Category: Biological Sciences
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The Effects of Myoglianin Knockdown on Drosophila melanogaster with Myotonic Dystrophy Type One
By Eleni Kepler Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ginny Morriss Abstract Myotonic Dystrophy Type One (DM1) is a multisystemic disorder caused by a CTG repeat expansion in DMPK that is characterized primarily by low muscle tone. Another common symptom of DM1 is insulin resistance due to aberrant splicing of the insulin receptor in skeletal muscle (INSR), which…
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The effect of voluntary exercise on circadian rhythms of mice
By Molly Daw Faculty Mentor: Dr. Parrish Waters Abstract Physical exercise influences biological systems such as metabolism, cardiovascular health, and neural function. Its role in regulating circadian rhythm, the body’s internal “clock” that regulates wake-sleep cycles is less understood. This study examined how voluntary exercise affects circadian activity in mice. It was expected that limited…
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Exercise and its Possible Effects on Neurodegenerative Diseases
By Lordina Agyekum Faculty Mentor: Dr. Deborah O’Dell Abstract As the world progresses, scientists have made strides to increase longevity and comfort when it comes with aging. However, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease have made it harder for older adults to have such palliative care due to memory decline. Dementia and…
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THE IMPACT OF NOREPINEPHRINE EXPOSURE ON MICROGLIA IL-1B PRODUCTION
By Mikyas Telahun, Meah Katz, Kristy Bagley Faculty Mentor: Dr. Deborah O’Dell Abstract Neuroinflammation, driven by proinflammatory cytokines, is linked to Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Norepinephrine (NE) activates microglial adrenergic receptors, potentially increasing IL-1B production. This study investigates the effects of chromic NE exposure on IL-1β production in human microglial cells, using receptor-specific antagonists (prazosin for…
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Sex Differences in Parasitism and Morphology in the Freshwater Snail Elimia virginica
By Kate Green Faculty Mentor: Dr. Abbie Tomba Abstract The differential impacts of parasitism on male and female freshwater snails by trematodes, a flatworm, is largely unstudied. While trematode diversity indicates the health of aquatic ecosystems, they have a negative impact on snails by sterilizing them. Snails are vital in aquatic ecosystems; they are an…
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INVESTIGATING PHAGE-ANTIBIOTIC SYNERGY IN THE TREATMENT OF TWO STRAINS OF BACILLUS CEREUS
By Marco Estrella, Natalie Fox Faculty Mentor: Dr. Swati Agrawal Abstract INVESTIGATING PHAGE-ANTIBIOTIC SYNERGY IN THE TREATMENT OF TWO STRAINS OF BACILLUS CEREUS. Marco Estrella and Natalie Fox. University of Mary Washington. Inflammatory use and poor stewardship of antibiotics has contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance, which has become a leading public health threat. Bacteriophages, commonly…
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The Volatile Effect of River Conditions on the feeding of Great Blue Heron Young During the Spring Breeding Season
By Andrew Green Faculty Mentor: Dr. Andrew Dolby Abstract The fall line of the Rappahannock River in the City of Fredericksburg appears to be an important spring fishing site for Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) that nest in Crow’s Nest Natural Area Preserve. Dozens of Great Blue Herons visit the rapids daily during the breeding…
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The Role of Methionine Restriction in Breast Cancer Immunogenic Cell Death
By Mallory Thompson Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Sipe Abstract When cancer cells are treated with chemotherapy, they can die in a way that alerts and engages the immune system in order to initiate an immune response. This process is called an immunogenic cell death, or an ICD. The dying cancer cell can release or display…
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Expression of Plasmodesmal Regulatory Genes in Response to Brassinosteroids
By Max De La Cruz Morrobel Faculty Mentor: Dr. April Wynn Abstract Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of plant growth hormones that induce cellular growth and division whose fine-tuning can have valuable implications for developing higher-yielding transgenic crops. They travel through plasmodesmata (PD), a cytoplasmic sleeve between the cell walls of plants cells. PDs have…
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Barcoding the Unknown: Primer Development for Diverse Nematode Strains
By Alegria Bautista Faculty Mentor: Dr. Theresa Grana Abstract DNA barcoding has significantly advanced species identification and revealed many cryptic species with significant biomedical and agricultural research applications. Nematodes are frequently used in DNA barcoding due to their short generation times and ease of laboratory maintenance. However, the rapid increase in newly discovered species presents…
