Microbiology Commons^™

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

Inflammation Enhances Il-2 Driven Differentiation Of Cytolytic Cd4 T Cells, Aspen M. Workman, Ashley K. Jacobs, Alexander J. Vogel, Shirley Condon, Deborah M. Brown

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Cytolytic CD4 T cells (CD4 CTL) have been identified in vivo in response to viral infections; however, the factors necessary for driving the cytolytic phenotype have not been fully elucidated. Our previously published work suggests IL-2 may be the master regulator of perforin-mediated cytotoxicity in CD4 effectors. To further dissect the role of IL-2 in CD4 CTL generation, T cell receptor transgenic mice deficient in the ability to produce IL-2 or the high affinity IL-2 receptor (IL-2Rα, CD25) were used. Increasing concentrations of IL-2 were necessary to drive perforin (Prf) expression and maximal cytotoxicity. Granzyme B (GrB) expression and killing …

Deletion Of The Human Cytomegalovirus Us17 Gene Increases The Ratio Of Genomes Per Infectious Unit And Alters Regulation Of Immune And Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response Genes At Early And Late Times After Infection, Stephen James Gurczynski, Subhendu Das, Philip E. Pellett

Immunology and Microbiology Faculty Research Publications

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) employs numerous strategies to combat, subvert, or co-opt host immunity. One evolutionary strategy for this involves capture of a host gene and then its successive duplication and divergence, forming a family of genes, many of which have immunomodulatory activities. The HCMV US12 family consists of 10 tandemly arranged sequence-related genes in the unique short (US) region of the HCMV genome (US12 to US21). Each gene encodes a protein possessing seven predicted transmembrane domains, patches of sequence similarity with cellular G-protein-coupled receptors, and the Bax inhibitor 1 family of antiapoptotic proteins. We show that one member, US17, plays …

Role Of Peripheral Immune Response In Microglia Activation And Regulation Of Brain Chemokine And Proinflammatory Cytokine Responses Induced During Vsv Encephalitis, Christina D. Steel, Kimberly Breving, Susan Tavakoli, Woong-Ki Kim, Larry D. Sanford, Richard P. Ciavarra

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We report herein that neuroinvasion by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) activates microglia and induces a peripheral dendritic cell (DC)-dependent inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS). VSV neuroinvasion rapidly induces multiple brain chemokine and proinflammatory cytokine mRNAs that display bimodal kinetics. Peripheral DC ablation or T cell depletion suppresses the second wave of this response demonstrating that infiltrating T cells are primarily responsible for the bimodal characteristics of this response. The robust infiltrate associated with VSV encephalitis likely depends on sustained production of brain CCL19 and CCR7 expression on infiltrating inflammatory cells. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Candida Albicans Als5p Amyloid In Host-Microbe Interactions: A Ceanorhabditis Elegans Study, Michael Bois

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Candida albicans, a dimorphic fungus and an opportunistic pathogen, possesses a myriad of adherence factors including members of the agglutinin-like sequence (Als) family of mannoproteins. The adhesin Als5p mediates adhesion to many substrates, and is upregulated during commensal interactions, but is downregulated during active C. albicans infections[1]. An amyloid forming core sequence at residues 325-331 has been shown to be important for Als5p function, because a single amino acid substitution at position 326 (V326N) greatly reduces Als5p-mediated adherence[2]. We evaluated the role of Als5p in host-microbe interactions, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a host model and feeding them Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing …

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

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

Journal of Undergraduate Research

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

Bax Over-Expression Coupled With Bcl-2 Suppression Under The Control Of The Cancer-Specific Thymidine Kinase Promoter, Brian H. Ladle, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As researchers continue to discover the molecular origins of cancer, gene therapy targeting cellular processes gone awry shows great promise as the future in cancer treatment. Extensive research is being done to develop more effective techniques targeting different cellular events. One pathway receiving increased attention is apoptosis (the default mechanisms activated intracellularly by extensive damage, causing the cell to kill itself). Often cancer will develop when genetic mutations or other cellular events render the cells unable to die by apoptosis. My research investigates a novel gene therapy that will restore the cancer cell’s ability to die by apoptosis, while limiting …

Acanthamoeba And Bacteria Produce Antimicrobials To Target Their Counterpart, Junaid Iqbal, Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui, Naveed Ahmed Khan

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background

In the microbial ecosystem, microbes compete for space and nutrients. Consequently, some have developed the ability to kill or inhibit the growth of other competing microbes by producing antimicrobial substances. As the ‘producer’ species are generally immune to these substances, their compounds act on the competing microbial species and give the producer more space and access to nutrients for growth. Many currently used antibiotics were developed by exploiting this potential of certain microbes.

Findings

Here, the free-living amoeba, Acanthamoeba castellanii, was investigated for its antibacterial activity against representative Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, while bacterial isolates were …

The Inhibitory Affects Of Phytochemicals Against A Carcinogen By The Modulation Of Xenobiotic Enzymes In Hepg2 Cells, Jon Ahlstrom, Dr. Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Cancer is the cause of death of 1 in 3 citizens in the United States. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce cancer deaths by 33%. Cancer prevention from dietary plants may in part be derived from individual phytochemicals inherent to the plant. The identification of plant phytochemicals that have anti-cancer properties and their mode of action is an important area of cancer research.

Antibiotic Resistance In Escherichia-Coli Isolates From Guatemala, Troy Russon, Dr. Ronald Leavitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

It is estimated that at least one-half of all antibiotic use in the United States is inappropriate.1 Physicians often prescribe broad spectrum antibiotics when the disease causing bacterial strain could be targeted specifically. Also, patients are prone to expect prescriptions for antibiotics even when their infections are viral, such as the common cold. While the United States and most industrialized nations require prescriptions for antimicrobial drug use, most developing countries do not. It is reasonable to hypothesize that drug resistance in these countries may be occurring at a more accelerated rate.2 I tested Escherichia-coli isolates from Guatemala for resistance to …

In Vitro Effects Of Follicular Dendritic Cells On Proliferation Of Hiv Infected T Cells, Jesse Rowley, Dr. Gregory Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the cause of AIDS, has eluded successful treatment since its discovery in the early 1980s. HIV is a retrovirus that infects and eventually destroys CD4+ T cells. In HIV infected individuals it is believed that during the longest phase of infection (latency) most viral production takes place in and around the germinal centers of secondary lymphoid tissues. Follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) are a unique component of the germinal center, and previous studies done in our laboratory have suggested that FDCs may augment viral replication and/or infection within the germinal center.

Ancient Egyptian Textiles: A Genetic Look Into 2000-Year-Old Egyptian Communities, Shaun Odell, Dr. Scott Woodward

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the mid 1980’s archeologists from BYU began excavating a 2000-year-old burial site in Northern Egypt called the Fag-el-Gamous cemetery. This cemetery contains the remains of roughly 350,000 individuals who had been buried there between 200 BC and 400 AD during the Greco-Roman period of Egyptian history. The chemical composition of the desert, as well as the hot, dry climate, naturally mummified not only the individuals of focus, but also numerous textile samples found on the mummies. Excavation of this sight has proceeded from that time, providing unique opportunities for study of ancient Egyptian culture.

Preventing Salmonella And Other Bacterial Contamination In Poultry Using A High-Adhering Strain Of Escherichia Coli, Jeffrey P. North, Dr. Ron Leavitt

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In 1928 Alexander Fleming revolutionized the world with the discovery of penicillin. Penicillin and the antibiotics discovered thereafter revolutionized the treatment of infectious diseases. Equipped with these miracle drugs, scientists thought the battle against pathogenic bacteria was won. However, bacteria began to evolve to meet the antibiotic challenge. As the 20th century progressed, more and more bacteria developed resistance to one or more antibiotics. This resistance is achieved through mutation or through horizontal gene transfer, when one bacterium transfers the gene to another bacterium.

Follicular Dentritic Cells And Retention Of Hiv Quasi-Species, Candace Mcnaughton, Dr. Gregory Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

HIV infects millions of people worldwide; in the year 2000 alone, more than 3 million people died from AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) as a result of HIV infection1. In countries, such as the United States, where effective treatment is affordable, highly active antiretroiviral therapy (HAART) can reduce viral blood loads to currently undetectable levels2. Unfortunately, the side effects of HAART can be severe, resulting in noncompliance, and upon its termination, HIV levels rapidly rebound. Several viral reservoirs within the body have been identified, including the follicular dendritic cell (FDC) network3. FDCs trap HIV antibody complexes for long periods of time …

Epigallocatechin Gallate, A Green Tea Polyphenol, Causes Direct Dna Damage At Physiological Concentrations, Jeremy Mcbride, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenol found in green tea. Because tea is ingested by over two thirds of the world’s population, considerable research has been done to identify and characterize the active components of the second most widely consumed beverage (1). Among the many chemopreventative properties that have been attributed to green tea, and EGCG, this botanical product has been established as an antimutagen and a potent free-radical scavenger that has been shown to effectively quench reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that may otherwise damage DNA and other sensitive biomolecules. Such damage, accumulated over time, may lead to mutagenesis …

The Effects Of Concurrent Treatment Of Caffeine And Various Apoptotic-Inducing Drugs In The Molt-4 Cell Line, Janet L. Hart, Dr. Kim L. O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Apoptosis is the method by which cells undergo programmed cell death or “cell suicide.” The cell initiates apoptosis after there is irreparable damage or if the cell is simply not needed. Some insults that are known to induce apoptosis are irradiation, heat shock, as well as many chemotherapeutic drugs including staurosporine, paclitaxel, and dexamethasone. The precise regulation of apoptosis is critical, as disregulation can lead to many diseases or conditions including autoimmune disorders or cancer.

Bench Top Bioremediation Of Trichloroethylene, Colin Jones, Dr. Alan Harker

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The initial aim of the project was to compare degradation rates of trichloroethylene (TCE) using two different bacterial strains. After four months of research, my greatest find concerns how to build an effective reactor. After the reactor was constructed, time allowed only focusing on the genetically engineered bacterium and not on the wild type. Perhaps a better title for my final report to ORCA would be “Bench Top Bio-reactors, How Not to Build One.”