Category: Biological Sciences
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Effect of Genetic Modulation of Activin β Expression Levels on Skeletal Muscle Function and Structure
By Ashlyn Rauch Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ginny Morriss Abstract Activin β (Actβ) is a dimeric protein that regulates muscle growth and differentiation as part of the TGF-β superfamily of proteins. In humans, Actβ stimulates muscle atrophy; however, in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, Actβ can positively regulate muscle growth. The goal of this project was…
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Expression, Characterization, and Comparative Analysis of Bacteriophage Endolysins
By Stephen Zdgiebloski Faculty Mentor: Dr. Swati Agrawal Abstract Bacteriophages present a promising alternative for combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria without disrupting the normal microbiome or harming human cells. The antibacterial properties of lytic bacteriophages are largely attributed to endolysins, enzymes active in the lytic cycle. Endolysins recognize bacterial cell walls and cleave the peptidoglycan matrix, leading…
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Serotonin has anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages
By Ryan Scheiderer, Saud Abdul Aziz Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Sipe Abstract Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter and hormone involved in immune regulation. This study examines inflammatory modulation by exposure of RAW264.7 macrophages. At 10-5 M, serotonin significantly reduced inflammatory markers. An MTT assay revealed reduced cell viability across all conditions, thus necessitating the normalization…
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From Worms to Wonders: Improving Phenotype Recognition in C. elegans for Genetics Students
By Stephanie Bailey Faculty Mentor: Dr. Theresa Grana Abstract Genome sequencing has significantly advanced our understanding of biological pathways across organisms, with Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) serving as a widely used model due to its short generation time and well-characterized genetics. In undergraduate genetics labs, students often use RNA interference (RNAi) to explore gene function…
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Iditarod’s effect on DM1 disease progression in a Drosophila melanogaster model
By Carleigh Wood Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ginny Morriss Abstract This research investigated how increasing Iditarod (Idit), the Drosophila melanogaster homolog of irisin, affects the progression of Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1). DM1 is caused by an expansion of CTG repeats in the DMPK gene, which leads to muscle weakening and wasting. Given irisin’s role in…
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Observing HSPG Subtype Interactions with Tau Fibril
By Samantha Mitzel, Gracie F Faculty Mentor: Dr. Deborah O’Dell Abstract Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating, neurodegenerative disease that is diagnosed with the build-up of neurofibrillary tangles(NFTs) and amyloid plaques. Various studies on Alzheimer’s investigate mechanisms that can prevent NFT build-up, including the micropinocytosis of fibril. Heparin Sulfate Proteoglycans(HSPGs) have been observed to be a…
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The Effects of PFOS Exposure on Zebrafish Dopaminergic Neurodevelopment
By Allison Fletcher Faculty Mentor: Dr. Dianne Baker Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of environmental contaminants that have been found to cause disruptions to the nervous and endocrine systems. One PFAS, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is considered one of the most disruptive PFAS to the nervous system. PFOS has been found to disrupt…
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Artemisinin and Artesunate Decrease Inflammatory Effects in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages
By Sierra Williams, Amara Zavala Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Sipe Abstract Artemisinin, and its derivative, artesunate, are compounds extracted from the plant Artemisia annua. They are both known for their use as antimalarials, however, artesunate is a more widely used treatment due to its higher levels of bioavailability. In previous literature, both treatments were shown…
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Discovering Gene Function in Phage Zapner
By Lucca Muta, Emily Wills Faculty Mentor: Dr. Theresa Grana Abstract SEA-GENES, a Howard Hughes research initiative, is an evolution of the SEA-PHAGES project, which sequenced and annotated the genomes of many bacteriophages. SEA-GENES expands on this project to determine the functions of genes coded by specific phages. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to…
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Excess Fructose in High-Fructose Corn Syrup Reduces Cell Viability & Promotes Nitric Oxide Release in RAW 264.7 Macrophages
By Renzo Galarza, Edward Villegas Faculty Mentor: Dr. Laura Sipe Abstract High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is an artificial sweetener that contains slightly higher concentrations of free fructose compared to standard sucrose. It has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and fatty liver disease. While both HFCS and sucrose…
