Understanding Chemokine binding and Bacterial Response

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Brittany Kartchner and Dr. Eric Wilson, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Introduction For this project, I hypothesized that the amino acid composition of the C terminus of chemokine proteins allows some chemokines to bind to specific proteins on the cell membrane of bacteria. Previous research has shown that the C terminal region of the chemokine CCL28 […]

The Wall-E Effect: Testing How Long-Term Growth under Ideal Conditions affects Bacterial Traits

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Kevin Johnson and Dr. Joel Griffitts, MMBIO Introduction Organisms removed from their wild environment that are subjected to long term laboratory conditions can experience drastic change. We have specifically used Sinorhizobium meliloti as a model bacterium to address this topic. If soil bacteria containing large genomes necessary to survive in nutrient deficient and stressful conditions […]

Characterizing the Role of HSPB2

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Whitney Hoopes and Dr. Julianne Grose, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology HSPB2 is one of ten known small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSP) that share a conserved structural element called the alpha-crystallin domain. Extreme heat or cold, oxidative & reductive stress, and heavy metal exposure can induce the expression of these sHSP. HSPB2 is located […]

Food Costs of a Gluten-free Diet: Comparison to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Allotments

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Blair Harmon and Dr. Rickelle Richards- Dept. Nutrition, Food Science, & Dietetics Introduction Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body attacks the lining of the small intestine when gluten is present, which can lead to poor absorption of nutrients resulting in malnutrition.1 The only medical treatment for people with this condition is […]

Assessment of TREM2 rs75932628 Association with Alzheimer’s Disease in a Population-based Sample: The Cache County Study

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Josue D. Gonzalez Murcia a,1, Cameron Schmutz a,1, Caitlin Munger a, Ammon Perkes a, Aaron Gustin a, Michael Peterson a, Mark T.W. Ebbert a,b, Maria C. Norton c,d, JoAnn T. Tschanz d, Ronald G. Munger e, Christopher D. Corcoran f, John S.K. Kauwe a Abstract Recent studies have identified the rs75932628 (R47H) variant in TREM2 […]

Computerized Drug Screening of the S31N Mutant of the Influenza A Virus

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Mitchell Gleed and Professor David D. Busath, M.D., Physiology and Developmental Biology INTRODUCTION Influenza is responsible for millions of hospitalizations and deaths every year. Treating the influenza virus has become increasingly difficult since mutant viruses have rendered previously viable drugs ineffective. New drug-screening procedures are now necessary in order to speed up the process of viable drug […]

Fungal Pathogen Responsible for Cheatgrass Seedling Death in Dieoffs in the Great Basin: Bleach Blond Syndrome in the Great Basin

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JanaLynn Franke and Dr. Brad Geary, Plant and Wildlife Sciences Introduction With the accidental introduction of B. tectorum into the Western United States came a massive shift in the ecosystem, resulting in complete monocultures of B. tectorum. Seed and seedling pathogens present in the soil are aware of the macroscopic change and are shifting their […]

Genetic Variants in the APOE Gene Region Responsible for Change in Cerebrospinal Fluid AB42 Protein Levels

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Spencer Foutz and Dr. John Kauwe, Department of Biology Introduction For the last several years, the e4 allele in the APOE gene region has been a strong determinant of the development of Amyloid Beta plaques in the brain’s cerebral spinal fluid. As these plaques aggregate, the deposits become increasingly deadly to neuronal cells, and can […]

Phytotoxicity of Cytochalasins Produced by Pyrenophora semeniperda on Bromus tectorum Seeds

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Ashley Muñoz (Finch) and Dr. Bradley Geary, College of Life Sciences Introduction Bromus tectorum is an invasive species, commonly known as cheatgrass, that has caused major problems by disrupting the native plant ecosystem in the Intermountain West through a dramatically altered fire regime that has increased in frequency from 30-100 years to almost every 5 […]