Laboratory and Basic Science Research Commons^™

Cyclin C Is Sufficient For Myoblast Differentiation-Induced Mitochondrial Fragmentation, Alicia N. Campbell, Randy Strich

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

One of the largest and most dynamic tissues in the body, skeletal muscle, requires constant regeneration and upkeep. Dysregulation of this regeneration process has been implicated in many neuromuscular diseases and myotonic dystrophies. Regeneration requires the differentiation of myogenic lineages including exiting the cell cycle, gene expression changes, and fusing of myoblasts into multinucleate myotubes. Part of this reconstruction requires the breakdown and repopulation of mitochondrial networks. At the early onset of myoblast differentiation, there is an upregulation of dynamin-related protein, Drp1, and an increase in mitophagy mediated by sequestosome (SQSTM1) removal of mitochondria.

Previously, our lab has shown that …

Conservation And Divergence In The Heterochronic Pathway Of C. Elegans And C. Briggsae, Maria Ivanova, Eric G. Moss

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

The heterochronic pathway of Caenorhabditis elegans is exemplary as a mechanism of developmental timing: mutations in genes of this pathway alter the relative timing of diverse developmental events independent of spatial or cell type specific regulation. It is the most thoroughly characterized developmental timing pathway known. Most of the heterochronic genes are conserved across great evolutionary time, and a few homologs seem to have developmental timing roles in certain contexts. The degree to which other organisms have explicit developmental timing mechanisms, and what factors comprise those mechanisms, isn’t generally known.

Developmental pathways evolve even if the resulting morphology remains the …

Cdk8 Kinase Module Modifies Expression Of Specific Translation-Related Proteins Before And After Stress, Brittany Friedson, Katrina Cooper

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Translation is tightly coupled to growth status. Efficient protein synthesis is necessary for cell growth in nutrient rich environments, while global translation inhibition combined with selective translation of stress-responsive mRNAs helps limit growth in times of stress. Environmental stress cues which inhibit the nutrient-sensing complex TORC1 are known to reduce general translation, but how does the cell alter protein synthesis machinery to adapt to these conditions? A few mechanisms to promote cell survival in nitrogen starvation include post-translational modification and selective degradation of specific mRNA-binding translation factors, as well as inhibition of activators of genes whose products are required for …

Impact Forces And Patterns Of Axonal Injury Differ Between Two Models Of Tbi, Edward Lai, David M Devilbiss

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects approximately 3.8 million Americans a year and results in complex neuropathological and neurocognitive sequelae. Animal models of TBI attempt to replicate the impact forces and pathology of injury in humans. However, in these models, the forces generated at the time of impact are poorly understood. Nonetheless, a variety of shear and strain forces generated at the time of impact can produce diffuse axonal injury. Injury to axons and neurons across a variety of brain regions resulting from axonal injury underlies the cognitive and behavioral impairments observed after TBI. Three critical brain regions, the corpus callosum …

Cardiovascular And Range Of Motion Effects After Exercise Training Interventions, Nolynn E. Sutherland

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The effects of stretching and yoga on the cardiovascular and muscular systems are still being discovered and can be assessed non-invasively. The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the non-invasive markers of stretching and yoga on the metabolic, cardiovascular, and muscular systems. A series of three studies were conducted to gain insight into how stretching and yoga influence the body and if there are any potential differences between them.

The first study aimed to determine if stretching would influence fiber type and motor unit recruitment. An acute bout of stretch exercise was performed immediately before a biking exercise session …

Effects Of Glucocorticoids Upon Pro-Inflammatory Responses To Acute Sleep Fragmentation, Hunter Weaver

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sleep loss is a common problem in humans who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep aids in the regulation of immune responses, some of which induce inflammatory responses. Cytokines regulate the inflammatory process and are released in response to sleep fragmentation (SF) in mice. Glucocorticoids are hormones that are released from the adrenal cortices during a stress response and are considered to be anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive at high doses but may stimulate immune function on an acute level. The first hypothesis tested was that normal physiological expression of glucocorticoids (Sham) will display increased IL-1β and TNFα expression levels, while high …

Characterization Of Gangliosides And Fatty Acids In Extracellular Vesicles From Human Milk, Aliya Amin

Food Science (MS) Theses

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are bioactive components of human milk that may impact functionality to regulate growth, cognitive development, metabolism, and immunity in newborns. The biogenesis of EVs and the mechanism by which EVs elicit biologic effects in vivo have not been characterized entirely. Gangliosides and fatty acids are integral in the formation, release, stability, and functionalities of EVs. Presumably, EV function is related to EV composition and lipids in EVs influence the bioavailability of EV cargo and downstream functions of EVs. The objective of this research was to characterize the fatty acid and ganglioside composition of EVs in human milk. …

Quantifying The Relationship Between Pond Size And Water Quality, Rebekah Mason

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The water quality of ponds, streams, and groundwater is at risk due to agricultural and urban development. Implementation of ponds near developmental areas can act as catchment sites to reduce further water pollution (Bichsel et al., 2015). However, maintenance of pond water quality is necessary for continued water supply to livestock and general recreational use. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between pond size (surface area range from 142 to 5336 m²) and water quality. Analysis of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, and chlorophyll-a, were conducted during the summer of 2021 and winter …

Effects Of Thermal Processing On Peach Puree Of Different Cultivars: Analysis Of Biochemical Alteration, Non-Enzymatic Browning Reaction, And Color Changes, James Hayes

All Theses

The effects of pasteurization temperature and time on the change in seven peach puree variables over a 6-week accelerated shelf-life test (35°C) were evaluated. The variables of interest were three color measures [ L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness)]; two brown pigment measures [spectrophotometric absorption at 420 nm (Browning Index) and 443 nm (Hydroxymethylfurfural)]; °Brix; and pH). Puree was collected from three different cultivars (2 freestone and 1 clingstone) and puree samples from each cultivar were subjected to 20 combinations of pasteurization temperatures (70°C, 80°C, 90 °C, 100°C) and same hold times (0 minutes, 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 …

The Roles Of Pon2 In Mitochondrial Physiology, Lung Tumor Cell Proliferation, And Lung Tumorigenesis., Aaron Whitt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) is an intracellular, multifunctional enzyme with near-ubiquitous tissue distribution. Within cells, PON2 is localized to mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it mitigates the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). PON2’s chief enzymatic function is its lactonase activity, through which it catalyzes the hydrolysis of a bacterial quorum-sensing molecule, N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (C12), effectively disrupting bacterial intercellular communication and protecting against infection. C12 is produced by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa and has been shown to disrupt various aspects of eukaryotic host cell physiology and evoke apoptotic cell death through the activity of PON2. Additionally, PON2 has garnered …

The Effects Of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (Thc) On Responding For Non-Drug Reinforcers In Rats., Anna Radford

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Although cannabis is widely consumed by humans for the intoxicating effects that are mediated by delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), pre-clinical models of THC self-administration have been difficult to establish. We hypothesized that THC may have reinforcement enhancing effects comparable to other drugs (e.g., nicotine and caffeine), which are also widely consumed by humans but difficult to establish as primary reinforcers in non-human animals. To investigate whether THC is a reinforcement enhancer, male (M, n=8) and female (F, n=8) rats were shaped to self-administer a reinforcing saccharin (SACC) solution (0.2% w/v) in standard operant chambers equipped with infrared beams to monitor locomotor …

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 …

Exploring Nitrogen Fixation In Methanosarcina Acetivorans, Rylee Cook

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

As of 2016, the genomes of over sixty species of methanogenic archaea have been sequenced.4 Research on the genomes of methanogens such as M. acetivorans led to the characterization of numerous genes with unknown functions. Genes similar to those of nitrogenase have been shown to possess functions unrelated to nitrogen fixation, such as F430 biosynthesis genes. 5,6,7 My research focused on the uncharacterized gene clusters ma2032-33 and ma1631-33 (Figure 1). These genes have conserved nitrogenase domains: ma2032 has fused nifH and nifD domains, while ma2033 has a nifD domain. The ma1631-33 gene cluster contains two nitrogenase homologs and one iron …

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 …

Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum In Children Is Not Associated With Esophageal Perforation, Kevin Roby, Catherine Barkach, Diane Studzinsk, Nathan M. Novotny, Begum Akay, Pavan Brahmamdam

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Purpose: We hypothesized that esophageal perforation is not a common etiology for spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM), and that SPM is a self-limited disease not requiring routine admission. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients, ages 0 to 21 years, diagnosed with SPM in one hospital system (five hospitals) from 2009 – 2019. Cases were identified using ICD9 and 10 codes and confirmed through chart review. Cases were excluded for trauma, severe infections, or subsequent development of SPM after admission for a separate diagnosis. Data regarding patient characteristics, diagnostic tests, and outcomes were collected, and summary statistics were performed. Results: We …

Quantification Of Organic Carbon Sequestered By Biogenic Iron Sulfide Minerals In Long-Term Anoxic Laboratory Incubations, Nader Nabeh, Cheyenne Brokaw, Aude Picard

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Organic carbon sequestration in sedimentary environments controls oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. While minerals play an important role in the preservation of organic carbon, there is a lack of understanding about the formation and stability of organo-mineral interactions in anoxic environments, especially those involving authigenic iron sulfide minerals. In this study, we quantified organic carbon and nitrogen sequestered in biogenic iron sulfide minerals co-precipitated with sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in freshwater and marine conditions in long-term laboratory experiments. The amounts of C and N associated with biogenic iron sulfide minerals increased with increasing cell biomass concentrations available in …

Learning's In Stem, Victoria Arms

STEM Month

Can you share something you have learned related to a STEM topic you feel is important?

Answer: A stem topic I feel is important is math because you can learn many equation’s.

Can you explain why that topic is important to you, their families and communities? Answer: The topic that is important to our families and community is important because you can grow smarter and can learn a lot of things.

Mrs.Arms class.

Laurier Biology Departmental Seminars Poster Colouring Book (Vol 1), Tristan A.F. Long

Biology Faculty Publications

Departmental seminar posters are largely utilitarian affairs – who is talking?, when are they speaking?, where is the seminar? (and maybe will there will be refreshments served?). While functional, they often fail to capture the beauty and excitement of their subject matter, and may fail to engage a wider audience. As the organizer of the Wilfrid Laurier University Department of Biology seminar series in 2014, on a lark, I started drawing posters that tried to illustrate our speaker’s research in a non-conventional manner, and hopefully appeal to those that might otherwise find attending a departmental seminar intimidating. Little did I …

Utilization Of Bioinformatics And Immunocytochemistry To Examine Gap Junction Expression In Breast Cancers Cells, Jasmine D. Carter, Giovanni Reyes, Abeeha K. Choudhary, Eric A. Albrecht

Symposium of Student Scholars

Utilization of Bioinformatics and Immunocytochemistry to Examine Gap Junction Expression in Breast Cancers Cells.

Jasmine D. Carter¹, Giovanni Reyes¹, Abeeha Choudhary² and Eric A. Albrecht¹

Breast cancer is known for its diverse clinical classifications and expressing different levels of membrane proteins such as ion channels and gap junctions. This diversity allows more variations in cell polarization, which can lead to enhanced directional ion fluxes in certain breast cancer subtypes. We utilized the interactive web portal UALCAN to evaluate the gene expression data of gap junctions, ion exchange channels and cytoskeletal proteins in breast cancer …

Characterisation Of Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Mutations And Transmission In Pakistan, Gary Napier, Anwar Sheed Khan, Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Tahir Khan, Sajid Ali, Muhammad Qasim, Noor Mohammad, Rumina Hasan, Zahra Hasan, Susana Campino

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a high-burden disease in Pakistan, with multi-drug (MDR) and extensive-drug (XDR) resistance, complicating infection control. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of M. tuberculosis is being used to infer lineages (strain-types), drug resistance mutations, and transmission patterns-all informing infection control and clinical decision making. Here we analyse WGS data on 535 M. tuberculosis isolates sourced across Pakistan between years 2003 and 2020, to understand the circulating strain-types and mutations related to 12 anti-TB drugs, as well as identify transmission clusters. Most isolates belonged to lineage 3 (n = 397; 74.2%) strain-types, and were MDR (n = …