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Articles 181 - 210 of 474

Full-Text Articles in Microbiology

Discovering Protein Interactions Of Hr120gcryab, Kent Jarvis, Dr. Julianne Grose Apr 2014

Discovering Protein Interactions Of Hr120gcryab, Kent Jarvis, Dr. Julianne Grose

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The original goal of my project was to find substrates of hR120GCryAB using a yeast two-hybrid model. Over the past few months I was able to achieve this goal. I was able to find over 11 novel substrates that bind with hR120GCryAB. This is new knowledge that had not ever been known before and will hopefully help aid in future treatments of cardiomyopathy.

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Novel Nanoinjection Of Yeast Artificial Chromosomes In Mouse Zygotes, Jordan Kitchen, Dr. Sandra Burnett Apr 2014

Novel Nanoinjection Of Yeast Artificial Chromosomes In Mouse Zygotes, Jordan Kitchen, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Transgenic mice are used to create animal models and are typically generated by the addition of transgenes (4-14 Kb pairs) or artificial chromosomes (150-300 Kb) to the pronucleus of a fertilized mouse egg [1][2]. Because of the size of chromosomes, using them to produce transgenic mice can be very problematic. Current methods for inserting transgenes include delivery through a microinjection device into the pronucleus. Transgenic mice are then created by transplantation of injected eggs into a surrogate female [3]. Larger DNA or yeast artificial chromosomes (YAC) due to the increased amount of genetic material could be used to express an …

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Identification Of A Consensus Dna Binding Sequence For Nuclear Gdf5, Michael Baldwin, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Apr 2014

Identification Of A Consensus Dna Binding Sequence For Nuclear Gdf5, Michael Baldwin, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Nuclear Gdf5 (nGdf5) and nuclear Bmp2 (nBmp2) are newly discovered proteins (1); however, their function has not been determined. They were first found while studying enhancer elements of the Col11a2 gene, and a yeast-one hybrid screen suggested that they could bind to the D/E enhancer of this gene. Further experiments confirmed the presence of these proteins in the nuclei of cells and determined the specific mechanism by which they were translocated to the nucleus (1). This work led to the hypotheses that they function as transcription factors, binding to regulatory regions of target genes to modulate transcription. Two years ago, …

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The Unfolded Protein Response Is It The Real Culprit In Osteoarthritis?, Benjamin Fisher, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Apr 2014

The Unfolded Protein Response Is It The Real Culprit In Osteoarthritis?, Benjamin Fisher, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that affects 26 million of Americans, yet its cause it not understood.1 It is a degenerative disease that affects cartilage at joints, and there are several risk factors that give people a higher probability of developing OA; these risk factors include acute joint injury, obesity, and family history of OA. Scientists are still trying to discover the genetic cause of OA, but no one has been successful at finding the link. In our research, we attempted to use 2 mouse models with genetic mutations to study the proteins involved in OA. Dmm (Disproportionate Micromelia) and …

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Humanized Mouse Model For The Study Of Human Herpesvirus 6 Infections, Stephanie Carlson, Dr. Bradford Berges Apr 2014

Humanized Mouse Model For The Study Of Human Herpesvirus 6 Infections, Stephanie Carlson, Dr. Bradford Berges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

While working on this project, we had several unforeseen setbacks. Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV- 6) proved much more difficult to work with than we had supposed. It was tricky to propagate (make it replicate) and hard to quantify. It does not behave like other viruses we have worked with and had a few tricks up its sleeve. We were expecting a dormant virus but were surprised to see a lytic strain. The cells we used to propagate HHV-6 kept dying, so we spent time looking for protocols and reading up on what others have done to maintain the virus. I …

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Determining Nucleosome Positioning In Varying Developmental Stages Of Caenorhabditis Elegans, Kellie Bollenbach, Dr. Steve Johnson Apr 2014

Determining Nucleosome Positioning In Varying Developmental Stages Of Caenorhabditis Elegans, Kellie Bollenbach, Dr. Steve Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project consisted of four main parts. The first was to isolate mononucleosome cores from C. elegans that had been pelleted and flash frozen in liquid nitrogen using micrococcal nuclease. The second part was to use an antibody specific to GFP, which was expressed in the germline of the strain of C. elegans we are using and selectively pull out the nucleosomes bound to the GFP using immunoprecipitation, namely those germline cells. From there, we were to sequence the DNA wrapped around those nucleosomes in order to determine where on the DNA those nucleosomes lie and compare it to the …

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Molecular Characterization Of Pathways Involved In Pas Kinase Regulation And Function, Julianne H. Grose Feb 2014

Molecular Characterization Of Pathways Involved In Pas Kinase Regulation And Function, Julianne H. Grose

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this MEG were to provide novel findings in the field of metabolic regulation while training both graduate and undergraduate students. We were able to meet these objectives as evidenced by one published scientific article, one article accepted upon minor revision, and one in preparation. In addition, fifteen oral presentations or posters were presented at scientific meetings on findings directly obtained from this MEG. Furthermore, these findings helped obtain NIH funding in 2012 that will continue through 2015, allowing for further scientific advance and training of students.

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The Role Of The Kshv Lana Protein In Development Of Persistent Infections In Vivo, Bradford Berges Feb 2014

The Role Of The Kshv Lana Protein In Development Of Persistent Infections In Vivo, Bradford Berges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Several of my students have moved on to future positions, as follows: Medical school: Marshall Sheide, Stanton Nielsen, German Cuadra Graduate school: Jamie Gardiner, Steve Hallam (still interviewing) Currently employed: Joel Gardner, Wittnee Estes

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Effect Of Epigenetic Modification Of Dna On Nucleosome Formation, Steven M. Johnson Feb 2014

Effect Of Epigenetic Modification Of Dna On Nucleosome Formation, Steven M. Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The following two specific Aims are from my 2011 MEG. We made great progress and completed Aim 1 and modified our Aim 2. Below I will give a status report for each Aim.

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Targeting Iga Antibody Responses To Mucosal Tissues Through Chemokine Receptor Manipulation, Eric Wilson Feb 2014

Targeting Iga Antibody Responses To Mucosal Tissues Through Chemokine Receptor Manipulation, Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Proper functioning of cells of the immune system is highly dependent on their efficient accumulation to tissues where infection may occur. These cells migrate throughout the body to sites of possible infection via arteries and blood vessels, much like commuters travel to their places of employment via highways and city streets. Just as commuters must take the appropriate off-ramps to get to their desired destination and then enter their work place, white blood cells must also exit the blood vessels of the body at appropriate locations and enter their destination tissues to effectively protect the host from infection.

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Bax Induced Apoptosis Under Control Of The Tk1 Promoter, Scott A. Witt, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill Feb 2014

Bax Induced Apoptosis Under Control Of The Tk1 Promoter, Scott A. Witt, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The human body has an automatic system for eliminating unwanted cells. When it is time for a cell to be removed, it is given a signal to divide up its parts into discrete packages and send them to other cells to be recycled. The cell eventually disintegrates. This process is called apoptosis, or programmed cell death. Every cell in the body has the mechanism, but only the ones receiving the signal will die. Sometimes, certain cells lose the ability to undergo programmed cell death. The result is a group of unwanted cells that refuse to die properly-cancer.

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Conservation Of The Che And Pho Systems In Escherichia Coli, Kimberly B. Zumbrennen, Dr. William R. Mccleary Feb 2014

Conservation Of The Che And Pho Systems In Escherichia Coli, Kimberly B. Zumbrennen, Dr. William R. Mccleary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bacteria live in a continuously changing environment. In order to survive, bacteria must monitor nutrients, acidity, temperature, osmolarity, etc. The use of two-component systems to sense and respond to these environmental changes is a common motif observed in a wide variety of organisms. A two-component system consists of two main proteins, a sensor and a response regulator(2). The sensor protein is a trans-membrane protein which monitors environmental fluctuations and activates the response regulator through phosphorylation. The response regulator contains two domains, the receiver module and the output domain. The receiver module is phosphorylated and dephosphorylated by the sensor protein. Communication …

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Determining The Mechanism Of How The 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Pathway Of Plasmid Pjp4 In Ralstonia Eutropha Evolves To Degrade Phenoxyacetic Acid As A Sole Carbon Source, David Schlesinger, Dr. Alan R. Harker Feb 2014

Determining The Mechanism Of How The 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Pathway Of Plasmid Pjp4 In Ralstonia Eutropha Evolves To Degrade Phenoxyacetic Acid As A Sole Carbon Source, David Schlesinger, Dr. Alan R. Harker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Being that the scope of this project was much larger than anticipated I was unable to complete my research in its entirety. However I did make substantial progress and was able to answer many of my original questions.

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Bacterial Fingerprints, Kristilyn Rogers, Dr. Ron W. Leavitt Feb 2014

Bacterial Fingerprints, Kristilyn Rogers, Dr. Ron W. Leavitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bordetellosis, or turkey coryza, is a highly contagious respiratory disease in poultry caused by Bordetella avium. Turkey growers worldwide are concerned with this disease which results in millions of dollars in losses annually to the turkey industry. Bordetellosis is readily transmitted through close contact with those already infected, or by exposure to contaminated litter or water. Infected turkeys experience, among other things, stunted growth and a predisposition for other infectious diseases. The mortality rate for bordetellosis is less than 10%. However, morbidity rates can reach 80-100% in young poults. Moreover, with concurrent infection of B. avium and Escherichia coli …

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Random Mutagenesis In Phob: A Proposed Study Of The Effects Of Mutations In Phosphate Regulation, Chad C. Lowe, Dr. William R. Mccleary Feb 2014

Random Mutagenesis In Phob: A Proposed Study Of The Effects Of Mutations In Phosphate Regulation, Chad C. Lowe, Dr. William R. Mccleary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Within the prokaryotic cell, the intake of essential nutrients is continuously regulated by intracellular mechanisms. When fundamental nutrients become scarce, cellular stress responses are activated to enable the cell to survive in a harsh environment. Recent studies have shown a two-component regulatory mechanism which enhances Escherichia coli intracellular phosphate uptake in a phosphatepoor environment (5). This system, called the Pho system, consists of a sensor (PhoR) and an activator (PhoB). When environmental phosphate is limited, PhoR becomes autophosphorylated and in turn phosphorylates PhoB (4). The phosphorylated PhoB recognizes and binds to a consensus sequence called the “pho box” and …

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Effects Of Reverse Transcriptase And Protease Inhibitors On Lymphoid Tissue Viral Load In Murine Retrovirus Infection, Eric R. Griffiths, Dr. Greg Burton Feb 2014

Effects Of Reverse Transcriptase And Protease Inhibitors On Lymphoid Tissue Viral Load In Murine Retrovirus Infection, Eric R. Griffiths, Dr. Greg Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During HIV infection, blocking viral replication has drastic effects on HIV immune complexes maintained on follicular dendritic cells (FDCs): HIV immune complexes quickly drop off FDCs to undetectable levels (1). This was a remarkable and unexpected finding since FDCs typically preserve trapped antigen for months to years. Furthermore, mice have been shown to carry infectious viral immune complexes on FDCs for periods of over nine months in the total absence of viral replication (2).

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Measles Virus And Its Interactions With Follicular Dendritic Cells, Michael J. Lloyd, Dr. Gregory F. Burton Feb 2014

Measles Virus And Its Interactions With Follicular Dendritic Cells, Michael J. Lloyd, Dr. Gregory F. Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Measles virus continues to be a major cause of death in most third-world countries and a considerable threat to the health of every country. Infection with measles is thought to be associated with the fatal, late-infection disease subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) (3). It is thought that Measles virus is retained by the body following infection until it mutates, crosses the blood-brain barrier to infect and destroy brain tissue, killing the host.

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A Comparative Study Of The Efficacy Of A New Immunoassay Of Deoxythymidine Kinase, David K. Walburger Feb 2014

A Comparative Study Of The Efficacy Of A New Immunoassay Of Deoxythymidine Kinase, David K. Walburger

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The ability to follow a cancer’s aggressiveness and response to treatment throughout the disease’s course is critical in treatment programs. The tumor markers used as indicators have not been able to consistently do this. Thymidine Kinase, an enzyme linked with cellular proliferation, has been shown to be persistently elevated in almost all cancer serums, and corresponds well with disease stage in breast cancer patients. It has also been shown that TK levels in serum, as well as in tumors, decrease drastically after treatment; subsequent rises are indicative of disease recurrence. Currently, TK levels are measured by radionucleoside phosphorylation assays. There …

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Susceptibility Of S49 Lymphoma Cell Membranes To Hydrolysis By Secretory Phospholipase A2 During Early Phase Of Apoptosis, Darin V. Allred, Kim L. O'Neill Feb 2014

Susceptibility Of S49 Lymphoma Cell Membranes To Hydrolysis By Secretory Phospholipase A2 During Early Phase Of Apoptosis, Darin V. Allred, Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Apoptosis is a term used to describe a programmed method of cellular suicide. This programmed cell death is a normal and very important feature of the maturation of an organism. The body uses it to tightly control the number of divisions of all types of cells in order to eliminate excess cells and develop properly. For example, our fingers are separated because embryonic cells that once joined them died during development.

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The Genotoxicitv Of 1.4-Dioxane Using The Single Cell Gel, Edward Harris Feb 2014

The Genotoxicitv Of 1.4-Dioxane Using The Single Cell Gel, Edward Harris

Journal of Undergraduate Research

1.4-Dioxane (DX), a common ingredient in solvents for oils, waxes and many other organic compounds, has an undetermined genotoxicity. It has been reported to be both a nongenotoxic (Salmonella and Cl-IO chromosome aberration assays) and a genotoxic compound (1). Previous experiments carried out indicate that Sherman strain and Sprague-Dawley rats receiving 0.1% to 1% DX in drinking water develop hepatic/renal damage and hepatocellular and nasal carcinoma respectively (4,7). In this preliminary study, the single cell gel assay was used to determine possible DNA damage caused by DX. Human Raji Burkitt’s lymphoma cells were grown In the presence of various concentrations …

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Quantum Interstate Phase Differences And Multiphoton Processes: Application To Multi-Level Models Of Time Dependent Energy Absorption, John Sutton Welch Feb 2014

Quantum Interstate Phase Differences And Multiphoton Processes: Application To Multi-Level Models Of Time Dependent Energy Absorption, John Sutton Welch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the last year I have examined numerical solutions and analytical approximations of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation for quantum systems with two, three and four levels which are perturbed by a classical sinusoidal field, I have been particularly interested in understanding the meaning and effects of the quantum phase on probability changes within the quantum system and have recently submitted my findings to the Journal of Chemical Physics and plan to present a poster of this and current work at the American Chemical Society meeting next April in Anaheim, California.

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Mapping Of The Immune Response Gene(S) Controlling Susceptibility To Murine Experimental Orchitis, Randall Roper Feb 2014

Mapping Of The Immune Response Gene(S) Controlling Susceptibility To Murine Experimental Orchitis, Randall Roper

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The research project I proposed entailed mapping the gene or genes that control susceptibility to Murine Experimental Orchitis by using a large backcross population of 110 animals. These animals have been generated by obtaining an Fl population from the susceptible SJL mice and resistant B lO.S mice and crossing the susceptible Fl population with disease resistant BlO.S mice. Through the use of a histological report of the susceptibility of the large backcross population to Experimental Allergic Orchitis, and the use of microsatellite and RAPD markers to identify distinguishing polymorphisms, the gene may be linked to a specific chromosome of the …

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Ancient “Gene-Ology” Leads To Improvements In Ancient Dna Ex· Traction Methods And Pcr Amplication Techniques, Blake C. Ballif Feb 2014

Ancient “Gene-Ology” Leads To Improvements In Ancient Dna Ex· Traction Methods And Pcr Amplication Techniques, Blake C. Ballif

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the past decade, the development of ancient DNA research has left modern science seemingly on the verge of breaching the barrier between the world we live in and the ancient past. Archaeologists, anthropologists, and molecular biologists alike have become increasingly more aware of the understanding that can be gleaned from genetic studies of ancient populations and extinct species. Although ancient DNA has remarkably been isolated and amplified from organisms hundreds, thousands, and even millions of years old 1·3, these breakthroughs represent in most cases a single ancient individual or animal with important yet modest amounts of data. In order …

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Influence Of Ultrasonic Stimulation On The Antibiotic Action Of Gentamicin Against Group D Streptococci, Mark S. Miller Feb 2014

Influence Of Ultrasonic Stimulation On The Antibiotic Action Of Gentamicin Against Group D Streptococci, Mark S. Miller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the Winter Semester of 1994, I was able to work with three members of the genus Streptococcus: S. pneumoniae, S. agalactiae, and S. faecalis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the antibiotic gentamicin (an aminoglycoside which inhibits protein synthesis) against the three species were determined. The MIC of S. pneumoniae was 9-12 ~g/ml, 48-50 ~g/ml for S. agalacliae, and 25 ~g/ml for S. faecalis. Though I labored to pinpoint a more exact concentration for each species, experimental variables resulted in the MIC ranges indicated above.

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Transcription Upregulation Of Hiv By Fdc, Nathan R. York, Dr. Gregory R. Burton Jan 2014

Transcription Upregulation Of Hiv By Fdc, Nathan R. York, Dr. Gregory R. Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The search to understand Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the progression of the disease that it causes, AIDS, has led scientists to delve further and further into the intricacies of viral mechanics. Although not considered living organisms by many scientists, these entities manage to find ways to enter, replicate, and thrive within the cells of their hosts. As we study any one particular virus, insights into many viruses can be gained.

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Down-Regulation Of Hiv-1 Receptors And Inhibition Of Hiv-1 Entry By Prostratin Treatment, Richard Turley, Dr. Richard A. Robison, Dr. Gregory F. Burton Jan 2014

Down-Regulation Of Hiv-1 Receptors And Inhibition Of Hiv-1 Entry By Prostratin Treatment, Richard Turley, Dr. Richard A. Robison, Dr. Gregory F. Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Due to recent findings that HIV replication can persist even with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), it has become increasingly necessary to develop new therapies that can be used as adjuncts with HAART, to combat HIV infection. One possible alternative strategy is to block infection by down-regulation of the cell receptors needed for viral entry. Amara, et al. proposed that HIV coreceptor down-regulation by stromal cell derived factor 1-a (SDF-1a), the physiological ligand of CXCR4, blocks infection of target cells by X4 strains of HIV-1 (1). Mack, et al. demonstrated that Aminooxypentane-RANTES (a derivative of RANTES, one of CCR5’s physiological …

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“Herceptin (Trastazumab) Causes Cardiotoxicity In Breast Cancer Patients With Prior Cardiac Trauma”, Rick Whitehead, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill Jan 2014

“Herceptin (Trastazumab) Causes Cardiotoxicity In Breast Cancer Patients With Prior Cardiac Trauma”, Rick Whitehead, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 1998, approximately 10 million women reached the age of 50 years, at a rate of 5,000 women per day. Based on the age incidence data for breast cancer, this means that, within the next ten years, 296,000 women will be affected annually with breast cancer. Because of the tremendous growth in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, new strategies will be required to treat this “baby boomer” explosion.

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A Molecular Approach To Answering An Anthropological Question Concerning Burial Customs In An Ancient Egypt Population, Jamey Tolman, Dr. Scott Woodward Jan 2014

A Molecular Approach To Answering An Anthropological Question Concerning Burial Customs In An Ancient Egypt Population, Jamey Tolman, Dr. Scott Woodward

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have allowed us to gain knowledge about the ancient populations of the world. A team of BYU students and faculty has excavated a group of bodies, dating from 200 B.C. to 400 A.D., found in the Fag El Gamous cemetery in Egypt. A major observation from the excavations has been that the earlier, or lower burials, in the cemetery are buried with their heads to the east. As you move up in the cemetery, to more recent dates, a distinct change occurs in the orientation of the burials. The bodies are placed with their …

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Synergistic Effects Of Vitamin C And Vitamin K3 In The Widr Human Colon Adenocarcinoma Cell Line, Jeffery Sivert Tessem, Dr. Byron K. Murray Jan 2014

Synergistic Effects Of Vitamin C And Vitamin K3 In The Widr Human Colon Adenocarcinoma Cell Line, Jeffery Sivert Tessem, Dr. Byron K. Murray

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In recent years in both clinical and experimental research the benefits of vitamins as anti-cancer agents have been described. Derivatives of vitamin C have been shown to “diminish the tumor mass in inoperable tumor patients” as well as cause degeneration of hepatocellular carcinoma in rats due to direct cytotoxicity to the tumor cells (1). Vitamin K3 has also been shown to induces DNA damage, reduced expression of c-myc, and caused apoptosis in human T-lymphocyte Jurkat cells, and other effects have also been seen in other cell lines (1). Studies have been done using these two vitamins in conjunction on …

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Comparative Resistance Of Human Papilloma Virus To Inactivation By Selected Chemical Disinfectants, Elisabeth Tillman, Dr. Richard A. Robinson Jan 2014

Comparative Resistance Of Human Papilloma Virus To Inactivation By Selected Chemical Disinfectants, Elisabeth Tillman, Dr. Richard A. Robinson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cervical cancer is the fifth most common cancer in humans as well as the second most common cause of cancer death in women [3]. In developing countries, cervical cancer is actually the most common female disease, constituting 30% of female cancers [1]. In the United States, cervical cancer is diagnosed in approximately 15,000 women and is responsible for 4,600 deaths each year [2]. At least 90% of all cervical carcinomas are related to human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. The purpose of my study is to reduce the dangerous spread of HPV through effective disinfection.

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