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2007

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Articles 91 - 120 of 161

Full-Text Articles in Microbiology

Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 369-Kb Ny-2a And The 345-Kb Ar158 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Nc64a”: Appendix B: Gene Names B001l – B886r, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, William C. Nierman, James L. Van Etten Feb 2007

Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 369-Kb Ny-2a And The 345-Kb Ar158 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Nc64a”: Appendix B: Gene Names B001l – B886r, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, William C. Nierman, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Appendix B: Gene Names B001L – B886R

Document shows Gene Name, Genome Position, A.A. length, Peptide Mw, pI, CDD Hit Number, COGs, COG Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, Hit from-to, BLASTp Hit Number, Hit Accession, BLASTp Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, and Hit from-to.


Sequence And Annotation Of The 314-Kb Mt325 And The 321-Kb Fr483 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Pbi, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, James Hartigan, James L. Van Etten Feb 2007

Sequence And Annotation Of The 314-Kb Mt325 And The 321-Kb Fr483 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Pbi, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, James Hartigan, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Viruses MT325 and FR483, members of the family Phycodnaviridae, genus Chlorovirus, infect the fresh water, unicellular, eukaryotic, chlorella-like green alga, Chlorella Pbi. The 314,335-bp genome of MT325 and the 321,240-bp genome of FR483 are the first viruses that infect Chlorella Pbi to have their genomes sequenced and annotated. Furthermore, these genomes are the two smallest chlorella virus genomes sequenced to date, MT325 has 331 putative protein-encoding and 10 tRNA-encoding genes and FR483 has 335 putative protein-encoding and 9 tRNA-encoding genes. The protein-encoding genes are almost evenly distributed on both strands, and intergenic space is minimal. Approximately 40% of …


Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 314-Kb Mt325 And The 321-Kb Fr483 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Pbi”: Appendix A: Gene Names M002r Through M843l, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, James Hartigan, James L. Van Etten Feb 2007

Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 314-Kb Mt325 And The 321-Kb Fr483 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Pbi”: Appendix A: Gene Names M002r Through M843l, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, James Hartigan, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Appendix A: Gene Names m002R through m843L

Document, in spreadsheet format, shows Gene Name, Genome Position, A.A. length, Peptid e Mw, pI, CDD Hit Number, COGs, COG Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, Hit from-to, BLASTp Hit Number, Hit Accession, BLASTp Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, and Hit from-to.


Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 314-Kb Mt325 And The 321-Kb Fr483 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Pbi”: Appendix C: Gene Names N001l Through N849r, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, James Hartigan, James L. Van Etten Feb 2007

Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 314-Kb Mt325 And The 321-Kb Fr483 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Pbi”: Appendix C: Gene Names N001l Through N849r, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, James Hartigan, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Appendix C: Gene Names n001L through n849R

Document, in spreadsheet format, shows Gene Name, Genome Position, A.A. length, Peptid e Mw, pI, CDD Hit Number, COGs, COG Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, Hit from-to, BLASTp Hit Number, Hit Accession, BLASTp Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, and Hit from-to.


Sequence And Annotation Of The 369-Kb Ny-2a And The 345-Kb Ar158 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Nc64a, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, Willaim C. Nierman, James L. Van Etten Feb 2007

Sequence And Annotation Of The 369-Kb Ny-2a And The 345-Kb Ar158 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Nc64a, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, Willaim C. Nierman, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Viruses NY-2A and AR158, members of the family Phycodnaviridae, genus Chlorovirus, infect the fresh water, unicellular, eukaryotic, chlorella-like green alga, Chlorella NC64A. The 368,683-bp genome of NY-2A and the 344,690-bp genome of AR158 are the two largest chlorella virus genomes sequenced to date; NY-2A contains 404 putative protein-encoding and 7 tRNA-encoding genes and AR158 contains 360 putative protein-encoding and 6 tRNA-encoding genes. The protein-encoding genes are almost evenly distributed on both strands, and intergenic space is minimal. Two of the NY-2A genes encode inteins, the large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase and a superfamily II helicase. These are the …


Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 314-Kb Mt325 And The 321-Kb Fr483 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Pbi”: Appendix D: Gene Names N003l Through N847r, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, James Hartigan, James L. Van Etten Feb 2007

Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 314-Kb Mt325 And The 321-Kb Fr483 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Pbi”: Appendix D: Gene Names N003l Through N847r, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, James Hartigan, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Appendix D: Gene Names N003L through N847R

Document, in spreadsheet format, shows Gene Name, Genome Position, A.A. length, Peptid e Mw, pI, CDD Hit Number, COGs, COG Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, Hit from-to, BLASTp Hit Number, Hit Accession, BLASTp Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, and Hit from-to.


Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 369-Kb Ny-2a And The 345-Kb Ar158 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Nc64a”: Appendix D: Gene Names C006r – C815l, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, Willaim C. Nierman, James L. Van Etten Feb 2007

Supplementary Data For “Sequence And Annotation Of The 369-Kb Ny-2a And The 345-Kb Ar158 Viruses That Infect Chlorella Nc64a”: Appendix D: Gene Names C006r – C815l, Lisa A. Fitzgerald, Michael V. Graves, Xiao Li, Tamara Feldblyum, Willaim C. Nierman, James L. Van Etten

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Appendix D: Gene Names C006R – C815L

Document shows Gene Name, Genome Position, A.A. length, Peptide Mw, pI, CDD Hit Number, COGs, COG Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, Hit from-to, BLASTp Hit Number, Hit Accession, BLASTp Definition, Bit Score, E-value, % Identity, % Positive, Query from-to, and Hit from-to.


Effects Of Turnip Crinkle Virus Infection On The Structure And Function Of Mitochondria And Expression Of Stress Proteins In Turnips, James A. Blake, Kit W. Lee, Thomas Jack Morris, Thomas Elthon Feb 2007

Effects Of Turnip Crinkle Virus Infection On The Structure And Function Of Mitochondria And Expression Of Stress Proteins In Turnips, James A. Blake, Kit W. Lee, Thomas Jack Morris, Thomas Elthon

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

We have investigated the effect of turnip crinkle virus (TCV) infection on mitochondrial structure and function in turnips (Brassica rapa cultivar “Just Right”). TCV infection resulted in plants with small, mottled leaves with severely crinkled edges, and in a 46% reduction in storage root mass. TCV infection resulted in specific vesicularization of mitochondrial outer membranes where TCV replication is thought to occur, with no apparent affect on other cellular membrane systems. Immunoblot analysis of mitochondrial proteins from storage roots indicated that the TCV p28 protein, which is essential for viral replication, was associated with mitochondria and that mitochondrial heat …


The Cost Of Reproduction: The Devil In The Details, Lawrence G. Harshman, Anthony J. Zera Feb 2007

The Cost Of Reproduction: The Devil In The Details, Lawrence G. Harshman, Anthony J. Zera

Anthony Zera Publications

The cost of reproduction is of fundamental importance in life-history evolution. However, our understanding of its mechanistic basis has been limited by a lack of detailed functional information at all biological levels. Here, we identify, evaluate and integrate recent studies in five areas examining the proximate mechanisms underlying the cost of reproduction. Rather than being alternate explanations, hormonal regulation and intermediary metabolism act in concert and have an overarching influence in shaping the cost of reproduction. Immune function is compromised by reproduction, as is resistance to environmental stress. These studies not only provide new information about mechanisms that comprise “the …


Novel Pathway For Induction Of Latent Virus From Resting Cd4+ T Cells In The Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/Macaque Model Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Latency, Anding Shen, Hung Chih Yang, Yan Zhou, Amanda J. Chase Feb 2007

Novel Pathway For Induction Of Latent Virus From Resting Cd4+ T Cells In The Simian Immunodeficiency Virus/Macaque Model Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Latency, Anding Shen, Hung Chih Yang, Yan Zhou, Amanda J. Chase

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Although combination therapy allows the suppression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viremia to undetectable levels, eradication has not been achieved because the virus persists in cellular reservoirs, particularly the latent reservoir in resting CD4+ T lymphocytes. We previously established a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)/macaque model to study latency. We describe here a novel mechanism for the induction of SIV from latently infected resting CD4+ T cells. Several human cell lines including CEMx174 and Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines mediated contact-dependent activation of resting macaque T cells and induction of latent SIV. Antibody-blocking assays showed that interactions between …


Genetic Protection Against Hepatitis B Virus Conferred By Ccr5Δ32: Evidence That Ccr5 Contributes To Viral Persistence, Chloe L. Thio, Jacquie Astemborski, Arman A. Bashirova, Timothy L. Mosbruger, Spencer Greer, Mallory D. Witt, James J. Goedert, Margaret Hilgartner, Audrey Majesk, Stephen J. O'Brien, David L. Thomas, Mary Carrington Jan 2007

Genetic Protection Against Hepatitis B Virus Conferred By Ccr5Δ32: Evidence That Ccr5 Contributes To Viral Persistence, Chloe L. Thio, Jacquie Astemborski, Arman A. Bashirova, Timothy L. Mosbruger, Spencer Greer, Mallory D. Witt, James J. Goedert, Margaret Hilgartner, Audrey Majesk, Stephen J. O'Brien, David L. Thomas, Mary Carrington

Biology Faculty Articles

Recovery from acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection requires a broad, vigorous T-cell response, which is enhanced in mice when chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) is missing. To test the hypothesis that production of a nonfunctional CCR5 (CCR5Δ32 [a functionally null allele containing a 32-bp deletion]) increases the likelihood of recovery from hepatitis B in humans, we studied 526 persons from three cohorts in which one person with HBV persistence was matched to two persons who recovered from an HBV infection. Recovery or persistence was determined prior to availability of lamivudine. We determined genotypes forCCR5Δ32 …


Identification Of Genes Encoding Acyl-Coa Reductases And Aldehyde Reductases In Mycobacterial Genome By Characterization Of The Reductases Expressed In E. Coli, Harminder Singh Jan 2007

Identification Of Genes Encoding Acyl-Coa Reductases And Aldehyde Reductases In Mycobacterial Genome By Characterization Of The Reductases Expressed In E. Coli, Harminder Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been long known to produce wax esters. However, the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis have not been identified. Here we report the identification of Rv3391 and Rv1543 as genes that encode fatty acyl-CoA reductases and Rv1544 as one that encodes an aldehyde reductase. When expressed in E.coli, the products of Rv3391 and Rv1543 catalyzed reduction of fatty acyl-CoA to fatty alcohol with the corresponding aldehyde as an intermediate with an optimal pH of 7.0. Both enzymes showed a strong preference for NADPH over NADH as a reductant. Apparent Km for NADPH was 38 [micro]M for Rv3391 product …


Correlation Of Rpob Gene Mutation With Clinical Rifabutin And Rifampicin Resistance For Treatment Of Crohn's Disease, Daniel Beckler Jan 2007

Correlation Of Rpob Gene Mutation With Clinical Rifabutin And Rifampicin Resistance For Treatment Of Crohn's Disease, Daniel Beckler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emerging rise in microbial drug resistance and the slow-growing characteristic of some intracellular pathogens such as MAP (Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis) strongly urges the need for an effective approach for unconventional drug susceptibility testing. We designed a molecular-based PCR method for the evaluation of rifabutin (RFB) and rifampicin (RIF) resistance based on probable determinant regions within the rpoB gene of MAP, including the 81 bp variable site located between nucleotides 1363 and 1443. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for RIF was also determined against 10 MAP isolates in attempt to seek correlation with rpoB sequences. We determined that MAP strain …


Mechanism Of Action And Regulation Of Membrane Serine Protease Prostasin In The Prostate And Prostate Cancer, Mengqian Chen Jan 2007

Mechanism Of Action And Regulation Of Membrane Serine Protease Prostasin In The Prostate And Prostate Cancer, Mengqian Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored serine protease prostasin (PRSS8) is expressed at the apical membrane surface of epithelial cells and acts as a suppressor of tumor invasion when re-expressed in highly invasive human prostate and breast cancer cell lines. To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-invasion phenotype associated with prostasin re-expression in prostate cancer cells, we expressed wild-type human prostasin or a serine active-site mutant prostasin in the PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells. Molecular changes were measured at the mRNA and the protein levels. The expression of several invasion-promoting molecules is regulated by prostasin re-expression, mediated by a protein-level down-regulation …


A Member Of The Novel Fikk Family Of Plasmodium Falciparum Putative Protein Kinases Exhibits Diacylglycerol Kinase Activity And Is Exported To The Host Erythrocyte, David Floyd Curtis Jan 2007

A Member Of The Novel Fikk Family Of Plasmodium Falciparum Putative Protein Kinases Exhibits Diacylglycerol Kinase Activity And Is Exported To The Host Erythrocyte, David Floyd Curtis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plasmodium falciparum is one of four species known to cause malaria in humans and is the species that is associated with the most virulent form of the disease. Malaria causes nearly two million deaths each year, many of these occurring among children in under-developed countries of the world. One reason for this is the prevalence of drug resistant strains of malaria that mitigate the efficacy of existing drugs. Hence, the identification of a new generation of pharmacological agents for malaria is extremely urgent. The recent identification of a group of novel protein kinases within the Plasmodium falciparum genome has provided …


Aphid Thermal Tolerance Is Governed By A Point Mutation In Bacterial Symbionts, Helen E. Dunbar, Alex C. C. Wilson, Nicole R. Ferguson, Nancy A. Moran Jan 2007

Aphid Thermal Tolerance Is Governed By A Point Mutation In Bacterial Symbionts, Helen E. Dunbar, Alex C. C. Wilson, Nicole R. Ferguson, Nancy A. Moran

Biology Articles and Papers

Symbiosis is a ubiquitous phenomenon generating biological complexity, affecting adaptation, and expanding ecological capabilities. However, symbionts, which can be subject to genetic limitations such as clonality and genomic degradation, also impose constraints on hosts. A model of obligate symbiosis is that between aphids and the bacterium Buchnera aphidicola, which supplies essential nutrients. We report a mutation in Buchnera of the aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum that recurs in laboratory lines and occurs in field populations. This single nucleotide deletion affects a homopolymeric run within the heat-shock transcriptional promoter for ibpA, encoding a small heat-shock protein. This Buchnera mutation virtually eliminates the transcriptional …


Bird Movement Predicts Buggy Creek Virus Infection In Insect Vectors, Charles R. Brown, Mary Bomberger Brown, Amy T. Moore, Nicholas Komar Jan 2007

Bird Movement Predicts Buggy Creek Virus Infection In Insect Vectors, Charles R. Brown, Mary Bomberger Brown, Amy T. Moore, Nicholas Komar

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Predicting the spatial foci of zoonotic diseases is a major challenge for epidemiologists and disease ecologists. Migratory birds are often thought to be responsible for introducing some aviozoonotic pathogens such as West Nile and avian influenza viruses to a local area, but most information on how bird movement correlates with virus prevalence is anecdotal or indirect. We report that the prevalence of Buggy Creek virus (BCRV) infection in cimicid swallow bugs (Oeciacus vicarius), the principal invertebrate vector for this virus, was directly associated with the likelihood of movement by cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), an amplifying host …


Ecological Correlates Of Buggy Creek Virus Infection In Oeciacus Vicarius, Southwestern Nebraska, 2004, Amy T. Moore, Eric A. Edwards, Mary Bomberger Brown, Nicholas Komar, Charles R. Brown Jan 2007

Ecological Correlates Of Buggy Creek Virus Infection In Oeciacus Vicarius, Southwestern Nebraska, 2004, Amy T. Moore, Eric A. Edwards, Mary Bomberger Brown, Nicholas Komar, Charles R. Brown

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Buggy Creek virus (family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, BCRV) is an alphavirus within the western equine encephalitis virus complex whose primary vector is the swallow bug, Oeciacus vicarius Horvath (Hemiptera: Cimicidae), an ectoparasite of the colonially nesting cliff swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, that is also a frequent host for the virus.We investigated ecological correlates of BCRV infection in 100-bug pools at 14 different swallow colony sites in southwestern Nebraska from summer 2004, by using plaque assay on Vero cells to identify cytopathic virus and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to identify noncytopathic viral RNA. We found 26.7% of swallow bug pools …


Enzymes As Feed Additive To Aid In Responses Against Eimeria Species In Coccidia-Vaccinated Broilers Fed Corn-Soybean Meal Diets With Different Protein Levels, J. Parker, E. O. Oviedo Rondon, Beatrice A. Clack, S. Clemente-Hernandez, J. Osborne, J. C. Remus, H. Kettunen, H. Makivuokko, E. M. Pierson Jan 2007

Enzymes As Feed Additive To Aid In Responses Against Eimeria Species In Coccidia-Vaccinated Broilers Fed Corn-Soybean Meal Diets With Different Protein Levels, J. Parker, E. O. Oviedo Rondon, Beatrice A. Clack, S. Clemente-Hernandez, J. Osborne, J. C. Remus, H. Kettunen, H. Makivuokko, E. M. Pierson

Faculty Publications

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of adding a combination of exogenous enzymes to starter diets varying in protein content and fed to broilers vaccinated at day of hatch with live oocysts and then challenged with mixed Eimeria spp. Five hundred four 1-d-old male Cobb-500 chickens were distributed in 72 cages. The design consisted of 12 treatments. Three anticoccidial control programs [ionophore (IO), coccidian vaccine (COV), and coccidia-vaccine + enzymes (COV + EC)] were evaluated under 3 CP levels (19, 21, and 23%), and 3 unmedicated-uninfected (UU) negative controls were included for each one of the protein levels. All …


The Generation And Scavenging Of Radicals Via Cerium And Nanoceria, Eric Glenn Heckert Jan 2007

The Generation And Scavenging Of Radicals Via Cerium And Nanoceria, Eric Glenn Heckert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cerium is the most abundant of the rare earth metals, found on average at a level of 66 parts per million in the earth's crust. The unique redox properties of cerium and cerium oxide nanoparticles have led to its use in a wide variety of industrial and commercial uses such as oxygen sensors, fertilizers and as a catalyst to remove toxic gases in automobile exhaust. The use of cerium has also garnered interest in the nanotechnology field. Nanoceria has been generated in its oxide form as nanoparticles and nanorods. Recently, nanoceria has been shown to protect against oxidative stress in …


Mechanisms Promoting Phosphorylation Of The Nf2 Tumor Suppressor And Its Effects On Schwann Cell Development, Courtney Lynn Thaxton Jan 2007

Mechanisms Promoting Phosphorylation Of The Nf2 Tumor Suppressor And Its Effects On Schwann Cell Development, Courtney Lynn Thaxton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurofibromatosis type 2 is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by the formation of schwannomas and other peripheral neuropathies. The nf2 gene encodes the protein Schwannomin, or merlin. Schwannomin (Sch) is a membrane-cytoskeletal linking protein that suppresses cell proliferation at high cell density and modulates cell shape. Sch's tumor suppressive activity is regulated by its localization, conformation, and phosphorylation at serine 518 (S518). Sch's localization is dependent on binding the scaffold protein, paxillin. Phosphorylation of Sch at S518 regulates its conformation and tumor suppressor function. In a negative feedback loop, unphosphorylated Sch restricts cell proliferation downstream of Rac and p21-activated kinase …


Shear Stress Induced Mtor Signaling In Cultured A7r5 Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Line, Sriram Prasad Mupparaju Jan 2007

Shear Stress Induced Mtor Signaling In Cultured A7r5 Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell Line, Sriram Prasad Mupparaju

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Vascular intervention procedures such as balloon angioplasty and stent implantation lead to denudation of endothelium exposing the underlying smooth muscle layer to effects of blood shear stress. The effect of shear stress on smooth muscle cell signaling has not been studied in depth. In this study, we examined time dependent changes in activation of Akt, mTOR and p70S6k related signaling in response to orbital shear stress on cultured A7r5 cells. A7r5 cells cultured to subconfluence on 150mm culture dishes were subjected to orbital shear of 9.8dynes/cm 2 for zero, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 1h, 4h and 24h. The …


Anaerobic Oxalate Consumption By Microorganisms In Forest Soils, Steven L. Daniel, Christine Pilsl, Harold L. Drake Jan 2007

Anaerobic Oxalate Consumption By Microorganisms In Forest Soils, Steven L. Daniel, Christine Pilsl, Harold L. Drake

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The microbial consumption of oxalate was examined under anaerobic conditions in soil suspensions at 15-20 degree C. With soil (horizon Ah, pH 6.4) from a beech forest, microbial consumption of added oxalate (15 mM) began after 10 days, and oxalate was totally consumed by day 20. The presence of supplemental electron donors (acetate, glucose, vanillate, or hydrogen) or electron acceptors (nitrate or sulfate) did not significantly influence anaerobic oxalate consumption, whereas supplementation of soil suspensions with CO2/bicarbonate totally repressed oxalate consumption. Thus, CO2-, nitrate- or sulfate-respiring bacteria were apparently not active in the anaerobic consumption of oxalate in these soil …


Physical Characteristics Of An Individual: The Identification Of Biomarkers For Biological Age Determination, Michelle Alvarez Jan 2007

Physical Characteristics Of An Individual: The Identification Of Biomarkers For Biological Age Determination, Michelle Alvarez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is now a matter of routine for the forensic scientist to obtain the genetic profile of an individual from DNA recovered from a biological stain deposited at a crime scene. Potential contributors of the stain must either be known to investigators (i.e. a developed suspect) or the questioned profile must be searched against a database of DNA profiles such as those maintained in the CODIS National DNA database. However, in those instances where there is no developed suspect and no match is obtained after interrogation of appropriate DNA databases, the DNA profile per se presently provides no meaningful information …


Glutamate Excitotoxicity In Epilepsy And Ischemia, Mangala Meenakshi Soundarapandian Jan 2007

Glutamate Excitotoxicity In Epilepsy And Ischemia, Mangala Meenakshi Soundarapandian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

'Excitotoxicity' represents the excitatory amino acid mediated degeneration of neurons. Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Glutamate excitotoxicity has been implicated in a number of neurodegenerative disorders like Stroke, Epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury. This neurotoxicity is summed up by the 'glutamate hypothesis' which describes the cause of neuronal cell death as an excessive release of glutamate causing over excitation of the glutamate receptors and subsequent increase in influx of calcium leading to cell death. An effort to counteract this neurotoxicity has lead to the development of glutamate receptor antagonists that can effectively serve as …


Lim Kinase 1 Modulates Expression Of Matrix Metalloproteinases And Associates With Gamma-Tubulin: Dual Role In Invasion And Mito, Tenekua Tapia Jan 2007

Lim Kinase 1 Modulates Expression Of Matrix Metalloproteinases And Associates With Gamma-Tubulin: Dual Role In Invasion And Mito, Tenekua Tapia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

LIM kinase 1 (LIMK1) is a unique dual specificity serine/threonine kinase containing two N-terminal LIM domains in tandem, a PDZ domain and a C-terminal catalytic domain. LIMK1 is involved in modulation of actin cytoskeleton through inactivating phosphorylation of the ADF (actin depolymerization factor) family protein cofilin. Recent studies have shown that LIMK1 is upregulated in breast and prostate cancer cells and tissues, promotes metastasis in animals and induces acquisition of an invasive phenotype when ectopically expressed in benign prostate epithelial (BPH) cells. Furthermore, overexpression of LIMK1 was associated with altered sub cellular localization of the membrane type 1 matrix metalloprotease …


Helical Packing Regulates Structural Transitions In Bax, Nuska Tschammer Jan 2007

Helical Packing Regulates Structural Transitions In Bax, Nuska Tschammer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Apoptosis is essential for development and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and is frequently dysregulated in disease states. Proteins of the BCL-2 family are key modulators of this process and are thus ideal therapeutic targets. In response to diverse apoptotic stimuli, the pro-apoptotic member of BCL-2 family, BAX, redistributes from the cytosol to the mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum and primes cells for death. The structural changes that enable this lethal protein to transition from a cytosolic form to a membrane-bound form remain poorly understood. Elucidating this process is a necessary step in the development of BAX as a novel therapeutic …


Retrocyclin Rc-101 Overcomes Cationic Mutations On The Heptad Repeat 2 Of Hiv-1 Gp41, Christopher Fuhrman Jan 2007

Retrocyclin Rc-101 Overcomes Cationic Mutations On The Heptad Repeat 2 Of Hiv-1 Gp41, Christopher Fuhrman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Retrocyclin RC-101, a θ-defensin with lectin-like properties, potently inhibits infection by many HIV-1 subtypes by binding to the heptad repeat (HR)-2 region of gp41 and preventing six-helix bundle formation. In the present study, we used in silico computational exploration to identify residues of HR2 that interacted with RC-101 and then analyzed the HIV-1 Sequence Database at LANL for residue variations in the HR1 and HR2 segments that could plausibly impart in vivo resistance. Docking RC-101 to gp41 peptides in silico confirmed its strong preference for HR2 over HR1, and implicated residues crucial for its ability to bind HR2. We mutagenized …


Anaerobic Oxalate Consumption By Microorganisms In Forest Soils, Steven Daniel, Christine Pilsl, Harold Drake Jan 2007

Anaerobic Oxalate Consumption By Microorganisms In Forest Soils, Steven Daniel, Christine Pilsl, Harold Drake

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

The microbial consumption of oxalate was examined under anaerobic conditions in soil suspensions at 15-20 degree C. With soil (horizon Ah, pH 6.4) from a beech forest, microbial consumption of added oxalate (15 mM) began after 10 days, and oxalate was totally consumed by day 20. The presence of supplemental electron donors (acetate, glucose, vanillate, or hydrogen) or electron acceptors (nitrate or sulfate) did not significantly influence anaerobic oxalate consumption, whereas supplementation of soil suspensions with CO2/bicarbonate totally repressed oxalate consumption. Thus, CO2-, nitrate- or sulfate-respiring bacteria were apparently not active in the anaerobic consumption of oxalate in these soil …


The Effects Of Trivalent Arsenicals And Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitors On Selenium Metabolism In Lung Cell Culture Models, Sarah Ryann Talbot Jan 2007

The Effects Of Trivalent Arsenicals And Thioredoxin Reductase Inhibitors On Selenium Metabolism In Lung Cell Culture Models, Sarah Ryann Talbot

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arsenic exposure, through various routes, is associated with the development of cancer of the skin, lung, liver, kidney, and bladder. Treatment of cells in culture with trivalent arsenicals has been shown to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS). In particular, monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII), a trivalent metabolite of arsenite, is highly cytotoxic and possibly carcinogenic. Three trivalent arsenicals; arsenite, arsenic trioxide (ATO), and MMAIII, are also known inhibitors of the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). Selenium, an essential micronutrient in mammals, is needed in the form of selenocysteine for activity of this enzyme and other selenoproteins. TrxR is part of a key component …