Dust-Driven Mechanism For Marine Particle Aggregation: Interactions Between Clay Minerals, Heterotrophic Bacteria And Organic Matter Influences Aggregation In Marine Systems,
2024
Dartmouth College
Dust-Driven Mechanism For Marine Particle Aggregation: Interactions Between Clay Minerals, Heterotrophic Bacteria And Organic Matter Influences Aggregation In Marine Systems, Vignesh Gokuladas Menon
Dartmouth College Master’s Theses
Atmospheric dust deposition plays a crucial role in marine biogeochemical cycles, yet mechanisms underlying its impact on particle dynamics remain unclear. This study investigates the synergistic interactions between marine heterotrophic bacteria and clay minerals in seawater, focusing on their effect on Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP) production and organoclay aggregation. Field experiments in the Gulf of Maine and laboratory roller tank studies were conducted using natural microbial communities and model heterotrophic bacterial strains (Alteromonas sp. EZ55, Marinobacter adhaerens HP15, and Sulfitobacter sp. NAS-14.1). Results demonstrate that clay exposure significantly enhances TEP production by bloom-associated heterotrophic bacteria, with increases up to …
Optimization Of An Immune Assay To Detect Binding Of Nod2 To Staphylococcus Aureus,
2024
Governors State University
Optimization Of An Immune Assay To Detect Binding Of Nod2 To Staphylococcus Aureus, Precious Mckenzie
All Student Theses and Dissertations
Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive, commensal bacterium, is the cause of a multitude of opportunistic diseases and infections. While S. aureus has evolved ways to escape innate immune responses in the host, the mechanisms are not fully understood. One area of active research involves mechanisms by which S. aureus avoids detection by Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs), such as Nuclear Oligomerization Domain 2 (NOD2), present on the surface of and inside innate immune cells. This study aimed to design and optimize an assay that can be utilized to investigate S. aureus components that contribute to the activation of NOD2 receptors. The …
In Vitro Assessment Of The Anti-Biofilm Effectiveness Of Copper And Zinc Enhanced Borate Bioactive Glass Using Processed Microscopic Images,
2024
Missouri University of Science and Technology
In Vitro Assessment Of The Anti-Biofilm Effectiveness Of Copper And Zinc Enhanced Borate Bioactive Glass Using Processed Microscopic Images, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg
Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works
The escalating burden of nosocomial infections presents a formidable challenge to healthcare systems worldwide, leading to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and elevated healthcare costs. These infections are often resistant to conventional antibiotic therapies due to their association with biofilms which contribute to the persistence and resistance of pathogens. In addressing the challenge of biofilm-associated nosocomial infections, borate bioactive glasses (BBGs) have emerged as promising biomaterials. Doping these glasses with antimicrobial metals could potentially harness their antibacterial properties to prevent biofilm formation. This study undertakes a rigorous evaluation of the anti-biofilm efficacy of copper and zinc-doped BBGs by employing processed …
A Molecular-Informed Species Inventory Of The Order Ceramiales (Rhodophyta) In The Narragansett Bay Area (Rhode Island And Massachusetts), Usa,
2024
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
A Molecular-Informed Species Inventory Of The Order Ceramiales (Rhodophyta) In The Narragansett Bay Area (Rhode Island And Massachusetts), Usa, Thomas Irvine, Brian Wysor, Alicia Beauvais
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Narragansett Bay is an estuarine system in the western North Atlantic Ocean that harbors a diverse marine flora, providing structure, habitat, and food for native biodiversity. This area has been the center of numerous environmental, biological, ecological, and oceanographic studies; however, marine macroalgae have not been extensively examined using modern molecular methods. Here, we document the biodiversity of the red algal order Ceramiales based on DNA sequence comparisons of the 3′ end of the RuBisCo large subunit (rbcL-3P) and the universal plastid amplicon (UPA). Thirty-seven distinct species of this order were identified and validated with molecular data, including five new …
Application Of Environmental Dna Metabarcoding To Differentiate Algal Communities By Littoral Zonation And Detect Unreported Algal Species,
2024
The University of Alabama
Application Of Environmental Dna Metabarcoding To Differentiate Algal Communities By Littoral Zonation And Detect Unreported Algal Species, Sergei Bombin, Andrei Bombin, Brian Wysor, Juan M. Lopez-Bautista
Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications
Coastal areas are the most biologically productive and undoubtedly among the most complex ecosystems. Algae are responsible for most of the gross primary production in these coastal regions. However, despite the critical importance of algae for the global ecosystem, the biodiversity of many algal groups is understudied, partially due to the high complexity of morphologically identifying algal species. The current study aimed to take advantage of the recently developed technology for biotic community assessment through the high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of environmental DNA (eDNA), known as the “eDNA metabarcoding”, to characterize littoral algal communities in the Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM). …
Ribosome Hibernation Factor Induces Antibiotic Persisters Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Neutrophil-Rich Lung Lesions,
2024
University at Albany, State University of New York
Ribosome Hibernation Factor Induces Antibiotic Persisters Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis In Neutrophil-Rich Lung Lesions, Jamie Corro
Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis, is a prescient global health threat and the leading cause of death by an infectious agent. Treatment of Mtb infection involves administering 2-4 antibiotics for a minimum of 6 months. This extended drug regimen is required to target a subpopulation of persistent bacilli. As their name implies, these bacteria can “persist” by acquiring nonhereditary and transient antibiotic tolerance. Although the precise mechanism is unknown, it’s often attributed to slowing cellular growth and metabolic processes. During zinc deprivation, bacteria can remodel their ribosomes by replacing their zinc-binding paralogues containing the CXXC motif (C+) …
Factors Associated With Hepatitis C-Related Hospitalizations And Inpatient Mortality In The United States, Pre- And Post-Onset Of The Covid-19 Pandemic,
2024
Georgia Southern University
Factors Associated With Hepatitis C-Related Hospitalizations And Inpatient Mortality In The United States, Pre- And Post-Onset Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Christina R. Samuel
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Background: Hepatitis C is a significant public health problem in the United States and imposes a substantial burden on the healthcare system. Previous research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic response efforts have overshadowed hepatitis C testing and treatment measures in health care settings across the country. The purpose of this study was to describe and examine the factors associated with hepatitis C-related hospitalizations and inpatient mortality in the United States, pre- and post-onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2019-2020 National Inpatient Sample database. The study population included persons aged ≥18 years with hepatitis C-related inpatient …
Social Interactions And Spatial Structure Drive Community Assembly Of Bacterial Biofilm,
2024
Dartmouth College
Social Interactions And Spatial Structure Drive Community Assembly Of Bacterial Biofilm, Matthew C. Bond
Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations
Despite the critical nature which microbial communities play in the natural world and human civilization, the breadth of understanding remains shallow. Challenged by scale, high variability between environments, and extensive diversity, microbial ecologists strive to understand connections between a community’s structure and function, as well as the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying observed natural patterning of communities. Biofilms are the predominate mode of growth for microbial communities—characterized by cellular attachment to a surface via a self-produced matrix and heterogeneous structure, often resulting in a primary growth front along the biofilm surface due to differential access to bulk nutrients (cite). This …
Synthetic Microbial Communities For Plastic Upcycling,
2024
Michigan Technological University
Synthetic Microbial Communities For Plastic Upcycling, Isabel B. A. Valencia
Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports
Plastic waste and human hunger pose major threats to the health and wellbeing of populations world-wide. Using microbial methods to upcycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into value-added compounds such as single cell protein (SCP) for human consumption is a unique solution to both these issues. Two monomers of chemically deconstructed PET (DCPET), terephthalate (TPA) and ethylene glycol (EG), have been previously shown to be biodegradable by enriched microbial communities. Using this top-down knowledge to inform the reconstruction of a minimal microbial community constructed from isolated members of these communities is a novel way to efficiently process these monomers via a …
Determination Of Spore Viability In Concrete Across Several Factors Using Most Probable Number,
2024
The University of Akron
Determination Of Spore Viability In Concrete Across Several Factors Using Most Probable Number, Samuel Boyer
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
To determine the lowest concentration of spore added to polyurethane-cement composite (PUCCO) particles that can still germinate after curing in concrete. This research project is a small addition to the larger research project being undertaken by Mirza Mohammed Rashiduzzaman for his Masters. The larger project involves the use of fungal spores added in concrete to act as a self-healing component when cracks form in the concrete structure over time. These spores are suspended in a protective oil and loaded into small, hardened sponge-like PUCCO cubes to act as growth points when water and air can reach the PUCCO in the …
Optimization Of Buffers Used In Phycobiliprotein Extraction From The Cyanobacterium Acaryochloris Marina,
2024
The University of Akron
Optimization Of Buffers Used In Phycobiliprotein Extraction From The Cyanobacterium Acaryochloris Marina, Rinah Fleisher
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
Optimization of buffers used in phycocyanin extraction from A. marina was explored including acetate, phosphate, and citrate buffers as well as deionized water as a negative control. Samples were extracted in triplicates for each trial with two extraction trials completed overall for citrate buffer (n=6), phosphate buffer (n=6), acetate buffer (n=6), and deionized water (n=6). Results reflect no statistical difference in phycocyanin content (μg/mL) between each buffer or deionized water control. Though no statistically significant differences between treatment groups were found, phosphate buffer yielded the greatest phycocyanin content and the deionized water negative control yielded the lowest phycocyanin content overall. …
Scale And Habitat Effects On Measurement Of Streptomyces Biogeography And Biodiversity,
2024
Humboldt State University
Scale And Habitat Effects On Measurement Of Streptomyces Biogeography And Biodiversity, Terilyn A. Stoflet
Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects
Bacteria in the genus Streptomyces are detected in most soils around the world, as well as on and in seeds, plants, animals, insects and the wind. Currently, more than 700 valid species of Streptomyces have been identified worldwide. Streptomyces produce the majority of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals, as well as important agricultural bioactive molecules due to their unique genetic capabilities. Their distinct genetic abilities allow them to produce an unlimited amount of biosynthetic gene clusters, or BGC’s. Although many compounds come from Streptomyces, scientists have not discovered the biogeographic patterns of this genus. The biogeography of Streptomyces is a …
Listeria Adhesion Protein Orchestrates Caveolae-Mediated Apical Junctional Remodeling Of Epithelial Barrier For Listeria Monocytogenes Translocation,
2024
Old Dominion University
Listeria Adhesion Protein Orchestrates Caveolae-Mediated Apical Junctional Remodeling Of Epithelial Barrier For Listeria Monocytogenes Translocation, Rishi Drolia, Donald B. Bryant, Shivendra Tenguria, Zuri A. Jules-Culver, Jessie Thind, Breanna Amelunke, Donqi Liu, Nicholas L. F. Gallina, Krishna K. Mishra, Manalee Samaddar, Manoj R. Sawale, Dharmendra K. Mishra, Abigail D. Cox, Arun K. Bhunia
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
The cellular junctional architecture remodeling by Listeria adhesion protein-heat shock protein 60 (LAP-Hsp60) interaction for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) passage through the epithelial barrier is incompletely understood. Here, using the gerbil model, permissive to internalin (Inl) A/B-mediated pathways like in humans, we demonstrate that Lm crosses the intestinal villi at 48 h post-infection. In contrast, the single isogenic (lap− or ΔinlA) or double (lap−ΔinlA) mutant strains show significant defects. LAP promotes Lm translocation via endocytosis of cell-cell junctional complex in enterocytes that do not display luminal E-cadherin. In comparison, InlA facilitates …
Salmonella Detection In Food Using A Hek-Htlr5 Reported Cell-Based Sensor,
2024
Purdue University
Salmonella Detection In Food Using A Hek-Htlr5 Reported Cell-Based Sensor, Esma Eser, Victoria A. Felton, Rishi Drolia, Arun K. Bhunia
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
The development of a rapid, sensitive, specific method for detecting foodborne pathogens is paramount for supplying safe food to enhance public health safety. Despite the significant improvement in pathogen detection methods, key issues are still associated with rapid methods, such as distinguishing living cells from dead, the pathogenic potential or health risk of the analyte at the time of consumption, the detection limit, and the sample-to-result. Mammalian cell-based assays analyze pathogens’ interaction with host cells and are responsive only to live pathogens or active toxins. In this study, a human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell line expressing Toll-Like Receptor 5 (TLR-5) …
Ecophysiology Of Bradyrhizobium Diazoefficiens Usda 110,
2024
South Dakota State University
Ecophysiology Of Bradyrhizobium Diazoefficiens Usda 110, Armaan Kaur Sandhu
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
With increasing demand for soybean, maximizing plant yield is important yiel is dependent on nitrogen availability, but nitrogen fertilizers can meet the plant's needs but have severe environmental impacts. An economically and environmentally sustainable approach is to enhance nitrogen availability through Biological Nitrogen Fixation by symbiotic rhizobia, Bradyrhizobium, an efficient nitrogen fixer for soybean. This symbiosis begins with attachment of rhizobia to legume roots. Root and rhizobia surface properties play a significant role in this attachment. Another major factor affecting root colonization is bacterial competition ability. There is a lack of knowledge on the role of bacterial surface properties, competition …
Using The Microbiome To Assess The Health Status Of The Individuals Recovered From The East Marshall Street Well,
2024
Virginia Commonwealth University
Using The Microbiome To Assess The Health Status Of The Individuals Recovered From The East Marshall Street Well, Arian Karim
Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects
In 1994, during the construction of the Kontos Building on the Medical College of Virginia Campus, a well on East Marshall Street was discovered to contain artifacts and human remains of African descent. Upon archaeological analysis by the Smithsonian, the ancestral remains can be dated back to the mid-19th century, when grave robbing and the use of cadavers for anatomical purposes [BS1] in medical schools were common. The human oral microbiome is the second largest human microbiota, containing over 600 species of organisms. Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome can lead to the overgrowth of pathogenic species, resulting in illness and …
Epitope Mapping Novel Monoclonal Antibodies Against Borrelia Burgdorferi Surface Proteins Ospc And Bmpa,
2024
University of Central Florida
Epitope Mapping Novel Monoclonal Antibodies Against Borrelia Burgdorferi Surface Proteins Ospc And Bmpa, Eliza M. Doyle
Honors Undergraduate Theses
In response to the progressive nature of Lyme disease, direct diagnostic testing of Borrelia burgdorferi surface proteins was proposed as a quicker and more sensitive alternative to the current indirect detection methods. To determine the ability of novel monoclonal antibodies to detect the surface lipoproteins BmpA and OspC, recombinant fragments of these proteins were created. These fragments were tested against the putative diagnostic antibodies via western blotting as a means to map the epitope of each of the proteins that the respective antibodies recognize. All BmpA fragments with deletions on the N-terminal end exhibited reactivity, indicating that the epitope is …
Investigating The Role And Mechanism Of Host Cell Death In Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Virus Infection,
2024
South Dakota State University
Investigating The Role And Mechanism Of Host Cell Death In Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Virus Infection, Michelle Steyn
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
No abstract provided.
Role Of Interferon Induced Transmembrane Protein 3 (Ifitm3) And Neural Precursor Cell Expressed Developmentally Down Regulated Protein 4 (Nedd4) In Seneca Virus A (Sva) Replication,
2024
South Dakota State University
Role Of Interferon Induced Transmembrane Protein 3 (Ifitm3) And Neural Precursor Cell Expressed Developmentally Down Regulated Protein 4 (Nedd4) In Seneca Virus A (Sva) Replication, Shamiq Aftab
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
In this study, we studied the role of IFITM3 in SVA replication in vitro by silencing the endogenous IFITM3 in NCI-H1299 cells. An average of 1.94-fold increase in SVA VP2 expression and an average of 4.4-fold increase in supernatant virus titer was observed after 24h SVA isolate SD15-26 infection. We have indeed observed an increase in viral mRNA copies by an average of 5-fold in IFITM3 silenced NCI-H1299 cells at 8 hpi indicating that IFITM3 restricts SVA replication post virus attachment and entry. A positive correlation between interferon-alpha induced IFITM3 upregulation and reduced SVA replication was observed. To further confirm …
Understanding Cellular Dynamics: Investigating A Yeast-Two Hybrid Protein-Protein Interaction, Riok3:Cse1l; Also By Investigating Trogocytosis Of Cd4+ T Cells From Rhog-/- Mice,
2024
University of Montana, Missoula
Understanding Cellular Dynamics: Investigating A Yeast-Two Hybrid Protein-Protein Interaction, Riok3:Cse1l; Also By Investigating Trogocytosis Of Cd4+ T Cells From Rhog-/- Mice, Brittnee N. Crane
Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a negative-sense virus that was first described in 1930 when it was isolated from sheep during an outbreak. In the last 25 years there has been a spread in the geographical range into the Middle East. The most susceptible animals are cattle, goats, sheep, and camels. The most overt symptom of livestock infection is that infected pregnant animals experience spontaneous abortion. Humans are susceptible as well and symptoms range from mild febrile illness to liver necrosis, blindness, hemorrhagic fever, and death. An important player in the cellular innate response to RVFV infections is the …
