Attachment Issues: Microbes, Minerals, And The Persistence Of Soil Organic Matter,
2023
West Virginia University
Attachment Issues: Microbes, Minerals, And The Persistence Of Soil Organic Matter, Md Shafiul Islam Rion
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
The remnants of microorganisms are now understood to account for the majority of organic matter in many mineral soils. Despite the significance of this microbial necromass for soil carbon storage, we know relatively little about how the traits of microorganisms interact with soil minerals to determine the stability of microbe derived carbon in soil. Soil minerals differ in their surface area and chemistry potentially influencing microbial attachment, biofilm formation, and the persistence of microbial necromass. To address this knowledge gap, we grew twelve bacterial species from four broad groups of varying cell wall morphology (Gram positive, Gram negative, filamentous actinobacteria, …
Survival Of Listeria Monocytogenes On Organic Honeycrisp And Fuji Apples During Storage At 5, 12 And 22.5◦C,
2023
West Virginia University
Survival Of Listeria Monocytogenes On Organic Honeycrisp And Fuji Apples During Storage At 5, 12 And 22.5◦C, Connor S. Freed
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
This study aimed to evaluate and model the survival of Listeria monocytogenes on organic HoneyCrisp (HC) and Fuji (FJ) apples during storage at various temperatures. Fresh organic HC and FJ apples (without wax coating) obtained from a local wholesale market were inoculated with a 2-strain mix of L. monocytogenes followed by storage at 5.0 (22.9% RH), 12.0 (37.0% RH), and 22.5oC (50.4% RH) for 60, 35, 7 days, respectively, and periodically (day-0 to 60) analyzing microbial populations. Surviving L. monocytogenes were spread-plated on Modified-Oxford agar after 10 or 100-fold serial dilution. Data were analyzed using the mixed-model procedure of SAS …
Exploring The Microbial Composition Of Moonmilk In Wind Cave National Park,
2023
University of Northern Iowa
Exploring The Microbial Composition Of Moonmilk In Wind Cave National Park, Emma Pellegrino
Honors Program Theses
Moonmilk is a white substance mainly composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) that is often found in limestone caves. It is one of many mineral composites, or speleothems, in Wind Cave National Park South Dakota and is thought to be formed by microbial activity. This cave system is a complex, isolated environment that serves as an analog for similar domains beyond the Earth. Each site has varying degrees of human exposure, from public tour routes to caverns only occasionally visited by park rangers, making it an ideal place of study for pristine samples in extreme conditions. Wind Cave also varies in …
Evaluation Of Methods To Analyze Microbial Composition In Soils,
2023
University of Northern Iowa
Evaluation Of Methods To Analyze Microbial Composition In Soils, Joseph Correa
Honors Program Theses
DNA testing has become a vital tool for studying microbes in their natural environments, but there is a lack of standardization in the protocols for extracting environmental DNA. Cave systems provide a special and unique area to research how life thrives in extreme environments. Many parts of caves receive no sunlight and very little nutrients yet harbor microbial communities. Previous work in our lab developed a DNA extraction protocol that works with a wide range of microbial species and with different soil types. I updated this protocol by adding a pre-lysis rinse step and tested whether it performed better with …
Monitoring Archaeal Persistence In Cultivation,
2023
University of Northern Iowa
Monitoring Archaeal Persistence In Cultivation, Payton Hall
Honors Program Theses
It was previously thought that microbes in the domain Archaea were only found in extreme environments such as hot thermal vents at the bottom of the ocean and hypersaline environments, but as scientists began to use environmental DNA to survey soil, they detected archaea from the phylum Thaumarchaeota in relatively benign environments including farm fields, forests, and prairies. In spite of their widespread global distribution, relatively few of these species have been grown in laboratory culture. It is now known that Thaumarchaeota play an important role in the nitrogen cycle because they can generate energy through ammonia-oxidation. To increase the …
Proposing An Rna Interference (Rnai)-Based Treatment For Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) By Analyzing The Post-Transcriptional Gene Targeting Of Sars-Cov-2, Hepatitis C Virus, And A549 Lung Cancer Cells,
2023
Virginia Commonwealth University
Proposing An Rna Interference (Rnai)-Based Treatment For Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) By Analyzing The Post-Transcriptional Gene Targeting Of Sars-Cov-2, Hepatitis C Virus, And A549 Lung Cancer Cells, Arjun Jagdeesh
UROP Posters
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects CD4+ T cell lymphocytes in humans, leading to the development of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated. While current treatment methods, including antiretroviral combination treatments, effectively limit HIV replication, HIV can evade these treatments due to its high mutation rate. Long-term antiretroviral treatment can also be toxic to patients, meaning patients would benefit from a new mechanism of HIV treatment. RNA interference (RNAi) is an antiviral pathway found in mammals, plants, and insects that involves a small-interfering RNA that is incorporated into a protein complex called the RNA-induced Silencing Complex …
Antimicrobial Resistance Profile Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From Poultry Litter,
2023
University of Maryland at College Park
Antimicrobial Resistance Profile Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From Poultry Litter, M. J. Khong, A. M. Snyder, M. M. Young, N. L. Barbieri, S. L. Weimer
Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations
Antimicrobial resistance is a threat to animal and human health. As a commensal and zoonotic bacterium, Escherichia coli has the potential to be a pathogenic source of antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profile of E. coli isolated from litter collected from pens in a broiler chicken experiment. E. coli was isolated from litter samples (n = 68 isolates) of 16 pens housing broilers to d 53 of age. Resistance to 10 antimicrobials was observed by disc diffusion. The presence of 23 antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance genes, O serogroups, and avian pathogenic …
Evaluating Efficacy Of Anti-Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis Probiotic Treatment On Pacific Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris Regilla) At Current And Modeled Climate Change Temperatures,
2023
Eastern Washington University
Evaluating Efficacy Of Anti-Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis Probiotic Treatment On Pacific Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris Regilla) At Current And Modeled Climate Change Temperatures, Autumn N. Holley
EWU Masters Thesis Collection
Amphibian populations are declining due to a variety of threats, including the chytrid fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the causative agent of the disease chytridiomycosis. Climate change and other stressors can have complicated interactions with amphibian disease. Some amphibian populations are less susceptible to chytridiomycosis due to factors such as symbiotic skin microbes that may inhibit Bd through secondary metabolites. There have been several attempts to develop probiotics from these symbiotic, antifungal bacteria to provide protection against Bd infection, but these studies have had mixed success. Our study evaluated anti-Bd bacteria isolated from the skin of Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris …
Surveillance And Monitoring Of Amphibian Pathogens And Evaluating The Impacts Of An Associated Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure),
2023
Eastern Washington University
Surveillance And Monitoring Of Amphibian Pathogens And Evaluating The Impacts Of An Associated Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure), Jennifer Perez
EWU Masters Thesis Collection
Amphibians are a highly diverse class of vertebrates and crucial for natural ecosystems, inhabiting both aquatic and terrestrial environments at different life stages. However, amphibians are facing devastating declines largely due to the disease chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal). This disease can lead to population declines, biodiversity loss, and species extinction. However, resources to study and mitigate this disease are limited and an opportunity to assist in these efforts has been created in the form of a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE). Chapter 1 of my thesis used Roger's Diffusion of Innovations …
Connecting Antibiotic Resistance To The Environment (Care): Introducing A Novel Framework Integrating Chemical Cross-Resistance And Place-Based Engagement To The Blue Marsh Watershed In Reading, Pennsylvania,
2023
Antioch New England Graduate School
Connecting Antibiotic Resistance To The Environment (Care): Introducing A Novel Framework Integrating Chemical Cross-Resistance And Place-Based Engagement To The Blue Marsh Watershed In Reading, Pennsylvania, Jill Felker
Antioch University Dissertations & Theses
Antibiotic resistance is a serious health threat around the world. Millions of individuals are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria yearly, and thousands die from previously curable illnesses. Although antibiotic resistance occurs naturally, misuse of antibiotics accelerates the loss of their effectiveness. Public health campaigns focusing on antibiotic awareness have not effectively communicated and educated the public on this health crisis. New efforts to combat antibiotic resistance are urgently needed. This dissertation focuses on the ecological and public health components of antibiotic resistance research that must be addressed to decelerate antibiotic resistance. A new interdisciplinary theoretical framework was developed to Connect Antibiotic …
Structural Impact Of Epstein-Barr Virus- Encoded Small Rna -1 On Its Transport And Function,
2023
United Arab Emirates University
Structural Impact Of Epstein-Barr Virus- Encoded Small Rna -1 On Its Transport And Function, Zubaida Hassan
Dissertations
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Encoded RNAs (EBERs) are two small, noncoding, structurally conserved transcripts that are expressed in millions of copies in all stages of EBV infection. Despite their abundant expression, the role of EBERs in EBV biology or pathogenesis is not well defined. However, they are associated with driving cell proliferation and improving intercellular communication via their secretion in exosomes. In spite of the pathogenic potentials of EBERs, the mechanisms involved in their transport and function remain to be elucidated. The aim of this PhD dissertation was to investigate the structural impact of EBER1 in its transport and function. The conserved …
Diversity And Evolution Of Computationally Predicted T Cell Epitopes Against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
Diversity And Evolution Of Computationally Predicted T Cell Epitopes Against Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Jiani Chen, Swan Tan, Vasanthi Avadhanula, Leonard Moise, Pedro A Piedra, Anne S De Groot, Justin Bahl
Faculty, Staff and Students Publications
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of lower respiratory infection. Despite more than 60 years of research, there is no licensed vaccine. While B cell response is a major focus for vaccine design, the T cell epitope profile of RSV is also important for vaccine development. Here, we computationally predicted putative T cell epitopes in the Fusion protein (F) and Glycoprotein (G) of RSV wild circulating strains by predicting Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I and class II binding affinity. We limited our inferences to conserved epitopes in both F and G proteins that have been experimentally …
The Rsv F P27 Peptide: Current Knowledge, Important Questions,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
The Rsv F P27 Peptide: Current Knowledge, Important Questions, Wanderson Rezende, Hadley E Neal, Rebecca E Dutch, Pedro A Piedra
Faculty, Staff and Students Publications
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of hospitalizations and death for young children and adults over 65. The worldwide impact of RSV has prioritized the search for an RSV vaccine, with most targeting the critical fusion (F) protein. However, questions remain about the mechanism of RSV entry and RSV F triggering and fusion promotion. This review highlights these questions, specifically those surrounding a cleaved 27 amino acids long peptide within F, p27.
The Small Intestinal Microbiome: Vibing With Intestinal Stem Cells,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
The Small Intestinal Microbiome: Vibing With Intestinal Stem Cells, Victoria Poplaski, Faith Sawyer, Sarah E Blutt
Faculty, Staff and Students Publications
The epithelial lining of the small intestine mediates its absorptive and secretory function and thus is a critical component of human health. Regeneration and renewal of the epithelium is the result of proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Many cell types and molecular factors are known to regulate the ability of ISCs to proliferate, including adjacent neighboring epithelial cells and the underlying, supportive stromal cells. The microbiome resides in the lumen of the small intestine and is in close contact with the epithelium. Due to its proximity to ISCs, it has been hypothesized that species within the microbiome have the …
Versican Provides The Provisional Matrix For Uterine Spiral Artery Dilation And Fetal Growth,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
Versican Provides The Provisional Matrix For Uterine Spiral Artery Dilation And Fetal Growth, Yusuke Sagae, Akihito Horie, Akihiro Yanai, Tsutomu Ohara, Baku Nakakita, Yoshimi Kitawaki, Asuka Okunomiya, Hirohiko Tani, Ken Yamaguchi, Junzo Hamanishi, John P Lydon, Takiko Daikoku, Hideto Watanabe, Masaki Mandai
Faculty, Staff and Students Publications
The extracellular matrix (ECM) in the endometrium plays a crucial role in mammalian pregnancy. We have shown that versican secreted from the endometrial epithelium promotes embryo implantation. Versican is a proteoglycan, a major player in the provisional matrix, and versikine, its N-terminal fragment cleaved by ADAMTS proteinases, serves as a bioactive molecule. Here, since versican expression in the placenta was dynamically altered in humans and mice, we investigated the role of versican in pregnancy using uterine-specific Vcan deletion mice (uKO mice) and ADAMTS-resistant versican expressing mice (V1R mice). uKO mice exhibited insufficient spiral artery dilation, followed by fetal growth restriction …
Gene-Environment Interactions Underlying The Etiology Of Neural Tube Defects,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
Gene-Environment Interactions Underlying The Etiology Of Neural Tube Defects, Carlo Donato Caiaffa, Cristiane Sá Roriz Fonteles, Lei Yunping, Richard H Finnell
Faculty, Staff and Students Publications
Neural tube defects (NTDs) consist of severe structural malformations of the brain and spinal cord and are the second most common structural birth defect in humans, accounting for approximately 2700 affected pregnancies every year in the United States. These numbers are highly significant, considering that birth defects remain a leading cause of infant mortality in the United States, affecting approximately 120,000 babies born annually. Survivors of these congenital malformations face long-term disability and lifelong challenges imposed by severe physical burdens compromising the afflicted individual's overall quality of life. Clearly, birth defects, and especially NTDs remain a global public health challenge, …
Toward More Rigorous And Informative Nutritional Epidemiology: The Rational Space Between Dismissal And Defense Of The Status Quo,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
Toward More Rigorous And Informative Nutritional Epidemiology: The Rational Space Between Dismissal And Defense Of The Status Quo, Andrew W Brown, Stella Aslibekyan, Dennis Bier, Rafael Ferreira Da Silva, Adam Hoover, David M Klurfeld, Eric Loken, Evan Mayo-Wilson, Nir Menachemi, Greg Pavela, Patrick D Quinn, Dale Schoeller, Carmen Tekwe, Danny Valdez, Colby J Vorland, Leah D Whigham, David B Allison
Faculty, Staff and Students Publications
To date, nutritional epidemiology has relied heavily on relatively weak methods including simple observational designs and substandard measurements. Despite low internal validity and other sources of bias, claims of causality are made commonly in this literature. Nutritional epidemiology investigations can be improved through greater scientific rigor and adherence to scientific reporting commensurate with research methods used. Some commentators advocate jettisoning nutritional epidemiology entirely, perhaps believing improvements are impossible. Still others support only normative refinements. But neither abolition nor minor tweaks are appropriate. Nutritional epidemiology, in its present state, offers utility, yet also needs marked, reformational renovation. Changing the status quo …
Editorial: Health Effects And Pathophysiological Mechanisms Of One-Carbon Metabolism Nutrients Intake Throughout The Life Cycle,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
Editorial: Health Effects And Pathophysiological Mechanisms Of One-Carbon Metabolism Nutrients Intake Throughout The Life Cycle, Jufen Liu, Yunping Lei, Lei Wang, Chao Guo
Faculty, Staff and Students Publications
No abstract provided.
Assessment Of The Cytolytic Potential Of A Multivirus-Targeted T Cell Therapy Using A Vital Dye-Based, Flow Cytometric Assay,
2023
The Texas Medical Center Library
Assessment Of The Cytolytic Potential Of A Multivirus-Targeted T Cell Therapy Using A Vital Dye-Based, Flow Cytometric Assay, Kiriakos Koukoulias, Penelope G Papayanni, Julia Jones, Manik Kuvalekar, Ayumi Watanabe, Yovana Velazquez, Sarah Gilmore, Anastasia Papadopoulou, Ann M Leen, Spyridoula Vasileiou
Faculty, Staff and Students Publications
Reliable and sensitive characterization assays are important determinants of the successful clinical translation of immunotherapies. For the assessment of cytolytic potential, the chromium 51 (51Cr) release assay has long been considered the gold standard for testing effector cells. However, attaining the approvals to access and use radioactive isotopes is becoming increasingly complex, while technical aspects [i.e. sensitivity, short (4-6 hours) assay duration] may lead to suboptimal performance. This has been the case with our ex vivo expanded, polyclonal (CD4+ and CD8+) multivirus-specific T cell (multiVST) lines, which recognize 5 difficult-to-treat viruses [Adenovirus (AdV), BK virus (BKV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein Barr …
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 …
