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- Creators: School of Life Sciences
Description
Persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) are highly susceptible to lung infections caused by the opportunistic pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA). By age 20, ~16% of CF patients have co-infections with these two bacteria, and this number grows as the patients age1. PA-SA co-infections are associated with worsened clinical outcomes in CF patients, but the reasons are not well understood. One hypothesis is that SA influences the production of PA virulence factors and other chronic infection phenotypes. Previous work in our lab investigated the effects of SA on PA quorum-regulated phenotypes when they are grown as planktonic co-cultures. We are expanding on this result by testing whether SA can influence PA phenotypes without being in direct contact, and without being able to exchange soluble secreted factors. In this study, we hypothesized that SA produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that cause changes in PA phenotypes leading to a down-regulation of motility and protease production, and increased antibiotic resistance. To test this hypothesis, we exposed two laboratory strains of PA to the VOCs produced by pre-grown lawns of two strains of SA, and measured PA motility by conducting swarming, swimming, and twitching assays, measuring protease production, as well as antibiotic sensitivity. After exposing PA to a pre-grown lawn of SA, there was a significant difference in some phenotypes compared to controls. There were significant decreases in swarming motility, twitching motility, and protease production, and an increase in a bright green pigment (possibly siderophores) when PA was exposed to SA. The degree of phenotypic alterations was dependent on both the PA strain and the SA strain being tested. Exposure to SA VOCs also altered PA sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, though one strain caused an increase in susceptibility while the other SA strain caused an increase in resistance. These data demonstrate that SA VOCs can influence PA phenotypes in vitro, which may have relevance for CF patients who are co-infected with these two bacteria.
ContributorsLopez, Brianna Marie (Author) / Bean, Heather (Thesis director) / Misra, Rajeev (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Background: In the United States, approximately 50,000 teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) age into adulthood every year (Shattuck et al., 2012). A hallmark symptom of ASD includes pronounced difficulties in social interactions and verbal and nonverbal communication (Lai, Lombardo, & Baron-Cohen, 2014). These social cognition difficulties consist of difficulties interpreting social cues, employing appropriate adaptive behavioral responses in various social contexts, as well as the ability to interpret emotions and mental states of others, known as theory of mind (TOM; Premack & Woodruff, 1978). In neurotypical (NT) adults, women perform better on social cognition tasks and difficulties become more prevalent with age, however little is known how sex differences and aging may impact social cognition in adults with ASD (Carstensen, Fung, & Charles 2003).
Objective: This research intended to characterize the influence of sex and age on social cognition in adults with ASD using an adult sample. We hypothesized Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RME) scores would be lower in adults with ASD, with a stronger relationship between decreasing performance aging effects compared to NTs. Additionally, we hypothesized deficits would be more severe in in males with ASD compared to females with ASD.
Methods: The RME task was administered to 181 adults to quantify ToM abilities. The participants consisted of 100 adults with ASD (69 males, 32 females; age range: 18-71, mean=39.45±1.613) and matched 81 NT adults (47 males, 34 females; age range: 18-70, mean=41.51±1.883). Multiple regression analyses examined interactions between diagnosis and age, diagnosis and sex, and diagnosis by age by sex. Exploratory within group analyses assessed 1) sex differences using ANCOVA, and 2) associations with age using Pearson correlation in SPSS.
Results: We found that NT adults performed better on the RME task than adults with ASD. Worse performance on the RME task correlated with greater age for the NT, but not ASD. Additionally, no influence of sex on RME scores was identified.
Discussion: These results are consistent with other studies indicate social cognition deficits in adults with ASD compared to NT adults. Additionally, we replicated findings that suggest ToM performance declines with age in NT adults. Fewer social relationships, smaller social networks, and reduced social engagement have been associated with aging in both NTs and individuals with ASD (Pratt & Norris, 1994). However, our cross-sectional sample suggests ToM abilities may not decline with age in adults with ASD as hypothesized. Longitudinal studies are needed to corroborate these findings. Further developments in this line of research may inform novel interventions tailored toward the growing population of adults with ASD. Ultimately, our research aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan for an already vulnerable population.
Objective: This research intended to characterize the influence of sex and age on social cognition in adults with ASD using an adult sample. We hypothesized Reading the Mind in the Eyes (RME) scores would be lower in adults with ASD, with a stronger relationship between decreasing performance aging effects compared to NTs. Additionally, we hypothesized deficits would be more severe in in males with ASD compared to females with ASD.
Methods: The RME task was administered to 181 adults to quantify ToM abilities. The participants consisted of 100 adults with ASD (69 males, 32 females; age range: 18-71, mean=39.45±1.613) and matched 81 NT adults (47 males, 34 females; age range: 18-70, mean=41.51±1.883). Multiple regression analyses examined interactions between diagnosis and age, diagnosis and sex, and diagnosis by age by sex. Exploratory within group analyses assessed 1) sex differences using ANCOVA, and 2) associations with age using Pearson correlation in SPSS.
Results: We found that NT adults performed better on the RME task than adults with ASD. Worse performance on the RME task correlated with greater age for the NT, but not ASD. Additionally, no influence of sex on RME scores was identified.
Discussion: These results are consistent with other studies indicate social cognition deficits in adults with ASD compared to NT adults. Additionally, we replicated findings that suggest ToM performance declines with age in NT adults. Fewer social relationships, smaller social networks, and reduced social engagement have been associated with aging in both NTs and individuals with ASD (Pratt & Norris, 1994). However, our cross-sectional sample suggests ToM abilities may not decline with age in adults with ASD as hypothesized. Longitudinal studies are needed to corroborate these findings. Further developments in this line of research may inform novel interventions tailored toward the growing population of adults with ASD. Ultimately, our research aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan for an already vulnerable population.
ContributorsRogers, Carly (Author) / Braden, Blair (Thesis director) / Roberts, Nicole (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-05
Description
Arizona State University and Banner Thunderbird Hospital have partnered to provide pre-med students with an internship at a local emergency department. Students entering into this program will have access to each patient's vital signs, medical imaging, lab tests, and medications. This access presents students with an opportunity to learn about a variety of tools used in the assessment and treatment of emergency room patients. In order to enhance the amount of knowledge students take away from the program, I created a handbook summarizing a variety of diagnostic tests and medications. The first section of the handbook (assessment) is spilt up into the three following categories: vital signs, medical imaging, and lab tests. The second section (treatment) consists of one category, medications. Each section was written with emphasis on basic physiology, and is intended to provide pre-med students with a foundation for building further medical knowledge. Although this handbook was tailored to the information students are most likely to encounter working in Banner Thunderbird Hospital's emergency department, it is still appropriate for any student interested in learning about emergency medicine.
ContributorsBecker, Bryson (Author) / Orchinik, Miles (Thesis director) / Washo-Krupps, Delon (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Agrobacterium tumefaciens has the ability to transfer its tumor inducing (Ti) plasmid into plant cells. In the last decade, agroinfiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana plants has shown promising results for recombinant protein production. However, A. tumefaciens produce endotoxins in the form of lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a component of their outer membrane that can induce organ failure and septic shock. Therefore, we aimed to detoxify A. tumefaciens by modifying their Lipid A structure, the toxic region of LPS, via mutating the genes for lipid A biosynthesis. Two mutant strains of A. tumefaciens were infiltrated into N. benthamiana stems to test for tumor formation to ensure that the detoxifying process did not compromise the ability of gene transfer. Our results demonstrated that A. tumefaciens with both single and double mutations retained the ability to form tumors. Thus, these mutants can be utilized to generate engineered A. tumefaciens strains for the production of plant-based pharmaceuticals with low endotoxicity.
ContributorsHaseefa, Fathima (Author) / Chen, Qiang (Thesis director) / Mason, Hugh (Committee member) / Hurtado, Jonathan (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two positive discrete emotions, awe and nurturant love, on implicit prejudices. After completing an emotion induction task, participants completed Implicit Association Test blocks where they paired photos of Arab and White individuals with "good" and "bad" evaluations. We hypothesized that nurturant love would increase the strength of negative evaluations of Arab individuals and positive evaluations of White individuals, whereas awe would decrease the strength of these negative evaluations when compared to a neutral condition. However, we found that both awe and nurturant love increased negative implicit prejudices toward Arab individuals when compared to the neutral condition.
ContributorsCarrasco, Mia Annette (Author) / Shiota, Michelle (Thesis director) / O'Neil, Makenzie (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Do certain refugee groups better adapt and assimilate into society in Arizona? If this is the case, which factors contribute to this better rate of assimilation and what can other groups do to better assimilate into American society? Examining data from the Department of Economic Security and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, this study examined trends in refugee resettlement in Arizona. Specifically, trends involving socialization, employment, and education were examined. In addition to analyzing governmental data, this study involved the surveying of local refugees at random in order to gather data regarding the relationship between refugees' home countries and assimilation rates. This study finds evidence that there is indeed a correlation between refugees' geographical origin and their overall rate of assimilation. In order to determine this relationship, survey responses involving a variety of aspects of life in America were quantified. Specifically, this study showed that refugees from Latin America and the Middle East tend to assimilate better than those from Africa and other regions.
ContributorsLabban, Dillon Brendon (Author) / Mousa, Neimeh (Thesis director) / Sulayman, Umar (Committee member) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
The human hairless gene (HR) encodes a 130 kDa transcription factor that is primarily expressed in the brain and skin. In the promoter and 5'-untranslated regions (5'-UTR) of HR, there are three putative consensus p53 responsive elements (p53RE). p53 is a tumor suppressor protein that regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, and other cell functions. The p53 protein, a known tumor suppressor, acts as a transcription factor and binds to DNA p53REs to activate or repress transcription of the target gene. In general, the p53 binding sequence is 5'-RRRCWWGYYY-3' where W is A or T, and R and Y are purines or pyrimidines, respectively. However, even if the p53 binding sequence does not match the consensus sequence, p53 protein might still be able to bind to the response element. The intent of this investigation was to identify and characterize the p53REs in the promoter and 5'-UTR of HR. If the three p53REs (p53RE1, p53RE2, and p53RE3) are functional, then p53 can bind there and might regulate HR gene expression. The first aim for this thesis was to clone the putative p53REs into a luciferase reporter and to characterize the transcription of these p53REs in glioblastoma (U87 MG) and human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cell lines. Through the transactivation assay, it was discovered that p53REs 2 and 3 were functional in HEK293, but none of the response elements were functional in U87 MG. Since p53 displayed a different regulatory capacity of HR expression in HEK293 and U87 MG cells, the second aim was to verify whether the p53REs are mutated in GBM U87 MG cells by genomic DNA sequencing.
ContributorsMaatough, Anas (Author) / Neisewander, Janet (Thesis director) / Hsieh, Jui-Cheng (Committee member) / Goldstein, Elliott (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Laboratory animals represent an invaluable, yet controversial, resource in the field of biomedical research. Animal research has been behind many influential discoveries in the field of emerging therapeutics. They provide the link between the theory of the lab bench and the functional application of medicine to influence human health. The use of animals in research is a consideration which must be heavily weighed, and the implementation must be carried out at a very high standard in order to retain research integrity and responsibility. We are in the process of conducting an experiment using laboratory mice to demonstrate cancer treatment using vaccinia (VACV) mutants as a possible oncolytic therapy for certain strains of melanoma. VACV is a double-stranded DNA poxvirus with a large and easily altered genome. This virus contains many genes dedicated to immune evasion, but has shown sensitivity to cell death by necroptosis in mouse studies (5). We have identified the absence of the kinase RIP3 which is vital in the necroptosis pathway as a potential target for oncolytic therapy using VACV mutants in specific strains of melanoma. Multiple groups of SCID Beige mice were inoculated with different melanoma cell lines and observed for tumor growth. Upon reaching 1 cm3 in volume, tumors were injected with either VACV- Δ83N, VACV- Δ54N, or PBS, and observed for regression. It was hypothesized that melanoma tumors that are RIP3-/- such as the MDA5 cell line will show regression, but melanoma tumors that are RIP3-positive and capable of necroptosis, such as the 2427 cell line, will resist viral replication and continue to proliferate. Our results so far tentatively support this hypothesis, but the data collection is ongoing. Strict and specific protocols with regard to the ethical and responsible use of mice have been implemented and upheld throughout the experiment. Animals are closely monitored, and if their quality of life becomes too poor to justify their continued use in the experiment, they are humanely euthanized, even at the expense of valuable data. The importance of commitment to a high ethical standard is pervasive throughout our work. Animals represent an invaluable contribution to research, and it is important to maintain high standards and transparency with regard to their use. Education and engagement in critical discussions about the use and care of animals in the laboratory contribute to the overall merit and legitimacy of biomedical research in the public and professional eye as a whole, and give legitimacy to the continued use of animals as models to advance science and health.
ContributorsBergamaschi, Julia (Author) / Kibler, Karen (Thesis director) / Jacobs, Bertram (Committee member) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
The major goal of this large project is to develop a Recognition Tunneling Nanopore (RTP) device that will be used for determining the structure of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The RTP device is composed of a recognition tunneling junction that is embedded in a nanopore. In order to translocate the GAG molecule through the nanopore, researchers have designed a scheme in which the GAG molecule of interest will be attached to the 5’ end of a DNA primer (figure 1) and the DNA primer will be extended by a biotinylated Φ29 DNA polymerase that is anchored in the nanoslit using streptavidin. This research project specifically is part of a larger project with the main goal of comparing the activity of the wild-type Φ29 DNA polymerase which I have expressed and purified with the mutated Φ29 DNA polymerase devoid of 3’ - 5’ exonuclease activity which was made by Dr. Deng.
ContributorsDadkhah Tirani, Farbod (Author) / Wang, Xu (Thesis director) / Zhang, Peiming (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) are subject to a spectrum of behavioral, cognitive and physical impairments. This population is more predisposed to comorbidity and typically has an increased risk of inactivity resulting in a lower level of fitness. Previous studies on physical activity have shown that routine exercise has similar health benefits for those with DS as those individuals without a disability and in turn progresses their balance ability. Due to limited exercise program opportunities and studies that intentionally investigate the benefits of specific modes of exercise on the DS population, a community-based Exercise Program for Adults with DS (ExDS) was created with the goal of improving their physical and mental health and measuring changes in their balance capabilities throughout the program. ExDS partnered with Arizona State University (ASU) students to create biweekly customized workouts, that followed exercise prescription guidelines, consisting of an aerobic warm-up, main aerobic exercise bout, resistance training, balance training, and stretching for each participant with DS. Participant dynamic and static balance ability was measured using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) during program pre- and post-assessments. The BBS composite score did not change and no significant improvement was seen in the p-values for each line item of the BBS from pre- to post-testing. For follow-up analyses, the participants with low treatment fidelity were removed. Follow-up analyses showed significant increases in BBS composite score and line item 13 from pre- to post-testing. Treatment fidelity was a limitation in this study and future studies should aim to increase fidelity and consistency of tester for pre- and post-testing. In conclusion, holistic exercise programming for adults with DS appears to benefit balance as long as treatment fidelity is high. It is unclear which mode of exercise had the greatest impact on changes in balance.
ContributorsShikles, Ann Kelly (Author) / Holzapfel, Simon (Thesis director) / Ringenbach, Shannon (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12