2020 Abstracts

Perdue, Perdue; Burke, Joshua; Bylund, Kevin; Stephen, Daniel (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Stephen, Daniel (Utah Valley University, Earth Science)

The Sundance Sea covered much of western North America during the Middle to Late Jurassic Period. Deposits from this vast epeiric sea are now widely exposed across the region, including the Stump Formation in northeastern Utah, which consists of sandstones and shales reflecting shallow marine deposition. Well-preserved belemnites (Pachyteuthis densus, Oxfordian Stage, ~156 Ma) collected from this unit preserve stable isotope data (_18O and _13C ) that can be used to better understand the paleoceanography and paleoclimatology of the area, as well as possibly some paleobiologic characteristics such as migration patterns through the life cycle and age at sexual maturity and death. Incremental growth of belemnites created growth bands that record isotopic values through various life stages, thus potentially providing information about the life history traits of these organisms, in addition to seasonal temperature variations. Preliminary results suggest our material is consistent with previous reports from other locations in the region, with paleotemperatures in the 17 to 20° C range. In addition, there is some indication of seasonal variations. However, analyses of more samples and further evaluation of potential diagenetic alteration is necessary before more robust conclusions can be drawn.

Phan, Anh; Jensen, Joseph (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Jensen, Joseph (Utah Valley University, Physics)

We have measured the Surface Brightness Fluctuation (SBF) distances to 12 galaxies. SBF is usually used to measure distances to giant elliptical galaxies that have uniform ages and composition. On the other hand, galaxies that are more disk-shaped potentially have a range of ages, they may have an SBF and color gradient. Elliptical masks that match the shapes of disk galaxies can give a more accurate SBF and color gradient than circular masks. The purpose of this study is to measure the discrepancies between the SBF distances using the two types of masks. For giant elliptical galaxies, the two methods give similar results ($\leq$ 2\%). For disk galaxies, the discrepancies are bigger (up to 6\% difference).

Terreros, Eduardo N.; Dr. Roberts, Andrew G. (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Roberts, Andrew G. (University of Utah, Chemistry)

Chromatography is an indispensable tool in most chemistry laboratories, as it provides a way to separate multiple components within a chemical mixture. The separation can be evaluated by the use of various chromatographic methodologies that have been developed to target specific chemical properties (e.g. size, mass, molecular interactions) of the desired compounds. Chromatographic methods are utilized to gather qualitative information in order to observe more general trends, or quantitative data to further explore observations in greater detail.

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) is a well-established method for collecting qualitative data from chemical reactions. Although Quantitative TLC (QTLC) methods have been developed, they are limited due to their high complexity, and cost prohibitive nature. The advancement of a Semi-Quantitative Thin Layer Chromatography (S-QTLC) method will provide a quick, low cost method to track organic reactions. We developed a low-cost alternative that uses readily available materials to gather images of TLC plates and process them into semi-quantitative data. In order to achieve this, we have constructed a small image gathering box made of opaque acrylic fitted with two 254 nm UV lamps and a Raspberry Pi Zero W with a camera module to acquire the images. The images are imported to a PC and processed by a custom built MatLab function. We demonstrated that this system can be utilized to gather qualitative data. Current studies will validate semi-quantitative data collection and reaction tracking and work is currently being done to validate semi-quantitative data collection.

Leininger, Sara; Minteer, Shelley; Rhodes, Zayn; Sigman, Matt; Pancoast, Adam (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Minteer, Shelley (University of Utah College of Science, Chemisty)

In the effort to improve renewable energy as a response to the depletion of fossil fuels, one important aspect to consider is the availability of such sources. The supply of solar and wind power, for example, faces issues with intermittency. Therefore, it is crucial to develop reliable energy storage methods, with redox flow batteries (RFBs) being of particular interest given their potential low cost and high efficiency. RFBs operate similarly to conventional batteries, except the anode and cathode materials are dissolved in electrolyte solutions, and pumped into the electrochemical cell from external storage tanks. Within the cell, the anode and cathode species are separated by a membrane to prevent them from mixing, which would cause the battery to self-discharge. RFBs can utilize aqueous- or organic-based electrolyte solutions, with organic solvents being especially appealing, as the electrochemical potential window is larger than water. However, one major impediment of using organic solvent is the high chemical crossover rate of anode and cathode species through the membrane, causing rapid capacity fade of the battery. Several research studies have shown that the use of redox active polymers (RAPs) with high molecular weights, paired with a size-exclusion membrane effectively counteracts this problem. The resulting steric hindrance between the small pores of the membrane and these large molecules blocks any crossover from the active species. This study will include the construction of an RFB using two previously developed RAPs demonstrated to have high electrochemical cycling stability as electrolytes. By using RAPs as both anode and cathode materials, it is expected that chemical crossover will be minimized, and the lifetime of the battery will be elongated compared to an RFB with one or both species in monomeric form. This study will be significant in the advancement of RFBs, potentially leading to their widespread use for energy storage.

Fazio, Nicholas; Russell, Michael; Krapohl, John; Andrus, Brayden; Hansen, Marc (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Hansen, Marc (Brigham Young University, Physiology and Developmental Biology)

PIM 3 is a proto-oncogene with serine/threonine kinase activity that can prevent apoptosis, promote cell survival and protein translation. Abnormal PIM3 activity contributes to tumorigenesis by phosphorylation of targets that release anti-apoptotic proteins. Pathological PIM3 expression is common in pancreatic and prostate cancer. Inhibiting this kinase activity can be used to therapeutically suppress uncontrolled cell growth in cancerous tissues. Synthetic inhibitors are being developed as therapeutics to treat PIM3 related disorders. Compounds derived from plants and natural sources have therapeutically-relevant biological activity. Additionally, they often well tolerated, making them important starting points for drug discovery efforts. A less widely used approach to discover the biological activity of molecules is built around using a large scale in-silico molecular screening, which has emerged as a critical drug discovery tool. Here, we screen a large (>100,000 compound) virtual library of natural product compounds for binding in the PIM3 ATP binding site, then validate compounds with using cell-based and immuno-based assays. This approach reveals PIM3 inhibition by a saponin scaffold, which suggests potential utility as a therapeutic or as a lead for further optimization.

Forbush, Micah; Gold, Roger (Southern Utah University)
Faculty Advisor: Gold, Roger (Southern Utah University, Biology)

The health of a horse's teeth and oral cavity is strongly correlated with the horse's overall health and well-being. As a horse ages the oral cavity undergoes many distinct physical changes, which may lead to changes in the composition of the oral microbiome as well. While there has been extensive research performed on the oral microbiomes of healthy horses compared to horses with various oral diseases, very little is known about normal changes to the horse oral microbiome as they age. The aim of this study was to use high-throughput sequencing to compare the oral microbiomes of horses in different age categories. Total genomic DNA was isolated from oral swabs taken from horses in the 7 day-old, 1-7 years old, 8-15 years old and 16+ years old age categories. The V3-V4- region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR and amplicons were submitted for paired-end sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq system. Sample reads were analyzed using the QIIME 2.0 microbiome bioinformatics platform and overall bacterial diversity was compared among age classes.

Jones, Abigail; Hevel, Joan (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Hevel, Joan (College of Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department)

PRMT1 is one of nine known mammalian Protein Arginine Methyltransferases (PRMTs) whose function are to transfer methyl groups from S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) to arginine residues of specific proteins. PRMT1 is known to methylate many different proteins in cells, but the mechanism of target recognition and binding is still unknown. Correct regulation of PRMT1 is critical to proper cellular function; thus, the action of PRMT1 is important to understand. In this study, we seek to elucidate how PRMT1 recognizes and binds its targets by identifying protein substrates of PRMT1 that form a stable complex with the enzyme. Such a protein would allow for additional studies (e.g. crystallographic or cryo-EM studies) to help visualize PRMT1-substrate interactions. Two substrates of PRMT1, TWIST1 and Smad6, have been purified, and the binding affinity of each to PRMT1 has been qualitatively assessed via pull-down assay and Western blot. Ligation-independent-cloning has been used to clone each substrate gene out of a GST-tagged vector and into a His-tagged vector, which will allow for further experiments assessing the stoichiometry of PRMT1-substrate binding.

Wasden, Kayla; Suisse, David; Kaundal, Amita (faculty mentor) (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kaundal, Amita (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Plants, Soils, and Climate Department)

Many plants secrete substances to create a more favorable environment, including chemicals that kill pathogenic microbes or competing plants. Artemisia tridentata, also known as "Big Sagebrush," is prevalent in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States and is known to have antimicrobial capabilities. We will study the potential antimicrobial activity of Artemisia tridentata.

Studies report that chemicals released by the leaves and branches of A. tridentata affect bacteria native to deer rumen. Another study showed that 27 actinomycetes (anaerobic bacteria that form colonies) strains found in the rhizosphere of A. tridentata demonstrated antibacterial activities when tested on E. coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Native Americans traditionally used A. tridentata to relieve stomach pain, colds, coughs, sore eyes, snake bites and as an insect repellent. Researchers found several compounds, including flavonoids, that can affect antimicrobial activity. Articles regarding antimicrobial activities in A. tridentata were published between 1967 and 2004. With the chronological gaps and considering the progress that biological and molecular technology has made in recent years, knowledge of the chemicals released by A. tridentata lies largely untapped. In this study, we will investigate the antimicrobial activities of the leaves, stem, roots, and flowers of A. tridentata initially by the agar well diffusion method and followed by validating with the agar disk diffusion method. We will check the antimicrobial activity of the extract from different plant parts of A. tridentata on common bacteria such as E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, and some Pseudomonas spp. of plant pathogens.

The knowledge obtained from this research will further help in the identification and characterization of the secondary metabolites or chemicals involved in antimicrobial activity of sagebrush. Medicinal plants provide a healthy, natural alternative to conventional medication, and may lead to new insights on antibiotics and pharmaceuticals. Besides, Artemisia tridentata is a plant native to Utah and Idaho. It grows everywhere in the surrounding area, making it inexpensive (free) to produce.

Hirschi, Blake; Pickett, Brad; Thompson, Jared; Telford, Mady; Berges, Bradford (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Berges, Brad (Life Sciences, Microbiology and Molecular Biology)

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a commensal bacterium commonly found amongst livestock and near 30% of humans' nostrils. However, through acquisition of certain genes S. aureus may develop antibiotic resistance such as in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). One hypothesized component lending to acquisition of genetic resistance in S. aureus is the synthesis of colony biofilms. Biofilms are comprised of a variety of substances including secreted polysaccharides, protein and even extracellular DNA. Our work postulates that extracellular DNA-based biofilms will transfer genes for antibiotic resistance at a higher rate than in polysaccharide/protein biofilms. Through employment of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we aim to characterize a wide sample of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) human associated strains and MRSA livestock associated strains for multiple antibiotic resistances. Co-inoculating pairs of human associated and livestock associated strains, each lacking the other's resistance genes, will provide an environment wherein biofilm-mediated gene transfer may occur. Further pairing based on biofilm composition (DNA or polysaccharide/protein) will yield data concerning which biofilm facilitates gene transfer more efficiently. Subsequent genotyping will confirm whether resulting isolates acquired new antibiotic resistance through biofilm-mediated transfer, thus increasing pathogenicity.

Bartlett, Ashley; Phatak, Sumira; Hintze, Korry; Benninghoff, Abby (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Benninghoff, Abby (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department)

The gut microbiome modulates various physiological functions related to cancer development including inflammation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a microbiome distinct from healthy controls with consistent observations of reduced gut biomass, decreased diversity within the community, and altered relative abundance. Although a consensus cancer-related microbiome has not been identified, several pathogenic species play an instrumental role in the progression of colitis and tumorigenesis, including: Streptococcus bovis, Helicobacter pylori, Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridium septicum, and Escherichia coli. Gut microbial composition is highly responsive to diet and inadequate intake of micronutrients is a critical feature of the Western dietary pattern. Gut dysbiosis has been proposed to further limit mineral uptake and impair vitamin synthesis, predisposing the host to micronutrient deficiency. Dietary bioactives, such as those in green tea, may function as a mediator between the gut microbiome and basal diet to ultimately prevent colitis associated colorectal cancer (CAC). The overarching objective of our work is to determine the impact of ancestral or multi-generational consumption of the total Western diet (TWD) in a murine model of CAC. Our previous work is the first to investigate how diet induced transgenerational inheritance affects CAC outcome. Our data suggested that multigenerational patterns of exposure to the TWD altered both phenotype and gene expression in third generation offspring. Supplementation with green tea appeared to be most promising after consumption of TWD for multiple generations. Considering that gut microbes are inherited maternally after colonization during vaginal birth, the gut microbiome is a missing piece in this disease model puzzle. The hypothesis of our current project is to investigate whether intake of TWD influences the transmission of microbes and whether CAC outcome is reflected by altered gut microbial composition. Based on other work, we expect the healthy control to possess an abundance of varied bacterial taxa that maintain protective epithelial barrier function and overall homeostasis. On the other hand, a high fat diet would promote increased intestinal permeability, a substantial shift at the phyla level, and increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. After TWD consumption, we expect an overall negative phenotypic outcome within the gut microbiome, that includes a breakdown of the epithelial barrier and introduction of pathogenic bacteria. These harmful bacteria tend to thrive on simple sugars that are common in the Western dietary pattern and tend to produce metabolites known as endotoxins that promote dysbiosis.

Wood, Branzen; Oberg, Taylor; Culumber, Michele; Oberg, Craig (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Oberg, Taylor (Utah State University, Nutrition and Food Science); Culumber, Michele (Weber State University, Microbiology); Oberg, Craig (Weber State University, Microbiology)

The unique flavorings and textures of Cheddar cheese are produced by the degradation of the major milk proteins. One of those proteins, casein, is degraded by the enzyme chymosin and a series of peptidases produced by the starter Lactococcus added to the milk. As casein is degraded, several small peptides accumulate. One of these peptides, ß-casein, can have an adverse bitter taste that is non-desirable and considered a defect in Cheddar cheese. The two main starter cultures used industrially in Cheddar cheese making are Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and L. lactis subsp. cremoris. L. lactis subsp. cremoris has been used traditionally in Cheddar cheese making, however, L. lactis subsp. lactis ferments more quickly and is becoming more popular in the cheese industry. With the transition creameries have seen a sharp rise in bitterness during production. Our hypothesis was that while closely related, cremoris synthesizes some peptidases that help with ß-casein degradation that lactis does not. Peptidases found in cremoris include PrtP I and II, Pep X, Pep C, Pep A, Pep T, Pep Q, Pep N, Pep V among others. We searched the genomes of both strains using RAST bioinformatic software, and the databases NCBI and UniProt. The peptidases common in cremoris were also found in lactis. We are now trying to determine if the location of the peptidases on the genomes change how they are regulated or produced. Further, we will begin looking into the genome for other, novel, enzymes that might have peptidase activity that influence bitterness.

Anderson, Lars; Baldwin, Haley; Christensen, Ben; Walker, Austen (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Griffen, Blaine (Brigham Young University, Life Sciences)

This research looks at the blue coloration on uca pugnax crab carapace above the mouth and between the eyestalks and associates the coloration to the behavior, sexual maturity, and size of the crab, as well as the detection of metals in their environment. Up to ten crabs were photographed within twenty five isolated sites with the objective of gathering a high range of color difference among the uca pugnax. The photos of the crabs were set to match the same scale of light and RGB as to not have interference from external factors such as sunlight or overcast weather. The shade of blue on the carapace provides information about the surrounding environment where the uca pugnax are found.

Baptista, Gabriela; Payne, Andrew; Obray, J Daniel; Yorgason, Jordan; Weber, K Scott; Steffensen, Scott (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Steffensen, Scott (Family, Home, and Social Sciences, Psychology)

Cluster of differentiation 5 (CD5) is expressed in both T and B cells. CD5 has been found to display an altered expression profile following chronic ethanol use and during ethanol withdrawal. Specifically, the number of CD5+ B cells is reduced during withdrawal while the number of T cells is increased. Given the apparent sensitivity of these cells to ethanol and recent research suggesting that some ethanol effects are accounted for by neuroimmune interactions we assessed drinking behavior and ethanol induced sedation in CD5 knockout (KO) mice. We found that CD5 KO mice display decreased ethanol consumption as compared with wild-type controls and that ethanol consumption does not increase with repeated exposure in CD5 KO mice. Additionally, CD5 KO mice displayed considerable resistance to the sedating effects of ethanol. Further studies are underway to assess whether there are baseline differences in dopamine dynamics within the mesolimbic pathway between CD5 KO mice and wild-type controls as well as to whether neurons in the mesolimbic pathway differ in their response to ethanol in CD5 KO mice.

Lin, Jade; Park, Yeram; Ross, Micah; Stark, Michael; Hansen, Marc (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Stark, Michael (Brigham Young University, Physiology and Developmental Biology); Hansen, Marc (Brigham Young University, Physiology and Developmental Biology)

Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida and anencephaly are due to incomplete closure of neural tubes in developing embryos. While the etiology is still unknown, environmental and genetic factors, toxicants, and maternal health are implicated as potential causes. Previous research shows that NTDs are associated with increased levels of ceramide (C2) and possible exposure to fumonisin (FB1), and valproic acid (VPA). We hypothesize that these molecules may interfere with cell-to-cell interactions which are important for neural tube formation. To investigate the potential mechanisms by which these toxicants can induce NTDs, I will use a well-characterized MDCK cell model treated with C2, FB1, and VPA to assess their impact on cell adhesion.

Miller, Jacob; Cheung, Aaron; Novilla, Kirsten; Crandall, Aliceann (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Crandall, Aliceann (Life Sciences, Public Health)

Existing literature demonstrates a strong relationship between childhood experiences and adult health outcomes. The Differential Susceptibility to Environment Theory suggests that there are several factors, including personality and physiology, that effect a child's sensitivity to adverse and advantageous experiences. A sample of 246 adults (ages 19-57) were asked questions about extroverted personality characteristics, adverse and advantageous childhood experiences, and several measures of adult health, including executive functioning, perceived stress levels, depression, and past smoking habits. The sample was then stratified based on level of extroversion scores with the top quartile being labeled as "extroverts", the bottom quartile as "introverts", and those in between as "ambiverts". Regression analyses were then used to assess the relationship between childhood experiences and each adult health outcome. The results of the study showed that the extroverted individuals experienced more positive health outcomes after more advantageous childhood experiences, as well as decreases in adult health outcomes after more adverse childhood experiences. These results suggest that extroverts more than introverts are more sensitivity to environmental influences in childhood. More research is needed to understand the neurobiological mechanisms that increase environmental sensitivity among extroverts.

Hirschi-Forster, Jeanallie; Mendoza, Matthew; Van Oene; Nicholas ; Payton, Jullian (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Clark, Daniel (Science, Microbiology)

The purpose of this research is to obtain quantitative data about possible sources for Salmonella contamination including tributaries to the Great Salt Lake, namely, the Jordan River, Weber River, and Bear River in Utah. We will also analyze specific water and soil sources near poultry farms for possible contamination. In recent studies, there is a greater number of produce items that have been found to contribute to Salmonella outbreaks. Contaminated water used for irrigation of these crops has been implicated as the causative agent for food contamination.

Bacteria found in these waterways are enriched using selective and differential media. This means, the media provides Salmonella species with required nutrients to grow effectively while differential media inhibits the growth of non-Salmonella species. The enrichment media that is used during this process is 3 X Tryptic Soy Broth and Gram-Negative broth. Gram negative broth is used as an enrichment step, but also selective in that it inhibits growth of other organisms. The two types of differential media would be XLT4 and MSRV. Salmonella is a motile bacterium and thus branches out from its original location of inoculation. This creates a halo-like growth pattern that makes it possible to differentiate Salmonella on MSRV plates. Once Salmonella is confirmed through the MSRV and XLT4 media, sequencing of its two CRISPR loci is completed. These two chromosomal regions have been shown to be distinct in different serovars, and as such, they can be used to distinct what subspecies is present in the sample.

Chou, Audrey; Duffy, Alexandra; Johnson, Jerald (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Johnson, Jerald (Brigham Young University, Biology)

Upon injury, fish release chemicals that cause fear and a dramatic change in behavior in nearby members of the species. Chemical alarm cues are released from injured epidermal tissue and provide an early warning signal for individuals to detect the presence of an active predator, and potentially increase the chances of individual survival. This research project investigates the conservation of alarm cue recognition and response across species boundaries by measuring the behavioral response of Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora to the alarm cues from five different species. Since these species will be of known phylogenetic relatedness, we will determine conservation of alarm cue response as a function of phylogenetic distance. I will also discuss the method of quantifying behavioral response through the use of a two-choice flume tank to measure both changes in activity and spatial avoidance upon alarm cue exposure.

Leavitt, Amanda; Harris, Heather; Szanter, Kathryn; Stokes, Alexis (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Dunn, Charles (Weber State University, Child and Family Studies); Hubler, Daniel (Weber State University, Child and Family Studies); Osai, Keith (Weber State University, Child and Family Studies)

How a child is parented can influence their success socially, mentally, physically, and emotionally. Agarwal (2017) states that "Parenting plays the most important part in any child's life, it can help a child by teaching them to deal with people, situations and adapt to a better living standard" (p.1335). Parents help form worldviews, shape a child's attitude towards personal achievement, teach how to approach adversity in life, and satisfy their needs whether it be psychological and/or physiological. Much is known about how the base of one's childhood is built upon one's primary caregivers' parenting style, however, less is known about the intergenerational transmission of parenting philosophies.

The current study was designed to assess how parenting styles affect child delinquency and bullying. Through social media invitations and snowball sampling, 200 people accepted invitations to participate in an online survey incorporating both open-ended and quantitative items. Participants were asked to reflect on how they were parented and then state what they have maintained or changed in their own parenting styles. Considering the rich nature of the responses to the qualitative items, a corroborative narrative came together through personal stories.

Through thematic analysis, several themes emerged. When participants reported being parented with: open communication, flexibility, love, trust, and higher expectations they wanted to keep those traits. When asked what participants carried on from their parents one participant stated, "Cherish the family and the moments we have together." Additionally, 28% (n = 113) of our participants shared the importance of spending quality time together. However, when participants' parents did not display those traits, most participants indicated that similar traits, namely communication, flexibility, love, quality time, trust, and higher expectations were desired in their homes. The findings from the current study can be used to inform future parenting research assessing influence on subsequent generations.