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Articles 1 - 30 of 45
Full-Text Articles in Genetics and Genomics
Insights To Protein Pathogenicity From The Lens Of Protein Evolution, Janelle Nunez-Castilla
Insights To Protein Pathogenicity From The Lens Of Protein Evolution, Janelle Nunez-Castilla
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
As protein sequences evolve, differences in selective constraints may lead to outcomes ranging from sequence conservation to structural and functional divergence. Evolutionary protein family analysis can illuminate which protein regions are likely to diverge or remain conserved in sequence, structure, and function. Moreover, nonsynonymous mutations in pathogens may result in the emergence of protein regions that affect the behavior of pathogenic proteins within a host and host response. I aimed to gain insight on pathogenic proteins from cancer and viruses using an evolutionary perspective. First, I examined p53, a conformationally flexible, multifunctional protein mutated in ~50% of human cancers. Multifunctional …
In Silico Characterization Of Protein-Protein Interactions Mediated By Short Linear Motifs, Heidy Elkhaligy
In Silico Characterization Of Protein-Protein Interactions Mediated By Short Linear Motifs, Heidy Elkhaligy
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Short linear motifs (SLiMs), often found in intrinsically disordered regions (IDPs), can initiate protein-protein interactions in eukaryotes. Although pathogens tend to have less disorder than eukaryotes, their proteins alter host cellular function through molecular mimicry of SLiMs. The first objective was to study sequence-based structure properties of viral SLiMs in the ELM database and the conservation of selected viral motifs involved in the virus life cycle. The second objective was to compare the structural features for SliMs in pathogens and eukaryotes in the ELM database. Our analysis showed that many viral SliMs are not found in IDPs, particularly glycosylation motifs. …
Understanding Exosomal Extracellular Vesicles And Morphine In The Neuropathology Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus And Differential Zika Virus Strain-Associated Pathology, Allen Caobi
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Exosomal Extracellular Vesicles (xEVs), integral to intercellular communication and regulation of immune responses, have functional effects based on their contents, which they transport to neighboring cells. However, in the context of infection, EV cargo can be modulated, by either infected or uninfected cells. We hypothesize that CNS-associated neuropathology, is partially, due to the cargo transported by the exosomes. We theorize that the cargo released from infected cell-derived xEVs may either facilitate or inhibit viral neuropathogenicity. Here we investigated xEVs in the case of two neurotropic viruses, Zika virus (ZIKV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The hallmark characteristic of ZIKV-infection is …
Development Of A Microwave-Based Dna Extraction Method To Increase The Success Of Direct And Rapid Pcr Technique, Fabiana Taglia
Development Of A Microwave-Based Dna Extraction Method To Increase The Success Of Direct And Rapid Pcr Technique, Fabiana Taglia
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The goal of this project was to develop a fast, microwave-based extraction technique that could be employed for direct and rapid DNA analysis. The hypothesis was that the use of a microwave could increase the yield of DNA by opening the cell membrane, rendering the DNA available without the use of any other chemical treatment, and improving results from very low quantity samples.
At present rapid human DNA analysis is mainly restricted to genotyping saliva and sometimes blood samples. We hypothesized that microwave processing could expand the types of samples assessable to these procedures and increase sensitivity.
There were two …
A Machine Learning Framework For Identifying Molecular Biomarkers From Transcriptomic Cancer Data, Md Abdullah Al Mamun
A Machine Learning Framework For Identifying Molecular Biomarkers From Transcriptomic Cancer Data, Md Abdullah Al Mamun
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Cancer is a complex molecular process due to abnormal changes in the genome, such as mutation and copy number variation, and epigenetic aberrations such as dysregulations of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). These abnormal changes are reflected in transcriptome by turning oncogenes on and tumor suppressor genes off, which are considered cancer biomarkers.
However, transcriptomic data is high dimensional, and finding the best subset of genes (features) related to causing cancer is computationally challenging and expensive. Thus, developing a feature selection framework to discover molecular biomarkers for cancer is critical.
Traditional approaches for biomarker discovery calculate the fold change for each …
Dna Barcoding Enhances Large-Scale Biodiversity Initiatives For Deep-Pelagic Crustaceans Within The Gulf Of Mexico And Adjacent Waters, Carlos Varela
Dna Barcoding Enhances Large-Scale Biodiversity Initiatives For Deep-Pelagic Crustaceans Within The Gulf Of Mexico And Adjacent Waters, Carlos Varela
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
In this dissertation I investigate the biodiversity of marine deep-water crustaceans of the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent waters, focusing on pelagic crustaceans. Taxonomic and molecular techniques were utilized to document adult and larval crustacean specimens to better under their taxonomy, life history, evolutionary relationships and cryptic biodiversity. The use of molecular techniques to study organisms from habitats with limited accessibility provides tremendous potential. With prevalent anthropogenic threats and the delicate nature of deep-water habitats, the need to improve our understanding of these systems is clear. Molecular techniques can act as a fundamental tool to complement traditional taxonomy. The application …
The Evolution Of Bioluminescence Across The Shrimp Family Sergestidae: A Genomic Skimming And Phylogenetic Approach, Charles G. Golighty Iii
The Evolution Of Bioluminescence Across The Shrimp Family Sergestidae: A Genomic Skimming And Phylogenetic Approach, Charles G. Golighty Iii
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The family Sergestidae provide a unique system for studying the evolution of bioluminescence, with species possessing one of three distinct forms of photophores. This study capitalizes on molecular data to construct a genus-level phylogeny of sergestid shrimp. “Genome skimming” was implemented, capturing mitochondrial genomic data across 19 species. Additional individuals were incorporated through Sanger sequencing of four partial gene regions. The -sergestes group of genera was recovered as non-monophyletic, with the -sergia group of genera being recovered as monophyletic. Ancestral state reconstructions of light organ type indicate the organs of Pesta photophore is the ancestral state for the …
Invasion Genetics Of The Non-Native Geckos Phelsuma Grandis Gray 1870 And Gekko Gecko (Linnaeus 1758) In Southern Florida, Usa, Thomas William Fieldsend
Invasion Genetics Of The Non-Native Geckos Phelsuma Grandis Gray 1870 And Gekko Gecko (Linnaeus 1758) In Southern Florida, Usa, Thomas William Fieldsend
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Biological invasions cause tremendous damage to ecosystems, economies, and human livelihoods worldwide. Florida is home to more established non-native species of reptiles and amphibians than anywhere else on Earth, many of which cause substantial harm to native biodiversity and human well-being. The relatively new discipline of invasion genetics promises to significantly improve the understanding, prediction, prevention, and management of biological invasions. The purpose of this dissertation is to utilize invasion genetics techniques to further understanding of the patterns and processes of biological invasions, especially as they pertain to Florida’s destructive and diverse non-native squamate reptile assemblage. In the first phase …
Exploring Epigenetics As A Tool For Population Assessment And Conservation In Large Marine Predators, Andria Paige Beal
Exploring Epigenetics As A Tool For Population Assessment And Conservation In Large Marine Predators, Andria Paige Beal
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Worldwide, many large marine predator populations are in decline. These populations can be difficult to study due to the extensive home ranges and migration patterns often exhibited by these species. Molecular tools are therefore necessary to measure specific parameters on these populations that would otherwise be nearly impossible to obtain. This dissertation pioneers the use of environmental epigenetic approaches for that purpose, and specifically the epigenetic modification known as DNA methylation, using sharks and small cetaceans as model organisms. This work is organized into five chapters. Chapter I is an introductory chapter that lays out the fundamentals of environmental epigenetics …
Conservation Of South Florida Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi, Ellen Garcia
Conservation Of South Florida Orchid Mycorrhizal Fungi, Ellen Garcia
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Starting in the late 1800’s orchids were heavily poached, leaving many species to reach critically low numbers. Coupled with habitat loss and urbanization many orchid populations were extirpated in southern Florida. Due to lack of endosperm, orchid seeds are reliant on specific mycorrhizal fungi to obtain nutrients to enable growth and development resulting in very low germination rates in nature. The obligate relationship on mycorrhizal fungi complicates orchid re-establishment. The research project aims are (1) to evaluate the correlation between phenotypic traits and optimal growing conditions in various micro-climate, and (2) to assess the range of mycorrhizal fungi community in …
Epigenetic Mechanisms As Drivers Of Environmental Responses In Stony Corals, Javier A. Rodriguez Casariego
Epigenetic Mechanisms As Drivers Of Environmental Responses In Stony Corals, Javier A. Rodriguez Casariego
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The current pace of anthropogenic global change is imposing unprecedented conditions to biological systems. Coral reef ecosystems are particularly sensitive to the rapid increase in thermal anomalies and the changes in water chemistry caused by global change. However, although their decline has been documented worldwide, there are signs suggesting that stony corals harbor greater phenotypic plasticity than previously expected, sparking the interest in the study acquired non-genetic modifications (e.g., epigenome, microbiome) potentially increasing their resilience to global change, and constituting one of the main targets for intervention.
Epigenetics constitutes an exciting frontier to understand how the environment influences the regulation …
Taxonomy And Systematics Of Plumeria L. (Apocynaceae) In The Caribbean Islands, Nichole M. Tiernan
Taxonomy And Systematics Of Plumeria L. (Apocynaceae) In The Caribbean Islands, Nichole M. Tiernan
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Plumeria L. (Apocynaceae) is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs that are often cultivated in tropical gardens worldwide. The majority of its species occur in the Greater Antilles with many as single-island endemics. The only comprehensive revision for the genus was done by Robert E. Woodson Jr. (1937) who recognized only seven species and created a ‘Plumeria obtusa complex’ with a plethora of synonyms. The first study provides an overview of the Caribbean Island members of the genus with a focus on Plumeria filifolia Griseb., a thin-leaved species endemic to Cuba that is featured because of its incredible …
Growth Of Diatom Fistulifera Alcalina In Bacterial Co-Culture And Comparative Mitogenomics Of Fistulifera Species, Erwin David Berthold
Growth Of Diatom Fistulifera Alcalina In Bacterial Co-Culture And Comparative Mitogenomics Of Fistulifera Species, Erwin David Berthold
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Diatoms are excellent biological models of growth and intracellular oil generation. The productivity and compounds of diatoms, especially oils, support aquatic food chains and human medical and industrial needs. The qualities that made diatoms prolific producers, specifically diatom physiological features such as growth rates with intracellular lipid storage in alkaline environments, are however poorly understood. Another physiological aspect that remains unexplored is the effects of bacteria on the growth and lipid production of alkaliphilic diatoms. More studies, especially co-cultures, are needed for advances in diatom biology and strain performance for the algal biotechnological field. Besides physiology, diatom genetics using next-generation …
A Comparative Genomics Exploration Of Inter-Partner Metabolic Signaling In The Coral-Algal Symbiosis, Katherine E. Dougan
A Comparative Genomics Exploration Of Inter-Partner Metabolic Signaling In The Coral-Algal Symbiosis, Katherine E. Dougan
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
At the foundation of coral reef ecosystems is the symbiosis between the coral host and its microbial community, particularly its photoautotrophic algae from the family Symbiodiniaceae. As a symbiosis centered around nutritional exchange, determining the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of this cooperative exchange is central to understanding how it breaks down. As the nutritional transfer primarily consists of sugars, this work first focuses on the cnidarian insulin signaling pathway, an evolutionarily important metazoan pathway involved in diverse functions, most notably metabolism. This dissertation unveiled 360 putative cnidarian insulin-like peptides (cnILPs) from existing transcriptomic datasets, where they were previously missed …
Connections In The Underworld: A Morphological And Molecular Study Of Diversity And Connectivity Among Anchialine Shrimp., Robert Eugene Ditter
Connections In The Underworld: A Morphological And Molecular Study Of Diversity And Connectivity Among Anchialine Shrimp., Robert Eugene Ditter
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This research investigates the distribution and population structure of crustaceans, endemic to anchialine systems in the tropical western Atlantic focusing on cave-dwelling shrimp from the family Barbouriidae. Taxonomic and molecular tools (genetic and genomic) are utilized to examine population dynamics and the presence of phenotypic hypervariation (PhyV) of the critically endangered species Barbouria cubensis (von Martens, 1872). The presence of PhyV and its geographic distribution is investigated among anchialine populations of B. cubensis from 34 sites on Abaco, Eleuthera, and San Salvador, Bahamas. Examination of 54 informative morphological characters revealed PhyV present in nearly 90% (n=463) of specimens with no …
Development Of A Dna Methylation Multiplex Assay For Body Fluid Identification And Age Determination, Quentin Gauthier
Development Of A Dna Methylation Multiplex Assay For Body Fluid Identification And Age Determination, Quentin Gauthier
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
For forensic laboratories, the determination of body fluid origin of samples collected at a crime scene are typically presumptive and often destructive. However, given that in certain cases the presence of DNA is not in dispute and rather where the DNA came from is of primary concern, new methodologies are needed. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, affect gene expression in every cell of every mammal. These DNA methylation patterns typically are observed as the addition of a methyl group on the 5’ carbon of a cytosine followed by guanine (CpG). Methylation patterns have been observed to change in response …
Investigating The Population Dynamics Of An Avian Apex Predator Across An Urban Gradient, Donna Marain
Investigating The Population Dynamics Of An Avian Apex Predator Across An Urban Gradient, Donna Marain
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Predators are often the focus of conservation efforts. They can be useful sentinel species, umbrella species, and flagship species. Predators can also be the first guild lost when ecosystems are under stress, especially from anthropogenic land-use change. Avian predators (raptors) can be an exception to this trend, filling the role of apex predators across the urban gradient. South Florida contains the Everglades ecosystem and one of the fastest growing human populations in the country. In the current study, I investigated the population dynamics of South Florida’s most abundant hawk: the Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus, RSHA) across the urban …
Evolutionary Genetics Of The Genus Zamia (Zamiaceae, Cycadales), Michael Calonje
Evolutionary Genetics Of The Genus Zamia (Zamiaceae, Cycadales), Michael Calonje
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The genus Zamia L. (Zamiaceae), consisting of 77 species, is the most species-rich and widely distributed cycad genus in the New World and is arguably the most morphologically and ecologically diverse genus in the Cycadales. We utilized a multilocus sequence dataset of 10 independent loci (9 single copy nuclear genes + 1 plastid) and extensive taxon sampling (over 90% of species) to infer phylogenetic relationships within Zamia. We infer a robust phylogenetic tree for the genus with a strong geographic delimitation of clades and find that four morphological characters typically used for diagnostic purposes in the genus exhibit a high …
The Genetics Of Olfactory And Visually Guided Attractive Behaviors In Aedes Aegypti Mosquito, Joshua Ibukun Raji
The Genetics Of Olfactory And Visually Guided Attractive Behaviors In Aedes Aegypti Mosquito, Joshua Ibukun Raji
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Mosquitoes detect their hosts and seek suitable resources crucial for survival by integrating chemosensory, thermal, and visual cues. The diversity of the cues involved in mosquito attractive behaviors has made the design of behavioral control strategies a challenge. The genetic basis of mosquito attractive behaviors can now be determined using genome editing. The contribution of the IR8a chemosensory pathway was uncovered by disrupting the IR8a co- receptor in Aedes aegypti using CRISPR/Cas9. Ir8a mutant female mosquitoes are not attracted to lactic acid, a behaviorally active component of human sweat, and lack odor-evoked responses to acidic volatiles. The loss of Ir8a …
Computational Analysis Of Large-Scale Trends And Dynamics In Eukaryotic Protein Family Evolution, Joseph Boehm Ahrens
Computational Analysis Of Large-Scale Trends And Dynamics In Eukaryotic Protein Family Evolution, Joseph Boehm Ahrens
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The myriad protein-coding genes found in present-day eukaryotes arose from a combination of speciation and gene duplication events, spanning more than one billion years of evolution. Notably, as these proteins evolved, the individual residues at each site in their amino acid sequences were replaced at markedly different rates. The relationship between protein structure, protein function, and site-specific rates of amino acid replacement is a topic of ongoing research. Additionally, there is much interest in the different evolutionary constraints imposed on sequences related by speciation (orthologs) versus sequences related by gene duplication (paralogs). A principal aim of this dissertation is to …
Florida's Pillar Coral (Dendrogyra Cylindrus): The Roles Of The Holobiont Partners In Bleaching, Recovery, And Disease Processes, Cynthia Fairbank Lewis
Florida's Pillar Coral (Dendrogyra Cylindrus): The Roles Of The Holobiont Partners In Bleaching, Recovery, And Disease Processes, Cynthia Fairbank Lewis
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The iconic pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus, is one of five Caribbean species listed in 2014 under the US Federal Endangered Species Act because of its extreme low abundance and continued decline in US waters. Until recently, little was known about the demographics or genetic diversity of Florida’s D. cylindrus population. This study represents the first time two holobiont partners (coral animal and associated photosynthetic algal endosymbionts) have been closely examined, spatially and temporally, in this little-studied species. The aim was to explore the influences of coral animal genotypes, mutualistic photosynthetic algal strains, and hyperthermal stress on bleaching and …
Evolutionary And Population Dynamics Of Crustaceans In The Gulf Of Mexico, Laura Timm
Evolutionary And Population Dynamics Of Crustaceans In The Gulf Of Mexico, Laura Timm
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Evolution occurs and can be conceptualized along a spectrum, bounded on one extreme by the relationships between deep lineages – such as phyla, classes, and orders – and on the other by the molecular dynamics of operational taxonomic units within a species, defined as population genetics. The purpose of this dissertation was to better understand the evolutionary and population dynamics of crustaceans within the Gulf of Mexico. In the second chapter of my dissertation, I provide a guide to best phylogenetic practice while reviewing infraordinal relationships within Decapoda, including the promise held by next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches such as Anchored …
The Role Of Id3 And Pcb153 In The Hyperproliferation And Dysregulation Of Lung Endothelial Cells, Mayur Arvind Doke
The Role Of Id3 And Pcb153 In The Hyperproliferation And Dysregulation Of Lung Endothelial Cells, Mayur Arvind Doke
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Uncontrolled growth of vascular stem cells as a result of endothelial-mesenchymal transition is considered to cause hyper-proliferative vascular remodeling in severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients. Hyperplastic intimal growth is one of the causes of closure of the lumen of pulmonary arterioles. This abnormal vessel remodeling leads to the progressive increase in pressure of the pulmonary arterioles causing severe PAH; and debilitating harm to patients resulting in mortality from right heart failure. Environmental factors, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are considered to be involved in hyper-proliferative vascular remodeling because genetic makeup can only explain about 10% of severe PAH cases. PCB …
Exposure To Estrogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals And Brain Health, Mark Preciados
Exposure To Estrogenic Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals And Brain Health, Mark Preciados
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The overall objective of this dissertation was to examine exposures to the estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDCs), phthalates, bisphenol-A (BPA), and the metalloestrogens cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn) in an older geriatric aged-population and examine associations with brain health. Given the evidence that EEDCs affect brain health and play a role in the development of cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative disease, and the constant environmental exposure through foods and everyday products has led this to becoming a great public health concern. Using a bioinformatic approach to find nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) gene targets involved in mitochondrial dysfunction, that …
The Evolution And Domestication Genetics Of The Mango Genus, Mangifera (Anacardiaceae), Emily Warschefsky
The Evolution And Domestication Genetics Of The Mango Genus, Mangifera (Anacardiaceae), Emily Warschefsky
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Domesticated species are vital to global food security and have also been foundational to the formulation and advancement of evolutionary theory. My dissertation employs emerging molecular genomic tools to provide an evolutionary context for crop improvement. I begin by providing a contemporary perspective on two components of domestication biology that have long been used to improve crop production: wild relatives of crop species and grafted rootstocks. First, I propose a method to systematically introgress crop wild relative diversity into crop breeding programs. Then, I explore rootstocks, the lesser-known half of the perennial crop equation, documenting prevalence and diversity, cataloging rootstock …
Transgneic Endothelin 3 Regulates Murine Pigment Production And Coat Color, Javier Pino
Transgneic Endothelin 3 Regulates Murine Pigment Production And Coat Color, Javier Pino
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Pigmentation plays a protective role against damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Humans with fair skin and light hair have a higher susceptibility to UV-induced DNA damage that can lead to the development of skin cancers. The melanocytes found in the skin and hair follicles depend on different signaling molecules for their proper development and pigment production. α-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone (α-msh) binds to the Melanocortin 1 receptor (Mc1r) to regulate pigment production and the switch between eumelanin and pheomelanin. Lethal yellow mice (Ay) overexpress the agouti signaling protein, which inhibits the binding of α-msh, resulting in a yellow …
Phenomenological And Molecular Basis Of The Cnidarian Immune System, Tanya Brown
Phenomenological And Molecular Basis Of The Cnidarian Immune System, Tanya Brown
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet due partially to the habitat structure provided by corals. Corals are long lived organisms that can live for hundreds of years and as a result growth of many species is very slow. As a result of this, recovery of corals from disease outbreaks is very slow and difficult and therefore the ecosystem is deteriorating rapidly. Due to this increase in disease and its detrimental effect on coral reefs, it has become imperative to study how corals respond to disease outbreaks. The response of the coral to pathogens is …
Transcriptomic And Epigenetic Responses To Environmental Stress In Marine Bivalves With A Focus On Harmful Algal Blooms, Maria Victoria Suarez Ulloa
Transcriptomic And Epigenetic Responses To Environmental Stress In Marine Bivalves With A Focus On Harmful Algal Blooms, Maria Victoria Suarez Ulloa
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Global change poses new threats for life in the oceans forcing marine organisms to respond through molecular acclimatory and adaptive strategies. Although bivalve molluscs are particularly tolerant and resilient to environmental stress, they must now face the challenge of more frequent and severe Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) episodes. These massive outbreaks of microalgae produce toxins that accumulate in the tissues of these filter-feeder organisms, causing changes in their gene expression profiles, which in turn modify their phenotype in order to maintain homeostasis. Such modifications in gene expression are modulated by epigenetic mechanisms elicited by specific environmental stimuli, laying the foundations …
Profiling Populations Using Neutral Markers, Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes And Volatile Organic Compounds As Modeled In Equus Caballus Linnaeus, Ketaki Deshpande
Profiling Populations Using Neutral Markers, Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes And Volatile Organic Compounds As Modeled In Equus Caballus Linnaeus, Ketaki Deshpande
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Assessing the genetics of wild animal populations aims to understand selective pressures, and factors whether it be inbreeding or adaptation, that affect the genome. Although numerous techniques are available for assessing population structure, a major obstacle in studying wild populations is obtaining samples from the animals without having to capture them, which can lead to undue distress and injury. Therefore, biologists often use non-invasive sampling methods (i.e., collection of feces, hair) to extract host DNA. In this study, new DNA extraction protocols were developed that improved the quality and quantity of DNA obtained from fecal matter. Fecal samples aged up …
The Degradation Of Pharmaceutical Pollutants In Wastewater Catalyzed By Chloroperoxidase And The Construction Of Chloroperoxidase H105r Mutant, Qinghao He
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Trace amounts of pharmaceuticals have been detected in water, from nanograms per liter to micrograms per liter, and have a negatively effect in the aquatic environment and an increased potential risk of drug poisoning for human and animals. In order to address the problem, drug degradation catalyzed by chloroperoxidase (CPO) has been investigated. CPO is a heme-containing glycoprotein secreted by the fungus, Caldariomyces fumago, it catalyzes two major types of oxidations, two one-electron oxidations as catalyzed by most peroxidases and two-electron oxidations which are rare for conventional peroxidases.
Five common drugs from a variety of classes which were persistent in …