Cardiovascular Diseases Commons^™

Finding The Balance​ The Effects Of Α-Cyclodextrin, 2-Hydroxypropyl-Β-Cyclodextrin, And Cholesterol Bacteroides Vulgatus And Clostridium Bolteae​, Bethany Weaver

Honors Program Projects

Atherosclerosis is a cardiovascular disease that is characterized by the hardening of arteries through the formation of cholesterol plaques. Cyclodextrins could potentially treat atherosclerosis by shrinking plaques. These cyclic oligosaccharides can make complexes with cholesterol but have also shown toxic side effects. This study looked for potential negative effects of cyclodextrins and cholesterol on gut bacteria. It was hypothesized that Bacteroides vulgatus will have decreased growth when grown in broth with cholesterol. In contrast, Clostridium bolteae will have decreased growth when grown in broth with cyclodextrins. Due to the fact that these bacteria are anaerobic, Clostridium bolteae and Bacteroides vulgatus, …

The Effects Of Heart Medication On The Heart Rates Of Drosophila Melanogaster, Felicia A. Baer

Honors Program Projects

Background

Current animal models of human cardiac disease may be similar in anatomy and physiology but are often expensive and tedious to work with. The current need is for a model organism that is more efficient to work with in the lab but that still provides an accurate model of human cardiac disease. Drosophila melanogaster (D. mel) is such a candidate. While 74% of the genes coding for protein are conserved between D. mel and human hearts, it is unknown if cardiac medication used in humans, such as atropine and propranolol hydrochloride, similarly affect heart rate. I hypothesized that …