Journal of Undergraduate Research

Amanda Enz and Dr. Kim O’Neill, MMBio The field of cancer research is extensive, and there are many avenues being explored into how cancer works inside the body and what we can do to prevent and cure this disease. I chose to look at the way the body’s immune system interacts with different types of […]

Evan D. Davis and Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater, Microbiology & Molecular Biology Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (Bmp2) is a secreted growth factor that modulates many essential physiological and developmental processes by means of extracellular signaling (1). Several of these processes include neuronal differentiation, cardiac development, and skeletal muscle development (1-5). Dr. Laura Bridgewater at Brigham […]

Rebecca Carlyon and Dr. Joel Griffitts, Department of Molecular and Microbiology Symbiosis is the process by which two different species interact in nature. Relationships can be either mutualistic, where both species benefit from the situation, or parasitic, where only one organism benefits. Shinorhizobium meliloti is a nitrogen-fixing soil bacterium which is involved in a mutualistic […]

Lejdja Beshku and Dr. Joel S. Griffitts, MMBio S. meliloti is a nitrogen fixing bacterium, which forms a symbiosis with different plants such as Medicago, Melilotus, and Trigonella. It will be important to study the metabolism of S. meliloti since its ability to form symbiotic relationships with plants has a great impact in agriculture and […]

Matthew Wright Cationic Steroid Antibiotics (CSAs) are potent innovative antimicrobial agents. In particular, CSA-13 has a very low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 2 µg/mL. When dissolved in a solvent and combined with a commercial polymer, CSA-13 can be used to coat endotracheal (ET) tubes. Biofilm formation on ET tubes can cause […]

Joshua Holm, Brady Bowen, Brady Samuel, and Travis Lovell with Dr. Kim O’Neill; Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) is a protein that is produced in much greater quantities by cancer cells in general than by normal cells (Abbasciano et al., 1991, p. 29; Hallek et al., 1997, p. 155; He […]

Ryley Enz and Dr. K.L. O’Neill Macrophages perform a variety of functions from phagocytosis and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines to the repair and remodeling of damaged tissues. Two phenotypically different types of macrophages have been proposed to identify their diverse roles: types M1 and M2. (Mantovani et al., 2002) The M1 macrophage refers to […]

Duane R. Wesemann The enzyme tRNA 3’ Processing Endoribonuclease (3’tRNase) is suspected to be an enzyme responsible for 3’ end processing of various pre-tRNAs. Our lab has demonstrated that RNAs containing a hairpin structure can be manipulated to appear as a “pre-tRNA” molecule and be recognized and cleaved by 3’tRNase. This is accomplished by the […]

Yury M. Colton and Dr. James B. Jensen, Microbiology Continuous cultivation of the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodiumfalciparum has greatly increased the possibilities of malaria research (Trager and Jensen 1976). However, the need for human serum in the culture medium has proved to be limiting in some situations and the necessary serum is becoming very difficult […]

Amy Sorensen and Dr. James B. Jensen, Microbiology The protozoa, Plasmodium falciparum, causes malaria, a disease that rivals tuberculosis in being the world’s largest killer. In order to combat malaria, new methods of chemotherapy, as well as better control of its causative agent are necessary. Knowing the main source from which P. falciparum gains its […]