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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Characterizing The Cutaneous Microbiome Of Eurycea Lucifuga As A Potential Defense Against Chytridiomycosis, Madeline Key
Characterizing The Cutaneous Microbiome Of Eurycea Lucifuga As A Potential Defense Against Chytridiomycosis, Madeline Key
Senior Honors Theses
Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease that is significantly reducing global amphibian populations. The disease is caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a fungus that lethally modifies amphibian skin. Recent research has suggested that the cutaneous microbiome of individual amphibians may play a role in susceptibility to the pathogen. In this study, twelve cave salamanders (Eurycea lucifuga) were collected. Cutaneous bacteria from each salamander were isolated and identified using Sanger Sequencing. Additionally, a Bd-challenge assay was performed to determine each isolate’s antifungal activity. Results indicated many microbial isolates possessed inhibitory capabilities against Bd, which may …
The Cutaneous Microbiome Of The Eastern Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus Viridescens) And Its Role As Defense Against Fungal Pathogens, Joseph Bierbaum
The Cutaneous Microbiome Of The Eastern Red-Spotted Newt (Notophthalmus Viridescens) And Its Role As Defense Against Fungal Pathogens, Joseph Bierbaum
Senior Honors Theses
Chytridiomycosis is a life-threatening disease which infects amphibian species worldwide. Chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans have been found to be the primary causes of chytridiomycosis. In past research, it has been found that the skin microbiome of certain amphibian species could have fungal inhibition properties, reducing the effects of the chytrid fungi. In this study, 15 eastern red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) were collected, to determine if cutaneous bacteria of the newts secrete antifungal compounds. Pure cultures of each bacterium morphotype were produced from mass culture plates, with 188 morphotypes being isolated. The antifungal properties …
A Microbiome Analysis Of The Relationship Among Crayfish Ectosymbionts And Their Environment, John Hoverson
A Microbiome Analysis Of The Relationship Among Crayfish Ectosymbionts And Their Environment, John Hoverson
Senior Honors Theses
The purpose of this project was to determine if there are differences present between the α-diversities of the crayfish microbiome and its surrounding water and sediment. Furthermore, this project sought to discover if these differences hold when microbiomes are evaluated between crayfish of first and second stream orders. Finally, this project sought to determine if the presence of branchiobdellidan ectosymbionts on the crayfish caused further differences in the crayfish microbiome. While the hypothesized patterns between crayfish, ectosymbionts, and stream order were not found to exist, a significantly different microbiome was observed between water, sediment, and crayfish, and the α-diversity of …
An Investigation Into Differences In The Infant Intestinal Microbiome Based On Method Of Delivery, Savannah Whitney
An Investigation Into Differences In The Infant Intestinal Microbiome Based On Method Of Delivery, Savannah Whitney
Senior Honors Theses
The infant intestinal microbiome is greatly influenced by method of delivery in relation to bacterial composition, diversity, and richness. The intestinal tracts of cesarean delivered infants are more likely to be colonized with skin microbiota like Clostridium, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Corynebacterium, and have less bacterial diversity and richness than their vaginally delivered counterparts, who are more likely to be colonized with Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus, which are common vaginal bacteria. These microbial differences make cesarean delivered infants more likely to develop allergies, asthma, eczema, gastrointestinal conditions, obesity, and diabetes, among other diseases. Though vaginal seeding has been proposed …