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Articles 181 - 210 of 265
Full-Text Articles in Microbiology
Effect Of Antioxidants And Oxidative Stress On Different Cancer Cell Types, Gaytri Devi Gupta Elera
Effect Of Antioxidants And Oxidative Stress On Different Cancer Cell Types, Gaytri Devi Gupta Elera
Theses and Dissertations
Vaccinium cyanococcus, most commonly known as blueberry, is a fruit native to North America that is known for its unique taste and high antioxidant content. The skin, seed and juice of both organically and conventionally grown blueberry extract were analyzed for antioxidant content using both the Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays. Results from the Hydrophilic ORAC test showed that conventionally grown blue berries had a higher antioxidant capacity across all samples, while the Lipophilic ORAC assay showed that the antioxidant concentration of organically cultivated blueberry juice was highest, but conventionally grown blueberry seed and skin …
Partial Characterization Of The Antimicrobial Activity Of Ccl28, Bin Liu
Partial Characterization Of The Antimicrobial Activity Of Ccl28, Bin Liu
Theses and Dissertations
This research focuses on the antimicrobial activity of the mouse chemokine CCL28. In addition to their well characterized chemotactic activity, many chemokines have been shown to be antimicrobial in vitro, including the mucosally expressed chemokine CCL28. I have investigated the primary sequence features required for antimicrobial activity, salt sensitive nature of killing/binding mechanism, and in vivo microbial interactions of CCL28. Through the use of protein mutation and expression techniques, I have shown that the holoprotein (108 amino acids) is necessary for full antimicrobial activity of CCL28. Furthermore, the C terminal region of CCL28 is essential for microbial killing as an …
Humanized Mice As A Model To Study Human Viral Pathogenesis And Novel Antiviral Drugs, Freddy Mauricio Sanchez Tumbaco
Humanized Mice As A Model To Study Human Viral Pathogenesis And Novel Antiviral Drugs, Freddy Mauricio Sanchez Tumbaco
Theses and Dissertations
Animal models have greatly contributed to the understanding of different aspects of human biology, as well as a variety of human-related pathogens and diseases. In order to study them, humanized mice susceptible to pathogens that replicate in human immune cells have been developed (e.g., humanized Rag2-/-γc-/- mice). These animals are engrafted with human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), resulting in the de novo development and maturation of the major functional components of the human adaptive immune system and the production of a variety of human cell types. Primary and secondary lymphoid organs in the mouse are populated with human cells, and …
Characterization Of The Role Nuclear Bmp2 (Nbmp2) Plays In Regulating Gene Expression, Fialka Grigorova
Characterization Of The Role Nuclear Bmp2 (Nbmp2) Plays In Regulating Gene Expression, Fialka Grigorova
Theses and Dissertations
The nBmp2 protein was first identified in a DNA affinity chromatography/mass spectrometry screen designed to detect proteins that interact with a cartilage-specific enhancer element (called D/E) from the type XI collagen gene Col11a2. The transcription factor SOX9, a protein from the Sox (SRY-related HMG box) family, binds to and activates gene expression from this enhancer. nBmp2 has no transcriptional activity of its own on this enhancer, but when co-transfected with SOX9 it increases SOX9's activation of D/E nearly 2-fold. SOX9 also activates cartilage-specific enhancer elements from the Col2a1, Col27a1, and Col9a1 genes. The purpose of this project …
Antioxidants In Cancer Research And Prevention: Assay Comparison, Structure-Function Analysis, And Food Product Analysis, Andrew Robert Garrett
Antioxidants In Cancer Research And Prevention: Assay Comparison, Structure-Function Analysis, And Food Product Analysis, Andrew Robert Garrett
Theses and Dissertations
Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that the development and progression of several chronic diseases may be initiated or augmented by oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species react readily with and can damage nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. While biological systems are equipped antioxidant defenses to cope with oxidative stress, oxidative damage may still occur when oxidative stress overwhelms antioxidant defenses. This damage, if left unchecked, may lead to a variety of degenerative diseases, including heart disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and cancer. Several assays have been designed to describe the antioxidant activity of various phytochemicals, vitamins, and …
Effects Of Diabetic State And Gender On Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Secretion By Human Macrophages Infected With Burkholderia Pseudomallei, Annette J. Blam
Effects Of Diabetic State And Gender On Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Secretion By Human Macrophages Infected With Burkholderia Pseudomallei, Annette J. Blam
Theses and Dissertations
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a gram-negative opportunistic soil pathogen that causes the life-threatening disease melioidosis. It is endemic in Northern Australia and Southeast Asia but can be found throughout many other regions in the world. Diabetes mellitus is a predisposing risk factor for infection with this organism and it has been demonstrated that diabetic males are particularly susceptible to severe infection. Previous research suggested that monocytes isolated from the whole blood of diabetic males demonstrated a decreased ability to produce the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-8. We hypothesized that monocyte-derived macrophages from diabetic males would also secrete lower levels of pro-inflammatory …
Determining The Function Of Nuclear Bmp4, Trina Jane Loos
Determining The Function Of Nuclear Bmp4, Trina Jane Loos
Theses and Dissertations
Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp4) is a well known growth factor that regulates gene expression through the SMAD signaling pathway. Bmp4 is involved in many developmental processes and has been identified as an important factor in several cancers, including melanoma, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer. Madoz-Gurpide et al. recently observed Bmp4 in the nuclei of a minor percentage of cells in colon cancer tissues. In addition, our lab has recently discovered a nuclear variant of Bmp2 (nBmp2), the TGF-β family member most closely related to Bmp4. These observations led us to hypothesize that a nuclear variant of Bmp4 (nBmp4) also …
Interactions Of Burkholderia Pseudomallei And Acanthamoeba Castellanii And Their Effects On Virulence In Human Monocytes, Emily Ann Moore
Interactions Of Burkholderia Pseudomallei And Acanthamoeba Castellanii And Their Effects On Virulence In Human Monocytes, Emily Ann Moore
Theses and Dissertations
Burkholderia pseudomallei, the etiological agent of melioidosis, is a saprophytic bacterium existing endemically in the water and soil of SE Asia and Northern Australia. This organism has shown the ability to remain dormant in its host for decades. B. thailandensis is a closely related non-pathogenic near neighbor that is also found in these soils. It has been suggested that free-living amoeba could be natural reservoirs for these organisms. The interactions of Burkholderia species and Acanthamoeba castellanii, a species of free-living amoeba, were studied to better understand the natural ecology of these organisms and to determine the effects amoeba …
Organellar Dna Polymerases Gamma I And Ii In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Jeffrey M. Brammer
Organellar Dna Polymerases Gamma I And Ii In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Jeffrey M. Brammer
Theses and Dissertations
Plants have two organelles outside the nucleus which carry their own DNA, mitochondria and chloroplasts. These organelles are descendants of bacteria that were engulfed by their host according to the endosymbiotic theory. Over time, DNA has been exchanged between these organelles and the nucleus. Two polymerases, DNA Polymerases Gamma I and II, are encoded in the nucleus and remain under nuclear control, but are transported into the mitochondria and chloroplasts. DNA polymerases gamma I and II are two organelle polymerases which have been studied through sequence analysis and shown to localize to both mitochondria and chloroplasts. Little has been done …
Gene Expression Patterns In Flea Vectors Of Yersinia Pestis, Wei Zhou
Gene Expression Patterns In Flea Vectors Of Yersinia Pestis, Wei Zhou
Theses and Dissertations
Plague bacteria (Yersinia pestis) are transmitted to susceptible mammals by fleas. At least 25 flea species found in North America have been identified as plague vectors. The most efficient flea vector is the Oriental rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis, while the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis is a poor vector. The factors that determine vector competence of different fleas are not known. The main obstacles that the bacteria must overcome in the flea gut are also unknown. Fleas' molecular responses to Y. pestis invading could be a determining factor to control the bacterial survival and growth. Good and poor …
Bpv Entry And Trafficking In Ebtr Cells, Enkhmart Dudleenamjil
Bpv Entry And Trafficking In Ebtr Cells, Enkhmart Dudleenamjil
Theses and Dissertations
Bovine Parvovirus (BPV) belongs to the genus Bocavirus, family Parvoviridae. BPV is the leading etiologic agent among the pathogens that cause primary gastroenteritis of cattle. Many of the intracellular events associated with virus replication are unknown. In this research project, we investigated BPV internalization into the host cell and trafficking in the cytosol. Preliminarily, EBTr cells had abundant clathrin, virus attached to purified clathrin, and EM micrographs revealed virus in endocytic vacuoles. Assays detecting virus infectivity (i.e. viral protein synthesis), virus production (completion of the replication cycle), and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect viral transcripts were used to evaluate …
Part 1: Screening Of Thirty-One Medicinal Plant Species Against Herpes Simplex Virus, Acetone And Methanol Extracts From The Root Tissue Of Kalanchoe Pinnata Interferes With Hsv Types 1 And 2 Dna Replication And Early And Late Gene Expression Preventing The Spread Of Hsv In Vitro. Part 2: Professional Development Curriculum: Integrating Molecular Biology And Microbiology Into The Existing Secondary Biology Curricula, Mary Ruth Greer
Theses and Dissertations
PART 1: Thirty-one medicinal plant species from Hawaii, Morocco, and the Sonoran Desert, USA have been shown in past studies to be highly inhibitory to pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and certain cancer cell lines. However, none were tested for antiviral activity. Acetone and methanol extracts from these species were bio-assayed for antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV 1 and HSV 2) and for cytotoxicity to the Vero C1008 cell line. Extracts from these species were tested in vitro for antiviral activity using an immunoperoxidase mini-plaque reduction assay to detect viral structural protein synthesis. Sulforhodamine B and …
Cis-Regulatory Sequence And Co-Regulatory Transcription Factor Functions In Erα-Mediated Transcriptional Repression, Richard Leroy Smith
Cis-Regulatory Sequence And Co-Regulatory Transcription Factor Functions In Erα-Mediated Transcriptional Repression, Richard Leroy Smith
Theses and Dissertations
Estrogens exert numerous actions throughout the human body, targeting healthy tissue while also enhancing the proliferative capacity of breast cancers. Estrogen signaling is mediated by the estrogen receptor (ER), which binds DNA and ultimately affects the expression of adjacent genes. Current understanding of ER-mediated transcriptional regulation is mostly limited to genes whose transcript levels increase following estrogen exposure, though recent studies demonstrate that direct down-regulation of estrogen-responsive genes is also a significant feature of ER action. We hypothesized that differences in cis-regulatory DNA was a factor in determining target gene expression and performed computational and experimental studies to test this …
The Use Of Spider Webs As Passive Bioaerosol Collectors, Daniel I. Mattei
The Use Of Spider Webs As Passive Bioaerosol Collectors, Daniel I. Mattei
Theses and Dissertations
In this experiment, spider webs demonstrated their suitability as passive bioaerosol collectors. For spider webs to be considered suitable passive collectors webs had to satisfy three basic conditions; (1) collection of microorganisms without discrimination based on species or size, (2) collection under variable environmental conditions, and (3) saturation avoidance in the presence of strong microbial launching sources. Four field sampling locations were used, a waste water treatment facility, a commercial garden center, a secluded state park area, and a parking garage. Microscopy cover glass slides were used as the collection instrument. The methodology assured sterility during collection and promoted in …
A Population Genetic Study Of Middle Eastern Populations Using Dys 458 Microvariants And Cohen Modal Haplotypes, Enass Nabeel Tinah
A Population Genetic Study Of Middle Eastern Populations Using Dys 458 Microvariants And Cohen Modal Haplotypes, Enass Nabeel Tinah
Theses and Dissertations
A comprehensive population study in the Middle East was conducted using different genetic markers in order to establish a wider genetic profile of the Middle Eastern populations. The main goal of this study was to analyze DNA from samples collected from different locations, and produce genetic motifs and patterns that could be used to identify and distinguish the target populations. This information will allow us to analyze the ancestry of these populations, their interactions through time and space, and the effects these interactions have on the populations' structure. We have collected around 1300 individual samples from different populations in the …
Evolution Of Picornaviruses: Impacts Of Recombination And Selection, Nicole Noel Lewis-Rogers
Evolution Of Picornaviruses: Impacts Of Recombination And Selection, Nicole Noel Lewis-Rogers
Theses and Dissertations
Picornaviruses are responsible for some of the most common and debilitating diseases affecting humans and animals worldwide. The objectives of this dissertation research were (1) estimate phylogenetic relationships among 11 picornavirus genera and within three species: foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV: Aphthovirus) which afflicts cloven-hoofed animals and human rhinovirus A and B (HRV: Enterovirus) which cause the common cold; (2) better understand the impact recombination has on genomic organization and evolution; (3) characterize where positive and purifying selection has occurred in proteins and how selection has influenced phenotype. The dissertation includes four studies. The first chapter provides an overview of the …
Specific Compartmentalization Of Iga Ascs In Mouse Salivary Glands Via Differential Expression Of Chemokines And Chemokine Receptors, Yuet Ching Law
Specific Compartmentalization Of Iga Ascs In Mouse Salivary Glands Via Differential Expression Of Chemokines And Chemokine Receptors, Yuet Ching Law
Theses and Dissertations
The mucosal system, which forms a barrier between internal organ systems and the external environment, is frequently exposed to pathogenic microorganisms. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody secreting cells (ASCs) localize in the lamina propria, and produce IgA antibodies which help protect mucosal tissues. The concept of a common mucosal immune system in which IgA ASCs have the ability to populate any mucosal site has been proposed (1, 2). However, recent research has suggested that IgA ASCs primed in different mucosal sites might possess different sets of chemokine receptors, and therefore migrate specifically to particular mucosal locations (3). In this study, the …
The Antioxidant Defense Network: Synergistic Combinations To Prevent Oxidative Damage, Amy Marie Clement
The Antioxidant Defense Network: Synergistic Combinations To Prevent Oxidative Damage, Amy Marie Clement
Theses and Dissertations
One of the matchless ironies of the human body is its requirement for the highly reactive oxygen molecule, which has been clearly implicated in many diseases and the aging processes. Oxidants produced by metabolic processes damage cells by starting chemical chain reactions including oxidation of DNA and proteins as well as lipid peroxidation. Damage to DNA can cause mutations and lead to cancer if not reversed by DNA repair mechanisms. Damage to proteins causes enzyme inhibition, denaturation and protein degradation. Lipid peroxidation can cause cell lysis as well as creating mutagenic and carcinogenic by-products. The human body contains antioxidants and …
The Effect Of Febrile Temperature On Plasmodium Falciparum, Heidi Sue Porter
The Effect Of Febrile Temperature On Plasmodium Falciparum, Heidi Sue Porter
Theses and Dissertations
Previously it has been shown that cultures of Plasmodium falciparum died following exposure to a febrile temperature of 40°C, as demonstrated by a decrease in parasitemia of the following generation. In the current study, the effect of 40°C treatment on culture media, erythrocytes, and parasite glucose consumption, were ruled out as possible influences on parasite death, demonstrating that 40°C impacted the parasites directly. Metabolic profiling of DNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and glucose utilization during exposure to 40°C clearly indicated that febrile temperatures had direct effect on major metabolic pathways and parasite development, beginning 20-24 hr after erythrocyte invasion. The ring …
Differential Response Of Various Spore Species To Sporicidal Disinfectants, Michael David Pratt
Differential Response Of Various Spore Species To Sporicidal Disinfectants, Michael David Pratt
Theses and Dissertations
In the fall of 2001, letters laced with anthrax spores were delivered to various news organizations in New York and Florida, as well as to two Senators in Washington, D.C. Over 22 anthrax infections and five deaths resulted from exposure to these spores, and decontamination of the affected buildings was both time consuming and costly. Since these attacks, interest in sporicidal disinfectants has increased greatly. Many chemical sporicidal disinfectants are available commercially, but the exposure time required to sterilize can be relatively long. In addition, some spores are simply injured or inhibited by chemical disinfectants, but not necessarily killed. Studies …
Characterization Of A Novel Nuclear Variant Of Bmp2 And Coordinate Regulation Of Col11a2 And Col27a1 By The Transcription Factor Lc-Maf, Jaime Lynn Mayo
Characterization Of A Novel Nuclear Variant Of Bmp2 And Coordinate Regulation Of Col11a2 And Col27a1 By The Transcription Factor Lc-Maf, Jaime Lynn Mayo
Theses and Dissertations
ABSTRACT I CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL NUCLEAR VARIANT OF BMP2
Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2) is a signaling protein that was first detected by its ability to induce cartilage and bone formation. It has since been implicated in broad variety of developmental, patterning, and disease processes. To date, Bmp2 has only been known to function as an extracellular signaling molecule. However, we have obtained clear evidence for a nuclear form of Bmp2. This nuclear variant, nBmp2, contains a bipartite NLS that overlaps the site of proteolytic cleavage. The NLS remains intact and functional when translation of Bmp2 initiates from a …
An Infection Model For Examining The Effects Of Gender And Diabetic State On Proinflammatory Cytokine Secretion By Phagocytic Cells In Response To Infection With Burkholderia Pseudomallei, Laura L. Dickey
Theses and Dissertations
Burkholderia pseudomallei is an opportunistic soil pathogen that causes melioidosis, a life-threatening human disease prevalent in Southeast Asia, northern Australia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. The organism also causes disease in plants and animals. Persons with severe melioidosis usually die of septicemia. Relatively little is known regarding the virulence mechanisms of B. pseudomallei; however, several putative virulence determinants have been identified. The organism is able to invade and replicate within phagocytic cells and is particularly pathogenic in males with diabetes mellitus. B. thailandensis is closely related to B. pseudomallei, but is not pathogenic. This study examines various in …
Ecology Of Culturable Organisms At Rozel Point, Great Salt Lake, Utah, Emily Sarah Haws
Ecology Of Culturable Organisms At Rozel Point, Great Salt Lake, Utah, Emily Sarah Haws
Theses and Dissertations
The study of organisms from extreme environments is an emerging field of research with applications to multiple scientific areas. One of these extreme environments is Great Salt Lake (GSL), whose microbiology has yet to be extensively studied. This dynamic and unique environment offers an excellent opportunity to increase understanding of hypersaline ecology. Cultivation of microorganisms remains an important part of ecology research, as it is essential for understanding microbial physiology. We report here the culturing and characterization of isolates from Rozel Point, located on the northeastern shore of Great Salt Lake. This site was chosen because of the presence of …
The Role Of Prolactin In Ccl28 Regulation, Jennie Hyde
The Role Of Prolactin In Ccl28 Regulation, Jennie Hyde
Theses and Dissertations
Infants are born with naive immune systems, making them susceptible to a variety of infections. In order to protect the newborn infant it is important that mothers be able to pass protective IgA antibodies to their infants through breast milk. B cells that produce IgA enter the mammary tissue during lactation and secrete IgA into the milk. During pregnancy, the mammary tissue expresses high levels of chemokines, molecules that allow lymphocytes to selectively home to specific tissues. The chemokine CCL28 has been shown to be upregulated during both pregnancy and lactation, and is vital for the ability of IgA-producing B …
Phylogenetics Of North American Psoraleeae (Leguminosae): Rates And Dates In A Recent, Rapid Radiation, Ashley N. Egan
Phylogenetics Of North American Psoraleeae (Leguminosae): Rates And Dates In A Recent, Rapid Radiation, Ashley N. Egan
Theses and Dissertations
The scientific discipline of phylogenetics involves understanding the diversity of life in the context of history. Technological advances in molecular biology and computational power have created an exponential increase in the number and kind of phylogenetic studies, allowing exploration of all manner of questions concerning the evolutionary history of a group. This dissertation research is focused on phylogenetic theory and applying these methods to the plant tribe Psoraleeae (Leguminosae; Fabaceae) with an emphasis on North American (NAm) members. First, theory of phylogeny estimation is explored in a review chapter focusing on strengths and weaknesses of phylogenetic methodology. Second, methods are …
The Phylogeography Of Prosopium In Western North America, Becky Akiko Miller
The Phylogeography Of Prosopium In Western North America, Becky Akiko Miller
Theses and Dissertations
The mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) has been largely overlooked in population genetic analyses despite its wide distribution in discrete drainage basins in western North America for over four million years. Its closest sister taxa the Bear Lake whitefish (P. abyssicola), Bonneville cisco (P. gemmifer), and Bonneville whitefish (P. spilonotus) are found only in Bear Lake Idaho-Utah and were also included in the analyses. A total of 1,334 cytochrome b and 1,371 NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 sequences from the Bonneville Basin, the Columbia River Sub-basin, the lower Snake River Sub-basin, the upper Snake River Sub-basin, the Green River Basin, the Lahontan …
Tumor Associated Macrophages In A Mafia Mouse Model, Adrianne Brown Clifford
Tumor Associated Macrophages In A Mafia Mouse Model, Adrianne Brown Clifford
Theses and Dissertations
Recent evidence has shown the important role of macrophages in both tumor development and progression. To investigate the role of macrophages we used a mouse model known as MaFIA (Macrophage Fas Induced Apoptosis) mice that allows for the selective deletion of macrophages. Mice were given melanoma cells at various stages of depletion. Tumor mass was measured and organs were processed for flow cytometry to measure melanoma cell migration. The results show that mice receiving depletion treatment have larger tumor sizes and weights than those mice retaining their macrophage population. We detect metastasis in both the lung and kidney in both …
Analysis Of Bacterial Population And Distribution In The Developing Strata Of A Constructed Wetland Used For Chlorinated Ethene Bioremediation, Milton J. Clausen Jr.
Analysis Of Bacterial Population And Distribution In The Developing Strata Of A Constructed Wetland Used For Chlorinated Ethene Bioremediation, Milton J. Clausen Jr.
Theses and Dissertations
Chlorinated hydrocarbons and their degradation products are among of the most common organic groundwater contaminates in the United States. These compounds attack the central nervous system in animals and can affect the photosynthesis of plants. These compounds are also resistant to degradation in the environment and, because of this, pose a risk to any ecosystem in which they are present. This study identified the dominant microbial species in a constructed treatment wetland at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Samples were taken from three different depths and during each of the four seasons. These samples were …
Characterization Of The Role Of Sox9 In Cartilage-Specific Gene Regulation, Mary Ann Genzer
Characterization Of The Role Of Sox9 In Cartilage-Specific Gene Regulation, Mary Ann Genzer
Theses and Dissertations
Although advances have been made toward understanding the complex mechanisms that regulate the process of DNA transcription, the specific mechanisms of activation for many individual genes remain unknown. In this study, we focus on the role the transcription factor SOX9 plays in activating cartilage-specific genes, specifically Col9a1 and Cartilage Link Protein (CRTL1). Previously, enhancers of these genes containing single SOX9 binding sites were shown to be activated through SOX9 binding. However, the hypothesis was made that in cartilage-specific genes dimeric SOX9, as opposed to monomeric SOX9, is necessary for activation. We identified a putative binding site adjacent to each of …
Homologous Strand Exchange And Dna Helicase Activities In Plant Mitochondria, Daqing Song
Homologous Strand Exchange And Dna Helicase Activities In Plant Mitochondria, Daqing Song
Theses and Dissertations
Homologous recombination is critical for generating genetic variation in living organisms by exchange and rearrangement of DNA. Most of our knowledge about homologous recombination is limited to processes in bacteria or in eukaryotic nuclei. In E. coli, homologous recombination is dependent on the RecA protein. Higher plant chloroplasts have RecA-like strand exchange activity. However, little is known about these mechanisms in higher plant mitochondria. I have detected a RecA-like strand exchange activity in soybean mitochondria. This activity forms joint molecules in the presence of ATP, Mg2+, and homologous DNA substrates. In addition, the E. coli single-stranded DNA binding (SSB) protein …