Microbiology Commons^™

The Role Of Manganese In Streptococcus Sanguinis, Tanya M. Puccio

Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus sanguinis is primarily associated with oral health as a commensal bacterium. As an opportunistic pathogen, S. sanguinis is capable of colonizing heart valve vegetations, leading to the disease infective endocarditis. Previous studies from our lab have identified the high-affinity manganese transporter SsaACB as important for endocarditis virulence. The impact that manganese depletion has on S. sanguinis had never been evaluated and a secondary manganese transporter has not been identified. Thus, we employed the use of a fermentor to control large-scale growth over time and depleted manganese in an ΔssaACB mutant using a metal chelator, EDTA. The changes in …

The Antimicrobial Activity Of Silicon Copper Nanoparticles, Angela Mangano

Sustainability Research & Creative Activities Grants Reports

Excessive overuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of mutations within bacteria that result in drug resistance. In an effort to combat the expanding issue of drug resistance, nanoparticles' bactericidal capabilities are being researched as an alternative to antibiotics (Beyth, 2015). In this paper, research to explore a novel silicon copper nanoparticle's antimicrobial capabilities will be discussed. The novel nanoparticle was developed by West Chester University professor, Dr. Kolasinski. The specific research goals were to determine the time and dose dependency of the nanoparticles and investigate the antimicrobial spectrum of activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and viruses. Gram-positive …

Characterization Of Ovine Ileal Epithelial And Myofibroblast Cell Lines And Their Role In Innate Immunity, Shaurav Bhattarai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Development of continuous cell lines has been an indispensable tool for studying disease pathogenesis at cellular and molecular level. Intestinal epithelial cells serve as a barrier between the luminal contents and internal tissue and face unique challenge in maintaining homeostasis. Any form of disruption in the uppermost intestinal epithelium exposes underlying intestinal subepithelial myofibroblast (ISEMF) cells to the luminal content, which results in the generation of immune responses from ISEMF cells. Our main goal was to establish and characterize intestinal epithelial and myofibroblast cell lines from a 3-day old sheep. ISEMF cells play significantly important role in wound healing, tissue …

Utilizing Rhizospheric And Bacterial Endophytes For Use As Potential Bio-Fertilizers For Sustainable Agricultural Production, Vincent Peta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Brassica carinata crop production offers an exciting alternative approach to the energy crisis when looking at novel ways to power our motor vehicles. Bacterial endophytes, while residing in host-plant tissues, offer a wide array of plant growth promotion benefits such as nitrogen fixation to impart nitrogen (N) nutrition, phosphate (P) solubilization to make soil-bound phosphate more mobile in soil for plant uptake, can suppress pathogenic microbes such as fungus and produce plant growth hormones to offset stress incurred by the plant. Previous literature has shown that there is large interest in studying endophytes from economically important crops such as wheat, …

Epitope Mapping And Mechanisms Of Action Of Human Influenza Antibodies Derived From Transchromosomic Cattle, Rongyuan Gao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Influenza remains a global health risk and challenge. Currently, NA inhibitors are extensively used to treat influenza, but their efficacy is compromised by the emergence of drug resistant variants. Antibodies targeting influenza A virus surface glycoproteins are critical components of influenza therapeutic agents and may provide alternative strategies to the existing countermeasures. This study characterized both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies produced from the transchromosomic (Tc) cattle platform. A polyclonal antibody, designated SAB-100, was generated from Tc cattle after immunized with H1N1,H3N2, and influenza B virus. The peptide-based Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay shows that the polyclonal antibody recognizes three distinct epitopes, one …

Crispr/Cas9 Whole Genome Screens Reveal Novel Regulators Of Endocytic Processes In Macrophages, Jared Wollman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Macrophages maintain tissue homeostasis by identifying and eliminating threats within their tissue microenvironment. Pattern recognition receptors allow macrophages to recognize and internalize specific ligands while macropinocytosis allows the internalization of all extracellular solutes from their environment. Without pattern recognition receptors, pathogens may grow unchecked if they cannot be detected, and without macropinocytosis, macrophages struggle to detect and move around their environment. This thesis presents the results of CRISPR/Cas9 whole-genome screens used to identify the regulators of both endocytosis (Chapter 2) and macropinocytosis (Chapter 3). In Chapter 2, we report genes regulating dextran uptake in primary murine macrophages and reveal Mrc1-mediated …

Tick-Borne Infections In New Hampshire: An Evaluation Of The Diagnostic Process In A Local Patient Population, Katherine Anderson

Honors Theses and Capstones

Overall, approximately 95 percent of reported cases of vector-borne disease were associated with ticks, making these the most medically important group of arthropods in the United States.¹ Despite the prevalence of tick-borne infections, the process for the diagnosis of this condition is not well studied. This study aims to analyze data from a pool of 100 patients who underwent testing for tick-borne disease in the same institution in Dover, New Hampshire during the most recent peak tick season of 2019. Information utilized in this study included: patient age, sex, location of testing (inpatient versus outpatient), diagnostic testing methods used …

Adaptation Of Vibrio Cholerae O1 To Protective, Lipopolysaccharide-Specific Antibodies In The Intestinal Lumen, Danielle Elizabeth Baranova

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The outer membrane (OM) of Gram-negative enteric pathogens like Vibrio cholerae is a barrier against host defense factors, as well as a sensor of physical and chemical stimuli that the bacteria encounter in the gastrointestinal tract. The OM is also the primary target of the mucosal immune response, which consists of secretory antibodies primarily directed against lipopolysaccharide (LPS). ZAC-3 is a monoclonal antibody (MAb) that targets the conserved core/lipid A region of LPS of the pandemic V. cholerae O1 serotype. In a neonatal mouse model, passively administered ZAC-3 IgG has been shown to reduce the ability of V. cholerae to …

Molecular Mechanisms Shaping Host Range Of A Vector-Borne Pathogen, Thomas Macgregor Hart

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Vector-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), have narrow host ranges and are apt models to study host-microparasite coevolution. Some species and strains of Lyme borreliae (LB) are specialists, infecting only mammalian or only avian hosts (ex. Borrelia afzelii and B. garinii, respectively), while others are generalists and infect both hosts (ex. B. burgdorferi). Such host tropisms are hypothesized to be partially shaped by the ability of these pathogens evade host immune defenses, such as complement. Complement is a first line host defense against invading pathogens that kills LB in vitro and inhibits spirochete …

Development Of Small Molecule Antibiotics Against A Conserved Rna Gene Regulatory Element In Gram-Positive Bacteria, Ville Yrjö Petteri Väre

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Bacterial infections and the rise of antibiotic resistance, especially multidrug resistant strains, have generated a clear need for discovery of novel therapeutics. Most antibiotics in use today are derivatives of previous antibiotics to which resistance mechanisms already exist, and traditionally they have a single target: either a protein or rRNA. Gram-positive bacteria regulate the expression of several essential genes or operons using a mechanism called the T-box. The T-box is a structurally conserved riboswitch-like gene regulator in the 5’-untranslated region (UTR) of numerous essential genes of Gram-positive bacteria. T-boxes are stabilized by cognate, unacylated tRNA ligands, allowing the formation of …

Regulation Of Gene Expression Through Ribosome-Associated Proteins, Clare Margaret Miller

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Translation is a crucial mechanism for generating proteins to carry out cellular processes and for ensuring proper cell functions. Ribosomes are at the center of translation and are complex pieces of machinery. They consist of at least 80 core eukaryotic ribosomal proteins, which are conserved from prokaryotes, and four ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs): 18S, 28S, 5,8A 5S. In addition, numerous translation factors aid the ribosome in protein production. While ribosomes are typically described by these core features, they are known to exist in a heterogenous pool with variations in protein composition, modifications of rRNA, and an assortment of non-ribosomal proteins that …

Biocide Resistance As A Result Of Exposure To Biocides Used In Hydraulic Fracturing, Lindsey Schenten

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Microbial resistance to antimicrobials is an important topic to investigate not only for our health but for the environment. There is a growing concern about expanding microbial resistance to both antibiotics and other antimicrobials such as biocides. We wanted to know how bacteria previously exposed to hydraulic fracturing fluids, including biocides, would react to biocide exposure and what the mechanism of resistance looked like. In order to test this hypothesis bacterial isolates were obtained from water and sediment from a stream that had been previously exposed to a spill of hydraulic fracturing water. Thirty bacterial isolates were obtained from these …

Obituary: Thomas Henry Kunz (1938–2020), Allen Kurta, Winifred F. Frick, M. Brock Fenton, Polly Campbell, Gary F. Mccracken, Robert M. Timm, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Dr. Thomas Henry Kunz, an internationally recognized expert on the ecology and behavior of bats and Professor at Boston University, passed away on April 13, 2020 in Dedham, Massachusetts, at the age of 81 as the result of complications from COVID-19. “Tom,” to his many friends and colleagues, was born on June 11, 1938 in Independence, Missouri, to William H. and Edna F. (Dornfeld) Kunz. He married Margaret Louise Brown on December 27, 1962 in Faucett, Missouri, Margaret’s hometown. Two children were born to Margaret and Tom—Pamela Kunz (Jeffrey Kwan) and David Kunz (Nicole, née D’Angelo), and five grandchildren.

As …

Host Transcriptional Response To Persistent Infection With A Live-Attenuated Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus Strain, Jayeshbhai Chaudhari, Chia-Sin Liew, Aspen M. Workman, Jean-Jack Riethoven, David J. Steffen, Sarah Vitosh-Sillman, Hiep Vu

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Both virulent and live-attenuated porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) strains can establish persistent infection in lymphoid tissues of pigs. To investigate the mechanisms of PRRSV persistence, we performed a transcriptional analysis of inguinal lymphoid tissue collected from pigs experimentally infected with an attenuated PRRSV strain at 46 days post infection. A total of 6404 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected of which 3960 DEGs were upregulated and 2444 DEGs were downregulated. Specifically, genes involved in innate immune responses and chemokines and receptors associated with T-cell homing to lymphoid tissues were down regulated. As a result, homing of virus-specific …

Characterization Of Bacterial Endophytes Isolated From Brassica Carinata And Their Potential Use To Decrease Nutrient Requirements In Crops, Alex Soupir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bacterial endophytes have the capability to enhance plant growth by producing plant growth hormones, solubilizing phosphates, suppressing pathogenic fungi, and reducing plant stress hormones. These capabilities make them desirable limiting the amount of nutrients and pesticides that are applied to crops. Through these assays and isolations, it is possible to identify novel bacterial species. In-vitro testing had shown 9 of the 20 isolates possess the ability to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) with Pantoea agglomerans BC09 producing a concentration of 30.2 ng/μl over 4 days. BC09, Bacillus subilis BC10, and Pantoea sp. BC12 were able to solubilize calcium phosphate, 7 endophytes …

Molecular Facet Of Host-Pathogen Interactions In Fusarium Head Blight In Wheat ( Triticum Aestivum L.), Bimal Paudel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a severe disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). It not only reduces the quantity of the harvested grains but also decreases the grain quality due to mycotoxins contamination, especially Deoxynivalenol (DON). Qfhb1 (or simply called Fhb1) is the most important quantitative trait locus (QTL) for FHB resistance. Our lab has previously identified wheat gene WFhb1-1 (aka. Wfhb1_c1) as a candidate for FHB resistance gene. Here we report that WFhb1-1 has been cloned. The gene (GenBank # KU304333.1) consists of a single exon, encoding a putative membrane protein of 127 amino acids. WFhb1-1 protein produced in …

Evaluating Historical Paradigms Of Sterility In Perinatal Microbiology And Ramifications For Pregnancy Outcomes, Jonathan Greenberg

Wayne State University Dissertations

Next-generation sequencing technologies, especially 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing have allowed investigations of low microbial biomass tissues of the human body. While these sequencing methodologies have provided large amounts of reliable data for higher microbial biomass sites, such as the mouth, intestine, and vagina, tissues of low microbial biomass sites are subject to specific caveats that were not appropriately considered in early investigations of these sites. Low microbial biomass sites of particular interest have included those of the reproductive and urinary systems. Utilization of DNA sequencing methodologies have allowed researchers to challenge existing paradigms of sterility around these sites …

Hedgehog Signaling Inhibators And Their Importance For Cancer Treatment, Haileselassie Tefera

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a crucial role during embryonic development as well as tissue maintenances in adults. Deregulated Hh signaling has been implicated in different diseases and conditions including cancer. Previously, the mechanisms of Hh signaling pathway and its role in cancer formation have been studied and has led to the development of therapeutic drugs. Among those agents, vismodegib and sonidegib are FDA approved drugs to treat basal cell carcinoma and other cancers. Up to date, several hedgehogs (Hh) signaling inhibitors and drugs have been made and evaluating for cancer treatment. In this review, I will discuss the …

The Oral Microbiome And Its Effects On Human Systemic Diseases, Hee Chang Shin

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

In the past decade, scientists and healthcare professionals have gained interest in the microbiome and its function as part of the human body. The two most diverse microbiome environments are found in the gut and the oral cavity. While the gut microbiome has been investigated more deeply and continues to be a great interest, the oral microbiome is in comparison a more recent subject with fewer reports on the topic. The purpose of this review paper is to highlight the main human systemic diseases associated with the oral microbiome and to discuss how our understanding of the oral microbiome’s effect …

Freestanding Emergency Departments: A Possible Solution To Rural Hospital Closure, Emily Steadman

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Freestanding emergency departments have become more and more common over the years and have started to pop up in many states across the country. A freestanding emergency department is a facility that provides healthcare in the form of emergency services separate from those at a hospital. FEDs can be seen as independent structures that are distinct from hospital-based emergency rooms and urgent facilities. Just as freestanding emergency departments have spread across the country in a bit of a frenzy, another prevalent issue has been sweeping the country, the closure of rural hospitals. Over the last decade rural hospitals have struggled …

Parkinson’S Disease: Current Treatment Options, Luke Kovaleski

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease that is caused by a lack of dopamine. This lack of dopamine has many effects on a person’s body who has Parkinson’s Disease including loss of motor control, slowed movement (bradykinesia), changes in speech, impaired posture and balance, and muscle rigidity. The object of this paper is to explore some of the many different options for treatment of symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease that are currently available. There is not one over-arching treatment that can alleviate the symptoms that are caused by Parkinson’s Disease. However, if multiple treatments are used together, a patient who is …

Role Of Adiponectin In Neuroinflammation & Neuroprotection, Nathan Stadem

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Microglial cells play a significant role in defense of the brain. However, in certain disease states, their response can lead to inflammation that can be detrimental to the survival of brain cells and have harmful effects on a person’s brain activity. Currently, the treatment options for microglial induced neuroinflammation are relatively limited. Adiponectin has recently appeared as a potential moderator of neuroinflammation as well as a promoter of neuroprotection. Adiponectin is a naturally occurring cytokine that has been shown to play a role in a multitude of processes throughout the body including potential as a microglial induced neuroinflammation. Adiponectin’s role …

Hiv Vaccine Development: The Importance Of Gp120 Variable Loop 3 For The Survival Of The Human Immunodeficiency Virus And The Potency Of The Neutralizing Antibody To Bind To The Variable Loop 3, Riham Hussien

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

The tendency for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) to proliferate and mutate it’s trimeric envelop (Env), is one of the reasons why it’s a challenge for an antibody-based vaccine to be developed. Glycoprotein 160 (gp160,) which consists of glycoprotein 120 (gp120) and glycoprotein 41 (gp41), is the main focus for a research vaccine design. Gp120 consists of an outer membrane, inner membrane and bridging sheet. The protein is trimeric, and non-covalently binds to gp41. The outer domain is where the neutralizing antibody bind, such as 2G12, immunoglobulin G1b12, and anti-V3 antibodies. V3 stands for the Variable loop 3, gp120 has …

Intermittent Fasting (If) Promotes Longevity Through Alterations Of The Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (Mtor) And The Epigenome, Tayt Boeckholt

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Many studies with a range of subjects from Nematodes to Homo sapiens have found intermittent fasting (IF) to significantly improve the cardiometabolic health of individuals, but how IF promotes longevity through epigenetic modulations remains a sparse understanding throughout the literature. The process of aging may be characterized by a loss of cellular identity sprouted from a disrupted epigenome rich with information for a cell, while also losing the ability to recycle ineffective cellular components. The nutrient-sensing kinase Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is disrupted during bouts of fasting which allows for the recycling of cellular components through increased autophagy. Furthermore, …

A Social Review Of The Opioid Epidemic: The History, Pathophysiology, And Effects On Rural America, Holly J. Goehring

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

One of the more pressing issues in modern day health care is the nationwide heath care crisis known as the opioid epidemic. The beginning of this literature review will focus on the history of opioid use and early prescription rates, as well as the summary and definitions of the drugs involved in the current opioid epidemic. The review then shifts to the pathophysiology of addiction involving the activation of opioid receptors and opioid use disorder. The main focus of this literature review is the societal impacts of the opioid epidemic, making special reference to the economic burden and effects on …

Antidepressant Effects On Rem Sleep, Mitchel Adams

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Individuals who deal with depression are typically prescribed antidepressants in order to alleviate the depressive symptoms that they may be having. Polysomnographic sleep research has revealed that depression is associated with altered sleep architecture and distorted REM sleep quality.² Specifically, increased REM sleep duration and density have proved to be markers that predict recurrence and relapse for depressed individuals. REM sleep serves to stimulate regions of the brain that are important with learning and memory consolidation. However, an increased duration of REM sleep in depressed individuals proves to be unfavorable. Antidepressants drugs aim to weaken sleep quality, which is …

Production Of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate) And Copolymer Via Expression Of Phacab Genes Under Cold Inducible Promoter In Escherichia Coli, Thanawat Boontip

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The study aimed to enhance PHB production by improving solubility of PHAs synthase (PhaCA-04) using various promoters and hydrophilic tags. PHB biosynthesis genes consisted of phaCA-04, phaAA-04 and phaBA-04 from Cupriavidus necator strain A-04 was cloned into pColdI, pColdTF, pGEX-6P-1, pBAD/thio-TOPO and pUC19 (with native promoter) and transformed into E. coli JM109. The phaCABA-04 operon induction was optimized based on growth phase, induction temperature, IPTG concentration, different induction method and inoculum size in flask experiments. Among expression plasmids, E. coli pColdI-CABA-04 and E. coli pColdTF-CABA-04 produced the highest amount PHB. In addition, pColdTF consisting of TF chaperone promoted 3-4 folds …

Impact Of Chytrid Fungus Pathogen On The Skin Microbiome Of Frogs In Northern Idaho And Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Washington, Philip M. Campos

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

Amphibians worldwide are under threat from the infectious disease chytridiomycosis, which is caused by the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Bd is associated with the population declines of an estimated 501 species, 90 of which are presumed or confirmed extinct, making this the greatest documented loss of biodiversity attributed to a disease. Researching the amphibian skin microbiome may provide solutions to conservation of amphibians. Two main relationships have been observed between Bd and the microbiome: 1) bacteria producing antifungal metabolites can inhibit Bd and improve survival against the disease and 2) infection by Bd is believed to affect the composition …

Virulence Of Drosophila C Virus Increased After A Host Shift And Serial Passage In Drosophila Hosts, Katie A. Johnson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The outcomes of novel host-pathogen interactions are unpredictable but can result in epidemics or pandemics. Exploring the initial encounter between a pathogen and a novel host species can elucidate why some pathogens successfully infect and adapt on a novel host when others fail. Much of our understanding of host virulence after host shifts was developed using serial passage experiments (SPEs) in bacteria. Three accepted SPE generalities have emerged: virulence increases on the novel host, the evolved pathogen will become less able to infect its native host, and the pathogen experiences convergent evolution. This study tests the first two generalities using …

Essential Concepts And Learning Outcomes For Cell And Molecular Biology, Laura L. Newcomb Phd, Mike Chao Phd, Dan Nickerson Phd, Paul Orwin Phd, Jeremy Dodsworth Phd, David Rhoads Phd

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

In the new, transformed Biology BS program for conversion from quarter to semester, multiple faculty will teach varied courses under the “Cell and Molecular” requirement for our program. Our old program required multiple core courses, leading to bottlenecks as students could not get seats in needed classes. We have designed our new program to provide students with options under core categories, providing students more flexibility which should improve time to graduation. Students must take at least ONE of the courses, although students who chose to focus on Cell and Molecular Biology should be able to learn new material in ALL …