Microbiology Commons^™

Aquaporin 5-Deficient Mouse Lungs Are Hyperresponsive To Cholinergic Stimulation, Carissa M. Krane, Christopher N. Fortner, Arthur R. Hand, Dennis W. Mcgraw, John N. Lorenz, Susan E. Wert, Jennifer E. Towne, Richard J. Paul, Jeffrey A. Whitsett, Anil G. Menon

Biology Faculty Publications

Although aquaporin 5 (AQP5) is the major water channel expressed in alveolar type I cells in the lung, its actual role in the lung is a matter of considerable speculation. By using immunohistochemical staining, we show that AQP5 expression in mouse lung is not restricted to type I cells, but is also detected in alveolar type II cells, and in tracheal and bronchial epithelium. Aqp5 knockout (Aqp5−/−) mice were used to analyze AQP5 function in pulmonary physiology. Compared with Aqp5+/+ mice, Aqp5−/− mice show a significantly increased concentration-dependent bronchoconstriction to intravenously administered Ach, as shown by …

Hawaiian Freshwater Polychaeta: A Potentially Substantial Trophic Component Of Stream Depositional Habitats, M. Eric Benbow, Albert J. Burky, Carl M. Way

Biology Faculty Publications

In this paper we report the widespread occurrence of large annelids (Polychaeta: Nereididae) in Hawaiian stream depositional habitats, drawing attention to the lack of knowledge of Hawaiian stream energetics. Specimens of Namalycastis sp. were collected from five Hawaiian Islands from May–July 1995 and from the island of Maui from July–December 1999 and April–July 2000. Most specimens collected were N. hawaiiensis, while two specimens of N. abiuma were collected from a single site on the island of Molokai. Specimens were collected from elevations ranging from 3–240 m; several collections were from sites above at least one major (> 15 m …

The Occurrence Of The Freshwater Clams, Musculium Partumeium (Say) And Pisidium Casertanum (Poli) (Bivalvia: Sphaeriidae), In The Hawaiian Islands, Albert J. Burky, Carl M. Way, Skippy Hau, M. Eric Benbow

Biology Faculty Publications

Sphaeriid clams were collected from an ancient, continuously cultivated taro pond complex at Ke‘anae Peninsula, Maui. Both species are known for adaptations for temporary pond habitats and could have been initially introduced by the earliest Hawaiian settlers transported with moist taro root stock from other areas of Oceania.

The Timing And Pattern Of Myogenesis In Hymenochirus Boettgeri, Matthew T. Smetanick, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Differences in the relative timing of homologous developmental events among closely related species, known as heterochronies, may provide valuable clues in understanding evolutionary relationships (McKinney, 1988; McNamara, 1995). Examining the timing of myogenic events is a relatively easy and effective method for finding heterochronic events. For example, whether muscle proteins and myofibrils appear before or after multinucleation can be determined through histological techniques (Kielbowna, 1981). Simple observations of live specimens can pinpoint functional landmarks such as first twitch (spontaneous or due to external stimuli) and first heartbeat.

Development Of The Suprarostral Plate Of Pipoid Frogs, Rafael O. De Sá, Charles C. Swart

Biology Faculty Publications

The rostral region of nonpipoid tadpoles has two sets of cartilages, the cornua trabeculae and the suprarostral cartilages, whereas the rostral region in pipoid larvae is occupied by a single and continuous cartilage, the suprarostral plate. The homology of this region in pipoid and nonpipoids tadpoles has been controversial. We examined the early formation and development of the suprarostral plate using serially cross-sectioned specimens of Rhinophrynus, Xenopus, and Hymenochirus. We conclude that the cartilaginous structures present in the rostral area of pipoid and nonpipoid larvae are homologous. Furthermore, we found two different developmental patterns among pipoid larvae. The chondrocranium …

Confocal Microscopy: A Powerful Tool For Biological Research, Amit Singh, K. P. Gopinathan

Biology Faculty Publications

Conventional light microscopy allows the observation of living as well as fixed cells and tissues to generate two-dimensional images. The out-of-focus information often obscures the ultrastructural details, especially in thick specimens with overlapping structures. The earliest available light microscopy visualized the objects in hydrated state in two-dimensions during their temporal development. The emergence of electron microscopy (EM) provided superb resolution of ultrastructural details, but it was applicable only for objects in the dehydrated state and thereby potentially introducing handling artifacts. The usefulness of optical methods, however, has been limited by the poor depth discrimination. Often, the fluorescence and reflectance images …

The Biology Of Xenopus By R. C. Tinsley And H. C. Kobel, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

The Biology of Xenopus presents a summary of current knowledge about a single genus resulting from a symposium held at the Zoological Society of London in September 1992. This approach to summarizing available information has also been taken for other taxa, such as Atelopus (Lotters, 1996). However, the task of compiling data for Xenopus is enormous relative to any other amphibian group, because Xenopus laevis has become a model system for molecular and development research (Cannatella and de Sa, 1993). Unfortunately, most of our knowledge of Xenopus is biased toward this single species. There are about 20 recognized species of …

Chondrocranial Morphology Of Leptodactylus Larvae (Leptodactylidae: Leptodactylinae): Its Utility In Phylogenetic Reconstruction, Peter M. Larson, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Chondrocranial morphology of leptodactylid frogs is scarcely known and has not been completely described for any species of Leptodactylus. We describe the diversity of chondrocranial morphology in the genus Leptodactylus based on the analysis of 22 species, representing the four species groups: the fuscus Group, ocellatus Group, melanonotus Group, and pentadactylus Group. Furthermore, 26 characters are identified and used in a phylogenetic analysis. The phylogenetic analysis using Physalaemus, Crossodactylus, and Hylodes as outgroups suggests two monophyletic clades within Leptodactylus: the melanonotus-ocellatus clade and the pentadactylusfuscus clade. However, it does not support the monophyly of the species groups as currently recognized …

Recovery Of Rna Polymerase Ii Synthesis Following Dna Damage In Mutants Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Defective In Nucleotide Excision Repair, Michael S. Reagan, Errol C. Friedberg

Biology Faculty Publications

We have measured the kinetics of the recovery of mRNA synthesis in the inducible GAL10 and RNR3 genes after exposure of yeast cells to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Such recovery is abolished in mutant strains defective in nucleotide excision repair (NER) of DNA, including a rad23 mutant. Mutants defective in the RAD7 or RAD16 genes, which are required for the repair of the non-transcribed strand but not the transcribed strand of transcriptionally active genes, show slightly faster recovery of RNA synthesis than wild-type strains. A strain deleted of the RAD26 gene, which is known to be required for strand-specific NER in …

Analysis Of Gene Expression During Embryonic Development In Mulberry Silkworm Bombyx Mori, Amit Singh, K. P. Gopinathan

Biology Faculty Publications

We have developed a method for dechorionation and devitellinization of the silkworm eggs without damage, to facilitate the analysis of gene expression during embryonic development of Bombyx mori. Making use of antibodies available from heterologous systems, the spatio-temporal expression patterns of peroxidase and proliferating cell nuclear antigen have been directly visualized in whole mount embryos at various stages of development without the need for generating transformed ·lines carrying specific reporter constructs. The B. mori system, previously unamenable for such studies, could thus serve as an attractive model for molecular analysis of insect development.

The attention lavished on Drosophila melanogaster as …

Enhancer Trap Technique: A Novel Tool For Identification And Developmental Characterization Of Genes Of Drosophila, Amit Singh

Biology Faculty Publications

The classical technique of mutational screen for identification of genes controlling early development has now approached saturation. A new era in genetic identification and developmental characterization of genes in Drosophila has commenced with the advent of the enhancer trap technique. This technique involves mobilization of a P-lacZ vector to diverse chromosomal locations in the fruit fly genome to bring it under the regulation of developmentally expressed genes or their enhancer elements. The technique offers a strikingly elegant method of gaining entry into fruit fly genes.

An Improved Method For Chemical Devitellinization Of X-Gal Stained Drosophila Embryos, Amit Singh, Madhuri Kango-Singh, P. Sinha

Biology Faculty Publications

In Drosophila developmental biological studies, X-gal staining is commonly employed to study the spatio-temporal expression of the lacZ reporter gene in the transformed flies or their embryos. Study of the lacZ pattern in embryos often suffers from the lack of an efficient and high yieldirrg technique for devitellinization of X-gal stained embryos. Devitellinization techniques employed during antibody staining, in situ hybridization or embryonic cuticular preparations generally do not give satisfactory results when used for similar purpose in X-gal stained embryos. This results in the flaky appearance of the blue stain. We present here an improved chemical devitellinization technique which gives …

Translational Regulation Of The C-Jun Proto-Oncogene, Anil Sehgal

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The v-jun oncogene was originally isolated from the ASV17 virus in 1987. Ever since its isolation, extensive work has been done to understand the role of the v-jun oncogene in cell transformation. The c-Jun protein is a transcription factor which binds to the DNA target TGACTCA. The c-Jun protein binds to DNA in the form of dimers. It can form homodimers with itself and heterodimers with Jun family (JunB and JunD), Fos family (FosB, Fra1 and Fra2), or with CREB family members through the leucine zipper motif. Because the c-jun proto-oncogene plays an important role in cell transformation, extensive work …

Development And Application Of A Thermistor Current Meter, Carl M. Way, Albert J. Burky, Christine Miller-Way

Biology Faculty Publications

This report provides details for the construction of a hot-bead thermistor current meter which is capable of measuring water velocities on a millimeter spatial scale and for the construction of a compact and accurate calibration system. Hot-bead thermistor current meters can be built with response times of 200 ms capable of measuring velocities between 0.1 and 80 cm s-1. The construction of a sturdy probe for application in lotic systems such as high gradient Hawaiian streams was achieved by the use of heavy-duty acrylic tubing, small stainless steel gas-chromatography tubing, and flexible Tygon spaghetti tubing. An acrylic handle anchors the …

Molecular And Cellular Analysis Of Chlamydia Trachomatis: Persistence And Reactivation, Kimberly R. Tau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most prevalent sexually-transmitted infection in the United States. It has been suggested that CT infections can become latent. This has not been substantiated. CT persistence was examined at the molecular and cellular level in vitro and in vivo. Penicillin treatment of CT in vitro results in abnormal inclusions and reduced recovery of infectious CT. Penicillin did not inhibit initial stages of infection, but did downregulate CT rRNA levels after 25 hours post-inoculation (p.i.). DNA amplification was employed to differentiate between a resolved infection and a persistent one. Utilizing a primer pair that amplified a 144 …

A Simple Solid-Phase Electrophoretic Procedure For The Separation Of Plasmid Dna, Linda Ann Simurra

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

A method was developed for extraction of plasmid DNA from bacterial cells embedded in agarose blocks. Cell - containing blocks were treated with various lysing reagents and inserted into the wells of an agarose gel. Upon electrophoresis the plasmid DNA migrated out of the embedding block and into the gel leaving intact chromosomal DNA in the well. This method was tested with various organisms and found to be effective for plasmid isolation. In comparison to "traditional" procedures, this new method is less tedious since chemical separation of plasmids is not required prior to electrophoresis. Also, a higher yield of plasmid …

Seasonal Responses Of Filtration Rates To Temperature, Oxygen Availability, And Particle Concentration Of The Freshwater Clam, Musculium Partumeium (Say), Albert J. Burky, Richard B. Benjamin, Denis G. Conover, Jennifer Detrick

Biology Faculty Publications

Seasonal filtration rates of a pond population of the freshwater pisidiid clam, Musculium par­tumeium (Say), were assessed by measuring the clearance of 2.02 µ.m latex beads from suspension and expressed in terms of FR = a(AFDW}b where FR = filtration rate (ml H20 · hr- 1 ) , AFDW = mg ash-free dry weight of a whole clam and "a" and "b" are constants. The a-values ( = FR of a 1-mg AFDW clam} vary seasonally with the highest rates corresponding to periods of maximum growth and reproduction in the spring and fall. Changes in "b" reflect the influence of …

Interpopulation Variation In Calcareous And Proteinaceous Shell Components In The Stream Limpet, Ferrissia Rivularis, Carl M. Way, Daniel J. Hornbach, Albert J. Burky

Biology Faculty Publications

Natural populations of the North American stream limpet, F. rivularis, were studied in upstate New York [USA], in a set of localities whose waters have a 15-fold range of dissolved Ca (4.6-67.6 mg/liter) and also range from oligotrophy to eutrophy. Shell component analyses (CaCO3, total organic C and total N) are reported as component mass-fractions (mg/g or .mu.g/g dry weight) and as values for a standard limpet shell of 35 mm aperture length (AL). More than 2-fold differences occur between populations in all 3 components, with relatively little variation occurring within each population. Expressed per standard limpet, CaCO3 values for …

Seasonal Metabolism Of The Sphaeriid Clam, Musculium Partumeium (Say), From A Permanent And A Temporary Pond, Carl M. Way, Daniel J. Hornbach, Albert J. Burky

Biology Faculty Publications

Seasonal metabolic rates were examined for the sphaeriid clam, Musculium partumeium (Say) from a permanent and a temporary pond. For the fall-born generation from the permanent pond and for the single generation from the temporary pond, metabolic rates peak during periods of greatest growth and reproduction. Metabolic rates were consistently higher for the permanent pond population. These rates for Musculium partumeium extend the available information on the family Sphaeriidae to the genus Musculium.

Growth Of Pisidium Casertanum (Poli) In West Central Ohio, Albert J. Burky, Daniel J. Hornbach, Carl M. Way

Biology Faculty Publications

Clarke (1973) states that Pisidium casertanum (Poli) is perhaps the most common species of Pisidium and is truly cosmopolitan, occurring throughout Eurasia, Africa, Australia, and South, Central and North America. Populations of these clams are reported in habitats ranging from ephemeral ponds to benthic zones of deep lakes. Our study describes Manuscript received 29 May 1979 and in revised form 25 July 1980 (#79-34). 2 Present address: Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22901. 3 Present address: Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH 45056. 41 aspects of the life-cycle of P. casertanum in a spring-fed stream with …

Buoyancy Changes As Related To Respiratory Behavior In An Amphibious Snail, Pomacea Urceus (Müller), From Venezuela, Kathleen A. Burky, Albert J. Burky

Biology Faculty Publications

The ampullariid Pomacea urceus uses its ctenidium and lung in respiration. The snails reach the surface with their siphon and ventilate their lung by withdrawing their head-foot in a pumping action. The lung gas also serves to change the buoyancy of the snails. After a ventilation a snail does not necessarily return to the same buoyancy level. They may achieve overall specific gravities of <1 to > 1 after a ventilation. They may remain submerged (s.g. > 1) or float (s.g.

The Role Of D-Gluconic Acid In The Regulation Of The Synthesis Of The Enzymes Of The Entner-Doudoroff Pathway In Pseudomonas Fluorescens, Steven C. Quay

Honors Theses

Induction of Entner-Duodoroff pathway enzymes in Pseudomonas fluorescens was investigated to study the role of gluconate as a possible inducer. Glucose oxidase-deficient mutants were isolated and characterized. One of these mutants, gox-7, was deficient in particulate glucose oxidase; another mutant, gox-17, was deficient in particulate glucose and gluconate oxidase activities. Gluconate, but not glucose, induced synthesis of gluconokinase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydratase in both mutants. High constitute levels of 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate aldolase were found when both mutants were grown on glucose. Growth of parent and both mutant strains on glycerol also resulted in high levels of Entner-Doudoroff pathway enzymes. It was concluded …