Microbiology Commons^™

Review Of New Treatment Options For Toxoplasmosis, Kiley Roman

D.U.Quark

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the parasite, Toxoplasma Gondii. The parasite is often carried in cats and contaminated food and water. Toxoplasmosis is not serious most of the time but can be harmful to immunocompromised people, pregnant women, and their fetuses or babies. Treatments are commonly given to the immunocompromised. However, there are problems with the current treatments, in which they only treat active parasites and cannot remove the cysts created by disease progression. Due to the treatments’ inability to remove cysts, an infected person may not fully recover from the infection. This review evaluated the new …

Geographic Disparities Impacting Oral Vaccine Performance: Observations And Future Directions, Rachel M Burke, Sasirekha Ramani, Julia Lynch, Laura V Cooper, Haeun Cho, Ananda S Bandyopadhyay, Carl D Kirkwood, A Duncan Steele, Gagandeep Kang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Oral vaccines have several advantages compared with parenteral administration: they can be relatively cheap to produce in high quantities, easier to administer, and induce intestinal mucosal immunity that can protect against infection. These characteristics have led to successful use of oral vaccines against rotavirus, polio, and cholera. Unfortunately, oral vaccines for all three diseases have demonstrated lower performance in the highest-burden settings where they are most needed. Rotavirus vaccines are estimated to have >85% effectiveness against hospitalization in children < 12 months in countries with low child mortality, but only ~65% effectiveness in countries with high child mortality. Similarly, oral polio vaccines have lower immunogenicity in developing country settings compared with high-resource settings. Data are more limited for oral cholera vaccines, but suggest lower titers among children compared with adults, and, for some vaccines, lower efficacy in endemic settings compared with non-endemic settings. These disparities are likely multifactorial, and available evidence suggests a role for maternal factors (e.g. transplacental antibodies, breastmilk), host factors (e.g. genetic polymorphisms-with the best evidence for rotavirus-or previous infection), and environmental factors (e.g. gut microbiome, co-infections). Overall, these data highlight the rather ambiguous and often contradictory nature of evidence on factors affecting oral vaccine response, cautioning against broad extrapolation of outcomes based on one population or one vaccine type. Meaningful impact on performance of oral vaccines will likely only be possible with a suite of interventions, given the complex and multifactorial nature of the problem, and the degree to which contributing factors are intertwined.

Antimicrobial Effect Of Herbs Extracted With Ethanol Compared To Ampicillin, Brianna Neilan, Laura Rowe

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections within the medical field, however there are growing concerns of antibiotic resistance. Before the introduction of antibiotics herbs were commonly used to treat infections, and herbal medicine is still used in many communities and cultures. Bacteria’s increasing resistance to traditional antibiotics has caused herbal medicines to become a significant research topic recently. Methods of herbal medicine preparation include preparing teas using hot water, and tinctures that soak herbs in alcohol for several weeks. Previous research has shown significant antimicrobial effects of some herbs when soaked in water and other liquids. The aim …

Discerning The Role Of Microtubule Acetylation During Hiv-1 Infection, Drew Michael Lichon

Dissertations

The host-pathogen interactions underlying Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection are complex and involve the exploitation of host cellular machinery. This thesis investigates the roles of dynein adaptors, microtubule acetylation, and TRIM69-mediated restriction in HIV-1 infection. Through a series of detailed experiments, we explore how HIV-1 utilizes multiple dynein adaptors, such as BICDR1 and Hook3, for intracellular transport, and reveal that these adaptors are critical for efficient viral trafficking. Conversely, the knockdown of Ninein surprisingly enhances HIV-1 infectivity, suggesting a nuanced regulatory role for this adaptor in viral transport. Further, this thesis challenges the prevailing paradigm that microtubule acetylation …

Investigating The Role Of The Nsp15 Amino-Terminal Domain In Nsp15 Function, Viral Replication, And Pathogenesis, Monika Evdokimova

Dissertations

Identifying conserved mechanisms used by viruses to delay host innate responses can reveal potential targets for antiviral therapeutics. Here, we investigated coronavirus nonstructural protein 15 (nsp15), which encodes a highly conserved endoribonuclease (EndoU). EndoU functions as an immune antagonist by limiting the accumulation of viral replication intermediates that would otherwise be sensed by the host. Despite being a promising antiviral target, it has been difficult to develop small molecule inhibitors that target the EndoU active site. We generated nsp15 mutants of SARS-CoV-2 and mouse coronavirus MHV-A59 and identified conserved residues within the amino-terminal domain that are required for EndoU activity. …

Viroporin Activity Is Necessary For Intercellular Calcium Signals That Contribute To Viral Pathogenesis, J Thomas Gebert, Francesca J Scribano, Kristen A Engevik, Ethan M Huleatt, Michael R Eledge, Lauren E Dorn, Asha A Philip, Takahiro Kawagishi, Harry B Greenberg, John T Patton, Joseph M Hyser

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Viruses engage in a variety of processes to subvert host defenses and create an environment amenable to replication. Here, using rotavirus as a prototype, we show that calcium conductance out of the endoplasmic reticulum by the virus encoded ion channel, NSP4, induces intercellular calcium waves that extend beyond the infected cell and contribute to pathogenesis. Viruses that lack the ability to induce this signaling show diminished viral shedding and attenuated disease in a mouse model of rotavirus diarrhea. This implicates nonstructural protein 4 (NSP4) as a virulence factor and provides mechanistic insight into its mode of action. Critically, this …

Role Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Maintaining Sustainable Agroecosystems, Anju Chaudhary, Shital Poudyal, Amita Kaundal

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a crucial role in maintaining sustainable agroecosystems by forming mutualistic relationships with plant roots, improving soil health, facilitating nutrient uptake, and enhancing resilience to abiotic stresses. The mutualistic relationship between AM fungi and plants promotes a balanced microbial community and improves soil structure by forming stable soil aggregates. Additionally, AM fungi can lower the adverse effects of high soil phosphorus (P) while also enhancing plant tolerance to drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity through osmotic regulation and antioxidant production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi also support beneficial microorganisms, such as potassium (K)-solubilizing microbes and nitrogen (N)-transforming bacteria, …

Pharmacological Or Genetic Inhibition Of Ltcc Promotes Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Through Inhibition Of Calcineurin Activity, Lynn A C Devilée, Abou Bakr M Salama, Jessica M Miller, Janice D Reid, Qinghui Ou, Nourhan M Baraka, Kamal Abou Farraj, Madiha Jamal, Yibing Nong, Todd K Rosengart, Douglas Andres, Jonathan Satin, Tamer M A Mohamed, James E Hudson, Riham R E Abouleisa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Cardiomyocytes (CMs) lost during ischemic cardiac injury cannot be replaced due to their limited proliferative capacity. Calcium is an important signal transducer that regulates key cellular processes, but its role in regulating CM proliferation is incompletely understood. Here we show a robust pathway for new calcium signaling-based cardiac regenerative strategies. A drug screen targeting proteins involved in CM calcium cycling in human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac organoids (hCOs) revealed that only the inhibition of L-Type Calcium Channel (LTCC) induced the CM cell cycle. Furthermore, overexpression of Ras-related associated with Diabetes (RRAD), an endogenous inhibitor of LTCC, induced CM cell cycle …

The Use Of Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Encapsulated In Organic Nanoparticles Within Boar Semen Extenders To Control Bacterial Growth And Preserve Sperm Quality During Short-Term Storage Without Antibiotics, Congbang Ngo, Naiyaphat Nittayasut, Teerapong Yata, Junpen Suwimonteerabutr, Nuvee Prapasarakul, Jane M. Morrell, Padet Tummaruk

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of adding ethyl lauroyl arginate (ELA), encapsulated in organic nanoparticles, to a semen extender without antibiotics on sperm quality and bacterial load during short-term storage. Three ejaculates from Duroc boars were divided into four equal portions and diluted with Beltsville Thawing Solution to produce semen doses containing 3 billion spermatozoa in 80 ml. The extended semen did not include antibiotics but instead incorporated different concentrations of ELA nanoparticles into the extenders: 0 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 15 ppm. The semen doses were stored for 4 days, with …

Molecular Dynamics At Immune Synapse Lipid Rafts Influence The Cytolytic Behavior Of Car T Cells, Ahmed Z Gad, Jessica S Morris, Lea Godret-Miertschin, Melisa J Montalvo, Sybrina S Kerr, Harrison Berger, Jessica C H Lee, Amr M Saadeldin, Mohammad H Abu-Arja, Shuo Xu, Spyridoula Vasileiou, Rebecca M Brock, Kristen Fousek, Mohamed F Sheha, Madhuwanti Srinivasan, Yongshuai Li, Arash Saeedi, Kandice R Levental, Ann M Leen, Maksim Mamonkin, Alexandre Carisey, Navin Varadarajan, Meenakshi Hegde, Sujith K Joseph, Ilya Levental, Malini Mukherjee, Nabil Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CART) targeting CD19 through CD28.ζ signaling induce rapid lysis of leukemic blasts, contrasting with persistent tumor control exhibited by 4-1BB.ζ-CART. We reasoned that molecular dynamics at the CART immune synapse (CARIS) could explain differences in their tumor rejection kinetics. We observed that CD28.ζ-CART engaged in brief highly lethal CARIS and mastered serial killing, whereas 4-1BB.ζ-CART formed lengthy CARIS and relied on robust expansion and cooperative killing. We analyzed CARIS membrane lipid rafts (mLRs) and found that, upon tumor engagement, CD28.ζ-CAR molecules rapidly but transiently translocated into mLRs, mobilizing the microtubular organizing center and lytic granules …

Tamm-Horsfall Protein Augments Neutrophil Netosis During Urinary Tract Infection, Vicki Mercado-Evans, Holly Branthoover, Claude Chew, Camille Serchejian, Alexander B Saltzman, Marlyd E Mejia, Jacob J Zulk, Ingrid Cornax, Victor Nizet, Kathryn A Patras

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Urinary neutrophils are a hallmark of urinary tract infection (UTI), yet the mechanisms governing their activation, function, and efficacy in controlling infection remain incompletely understood. Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THP), the most abundant protein in urine, uses terminal sialic acids to bind an inhibitory receptor and dampen neutrophil inflammatory responses. We hypothesized that neutrophil modulation is an integral part of THP-mediated host protection. In a UTI model, THP-deficient mice showed elevated urinary tract bacterial burdens, increased neutrophil recruitment, and more severe tissue histopathological changes compared with WT mice. Furthermore, THP-deficient mice displayed impaired urinary NETosis during UTI. To investigate the effect of …

Impact Of Achromobacter Xylosoxidans Infection On The Cf Lung In Single-Species And Polymicrobial Infection With Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Caitlin E. Billiot

All ETDs from UAB

Achromobacter xylosoxidans is a Gram-negative bacillus that acts as an opportun- istic pathogen in those with cystic fibrosis (CF). Infection with A. xylosoxidans in these populations is associated with decreased lung function. Thus, this raises the question of the role of A. xylosoxidans in CF disease progression. CF is a polymicrobial disease and A. xylosoxidans is oftentimes isolated alongside Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a major CF colonizer. In the context of CF disease, it is important to understand the implications of polymicrobial infection as altered infection dynamics are observed when multiple microbes colonize together. In the first half of this work, we …

The Role Of Anthropogenic Influences On A Tropical Lake Ecosystem And Its Surrounding Catchment: A Case Study Of Lake Sentani, Sulung Nomosatryo, Daniel Lipus, Alexander Bartholomäus, Cynthia Henny, Iwan Ridwansyah, Puguh Sujarta, Sizhong Yang, Dirk Wagner, Jens Kallmeyer

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Lake Sentani is a tropical lake in Indonesia, consisting of four interconnected sub-basins of different water depths. While previous work has highlighted the impact of catchment composition on biogeochemical processes in Lake Sentani, little is currently known about the microbiological characteristics across this unique ecosystem. With recent population growth in this historically rural area, the anthropogenic impact on Lake Sentani and hence its microbial life is also increasing. Therefore, we aimed to explore the influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the microbial diversity of Lake Sentani. Here, we present a detailed microbiological evaluation of Lake Sentani, analyzing 49 different …

Understanding The Insecticidal Toxin Xpta2: A Shift In Toxin Complex Biology, Cole Lorenza Martin

All ETDs from UAB

Pore forming toxins (PFTs) belonging to the ABC toxin complex (Tc) family are responsible for targeting and translocating toxins into target cells. ABC toxins consist of three separate subunits, each subunit providing a vital role in the cytotoxic mechanism of the Tc. The A subunit or TcA is the largest subunit of the complex and contains the binding domains and the translocation channel that perforates the membrane. The B subunit or TcB functions as a gated linker that forms a cocoon with the TcC which houses the toxic peptide and subsequently gets translocated through the TcB and TcA into the …

Fluorescence Lifetime Sorting Reveals Tunable Enzyme Interactions Within Cytoplasmic Condensates, Leyla E Fahim, Joshua M Marcus, Noah D Powell, Zachary A Ralston, Katherine Walgamotte, Eleonora Perego, Giuseppe Vicidomini, Alessandro Rossetta, Jason E Lee

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) condensates partition RNA and protein into multiple liquid phases. The multiphasic feature of condensate-enriched components creates experimental challenges for distinguishing membraneless condensate functions from the surrounding dilute phase. We combined fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) with phasor plot filtering and segmentation to resolve condensates from the dilute phase. Condensate-specific lifetimes were used to track protein-protein interactions by measuring FLIM-Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). We used condensate FLIM-FRET to evaluate whether mRNA decapping complex subunits can form decapping-competent interactions within P-bodies. Condensate FLIM-FRET revealed the presence of core subunit interactions within P-bodies under basal conditions and the disruption of …

Investigating Drivers In Phytoplankton Between Lentic And Lotic Ecosystems Within Twelvepole Creek Watershed, Devin Lee Farmer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) threaten aquatic ecosystems, local economies, and water quality. While extensively studied in lakes (lentic systems), their impact on flowing waters (lotic systems) remains underexplored. This study examined algal drivers in both ecosystems within the same watershed, focusing on Beech Fork Lake (lentic) and Twelve Pole Creek (lotic). Key environmental factors, including pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels, were measured using in situ sensors and laboratory analysis. Water samples were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, and algal biomass for comparison to environmental conditions. Phytoplankton was preserved for identification in future research. By comparing these environments, this study …

Engineering Chimeric Autoantibody Receptor T Cells (Caar): A Potential Cure For Graves' Disease, Kimbal Demars, Abigail Cheever, Chloe Kang, Hunter Lindsay, Mackenzie Hansen, Kim O'Neill, Scott Weber

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

• Graves’ Disease (GD) is the 4th most common autoimmune disease in the United States.
• GD is characterized by autoreactive B cells releasing anti-thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) Ab that bind to TSHR, causing an overexpression of hormones.
• Excessive hormonal release leads to hyperthyroidism, causing a variety of metabolic issues.
• No cure exists, only limited effectiveness of treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, or thyroidectomy.
• Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T cell therapy has been effective in treating blood cancers.
• Modifying this therapy by engineering T cells that replace the antigen as the T cell receptor will selectively target autoreactive B cells, namely chimeric …

Effects Of Acute Injections Of Etoh In Cytokine Release In Mice, Alina Svitlana Rodriguez Bezruchko, Alka Gaur, Carlos M. Moreno, Jordan T. Yorgason, Scott Weber

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

To learn the pathway by which the peripheral immune system interacts with dopaminergic neurons and triggers an addiction response, we compared cytokine and chemokine production levels before and after a 20-minute ethanol injection. Since some cytokines and chemokines can cross the blood-brain barrier, their peripheral production may influence neural activity. We had four groups: ethanol, saline, domperidone-ethanol, and domperidone-saline. As domperidone is a dopamine antagonist, we will use it as a control to verify that the change in cytokine production is due to ethanol rather than other factors.

Competitive Bacteria Inhibiting Yersinia Ruckeri Growth – A Strategy To Prevent Enteric Redmouth Disease (Erm) In Freshwater Fish, Kyler Linton, David Erickson

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Pacific freshwater fish are less likely than Atlantic freshwater fish to exhibit Enteric Redmouth Disease (ERM), or Yersiniosis as caused by Yersinia ruckeri. Based on the hypothesis that these fish may harbor commensal bacteria that inhibit Y. ruckeri growth, we isolated many kinds of commensal bacteria from fish intestines that we have collected from Alaska and local streams. Using co-culture experiments, we have conducted competitive assays to determine if the bacteria found in the gut biomes of these fish inhibit the growth of Y. ruckeri. These may be potential probiotic organisms that could provide resistance to ERM disease.

Acee And Pflb: Interference In Oxygen Independent Or Dependent Metabolic Pathways Affect Virulence Of P. Carotovorum, Ethan Shreeve, Foxx Naylor, Jeffrey Schachterle

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Pectobacterium carotovorum is a plant-pathogenic bacterium, causing soft rot diseases in vegetables such as potatoes and carrots. Mainly, this is achieved by the production of plant cell walldegrading enzymes, allowing for invasion of host cells. The general mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of P. carotovorum are well characterized, but the phenotypic effects of some core metabolic processes are not. An important part of metabolism in bacteria is pyruvate production and utilization as a metabolic intermediate. P. carotovorum has two critical genes— pflB and aceE—that play roles in directing pyruvate metabolism. PflB encodes pyruvate formate-lyase, enabling the bacterium to convert pyruvate into …