Life Sciences

Jennifer Jorgenson, Weber State University Microbiology Enterococcus, a bacterial genus that normally inhabits the gastrointestinal tract of animals, can be pathogenic to humans, causing urinary tract infections, sepsis and other serious diseases. It is also one of the major causes of hospital acquired infections. One important complication of those infected with Enterococcus is the fact that they often have a high level of antibiotic resistance, making effective treatment of patients more difficult. While it is a normal inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract, it can survive outside its host in the environment, even in adverse conditions, such as the Great Salt Lake. In this experiment, isolates of Enterococcus were collected from the Great Salt Lake and from fresh water sources. These isolates were tested for different phenotypic characteristics and for their antibiotic resistant patterns against five antibiotics. The results of the Kirby Bauer disk-diffusion assay demonstrated that 47% of enterococcal isolates from the Great Salt Lake were resistant to one or more of the five antibiotics. In contrast only 15% of Enterococcus isolated from the fresh water source were resistant to one or more of the five antibiotics. This has implications for those who have recreational and occupational contact with the Great Salt Lake.

Lauren Johnson, Weber State University Microbiology Bacteriophages in aquatic environments play a significant role in bacteria population control, as well as recycling nutrients. The bacterial genus Halomonas is commonly found in the Great Salt Lake (GSL), but very little is known concerning its population dynamics. This euryhalophilic genus is highly versatile concerning its ability to grow in a wide range of substrates and environmental conditions including salt concentration. To better understand GSL microbial ecology, seven strains of Halomonas were isolated from the GSL and identified using 16S rRNA. Samples of South Arm GSL water were filtered twice through a 0.2 m filter, and tested against these Halomonas strains using soft agar overlays to detect Halomonas phage. Three strains exhibited plaque formation indicating the presence of phage. Halomonas phage isolates produced very small plaques, sometimes barely visible. Individual phages were isolated by vortexing agar plugs taken from single plaques in sterile saline then filtering through a 0.2 m filter. From host range streak plates, a single phage isolate (LJ17) appears to infect 4 closely related Halomonas strains. Electron micrographs of LJ17 phage indicate it has a small icosahedral head and perhaps a very short tail. There also appears to be a satellite phage that may be associated with LJ17. There are no reports of Halomonas phage isolated from the Great Salt Lake (GSL), although there are phages found for marine Halomonas strains. Successful isolation and characterization of novel GSL Halomonas phage, besides being critical for development of host/phage models, will also allow studies of GSL microbial ecology.

Tanner Mortimer, Utah Valley University Biology Nearly half of Americans reject evolution as an explanation of the origin of the diversity of life on Earth and rejection of evolutionary science has been shown to be correlated with a belief in a Christian God-creator (Gallup 2007; NSB 2010). The goal of this study is to explore the student perceptions and knowledge of Evolution at UVU in the non-majors and Biology majors introductory courses. Our study is designed to examine three hypotheses: Hypothesis 1 (Modern secularist): high levels of religiosity and fatalism should correlate with low levels of interest in science and scientific understandings of the world; Hypothesis 2 (Postmodern, postsecularist): no correlation between high levels of religiosity and fatalism, and interest in science and scientific understandings of the world; Hypothesis 3 (Social Psychology): that identifiable structural, contextual features will correlate with identifiable behaviors, irrespective of preexisting beliefs or previous behaviors. Due to the high % of LDS students that attend UVU, we are also interested in looking at the acceptance of Evolution among LDS before learning about the theory of Evolution (Pre-test) and after taking the introductory courses (Post-test). Preliminary results suggest that those students who had a strong sense of God-mediated control also had, in general, a negative attitude towards evolution.

Mark Tingey, Utah Valley University Biology The phylogenetic relationship of Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Odonata (dragonflies) and Neoptera (remaining winged insects) has been a problematic isse in insect evolution and systematics. Resolving their relationships is a critical step toward understanding insect diversification and the evolution of flight. Three hypotheses are evaluated so as to determine the phylogenetic placement of these three orders of insects: 1) Ephemeroptera sister to Odonata + Neoptera; 2) Monophyletic Paleoptera (Ephemeroptera + Odonata); and 3) Odonata sister to Ephemeroptera + Neoptera. Data from more than 260 taxa were collected from Genbank and assembled into a supermatrix representing 6 different molecular markers. Each of the genes were aligned and phylogenetic analyses were carried out utilizing a number of different methods including Bayesian, maximum likelihood, and parsimony frameworks in order to elucidate the relationships of these insect groups. The large number of taxa proved to be a daunting task, but provided new insights into the support for the different hypotheses. The implications for the evolution of flight were examined in light of the generated phylogenies.

Adam Olson, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences Forests systems of the Central Rocky Mountains rely on an intricate balance of natural disturbance cycles in order to develop properly. Forest fires are one such disturbance, however, certain fire characteristics, particularly fire severity, can vary widely across forest landscapes. In our study, we examined the influence of fire severity on aspen regeneration as well as aspen defense against wildlife and livestock browsing. Our results indicate that high or moderate burn severity is more favorable to aspen regeneration and survival. These areas of severe burn result in a higher density of aspen suckers, more vertical and lateral growth, greater chemical defense concentrations, and less browse damage than the neighboring plots of low or no burn. This data suggests that fire severity should be taken into account when considering plant regeneration and susceptibility to browse damage in burned landscapes.

Matthew Whited, Brigham Young University Biochemistry Several lines of evidence suggest that protein lysine acetylation pathways are deregulated in cancer (1). Moreover, deacetylase inhibitors are emerging as important anti-tumor therapeutics, suggesting that the forced reprogramming of protein-lysine acetylation is toxic to tumor cells. In this study we show that Sirt1, an NAD+-dependent Sirtuin deacetylase that promotes cancer cell survival, is aberrantly mislocalized to the cytoplasm of breast tumor cells. Moreover, the depletion of cytosolic Sirt1 by siRNA sensitizes breast tumor cells to paclitaxel-induced death. Previously, we developed a biotin-switch proteomics approach to identify cytosolic Sirt1 substrates (2). This approach yielded a variety of substrates with roles in metabolism, survival, and oxidative stress signaling. Our current work focuses on three of the proteins identified as Sirt1 substrates: SOD1, DJ-1, and 14-3-3z. SOD1 and DJ-1 both suppress oxidative stress-induced death, and high levels of 14-3-3z expression suppress chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and correlate with negative patient outcomes in breast cancer. Our preliminary results suggest that acetylation of DJ-1 and SOD1 suppress their anti-oxidant functions, while acetylation of 14-3-3z disrupts its binding to pro-survival proteins. Taken together, our data support a model in which cytosolic Sirt1 activates multiple pathways that work together to promote tumor cell survival.

Hyrum Shumway, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology Epigenetics is the study of factors of gene regulation that do not stem from the primary DNA sequence. One such example of epigenetic gene regulation is where DNA wraps around histone proteins to form nucleosomes. The positioning of nucleosomes is the first order of control for genic transcription. Wrapped DNA is less accessible for transcription compared to DNA that is nucleosome free. Model organisms for human epigenetics such as the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are invaluable because of their ease in manipulation and because the components of nucleosomes (histone proteins and DNA) are highly conserved across phylogeny. The purpose of my particular research is to develop and validate a new protocol for tissue-specific isolation of nucleosomes through immunoprecipitation in young adult C. elegans. This protocol leverages green fluorescent protein fused to histones to research nucleosome positioning in the germ-line cells of C. elegans nematodes. When successful in our animal model, this procedure is the first step in allowing analysis of chromatin architecture of any tissue at any developmental or disease state including human cells. The widespread prevalence and implications of human disease is staggering in magnitude. Research is ongoing to decrease morbidity, increase prevention, and fight infection. With epigenetic tools, this vital research is benefitted and supplemented.

Michael McEntire, Brigham Young University Biology Female mate choice (intersexual selection) and male dominance interactions (intrasexual selection) can each play important roles in sexual selection. These two mechanisms tend to be discussed in isolation. The goal of this study is to explore the interaction between these two forms of sexual selection. To test this idea, we focused on the livebearing tropical fish system Poecilia gillii. We grouped males into similarly sized pairs and observed them for a week to determine which male was dominant. These pairs were then presented to females in mate choice trials to ascertain female preference. We also photo- graphed the males to determine coloration. We found that females were unable to detect dominant males without viewing the physical contest and that carotenoid coloration bore no effect on female preference. Females tended to choose the male to their left, suggesting the preferential use of their right eyes in making decisions on mate choice.

Ji Su Park, Brigham Young University Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Selenium (Se) and soy have each been shown to reduce risk for prostate cancer when consumed at high levels. The purpose of this project was to define the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer chemoprevention by Se and soy, and to describe how timing of dietary treatment modifies those effects. [C57BL/6 X FVB] F1 TRAMP (TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate) male mice were fed stock diets high or low in soy, with or without a supplement of Se (4.0 mg Se/kg BW as Se-meth- ylselenocysteine) by gavage 5 d/wk in a 2 X 2 factorial design. Mice were exposed to different diets starting from conception, 6 weeks, or 12 weeks of age and were sacrificed at 18 weeks. Three-way ANOVA showed that supplemental Se increased serum and liver Se, with significant interactions with both time and soy intake. Selenium dosing decreased BW independent of soy intake and time of dietary intervention. Both Se and soy decreased epididymal fat pad weights, with Se’s effects being more pronounced in mice exposed to diets from conception than from 6 wk. Urogenital tract weights, a measure of prostate proliferation and tumor volume, were significantly reduced by Se supplementation (P<0.001) and soy (p=0.044), independent of time of dietary intervention. Histological examination of mouse prostates is in progress to determine dietary effects on disease progression. These data suggest that, in this model, chemopreventive efficacy of Se and soy does not differ between prenatal and early post-natal introduction.

Marcus Vranes, Brigham Young University Molecular Biology Recent studies have attempted to discover the correlation that exists between DNA methylation and nucleosome positioning, but none have explored the direct effect of DNA methylation on nucleosome formation and positioning. This proposed research will directly test the effects DNA methylation has on nucleosome positioning and whether the histone octamer has preferred sequences to which it binds, which will in turn add our understanding of gene expression and regulation. A better understanding of these concepts will help to aid efforts in gene therapy to better the quality of life of many who suffer from various genetic conditions.

Whitney Hoopes, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology HspB2 is one of eleven known small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSP) that is expressed in human heart and skeletal muscle. In response to cellular stress, heat shock proteins play a vital role to help misfolded proteins and proteins susceptible to denaturation maintain their structure. Two members of the sHSP family, CryAB and HspB2, are both required for normal heart function and cardiac muscle integrity. CryAB-deficient mice have defects in cardiac muscle structure whereas HspB2-deficient mice display energy deficits (Rajasekaran et al. 2007). The contrasting phenotypes of CryAB and HspB2 suggest differential roles for these molecular chaperones in the heart. HspB2 has been found to localize with the mitochondria in several different cell lines and overexpression of this sHSP has been shown to support survival of cells against heat stress (Nakagawa, 2001). To understand the role and mechanism of HspB2 in cardiac muscle energy regulation, we have used a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system to uncover the novel protein binding partners specific to HspB2. From screening a human heart cDNA library, HspB2 interacted with approximately 10,000 out of 20 million plasmids. We have sequenced more than 1000 of these putative interactors and have identified over 100 unique proteins. Over 40% of these protein partners are involved in mitochondrial energy production and another 25% in cardiac muscle structure maintenance. In addition, we have identified an interaction between HspB2 and the related sHSP CryAB. We then compared this data with mitochondrial HspB2 binding partners identified by mass spectroscopy (MS) through a large-scale bioinformatics analysis and constructed a protein-protein network. Y2H dependency tests were conducted to verify interactions identified by both Y2H and MS. Following yeast verification, a subset of the interactions were confirmed in C9H2 cardiac cells through coimmunopurification. Our research describes the first protein-protein interaction network for any sHSP, supports a role for HspB2 in mitochondrial energy production and suggests a link between mitochondrial energy production/redox stasis and stressed cardiac muscle maintenance.

Michael Peterson, Brigham Young University Biology A person’s predisposition to Alzheimer’s Disease is known to be influenced by both genetic factors as well as environmental factors. One know environmental factor is that known to affect risk for disease is early parental death. The purpose of this research is to better understand the complex factors that influence the disease by analyzing the relationship between the environmental factor of early parental death with genetic variants known to influence the disease. We used extant data from the CCSMHA, an ongoing aging study including 89.7% (5092 of 5677) of all of the eligible residents of Cache County, Utah. This data includes information about environmental and psychosocial stressor of the subjects as well as information about physical examinations, metal screenings, and individuals’ genotypes at many loci that are known to be related to Alzheimers Disease. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine the effect of early parental death by SNP interactions on risk for AD. For the analysis we cleaned the data by removing SNPs less than a minor allele frequency of 0.01, a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium value of 110-6, and a maximum missing snp call of 0.2. Individuals were also removed if genotyping rate was less than 0.2. After filtering we had 262 cases, 239 controls and 0 missing Final Results will be presented at the Conference.

Rachel Perry, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Previous studies have indicated that Visinin-like protein (VILIP) may be a powerful tool in predicting disease progression and guiding prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was collected from hundreds of individuals with varying levels of AD. The CSF was then analyzed for levels of VILIP protein using Luminex technology. SNPs were genotyped using the Illumina OmniExpress chip. SNPs found to have a Hardy-Weinberg frequency less than 1×10-4 were not included, assuming that this variance was due to a genotyping error. SNPs and samples missing more than five percent of the data were also not included. Following the cleanup of the data, an association test using linear regression was performed. Covariates used in the analysis included age, gender, and covariates that accounted for population stratification (PC1 and PC2). Over one hundred SNPs were found with a p-value less than 1×10-5. The genomic inflation factor for the generated data was 1. One marker showed significance at the genome-wide level. We have identified a genetic marker that shows significant association with CSF VILIP levels. This finding may provide insight into genetic control of VILIP levels, which may be a useful in understanding the pathological processes involved in AD.

Matthew Schneider, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects millions of people per year. Research has shown that Alzheimer’s affects the hippocampus brain region, which is involved in learning and memory. Understanding learning and memory functions is imperative to comprehending both healthy brain functions and Alzheimer’s disease. Many researchers seek to understand both the causes and treatments of the disease, but tangible information remains elusive. Studies thus far have shown that to encode memories, the brain must change neural synapses to either strengthen or weaken those pathways, a process known as synaptic plasticity. Using electrophysiology techniques on mouse hippocampal slices, this project will provide further insight on memory formation and regulation by imitating synaptic plasticity mechanisms. I will look at a specific cellular pathway involving the protein receptor GPR55, which has recently been shown to induce synaptic plasticity. By understanding how the GPR55 pathway functions, this research will contribute to the understanding and treatments of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Lacie Cates, Salt Lake Community College Natural Sciences According to the Salt Lake Valley Health Department 1 the optimal level of fluoride is 0 .7 to 1.2 ppm in drinking water. Also acidity of many foods and drinks leads to tooth decay. In 2003 the State of Utah started adding fluoride to tap water. Then in 2008 Utah counties voted on addition of fluoride resulting in a variation of water treatment from county to county. At present the state has about 50% of the population receiving fluoride treated water with the aim of providing the 1 ppm fluoride level. It has also been reported that some counties are considering cutting back to about 0.7 ppm 2 . This study examined the pH and fluoride content of water samples from the major population counties in Utah. Fluoride levels ranged from 0.08 – 0.92 ppm. The pH values for these samples ranged from 6.26 -8.08. A further study of the fluoride levels and pH in bottled water and other drinks and foods such as fruit and cheese was conducted because many people in Utah do not drink tap water, particularly in regions of high water hardness or areas where taste and / or odor can be off putting. The pH values ranged from 2 to 8. The most acidic being colas and citrus based drinks and foods. The fluoride values varied from 0.03 to 0.47 ppm.

David Marriott, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology Acute stress has been shown to decrease Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampus. Additionally, stressed animals show signs of anxiety and suffer decreases in spatial memory tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation. Conversely, exercise has been shown to increase spatial memory task performance in mice, attenuate anxiety-like behaviors and enhance neurogenesis and LTP in the dentate gyrus. While the effects of stress and exercise have been examined independently, there is currently a lack of experimental evidence that connects how stress and exercise, when experienced by the same animal, might modulate LTP in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. In our ongoing study, mice have been separated into a control group, a stress group (restraint and tail-shock), and an exercise + stress group where mice have voluntary access to a running wheel (for 30 days) before undergoing the stress protocol. We hypothesize that exercised animals will experience a protective effect against the reductions in CA1 LTP. In the stress only group, preliminary data shows a modest stress effect on LTP, yet we are learning that factors such as controllability of the stressor or the ability to develop coping mechanisms might potentially attenuate

Kristian Johnson, Dixie State University Biology Antimicrobial methods, such antibiotics and Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, have been a means of suppressing prokaryote proliferation for nearly a century. Over the last several years, scientists have found that numerous strains of prokaryotes have developed resistance to antibiotics. Concurrently, the process of bacterial irradiation using UV-C is common practice in a variety of sterilization applications. As revealed in the seminal work by Chang et al. inactivation curves for Microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) were established in 1985. Their values indicate survival rates based on Intensity, which is defined as the time of UV irradiance per unit area. Similar to the evolutionary evidence of antibiotic resistance, we are interested in the selective pressure UV-C has on Staph. By recapitulating Chang’s experiment nearly 30 years later, our preliminary results indicate an increased resistance to UV-C in Staph. In this experiment, we determine a current UV-C dose-dependent kill rate function for Staph.

Chancen Hall and Nichkolas Hadley, Dixie State University Biological Sciences Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid fungus) is prevalent worldwide, and the resulting chytridiomycosis has contributed to at least 168 amphibian species extinctions. In 2010, B. dendrobatidis was discovered in the greater Zion National Park area of southwestern Utah. Because few populations have shown resistance to chytridiomycosis, we decided to explore the effects of this disease on populations of Hyla arenicolor (canyon tree frog). We tracked the spread of B. dendrobatidis by testing skin samples taken annually from several different canyons and monitored population sizes. During the three years of our study, infected populations did not show subsequent population declines. This suggests that H. arenicolor population size in this region is unaffected by B. dendrobatidis. In the future, testing hypothesized explanations for surviving infection could help us identify populations not at risk and thus allocate conservation resources more efficiently.

Rachel Schneider, Brigham Young University Neuroscience The ability to create distinct memories for very similar stimuli and events is called pattern separation. Pattern separation is thought to be dependent on neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) in the dentate gyrus, a subregion of the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is reduced in depression, as is overall memory performance. It has been proposed that depression negatively impacts pattern separation abilities, however a link between depression and performance in pattern separation memory tasks has yet to be identified. Accordingly, we designed a study to investigate the relationship between pattern separation performance and level of depression. Eighty-two participants completed a pattern separation memory test and a set of questionnaires to gauge their level of depression. During the task, participants were presented with 600 images one at a time on a computer screen in a continuous recognition paradigm. Participants were asked to determine whether each image was new, old, or similar. Images seen for the first time during the task qualified as “new”, images that were repeated following a variable delay qualified as “old”, and images that were similar to previously presented stimuli, but not exactly the same, qualified as “similar”. A pattern separation score was calculated based on the proportion of correctly identified similar stimuli. We found a negative correlation between depression scores and pattern separation scores (r(82) = – 0.301, p < 0.01). This relationship held constant even when we controlled for other factors known to affect neurogenesis, such as exercise and anxiety levels. These results provide support for the theory that depression is negatively related to pattern separation performance, possibly due to a decrease in neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Ryan Williamson, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology The hippocampus is thought to mediate learning and memory by altering the strength of synapses within its circuitry. In many cases, this synaptic plasticity can be induced by intracellular signaling molecules. Lipid-based intracellular signaling molecules called endocannabinoids have been shown to modulate or mediate synaptic plasticity among hippocampal pyramidal cells and stratum radiatum interneurons; however, the role of endocannabinoids in mediating synaptic plasticity among interneurons in the stratum oriens is still unclear. Our goal was to determine whether stratum oriens interneurons have the machinery necessary for endocannabinoid production and, if so, whether this machinery is expressed in a sub-type specific manner. To do this, we used patch clamp electrodes to extract single cells from rat hippocampal slices and analyzed the expression of endocannabinoid biosynthetic enzyme mRNA using quantitative real-time PCR. In this analysis, we examined cellular expression of two interneuron markers, GAD65 and GAD67, as well as several calcium-binding proteins and neuropeptides to determine interneuron subtype. We also analyzed cellular expression of several endocannabinoid biosynthetic enzymes, including N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D, diacylglycerol lipase alpha, and 12-lipoxygenase, as well as type I metabotropic glutamate receptors. Preliminary data suggests that stratum oriens interneurons express mRNA necessary for endocannabinoid biosynthetic enzymes. Additionally, we identified interneurons that coexpress mRNA for somatostatin and diacylglycerol lipase, suggesting that O-LM cells or another somatostatin-positive interneuron subtype may possess the enzymes necessary to produce the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Further work will allow us to examine how endocannabinoid biosynthetic enzyme expression correlates with other interneuron subtypes in the stratum oriens.

Aaron Sharp, Brigham Young University Biology The Cache County study on memory, health, and aging has played a significant role in several studies. However, there is some potential skepticism in the scientific community about its sample. The population in Cache County is derived from a diverse group of founders, but it is perceived by some to be an isolated population. If so, conclusions discovered there might not apply to other populations. Our objective is to compare the Cache County data to a panel of genetic data—provided by the International HapMap Project and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging initiative—that is known to be representative of typical European-American populations. Doing so will indicate whether the genetic diversity in the Cache County sample is characteristic of an isolate or not. Analysis will be done using the open source “Plink” analysis toolset, including the –cluster and –mds-plot computational algorithms. Using –cluster groups individuals according to identity by state distances. The –mds-plot algorithm creates a scatter-plot of the individuals in 2-dimensional space, identifying any systematic difference between the Cache County data and the general population. We expect that the Cache County data will be representative of general European-American populations, because of its diverse group of founders.

Rachel Nettles, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences Background/Questions/Methods

Caitlin Munger, Brigham Young University Biology Alzheimer’s is a fatal, non-treatable neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia. While no one gene has been found to determine the development of Alzheimer’s, past studies have established a strong hereditary influence on Alzheimer’s. So far, only 5 genes have been found which replicably contribute to the genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s. However, the gene for Chlolesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) has been identified as a possible new contributor to the genetic risk factor. In order to test this association we obtained data on over 4000 subjects studied in the Cache County Study on Memory, Health and Aging over a 15-year period. This data included DNA samples, cognitive decline rates and incidence of dementia–particularly Alzheimer’s Disease. DNA samples were SNP genotyped using quantitative PCR. The SNP genotypes and corresponding phenotypes for each subject were then analyzed for association usingmixed linear models and for survival, or the amount of time until the disease appeared, using Cox proportional hazard models. We found a correlation between the V405I SNP and a decreased rate of cognitive decline. We found that for each additional G the rate of decline decreased by 0.6 points per year on the MMSE test. The identification of CETP as a player in the genetic risk for Alzheimer’s and dementia will provide much needed information on the genetic factors involved in dementia and allow for possible future therapeutic targets.

Joseph Moulton, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology With the advent of recent mutations in the influenza A viral genome, drugs that previously blocked the proton flux responsible for disassembly of the viral envelope and exposure of viral RNA to the transcriptional machinery of the host cell have become ineffective. Our study of the M2 hydrogen ion channel responsible for this flux has led to a vastly-increased under- standing of the mechanisms behind the conductance activity and potential blockage of these transmembrane tetramers. By embedding M2 proton channel subunits of the S31N mutant strain into liposomal bilayers and suspending these bilayers in the buffers and ionic gradients characteristic of the intracellular environment, we have been able to simulate and observe nor- mal functioning of the influenza A virus. Using these liposomal bilayers, we have developed a series of experimental protocols to test a variety of amantadine- and rimantadine-related drugs for successful blockage of M2 S31N proton conductance. Our research presentation will be centered around the mechanisms of this channel and the favorable results that we have obtained from many of these drugs.

Authors: Trevor Kendrick, Jakob Lenker. Mentors: Jeff Tessem. Insitution: Brigham Young University. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by an inability of beta cells to produce or secrete insulin due to decreasing beta cell mass, a condition induced by beta cell death or overuse. Current treatment consists of daily administration of insulin to diabetic individuals. We have shown that Sirtuin 7 (Sirt7), a deacetylase located in the nucleus, directly interacts with Nkx6.1, a transcription factor essential for beta cell function and proliferation. We have shown that one of the post translational modifications that impinges on Nkx6.1 activity is acetylation. Given Sirt7’s role as a deacetylase, and published reports demonstrating its impact on glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), we hypothesized that the interaction between Nkx6.1 and Sirt7 maybe needed for the Nkx6.1 mediated enhancement of glucose stimulated insulin secretion. Here we present data regarding the interaction between Nkx6.1 and Sirt7 in terms of Nkx6.1 acetylation status, effect on GSIS, and the effect of cultured glucose concentration on this interaction. These findings may be leveraged to develop interventions to better treat patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Authors: Kevin Kuehne, Jake Hess. Mentors: Michael C Rotter. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Oral hygiene has ancient origins, predating recorded history and spanning back to Neanderthal times. Chewing sticks, one of the earliest oral hygiene methods, have had significant cultural and social influences across various civilizations. These chewing sticks were selected for a variety of reasons particularly for their plant anatomical and chemical properties that would allow for cleaning between teeth and preventing build up of organic food matter. We hypothesized that plants that were commonly used as chew sticks will contain phytochemicals that have natural occurring antimicrobial activity. Additionally we predict that these plants will have a higher wood density and a greater periderm to cortex ratio. Here we are reviewing a variety of woody plants traditionally thought to be used as chewing sticks in North America. We will use literature records to review the phytochemicals produced by these as well as the anatomical composition of these plants. We expect that the phytochemicals will have strong anti-microbial impacts and the anatomical structures of the plants will be ideal for gentle cleaning of teeth.

Authors: Lillian Gee, Makaylie Moore. Mentors: Lauren Brooks. Insitution: Utah Valley University. Cetaphil is a daily facial cleanser that claims to remove dirt, excess oils, and makeup. The human skin is home to a diverse community of bacteria, including beneficial bacteria that play a role in the skin's natural barrier function and immune defense, and pathogenic bacteria that may cause disease and infection. There is little research on the effectiveness of Cetaphil removing harmful bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, and commensal bacteria, like Staphylococcus epidermis. To compare the antimicrobial activity of Cetaphil on these two species, serial dilutions of both bacteria strains were made and then exposed to Cetaphil. Positive controls and the dilutions exposed to Cetaphil were plated on Tryptic Soy Agar plates and after incubation, bacterial growth was observed by counting the number of colony-forming units. Testing is beginning to show that Cetaphil is not only effective against S. aureus but is also effective against S. epidermis. This research is important for understanding how skincare affects harmful bacteria strains and the bacteria strains that are natural to the skin.

Authors: Rylan Schmanski, Mason Masters, Emilee Snow, Alexandria Offringa, Paola Robles, Spencer Perry, Joshua Mackley, Alexander Beagley, Rainey Hughes. Mentors: Daniel Clark. Insitution: Weber State University. Enterovirus 71 (EV71) and herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1) are viruses that cause skin lesions in humans. EV71 causes hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and primarily affects young children. HSV-1 is a lifelong infection, causing genital herpes and cold sores, which affects 50 to 80 percent of US adults. We used CRISPR to edit the human genome in cultured cells (HEK293 and HeLa) to decrease the infectivity of these two viruses by deleting their receptors. To delete these virus receptors, a guide RNA (gRNA) was designed for each receptor using the Broad Institute gRNA design tool (ANXA2, SCARB2, and SELPLG for EV71, and Nectin-1 and HVEM for HSV-1). Plasmids that express each gRNA and the CRISPR cutting enzyme, Cas9, were transfected into human cells using the base plasmid All_in_one_CRISPR. This plasmid contains a dsRed fluorescent protein and a G418-selectable marker for the selection of transfected cells, which were then confirmed as knockouts by Sanger sequencing. Cells were then infected and compared for viral-induced apoptosis. Because viruses use combinations of receptors, the end goal is to determine which receptors are most critical for attachment and entry into human cells. This will lead to targeted antiviral drugs to block interactions with those receptors.

Authors: Avery Zentner. Mentors: Hung Yu Shih. Insitution: Utah Tech University. 4H Leukodystrophy (4H) is an early-onset rare genetic disease, which causes myelination loss in the nervous system without a current cure. 4H patients exhibit different phenotypic spectrums of hypomyelination, hypodontia, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Mutations in polr3a, polr3b, polr3k, and polr1c, which encode the RNA polymerase III subunits, could lead to 4H development. To date, there are no available animal models to bona fide the clinical symptoms of human patients, limiting the therapeutic development of 4H. Zebrafish, Danio rerio, might be an ideal model for 4H. Zebrafish have been widely used for human disease models and drug development. This project aims to establish and characterize the zebrafish 4H model by knocking out the polr3a with the CRISPR/Cas9 approach. The polr3a-Crispants significantly increased the mortality rate as compared to wild-type embryos. Behavior analysis showed the polr3a-Crispants reduced swimming ability upon light stimulation, which might reflect the clinical ataxia or vision problem. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis showed a significant reduction in myelin-associated genes. These results suggest the polr3a knockout could mimic the clinical symptoms. Future studies will characterize the detailed neurological defects and the underlying mechanisms of 4H development and progression. Moreover, we will utilize the 4H zebrafish model for therapeutic drug screening.

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