Identification Of Novel Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Encoding For Polyketide/Nrps-Producing Chemotherapeutic Compounds From Marine-Derived Streptomyces Hygroscopicus From A Marine Sanctuary,
2023
University of New Hampshire, Durham
Identification Of Novel Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Encoding For Polyketide/Nrps-Producing Chemotherapeutic Compounds From Marine-Derived Streptomyces Hygroscopicus From A Marine Sanctuary, Hannah Ruth Flaherty
Honors Theses and Capstones
Nearly one out of six deaths in 2020, around ten million people, were caused by cancer, making it a leading cause of death worldwide (WHO, 2022). This major public health issue, in addition to the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, provides a high demand for the discovery of new pharmaceutical drugs to be used clinically to treat these conditions. The Streptomyces genus accounts to produce 39% of all microbial metabolites currently approved for human health, indicating its potential as an important species to study for antimicrobial and anticancer agents. The long linear genome of Streptomyces contains specialized sequences known as …
Apobec3 Regulation By Thyroid Hormone,
2023
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Apobec3 Regulation By Thyroid Hormone, Michelle Santiago
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
Thyroid hormone (TH) is crucial for many biological processes, including the development of the auditory system. Appropriate thyroid hormone signaling is important for the development of the cochlea, leading to the successful onset of hearing. More specifically, TH influences the timing of remodeling of the greater epithelial ridge (GER), a transient cochlear structure that secretes proteins that contribute to the formation of the tectorial membrane. Developmental hypothyroidism results in delayed GER regression, whereas excess TH results in premature remodeling. Both conditions result in deafness. However, it is unknown how TH mediates GER remodeling. Expression profiling identified APOBEC3 (A3) as a …
The Molecular Mechanisms Of Ifn-Γ Promoted Necroptosis In Macrophages,
2023
University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center
The Molecular Mechanisms Of Ifn-Γ Promoted Necroptosis In Macrophages, Meghan R. Vogt
Biotechnology Theses
Necroptosis, a form of programmed lytic cell death, has emerged as a driving factor in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury. One specific inflammatory mediator that is of interest is interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Our laboratory has reported that IFN-γ is the most potent enhancer of necroptosis in primary lung epithelial cells and macrophages by upregulating MLKL expression. How IFN-γ enhances necroptosis and MLKL upregulation is currently unknown. In this research, we utilized multiple approaches to study the potential molecular mechanisms of IFN-γ promoted necroptosis in macrophages. We found that MLKL and ZBP1 are significantly upregulated by IFN-γ through an unknown pathway …
Developing A Biocatalytic Toolbox To Aid In Understanding Nucleoside Antibiotics,
2023
University of Kentucky
Developing A Biocatalytic Toolbox To Aid In Understanding Nucleoside Antibiotics, Jasmine Brianna Woods
Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacy
Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria develop the ability to survive medications that normally terminate them. Instead, these super germs are able to survive in the body and produce a community of antibiotic resistance germs which can cause human fatalities. It is important to discover and develop new compounds and molecules that will improve this clinical obstacle. This research focused on analyzing the biosynthesis that incorporates distinctive chemical characteristic of various nucleoside antibiotics, ß-hydroxy amino acids and α-methyl-amino acids. ß-hydroxy amino acids and α-methyl-amino acids are considered an important class of industrially useful compounds, particularly for pharmaceutical development, and are found …
Investigating Mirna Regulation Of The Human Apobec3 Enzymes,
2023
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Investigating Mirna Regulation Of The Human Apobec3 Enzymes, William Dietrich
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
The human apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide 3 (APOBEC3, A3) are a family of proteins consisting of seven enzymes, A3A, B, C, D, F, G and H, which function as cytosine deaminases. The enzymes’ purpose in the cell is to mutate viral DNA during infection hindering or stopping replication of viruses such as human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus, and HIV-1. Several of the A3 enzymes have also been implicated in contributing to cancers such as head and neck and breast cancers by mutating cellular genomic DNA, making the ability to control A3 expression an attractive target for cancer …
Novel Amino Acids Dictate Differences In Sivmac239 And Hiv-2 Rod9 Vpx Cellular Localization,
2023
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Novel Amino Acids Dictate Differences In Sivmac239 And Hiv-2 Rod9 Vpx Cellular Localization, Hunter D. Mayhew
All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects
Vpx is a protein encoded by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 2 (HIV-2) and specific Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses (SIVs) that is essential for successful infection of non-dividing myeloid cells. Vpx facilitates viral replication by trafficking the viral genome into the nucleus of infected cells and targeting the primarily nuclear innate immune protein SAMHD1 for proteasomal degradation. Considering that these activities occur at the nucleus, we hypothesized that Vpx nuclear localization would be tightly correlated with these functions. To assess this, site directed mutagenesis in combination with confocal microscopy or Western Blotting analyses were utilized to evaluate the determinants of nuclear accumulation …
Investigation Of Mechanical Regulation On Stat3 Activity And Mmp Production,
2023
University of New Hampshire, Durham
Investigation Of Mechanical Regulation On Stat3 Activity And Mmp Production, Jaxson R. Libby
Honors Theses and Capstones
Transcription factor, STAT3, is inappropriately expressed in cancer cells, and has contrasting activation in 2D versus 3D microenvironments. 2D plates are often used for drug screening and do not always recapitulate in vivo responses. To combat inaccurate 2D drug studies, a 3D hydrogel was created to support the growth of cancer cells into a tumor-like environment. The hydrogel consists of a biocompatible dextran homopolysaccharide, cell adhesion RGD sequences, and crosslinker MMP labile peptides. A pH dependent reaction couples the RGD sequences to dextran then the polymers are crosslinked into a gel. Crosslinking is accomplished using terminal cysteine peptide sequences, allowing …
Extension Of The Ergot Alkaloid Gene Cluster,
2023
West Virginia University
Extension Of The Ergot Alkaloid Gene Cluster, Samantha Joy Fabian
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Specialized metabolites produced by fungi impact human health. A large portion of the pharmaceuticals currently on the market are derived from metabolites biosynthesized by microbes. Ergot alkaloids are a class of fungal metabolites that are important in the interactions of environmental fungi with insects and mammals and also are used in the production of pharmaceuticals. In animals, ergot alkaloids can act as partial agonists or antagonists at receptors for 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), dopamine, and noradrenaline as ergot alkaloids have chemical structures similar to those neurotransmitters. Therefore, they affect insects and mammals that consume them and can be used to produce drugs …
Producing Grnas For Use In Crispr-Cas9 Dna Editing Applications Via In Vivo T7 Rna Polymerase Transcription In Escherichia Coli.,
2023
Rollins College
Producing Grnas For Use In Crispr-Cas9 Dna Editing Applications Via In Vivo T7 Rna Polymerase Transcription In Escherichia Coli., Christian A. Santiago
Honors Program Theses
The development of the CRISPR-Cas9 system is widely considered to be a breakthrough advancement in gene editing. Compared to traditional technologies, CRISPR is generally regarded as the most accessible, effective, and precise tool for inducing stable and inheritable gene edits in vivo. The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing complex relies on the complementary binding of guide RNAs to specifically target a DNA sequence for endonuclease cleavage and mutagenesis. The production of gRNAs for use in CRISPR applications can become exceedingly complex and costly, as in vivo methodologies generally require the use of RNA polymerases that interfere with gRNA sequence identity and in …
Characterizing Cellular Injury And Inflammation With Aldob-/-Mouse Model Of Mafld,
2023
Central Washington University
Characterizing Cellular Injury And Inflammation With Aldob-/-Mouse Model Of Mafld, Andy Rashid
All Master's Theses
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects 1 in 3 people in the US and is a healthcare burden on the order of billions of dollars. MAFLD is characterized by pathological lipid accumulation in the liver, excess production of triglycerides and cholesterol, and export of LDL particles that raise serum lipid levels. These metabolic perturbations can lead to the development of liver fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Diagnosing MAFLD prior to fibrosis is crucial for successful intervention and prevention of advanced liver disease and other metabolic complications. Fructose-1Phospahte (F1P) accumulation from fructose overconsumption can drive hepatic lipogenesis and MAFLD progression. …
Generation Of Chimeric Rhinoviruses Presenting Sars-Cov-2 Broadly Neutralizing Epitopes And Their Antigenicity Characterization,
2023
University of Texas at Tyler
Generation Of Chimeric Rhinoviruses Presenting Sars-Cov-2 Broadly Neutralizing Epitopes And Their Antigenicity Characterization, Danish Ansari
Biotechnology Theses
The global COVID pandemic is not yet fully under control as there were over 21 million new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infections and over 50,000 deaths globally as of January of 2022. A heavily mutated variant of concern, Omicron is responsible for most of these cases which demands an urgency for a new vaccine. NIH reports over 180 vaccine candidates that use various strategies currently in development. However, a recurring concern with these vaccines is that the continuous viral mutations decrease the efficacy of vaccines. Therefore, we proposed to construct a human rhinovirus (HRV) based chimeric virus containing highly conserved, broadly …
Reconstructing The Germination Pathway From The Rafflesia Seed Transcriptome,
2023
Long Island University
Reconstructing The Germination Pathway From The Rafflesia Seed Transcriptome, Venkata Siva Sankar Maddu
Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-
Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae) produces the largest flowers in the world but has no stems, roots, or leaves. It is a holoparasitic angiosperm that derives all its nutrients from its host vine, Tetrastigma. All species are also threatened with extinction, but propagating it has been incredibly challenging. Its germination from seed has never been observed. The thesis aims to reconstruct the germination pathway of Rafflesia from its published seed transcriptome to gain insight into its molecular genetics and understand what germination genes can be stimulated to facilitate infection of its host for ex-situ propagation. The published seed transcriptome of Rafflesia speciosa was …
Cell Signaling And Stress Response In The Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: A Study Of Snf1,
2023
West Virginia University
Cell Signaling And Stress Response In The Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: A Study Of Snf1, Scott E. Arbet Ii
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Saccharomyces cerevisiae are yeast that are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that are well studied as a model organism for understanding fundamental cellular processes. The ability of yeast to sense nutrient availability is crucial for their survival, growth, and reproduction. Yeast cells use various mechanisms to sense and respond to nutrient availability, including transporter-mediated uptake, receptor-mediated signaling, and sensing of metabolites. The subcellular localization of nutrient-sensing components is crucial for yeast function in nutrient sensing and signaling. Protein complexes, such as the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, in nutrient sensing and response, as well as the downstream effects of these pathways …
Of Transcription Factor And Transformation: Elucidating Gene Function In The Common Ice Plant, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum,
2023
University of South Dakota
Of Transcription Factor And Transformation: Elucidating Gene Function In The Common Ice Plant, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum, Chinenye Lilian Izuegbunam
Dissertations and Theses
Abiotic stresses negatively affect plant growth and development across the globe, which also affect the production of food, feed, biofuel, and fiber to meet the demands of a growing population. Thus, developing novel strategies to increase abiotic stress tolerance in crops is necessary. One of these strategies is exploring transcription factors (TFs) in Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) plants to improve plant abiotic stress tolerances. Therefore, the first objective of this dissertation determine the abiotic stress tolerance function of a CAM TF, McHB7opt in Arabidopsis. This study found that McHB7opt increased stress-responsive pathways related to seed germination and early seedling development. …
Csi Botany: Dna Barcode “Fingerprints” Identify Cryptic Urban Flora,
2023
CUNY Lehman College
Csi Botany: Dna Barcode “Fingerprints” Identify Cryptic Urban Flora, Luis R. Vega
Theses and Dissertations
As short genomic markers, DNA barcodes can play a role in conservation by identifying cryptic species and hybrids when morphological approaches fall short. Here we present our application of barcodes to the identities of two wetland taxa as part of an ongoing floristic inventory of Van Cortlandt Park (VCP), Bronx, NY. Previous barcode data by Marriott et al. (2018) identified the VCP lake water lily as the exotic Nymphaea alba, rather than the native N. odorata as historically described. In addition, cattails in the park were historically identified as the native Typha latifolia and the exotic T. angustifolia …
Biological Adaptations Leading To Metastatic Potential In Ovarian Cancer,
2023
Wayne State University
Biological Adaptations Leading To Metastatic Potential In Ovarian Cancer, Hussein Chehade
Wayne State University Dissertations
Ovarian cancer induces most deaths from gynecological cancers. Patients succumb due to heavy metastatic tumor burden, which accounts for 90% of cancer related deaths and is characterized by the dissemination of malignant cells from primary tumor to secondary site(s), partaking in cancer progression. Ovarian cancer progression is an extremely demanding process that requires cancer cells to be able to survive anoikis conditions and be metabolically flexible to survive microenvironmental changes during transit to a secondary site. Mitochondrial Nuclear Retrograde Regulator 1 (MNRR1) is a bi-organellar protein primarily present in the mitochondria by which it can prevent apoptosis and/or enhance mitochondrial …
From Culture To Metagenomics: A Comprehensive Evaluation Of The Female Reproductive Tract Microbiome In Pregnancy,
2023
Wayne State University
From Culture To Metagenomics: A Comprehensive Evaluation Of The Female Reproductive Tract Microbiome In Pregnancy, Jonathan Panzer
Wayne State University Dissertations
The advent of Next Generation Sequencing technologies prompted novel investigations of the microbiome. These revealed both increased diversity of known microbiomes such as those of the gut, oral cavity and vagina, but also bacterial DNA in tissues previously considered sterile such as the blood, liver, brain, and placenta. Thus, previous paradigms of sterility, based primarily on culture data, were called into question. However, interpretation of bacterial DNA signals from low-microbial biomass tissues is complex due to the strong potential for contamination and interference from the surrounding environment. Yet, many new methodologies are being developed to help isolate valid bacterial DNA …
Role Of Micrornas In Intestinal Inflammation And Barrier Homeostasis After Alcohol And Burn Injury,
2023
Loyola University Chicago
Role Of Micrornas In Intestinal Inflammation And Barrier Homeostasis After Alcohol And Burn Injury, Caroline J. Herrnreiter
Dissertations
MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA molecules that negatively regulate gene expression. Within the intestinal epithelium, miRNAs play a critical role in gut homeostasis and aberrant miRNA expression has been implicated in various disorders associated with intestinal inflammation and barrier disruption. In this study, we sought to profile changes in intestinal epithelial cell miRNA expression after alcohol and burn injury and elucidate their impact on inflammation and barrier integrity. In a more targeted approach, we began by focusing on anti-inflammatory miRNAs that, when downregulated, could exacerbate inflammation and result in intestinal barrier disruption. Using a mouse model of acute ethanol intoxication …
Characterization Of The Function And Regulation Of The Hmpv Phosphoprotein,
2023
University of Kentucky
Characterization Of The Function And Regulation Of The Hmpv Phosphoprotein, Rachel Thompson
Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a non-segmented, negative strand RNA virus (NNSV) that frequently causes respiratory tract infections in infants, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. Despite the initial identification of HMPV in 2001, there are currently no FDA approved antivirals or vaccines available. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of HMPV replication is critical for the identification of novel therapeutic targets. A key feature in the replication cycle of HMPV and other NNSVs is the formation of membrane-less, liquid-like replication and transcription centers in the cytosol termed inclusion bodies (IBs). Recent work on NNSV IBs suggests they display characteristics of biomolecular condensates formed …
The Role Of Chromatin Structure In Circular Rna Biogenesis, Function And Disease,
2023
University of Kentucky
The Role Of Chromatin Structure In Circular Rna Biogenesis, Function And Disease, Rebekah Eleazer
Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
Fundamental to cellular differentiation, development, and physiology is the precise regulation of gene expression. At the center of this control lies chromatin, and disruptions in chromatin biology are key contributors to complex human diseases. By convention, gene expression analysis primarily focuses on transcript abundance, however the splicing of transcripts into distinct isoforms is also of biological relevance. One new form of alternative splicing, backsplicing, is responsible for generating circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are emerging as essential components to gene regulatory networks. However, unlike other forms of alternative splicing, the role that chromatin plays in backsplicing and circRNA formation remains poorly …
