Thesis Archives Search
This search engine will let you explore the over 1800 theses written in Honors at The University of Maine since the Program’s inception in 1935. You may search our thesis archives based on any of the fields listed above. If the thesis is available at the Reynolds Library (Thomson Honors Center) or Fogler Library (Special Collections), the information will appear below the bibliographic data. At last count, we had about 1800 theses in the Reynolds Library.
Search Results
Characterization of a Potential Dissimilatory Arsenic Respirer From Maine Well Waters
Characterization of an Endogenous Murine Retrovirus and Related Sequences in Genomes of Heterologous Species
Characterization of Bacteria Associated with Two Populations of Elysia chlorotica
CHARACTERIZATION OF CCR5 DEFICIENCY IN THE NOD-SCID IL2RGNULL CCR5NULL MOUSE STRAIN
CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES IN THE CFTR-MEDIATED INNATE IMMUNE RESPONSE
Characterization of ncf1 Mutants in a Zebrafish Model of Innate Immune Function with Human Influenza A Virus Infection
Author:
Lily
Charpentier
Major: Biochemistry Graduation Year: 2020 Thesis Advisor: Benjamin King
Description of Publication:
Seasonal influenza A virus (IAV) infections and their associated respiratory diseases are the cause of an estimated 650,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a powerful vertebrate model to study innate immune function and host-pathogen interactions as the function of neutrophils and other phagocytes can be characterized in vivo. Preliminary studies have shown an increase in neutrophil respiratory burst activity to eliminate the invading pathogen, yet little is known of all of the mechanisms involved in neutrophil function. The NADPH oxidase complex, of which neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (Ncf1) is a key component, regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) to control neutrophil response to viral infection. Although necessary to fight infection, this elicits a hyperinflammatory response that can damage the infected host epithelial tissue, leaving high-risk individuals with increased mortality rates. Our hypothesis is that a fully functional Ncf1 protein is required for neutrophil function, but morpholino knockdown of the gene will limit the amount of damaging ROS hyperinflammation in host tissue. Our preliminary studies of systemic IAV infected embryos indicate that the survival of ncf1 morphants was increased compared to standard morphant control groups. Fluorescence confocal imaging and TCID50 assays reveal a decreased viral burden in ncf1 morphant groups compared to control morphant groups over a span of 96 hours post-infection. Finally, qRT-PCR studies assay the expression of nrf2, mxa, and cxcl8b revealing decreased expression of each gene in ncf1 morphants compared to controls. These studies aim to increase our understanding of neutrophil function that may eventually lead to new therapies for treating IAV infection.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/590/
Major: Biochemistry Graduation Year: 2020 Thesis Advisor: Benjamin King
Description of Publication:
Seasonal influenza A virus (IAV) infections and their associated respiratory diseases are the cause of an estimated 650,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a powerful vertebrate model to study innate immune function and host-pathogen interactions as the function of neutrophils and other phagocytes can be characterized in vivo. Preliminary studies have shown an increase in neutrophil respiratory burst activity to eliminate the invading pathogen, yet little is known of all of the mechanisms involved in neutrophil function. The NADPH oxidase complex, of which neutrophil cytosolic factor 1 (Ncf1) is a key component, regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) to control neutrophil response to viral infection. Although necessary to fight infection, this elicits a hyperinflammatory response that can damage the infected host epithelial tissue, leaving high-risk individuals with increased mortality rates. Our hypothesis is that a fully functional Ncf1 protein is required for neutrophil function, but morpholino knockdown of the gene will limit the amount of damaging ROS hyperinflammation in host tissue. Our preliminary studies of systemic IAV infected embryos indicate that the survival of ncf1 morphants was increased compared to standard morphant control groups. Fluorescence confocal imaging and TCID50 assays reveal a decreased viral burden in ncf1 morphant groups compared to control morphant groups over a span of 96 hours post-infection. Finally, qRT-PCR studies assay the expression of nrf2, mxa, and cxcl8b revealing decreased expression of each gene in ncf1 morphants compared to controls. These studies aim to increase our understanding of neutrophil function that may eventually lead to new therapies for treating IAV infection.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/590/
CHARACTERIZATION OF NRK2B OVEREXPRESSION IN A TRANSGENIC ZEBRAFISH CONGENITAL MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY MODEL
Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection and Neutrophil Localization in Zebrafish: A Novel Model for Studying Cystic Fibrosis
Characterization of the Bacterial Populations Living in Association with the Sea Slug Elysia chlorotica
Characterization of the Microbial Associates of Nematodes Pathogenic to Myrmica Rubra
Author:
Jonathan
Dumont
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2011 Thesis Advisor: Eleanor Groden
Description of Publication:
Pristionchus entomophagus is a necromenic nematode commonly associated with dung beetles (Geotrupes spp.) in Europe. Recently, it has been found in Maine emerging from cadavers of M. rubra, an ant native to Europe that is currently established and pestiferous in Maine (Groden and Stack 2011). Laboratory assays inoculating M. rubra with these nematodes caused significant mortality. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial associates of P. entomophagus in order to further understand its pathogenic relationship with M. rubra. Bacterial samples were collected from the cuticle and gut of the nematodes, and the hemolymph of infected hosts. Single spore isolates were established, cultured, and identified using bacterial 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Following BLAST search comparisons of 24 isolate sequences that I obtained, I identified 14 species of bacteria associated with P. entomophagus and its infected hosts. All of these species have been reported as associated with nematodes, insects, the rhizosphere of plants, fungi, or soil. Three species in particular, Serratia marcescens, S. nematodiphila, and S. proteamaculans have all been directly linked to insect mortality in previous studies (Zhang et al. 2009, Nishiwaki et al. 2007, Al Own et al. 2011). Furthermore, S. proteamaculans was found in association with P. entomophagus in the United Kingdom. In comparing the bacterial isolates found in association with the hemolymph of infected hosts to isolates gathered from P. entomophagus, two species, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Delftia sp. were found in both the hemolymph and in association with the external surface of the nematode. The potential mechanism of pathogenicity employed by P. entomophagus is discussed based on the similarities and differences between the species isolated from the nematode and infected hosts.
Location of Publication: reynolds
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/629/
Major: Biology Graduation Year: 2011 Thesis Advisor: Eleanor Groden
Description of Publication:
Pristionchus entomophagus is a necromenic nematode commonly associated with dung beetles (Geotrupes spp.) in Europe. Recently, it has been found in Maine emerging from cadavers of M. rubra, an ant native to Europe that is currently established and pestiferous in Maine (Groden and Stack 2011). Laboratory assays inoculating M. rubra with these nematodes caused significant mortality. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial associates of P. entomophagus in order to further understand its pathogenic relationship with M. rubra. Bacterial samples were collected from the cuticle and gut of the nematodes, and the hemolymph of infected hosts. Single spore isolates were established, cultured, and identified using bacterial 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Following BLAST search comparisons of 24 isolate sequences that I obtained, I identified 14 species of bacteria associated with P. entomophagus and its infected hosts. All of these species have been reported as associated with nematodes, insects, the rhizosphere of plants, fungi, or soil. Three species in particular, Serratia marcescens, S. nematodiphila, and S. proteamaculans have all been directly linked to insect mortality in previous studies (Zhang et al. 2009, Nishiwaki et al. 2007, Al Own et al. 2011). Furthermore, S. proteamaculans was found in association with P. entomophagus in the United Kingdom. In comparing the bacterial isolates found in association with the hemolymph of infected hosts to isolates gathered from P. entomophagus, two species, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Delftia sp. were found in both the hemolymph and in association with the external surface of the nematode. The potential mechanism of pathogenicity employed by P. entomophagus is discussed based on the similarities and differences between the species isolated from the nematode and infected hosts.
Location of Publication: reynolds
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/629/