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2013

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Articles 121 - 150 of 413

Full-Text Articles in Microbiology

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 …

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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.

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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 …

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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.

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Effects Of Environmental Factors And Nutrient Availability On The Biochemical Composition Of Algae For Biofuels Production: A Review, Ankita Juneja, Ruben Michael Ceballos, Ganti S. Murthy Sep 2013

Effects Of Environmental Factors And Nutrient Availability On The Biochemical Composition Of Algae For Biofuels Production: A Review, Ankita Juneja, Ruben Michael Ceballos, Ganti S. Murthy

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Due to significant lipid and carbohydrate production as well as other useful properties such as high production of useful biomolecular substrates (e.g., lipids) and the ability to grow using non-potable water sources, algae are being explored as a potential high-yield feedstock for biofuels production. In both natural and engineered systems, algae can be exposed to a variety of environmental conditions that affect growth rate and cellular composition. With respect to the latter, the amount of carbon fixed in lipids and carbohydrates (e.g., starch) is highly influenced by environmental factors and nutrient availability. Understanding synergistic interactions between multiple environmental variables and …

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Identification Of Proteins For Salt Tolerance Using A Comparative Proteomics Analysis Of Tomato Accessions With Contrasting Salt Tolerance, Peter Nveawiah-Yoho, Jing Zhou, Marsha Palmer, Roger Sauve, Suping Zhou, Kevin J. Howe, Tara Fish, Theodore W. Thannhauser Sep 2013

Identification Of Proteins For Salt Tolerance Using A Comparative Proteomics Analysis Of Tomato Accessions With Contrasting Salt Tolerance, Peter Nveawiah-Yoho, Jing Zhou, Marsha Palmer, Roger Sauve, Suping Zhou, Kevin J. Howe, Tara Fish, Theodore W. Thannhauser

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has a wide variety of genotypes differing in their responses to salinity. This study was performed to identify salt-induced changes in proteomes that are distinguishable among tomatoes with contrasting salt tolerance. Tomato accessions [LA4133 (a salt-tolerant cherry tomato accession) and ‘Walter’ LA3465 (a salt-susceptible accession)] were subjected to salt treatment (200 mm NaCl) in hydroponic culture. Salt-induced changes in the root proteomes of each tomato accession were identified using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) method. In LA4133, 178 proteins showed significant differences between salt-treated and non-treated control root tissues (P ≤ 0.05); 169 …

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Barrier To Autointegration Factor (Baf) Inhibits Vaccinia Virus Intermediate Transcription In The Absence Of The Viral B1 Kinase, Nouhou Ibrahim, April Wicklund, Augusta Jamin, Matthew S. Wiebe Sep 2013

Barrier To Autointegration Factor (Baf) Inhibits Vaccinia Virus Intermediate Transcription In The Absence Of The Viral B1 Kinase, Nouhou Ibrahim, April Wicklund, Augusta Jamin, Matthew S. Wiebe

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Barrier to autointegration factor (BAF/BANF1) is a cellular DNA-binding protein found in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic BAF binds to foreign DNA and can act as a defense against vaccinia DNA replication. To evade BAF, vaccinia expresses the B1 kinase, which phosphorylates BAF and blocks its ability to bind DNA. Interestingly, B1 is also needed for viral intermediate gene expression via an unknown mechanism. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of B1-BAF signaling on vaccinia transcription. Strikingly, the decrease in vaccinia transcription caused by loss of B1 can be rescued by depletion of BAF. The repressive action of BAF is greatest …

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Epilithic And Aerophilic Diatoms In The Artificial Environment Of Kungsträdgården Metro Station, Stockholm, Sweden, Lena Norbäck Ivarsson, Magnus Ivarsson, Johannes Lundberg, Therese Sallstedt, Catarina Rydin Sep 2013

Epilithic And Aerophilic Diatoms In The Artificial Environment Of Kungsträdgården Metro Station, Stockholm, Sweden, Lena Norbäck Ivarsson, Magnus Ivarsson, Johannes Lundberg, Therese Sallstedt, Catarina Rydin

International Journal of Speleology

The Kungsträdgården metro station is an artificial and urban subsurface environment illuminated with artificial light. Its ecosystem is almost completely unknown and as a first step to better understand the biology and rock wall habitats the diatom flora was investigated. A total of 12 species were found growing on the rock walls of Kungsträdgården metro station. The results show the diatom flora in Kungsträdgården to be dominated by e.g. Diadesmis contenta, Diadesmis perpusilla, Pinnularia appendiculata, Nitzschia amphibia, Nitzschia sinuata and Diploneis ovalis. One species, Caloneis cf. aerophila, has never been reported from Sweden before. …

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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 …

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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 …

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 …

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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.

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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. …

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Testing For The Mafia Mouse Suicide Gene, Robert Kitz, Dr. Sandra Burnett Aug 2013

Testing For The Mafia Mouse Suicide Gene, Robert Kitz, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Macrophage Fas-Induced Apoptosis (Mafia) mouse is a transgenic mouse model designed by Dr. Sandra Burnett to study the role of macrophages in the absence of macrophages. The Mafia transgene contains the genetic code for the Green Florescent Protein, a suicide gene and a c-fms promoter that makes the gene specific to macrophages. The transgene inserted randomly in more than one place causing it to express at different levels within different mice. In order to identify the separate insertion points within the mouse genome, I used several methods of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing followed by DNA sequencing.

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Identification And Characterization Of An Effective Antimicrobial Peptide Defensin And Its Effects On Transmission Efficiency, Kody Johnson, Dr. David Erickson Aug 2013

Identification And Characterization Of An Effective Antimicrobial Peptide Defensin And Its Effects On Transmission Efficiency, Kody Johnson, Dr. David Erickson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Among many transmissible infectious diseases falls the Bubonic Plague, a disease that is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium. It is still a concern because there have been human cases as recent as last year in our home state of Utah. While health care has advanced significantly since the last large plague epidemic, there are still areas of the world where health care is not as efficient or advanced and it is in these areas that this disease causes the greatest harm.

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Feun As A Regulator In A Two Component System, Rebecca Carlyon, Dr. Joel Griffitts Aug 2013

Feun As A Regulator In A Two Component System, Rebecca Carlyon, Dr. Joel Griffitts

Journal of Undergraduate Research

How does infection work? There exists a process in which a bacterium receives a signal from the environment which starts a series of events which initiates infection. This process is vital for understanding both disease-causing and beneficial bacteria, and could prove to be vital for the agricultural process, yet remains an under-researched subject.

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Lymphocyte Apoptosis In The Involuting Mammary Gland And The Application Of Qpcr In Gene Expression Profiling, Kathryn Distelhorst, Dr. Eric Wilson Aug 2013

Lymphocyte Apoptosis In The Involuting Mammary Gland And The Application Of Qpcr In Gene Expression Profiling, Kathryn Distelhorst, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The initial aim of this project was to discover the fate of lymphocytes in the mammary gland after lactation. I hypothesized that lymphocytes, in an analogous mechanism used by mammary gland-specific epithelial cells, undergo apoptosis, or programmed cell death. This non-inflammatory mechanism ensures cell homeostasis, and defects in this process are implemented in certain diseases such as multiple myeloma, a severe cancer of plasma cells that is generated from an over-proliferation of antibody-secreting cells (ASCs).

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Mutant Bacterium Photorhabdus Luminescens’ Effect On Nematode’S Ability To Enter Endotokia Matricida, Jared Nielsen, Dr. Byron Adams Aug 2013

Mutant Bacterium Photorhabdus Luminescens’ Effect On Nematode’S Ability To Enter Endotokia Matricida, Jared Nielsen, Dr. Byron Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Nematodes (roundworms), like all organisms, must develop, survive, and reproduce. For entomopathogenic nematodes (insect pathogens) such as H. bacteriophora, this is only possible when the worm can find an adequate food source (host insects). As the nematode scours the surrounding soil and finds a potential host, it will pass directly into the hemolymph of the insect. Inside its newly-found host, the nematode will then regurgitate a colony of bacteria. This particular bacteria, P. luminescens, works together with the nematode in a symbiotic relationship to kill and devour the insect (3). After the bacteria and nematodes have feasted on their host …

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Pcr Genotyping And Analysis Of Bacteriocin Production By Natural Salmonella Isolates For Potential Use As Inhibitors Of Pathogenic Salmonella, Ramesh Tiwari, Dr. Brent Nielsen Aug 2013

Pcr Genotyping And Analysis Of Bacteriocin Production By Natural Salmonella Isolates For Potential Use As Inhibitors Of Pathogenic Salmonella, Ramesh Tiwari, Dr. Brent Nielsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Salmonella is a genus of bacteria that is a major cause of food borne illness throughout the world. Species of Salmonella like S. thyphimurium and S. enteriditis still pose significant health problems. Poultry and egg products are the main food sources infected by these species (Portrait et al. 1999). The main problem with these infections is their rapid spread among the infected species (in a flock). An infected bird (which has Salmonella infection in its intestinal tract) or a flock of birds can transfer the infection to others rapidly even before the appearance of symptoms and thus the urgency of …

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Binding Site Sequence Motifs Estrogen Receptor Mediation Of Transcriptional Repression By Interactions Determined By Cis-Regulatory Dna Sequences, Brianna Teerlink, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin Aug 2013

Binding Site Sequence Motifs Estrogen Receptor Mediation Of Transcriptional Repression By Interactions Determined By Cis-Regulatory Dna Sequences, Brianna Teerlink, Dr. Chin-Yo Lin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States and affects millions each year. Much of the current research on hormonal regulation in breast cancer systems focuses on up-regulation of genes (increased rates of transcription) by estrogen receptors (ERs); however, repression, or down-regulation, of genes can also play a significant role in estrogen-responsive expression of genes. (Lin et al., 2004) Since the mechanisms of down-regulation, or gene repression, have not been well-studied, information on repression becomes a foundation for potential future application of hormonal down-regulation to other cancer systems and biological processes.

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Acetaminophen Induced Dna Damage Evaluated With The Single Cell Gel Assay, Karl A. Kirby, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill Aug 2013

Acetaminophen Induced Dna Damage Evaluated With The Single Cell Gel Assay, Karl A. Kirby, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Acetaminophen is a popular non-prescription analgesic and antipyretic drug. Therefore, studies concerning its effects on human DNA are of great value. In this study, the single cell gel, or comet assay, was used to study the extent of Acetaminophen induced DNA damage at varying concentrations and times. The human lymphocyte Raji cell line was used for the experiments.

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Inflammation And Apoptosis In Developing Dmm, Cho, And Sedc Articular Cartilage: The Role Of The Unfolded Protein Response (Upr), Caitlin Nichols, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Aug 2013

Inflammation And Apoptosis In Developing Dmm, Cho, And Sedc Articular Cartilage: The Role Of The Unfolded Protein Response (Upr), Caitlin Nichols, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Dmm, cho, and sedc mutations in mice collagen genes activate unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways in developing cartilage tissues. The inflammation or cell death triggered by the UPR may contribute to the weakened articular cartilage and premature osteoarthritis (OA) observed in these mouse lines.

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Mscs-Like Mechanosensitive Channels In Plants And Microbes, Margaret E. Wilson, Grigory Maksaev, Elizabeth S. Haswell Aug 2013

Mscs-Like Mechanosensitive Channels In Plants And Microbes, Margaret E. Wilson, Grigory Maksaev, Elizabeth S. Haswell

Biology Faculty Research

The challenge of osmotic stress is something all living organisms must face as a result of environmental dynamics. Over the past three decades, innovative research and cooperation across disciplines have irrefutably established that cells utilize mechanically gated ion channels to release osmolytes and prevent cell lysis during hypoosmotic stress. Early electrophysiological analysis of the inner membrane of Escherichia coli identified the presence of three distinct mechanosensitive activities. The subsequent discoveries of the genes responsible for two of these activities, the mechanosensitive channels of large (MscL) and small (MscS) conductance, led to the identification of two diverse families of mechanosensitive channels. …

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Mechanisms Of Estrogen Receptor Α Mediated Transcriptional Repression, Joseph Sin Aug 2013

Mechanisms Of Estrogen Receptor Α Mediated Transcriptional Repression, Joseph Sin

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the US, the American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, breast cancer killed 40,930 people. Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among women today and results in almost 1% of all deaths worldwide. Various types of treatment for breast cancer exist today such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc. Breast cancer treatments are usually selected based on the specific character of breast cancer: estrogen receptor (ER) positive or estrogen receptor negative. Treatment of breast cancer through estrogen modulation is a common form of treatment. Predicting the overall longer cancer-free survival is best done through measuring the levels …

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Mice Show Decreased Muscle Strength Bearing A Targeted Inactivation Of Nbmp2, Alina Schmidt, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Aug 2013

Mice Show Decreased Muscle Strength Bearing A Targeted Inactivation Of Nbmp2, Alina Schmidt, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

An important secreted growth factor, bone morphogenic protein 2 (Bmp2), is involved in mesoderm formation, heart development, neurogenesis, skeletal development, axis formation, and muscle development 1 and is a member of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins. Members of the TGF-β superfamily are commonly known as secreted growth factors but has recently been discovered in the nucleus, known as nuclear Bmp21. nBmp2 bypasses the secretory pathway by having an alternative start codon downstream of the signal peptide.

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Inflammation: A Key Component Of The Immunosuppression Observed In Aggressive Breast Cancer?, Bryan Swanson, Dr. Kim O'Neill Aug 2013

Inflammation: A Key Component Of The Immunosuppression Observed In Aggressive Breast Cancer?, Bryan Swanson, Dr. Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation are current treatments used to combat cancer. Future treatments may directly involve the cancer patient’s immune system. The immune system has the potential to destroy tumors. This destructive potential is orchestrated by small secreted proteins called cytokines and chemokines. These proteins control communications between immune cells, endothelial cells, and other cell types found within the body. In addition, cytokines and chemokines have growth, differentiation, and activation effects on target cells. Increasing evidence suggests the effects of these proteins may lead to tumor growth, tumor progression, and host immunosuppression in cancer patients.

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Chemical Susceptibility Of High-Risk Native Human Papilloma Virus Virions, Jordan Meyers, Dr. Richard Robison Aug 2013

Chemical Susceptibility Of High-Risk Native Human Papilloma Virus Virions, Jordan Meyers, Dr. Richard Robison

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project was designed to take an in-depth look into how resistant papilloma viruses are to common clinical disinfectants. This idea was investigated because there is no published data on papillomavirus.

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