Category: Poster Presentation
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Effect of Isolated Conjugated Bonds on the Ultra-Violet Visible Spectrum of a Molecule
By Sean McGavin, Alex Bindon Faculty Mentor: Dr. Leanna Giancarlo Abstract The effect of a conjugated chain’s length on the absorption peaks in ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectra has been quantified, wherein increasing the chain’s length increases the absorption wavelength of the peak. However, how the peaks are shifted due to the presence of multiple isolated conjugated…
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Monitoring the dissolution of large skeletal architecture fossil corals in the tropical Pacific
By Ainsley Lord Faculty Mentor: Dr. Pamela Grothe Abstract The tropical Pacific is a major driver for global climate variability through the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), however, the magnitude of warming and freshening as well as changes in ENSO from anthropogenic climate change in the tropical Pacific is poorly understood due to limited instrumental…
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Optimization of Reaction Conditions for Synthesizing KasA-Targeting Drug Candidates for Tuberculosis Treatment
By Megan Baxter Faculty Mentor: Dr. Davis Oldham Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, with increasing drug resistance pressing for the development of novel treatments. KasA, a key enzyme in mycobacterial fatty acid biosynthesis, is a promising drug target for TB treatment. This research focuses on the design and synthesis of potential KasA…
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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…
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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…
