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Articles 5251 - 5280 of 8400

Full-Text Articles in Microbiology

Determining The Presence Of Carbapenem Antibiotic Resistance In Clinical Isolates, Fidelis Uzoma Enyinnaya May 2014

Determining The Presence Of Carbapenem Antibiotic Resistance In Clinical Isolates, Fidelis Uzoma Enyinnaya

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Carbapenems are β-lactam antibiotics reserved for the treatment of severe microbial infections, especially those targeting the Enterobacteriaceae. Introduced in the 1980s, carbapenems have been used successfully in hospitals, and in the 1990s resistance was discovered. Carbapenem resistance is conferred through the production of carbapenemases. In the U.S., the most common carbapenemase is Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). In 2012, the National Healthcare Safety Network reported a carbapenem resistance rate of 13.0% among Klebsiella pneumoniae infections, and indicated that the mortality rate associated with carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections ranged from 48.0-71.9%. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), carbapenem resistance …

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Combined Metagenomic And Phenomic Approaches Identify A Novel Salt Tolerance Gene From The Human Gut Microbiome, Eamon Culligan, Julian R. Marchesi, Colin Hill, Roy D. Sleator Apr 2014

Combined Metagenomic And Phenomic Approaches Identify A Novel Salt Tolerance Gene From The Human Gut Microbiome, Eamon Culligan, Julian R. Marchesi, Colin Hill, Roy D. Sleator

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

In the current study, a number of salt-tolerant clones previously isolated from a human gut metagenomic library were screened using Phenotype MicroArray (PM) technology to assess their functional capacity. PM's can be used to study gene function, pathogenicity, metabolic capacity and identify drug targets using a series of specialized microtitre plate assays, where each well of the microtitre plate contains a different set of conditions and tests a different phenotype. Cellular respiration is monitored colorimetrically by the reduction of a tetrazolium dye. One clone, SMG 9, was found to be positive for utilization/transport of L-carnitine (a well-characterized osmoprotectant) in the …

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Knockout Nbmp2 Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cell Line, Josh Yates, Dr. Laura Bridgewater Apr 2014

Knockout Nbmp2 Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Cell Line, Josh Yates, Dr. Laura Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) contribute to many different aspects of development including mesoderm formation, heart development, neurogenesis, skeletal development, and axis formation. They have previously been recognized only as secreted growth factors. Recently, researchers in the Bridgewater lab discovered a nuclear variant of Bone Morphogenic Protein 2 (nBMP2). To better understand the function of nBMP2, our lab generated a mutant mouse line in which nBMP2 is missing from the nucleus. These mice display learning and memory deficits, muscle dysfunction, and abnormal immune responses. In order to validate the mouse model and to study the molecular mechanisms of nBMP2 we have …

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Inhibition Of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection By Kalanchoe Pinnata Extract, Lance A. Stutz, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2014

Inhibition Of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection By Kalanchoe Pinnata Extract, Lance A. Stutz, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common infectious agent which infects more than 95% of adults worldwide (1). EBV is related to a number of diseases, including cancers such as Burkitt’s lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and is the causative agent of infectious mononucleosis (2). Upon infection, EBV invades antibody-producing immune cells known as B cells. Most people do not show signs or symptoms of the infection because EBV tends to hide in B cells in a latent state. Latent EBV infection contributes to the development of EBV-associated cancers. However, EBV can also be in an active or lytic state. In this …

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Ebi2 Expression In Different Latency Stages And Primary B Cells, Jillian Markham, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2014

Ebi2 Expression In Different Latency Stages And Primary B Cells, Jillian Markham, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Epstein-­‐Barr Virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis upon primary infection, commonly known as “mono.” Less commonly known is that EBV doesn’t get eradicated from your body after you recover from mono. EBV quietly occupies a small portion of B cells in 90% of human adults [1]. Besides mononucleosis, EBV infection is linked to cancers, lymphomas, and several autoimmune diseases [2.3].

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The Effects Of Dna Methylation On Nucleosome Positioning, Marcus Vranes, Dr. Steven Johnson Apr 2014

The Effects Of Dna Methylation On Nucleosome Positioning, Marcus Vranes, Dr. Steven Johnson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Recent studies have attempted to discover the correlation that exists between DNA methylation and nucleosome positioning, but none have explored the direct effect of DNA methylation on nucleosome formation and positioning. This research is directly testing the effects of DNA methylation on nucleosome positioning, and whether the histone octamer has preferred sequences to which it binds, which will add to our understanding of gene expression and regulation. A better understanding of these concepts will help to aid efforts in gene therapy to improve the quality of life for many people who suffer from various genetic conditions.

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Biofilm Regulation In Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis Through Elements Downstream Of The Bara/Uvry Two-Component System, Jeffrey Schachterle, Dr. David Erickson Apr 2014

Biofilm Regulation In Yersinia Pseudotuberculosis Through Elements Downstream Of The Bara/Uvry Two-Component System, Jeffrey Schachterle, Dr. David Erickson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The bacteria Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of bubonic plague, and its ability to form biofilm in fleas is essential for plague transmission by fleas [1]. Y. pestis recently evolved from Y. pseudotuberculosis (Y. pstb), and the two have nearly identical genomes. Y. pestis forms a biofilm in fleas that is capable of blocking the flea’s feeding. These biofilms are made up of bacteria stuck to a polysaccharide matrix that is made by the hmsHFRS gene products. Y. pstb is capable of infecting fleas, but will block the flea’s feeding [1]. Since the hmsHFRS genes themselves are identical, this …

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Detecting Endogenous Ccl28, Sara Mason, Dr. Eric Wilson Apr 2014

Detecting Endogenous Ccl28, Sara Mason, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Chemokines play a well-characterized and significant role in the immune system as chemoattractants for white blood cells. Some chemokines have also been shown to have antimicrobial properties in addition to their chemoattractant functions. CCL28 is a chemokine that aids in the recruitment of antibody secreting cells to mucosal surfaces of the body, especially in the large intestine and lactating mammary glands.1 Recent research has shown that, in addition to recruiting lymphocytes, CCL28 also exhibits antimicrobial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, and antifungal activity.2

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Development Of A Traveler’S Vaccine Against Dengue Infection, Arthur Lee, Dr. Bradford Berges Apr 2014

Development Of A Traveler’S Vaccine Against Dengue Infection, Arthur Lee, Dr. Bradford Berges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

There are currently no vaccines available against dengue virus. Each year, about 400 million people become infected and half a million of them, especially children, develop complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

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Genome Annotation Of Novel Viruses And Discovery Of Critical Sequences In Genes Via Comparative Analysis Of B4 Mycobacteriophage, Cameron Sargent, Dr. Sandra Burnett Apr 2014

Genome Annotation Of Novel Viruses And Discovery Of Critical Sequences In Genes Via Comparative Analysis Of B4 Mycobacteriophage, Cameron Sargent, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Over the past few years at Brigham Young University and other colleges nationwide, members of the Phage Hunters program have endeavored to find and analyze novel mycobacteriophage in an attempt to create new treatment and research methods for the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis

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Comparative Genome Analysis Of Novel Paenibacillus Larvae Bacteriophage, Bryan Merrill, Dr. Sandra Burnett Apr 2014

Comparative Genome Analysis Of Novel Paenibacillus Larvae Bacteriophage, Bryan Merrill, Dr. Sandra Burnett

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Honey bees pollinate one third of the crops in the U.S. diet. The spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae causes American Foulbrood (AFB), a highly contagious disease that is lethal in honey bee larvae. P. larvae is the most serious pathogen affecting honey bees. The spores can be found in any healthy beehive, are stable for 40 years or more, and cannot be killed by antibiotics. The disease manifests itself when worker bees feed P. larvae spores to larvae and the spores germinate. The bacteria then consume the larvae and turns back into a spore that the worker bees then transfer throughout …

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Determining Gene Expression Levels In Healthy And Degraded Alpaca Spinal Discs, Loyd Christensen, Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater Apr 2014

Determining Gene Expression Levels In Healthy And Degraded Alpaca Spinal Discs, Loyd Christensen, Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (IDD) is a disease estimated to affect between 60 and 90 percent of the total population at some point in life. Evidence of spinal disc degeneration has been shown in 30 percent of individuals under 40 years old, with earliest symptoms visible at 21 years of age; its prevalence only increases with age. Symptoms of spinal disc degeneration account for more than 13 million doctor visits each year and result in costs of more than $200 billion in lost productivity and health-care related expenses in the US alone. Unfortunately, despite these staggering costs, no widely effective treatment …

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Understanding The Irf5 Gene Through Characterization Of Its Four Promoters, Lissenya Argueta, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2014

Understanding The Irf5 Gene Through Characterization Of Its Four Promoters, Lissenya Argueta, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF5) is a transcription factor involved with the innate antiviral immune response and primarily expressed in immune cells1. This protein is responsible for the regulation of interferon activity and cytokine signaling, namely that of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These processes play major roles in autoimmune diseases. IRF5 is also involved with control of cell cycle and apoptosis upon activation2, therefore in certain cancers it can be inactivated3,4. The IRF5 gene has four different promoters for each first exon: 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D. Each promoter is distinct, displaying unique correlations with certain proteins. However, the resulting IRF5 protein …

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The Wall-E Effect: Testing How Long-Term Growth Under Ideal Conditions Affects Bacterial Traits, Kevin Johnson, Dr. Joel Griffitts Apr 2014

The Wall-E Effect: Testing How Long-Term Growth Under Ideal Conditions Affects Bacterial Traits, Kevin Johnson, Dr. Joel Griffitts

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Organisms removed from their wild environment that are subjected to long term laboratory conditions can experience drastic change. We have specifically used Sinorhizobium meliloti as a model bacterium to address this topic. If soil bacteria containing large genomes necessary to survive in nutrient deficient and stressful conditions were suddenly subjected to nutrient rich and luxurious conditions for 2,500 generations, would they lose some survival based function? We hypothesize that without natural environmental stress, these bacteria would lose the metabolic flexibility previously required for survival resulting in large scale genome reduction.

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Engineering Pathogen Specific High Affinity T-Cell Receptors Linked To Cytokines For Targeting Of Antigen Presenting Cells, Bryce Anderson, Dr. Scott Weber Apr 2014

Engineering Pathogen Specific High Affinity T-Cell Receptors Linked To Cytokines For Targeting Of Antigen Presenting Cells, Bryce Anderson, Dr. Scott Weber

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In February last year I was awarded an ORCA grant which turned out to be the starting of one of my biggest learning experiences here at BYU. My research mentor, Dr. Weber, and I work with the immune system. This semester I have been able to see firsthand exactly how things in my field are moved forward. Along with that I have learned many numerous, invaluable techniques that I will no doubt continue to use for many years to come through post undergraduate school along with my career. Also, I was able to work one on one with my research …

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Irf7 Expression In B Cells Infected With Ebv, Michael Ahlborn, Dr. Brian Poole Apr 2014

Irf7 Expression In B Cells Infected With Ebv, Michael Ahlborn, Dr. Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly known simply as lupus, is an incurable autoimmune disorder that can cause inflammation and tissue damage in virtually any part of the body. Many studies have shown a correlation between lupus diagnosis and positive infection with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Scientists currently estimate that greater than 90% of the adult US population is infected with this human herpesvirus, probably because it is easily transferred through saliva. Although we do not entirely understand how it contributes to lupus it is apparent there is a link between the two. Other research has shown that EBV may also play a …

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Recombination And Evolution Of Hiv In Vivo, Sterling Adams, Dr. Bradford Berges Apr 2014

Recombination And Evolution Of Hiv In Vivo, Sterling Adams, Dr. Bradford Berges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Worldwide we have known about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus since the early 80’s, and since that time there has been research to find different “cures” for the disease that the virus causes called: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since the epidemic has started nearly 30 million people have died from AIDS related causes, and there are nearly 34 million people worldwide that are HIV positive. One of the striking features of the virus that makes it so difficult to treat is its rapid ability to evolve. When looking at an HIV positive patient, statistically speaking, if you were to take every …

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Understanding Chemokine Binding And Bacterial Response, Brittany Kartchner, Dr. Eric Wilson Apr 2014

Understanding Chemokine Binding And Bacterial Response, Brittany Kartchner, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

For this project, I hypothesized that the amino acid composition of the C terminus of chemokine proteins allows some chemokines to bind to specific proteins on the cell membrane of bacteria. Previous research has shown that the C terminal region of the chemokine CCL28 is largely responsible for the antimicrobial activity (Liu, 2010). However, it has not been shown what the C terminus region of the chemokine binds to. The C terminus region could bind to the negatively charged LPS on the bacterial membrane, or have a specific protein target on the cell membrane. Polymyxin B, another antimicrobial protein that …

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Characterizing The Role Of Hspb2, Whitney Hoopes, Dr. Julianne Grose Apr 2014

Characterizing The Role Of Hspb2, Whitney Hoopes, Dr. Julianne Grose

Journal of Undergraduate Research

HSPB2 is one of ten known small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSP) that share a conserved structural element called the alpha-crystallin domain. Extreme heat or cold, oxidative & reductive stress, and heavy metal exposure can induce the expression of these sHSP. HSPB2 is located on Chromosome 11, only 958 base pairs upstream of CYRAB. The protein homology and proximity of these two genes suggests they share structural and regulatory elements and serve as a model of inverted gene duplication. Both CRYAB and HSPB2 act as molecular chaperones to form complexes around denatured proteins and help them to refold into their normal …

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Role Of The Apee Esterase In The Growth Of Salmonella On Phospholipids As Phosphate Sources, Stella Menuba Apr 2014

Role Of The Apee Esterase In The Growth Of Salmonella On Phospholipids As Phosphate Sources, Stella Menuba

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, a bacterium frequently implicated in outbreaks of food poisoning, is able to survive in limiting phosphate environments by inducing a number of proteins that allow it to use a variety of compounds as phosphate sources. The gene apeE is induced when the cells are starved for phosphate. This gene encodes an outer membrane esterase that is not found in E. coli, and has been shown to be necessary for the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium in phosphate-limiting environments, such as those that may be encountered in an egg. To demonstrate the role of apeE in these environments, …

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The Adherence Of Escherichia Coli 0157:H7 On Lettuce Leaves Over Time And Removal Technique Using Chlorinated Water, Karenzha Huwae Apr 2014

The Adherence Of Escherichia Coli 0157:H7 On Lettuce Leaves Over Time And Removal Technique Using Chlorinated Water, Karenzha Huwae

Undergraduate Research Symposium

EHEC 0157:H7 causes hemorrhagic colitis (HUS) characterized by renal injury that leads to permanent kidney failure, impairment of the central nervous system, and ultimately death. Fresh leafy produce has carried the 10 organisms needed for illness. Thus understanding the behavior of EHEC on produce is essential. Previous research conducted in Spring 2013 showed that EHEC did not grow as well as E. coli lab strain on lettuce leaves. Both strains grew better at room temperature rather than at 4C temperature. This project examines the adherence of EHEC on the lettuce surface as a factor of time and the effectiveness of …

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Carriage Of Methicillin Resistance In Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci, Christa Moller Apr 2014

Carriage Of Methicillin Resistance In Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci, Christa Moller

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is becoming more commonly encountered in clinical settings. The prevalence of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus species other than Staphylococcus aureus, and therefore the potential for the former to serve as a reservoir for methicillin resistance has not been studied in great detail. Staphylococcus species isolated from students as part of a class exercise in Medical Microbiology in 2012 were screened for resistance to oxacillin, which is similar to methicillin and is prescribed much more frequently. The identification of isolates was verified, and isolates were screened on oxacillin screening agar plates. Isolates that screened positive for oxacillin …

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Harnessing Microbiome And Probiotic Research In Sub-Saharan Africa: Recommendations From An African Workshop, Gregor Reid Apr 2014

Harnessing Microbiome And Probiotic Research In Sub-Saharan Africa: Recommendations From An African Workshop, Gregor Reid

Biology Publications

To augment capacity-building for microbiome and probiotic research in Africa, a workshop was held in Nairobi, Kenya, at which researchers discussed human, animal, insect, and agricultural microbiome and probiotics/prebiotics topics. Five recommendations were made to promote future basic and translational research that benefits Africans.

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Use Of Humanized Mice To Study The Production Of Human B Cell Lineage, German Cuadra, Dr. Bradford Berges Apr 2014

Use Of Humanized Mice To Study The Production Of Human B Cell Lineage, German Cuadra, Dr. Bradford Berges

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our study focuses on the development of an animal model capable of reproduce cellular responses as in humans. For years humanized mice have been used in the study of infectious diseases. The goal of this research was to document, characterize and record the existence of human B cell lineage and penetration into different tissues of humanized mice.

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Orca Undergraduate Research Award – Final Report, Michael Daetwyler Apr 2014

Orca Undergraduate Research Award – Final Report, Michael Daetwyler

Journal of Undergraduate Research

While working on my undergraduate degree, I studied an interesting strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis. This particular strain produced an unidentified substance, which was lethal to other Gram-positive bacteria. I immediately thought that this substance might prove advantageous in treating infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. To begin investigating that possibility, I grew the strain of S. epidermidis near clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycinresistant Enterococcus (VRE), antibiotic resistant bacteria that plague hospital patients around the world. Amazingly, the strain of S. epidermidis was lethal to all of the isolates that it was tested against.

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Colonization Of Intestinal Pathogen Changes The Gut Microbiota, Kaitlyn Shondelmyer Apr 2014

Colonization Of Intestinal Pathogen Changes The Gut Microbiota, Kaitlyn Shondelmyer

Senior Honors Theses

Enterohemorrhagic Escherechia coli is a serious human pathogen causing bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome. It is difficult to study in animal models, but pathogenesis may be modeled in mice with the similar murine pathogen, Citrobacter rodentium. C. rodentium does not cause disease in streptomycin-treated mice, suggesting that it is competition with other facultative anaerobes that triggers pathogenesis. Streptomycin-treated mice were co-colonized with C. rodentium and a commensal E. coli strain. The intestinal microbiota of each group was observed over a 15-day period using quantitative PCR. Colon weights were also measured over the same period. Results indicate that the …

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Bioremediation Of Crude Oil Spills Impacts Microbial Communities And The Magnetic Susceptibility Of Sediments, Carol L. Beaver, Anja Williams, Estella Atekwana, Gamal Abdel Aal, Farag Mewafy, Lee Slater, Silvia Rossbach Apr 2014

Bioremediation Of Crude Oil Spills Impacts Microbial Communities And The Magnetic Susceptibility Of Sediments, Carol L. Beaver, Anja Williams, Estella Atekwana, Gamal Abdel Aal, Farag Mewafy, Lee Slater, Silvia Rossbach

Research and Creative Activities Poster Day

A worldwide increase in the production, shipment, and storage of crude oil has led to an increase in oil spills, and efforts to physically remove this oil from the environment are often insufficient. As a result, hydrocarbon contamination that is not eliminated by suction, excavation, or by dispersants remains in the water and sediments to be degraded by microbes. Initially, the bioremediation of oil occurs aerobically, but as oxygen is depleted, microbes must switch to alternate electron acceptors. Gradients of terminal electron acceptors form over time, which in conjunction with the toxic properties of oil, have an effect on the …

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Mucosal Vaccines And The Ability To Produce Immune Responses In Select Mucosal Tissues, Kaitlyn Vance, Dr. Eric Wilson Apr 2014

Mucosal Vaccines And The Ability To Produce Immune Responses In Select Mucosal Tissues, Kaitlyn Vance, Dr. Eric Wilson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Mucosal surfaces are the main portals through which pathogens enter the body of an organism. Previous research has shown that mucosal immunity effectively prevents the entry of pathogens at these surfaces, thus disrupting an infection before it begins; this immunity can be achieved by mucosal vaccination (1). The homing mechanisms of lymphocytes in the mucosal immune system, however, are not yet fully understood. This mentored research project was designed to deepen the understanding of how the mucosal immune system operates. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of mucosal vaccination in producing localized immune responses by attempting to reproducibly create a …

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Pas Kinase: A Target For Metabolic Disease, Jordan Mackay, Dr. Julianne Grose Apr 2014

Pas Kinase: A Target For Metabolic Disease, Jordan Mackay, Dr. Julianne Grose

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Many diseases that affect humankind are poorly understood. The medical and scientific communities alike rely heavily on basic scientific research to fuel dissemination of knowledge to said communities for further applied research, including clinical and pharmaceutical efforts. Diabetes is still poorly understood despite its prevalence in today’s society. In lieu of the research that has been done so far, PAS kinase is becoming an increasingly promising subject for research as a possible therapeutic target for diabetes. Studies have shown that PAS kinase is involved in metabolic regulation and mouse experiments have been done which show these results.1 As we learn …

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Characterization Of The Role Of A Dna-Binding Protein On Regulation Of Dna Replication In Plant Organelles, Cynthia Perry, Dr. Brent Nielsen Apr 2014

Characterization Of The Role Of A Dna-Binding Protein On Regulation Of Dna Replication In Plant Organelles, Cynthia Perry, Dr. Brent Nielsen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

DNA replication is essential to all life on earth. Not only does replication occur in the nucleus, it also happens in organelles of the cell: the mitochondria and chloroplasts. In higher plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, the genomes in mitochondria encode proteins which are responsible for DNA replication. These proteins also assist with DNA repair and recombination (Edmondson, AC et. al). One protein from the Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondrial genome is particularly of interest in our research: the single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB). The major function of this protein is to keep the two DNA strands separated while they are being replicated. …

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