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Description
CrAssphages are a type of bacteriophage, a virus that infects bacteria and reproduces within them. They are thought to infect one of the most prevalent bacteria in the human gut microbiome, Bacteroides (Dutilh et al., 2014). CrAssphages are suspected to be in 73-77% of humans (Siranosian et al., 2020), however

CrAssphages are a type of bacteriophage, a virus that infects bacteria and reproduces within them. They are thought to infect one of the most prevalent bacteria in the human gut microbiome, Bacteroides (Dutilh et al., 2014). CrAssphages are suspected to be in 73-77% of humans (Siranosian et al., 2020), however little is known about the effects they might have on the gut microbiome or the host organism’s digestion, metabolism, nutrition, or host immune function and disease states (Shreiner et al., 2015). CrAssphages were recently identified in gelada fecal samples from infants and adults. This study analyzed variables surrounding crAssphage presence in fecal samples collected throughout infant development and from adults and analyzed the presence of six crAssphages that were genetically similar to the proto-crAssphage originally discovered in humans (Dutilh et al., 2014). It was determined that recent rainfall has a significant effect on crAssphage presence. Additionally, recent rainfall and gelada sex have significant effects on the likelihood of infection by multiple crAssphages at once. The six crAssphages analyzed all peaked in presence between 10-20 months of age, while Bacteroides presence decreases at ~10 months (Baniel et al., 2022). It remains unsure if Bacteroides are the true host of crAssphages, or if there are other possible hosts.
ContributorsMoya, Isabella (Author) / Snyder-Mackler, Noah (Thesis director) / Schneider-Crease, India (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor)
Created2023-12
Description

Our cells need constant fuel and oxygen for the body to work properly and maintain cellular function. In high altitudes tissue oxygen levels fall and the body must work against this hypoxic challenge to maintain energetics and limit oxidative stress. Mammals living at high altitudes are challenged to sustain thermogenesis

Our cells need constant fuel and oxygen for the body to work properly and maintain cellular function. In high altitudes tissue oxygen levels fall and the body must work against this hypoxic challenge to maintain energetics and limit oxidative stress. Mammals living at high altitudes are challenged to sustain thermogenesis and aerobic exercise despite reduced amounts of available oxygen. Enhancements in oxidative capacity and oxygen diffusion capacity of skeletal muscle may be necessary to compensate for insufficient oxygen supply in tissues. Hypoxic conditions can cause a switch from aerobic metabolism to anaerobic metabolism. Due to previous research of Graham Scott and colleagues on “Adaptive Modifications of Muscle Phenotype in High-Altitude Deer Mice” and the SMack Lab at Arizona State University, the question of how low atmospheric oxygen levels affects the enzymatic activity in the gastrocnemius muscle of Gelada Monkeys compared to Rhesus Macaque Monkeys was researched. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured in the gastrocnemius tissue of 6 Gelada Monkeys (highland) and 6 Rhesus Macaque monkeys (lowland). LDH was expected to be greater in Gelada tissue samples due to heightened anaerobic metabolism in the presence of limited available oxygen in high altitude environments. Results showed higher LDH in Rhesus Macaque samples compared to Gelada samples, but this difference was not statistically significant. Despite nonsignificant data, this experiment is insightful into the effects of Hypoxic adaptation in skeletal muscle enzymatic activity in primates.

ContributorsSalehi, Yasmine (Author) / Snyder-Mackler, Noah (Thesis director) / Trumble, Ben (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution & Social Change (Contributor)
Created2023-05