Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Consequences Of Spatial Structure In Soil–Geomorphic Data On The Results Of Machine Learning Models, Daehyun Kim, Insang Song, Lorrayne Miralha, Daniel R. Hirmas, Ryan W. Mcewan, Tom G. Mueller, Pavel Samonil

Biology Faculty Publications

In this paper, we examined the degree to which inherent spatial structure in soil properties influences the outcomes of machine learning (ML) approaches to predicting soil spatial variability. We compared the performances of four ML algorithms (support vector machine, artificial neural network, random forest, and random forest for spatial data) against two non-ML algorithms (ordinary least squares regression and spatial filtering regression). None of the ML algorithms produced residuals that had lower mean values or were less autocorrelated over space compared with the non-ML approaches. We recommend the use of random forest when a soil variable of interest is weakly …

Desmoglein-2 As A Cancer Modulator: Friend Or Foe?, Kay Myo Min, Charlie Ffrench, Barbara Mcclure, Michael Ortiz, Emma Dorward, Michael Samuel, Lisa Ebert, Mỹ Mahoney, Claudine Bonder

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Desmoglein-2 (DSG2) is a calcium-binding single pass transmembrane glycoprotein and a member of the large cadherin family. Until recently, DSG2 was thought to only function as a cell adhesion protein embedded within desmosome junctions designed to enable cells to better tolerate mechanical stress. However, additional roles for DSG2 outside of desmosomes are continuing to emerge, particularly in cancer. Herein, we review the current literature on DSG2 in cancer and detail its impact on biological functions such as cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, invasion, intracellular signaling, extracellular vesicle release and vasculogenic mimicry. An increased understanding of the diverse repertoire of the biological …

27-Hydroxycholesterol And Dna Damage Repair: Implication In Prostate Cancer, Gloria Cecilia Galvan, Nadine Friedrich, Sanjay Das, James Daniels, Sara Pollan, Shweta Dambal, Ryusuke Suzuki, Sergio Sanders, Sungyong You, Hisashi Tanaka, Yeon-Joo Lee, Wei Yuan, Johann De Bono, Irina Vasilevskaya, Karen Knudsen, Michael Freeman, Stephen Freedland

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: We previously reported that cholesterol homeostasis in prostate cancer (PC) is regulated by 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC) and that CYP27A1, the enzyme that converts cholesterol to 27HC, is frequently lost in PCs. We observed that restoring the CYP27A1/27HC axis inhibited PC growth. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of 27HC-mediated anti-PC effects.

METHODS: We employed in vitro models and human transcriptomics data to investigate 27HC mechanism of action in PC. LNCaP (AR+) and DU145 (AR-) cells were treated with 27HC or vehicle. Transcriptome profiling was performed using the Affymetrix GeneChip™ microarray system. Differential expression was determined, and gene set enrichment …

Needle Biopsy Accelerates Pro-Metastatic Changes And Systemic Dissemination In Breast Cancer: Implications For Mortality By Surgery Delay, Hiroyasu Kameyama, Priya Dondapati, Reese Simmons, Macall Leslie, John Langenheim, Yunguang Sun, Misung Yi, Aubrey Rottschaefer, Rashmi Pathak, Shreya Nuguri, Kar-Ming Fung, Shirng-Wern Tsaih, Inna Chervoneva, Hallgeir Rui, Takemi Tanaka

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

ncreased breast cancer (BC) mortality risk posed by delayed surgical resection of tumor after diagnosis is a growing concern, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Our cohort analyses of early-stage BC patients reveal the emergence of a significantly rising mortality risk when the biopsy-to-surgery interval was extended beyond 53 days. Additionally, histology of post-biopsy tumors shows prolonged retention of a metastasis-permissive wound stroma dominated by M2-like macrophages capable of promoting cancer cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis. We show that needle biopsy promotes systemic dissemination of cancer cells through a mechanism of sustained activation of the COX-2/PGE₂/EP2 feedforward loop, …

Melittin: A Natural Component Of Honeybee Venom As A Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy, Niamh Donnellan, Anne M. Friel

SURE Journal: Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal

Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and while chemotherapy is the main approach there are many negative associations in current treatment procedures. These include lack of selectivity, side effects and drug resistance. The hallmarks of cancer are a fundamental concept which aids the development of new means to treat human cancers through the understanding of the acquisition of these hallmarks from cells.

Melittin is a major peptide component of bee venom which has shown to be efficacious as an anticancer agent in preclinical and animal models. Melittin has many biological functions including pore formation in the phospholipid bilayer …

Nucleus Accumbens Core Single Cell Ensembles Bidirectionally Respond To Experienced Versus Observed Aversive Events, Oyku Dinckol, Noah Harris Wenger, Jennifer E Zachry, Munir Gunes Kutlu

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Fear learning is a critical feature of survival skills among mammals. In rodents, fear learning manifests itself through direct experience of the aversive event or social transmission of aversive stimuli such as observing and acting on conspecifics' distress. The neuronal network underlying the social transmission of information largely overlaps with the brain regions that mediate behavioral responses to aversive and rewarding stimuli. In this study, we recorded single cell activity patterns of nucleus accumbens (NAc) core neurons using in vivo optical imaging of calcium transients via miniature scopes. This cutting-edge imaging methodology not only allows us to record activity patterns …

Regulation Of Mrna And Circrna As A Cause And Consequence Of Aging In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Rebekah Napier-Jameson

Biological Sciences Theses and Dissertations

A role for RNA binding proteins in regulating lifespan has emerged. We identified a pair of neuronal RBPs, exc-7 and mbl-1, which display synthetic lifespan defects. Such a strong synthetic phenotype represented an opportunity to use transcriptomics to search for potential causative targets that are synthetically regulated. We identified a small handful of genes synthetically dysregulated in double mutants and systematically tested each candidate gene for functional contribution to the exc-7; mbl-1 lifespan phenotype. We identified one such gene, the ion transporter nhx-6, which is highly upregulated in double mutants. Overexpression of nhx-6 causes reduced lifespan, and deletion …

Air-Jet Bioprinting Of Stem Cell-Encapsulated Alginate Micro-Droplets For Organoid Biomanufacturing, Mirabella B. Stump

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biomanufactured 3D-organoids show promise for modeling and treating various conditions, particularly insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type-1 diabetes). Pancreatic islet organoids serve as sustainable sources of insulin-producing β-cells, potentially restoring insulin regulation in patients and providing a long-term solution for diabetes. Hydrogel droplet printing is an emerging technique in regenerative medicine due to its advantageous tunability and biocompatibility; however, challenges of consistency, quality control, and scalability persist. To address these issues, we developed a novel air-jetting based droplet bioprinting system for the generation of monodispersed alginate micro-droplets. The objective of this project was to incorporate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into …

Characterization Of Trafficking And Metabolic Functions Of The Endocytic Regulator Ehd1 In Ewing Sarcoma, Sukanya Chakraborty

Theses & Dissertations

Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is the second most common bone malignancy in children and adolescents. Despite improvement in survival due to advances in multimodality treatment strategies, patients with metastatic or recurrent disease have very poor outcomes. Overexpression of the EPS15 Homology Domain containing 1 (EHD1) protein has been linked to tumorigenesis but whether its core function as a regulator of intracellular traffic of cell surface receptors plays a role in oncogenesis remains unknown.

Studies presented in this dissertation establish that EHD1 overexpression is a feature of nearly 90% EWS patient tumors with high EHD1 expression specifying shorter patient survival. ShRNA-knockdown and …

Role Of The Ganglioside Gd2 And Its Biosynthetic Enzyme Gd3 Synthase In Prostate Cancer Tumorigenesis, Aaqib Bhat

Theses & Dissertations

Despite significant advancements in managing localized prostate cancer (PC), which have notably increased survival rates, advanced PC continues to be a leading cause of cancer- related fatalities. The discovery of new pathways that can be targeted to inhibit tumor growth in PC could pave the way for innovative treatment strategies. The disialylganglioside GD2 is an FDA-approved target for antibody therapies in neuroblastoma and has not been extensively studied in the context of PC. The work done in this thesis reveals that GD2 is present on a minor subset of PC cells in certain patients and is more prevalent in metastatic …

Synergetic Signaling Between The Chlamydia Secreted Effectors Tarp And Tmea Regulates Actin Kinetics And Efficient Entry, Matthew Romero

Theses & Dissertations

Chlamydia trachomatis is both the leading cause of non-congenital preventable blindness in developing nations and the leading source of bacterial sexually transmitted infections. As an obligate intracellular pathogen, Chlamydia has an absolute requirement on gaining entry into its host, which is accomplished by manipulating the host actin cytoskeleton to assemble engulfment structures that drive pathogen entry. In support of this, Chlamydia secretes the effectors TarP and TmeA via a type-III secretion system, whose respective signaling outputs operate synergistically to generate rapid actin kinetics and efficient pathogen engulfment. Rapid actin recruitment characteristic of invading Chlamydia is derived from a collaborative interaction …

Role Of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone 2 And Its Receptor In Human Reproductive Cancers, Dr. Amy T. Desaulniers, Brett White

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH1) and its receptor (GnRHR1) drive reproduction by regulating gonadotropins. Another form, GnRH2, and its receptor (GnRHR2), also exist in mammals. In humans, GnRH2 and GnRHR2 genes are present, but coding errors in the GnRHR2 gene are predicted to hinder full-length protein production. Nonetheless, mounting evidence supports the presence of a functional GnRHR2 in humans. GnRH2 and its receptor have been identified throughout the body, including peripheral reproductive tissues like the ovary, uterus, breast, and prostate. In addition, GnRH2 and its receptor have been detected in a wide number of reproductive cancer cells in humans. Notably, GnRH2 analogues …

Deep Learning Image Analysis To Isolate And Characterize Different Stages Of S-Phase In Human Cells, Kevin A. Boyd, Rudranil Mitra, John Santerre, Christopher L. Sansam

SMU Data Science Review

Abstract. This research used deep learning for image analysis by isolating and characterizing distinct DNA replication patterns in human cells. By leveraging high-resolution microscopy images of multiple cells stained with 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), a replication marker, this analysis utilized Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to perform image segmentation and to provide robust and reliable classification results. First multiple cells in a field of focus were identified using a pretrained CNN called Cellpose. After identifying the location of each cell in the image a python script was created to crop out each cell into individual .tif files. After careful annotation, a CNN was …

Pathogenicity Of Acinetobacter Calcoaceticus, Kaitlan A. Sullivan

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Acinetobacter is a genus of gram-negative bacteria that have been appearing frequently in hospitals contributing to infections in the blood, lungs, urinary tract, and other parts of the body. It infects patients with weakened immune systems that are placed on ventilators, after the use of catheters, or have any other open wounds produced by prolonged hospital stays. This genus of bacteria is problematic due to its high probability of becoming resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. Thus, we are determining the pathogenicity of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus using the organism Caenorhabditis elegans as a model.

We are testing …

Pediatric Parosteal Osteosarcoma Of The Distal Radius Causing Extensive Erosive Mass Effect Of The Adjacent Ulna: A Case Report, Andrea Perloff, Sehoon Park, Robert Panganiban, John Devries

Department of Orthopaedics Faculty Research

Introduction: Parosteal osteosarcomas are low-grade bony malignancies that are treated primarily with surgical resection and reconstruction. This report discusses a unique case of a pediatric patient who presented with a parosteal osteosarcoma of the distal radius causing extensive erosive mass effect and growth disturbance of the adjacent ulna. Likely due to their slow-growing nonaggressive nature, parosteal osteosarcomas have not been previously described to abut adjacent bony structures through direct contact. The patient presented in a significantly delayed manner due to social circumstances, inadvertently revealing this novel behavior. This report reviews this rare case and describes the current understanding of this …

Mitochondrial Gtp Metabolism Controls Reproductive Aging In C. Elegans, Yi-Tang Lee, Marzia Savini, Tao Chen, Yang, Jin, Qian Zhao, Lang Ding, Shihong Max Gao, Jessica N. Sowa, Jue D. Wang, Meng C. Wang

Biology Faculty Publications

Healthy mitochondria are critical for reproduction. During aging, both reproductive fitness and mitochondrial homeostasis decline. Mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics are key factors in supporting mitochondrial homeostasis. However, how they are coupled to control reproductive health remains unclear. We report that mitochondrial GTP (mtGTP) metabolism acts through mitochondrial dynamics factors to regulate reproductive aging. We discovered that germline-only inactivation of GTP-but not ATP-specific succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS) promotes reproductive longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans. We further identified an age-associated increase in mitochondrial clustering surrounding oocyte nuclei, which is attenuated by GTP-specific SCS inactivation. Germline-only induction of mitochondrial fission factors sufficiently promotes mitochondrial dispersion …

Phi-1, An Endogenous Inhibitor Protein For Protein Phosphatase-1 And A Pan-Cancer Marker, Regulates Raf-1 Proteostasis, Jason Kirkbride, Garbo Nilsson, Jee In Kim, Kosuke Takeya, Yoshinori Tanaka, Hiroshi Tokumitsu, Futoshi Suizu, Masumi Eto

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Raf-1, a multifunctional kinase, regulates various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration, by phosphorylating MAPK/ERK kinase and interacting with specific kinases. Cellular Raf-1 activity is intricately regulated through pathways involving the binding of regulatory proteins, direct phosphorylation, and the ubiquitin-proteasome axis. In this study, we demonstrate that PHI-1, an endogenous inhibitor of protein phosphatase-1 (PP1), plays a pivotal role in modulating Raf-1 proteostasis within cells. Knocking down endogenous PHI-1 in HEK293 cells using siRNA resulted in increased cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis. This heightened cell proliferation was accompanied by a 15-fold increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Importantly, the observed …

Design Of An Fgf-1-Fgf-2 Heterodimer Variant With Enhanced Stability And Cell Proliferation Activity, Nicholas Alan Pohlman

Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses

The FGF-1 subfamily, composed of FGF-1 and FGF-2, assists in broad health-related processes such as cell proliferation and angiogenesis respectively.^1,2 The subfamily shows promising signs as a therapeutic, however, the inherent thermal instability leads to a low half-life in vivo.³ To assist in improving the stability, FGF-1 and FGF-2 were connected via a 12-residue glycine linker ultimately producing a heterodimer. This heterodimer was further examined to discover its novel properties. Inspiration for this project was drawn from previous research which performed five mutations on FGF-1 ultimately improving stability in the protein complex. In addition to these five …

Cell Aggregation Activates Small Gtpase Rac1 And Induces Cd44 Cleavage By Maintaining Lipid Raft Integrity, Dong Li, Younhee Park, Hami Hemati, Xia Liu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Lipid rafts are highly ordered membrane domains that are enriched in cholesterol and glycosphingolipids and serve as major platforms for signal transduction. Cell detachment from the extracellular matrix (ECM) triggers lipid raft disruption and anoikis, which is a barrier for cancer cells to metastasize. Compared to single circulating tumor cells (CTCs), our recent studies have demonstrated that CD44-mediatd cell aggregation enhances the stemness, survival and metastatic ability of aggregated cells. Here, we investigated whether and how lipid rafts are involved in CD44-mediated cell aggregation. We found that cell detachment, which mimics the condition when tumor cells detach from the ECM …

Loss Of Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1a Reduces Docosahexaenoic Acid-Containing Phospholipids And Drives Sexually Dimorphic Liver Disease In Mice, Mikala M. Zelows, Corissa Cady, Nikitha Dharanipragada, Anna E. Mead, Zachary A. Kipp, Evelyn A. Bates, Venkateshwari Varadharajan, Rakhee Banerjee, Se-Hyung Park, Nathan R. Shelman, Harrison A. Clarke, Tara R. Hawkinson, Terrymar Medina, Ramon C. Sun, Todd A. Lydic, Terry D. Hinds, Jr., J. Mark Brown, Samir Softic, Gregory A. Graf, Robert N. Helsley

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Background and aims: Genome and epigenome wide association studies identified variants in carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) that associate with lipid traits. The goal of this study was to determine the role of liver-specific CPT1a on hepatic lipid metabolism.

Approach and results: Male and female liver-specific knockout (LKO) and littermate controls were placed on a low-fat or high-fat diet (60% kcal fat) for 15 weeks. Mice were necropsied after a 16 h fast, and tissues were collected for lipidomics, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging, kinome analysis, RNA-sequencing, and protein expression by immunoblotting. Female LKO mice had increased serum alanine …

Breaking Virulent: The Coincidental Evolution Of Virulence Factors In Bacteria., Rhiannon Emmanuelle Cecil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding how innocuous organisms can evolve to be pathogenic to humans is of increasing global concern. Further, understanding how existing pathogens may evolved to be more virulent is also vital to our ability to provide healthcare to people afflicted with diseases that promote chronic bacterial infections, such as cystic fibrosis. With the rise of antibiotic resistance in both bacteria and fungi it is paramount that new therapeutics are identified. Understanding what mutations occur that result in increased virulence in microbes can potentially provide new targets for antimicrobial drugs to combat antibiotic resistance. The Coincidental Evolution Hypothesis is a fundamental hypothesis …

Amyloid Fibrils Of Human Fgf-1 Induced By Different Detergents, Zeina Ismael Ibrahem Alraawi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nature achieves molecular self-assembly through the ordered growth of nanoscale building blocks with high efficiency to fabricate macromolecular architectures. One example of self- assembly is peptides folding onto protein is one of the most astounding biological self-assembly processes. When proteins aggregate to form amyloid fibers, the secondary structure of the protein converts from its native state to a cross-beta-sheet. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) possess an essential role in neuronal survival during development. In addition, they are involved in neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are well known to be synthesized in the central nervous system (CNS) and …

Characterization Of Human Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Variant To Determine Effects On Structure, Stability, And Cell Proliferation, Ryan Layes

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of cell signaling proteins conserved across multiple species. Each individual FGF elicits different cellular functions including, but not limited to, proliferation, migration, differentiation, angiogenesis, and wound healing. One of the most studied members, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), has demonstrated substantial wound healing capacity in a wide range of tissues including skeletal, muscular, neural, respiratory, epithelial, and cardiovascular. This ability makes FGF2 a potential therapeutic for a wide range of conditions and injuries. However, due to a short half-life at room temperature, therapeutic use of FGF2 is limited. It has been demonstrated that …

Characterization Of Developmental Phenotypes In Zebrafish With Mutations In Mmachc, Briana Elise Pinales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria, CblC type (cblC) syndrome (MIM 277400) is a genetic disorder resulting from a mutation in the MMACHC gene. This gene plays a crucial role as a chaperone in the conversion of vitamin B12 into its active form, which is essential for proper cellular metabolism. cblC syndrome is heterogenous by nature, primarily attributed to the extensive damage it causes across multiple bodily systems. In cases of early onset of cblC syndrome, patients may exhibit a diverse range of clinical symptoms including difficulties with feeding, dysmorphic features, microcephaly, brain abnormalities, hypotonia, developmental delays, and seizures. The study of …

Repositioning Propranolol To Block Mitogenic Signaling In Breast Cancer, Alexa Noel Montoya

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer among women and is about 30% of all new cases of female cancers each year. It is projected that 1 in 8 every U.S. woman (about 13%) develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. While advances in cancer research have made it possible to elucidate several breast cancer genomic subtypes, and develop new novel therapies, many of these agents are associated with significant toxicity, as well as high costs. A retrospective cross-sectional study of 404 breast cancer patients was performed to determine the effect of β-blocker usage on tumor …

Using Plastinated Cadaveric Models For Anatomical Study Of Dorsalis Pedis Artery And Its Variation, Steven Bolton, Ifunanya Monube, Hooman Tabatabai-Mir

School of Podiatric Medicine - Student Research

The dorsalis pedis artery is a main artery of the dorsum of the foot. It directly arises from the anterior tibial artery and travels distally to the base of the 1st metatarsal. Its main function includes supplying oxygenated blood to the dorsal surface of the foot. A weak dorsalis pedis pulse is an indication of underlying circulation issue, such as peripheral vascular disease. Anatomical variations of the artery are not uncommon, including the total absence of the artery. Branching variations occur in approximately 10% of the population. Knowledge of these variations is critical for surgeons to prevent surgical complications

Cyclin D1 Extensively Reprograms Metabolism To Support Biosynthetic Pathways In Hepatocytes, Heng Wu, Betsy T. Kren, Andrew N. Lane, Teresa A. Cassel, Richard M. Higashi, Teresa Whei-Mei Fan, George S. Scaria, Laurie L. Shekels, Mark A. Klein, Jeffrey H. Albrecht

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Cell proliferation requires metabolic reprogramming to accommodate biosynthesis of new cell components, and similar alterations occur in cancer cells. However, the mechanisms linking the cell cycle machinery to metabolism are not well defined. Cyclin D1, along with its main partner cyclindependent kinase 4 (Cdk4), is a pivotal cell cycle regulator and driver oncogene that is overexpressed in many cancers. Here, we examine hepatocyte proliferation to define novel effects of cyclin D1 on biosynthetic metabolism. Metabolomic studies reveal that cyclin D1 broadly promotes biosynthetic pathways including glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and the purine and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in hepatocytes. Proteomic …

Kinome Profiling Identifies Mark3 And Stk10 As Potential Therapeutic Targets In Uveal Melanoma, Usman Baqai, Alison M. Kurimchak, Isabella Trachtenberg, Timothy J. Purwin, Jelan I. Haj, Anna Han, Kristine Luo, Nikole Fandino Pachon, Angela Jeon, Vivian Chua, Michael A. Davies, J Silvio Gutkind, Jeffrey L. Benovic, James S. Duncan, Andrew E. Aplin

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Most uveal melanoma cases harbor activating mutations in either GNAQ or GNA11. Despite activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway downstream of Gαq/11, there are no effective targeted kinase therapies for metastatic uveal melanoma. The human genome encodes numerous understudied kinases, also called the "dark kinome". Identifying additional kinases regulated by Gαq/11 may uncover novel therapeutic targets for uveal melanoma. In this study, we treated GNAQ-mutant uveal melanoma cell lines with a Gαq/11 inhibitor, YM-254890, and conducted a kinase signaling proteomic screen using multiplexed-kinase inhibitors followed by mass spectrometry. We observed downregulated expression and/or activity of 22 kinases. …

Exploring The Potential Of Tesla Valve For Filtering And Sorting Microscale Active Swimmers: A Computational Study, Ariel Rogers, Zhiyao He, Yong Wang

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

It is well-known that a Tesla valve allows fluids to flow unidirectionally without moving parts; however, how Tesla valves interact with active matters and the potential applications of Tesla valves in biology remain largely unexplored. Here, we present a computational study on the potential use of Tesla valves for filtering and sorting microscale active swimmers such as bacteria. We investigated the behavior of microscale swimmers passing through the Tesla valve at different linear and angular velocities using numerical simulations and quantified the diodicity of the Tesla valve for active swimmers. Our results demonstrate that the Tesla valve can effectively filter …

Role Of The Immune System In The Modulation Of The Mmr-Deficient Intestinal Stem Cell Niche, Shepard Conner

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Mismatch Repair (MMR) is a crucial DNA repair system to maintain genomic integrity in cells that is integrated by specific genes including MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. These genes play a critical role in repairing errors that occur in base pairing by stabilizing the genetic material. When the MMR system fails to correct those errors, MMR deficiency occurs where monoallelic mutations in the MMR genes result in a condition known as Lynch Syndrome (LS). LS makes up approximately 3% of all colorectal cancer (CRC) and is regarded as a hereditary form of CRC, which progresses from MMR-deficient …