Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Application Of Differential Mathematical Modeling Techniques To Study The Ongoing Rabies Epizootic In China, Christopher Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rabies remains a global public health issue with a wide variety of neurological symptoms such as confusion, slight paralysis, hypersalivation, and hydrophobia. Rabies is usually fatal once symptoms appear. Many species are reservoirs for rabies, such as foxes, racoons, and wild dogs, which in turn can transmit the disease to humans, leading to complex transmission chains. There is a long latent period of rabies, between 1 to 3 months after infection, which further complicates control efforts. Mathematical modeling is a valuable tool in the study of infectious disease outbreaks and there have been many models applied to rabies outbreaks. However, …

Arachidin 3 Modulation Of Lipid Metabolism In Rotavirus Infections, Stormey Wisdom

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rotavirus (RV) can cause severe and deadly gastroenteritis in young children, infants, and immunocompromised individuals. Previous studies have shown that arachidin 3 (A3) inhibits RV replication, and that RV replication is dependent on the presence of lipids. This study investigated the alteration of lipid metabolism by A3 in RV infected HT29.f8 cells. A decrease in the RV regulation of lipid biosynthesis genes was observed with the addition of A3 using qRT-PCR. Also, immunofluorescent and histochemical staining for neutral fats, a major component of cellular lipid droplets, revealed an increased accumulation with both RV and RV+A3 when compared to no virus …

Case–Control Research Study Of Auto-Brewery Syndrome, Barbara Jean Cordell, Anup Kanodia, Gregory K. Miller

Faculty Publications

Background: Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS), also known as Gut Fermentation Syndrome and Endogenous Ethanol Fermentation, is afflicting people worldwide, but little is known about ABS patients’ demographics, health history, lifestyle factors, and diet.

Method: We conducted a broad-based case–control survey study on 52 patients known to have a diagnosis of ABS and their household members. The research compares the symptomatic group (N ¼ 28) to the asymptomatic group (N ¼ 18) regarding lifestyle and health, diet, and medical history.

Results: With a response rate of 88% and using rank-sum tests, the data demonstrate that patients with ABS have …

The Comparison Of Effects Of Synthetic And Natural Arachidin-3 On Rotavirus Infected Cells, Rebekah Napier-Jameson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rotavirus (RV) causes severe, life-threatening diarrhea, in infants, young children and immunocompromised adults. There are several effective vaccines for young children, however they are strain specific and are not protective against many RV strains in developing countries. Therefore, it is important to investigate anti-RV therapeutic agents. Our laboratory has shown arachidin-1 (A1) and arachadin-3 (A3) significantly inhibit RV replication in two cell lines, however the molecular mechanism(s) of action are not known. A synthetic molecule of A3 (sA3) has been produced, but its’ antiviral effects have not been examined. Our hypothesis is that sA3 produces the same effects on RV-infected …

Survey Of Rickettsia Spp. In Ticks In Nacogdoches County, Texas, Nathaniel Blakley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rickettsia parkeri is an obligate intracellular pathogenic bacterium that is commonly transmitted by the Gulf Coast tick, Amblyomma maculatum. Rickettsia parkeri is the causative agent of Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, which is a disease characterized by nonspecific symptomology. Significant effort by numerous research groups focuses on determining the geographic distribution of potential vectors of this pathogen. The purpose of this study was to study A. maculatum populations in Nacogdoches County, Texas, for the presence of Rickettsia parkeri. Over a two-year period, 49 ticks were collected in Nacogdoches county and taxonomically identified. The DNA was extracted using DNeasy Blood and Tissue …

The Regulation Of Rotavirus–Infected Ht29.F8 And Ma104 Cells Treated With Arachidin 1 Or Arachidin 3, Caleb M. Witcher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rotavirus (RV) infections cause severe life threatening diarrhea in young children and immunocompromised individuals. Several effective vaccines have been developed for young children but are not protective against all strains of RV, and there are no anti-RV therapeutics. Our laboratory has discovered a decrease in the number of infectious simian RV particles (SA114f) in human intestinal cell line, HT29.f8 cells with the addition of either of two stilbenoids, arachidin-1 (A1) or arachidin-3 (A3). This suggests effects on the host cell and RV replication. We examined the cellular effects of human RV strain (Wa) on a human intestinal cell line (HT29.f8) …

The Methods Used For Eradication Of Polio Versus The Defense Efforts That Are Being Conducted For Global Defense Against Ebola, Kalyn Johnson

Undergraduate Research Conference

Poliovirus eradication has been a long-lasting and difficult process that has become a global issue. The World Health Organization and the European Union have been trying to end the terrible reign of this abhorrent disease since the 1980s and are continually fighting the virus today. Poliomyelitis is an Old World disease, much like smallpox. It has been easily, through a twenty year process, eradicable through mass vaccination and circle vaccination.

However, as poliovirus is coming to the end of its reign, a more recent danger lurks nearby. Ebola virus is considered a non-traditional disease in that it requires more developed …

Perception Of Moderation In Dietary Behaviors, Rebecca Prince, Lexi Perimon, Alexis Malquist

Undergraduate Research Conference

The objective of this study is to understand what the general population perceives as dietary moderation, in relation to recommendations. It is hypothesized that the majority of respondents’ perceptions of moderate intake will be over- or underestimated when compared to dietary recommendations.

The Addition Of Arachidin 1 Or Arachidin 3 To Human Rotavirus-Infected Cells Inhibits Viral Replication And Alters The Apoptotic Cell Death Pathway, Macie N. Mattila, Caleb M. Witcher, Rebekah Napier-Jameson, Hannah N. Lockwood, Josephine Taylor, Beatrice A. Clack, Judith M. Ball, Fabricio Medina Bolivar, Rebecca D. Parr

Undergraduate Research Conference

Rotavirus (RV) infections are a leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in infants and children under the age of five. There are two vaccines available in the United States and one in India that can be administered early in childhood, however they only protect against specific strains1. From our previous work, both arachidin-1 (A1) and arachidin-3 (A3) from peanut (Arachis hypogaea) hairy root cultures significantly inhibit simian RV replication2,3,4. The purpose of this study was to determine if a human intestinal cell line, HT29.f8, infected with a human RV, Wa, was affected by A1 and A3. Cell viability assays were utilized …

Life Of A Child With Hypotonia, Shannon Valedta

School of Human Sciences Research Showcase

The disorder is found in infants, and not many people heard of this disability. People need to be informed about Hypotonia so that it will benefit research to develop a cause and cure to Hypotonia. Also, in our field we are able to educate parents and therapists about what is Hypotonia, and develop techniques for the child to be able to develop properly.

What is Benign Congenital Hypotonia

Benign Congenital Hypotonia, also known as "Floppy Baby Syndrome", is the medical term for low muscle tone.

Investigation Of Stilbenoids As Potential Therapeutic Agents For Rotavirus Gastroenteritis, Judith M. Ball, Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, Katelyn D. Defrates, Emily Hambleton, Megan E. Hurlburt, Lingling Fang, Tianhong Yang, Luis Nopo-Olazabal, Richard L. Atwill, Pooj Ghai, Rebecca D. Parr

Faculty Publications

Rotavirus (RV) infections cause severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. Vaccines are available but cost prohibitive for many countries and only reduce severe symptoms. Vaccinated infants continue to shed infectious particles, and studies show decreased efficacy of the RV vaccines in tropical and subtropical countries where they are needed most. Continuing surveillance for new RV strains, assessment of vaccine efficacy, and development of cost effective antiviral drugs remain an important aspect of RV studies. This study was to determine the efficacy of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory stilbenoids to inhibit RV replication. Peanut (A. hypogaea) hairy root cultures were induced …

Optimization Of Fluorescent Detection Of Rotavirus Protein Nsp4 And A Cellular Receptor In Two Cell Lines, Katelyn D. Defrates, Rebecca Walker, Ron Havenar, Rebecca D. Parr

Bright Ideas Conference

Rotavirus (RV) infections are the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. The two licensed vaccines for RV protect children from common strains of RV, but they are less effective against new emerging RV strains. Therefore, new therapeutics to treat RV infections need to be developed. Recently, we have shown stilbenoids, trans-arachidin-1 (t-A1) and trans-arachidin-3 (t-A3), decrease progeny virus particles by one hundred fold. Likewise, western blot assays show a decrease in the amount of the viral protein NSP4 with the addition of the stilbenoids during a RV infection. This indicates an effect on viral …

West Nile Virus, Sarene Smith, Preston Still

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

West Nile is a virus which means that West Nile is not a living organism and the only goal the virus has is to reproduce. The virus does this by taking over a host cell, attaching itself to the host cell and takes the cellular machinery needed to replicate itself. Once the virus is done and leaves, the host cell can also be used to infect other cells; therefore spreading the virus throughout the organism. (Campbell, Marfin, Lanciotti & Gubler, 2002).

Chagas Disease: “The Kiss Of Death”, Jessica Rogers, Stacy Castro

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Chagas disease is a vector transmitted disease also known as American trypanosomiasis. Chagas disease is classified as a protist or protozoa, which is a simplified version of ‘animal-like single celled organism that is like a multicellular organism’. This is because of the trypanosoma cruzi which is the protist itself (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2012). This disease’s life cycle is complicated. The trypanosoma cruzi changes forms in its life cycle as it travels from hosts. The disease is first transmitted by the vector as it takes a blood meal. This is where the disease then takes over the cells near …

What Is Dysentery?, Rory Malek, Zach Hutchens

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Dysentery is a disease that affects the digestive system and has many grotesque symptoms, such as diarrhea and vomiting. Dysentery is considered more of a set of symptoms instead of an actual organism, but it is almost always caused by a bacterium.

Yellow Fever, Harrison Gibbs, Emma Ward

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Yellow Fever is a disease that is most common in Africa and South America that causes severe discomfort and has a high mortality rate, of the estimated over 200,000 cases of Yellow Fever, 30,000 cases end in death. Since it is so dangerous, it is important to know how to prevent and treat it if someone ever wanted to travel to either of those places. The disease is relatively easy to avoid, all someone really need to do is avoid mosquitoes either by wearing protective clothing or by avoiding high density mosquito areas. If one were get Yellow Fever, they …

H1n1 Influenza Virus, Kail Consford, Drew Patel

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

On April 17, 2009, two patients in the United States were found with Swine-Origin Influenza A (H1N1) virus. This virus was spread to Mexico, Canada, and many other countries. From April 15 through May 5, a total of 642 confirmed cases of H1N1 infection were identified in 41 states. The ages of the patients were from 3 months to 81 years, and 60% of the patients were 18 or younger. Most of these patients recently came from either Mexico or even from school outbreaks. The most common symptoms were fever, cough, and a sore throat. The H1N1 was determined to …

Lyme Disease, Marin Olson Beal

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

When asked to think of headlining diseases, many would choose bubonic plague, smallpox, Ebola, or leprosy. However, Lyme disease makes up for more confirmed diagnostic cases in the United States than all the aforementioned diseases combined. In 2014 alone, in the United States, 119 diagnostic cases were confirmed of bubonic plague, smallpox, Ebola, and leprosy altogether, while there were over 25,000 confirmed cases of Lyme disease (CDC, 2015). More information is needed to understand Lyme disease and how to treat it, before any more lives are lost.

Smallpox Infectious Disease, Miranda Allbee, Brandon Smith

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Smallpox is a disease similar to chicken pox, but not exactly the same. Smallpox is caused by a virus called Variola and is a member of the genus orthopoxvirus. The virus is a large brick shaped DNA virus. Smallpox spreads by direct, face to face contact with an infected person or by contact with infected body fluids or contaminated objects such as clothing. Smallpox is rarely spread through airborne transmission and is not known to be transmitted by animals or insects. The incubation period lasts from 7 to 17 days, during which infected individuals often show no symptoms and are …

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Reuben Ninan

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

The Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne infectious viral disease in the family Bunyaviridae. The disease was first characterized in the Crimea in 1944 and given the name Crimean hemorrhagic fever. CCHF was then later recognized in 1969 as the cause of illness in the Congo, thus resulting in the current name of the disease. CCHF causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks (CDC, 2014).

The Bubonic Plague, Matthew Morin, Ashton Westbrook

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

The bubonic plague is a very serious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. The plague is a zoonotic disease, which means it is usually transmitted to humans by animals. It is commonly transmitted through the bites of infected fleas or coming in direct contact with infected animal tissue (Schoenstadt, 2006). The bacterium can be found in fleas or small rodents such as chipmunks, squirrels, rats, or prairie dogs. The symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, and hemorrhages under the skin causing discoloration, are very harsh and unpleasant. This disease is infectious and extremely severe, and it is deadly if …

Typhoid Fever, Christian Nicholas

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Typhoid fever is a waterborne disease. There are a reported 16 million illnesses and 600,000 deaths annually (Crump, 2010). Most cases occur in developing countries; however, citizens of developed countries who visit developing ones are at risk of catching this disease (CDC, 2013). The disease is caused by Salmonella typhi, which infects the lymph nodes, necessary for immune response. Basic symptoms include a prolonged fever, interruptions in proper bowel function (constipation and diarrhea), severe cough, and in some cases, rose-colored spots on the patient. Salmonella typhi is a gram-negative bacteria that can only be carried by humans. There is also …

African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness), Pedro Garcia, Austin Burton

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

No abstract provided.

Dengue Fever, Ashley Hernandez, Chris Harkness

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

In recent years, the transmission of dengue fever has increased surprisingly fast and has become a major international public health concern. As of today this disease has mainly affected large countries and has become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in the certain areas. The amount of people that have got this infection has dramatically increase in recent decades. Over 40% of the world’s population are currently at risk of getting Dengue Fever. There is now an estimate of 50-100 million people that catch this disease every year (World Health Organization, 2002).

A Look Into Tuberculosis, Adrian Vega, Brennan Heath

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Tuberculosis is a Mycobacterium which is a genus classified in the phylum Actinobacteria. This genus is known to cause diseases in mammals. Tuberculosis' scientific name is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Robert Koch discovered pathogenic bacterial species discovered in 1882 by. M. tuberculosis has a waxy coating on the cell's surface which makes it unable to be Gram stained.(Brennan, 2003). Gram staining is a method to differentiate bacterial species into two groups. This bacterium is Gram-negative because the waxy coating will not absorb the stain. When M. tuberculosis is in the lungs it is engulfed by macrophages trying to eradicate the disease, but …

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (Ebolavirus), Katie Mckee, Maria Hernandez

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Without treatment, the Ebola Virus (also known as hemorrhagic fever) has up to a 90% fatality rate. Understanding this disease could help save a person’s life, especially if that person has recently traveled to Africa.

Cholera Research Poster, James Sowards, Mac Duffield

Infectious Diseases Project 2015

Cholera kills 142,000 on average a year, each of these lives being equally important. In Haiti a huge outbreak of cholera occurred. So many people died it made the population unable to recover from such an epidemic. Cholera might not be as important to people that do not live near the area affected but it has changed the lives of many people around the world (WebMD LLC, 1994-2015).

When Old-Order Amish Meet New Order Science: Genetic Maladies And The Amish Dilemma, Kelley Downey

Undergraduate Research Conference

The Old World Amish, an Anabaptist Christian domination in the United States and Canada are know for their plain dress, avoidance of modern technology, and separation from the mainstream society.

A traditional agricultural religious group, the Old World Amish maintains isolation from the rest of the community. Financially well-off, they are homogeneous on education, occupation by gender, age at marriage, religion/ethnicity, and health care.

Although the Amish strongly discourage marriage between close cousins, the Lancaster Amish genealogy is described as mutational - inbreeding from multiple, remote connections rather than close consanguinity (first-cousin marriages).

Amish settlements have been identified with certain …