Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Transcriptomics Of Learning, Pablo Iturralde

Theses

Learning is a basic and important component of behavior yet we have very little empirical information about the interaction between mechanisms of learning and evolution. In our work, we are testing hypotheses about the neurogenetic mechanisms through which animal learning abilities evolve. We are able to test this directly by using experimentally evolved populations of flies, which differ in learning ability. These populations were previously evolved within the lab by creating worlds with different patterns of change following theoretically predicted effects on which enhanced learning will evolve. How has evolution acted to modulate genes and gene expression in the brain …

Dynamic Herbal Monographs For A Digital World, Niamh O'Brien

Theses

Post analysis of a worldwide survey of Medical Herbalists, 93% of respondents were in favour of an online system which could update monographs dynamically. 63% of respondents suggested that some current monographs are out of date and lack certain practicalities in areas such as : Interactions, Dosage and Safety. Research into gaining optimal responses from surveys led to a 78% response rate. Survey analysis resulted in a modem up-to-date monograph template being created and each of the aforementioned information systems tested against same. Testing involved the generation of XML, HTML, PHP and OWL languages for encoding documents to allow for …

Development Of An Automated Thiopurine Methyltransferase (Tpmt) Genotyping Assay, Mary Corcoran

Theses

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyses the S- methylation of aromatic and sulphydryl compounds known as the thiopurines. These therapeutic agents are used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease and organ transplant recipients.

Erythrocyte TPMT activity is polymorphic and patients with intermediate or deficient TPMT are at significant risk for excessive toxicity after receiving ‘standard’ doses of thiopurine medications. The activity of TPMT is inherited as an autosomal co-dominant trait. Several mutations in the TPMT gene have been described that correlate with a low activity phenotype. Three mutations G238C, G460A and …

An Assessment Of Prothrombotic Tendency In Humans Using Functional And Genomic Determinants In The South Eastern Irish Population, Carmel Cullen

Theses

Venous thrombosis occurs in about 1 per 1,000 individuals per year. It is a serious disorder and accounts for a significant number of hospital admissions and deaths annually. Thrombophilia describes the familial or acquired disorders of the haemostatic mechanism that predispose to thrombosis. Inherited thrombophilia can be defined as a genetically determined tendency to venous thromboembolism Mutations in genes that code for proteins involved directly (or indirectly) In blood coagulation have been associated with prothrombotic status. Laboratory investigations for thrombophilia include screening for deficiencies of antithrombin, protein C or protein S and testing for activated protein C resistance. Together these …

Whole Genome Sequencing Of L.Monocytogenes And L.Innocua : A Basis For Comparative Genomics Of The Genus Listeria, Rachel Purcell

Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive, food-borne human and animal pathogen. L.innocua is a non-pathogenic species the most closely related to L. monocytogenes. Comparative genomics between a pathogenic and a closely related non-pathogenic species is a powerful approach for identifying genes or regions on the chromosome, which might be involved in virulence. Therefore whole genome sequencing of these two organisms was undertaken. The strategy used was based on a random approach combined with end-sequencing of a medium insert library for the finishing phase. Based on the available sequence data for these two species an in silico analysis for the presence of …

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (Mrsa): Molecular Detection And Dna Fingerprinting, Leslie Cotter

Theses

Throughout the 1990s, the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has increased in many health care areas including acute and chronic care facilities, outpatient clinics and in the community. Once introduced into a health care environment, this nosocomial pathogen can spread rapidly and as MRSA are resistant to multiple antibiotics, treatment is often difficult. Therefore effective infection control measures are required to prevent cross-infection and further spread of endemic strains.

In this study, a sensitive and specific triplex-PCR assay was designed for MRSA detection, wherein three genes, the methicillin resistance gene (mecA). femA and the extracellular thermonuclease gene (rmc) were simultaneously …

Molecular Analysis Of The Factor V-Leiden Mutation In A Cardiac Transplant Patient Population, Caroline Maher

Theses

Venous thrombosis is a serious health problem affecting 1 in 1000 individuals annually. Until recently the pathogenic factors underlying thrombosis were associated with genetic defects in protein C, protein S and antithrombin III. However these were recognised in fewer than 5-10% of thrombotic patients. A breakthrough was made with the discovery of activated protein C resistance (APCr) which is associated in 90% of cases v/herein a G-->A transition in the factor V gene results in an abnormal molecule, Factor V Leiden. APCr is a major risk factor for thrombosis being present in 20-60% of thrombotic patients. Recently a G-^A …