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Articles 301 - 330 of 474

Full-Text Articles in Microbiology

Microbial Diversity Associated With Different Sediment Types At Rozel Point, Sheena Deus, Dr. Donald Breakwell Sep 2013

Microbial Diversity Associated With Different Sediment Types At Rozel Point, Sheena Deus, Dr. Donald Breakwell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The initial focus of this project was to examine possible differences in microbial populations between clay and sand sediments at Rozel Point in Great Salt Lake by comparing 16S ribosomal RNA sequences obtained from each sediment type.


Preparation For Sequencing The Plasmid Pjp4, In Alcaligenes Eutrophus Jmp134, Nadine R. Wing, Dr. Alan R. Harker Sep 2013

Preparation For Sequencing The Plasmid Pjp4, In Alcaligenes Eutrophus Jmp134, Nadine R. Wing, Dr. Alan R. Harker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Within the last fifty years a new herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was introduced into the environment. Despite the novelty of the compound, several bacteria have the ability to degrade 2,4-D. In the bacteria there is a plasmid, pJP4, that contains genes, in the tfd region, which code for proteins that degrade 2,4-D. More information on this new metabolic pathway can be found once the tfd region is completely sequenced. Through sequencing and analysis, information concerning the evolution of the tfd pathway, the use of transposons or recombination for gene insertion, and the presence of repeated genes will be found.


Chemical Analysis Of Synthetic Dimerizer Ap20187, Jad Mills, Dr. Sandra Burnett Sep 2013

Chemical Analysis Of Synthetic Dimerizer Ap20187, Jad Mills, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The synthetic dimerizer AP20187 initiates targeted dimerization of mutant FK506 binding proteins (FKBP) to study cell functions, cell signaling pathways, and protein functions. In Macrophage Fas-Induced Apoptosis (Mafia) transgenic mice, AP20187 is used to initiate Macrophage apoptosis . To determine the mechanism behind some depletion variability in Mafia mice, AP20187 was characterized and degradation was monitored using hydrogen and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (1H- and 13C-NMR), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electro spray mass spectrometry (ESMS), polarimetry, and spectrophotometry.


Cloning Bovine Ccl28, Melissa Hughes, Dr. Eric Wilson Sep 2013

Cloning Bovine Ccl28, Melissa Hughes, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

I have successfully completed my project of cloning CCL28. CCL28 (MEC) is a protein that acts as a chemical signal in the body to attract antibody-secreting IgA cells that expresses a receptor called CCR10 to the mucosal tissue and to the mammary gland (1). CCL28 plays a vital role in allowing the maternal antibody secreting cells to home to the mammary gland and to pass antibodies to the breast-feeding infant, giving the infant passive immunity. This provides the infant with antibodies to antigens found in the mother’s environment (which is consequently the infant’s environment as well) and decreases mortality rates. …


Thymidine Kinase 1 Immunostaining For Marking The Progression Of Skin Cancer, Kendal Jensen, Dr. Kim O'Neill Sep 2013

Thymidine Kinase 1 Immunostaining For Marking The Progression Of Skin Cancer, Kendal Jensen, Dr. Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Each year in the United States there are over one million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Detection of metastatic skin cancer requires skill and careful consideration of clinical and histologic features. An accurate and specific stain for early, definitive diagnosis of metastatic skin cancer would be a useful tool for clinicians. Investigations using antibodies against tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) as prognostic indicators in cancer are ongoing. A novel TSA, Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) has been discovered for a variety of solid tumors. This last year in Kim O’Neill’s lab I investigated the use of an antibody against TK1 for use in …


Feup Importance In The Symbiotic Infection In Sinorhizobium Melliloti, Rebecca Carlyon, Dr. Joel Griffitts Sep 2013

Feup Importance In The Symbiotic Infection In Sinorhizobium Melliloti, Rebecca Carlyon, Dr. Joel Griffitts

Journal of Undergraduate Research

How does infection work? How do bacteria know where they are to function within a host? These processes are vital for understanding both disease-causing and beneficial bacteria. For example, infection in alfalfa by a bacterium called Sinorhizobium meliloti is advantageous for the legume. Rhizobia infects special plant organs called root nodules where they function to fix nitrogen—a vital mechanism for the plants’ survival. This is a crucial agricultural process, yet remains a under researched subject. An important aspect of infection is that in order for it to occur, there must exist communication between the bacteria and the plant.


The Role Of Specific Estrogen-Responsive Genes In Breast Cancer Development, Laura Castillo, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin Sep 2013

The Role Of Specific Estrogen-Responsive Genes In Breast Cancer Development, Laura Castillo, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Estrogen plays a role in the reproductive maturation of females, including breast development. It is also known that estrogen affects the development of malignant breast tumors. Estrogen works by binding to specific estrogen receptors found in the cytoplasm or near the nuclear membrane. Once bound to estrogen, these receptors diffuse into the nucleus where they bind to specific DNA sequences called estrogen-response elements. They then regulate the expression of specific genes. There are two types of estrogen receptors (ER): ERα and ERβ. Only ERα has been observed to play a role in breast cancer development. Dr. Chin-Yo Lin and associates …


Molecular Mechanism Of Host Specificity In A Permissive Infectious Process, Joshua Sterling Bently, Dr. Joel S. Griffitts Sep 2013

Molecular Mechanism Of Host Specificity In A Permissive Infectious Process, Joshua Sterling Bently, Dr. Joel S. Griffitts

Journal of Undergraduate Research

vUnderstanding the molecular mechanism permitting symbiosis is not completely understood. A more confounding question is why do closely related bacteria demonstrate variable specificity? In my project we attempted to answer this very question by attempting to identify the gene or genes responsible for the variability.


The Role Of Ypo 2169 In Flea Transmission Of Plague, Paul Henry Beeston, Dr. David Erickson Sep 2013

The Role Of Ypo 2169 In Flea Transmission Of Plague, Paul Henry Beeston, Dr. David Erickson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Yersinia pestis is the gram negative bacteria responsible for the disease known as the plague. It is transmitted to hosts primarily through fleas such as the Oriental rat flea North American ground squirrel flea. Y. pestis is mainly a disease that affects small mammal populations such as rats and squirrels. The environment of the rat flea and other fleas, however, is very different from small mammal hosts or human hosts. Fleas maintain a body temperature considerably lower than mammals. Fleas also have unique physiologies that greatly differ from mammals.


Finding A Correlation Between Aggressivity Of Cancer And Dna Repair Capacity, Kristie I. Aamodt, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill Sep 2013

Finding A Correlation Between Aggressivity Of Cancer And Dna Repair Capacity, Kristie I. Aamodt, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The initial proposal for this project outlined the study of the link between DNA damage and aggressiveness of cancer cells. A major portion of the project involved developing a more time-efficient method of measuring DNA repair using a fluorescent staining technique that quantifies the amount of DNA that is damaged in each sample. The staining process involves using terminal deoxytransferase (tDt), an enzyme which adds nucleotides to DNA at the 3′ end of single-strand breaks. By incubating the samples with fluorescein-conjugated dUTP in addition to the enzyme, one fluorescent molecule is incorporated for each single-strand break. The amount of fluorescence …


Estrogen And Breast Cancer: Understanding The Complex Interaction One Gene At A Time, Victoria Harris, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin Sep 2013

Estrogen And Breast Cancer: Understanding The Complex Interaction One Gene At A Time, Victoria Harris, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Estrogen is a steroid hormone that acts in the body in both beneficial and detrimental ways. It plays a crucial role in many human processes including coagulation, bone formation, and development of sexual organs. However, estrogen is also associated with the proliferation of breast cancer. Estrogen activates the estrogen receptor (ER), a ligand-dependent transcription factor that regulates gene expression by binding to specific DNA elements and promoting or repressing transcription.


Identifying The Mechanisms Of Estrogen Receptors In Human Breast Cancer Cells Through Study Of Direct Target Gene Expression, Megan Lundell, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin Sep 2013

Identifying The Mechanisms Of Estrogen Receptors In Human Breast Cancer Cells Through Study Of Direct Target Gene Expression, Megan Lundell, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Estrogens, including estrodial (E2), are known to play a significant role in a number of developmental and physiological processes including the genesis and progression of breast cancer. The action of estrogens is mediated by estrogen receptors (ERs), which function as ligand-dependent transcription factors. Upon ligand binding, ERs interact with cis-regulatory elements of target genes either directly by binding to estrogen response elements or indirectly through interaction with transcription factor complexes and their respective binding sites.1 The primary objective of this project involved the knockdown, or reduction, of NCor, a co-repressor protein known to associate with ER in the presence of …


Melanoma And Metastasis In A Mafia Mouse Model, Keith Wells, Dr. Kim O'Neill Sep 2013

Melanoma And Metastasis In A Mafia Mouse Model, Keith Wells, Dr. Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It has been estimated that over 560, 000 Americans will die of cancer this year, over 1,500 a day. Currently, there is much research performed to understand how cancer works, how to prevent it, and how to treat it. Cancer encompasses a multitude of diseases coming from nearly all tissue types in the body and from all age groups. It is a problem which plagues all countries and cultures.


Culture And Identification Of Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Cells, Joshua Hauser, Dr. Sandra Burnett Sep 2013

Culture And Identification Of Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Cells, Joshua Hauser, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Successfully culturing and identifying bone marrow cells is a critical skill when doing stem cell, or hematopoietic research. This skill was especially important in Dr. Sandra Burnett’s research lab, with whom I conducted this research. Since the proper culture and identification of the cells was a vital part of any results or conclusions that were made in the lab, we deemed it imperative to determine whether or not we would be able to develop training protocols that would result in better and more consistent results. I strongly believed that this project would immediately impact our current and future research using …


Gene Expression Of Down-Regulated Estrogen Receptor Target Genes In Human Breast Cancer Cells Following Drug Rreatment, Ben Newman, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin Sep 2013

Gene Expression Of Down-Regulated Estrogen Receptor Target Genes In Human Breast Cancer Cells Following Drug Rreatment, Ben Newman, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer found in women and the majority of such cancers are estrogen receptor (ER) positive. This means the cancer is dependent on estrogen for growth. In such cancers, ER acts as a ligand-dependent transcription factor, changing gene expression when bound to estrogen. The altered expression of ER target genes in breast cancer is a likely cause of the uncontrolled cell growth.


Sinorhizobium Meliloti Adaptation In Alfalfa Bacterial Pathway Of Infection, Jacob Erickson, Dr. Joel Griffitts Sep 2013

Sinorhizobium Meliloti Adaptation In Alfalfa Bacterial Pathway Of Infection, Jacob Erickson, Dr. Joel Griffitts

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bacterial infection has been fought against successfully since the discovery of penicillin, and since then other antibiotics. Despite this, bacterial strains continue to mutate and find resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Gaining an understanding the genetic process of infection within bacteria will aid in the fight of harmful bacteria and the use of symbiotic bacteria.


Ongoing Development Of An Anti-Sporulation Media And The Methodology To Efficiently Quantify Spores, Jared Balaich, Dr. Richard Robison Sep 2013

Ongoing Development Of An Anti-Sporulation Media And The Methodology To Efficiently Quantify Spores, Jared Balaich, Dr. Richard Robison

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Spore forming bacteria are of great medical importance because of their ability to infect, and sustain infection in the human host. A spore consists of the bacterium’s DNA surrounded by thick membranes and is resistant to desiccation, disinfectants, radiation. The spore can then form a living bacterium after remaining dormant for thousands or even millions of years. Although much is now known about the structure and pathways involved in spore formation, much mystery remains around exactly what triggers spore formation to occur. The focus of this research project is to culture spore forming bacteria on medias of differing composition and …


Isolation Of A Novel Francisella Sp. In Environmental Samples Using A Modified Selective Medium, David Drake, Dr. Richard Robison Sep 2013

Isolation Of A Novel Francisella Sp. In Environmental Samples Using A Modified Selective Medium, David Drake, Dr. Richard Robison

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our initial goal was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a new selective medium for isolating Francisella species from environmental samples, including those from soil, feces, and ponds. We successfully developed the medium, CHAB-PACCVI, and used it to isolate a novel Francisella species from hot springs samples obtained in Salt Lake.


Assay For Protective Malaria Antibody, Rachel L. Robison, Dr. James B. Jensen Sep 2013

Assay For Protective Malaria Antibody, Rachel L. Robison, Dr. James B. Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Investigations have determined that people living in areas where malaria is widespread have developed an acquired immune response that resists the malaria parasite. Normally, the malaria parasite enters the cell and takes over certain cellular functions. This cellular invasion provides nutrients to the parasite which perpetuates its life cycle. In cases where an immune response has been developed, the immune system produces antibodies which prevent the malaria parasite from invading the erythrocyte. This type of immune response is effective through two possible mechanisms. The first mechanism prevents parasite attachment to the erythrocyte plasma membrane. The second mechanism restricts the parasite …


Genetic Variation In Gila Ataria, Peter D. Pixton, Dr. Mark C. Belk Sep 2013

Genetic Variation In Gila Ataria, Peter D. Pixton, Dr. Mark C. Belk

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Utah chub (Gila Atraria) is a small fish native to the ancient Bonneville Basin. After a series of floods, Lake Bonneville receded approximately ten thousand years ago, isolating fish and other fauna that had been a part of the Greater Bonneville drainage. Pockets of Gila Atraria become isolated in drainages throughout Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho, and the genetic flow between these stranded populations stopped.


Inhibition Of P-21 Ras Translocation Of Ht-29 Cell Line By Fresh Garlic (Allium Sativum), Jordan D. Smith, Dr. Byron K. Murray Sep 2013

Inhibition Of P-21 Ras Translocation Of Ht-29 Cell Line By Fresh Garlic (Allium Sativum), Jordan D. Smith, Dr. Byron K. Murray

Journal of Undergraduate Research

How does fresh garlic oil affect human colon cancer cells? HT-29 is a cell line of human colon cancer originally extracted from a primary tumor in 1964. 3-hydroxy-3- methylglutaryi-CoA reductase (HGMR) is an enzyme responsible for attaching a lipid group to the 21 kilodalton (kD) Ras protein (p2l Ras), a molecule involved in cell signaling. This attachment is essential for the movement and anchoring of Ras from the cytosol to the membrane, as well as for biological activity. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a specific chemical found in garlic which has been shown to inhibit this enzyme1 and the translocation of …


Caffeine Inhibits The Rate Of Nucleotide Excision Repair In Multiple Human Cell Lines, Bryan S. Poe, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill Sep 2013

Caffeine Inhibits The Rate Of Nucleotide Excision Repair In Multiple Human Cell Lines, Bryan S. Poe, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the course of a lifetime the human genome encounters endless assaults on its fragile genetic material, many of which are potentially teratogenic, mutagenic or even oncogenic events. To counter these genetic insults, the cell (the fundamental building unit of the human body), has in place a myriad of protective and reparative mechanisms. One of the major defenses against an existing chromosomal lesion is the nucleotide excision repair pathway.


A Nuclear Variant Of Gdf5 May Present Novel Insights On Arthritis Formation, Michael Baldwin, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Aug 2013

A Nuclear Variant Of Gdf5 May Present Novel Insights On Arthritis Formation, Michael Baldwin, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

More than 40 million Americans suffer from the pains of arthritis. Arthritis is characterized by joint inflammation and cartilage deterioration (3). For many years growth differentiation factor 5 (Gdf5) has been associated with cartilage formation and maintenance (4, 1). Recently, a new variant of Gdf5 was discovered in the nucleus. Nuclear Gdf5 (nGdf5) presents a new mechanism by which Gdf5 regulates cartilage development and preservation. The long-term purpose of my research was aimed at learning the specific function of nGdf5 and determining its regulatory pathway. Understanding the role of nGdf5 would provide new information on cartilage breakdown and could establish …


Identification Of Insertion Points Of The Macrophage Fas-Induced Apoptosis (Mafia) Transgene, Robert E. Brown Iii, Dr. Sandra Burnett Aug 2013

Identification Of Insertion Points Of The Macrophage Fas-Induced Apoptosis (Mafia) Transgene, Robert E. Brown Iii, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Without site direction, transgenes integrate randomly into the genome of target cells. The transgene used in macrophage fas-induced apoptosis (Mafia) mice was randomly incorporated and indications of multiple insertion sites were observed. Our goal in performing this study was to detect the exact insertion point of the transgene so as to ultimately develop a genetic test to verify expression of the transgene in Maifa mice. In Figure 1 the premise of our experimental design is explained. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is a scientific technique that is used to amplify a specific segment of DNA. To determine the insertion points of …


Detection Of Streptococcus Pyogenes On Applied Biosystems, Cepheid, And Rochereal-Time Pcr Platforms, Eldon Prince, Dr. Richard Robison Aug 2013

Detection Of Streptococcus Pyogenes On Applied Biosystems, Cepheid, And Rochereal-Time Pcr Platforms, Eldon Prince, Dr. Richard Robison

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Develop a real-time PCR assay to uniquely detect S. pyogenes on all three major real-time PCR platforms.


Function Of Novel Nuclear Variant Bone Morphogenetic Protein (Nbmp2), Alina Schmidt, Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater Aug 2013

Function Of Novel Nuclear Variant Bone Morphogenetic Protein (Nbmp2), Alina Schmidt, Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bmp2 is an important growth factor that regulates many stages of development including the development of the heart, muscle, and bone. A novel nuclear variant of BMP2 was discovered before my addition to the lab and studies began to determine nBMP2’s function. Of main importance to my project was the creation of nBMP2 chimeric mice.


Prolactin’S Effect On Ccl28 Gene Expression, Susanne Linderman, Dr. Eric Wilson Aug 2013

Prolactin’S Effect On Ccl28 Gene Expression, Susanne Linderman, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of my project was to determine whether or not the hormone prolactin had an effect on CCL28 gene expression. CCL28 is a chemotactic protein (chemokine) that attracts IgA antibody secreting cells (ASC) to the lactating mammary gland. Receptor proteins on the surface of IgA antibody secreting cells recognize the surrounding CCL28 concentrations, and cause these cells to migrate towards the source of CCL28.


Genetic Investigation Of The Protein Phou, Christopher D. Rice, Dr. William Mccleary Aug 2013

Genetic Investigation Of The Protein Phou, Christopher D. Rice, Dr. William Mccleary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Phosphate is a necessary chemical compound for life at any level. Organisms have developed different means of obtaining phosphate from their environments and maintaining an intracellular phosphate homeostasis. The creation and maintenance of such a homeostasis at the very least requires mechanisms for sensing phosphate levels within and without the cell and phosphate transporters which can be regulated accordingly. The protein PhoU is involved in this phosphate response regulation. While PhoU is found in Escherichia coli, a very broad range of bacteria contain homologues with several closely conserved regions suggesting not only that PhoU-like proteins are important for many microorganisms …


Twinkle Primase/Helicase Protein In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Travis Hunt, Dr. Brent Nielsen Aug 2013

Twinkle Primase/Helicase Protein In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Travis Hunt, Dr. Brent Nielsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The overall goal of the project was to study the role of DNA recombination in maintenance of plant mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Recombination is the process by which a molecule of DNA is nicked or broken and then the end is joined to a different but homologous DNA molecule.


Bmp2 Nuclear Variant And Expression Of Cancer Genes, Devin Holden, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Aug 2013

Bmp2 Nuclear Variant And Expression Of Cancer Genes, Devin Holden, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) is a protein that is secreted outside many different types of mammalian cells and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various forms of cancer. Recently, a variant of this protein that is localized to the nucleus (nBMP2) of the cell was discovered and characterized “i”. In order to further characterize this novel variant of BMP2 a microarray analysis was performed to assess what influence nBMP2 has on the expression levels of different genes in a typical mammalian cell. This analysis revealed a list of several genes whose expression levels are potentially altered by nBMP2. …