Microbiology Commons^™

Tissue Specific Isolation Of Nucleosomes In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Hyrum Shumway, Dr. Steven Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Hershey and Chase proved DNA to be the genetic material of life in 1952. The structure of DNA largely eluded investigators until Watson and Crick discovered it a year later. These two landmark experiments laid a foundation so that questions in transcription, translation, gene regulation, and inheritance could be answered.

Investigating The Viability Of Two Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia Isolates After Air-Drying, Samantha Lane, Joanna Brooke

DePaul Discoveries

Abstract

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a water-borne infectious bacterium that is found in both clinical (hospitals) and non-clinical environments. This human pathogen is commonly recovered from respiratory tract infections. A recent study at a hospital in Taiwan suggested that dry patient charts can serve as a vehicle of transmission of this bacterium⁷. As S. maltophilia is not commonly isolated from dry surfaces, this current study tested the hypothesis that this pathogen can remain viable for some time on a dry surface. This study was designed to determine how long S. maltophilia could remain viable after air-drying by observing …

Large Scale Screening Of Digeneans For Neorickettsia Endosymbionts Using Real-Time Pcr Reveals New Neorickettsia Genotypes, Host Associations And Geographic Records, Stephen Greiman, Vasyl V. Tkach, Eric Pulis, Thomas J. Fayton, Stephen S. Curran

Faculty Publications

Digeneans are endoparasitic flatworms with complex life cycles including one or two intermediate hosts (first of which is always a mollusk) and a vertebrate definitive host. Digeneans may harbor intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria belonging to the genus Neorickettsia (order Rickettsiales, family Anaplasmataceae). Some Neorickettsia are able to invade cells of the digenean's vertebrate host and are known to cause diseases of wildlife and humans. In this study we report the results of screening 771 digenean samples for Neorickettsia collected from various vertebrates in terrestrial, freshwater, brackish, and marine habitats in the United States, China and Australia. Neorickettsia were detected using a …

Characterizing The Response Of Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae Species To The Application Of A Phage Cocktail, Steven Liu

Symposium

Project Summary: The application of bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections is known as phage therapy, which takes advantage of bacteriophage’s natural ability to infect and lyse bacterial hosts. Phages have been shaped by billions of years of evolution to be highly specialized deliverers of bactericidal agents to the cytoplasm of their target bacteria. Ever since discovery of bacteriophages in 1915, phage therapy was recognized as a potentially powerful tool for eliminating bacterial infections. The effectiveness of phage therapy can be increased by creating a mixture of multiple phages to target a wider variety of bacterial strains. Furthermore, phage therapy has …

Host Species Restriction Of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Through Its Receptor, Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4, Neeltje Van Doremalen, Kerri L. Miazgowicz, Shauna Milne-Price, Trenton Bushmaker, Shelly Robertson, Dana Scott, Joerg Kinne, Jason S. Mclellan

Dartmouth Scholarship

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) emerged in 2012. Recently, the MERS-CoV receptor dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) was identified and the specific interaction of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of MERS-CoV spike protein and DPP4 was determined by crystallography. Animal studies identified rhesus macaques but not hamsters, ferrets, or mice to be susceptible for MERS-CoV. Here, we investigated the role of DPP4 in this observed species tropism. Cell lines of human and nonhuman primate origin were permissive of MERS-CoV, whereas hamster, ferret, or mouse cell lines were not, despite the presence of DPP4. Expression of human DPP4 in nonsusceptible BHK and …

Structure And Function In Bacteriophage Phi6, James Carpino

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The present study of bacteriophage Phi6 has been preceded by a great number of exploratory studies of its structure and function, and these studies have formed a basis for Phi6's development into a model organism. In this study, two aspects of the model organism have been examined. 1. There are several uncharacterized and presumed untranslated regions (UTRs) in Phi6's 13.3 kilobase-pair dsRNA genome. I examined the impact of specific modification to the 3' UTR of the small segment of bacteriophage Phi6. I determined that modification to the purported UTR of the small segment resulted in severe fitness costs, supporting a …

Drug Resistant Tuberculosis: Challenges Of Urbanization, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

No abstract provided.

The Antimicrobial, Mechanical, Physical And Structural Properties Of Chitosan-Gallic Acid Films, Xiuxiu Sun, Zhe Wang, Hoda Kadouh, Kequan Zhou

Nutrition and Food Science Faculty Research Publications

Chitosan films incorporated with various concentrations of gallic acid were prepared and investigated for antimicrobial, mechanical, physical and structural properties. Four bacterial strains that commonly contaminate food products were chosen as target bacteria to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the prepared gallic acid-chitosan films. The incorporation of gallic acid significantly increased the antimicrobial activities of the films against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria innocua and Bacillus subtilis. Chitosan films incorporated with 1.5 g/100 g gallic acid showed the strongest antimicrobial activity. It was also found that tensile strength (TS) of chitosan film was significantly increased when incorporating …

Relative Roles Of Host Exposure And Parasite Establishment In Producing Patterns Of Infection Using Eptesicus Fuscus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) And Its Helminths As A Model System, Elizabeth Warburton

Dissertations

Parasite abundance and community structure could vary depending on conditions that are both extrinsic and intrinsic to the host. Variation in parasite burden, resulting from heterogeneous exposure to parasites or heterogeneous establishment of parasites in the host, often drives transmission dynamics. Changes in parasite community structure influence parasite species diversity and thus, diversity of infection within a single host or entire host population. I sought to quantify relative roles of exposure and establishment in producing patterns of infection using bats, Eptesicus fuscus, and their helminths. I utilized subsets of data from bats captured in 16 colonies from three states …

Cd21 And Cd24 Co-Expression: A Translational Model Between Mouse And Human, Abigail Benitez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Rheumatoid Arthritis are B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases that afflict millions of people worldwide. B cell-targeted therapies for these diseases result in variable clinical outcomes. Thus, a need exists to better understand the dynamics of human B cell production and function. The mouse model has provided a foundation for understanding the mechanisms involved in human B cell development and autoimmune disease. However, differences in mouse and human B cells are not fully understood. Our work shows that the co-expression of CD21 and CD24, determined by 7-color flow cytometry, can be used to demarcate developmental subsets of B …

Characterization Of Corynebacterium Pseudotuberculosis Biovar Equi Isolates Obtained From Cal Poly Horses And Review Of Application Of Transposons To Better Prevent Pigeon Fever In Horses, Irene Hasen

Animal Science

No abstract provided.

Chlorovirus Skp1 And Core Ankyrin-Repeat Protein Interplay And Mimicry Of Cellular Ubiquitin Ligase Machinery, Eric Andrew Noel

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is a common target of several unrelated viruses that have evolved convergent strategies to redirect host ubiquitin machinery to serve their own needs. Members of the genus Chlorovirus, a group of large dsDNA viruses that infect certain freshwater chlorella-like green algae, encode a conserved Skp1 homolog and ankyrin-repeat (ANK) proteins, some of which contain C-terminal domains characteristic of cellular F-boxes or related viral PRANC domains. These observations suggested that this unique combination of chlorovirus proteins either interact with or imitate the key components of the SCF (Skp1-Cul1-F-box) ubiquitin ligases. Using mass spectrometry, we identified two functional …

The Role Of The N-Terminus On The Enzymatic Activity Of Dutpase From Dictyostelium Discoideum, Kyle C. Varon

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The enzyme deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) (EC 3.6.1.23) converts dUTP to dUMP, thus shifting the dUTP to dUMP ratio in the cell. The molecule dUTP is subject to mis-incorporation into DNA due to lack of distinguishing by DNA polymerase. Uracil incorporation can be repaired with base excision repair mechanisms but may create overwhelming DNA strand breaks proving to be detrimental to the cell. Most dUTPases of eukaryotes are homotrimeric and contain five highly conserved motifs responsible for catalysis and substrate binding. Many dUTPases of eukaryotes possess a leading and core region in their sequence. The core region is composed of the …

Biological Surveys Of Selected Lower Grand River Streams: Ionia, Kent, Muskegon, And Ottawa Counties, Michigan, August-September 2014, Michigan Department Of Environmental Quality Water Resources Division

Faculty and Professional Research

The biologic integrity and physical habitat conditions of the lower Grand River (Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 04050006) and selected tributaries were surveyed during August and September 2014 by staff of the Surface Water Assessment Section (SWAS), Water Resources Division (WRD). The objectives of this study were to: 1. Evaluate the attainment status of the other indigenous aquatic life and wildlife (OIALW) designated use. 2. Identify and investigate effects of nonpoint sources (NPS) of pollution. 3. Satisfy monitoring requests submitted by internal and external customers.

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Central Asian Strain (Cas) Lineage Strains In Pakistan Reveal Lower Diversity Of Miru Loci Than Other Strains, Asho Ali, Zahra Hasan, Sana Jafri, Raunaq Inayat, Rumina Hasan

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) Central Asian Strain (CAS) lineage strains are predominant in South Asia. Mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR) typing is an effective way of determining genetic diversity of strains. A maximum of 24 loci-based MIRU-VNTR typing can be used, however, it is important to investigate the relevance of specific MIRU loci for regional strains for more cost-effective MIRU typing. MIRU-VNTR typing was performed on MTB strains from Pakistan. Strains were comprised of CAS (n=113) and non-CAS lineages (n=87) - both multi-drug resistant (MDR) and drug susceptible. Hunter Gaston Discriminatory Index (HGDI) for each MIRU loci …

Analysis Of Nucleosome Mobility, Fragility, And Recovery: From Embryonic Stem Cells To Invitrosomes, Ashley Nicolle Wright

Theses and Dissertations

Several factors direct the placement of specific nucleosomes, which in turn have the ability to regulate DNA accessibility. These factors include, but are not limited to, nucleotide sequence preference, nucleotide modifications, the type of histones present within the nucleosome, and the presence of additional transcription factor or chromatin remodelers. A combination of these and other factors are responsible for tightly controlled efficient transcription within the eukaryotic cell. In order to contribute to the understanding of these complicated processes, three separate hypothesis-driven investigations were carried out. First, we looked into nucleosome positioning and phasing within closely related cells lines. Second, we …

Temporal Variations In The Abundance And Composition Of Biofilm Communities Colonizing Drinking Water Distribution Pipes, John J. Kelly, Nicole Minalt, Alessandro Culotti, Marsha Pryor, Aaron Packman

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Pipes that transport drinking water through municipal drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) are challenging habitats for microorganisms. Distribution networks are dark, oligotrophic and contain disinfectants; yet microbes frequently form biofilms attached to interior surfaces of DWDS pipes. Relatively little is known about the species composition and ecology of these biofilms due to challenges associated with sample acquisition from actual DWDS. We report the analysis of biofilms from five pipe samples collected from the same region of a DWDS in Florida, USA, over an 18 month period between February 2011 and August 2012. The bacterial abundance and composition of biofilm communities …

The Use Of Natural Products As Potential Anti-Pseudomonas Agents, Margaret B. Bell

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Pseudomonas is a genus of gram-negative gammaproteobacteria with a large range of diversity. Because of its ability to grow at low temperature, Pseudomonas is a cause of food spoilage. This bacterium is also a very common nosocomial infection of hospital patients. In this study, we investigated the effects of different natural products on Pseudomonas. The products included a polysaccharide, two flavonoids tangeretin and nobiletin and their derivatives, 5’OH-tangeretin and 5’OH-nobiletin, black tea polyphenol – theaflavins (TFs), as well as an herb named Fallopia multiflora (Chinese Knotweed). P. fluorescens and P. aeruginosa were used as model organisms. Antimicrobial effects were …

Identification And Characterization Of Phytoplankton In Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, Nicole L. Elia

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Barnegat Bay is a marine estuary that encompasses 670-square miles of the eastern coast of New Jersey. The bay serves as a home to thousands of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. During the summer months, the population of the bay increases from 576,000 to over 1.5 million residents. In 2011, the Barnegat Bay Partnership reported that environmental conditions of the bay are declining due to increased pollutants from nutrient fertilizers and runoff. Increased nitrogen levels have led to eutrophication and proliferation of phytoplankton algal blooms. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) cause a decrease in dissolved oxygen levels in the water …

Identification And Characterization Of Microbial Contaminants And Associated Bacterial Viruses In Bioethanol Production Facilities To Suggest A Potential Alternative To Antibiotic Treatment, Charles Austin Coomer

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In recent years, bioethanol has received worldwide interest as a bioenergy source. This interest has stimulated the production of substantial quantities of ethanol annually. However, the inability to produce bioethanol under sterile conditions plagues the industry, resulting in frequent microbial contamination. Bacterial contamination is one of the more challenging problems facing the bioethanol industry because contaminants drastically lower ethanol yield. Conventional methods of antibiotic application to eradicate bacterial contaminants are expensive and prohibitive. A more sustainable approach to control bacterial contamination of industrial ethanol fermentation systems is to use bacteriophages (phage). The goal of this research was to create a …

Structural Features Of The Pseudomonas Fluorescens Biofilm Adhesin Lapa Required For Lapg-Dependent Cleavage, Biofilm Formation, And Cell Surface Localization, Chelsea D. Boyd, T. Jarrod Smith, Sofiane El-Kirat-Chatel, Peter D. Newell, Yves F. Dufrêne, George A. O'Toole

Dartmouth Scholarship

The localization of the LapA protein to the cell surface is a key step required by Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf0-1 to irreversibly attach to a surface and form a biofilm. LapA is a member of a diverse family of predicted bacterial adhesins, and although lacking a high degree of sequence similarity, family members do share common predicted domains. Here, using mutational analysis, we determine the significance of each domain feature of LapA in relation to its export and localization to the cell surface and function in biofilm formation. Our previous work showed that the N terminus of LapA is required for …

Use Of Cholera Toxin B As A Vaccine Adjuvant Activates Antigen Presenting Cells And Stimulates Production Of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines, Heather C. Romlein

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Francisella tularensis is an intracellular pathogen that has been classified as a category “A” bioterrorism agent by the Centers For Disease Control. To date, there is no approved vaccine to provide protection against this pathogen. Previous in vivo studies with mice have shown that a mucosally targeted vaccine preparation of inactivated F. tularensis (iFt) adjuvanted with Cholera toxin “B” (CTB), successfully granted full protection against a less virulent strain (FT LVS) of the bacterium and provided partial protection against a more virulent strain (SchuS4). However, the mechanisms of this protection are not fully understood. In this …

Marine Viral Diversity And Spatiotemporal Variability, Dawn Goldsmith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Marine viruses are the most numerous biological entities in the ocean, with an estimated abundance of 4 x 10³⁰. They merit study not only because of their sheer abundance, but also because of the role they play in the Earth's biogeochemical cycles. Viral lysis of bacteria redirects the flow of nutrients among marine microbes, which ultimately affects the efficiency of the biological pump. Viral diversity is important because most viruses are host-specific. In preying on a certain type of bacteria, viruses affect the diversity and structure of the bacterial community, leading to changes in carbon and nutrient flows. …

The Role Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus In The Growth, Toxicity, And Distribution Of The Toxic Cyanobacteria, Microcystis Aeruginosa, James Parrish

Master's Projects and Capstones

Microcystis aeruginosa is among the most common harmful algal-blooming species in the world. Potent microcystins released by M. aeruginosa have been linked to liver failure and death in aquatic mammals, like the endangered California sea otter, and provide a serious public health risk to humans. Once characterized as a freshwater problem, M. aeruginosa is expanding on a global scale, making persistent returns in freshwater, brackish, and coastal marine ecosystems. Though commonly observed dominating aquatic ecosystems in low N:P atomic ratios less than 44:1, the reliability of N:P ratios as a tool for managing and predicting M. aeruginosa blooms is explored …

Chemical Profiling And Biological Activity Of Two Tunicate-Associated Marine Bacteria, Lyubina Yankova

Honors Scholar Theses

Marine natural products have recently been an increasingly abundant source of novel antibiotics. Given that there is an increasing resistance to current drug therapies, finding new sources such as marine natural products is essential. Tunicate-associated marine bacteria can be a significant source of antibacterial compounds. Two tunicates of the species Eudistoma were collected from Portobelo National Park on the Salmedina Reef of Panama in the Caribbean Sea. Bacteria associated with the tunicate were isolated, cultured, extracted, and fractionated. Fractions were tested against an array of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens in the BioMAP assay. Two fractions MB0086E and MB0088E demonstrated activity …

Morphometric Studies On Subadult Liza Subviridis And Sillago Sihama From Sonmiani Bay (Miani Hor), Balochistan, Pakistan, Muhammad A. Gondal, Naureen A. Qureshi, Noor U. Saher

Journal of Bioresource Management

Length-weight relationship of Liza subviridis and Sillago sihama (Family: Mugilidae; Class: Pisces and Family: Sillaginidae; Class: Pisces) in subadults sampled from Somiani Bay Balochistan, Pakistan during 2002, 2003 and 2006 was analyzed. Liza subviridis showed positive allometry (3.23) in 2002, and negative allometry during 2003 (2.95) and 2006 (1.95). Sub adults of Sillago sihama showed positive allometry during 2002 (3.10) and 2003 (3.13). An isometric condition (3.02) was observed in the samples of Sillago sihama collected from Bhaira in 2006.

On Individual, Sex And Age Differentiation Of Indian House Crow (Corvus Splendens) Call: A Preliminary Study In Potohar, Pakistan, Waqas Hameed, Inayat Ullah, Safia Janjua, Fakhar -I- Abbas, Afsar Mian

Journal of Bioresource Management

Considering importance of acoustics studies in population biology, 500 calls of the Indian House Crow (Corvus splendens) were recorded in morning - mid-afternoon hours (January-February, 2009) from 23 sites of urban areas of Potahar (Punjab, Pakistan). Calls were recorded using Sony CFS 1030 S sound records (sampling rate = 48 KHz) and edited using Sound Analysis Pro (Version 1.02). software using FFT method rate 50%, data window 9.27 ms, advanced window 1.36 ms. Through editing of calls, we selected 60 (37 ♂♂, 17 ♀♀, 6 Juvenile ♂♂) good quality spectrograms for detailed analysis. Spectrograms were characterized by rapid frequency modulations …

Review: Pollination, Pollinated And Pollinators Interaction In Pakistan, Mohammad Irshad, Elizabeth Stephen

Journal of Bioresource Management

The agriculture sector is important in the overall economy and export earnings of Pakistan. Pollination is an essential ecosystem service that depends on symbiosis between species, the pollinated and the pollinator. Animal mediated pollination contributes to the sexual production of over 90% species of modern angiosperms. Effective pollination results in increased crop production, quality improvement and more seed production. Many fruits, vegetables, edible oil crops, stimulant crops and nuts are highly dependent on bee pollination. Worldwide value of pollinators is €153 billion (217 billion US dollars). The production value of pollinated dependent crop in Pakistan is quantified to be 1.59 …

Research Note: Contribution To Mushroom Flora Of Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan, Kishwar Sultana, Naveeda Riaz, Gulshan Irshad, Ali Nauman Khan

Journal of Bioresource Management

Seven hymenomycetous fungi (mushrooms) were collected from the twin cities area during July 2008. These were identified as the members of the order Agaricales, class Basidiomycetes. They belong to five genera: *Clitocybe fragrans, *Collybia cookie, *Coprinus radians, *Coprinus sterculinus, *Volvariella bingensis, Volvariella parvula, and Termitomyces microcarpus. Five of them, marked with asterisk were reported for the first time from Pakistan.

Diagnostic Accuracy Of C-Reactive Protein In Neonatal Sepsis, Sidra Younis, Muhammad Ali Sheikh, Amjad Ali Raza

Journal of Bioresource Management

Sepsis is the most common cause of neonatal mortality and is responsible for 30-50% of total neonatal deaths each year in developing countries. The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of C-reactive protein (CRP) in neonatal sepsis. Fifty nine consecutive patients with risk factors and clinical features suggestive of CRP sepsis were selected as per operational definition and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Detailed physical examination was carried out. Blood sample for culture and CRP was taken from all the patients. Results of blood culture and CRP were noted down in the performa. Statistical analysis …