Student Research, Projects and Publications
Recent Submissions
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Mobley, Jacqueline (June 24, 2009)[more][less]
Description: Advisor: Robert Schumaker URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2092/970 Files in this item: 1
Poster 41.pdf (2.584Mb) -
Dzogbeta, Seli; Fisher, Molly; Boyer, Michael (June 24, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: During germ cell formation in Drosophila embryos, cells migrate from their site of origin to the site of organ formation. In particular, germ cells need to migrate long distances from their site of origin to the site where ovaries and testicles develop. It was found that the this cell migration is guided by a chemical signaling pathway. Cells which digress from the migration route are destroyed by apoptosis. Dr. Coffman's group at Iowa State University has identified mutations that impair the destruction of cells that have strayed from their migration path. One of these mutations affects the function of a G-protein coupled receptor, Trel. In this study we look at physical interactions of the Trel protein with ten candidate proteins. We have identified interactions between the G-protein coupled receptor Trel and two, possibly three, candidate proteins. These candidates are members of a protein phosphatase family that have previously been implicated in germ cell migration, which makes our result particularly valuable. Adding to the picture is the fact that the phenotypes of mutations in the corresponding genes closely resemble trel mutant phenotypes. All of the above results indicate that these proteins function in the same pathway. Description: Advisor: Martin Schmidt of Des Moines University URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2092/969 Files in this item: 1
Poster 40.pdf (2.461Mb) -
Dirth, Deidra; Meggison, Jordan; Pope, Elizabeth; Woodland, Heidi (June 24, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: Autoimmune diseases are the fourth most common type of chronic illness yet the medical causes of the diseases remain largely unknown. Individuals who are diagnosed with autoimmune diseases often face many psychosocial consequences as a result of their disease including feelings of isolation, stress coping with the cycles of relapse and remission, lengthy and ambiguous diagnosis processes, anxiety, and depression. The current study was part of a larger mixed-methods study that included online surveys assessing disease severity, depression, self-efficacy, social support, positive well-being, and health promoting behaviors. Participants also completed open-ended questions asking, "What do you think caused your autoimmune disease?" and "Have you been given a medical explanation for the cause of your disease?" Participants included 175 individuals with connective tissue or musculoskeletal autoimmune diseases and ranged in age from 18-84 years old. The most common diagnoses were rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, systematic lupus erythematosus, and myositis. A content analysis of the open-ended questions revealed that many participants were unsure why they were diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Participants who had received a medical reason for their diagnosis often expressed a personal belief that was different from what they were told by their doctors. In addition, some participants blamed themselves for the etiology of their disease, even when that belief was contradictory to the medical information they had received. Lifestyle choices like drinking diet pepsi or working too hard were cited as reasons. The most common explanations were genes, environmental causes, bacterial or viral causes, medications like statins, stress, and pregnancy. Description: Advisor: Nicole Taylor URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2092/968 Files in this item: 1
Poster 37.pdf (2.726Mb) -
McCray, Stephen; Christie, Allen; Dzogbeta, Seli; Mpofu, Prudence (June 24, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore whether the concentration of limonene on orange peels is affected by either the species of the oranges or the geographical location of such oranges. Extraction of limonene from oranges sampled with the respect to a) species and b) origin was achieved via refluxing of the well-divided orange peels in hexane and the amounts of limonene from the crude extract determined using gas chromatographic technique (GC). This study (ongoing) will offer insights as to how i) species or ii) geographical location or both affect the amount of limonene on the orange peels. Description: Advisor: John N. Gitua URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2092/967 Files in this item: 1
Poster 36.pdf (2.542Mb) -
Chawla, Kashmira (June 24, 2009)[more][less]
Abstract: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been demonstrated to play a role in many physiological processes including vasoconstriction, cardiovascular homeostasis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. A critical step in the production of ET-1 is the conversion of the propeptide form, bigET-1, to ET-1 via the action of endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1). There are four major ECE-1 isoforms: ECE1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, which differ only in their NH2 terminus and subcellular locations. Here we describe our analysis of the expression of ECE-1 isoforms in murine bone marrow derived macrophages (BMM0), macrophage-like cell lines (RAW264, J774) and an endothelial cell line (bEND.3). For analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using forward primers, unique to each major isoforms, and a common reverse primer. bEnd.3, J774 and BMM0 express mRNA encoding all four major isoforms of ECE-1, as well as previously reported splice variants (SV) of ECE-1b, 1c, and 1d. A novel splice variant, KC150, was identified in isoform 1c. These splice variants all lack exon 3, which encodes the trans-membrane domain of ECE-1. The absence of a trans-membrane domain could be indicative of a secreted or cytosolic form of ECE-1. Our results also indicate that the RAW264 macrophage cell line expresses very low levels of ECE-1 encoding mRNA. This verifies our previous finding that RAW264 cells secrete only bigET-1, suggesting a deficiency in ECE-1 expression. We hope to use these ECE-1 deficient cells as a model for over expressing individual ECE-1 isoforms and splice-variants, and examine their function in regulating macrophage ET-1 production. Description: Advisor: Andrew Brittingham ; Jeffrey Divino of Des Moines University URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2092/966 Files in this item: 1
Poster 34.pdf (3.540Mb)