Sara Mason and Dr. Eric Wilson Microbiology and Molecular Biology Introduction: Chemokines play a well-characterized and significant role in the immune system as chemoattractants for white blood cells. Some chemokines have also been shown to have antimicrobial properties in addition to their chemoattractant functions. CCL28 is a chemokine that aids in the recruitment of antibody […]
EBI2 Expression in Different Latency Stages and Primary B Cells
Jillian Markham and Dr. Brian Poole, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Background Epstein-‐Barr Virus (EBV) causes infectious mononucleosis upon primary infection, commonly known as “mono.” Less commonly known is that EBV doesn’t get eradicated from your body after you recover from mono. EBV quietly occupies a small portion of B cells in 90% of human adults […]
Development of a Traveler’s Vaccine against Dengue Infection
Arthur Lee and Dr. Bradford Berges, Ph.D. Microbiology and Molecular Biology There are currently no vaccines available against dengue virus. Each year, about 400 million people become infected and half a million of them, especially children, develop complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. There are four serotypes of dengue virus, and […]
Understanding Chemokine binding and Bacterial Response
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
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
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 […]
Determining Gene Expression Levels in Healthy and Degraded Alpaca Spinal Discs
Loyd Christensen and Dr. Laura C. Bridgewater, Micro and Molecular Biology Introduction Intervertebral Disc Degeneration (IDD) is a disease estimated to affect between 60 and 90 percent of the total population at some point in life. Evidence of spinal disc degeneration has been shown in 30 percent of individuals under 40 years old, with earliest […]
Understanding the IRF5 Gene through Characterization of its Four Promoters
Lissenya Argueta and Dr. Brian Poole, Microbiology & Molecular Biology Introduction Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF5) is a transcription factor involved with the innate antiviral immune response and primarily expressed in immune cells1. This protein is responsible for the regulation of interferon activity and cytokine signaling, namely that of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These processes play major […]
Engineering Pathogen Specific High Affinity T-Cell Receptors Linked to Cytokines for Targeting of Antigen Presenting Cells
Bryce Anderson and Dr. Scott Weber, Microbiology & Molecular Biology In February last year I was awarded an ORCA grant which turned out to be the starting of one of my biggest learning experiences here at BYU. My research mentor, Dr. Weber, and I work with the immune system. This semester I have been able […]
IRF7 expression in B cells infected with EBV
Michael Ahlborn and Dr. Brian Poole, MMBIO Dept. Introduction Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly known simply as lupus, is an incurable autoimmune disorder that can cause inflammation and tissue damage in virtually any part of the body. Many studies have shown a correlation between lupus diagnosis and positive infection with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Scientists currently estimate […]
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