Investigation Of Dna Variability And Phylogenetic Relationships Of Perlesta (Plecoptera: Perlidae) In Mississippi,
2022
University of Southern Mississippi
Investigation Of Dna Variability And Phylogenetic Relationships Of Perlesta (Plecoptera: Perlidae) In Mississippi, James C. Valentine, Mac H. Alford
Master's Theses
The genus Perlesta Banks, 1906 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) consists of 35 species, 33 native to the United States and Canada and two native to China. For over a century these small, brown stonefly adults and freckled yellow nymphs have gone by the name of the type species of the genus, Perlesta placida, but taxonomic work in the genus since 1989 has resulted in the recognition of additional species. These species were mostly recognized and described using morphological characteristics, but two areas that are lacking include (1) linking nymphs to adults and (2) phylogenetic analysis of all species occurring in Mississippi …
Characterization Of A Helicobacter Pylori Small Rna By Rt-Pcr,
2022
Eastern Washington University
Characterization Of A Helicobacter Pylori Small Rna By Rt-Pcr, Roxanne Mcpeck, Andrea Castillo
2022 Symposium
Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial gastric pathogen infecting approximately 50% of the human population, produces gastritis, ulcers, and gastric cancers. Colonizing the inhospitable and fluctuating environment in the stomach requires tight genetic control. However, H. pylori lacks many genetic regulatory elements present in other bacteria to control gene expression. Instead, over 200 small RNAs (sRNAs; noncoding RNAs shorter than 300 nucleotides) have been found in this bacterium, but few have been fully characterized. Of those, many are antisense to virulence genes. Characterizing these sRNAs is important in understanding the mechanisms of molecular genetics and potentially supporting medical management of this …
Extracellular Mechanotransduction In Marfan Syndrome: An Equivalence Principle,
2022
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Extracellular Mechanotransduction In Marfan Syndrome: An Equivalence Principle, Stephen Haller
Theses & Dissertations
Biological tissues continuously experience mechanical stress and have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to sense mechanical stimuli. While traditional viewpoints regard cells as the ultimate sensors and processors of mechanical information, compounding evidence demonstrates that extracellular matrix, the structural component of tissues, also exhibits evolved molecular responses to force. This led us to propose a new paradigm termed extracellular mechanotransduction, in which matrix orchestrates a complementary form of force integration distinct from traditional cellular and extracellular viewpoints. We thus propose that force-sensitive signaling mechanisms evolved within the extracellular space to help cells maintain mechanical homeostasis in tissues. In this dissertation, we apply …
Isolation Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Plants Homozygous For An Insertional Inactivation Mutation Within Atprp4.,
2022
Southern Adventist University
Isolation Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Plants Homozygous For An Insertional Inactivation Mutation Within Atprp4., Sydney Raitz, Timothy D. Trott
Faculty Works
The AtPRP4 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana has been shown to function in several specific parts of the plant’s cell wall. It is shown to be expressed in the seeds, radicles, roots, leaves, inflorescences, and embryos of Arabidopsis thaliana. These patterns have suggested unique functions for ATPRP4 in determining cell-type-specific wall structure during the development of a plant as well as contributing to defense reactions against physical damage to the plant and pathogen infection within the plant. In this study, a simple DNA prep was performed on the true leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. Subsequent PCR reactions were performed using …
Characterizing The Expression Pattern And Function Of Tartan During Drosophila Development,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Characterizing The Expression Pattern And Function Of Tartan During Drosophila Development, Alaina Baggett
Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses
The development of complex structures and organs by multicellular organisms relies on the ability of epithelial cells to self-organize. Epithelia are sheets of connected cells, and compartment boundaries are formed between certain epithelial cells to create distinct tissue compartments. Compartment boundaries are specialized cell-cell interfaces that are enriched for the cytoskeletal proteins actin and myosin, leading to straight cell edges under relatively high tension that act as fences keep cells from moving between compartments. In the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), compartment boundaries in the early embryo are established in response to the non-uniform striped expression of the cell-surface …
Extracellular Vesicles Released After Cranial Radiation: An Insight Into An Early Mechanism Of Brain Injury.,
2022
University of Kentucky
Extracellular Vesicles Released After Cranial Radiation: An Insight Into An Early Mechanism Of Brain Injury., Suriyan Sukati, Jenni Ho, Luksana Chaiswing, Pradoldej Sompol, Harshul Pandit, Wendy Wei, Tadahide Izumi, Quan Chen, Heidi Weiss, Teresa Noel, Subbarao Bondada, D Allan Butterfield, Daret K St Clair
Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications
Cranial radiation is important for treating both primary brain tumors and brain metastases. A potential delayed side effect of cranial radiation is neurocognitive function decline. Early detection of CNS injury might prevent further neuronal damage. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a potential diagnostic tool because of their unique membranous characteristics and cargos. We investigated whether EVs can be an early indicator of CNS injury by giving C57BJ/6 mice 10 Gy cranial IR. EVs were isolated from sera to quantify: 1) number of EVs using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA); 2) Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astrocyte marker; and 3) …
Using Fluorescent Microscopy To Follow Mitochondrial Inheritance Through Tagged Alternative Oxidase In Sporisorium Reilianum.,
2022
University of Louisville
Using Fluorescent Microscopy To Follow Mitochondrial Inheritance Through Tagged Alternative Oxidase In Sporisorium Reilianum., Luke Schroeder
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses
Sporisorium reilianum is a dimorphic fungus that inhabits and infects a host corn plant (Zea mays). In order for the fungus to reproduce sexually, compatible haploid mating types must form a dikaryon that goes on to cause infection in the host. This infection causes leaf chlorosis and gall formation, while ultimately allowing for the dispersal of fungal teliospores in the later stages of infection. To grow, the fungus requires energy production in the form of ATP from its mitochondria. As a countermeasure to infection, host plants release harsh reactive oxygen species that may damage DNA, lead to apoptosis, …
Temporal And Spatial Comparison Of Pseudo-Nitzschia Species Composition And Domoic Acid In Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island And The Northeast U.S. Shelf,
2022
University of Rhode Island
Temporal And Spatial Comparison Of Pseudo-Nitzschia Species Composition And Domoic Acid In Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island And The Northeast U.S. Shelf, Isabella Church, Bethany D. Jenkins
Senior Honors Projects
Diatoms are unicellular algae that make up a significant portion of phytoplankton biomass at the base of marine food webs. Narragansett Bay (NB), RI is home to several species of the diatom genus Pseudo-nitzschia (P-n), some of which are known to cause harmful algal blooms through the production of the potent neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). This toxin can lead to Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning in humans through the consumption of affected shellfish. Although the presence of P-n has been well established in NB for over 50 years, DA levels have only recently become a problem, with shellfish harvest closures …
Functional Characterization Of A Putative Alternative Oxidase In Sporisorium Reilianum F. Sp. Zeae.,
2022
University of Louisville
Functional Characterization Of A Putative Alternative Oxidase In Sporisorium Reilianum F. Sp. Zeae., Emma A Lamb
College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses
Sporisorium reilianum is a pathogenic basidiomycete fungus with two formae speciales, each capable of infecting corn (SRZ) or sorghum (SRS), respectively. This fungus is also a dimorphic variety, meaning it can switch between its haploid, yeast-like sporidia and diploid teliospore stages over the course of its life cycle (Schirawski). When S. reilianum is found in a haploid state and conditions are favorable, it will mate with a compatible non-self mating type to begin filamentous growth and proliferation in the plant host (Zhao). S. relianum, like most fungi, utilizes the four classical components of the electron transport chain to produce …
The Effects Of Deletion Of The Cytoplasmic Domain Of Robo3 On Drosophila,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Effects Of Deletion Of The Cytoplasmic Domain Of Robo3 On Drosophila, Jessie Agcaoili
Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses
My research project examines how the deletion of the cytoplasmic domain affects the function of Robo3. If Robo3 is signaling repulsion in response to SLIT this activity should require the cytoplasmic domain. I investigated the functional importance of Robo3 by deleting the cytoplasmic domain of Robo3 using a CRISPR-based technique. This modified gene was then injected into Drosophila embryos where it replaced the normal copy of the gene. Embryos expressing the modified version of robo3 in place of normal robo3 were dissected and examined.
Genomic Tools And Models For Investigating The Role Of Germline Diversity In Mouse Antibody Repertoire Development.,
2022
University of Louisville
Genomic Tools And Models For Investigating The Role Of Germline Diversity In Mouse Antibody Repertoire Development., Justin T. Kos
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Given the diversity and complexity within immunoglobulin (IG) loci, effective mouse models first require characterization of intra-strain differences and construction of high-quality reference assemblies for IG loci in several representative strains. To understand light chain germline diversity across biomedically significant mouse strains, we profiled the expressed IGK and IGL repertoires of 18 commonly used laboratory mouse strains using AIRR-seq. Across strains, we observed germline IGKV sequences shared by three different IGK haplotypes and a more conserved IGLV germline repertoire among common laboratory strains. Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) Single-Molecule Real-Time (SMRT) sequencing was used to sequence and assemble bacterial artificial chromosomes (BAC) …
Novel Regulators Of Cellular Secretion Alter The Tumor Microenvironment To Drive Metastasis,
2022
The Texas Medical Center Library
Novel Regulators Of Cellular Secretion Alter The Tumor Microenvironment To Drive Metastasis, Rakhee Bajaj
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
Lung cancer is a highly aggressive disease responsible for ~25% of all cancer-related deaths, due in part to its proclivity to metastasize. Treating metastasis holds potential for improving patient survival but requires a deeper investigation into the underlying mechanisms. Some of these processes that can regulate metastasis are: (1) Oncogenic targets of epithelial micro-RNAs (miRNAs) are epigenetically de-repressed upon loss of the miRNAs during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and in cancer. EMT confers plasticity and fitness to cancer cells promoting their survival through the metastatic cascade. This cascade and EMT are initiated by loss of the miRNA200 family (miR-200) and the …
Development Of The Ark Assay For Quantitating Dna- Protein Crosslink Accumulation And Fanconi Anemia Pathway Involvement In The Repair Process,
2022
The Texas Medical Center Library
Development Of The Ark Assay For Quantitating Dna- Protein Crosslink Accumulation And Fanconi Anemia Pathway Involvement In The Repair Process, Naeh Klages-Mundt
Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)
DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are a common DNA lesion naturally arising in cells, wherein protein becomes covalently and irreversibly bound to the DNA. Given their excessive size, these adducts present a significant challenge to replication and transcription, thus requiring timely and efficient repair. However, the precise mechanisms involved with processing DPC removal remain unclear. Moreover, current methodologies to quantitate DPC accumulation and removal are restrained by a range of limitations. Here, we describe and discuss a new DPC detection assay – the ARK assay – capable of overcoming the limitations incurred by prior assays. The design, which uses dual chaotropic lysis …
Development Of A Long-Read Sequencing Protocol To Assess The Precision And Efficacy Of Gene Editing For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Development Of A Long-Read Sequencing Protocol To Assess The Precision And Efficacy Of Gene Editing For Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Landon Andrew Burcham
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
This work establishes a method for assessing on-target precision due to CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, especially within the context of exon skipping therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The proposed method utilizes an Oxford nanopore long-read sequencing approach to sequence amplified regions of DNA that have been edited using CRISPR-Cas9. NIH3T3 and C2C12 cell lines were treated with a dual-guide CRISPR-Cas9 system, that targets and deletes exon 23 from the DMD gene in mouse samples. Deletion PCR revealed deletion of exon 23 in both DNA and cDNA samples. Additionally, sequencing using Oxford Nanopore revealed targeted exon 23 deletion as the most prevalent …
Functional Role Of Ppal And Potential For Moss In Industrial Applications.,
2022
University of Louisville
Functional Role Of Ppal And Potential For Moss In Industrial Applications., Susana Perez Martinez
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation is an examination and characterization of the functional roles of PPAL. PROTEIN PRENYLTRANSFERASE ALPHA SUBUNIT-LIKE (PPAL) is a recently discovered gene. PPAL homologs are present in all plants and many animals, where its function is largely unknown. It is possible that PPAL could participate in prenylation processes since it shares similarity to the α subunits of known prenylation enzymes. Prenylation is a post-translational modification of proteins that involves the addition of a lipid moiety to proteins to facilitate membrane targeting and association and promote protein-protein interactions. Prenylation has important roles in plant growth and development, including …
Expression And Functional Characterization Of Avocado Dgat1 And Pdat1 In Arabidopsis And Camelina,
2022
East Tennessee State University
Expression And Functional Characterization Of Avocado Dgat1 And Pdat1 In Arabidopsis And Camelina, Josphat Kiunga
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The study is aimed to determine the role of avocado DGAT1 and PDAT1 in seed oil synthesis. Triacylglycerol (TAG) has a nutritional and industrial value and is essential for plant growth. DGAT1 and PDAT1 catalyze the final step of TAG Assembly. We hypothesized that both PaPDAT1 and PaDGAT1, although predominantly expressed in non-seed tissues, could contribute to oil accumulation in seeds. Agrobacterium transformants with PaPDAT1 and PaDGAT1 cloned in pCAMBIA were generated to test this. Subsequently, the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis mutant lines and camelina was carried out by floral dipping. The T1 camelina seeds …
Disrupting Monoallelic Expression Of Variant Surface Glycoprotein In Trypanosoma Brucei By A Non-Lethal Mutation In Class I Transcription Factor A,
2022
University of Connecticut
Disrupting Monoallelic Expression Of Variant Surface Glycoprotein In Trypanosoma Brucei By A Non-Lethal Mutation In Class I Transcription Factor A, Sarah Platt
Honors Scholar Theses
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a lethal disease caused by protozoan hemoflagellates of the genus Trypanosoma. Humans are vulnerable to two subspecies, Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. At the crux of HAT lethality lie two uncommon genetic expression phenomena: monoallelic expression and antigenic variation. Combined, these mechanisms effectively shield trypanosomes from host immune systems, prolonging infections. Variant Surface Glycoproteins (VSGs) are the key outer membrane proteins involved in antigenic variation. By continuously changing the composition of cell surface antigens, trypanosomes can survive bouts of immunological detection and eventually traverse the blood-brain barrier. There are over two …
Impact Of Genetic Variation And Timescale On Diatom Salinity Stress Response,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Impact Of Genetic Variation And Timescale On Diatom Salinity Stress Response, Kala M. Downey
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Natural environments are dynamic, and organisms must sense and respond to changing conditions. One common way organisms deal with stressful environments is through gene expression changes, allowing for stress acclimation and resistance which occurs over varying time spans in different species. The recent evolutionary history of populations could greatly influence their ability to respond successfully. An evolutionary history in disturbed or fluctuating conditions could promote increased resistance or a more rapid response to these environmental stressors. To understand the impact of genotypic variation and timescales on response and acclimation to salinity changes, we have been exploiting the abilities of euryhaline …
The Role Of Ccaat Binding Factor In The Regulation Of Catalase Gene Expression In Candida Albicans,
2022
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Role Of Ccaat Binding Factor In The Regulation Of Catalase Gene Expression In Candida Albicans, Zahra Al-Rumaih
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
Candida albicans is a fungal opportunistic human pathogen. Its infections range from surficial infections like skin rash to fatal systemic infections. Filamentation growth mode is associated with C. albicans virulence because it helps penetration of the host’s epithelial cells. The CCAAT-binding factor (CBF) is a conserved heterooligomeric transcription factor found in 30% of eukaryotes genes. In C. albicans it is composed of 4 major subunits, including Hap2, Hap3, Hap4, and Hap5. Hap2 and Hap5 are essential for DNA binding and function. Hap4 has 3 homologous subunits: Hap41 and Hap42 are putative subunits of CBP. Hap43 is the only Hap4 subunit …
Structure-Function Characterization Of Zebrafish Gadd34 And Crep,
2022
University of the Pacific
Structure-Function Characterization Of Zebrafish Gadd34 And Crep, Alice Thuc Truong, Ciera Wroten, Jessica Woo, Jey Kim, Joshua Tao, Kleo Hong, Twisha Patel
Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference (PURCC)
No abstract provided.
