Microbiology Commons^™

Characterization Of Porcine Respiratory Epithelial Cells And Their Innate Immune Responses To Bacterial And Viral Ligands, Yam Prasad Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In response to a pathogenic attack, the host produces a series of defense mechanisms through various intracellular signaling pathways. The byproduct of these signaling pathways helps tackle the invading pathogen and protects the body from getting into a diseased state. This system is called the immune system. The immune system can be divided into two branches namely the innate immune system and adaptive immune system. The groups of immune cells that provide protection regardless of the pathogen specificity constitute the innate immune system. The system that acts according to the pathogen specificity is called the adaptive immune response. The production …

Spatial Localization Of Markers And 3d-Cell Model For Study Of The Human Cytomegalovirus Cytoplasmic Virion Assembly Compartment, Taylor Alan Vensko

Wayne State University Theses

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) causes severe disease in immunocompromised individuals and is a leading cause of congenital disease. Efficient assembly of virions (viral particles) is an intricate process that requires modulation and modification of host systems. HCMV induces an extensive rearrangement of the cellular endocytic recycling compartment into the site of virion maturation and egress: the cytoplasmic virion assembly compartment (cVAC). The HCMV cVAC is a distinguishing characteristic of infection, although studies have only been performed in traditional cell culture with limited observations in infectedhuman tissues. To study the cVAC, viral and cellular markers that are discrete to their respective compartments …

Inhibition Of Lysine Acetyltransferases Kat 3a/3b And Its Effect On Poliovirus Proliferation, Eduards Norkvests

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Ribosomes have been traditionally viewed as invariable machinery, but in recent years more and more evidence for their heterogeneity has emerged. Core ribosomal proteins, ribosomal-associated proteins, and post-translational modifications all contribute to the variations found within these crucial subcellular components.In our research, we focused on lysine acetylation – a post translational modification found on many ribosomal proteins. We used a chemical inhibitor of acetyltransferases KAT 3A and KAT 3B to observe the effect that inhibiting acetylation may have in the context of translation. By using poliovirus to shut off conventional cellular translation, we were able to look at a narrow …

Mechanisms By Which Protective Human Outer Surface Protein A Antibodies Block Transmission Of Borrelia Burgdorferi, Amber M. Frye

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) is the causative agent of Lyme disease in the United States and Europe, which remains a major threat to public health. While currently no human Lyme disease vaccine is available, a previously licensed OspA-based vaccine was shown to effectively prevent transmission of B. burgdorferi from ticks to mammalian hosts. Concerning the vaccines mechanism of action, OspA antibodies enter the bloodmeal of a feeding tick and engage with B. burgdorferi producing OspA on their outer surface in a manner that impairs migration of the spirochete to the host; however exact antibody-spirochete interaction is unknown, despite the importance …

Genomic Epidemiology Of Clinical Salmonella Enterica In New Hampshire, 2017-2020, Madison R. Turcotte

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica remains a challenging public health threat. We aim to characterize the population structure and evolutionary history of 394 genomes of S. enterica isolates recovered from human clinical cases in New Hampshire, USA from 2017 to 2020. The population is phylogenetically diverse, consisting of 78 STs and 67 serotypes. We detected 61 genes associated with resistance to14 different antimicrobial classes. Rather than a single multidrug resistant clone expanding in the state, we found multiple lineages carrying different combinations of independently acquired resistance determinants. New or emerging lineages can therefore rapidly spread over relatively short timeframes. In …

Isolating Bacteriophage For Potential Treatment Of Chronic Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia Coli Infections, Leila Oswalt

Honors Projects

The misuse and overuse of antibiotics has led to the intense rise in antibiotic resistance. As society transitions into the post antibiotic era, there will be a great need for new therapeutic strategies to address multiple drug resistant bacterial infections. One such method, called bacteriophage therapy, allows for specific targeting of certain pathogenic bacteria through the use of viruses that attack bacteria; termed “bacteriophage” or simply “phage”. Urinary tract infections are among the most common pathological human infections that rely heavily on the use of antibiotics, the major cause of which is the bacterium Escherichia coli. During the Spring 2021-Spring …

Expanding Mouse-Adapted Yamagata-Like Influenza B Viruses In Eggs Enhances In Vivo Lethality In Balb/C Mice, Matthew J. Pekarek, Erika M. Petro-Turnquist, Adam Rubrum, Richard J. Webby, Eric A. Weaver

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Despite the yearly global impact of influenza B viruses (IBVs), limited host range has been a hurdle to developing a readily accessible small animal disease model for vaccine studies. Mouseadapting IBV can produce highly pathogenic viruses through serial lung passaging in mice. Previous studies have highlighted amino acid changes throughout the viral genome correlating with increased pathogenicity, but no consensus mutations have been determined. We aimed to show that growth system can play a role in mouse-adapted IBV lethality. Two Yamagata-lineage IBVs were serially passaged 10 times in mouse lungs before expansion in embryonated eggs or Madin–Darby canine kidney cells …

College Of Natural Sciences Newsletter, January 2022, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Volume 3, Issue 1

Page 1 Dean's Message
Page 2 Awards & Recognition
Page 3 Outreach in Harrisburg, SD
Page 4 Geography Alumni Named Among 'Highly Cited Researchers', 53rd Annual Geography Convention
Page 5 Geography Convention Speakers, Brookings/SDSU Day
Page 6 Media Coverage of Natural Sciences
Page 7 Open PRAIRIE Data
Page 8 Fall 2021 Dean's List
Page 9 Fall 2021 Dean's List, cont.

A Review Of Virus-Vectored Vaccines: Current Production Methods, Uses, Issues, And Future Perspectives, Jaden Marks

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Viral vector vaccines have recently risen to the forefront of vaccinology, but there are multiple factors that must be addressed before they achieve widespread approval and use. The concept of using viruses as vectors is not new, and numerous attempts to create vaccines that utilize virus vectors have been made in the past 25 years. Despite this, only one viral vector vaccine has gained full approval by the FDA. The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the types of viral vector vaccines, production and purification methods, current and future viral vector vaccines, the issues and …

Review Of A Chimeric Hemagglutinin-Based Influenza Vaccine Approach, Whitney Muck

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Influenza virus has affected human populations for centuries, causing an acute respiratory effect on the body. Even with scientific advancements in vaccine research, there are still serious limitations to the influenza vaccine. Varying strains and the constant recombination of the influenza virus has caused annual influenza circulation to be difficult to predict. The ongoing 40 race to develop a more efficient vaccine to broadly protect against the variety of influenza strains remains a public health priority. Many strategies have been studied to improve the current vaccine. The use of a chimeric hemagglutinin-based vaccine is in the first stages of human …

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy In Cancer, Brian Stahl

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

The development of immune-checkpoint-inhibitors (ICIs) has led to promising advancements in the treatment of patients with cancers, leading with the use of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) as a negative regulator of T cell activation in the mid-1990s. With the discovery of two ligands for program cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and promising checkpoint blockades in 2010, this sparked a cascade of hallmark immunotherapy drug patents, focusing on the mechanism of anti PD-1 and anti PD-L1 antibody inhibitors. Since then, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T (CAR-T) cells have emerged into the immuno-oncologic scene for treatment of hematological malignancies. These genetically …

A Review Of T1d: Prevalence, Current Therapies, And Cellular Therapies For The Future, Fahd Nazir

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is characterized by the destruction of pancreatic β-cells and therefore, creating an insulin deficiency within the body. A deficiency of insulin within the body disrupts homeostatic glucose control leading to hyperglycemia and therefore, the need for exogenous insulin. Global incidence of T1D has been increasing for several decades and if current trajectory trends continue, incidence could double in the next year. In addition, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Current therapies for the treatment of T1D include insulin injections, insulin-pump therapy, pancreatic transplant, and …

Alzheimer’S Disease: An Overview And Current Phase 3 Disease-Modifying Biologic Treatments, Haley Jahnke

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a degenerative brain disease caused by cell damage leading to brain changes such as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Alois Alzheimer was a clinical psychiatrist and neuroanatomist in Germany who first discovered Alzheimer’s Disease through microscopic viewing of Auguste D’s brain. Through more research following Dr. Alzheimer’s death, they began to stage AD. The six stages are: pre-clinical, mild, moderate, moderately severe, severe, and very severe. The current treatments approved by the FDA work to slow the progression of AD, rather than modify the disease. There are currently three Disease-Modifying Biologic clinical-trial drugs on the market …

Oral Microbiome And Its Effect On Respiratory Disease, Cole Pudwill

Biology and Microbiology Graduate Students Plan B Research Projects

The oral microbiome is composed of several different types of bacteria that can affect how our body operates. There are over 700 different bacteria living in our mouths. These bacteria can be helpful and harmful to our bodies, but they are synergistic in a way. There are several factors such as age, diet, smoking, and oral care that affect bacterial makeup. When there 10 is a significant difference, our immune system becomes weakened and respiratory disease set in. The immune system then works to return the microbiome back to homeostasis. When this fails, the diseases become chronic. Thus, the oral …

The Role Of The Skin Microbiome In Amphibian Pathogen Susceptibility In Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge, Krista S. Dodd

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has led to the decline and extinction of many amphibian populations, but some bacteria in the skin microbiome can inhibit its growth. In Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (TNWR) in eastern Washington, Bd is highly prevalent, but the role of the skin microbiome in Bd infection dynamics have not been examined in this region. We hypothesized that frogs with lower Bd infection intensities would have higher skin bacterial diversity and more abundant anti-Bd bacteria, indicative of a more protective function. Our study combined cultureindependent and culture-dependent methods to assess the relationship between Bd and the …

Cphelps Et Al. Disease, Natural And Aquaria E. Radiata Microbiome Asv (Amplicon Sequence Variant) Table, Charlie M. Phelps

Research Datasets

This ASV table is the raw sequencing abundances for the Chapter 4 dataset with accompanying metadata.

Investigating The Role Of Nagc Reveals It To Be A Global Regulator, Natasha Peterson

Master's Theses

Bacterial colonization of host surfaces can result in symbiotic or pathogenic associations.As bacteria becomes more resistant to antibiotics, pathogenic bacterial colonization poses an increasing risk to human health. Symbiotic associations that have beneficial outcomes for both the host and the microbe can serve as models to investigate how bacterial processes affect colonization of host surfaces. The symbiotic relationship between the Gram-negative, bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid is one such model (E. V. Stabb & Visick, 2013). The study of this exclusive relationship has developed in a way where in vitro phenotypes can predict the ability of …

Phthalate Ester Biodegradation In Agricultural Soil Using Exogenous Bacterial Consortium Under Fertilizer Addition, Theodora Mega Putri

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Phthalate esters (PAEs) have been classified as a priority contaminant due to their endocrine-disrupting properties and abundance in the environment. Previously, several PAE-degrading consortia were enriched from landfill soil. This study aimed to initially select a consortium with efficient degradation activity, to characterize based on degradation kinetics and community dynamics, and to evaluate bioaugmentation feasibility while maintaining activity through continuous transfer. It was obtained based on enriched consortium selection that LF-NK-DEHP could simultaneously degrade 92.9% 100 mg l-1 DBP and 63.4% 100 mg l-1 DEHP within seven days. Kinetic degradation revealed DBP degradation by LF-NK-DEHP to fit the modified Gompertz …

Ozonized Biochar Filtrate Effects On The Growth Of Pseudomonas Putida And Cyanobacteria Synechococcus Elongatus Pcc 7942, Oumar Sacko, Nancy L. Engle, Timothy J. Tschaplinski, Sandeep Kumar, James Weifu Lee

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Background

Biochar ozonization was previously shown to dramatically increase its cation exchange capacity, thus improving its nutrient retention capacity. The potential soil application of ozonized biochar warrants the need for a toxicity study that investigates its effects on microorganisms.

Results

In the study presented here, we found that the filtrates collected from ozonized pine 400 biochar and ozonized rogue biochar did not have any inhibitory effects on the soil environmental bacteria Pseudomonas putida, even at high dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations of 300 ppm. However, the growth of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 was inhibited by the ozonized biochar filtrates at …

Genomic Analysis Of Acetoanaerobium Sp. Vlb-1, An Anaerobic Bacterium Isolated From Nebraska's Eastern Saline Wetlands, Claire Martin

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Through the analysis of genetic code, the genomic and physiological characteristics of an environmental anaerobic bacterial isolate, Acetoanaerobium sp. strain VLB-1, can be determined and significant pathways can be identified in its significance to the environment. This particular organism was isolated from the Eastern Saline Wetlands in Lincoln, NE. With this isolate, an investigation into elemental and amino acid cycling via the Stickland reaction and the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway was conducted to determine possible metabolic products. The Stickland reaction is a relatively newly discovered pathway, observed in the genus Clostridium. A. sticklandii is the main model for this method of …