9 Science as Art Competition 
Page 10-11 Student Excellence  
Page 12 SDSU researcher developing natural alternative to synthetic dyes
Page 12 Browning Retired
Page 13 Quantum technologies through NSF-backed project
Page 13 NASA Funds CNS Development of Model
Page 14 GGS …

Gene Regulatory Programs Of Nk Cells Show That Ncam1 (Cd56) And Kirs Are Controlled By Genetically Polymorphic Distal Regulatory Elements, Mariam A. Salem, Aditi Varkey, Matthew D. Estrada, Kruthika Sharma, Caprice D. Eisele, Nitin Chakravarti, Dean A. Lee, Aharon G. Freud, Bethany L. Mundy-Bosse, Patrick L. Collins

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Owing to their immunoprotective properties, natural killer (NK) cells are critical for the innate immune response to pathogens, as well as a new wave of cancer immunotherapy that harnesses natural cytotoxicity. We sought to study the genetic and epigenetic drivers behind human-specific NK cell receptors, so that we can better understand the underlying cellular function. Here, we present a transcriptomic, proteomic (CITE-seq), and chromatin (single nuclei ATAC-seq) profiling of human peripheral NK cell subsets, which was then compared with genomic databases. Through integrative multi-omics, we demonstrate that CD56^bright versus CD56^dim NK cell subsets have differential distal regulatory element …

Biology Department Publications: 2025, Sam Lindgren

Biology Department Bibliographies

This document is a non-comprehensive list of publications made by graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and faculty members in the Biology Department in 2024. It indexes those publications available through PubMed, and serves as an archival record of the Department's robust scholarly contributions.

Exploring The Synergistic Effects Of Cisplatin And Curcumin In Osteosarcoma Cells, Ellis Stafford, Alexa Cabral, Andrea Florian Ph.D., Reese Nagy

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a highly aggressive bone cancer characterized by rapid metastasis, which drastically reduces patient survival rates from 70% in localized cases to 30% upon metastasis. Current treatments combining chemotherapy with cisplatin and surgical intervention are often ineffective against metastatic OS and are associated with significant side effects. Cisplatin targets cancer cells by binding to DNA, disrupting transcription and replication, and inducing apoptosis. To address the challenges associated with current treatments, this study investigates the potential of combining cisplatin with curcumin, the bioactive compound derived from turmeric, as a novel therapeutic approach. Curcumin has shown anticancer properties by inducing …

Crispr Transgenic Clytia Hemisphaerica As A Vector For Toxin Delivery In A Zebrafish Melanoma Model, Theodore G. Paz

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The jellyfish Clytia hemisphaerica has the potential to be used in cancer therapies with the discovery of potential active toxin target regions to be modified for use. The program Venomix is a Uniprot-based database that was utilized in this experiment to generate likely flagged hit regions using Clytia hemisphaerica CDS files run against its database of terrestrial toxins (Furuno et al., 2003; Macrander et al., 2018). By themselves they are indeterminate as to whether they are active toxin region hits (Macrander et al., 2018). With further analysis such as toxin homology in closely related, annotated marine taxa and accounting for …

Modeling Inherited Retinal Disease In Zebrafish, Meet Patel

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) affect millions of people worldwide. Majority of IRDs are caused by degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptor cells (PRCs) due to gene mutations. The overarching goal of my dissertation is to model and evaluate the molecular role of various gene candidates involved in IRDs such as cone rod dystrophy (CRD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Mutations in CDHR1, a photoreceptor specific cadherin have been associated with CRD and recapitulated in mouse CDHR1 knockouts. However, the molecular function of CDHR1 remains unknown. CDHR1 has been shown to localize at the leading edge of murine rod nascent outer segment …

Psr Impacts Chromatin Condensation During Spermatogenesis In Nasonia Vitripennis, Jacqueline R. Solomon

CMC Senior Theses

Paternal Sex Ratio (PSR) is a supernumerary, selfish B chromosome found in the jewel wasp (Nasonia vitripennis). PSR is transmitted strictly paternally to progeny, and when present, it causes paternal genome elimination (PGE) just after fertilization. Due to the haplo-diploid reproduction of N. vitripennis, this PGE event results in all-male broods of progeny, ~90% of which carry and transmit PSR. Thus, PGE is beneficial for PSR’s transmission.  A previous study showed that PSR induces PGE by expressing a gene called haploidizer during spermatogenesis. Although how haploidizer functions in PGE is unknown, this finding suggests two basic models: that (i) the …

Uncovering The Mechanism Of Reep2-Mediated Emt-Driven Membrane Trafficking In Lung Adenocarcinoma, Kevin Fulp

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Membrane trafficking is frequently disrupted during cancer progression, and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Currently, no effective drugs target dysregulated membrane trafficking for cancer treatment. Recent evidence has demonstrated that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) employs a membrane trafficking program to coordinate cancer cell invasion and immunosuppression. To further dissect the pro-tumorigenic membrane trafficking program, we initiated an in vivo CRISPRi screen to assess more than 2,000 membrane trafficking-related genes in a syngeneic mouse LUAD model. We identified REEP2, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) shaping protein, as a novel regulator of EMT-driven membrane trafficking. High REEP2 expression is …

Reep2-Driven Pro-Metastatic Secretion Promotes Lung Cancer Progression, Oluwafunminiyi E. Obaleye

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Membrane trafficking plays a critical role in cellular function and is frequently dysregulated in cancer to promote metastasis. In lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activating transcription factor, ZEB1, drives a pro-metastatic membrane trafficking program; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) in vivo screen of 2,099 membrane trafficking regulators in a syngeneic mouse model of EMT-driven LUAD, we identified REEP2 — an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) shaping protein — as a critical regulator of tumor progression. REEP2 mRNA expression correlates with poor prognosis, EMT signatures, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in LUAD patients. …

The Effect Of Sex On A-To-I Editing In Skeletal Muscle During Inflammation, Skyler Lee

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a post-transcriptional mechanism mediated by ADAR enzymes that can alter RNA sequence, protein function, and gene regulation. Because ADAR1 is upregulated during inflammation and plays a critical role in innate immunity, previous studies investigated the effects of acute inflammation on RNA editing in male and female mice. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation, and RNA editing levels were examined in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle. While editing levels in the heart and brain remained unchanged, skeletal muscle exhibited tissue- and sex-specific differences in editing. In this thesis, LPS treatment affected selective editing, increasing …

Orexin Receptor Modulation In Amygdalar Stress Circuitry Differentiates Resilient And Vulnerable Phenotypes, Megan Marie John

Dissertations and Theses

Social stress is important for evaluating threats and resource opportunities, however, chronic exposure initiates the onset of psychological disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stress responsiveness varies between individuals and sexes, resulting in disproportionate diagnoses and ineffective treatment outcomes. Enhancing therapeutic efficacy requires understanding of stress responsivity, phenotype development, and neurocircuitry modifications. Key contributors to stress responsiveness, such as threat of aggression and motivational initiation, influence the development of resilient or vulnerable phenotypes through behavioral and molecular adaptations to stress-related neurocircuitry. The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is a brain region associated with fear learning and integrates stress …

Exploring The Application Of Wastewater Monitoring To Determine The Prevalence And Diversity Of Influenza On The Campus Of West Virginia University, Lakyn Renee Sanders

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Influenza viruses (IV) affect populations globally, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that IV are responsible for an estimated 3-5 million infections and 290,000 – 650,000 deaths annually^1–3. More specifically, the 2019-2020 IV season is associated with an estimated 38 million illnesses and 22,000 deaths in the United States alone⁴. IV are rapidly spread between individuals through direct contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or aerosolized virus particles². Traditional IV infection monitoring relies on clinical screening of patients presenting influenza-like symptoms, commonly through the use of multi-target panel tests such as the BioFire …

Targeted And Screening Based Approaches To Analyze Drm Transcriptional Repressor Complex Activity In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Emily Washeleski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The molecular machinery that control the eukaryotic cell cycle, specifically the processes that mediate the switch between cellular division or quiescence, are essential for cellular and organismal viability. However, how the same machinery integrates with developmental or differentiation programs is less well understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the 8-subunit DRM complex (for Dp, Rb and MuvB), whose subunits belong to the Synthetic Mulitivulva (SynMuv) B class genes, is a central regulator of the cell cycle but also prevents inappropriate cell fate specification. The conserved mammalian DREAM complex (for Dp, Rb, E2F, And MuvB) is best known as a transcriptional repressor …

Developing A Tool To Measure Resistance To Sustainable Food Choices: A Pilot Study In Ireland And The Netherlands, Kate Flanagan, Bart Sinteur, Patricia J. Bulsing, John M. Kearney

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Consumer uptake of a sustainable diet is critical for addressing environmental challenges and promoting public health. Understanding why consumers resist adopting sustainable eating habits can inform targeted interventions and policies. This pilot study examines whether a newly developed scale can effectively detect consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Currently, there is a lack of research on a tool to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet, highlighting the need for a reliable instrument.

The aim of this study is to develop a scale, based on existing literature, to measure consumer resistance to a sustainable diet. Additionally, the study aims to …

Editorial-Sure Journal Volume 7, Issue 2, Geraldine M. Dowling, Eva Campion, Sinead Loughran, Ariane Perez-Gavilan, Josephine Treacy

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Potential Ability Of The Tlr4-Nf-Κb Axis To Reduce Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Expression In Intestinal Epithelial Cells, Gabriella Longoria

Student Scholar Symposium

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) primarily affects premature infants and is characterized by intestinal necrosis, inflammation, and high mortality. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-induced apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells is thought to drive NEC development. Upon binding bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TLR4 signaling activates NF-κB, leading to inflammatory gene expression. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a pro-ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), prevents NEC in a mouse model by downregulating TLR4, despite reduced AhR expression in NEC-affected intestines. However, the molecular mechanism behind the reduced expression of AhR in NEC is unclear. To model NEC in vitro, we treated IEC-6 enterocytes with LPS, which reduces AhR …

Impact Of Zar1l Expression On Drug Response In Breast Cancer Cells, Maryam M. Gerges, Smita Misra

Student Scholar Symposium

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females. BC arises from the uncontrolled proliferation of breast epithelial cells. A crucial gene associated with BC is the Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene 2 (BRCA2), a tumor suppressor that aids in DNA repair. Proper BRCA2 function helps prevent BC. Our lab studied the cell cycle-dependent expression of BRCA2 revealing that its promoter exhibits bi-directional activity. During cell division, forward activity transcribes BRCA2, while in the resting phase, reverse activity transcribes ZAR2 (Zygote Arrest 1 Like). ZAR2, an RNA-binding protein with …

Functionality Of The Ryanodine Receptor Type 1 (Ryr1) In The Development Of Malignant Hyperthermia (Mh), Cesar Medina, Joshua Owens

Student Scholar Symposium

Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is a rare but potentially lethal pharmacogenetic disorder, affecting roughly 1 in 30,000 children and 1 in 100,000 adults undergoing surgery. MH can be triggered by agents used for general anesthesia. These may include volatile anesthetics such as sevoflurane, isoflurane, desflurane, halothane or depolarizing neuromuscular blockers such as succinylcholine. Upon administration of a trigger, an MH susceptible (MHS) patient can develop a hypermetabolic state during the intraoperative or postoperative periods. If not treated quickly, an MH episode could result in organ dysfunction or death. The primary mechanisms involved in the development of an MH crisis include the …

Her2 Amplification In Breast Cancer And Its Treatment Options, Emerald Cole, Zoe Grace Brigance

Student Scholar Symposium

Breast cancer affects approximately 2.3 million women worldwide, causing an estimated 670,000 deaths in 2022. Among its subtypes, 15-20% exhibit overexpression of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), a tyrosine kinase receptor that drives tumor aggressiveness. HER2 activates the PI3K and RAS/RAF/MAPK pathways, promoting uncontrolled cell growth, proliferation, and survival. In HER2+ breast cancer, gene amplification leads to excess HER2 protein production, resulting in persistent signaling and unchecked tumor progression. However, this dependency on HER2 presents a key therapeutic opportunity. Trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, inhibits HER2 signaling and enhances immune-mediated cancer cell destruction. When combined with Lapatinib, chemotherapy, …

Evaluating The Sna1 Gene Using Crispr Mediated Knockdown In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Rosanna Jees, Sonia Cerrillo, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Ewing sarcoma is a pediatric cancer with limited therapeutic options and poor long-term survival. CRISPR–Cas9–mediated gene editing provides a powerful tool for investigating tumor molecular behavior and identifying potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we worked with CRISPR–Cas9 in Ewing sarcoma ES8 cells to evaluate the roles of the transcription factors SNAI1 and SNAI2, both implicated in epithelial–mesenchymal transition and cancer progression. Using guide RNAs targeting each gene, we assessed proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and long-term survival through Incucyte live-cell imaging and colony-formation assays. Knockout of SNAI1 resulted in decreased cell proliferation and reduced migratory capacity compared with controls, suggesting a …

Effects Of Ptk2 Knockdown On Key Cellular Processes In Es8 Cells, Adrian Cruz, Emiliano Rueda, Dylan Andrews, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive form of pediatric cancer characterized by rapid growth and metastatic potential, with limited treatment options available. PTK2 is a key regulator of many pathways involved in tumor behavior, including integrin-mediated adhesion, survival, and migration. This research lab investigated how CRISPR-Cas9 knockdown of PTK2 can affect cellular processes in ES8 Ewing sarcoma cells. To assess the effectiveness of reducing PTK2 expression, we utilized live-cell imaging, wound-healing assays, measurements of caspase activity, colony formation, and qRT-PCR. Our results showed that incomplete knockdown decreased cell proliferation and colony formation, while also increasing apoptotic activity. Additionally, migratory ability was …

How Cxcr4 Knockdown Affects Tumorigenic Properties In Es8 Cells, Gabriella Galdeano, Damon James, Terry Jo Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is a seven-transmembrane G-protein–coupled receptor (GPCR). When activated by its ligand SDF-1 (CXCL12), CXCR4 triggers signaling pathways that promote cell survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, and chemotaxis. Many cancers exploit the CXCR4/SDF-1 axis to support tumor growth and metastasis. Ewing sarcoma (ES8) is an aggressive pediatric bone and soft-tissue cancer, and elevated CXCR4 signaling has been linked to increased migration and metastatic behavior. ES8 cells, a well-established ES8 cell line, provided a model to study how CXCR4contributes to tumor progression. CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing was used to knock down CXCR4 in ES8 cells, delivered through lipid-based transfection. …

Investigating The Role Of Twist1 In Cancer Progression Using Crispr Knockdown, Abby Guerrero, Sofia Perez, Terry J. Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

TWIST1 is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that promotes cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. This study investigates the functional role of TWIST1 in cancer progression by using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown to examine its effects on apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and invasion. TWIST1 was knocked down in cancer cell lines using CRISPR/Cas9 assay. Knockdown efficiency and changes in genes were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Functional assays included caspase assays for apoptosis, MTT assays for proliferation, wound-healing assays for migration, Matrigel invasion assays, and colony formation assays to assess long-term growth and invasive potential. Across …

Itgb1 Knockdown Alters Apoptosis And Proliferation In Ewing Sarcoma Cells, Aditi Kumar, Magdalena Saad, Terry J. Shackleford

Mechanisms of Disease

Integrin beta 1 (ITGB1) is an adhesion receptor that link cells to the extracellular matrix and regulates pathways involved in survival, proliferation, and migration. In order to understand its role in Ewing Sarcoma, we applied CRISPR-Cas9 with two guide RNAs to knock down ITGB1 in ES8 cells. We then assessed changes in cell growth, death, movement, and gene expression using Incucyte live-cell imaging, colony formation assays, wound healing assays, and qRT-PCR. qRT-PCR showed partial ITGB1 reduction, with ITGB1_gRNA2 producing the strongest decrease. ITGB1_gRNA2 also led to a small increase in caspase activity and a 20-30% increase in proliferation at the …

Host-Intrinsic Factors Determine Anti-Tumor Efficacy Of Exercise In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Sumedha Pareek

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths with a low 5-year relative survival rate of approximately 13.3% for all stages combined. We have previously shown that exercise can improve quality of life and enhance functional capacity among patients with PDAC. Exercise induces a variety of changes in the tumor microenvironment with beneficial effects in several tumor types. However, our understanding of the clinical effects of exercise and the mechanisms that mediate anti-tumor effects are limited in pancreatic cancer.

In this project, using C57BL/6 mice from Taconic Biosciences (Tac) and Jackson Laboratories (Jax), we established a …

Further Characterization Of The Fungal Effector Mvlg-01732 In Planta And Heterologous Expression Of Fungal Effectors In Different Smut Fungi., Joseph Paul Ham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Host-pathogen interactions in smut fungi are characterized by effector proteins and their role in infection. The goal of this work is to better understand these interactions by further characterizing an effector from Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae and heterologously expressing this and other effectors in heterologous species to see if the range of these effectors can play a role in pathogenicity when expressed in distantly and closely related fungal species. These effectors have been attuned over time to their host plant but have homologous interactors in other plant species. In this study, Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae, Sporisorium reilianum, and Ustilago maydis, were all used …

A Molecular Mechanism Of Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition (Emt): An Evidence Based Lesson Applying Molecular Biology Through The Lens Of Cancer, Sophie Hasson, Melissa Rowland-Goldsmith

Open Educational Resources

This lesson aims to strengthen students’ critical thinking and molecular biology data analysis skills as well as their understanding of concepts related to the hallmark of cancer: tissue invasion and metastasis. Students begin by learning about the invasion of cancer cells, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT), and an important protein involved in EMT: E-cadherin. They then apply molecular biology knowledge to analyze data from multiple papers to infer the relationship between Snail and E-cadherin in different types of cancers. Next, they continue to interpret data from many papers to determine that a repressor transcription factor is present during EMT in cancer cells …

Effects Of Photo-Oxidized Crude Oil On Gulf Killifish Early Life Stages, Charles Campbell

LSU Master's Theses

Photo-oxidation of spilled crude oil generates polar compounds that can heighten toxicity to marine fish embryos. We investigated the effects of photo-oxidized crude oil on early life stages of Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) by exposing embryos under flow-through conditions to water-accommodated fractions of four oil treatments: fresh oil unexposed to either sunlight or weathering referred to as dark control (DC), a UV-light oxidized whole oil (LT), the polar fraction extracted from LT (Pol) and the remnants after extracting the Pol from LT (NP). Oil loadings of 0.38–3.00 g oil/kg water were tested. Total PAH concentrations and chemical profiles …