Rotavirus (RV) is a pathogen that causes gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Although there are A-G types of rotavirus, type A (RVA) is the most commonly studied because it is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years averaged with 200,000 deaths a year. Understanding the infection biology of group B rotavirus (RVB) […]
A28: Evaluation of Ceramide’s Influence on Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase Activity in Cells Infected with Chlamydia
Members of the Chlamydiae family are bacterial pathogens that can cause sexually transmitted infection, respiratory infection, and ocular infection. While symptomatic infection is widespread in the U.S. and around the world, many more people have asymptomatic chronic infections. Chronic infection in women can cause tubal factor infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease, and can transmit to […]
B04: Reorganization of axons and glia within Drosophila abdominal nerves during metamorphosis
The Drosophila life cycle has 3 distinct phases: larva, pupa, and adult, each with unique motor functions. Metamorphosis, the transition from larva to adult, is when the most significant reorganization of the nervous system occurs, to accommodate a shift in locomotor function to the thorax, and gain of reproductive functions in the abdomen. Over the […]
B63: Who’s that Gene: Discerning the Identity of Cola-Mutant in Tribolium castaneum
Beetles comprise 400,000 described species and 40% of all insects as well as displaying high levels of noteworthy diversity. Their elytra, a sclerotized non-flight forewing, is a uniquely defining feature that has allowed them to become widely prevalent and ubiquitous worldwide. In an effort to explore this novel trait, we performed a complementation test on […]
C11: Biology, Physiology, Cardiac Hypertrophy, Circadian Rhythm, Overwintering; Biology; Cold Effects on Heart
Cardiomyocytes, the heart’s muscle cells, are a vital part of heart function as they enable the heart’s ability to pump. During heart development these cardiomyocytes are surrounded by an extracellular matrix (ECM). Integrins are transmembrane receptors that bind to the ECM. They activate signal transduction pathways, which play an important role in various cellular processes. […]
A04: Differential Expression of Cysteine Proteases in Carica papaya
Papain-Like Cysteine Proteases (PLCPs) are a family of protein degrading enzymes with similar structures and functions, thirty-three of which are found in Carica papaya (C. papaya). Papain, the namesake of the enzyme family, is extensively used in industry and harvested from the latex of un-ripened C. papaya fruits. In addition to its industrial importance, papain, […]
C24: Role of Nitric Oxide and Cricket’s Agonistic Behavior
Agonistic behavior is a critical aspect of animal behavior that is essential for survival and reproduction. Nitric oxide (NO) is a key neurotransmitter that has been shown to regulate a wide range of behaviors in both insects and mammals. In insects, NO has been demonstrated to modulate aggression, mating, feeding, and many other behaviors. In […]
C10: Determining How Activation of the DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase Impacts Adenovirus Replication
While human adenovirus (Ad) infection can cause severe illness, antiviral treatments often cause serious adverse effects and have limited efficacy against severe Ad infection. Ad infection activates the cellular DNA damage response (DDR), which triggers activation of protein complexes such as the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) that hinder viral infection. However, Ad wields several viral […]