 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||||
Meet the 2001 IBS-CORE Undergraduate Research Fellows (click on their names or scroll down the page to find out more about their research interests) |
To see the work of past IBSCORE Fellows published in the UM Biology Undergraduate Journal click the BUG. |  |
Daniel Belz, Hometown:
Research Mentor: Dr. Scott Samuels, U of M Professor
Project Title:
Identification and Isolation of Replication
Origins in Borrelia burgdorferi.
Project
Description: Shuttle vectors, which allow transfer of DNA
between species, can be valuable genetic tools. This project has two related
goals. First, to engineer a shuttle
vector that can replicate in Escherichia coli and Borrelia burgdorferi,
the Lyme disease pathogen. The
backbone of this vector will be a plasmid known to be stable and compatible with
replication in both microorganisms. However, the plasmid contains a gene conferring resistance to
the antibiotic ampicillin. Antibiotics
related to ampicillin are used in Lyme disease treatment.
Therefore, the ampicillin resistance gene will be removed and a kanamycin
resistance cassette will be introduced. The
second goal of the project is to investigate DNA replication mechanisms in B.
burgdorferi. The engineered
vector will be used to isolate and study DNA fragments that allow the plasmid to
replicate in B. burgdorferi.
BACK
TO INDEX
Erik Bergquist, Hometown:
Mercer Island, WA
Research Mentor: Dr. Brooke Martin, U of M Chemistry Department
Project
Title: Loss of Mitochondrial Respiratory Function Due to
High Valent Chromuim Exposure. Research Mentor:
Project
Description:
The mitochondrion is the cellular organelle
responsible for respiration and energy production. Dysfunction of mitochondria has been observed in aging,
cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Many
different enzymes are used during energy production in the mitochondria.
One enzyme in the mitochondria,
a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH), synthesizes an
essential component called NADH that is required before energy production can
begin. This enzyme works in
conjunction with three small molecules. One
of these, lipoic acid, has a unique molecular structures that makes it
susceptible to reaction with chromium (VI).
For this reason, chromium(VI) is hypothesized to react with lipoic acid,
resulting in its inability to carry out normal functions.
This in turn would cause the entire enzyme to lose its ability to produce
energy until the enzyme can be repaired or replaced.
The end result of this is proposed to be the conversion of molecule
oxygen from air into a toxic form of oxygen instead of water in the
mitochondria. It is believed that
chromium(VI) treatment of cells will result in hydroxyl radical formation, the
most toxic oxygen species, causing an accumulation of mutations in mitochondrial
DNA. To test these two hypotheses
ultraviolet spectroscopy and anti-lipoic acid antibodies will be used to examine
the effect of chromium(VI) on KGDH. To test for toxic oxygen species in the mitochondria,
Polymerase Chain Reaction followed by separation on an agarose gel will be
performed on mitochondrial and genomic DNA that had been exposed to chromium.
Loss of the mitochondrial DNA band will indicate degradation of
mitochondrial DNA.
BACK
TO INDEX
Erin Bohman, Hometown:
Farmington, Missouri
Research Mentor:
Dr. Kerry Foresman, U of M Professor
Project
Title: Effects of ramp modification and vegetation presences at
entrance of culverts on species use as travel corridors
Project
Description:
As old highways expand and new highways are
built, problems concerning wildlife mortality, habitat fragmentation, and
restriction of movement and gene flow increase. Some means to help reduce this problem have been applied and
examined. Culverts that lie
underneath highways are one solution to this conflict, which can serve as travel
corridors for small animals. In
Lolo, Montana, the highway department has equipped some culverts with ramps that
are intended to encourage animal use when the culverts are occupied by water.
These ramps are currently being studied to assess whether or not they are
being used. Some questions have
arisen from this study, which I will address this summer if I am accepted into
the IBS-CORE program. These questions examine methods of increasing animal use of
the culverts and the ramps in them. One
matter addresses whether a ramp modification will encourage its use.
This modification will result in a more uniform surface for the ramp, as
preliminary evidence shows that some species prefer this from the current meshed
surface. The other issue involves
whether or not vegetation outside the culvert encourages animals to enter it.
This study will compare use of individuals at sites that are and are not
vegetated. Therefore, a two-part
study will be conducted to find the answers to these two matters.
By addressing these questions, our knowledge of culvert dynamics can be
improved and applied to increase the effectiveness of animal utilization of
these culverts and wildlife population health in future highway development.
BACK
TO INDEX
Cynthia Buckalew, Hometown:
Forsyth, MT
Research Mentor: Marilyn Marler, U of M Integrated Plant Management
Specialist
Project Title: Effects of Aphthona species and integrated management
on leafy spurge and native plant communities of Mount Sentinel
Project
Description:
Euphorbia esula L., commonly known as
leafy
spurge, is an invasive weed that has displaced native plant species throughout
the western United States. While a
great deal of research has addressed methods of managing leafy spurge, few
studies have investigated responses of native plant communities to these various
control methods. This research
project has two portions, which are both continuations of studies initiated
during the summer of 1999 and continued through the summer of 2000. The first
portion will study how the use of flea beetles to control leafy spurge affect
native plant species and leafy spurge populations already established on Mt
Sentinel. I expect that release
sites will show a slight decrease in leafy spurge density and a slight increase
in native plant species density. These
results should continue over the years while the flea beetle populations
establish. The second portion is to
continue research on the effects of mowing, grazing, flea beetles, reseeding,
and herbicides, alone and combined, on leafy spurge and the establishment of
native plant species. I expect
there will be lower leafy spurge density in the plots with combined treatments
than the plots with only one treatment. To
monitor both portions I will count the number of leafy spurge stems (frequency)
and measure percent cover of leafy spurge, bare ground, and all other plant
species in the data plots. This
will allow for a long-term analysis of the plant community responses.
This research will help us understand if intensive management practices
are achieving restoration objectives in addition to controlling this invasive
plant.
BACK
TO INDEX
Heather
D. Davis
Research Mentor
Dr. Don Christian
Project Title: Analysis
of Red-backed vole, Clethrionomys gapperi, Movement Patterns in Relation
to Fallen logs and Coarse Woody Debris.
Project
Description: Red-backed
voles are associated with fallen logs and coarse woody debris. They prefer
habitats that include these structural components, and are thus often used as
indicators of forest health in the context of understanding forest management
practices. Although they have been shown to use a higher proportion of logs
during movement than proportionately available in the habitat, a question arises
as to the nature of that use. Are they actively selecting for logs while they
are moving across their habitat, perhaps for some benefit provided (such as
cover)? Or are they merely responding to the spatial distribution of logs within
the habitat, resulting in disproportionate use as an artifact of movement
conscription created by a funnel or chute-like effect of the log? In this study
I will examine the portions of vole trail associated with logs and coarse woody
debris and attempt to analyze their movement patterns. In order to determine
selection versus conscripted movement, I will examine the tortuosity of the vole
trail in association with logs as compared to a straight-line index. If the
movement pattern is highly tortuous, then it would suggest log selection because
they would be moving freely to and from the log. If the trail is not tortuous
and rather appears to be straight, it would be indicative of conscription and
support the assertion that logs are acting as vole chutes.
Kristi Frank,
Hometown:
Great Falls, MT
Research Mentor: Dr.
Scott Samuels, U of M Professor
Project
Title:
Development of a Genetic System for Borrelia hermsii
Project
Description:
The spirochete Borrelia hermsii is the causative agent of tick-borne relapsing
fever, a bacterial disease endemic to the mountainous regions of the western
USA. Presently we have no useful
way to genetically manipulate B. hermsii,
which greatly hinders attempts to dissect the molecular biology and pathogenesis
of this organism; therefore, we intend to develop the first useful genetic
system in B. hermsii.
Such a system already exists in Borrelia
burgdorferi, which is related to B.
hermsii. The B. burgdorferi
system utilizes a mutant gyrB gene
that confers resistance to coumarin antibiotics, allowing for their use as
selectable markers. The GyrB
protein, encoded by the gyrB gene, in
B. hermsii is over 80% identical in sequence to that of B.
burgdorferi. Using
site-directed mutagenesis, I will introduce a mutation into the B.
hermsii gyrB gene that we suspect will confer coumarin resistance in this
organism, in order to create a manipulable genetic system. I will then compare the susceptibility and resistance of
wild-type B. hermsii and coumarin-resistant
mutants.
BACK
TO INDEX
Jennifer O. Harlow, Hometown:
Pullman, WA
Research Mentor: Dr.
Steve Running, U of M Professor, School of Forestry
Project
Title:
Using satellite data for monitoring malaria
outbreaks in Africa
Project
Description:
Climate scientists forecast an increase in the
average world temperature of 1.0-3.5 degrees Celsius over the coming century.
The expected rate of climate change over the next century is believed to
be the greatest natural change in the world since the development of mass
agricultural practices [McMichael, 1997]. These
global changes will in turn affect the human population in a multitude of
unforeseen ways. Researchers have
postulated an increase in the distribution of known diseases due to changes in
temperature, precipitation, and humidity [Brown, 1996].
Environmental information combined with human factors and an
understanding of pathogen outbreaks may allow an overview of the epidemiological
situation from a world away [Thomson, 1997].
I propose to analyze historical Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer
(AVHRR) datasets dealing with environmental climate change and compare it to
known malarial outbreaks in Africa. Furthermore
I would like to compare Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
with AVHRR in a comparison of malaria in 2000-2001.
MODIS is a new generation satellite instrument that improves on existing
AVHRR data. Use of the newly
produced MODIS dataset will produce scientific benefits by providing better
temporal and spatial coverage. Thus areas of malarial outbreak and mosquito
population will be better observed through satellite data.
BACK
TO INDEX
Erin Heydenreich, Hometown:
Portland, OR
Research Mentor: Dr.
Doug Emlen, U of M Professor
Project
Title:
Antennae
Morphology and Pheromone-based Mate Location in Moths
Project
Description: Males
of several species have sensory antennae that are used for detecting female pheromones.
Males may fly long distances in response to female pheromones. Prior
studies suggest that large antennae will increase mate-location ability compared
with smaller antennae. It is suggested that there is a positive allometic
relationship between antennae size and body size in moths. Sexual
selection may play an important role in pheromone-based mating systems.
This study will attempt to determine the correlation between antennae size and
body size, as well as whether large males have proportionally higher success in
finding female mates. Study of moth pheromones is a useful tool in monitoring
populations and has important implications for agriculture and conservation.
BACK
TO INDEX
Erin Inkley,
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Research Mentor:
Dr. William Holben, U of M Professor
Project
Title:
Microbial Tools for Conservation Biology: Bacterial Fingerprints From the
Feces of Snowshoe Hare Represents a Non-Invasive Sampling Technique to Study
Hare Population Dynamics
Project
Description: Population
dynamics is the study of changes in the number and composition of individuals in
a population. (W. Daniel Edge, 2001). These
changes are crucial to wildlife management and the study of wildlife.
Many of the primary tools of large animal population studies involve
invasive handling of wildlife, which is a growing concern.
Such handling techniques as collaring and trapping have been shown to
have negative impact on the animals being monitored.
Thus, researchers are searching for new ways to study wildlife.
The development of hair snag technologies brought together the
communities of wildlife biology and molecular biology.
Hair snags are made of nails and a thick carpet-type square that is
usually scented. Wildlife rubs on
the nails and leaves hair. This can then be processed for DNA recovery and analysis for
various genetic markers.
Since not all animals of potential interest are prone to
rubbing on the hair snags, microbial analysis of fecal droppings could prove a
boon to the study of wildlife populations.
The effective use of microbial “signatures” from the feces of wild
animals could dramatically enhance the array of animals that can effectively be
studied non-invasively. This
non-invasive technique would be safer for both biologists and animals.
Snowshoe hares (Lepus
Americanus) are proposed for use in this research.
Hare fecal pellet samples will be obtained by Dr. Scott Mills and his
students. Total DNA will be
extracted from the fecal pellets and analyzed using PCR (polymerase chain
reaction) with universal primers and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).
The objective is to obtain clues into the population dynamics of the
Snowshoe Hare
BACK
TO INDEX
Kate Krutulis, Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Research Mentor: Dr. Mike Minnick, U of M Professor
Project
Title: Structure and
Function of a Surface Protein on Bartonella quintana
Project
Description:
Bartonella quintana has
repeatedly emerged throughout history as a cause of infection among distinct and
diverse populations across the globe. The bacterium has been identified as the agent in trench
fever, a disease responsible for one million deaths during World War 1.
A disease of the past, B. quintana has re-emerged as a public health concern after recent
outbreaks have infected inner-city homeless people and patients suffering from
AIDS. Despite these
characteristics, little is known about the pathogen.
The gram- negative cell wall associated with the bacterium consists of a
multi-layered structure that contains proteins essential to the structure and
function of the bacterium. A
prominent outer membrane protein has been identified to contribute to cell
survival. We hypothesize that this
protein, which we have termed OmpA, serves as a porin.
Porins function to form channels in the cell membrane which aid in the
uptake of cell nutrients, hence they play a significant role in cell survival
and growth. The project objectives
for this research are to characterize OmpA using biochemical and genetic
approaches. This will be
accomplished via isolation of OmpA in order to generate anti-OmpA antibodies.
The antibodies will be used to screen a DNA library for the OmpA encoding
gene. Characterization of the OmpA
gene will provide information regarding the structure and function of the
encoded protein. These data will be used to form a foundation to more fully
explore OmpA’s hypothesized role in B.
quintana’s survival and virulence. This
study will provide much needed information regarding the mechanisms contributing
to Bartonella quintana’s survival in
the human host.
BACK
TO INDEX
Chad Lang, Hometown:
Bismarck,
ND
Research Mentor: Dr. Mike Minnick, U of M Professor
Project Title:
System for genetic manipulation of (LaLB) promoter from Bartonella
bacilliformis, a regulator associated with virulence
Project
Description:
Bartonella bacilliformis is a bacterium that causes Oroya fever, and verruga
peruana in humans. The illness is
found in South America, mainly in the valleys of the Andes Mountains.
The bacterium uses arthropod-mediated transmission and invasion of human
red blood cells as its parasitic strategy. Life-threatening symptoms occur,
characterized by acute fever, malaise, and extreme hemolytic anemia.
Although what is happening to the cells is clear, little is known about
the (ialB) gene and how it is regulated. Bartonella
Baclliformis, the model in the study, thought only to be in higher
elevations, was recently thought to have spread to some lowland areas, making
scientists concerned that the bacterium is invading new territories.
In Specific Aim 1 our goal is to examine the (ialB) promoter, a
regulator for a known virulence factor found in B. bacilliformis, and
study (ialB) genes involvement in the invasion of human red blood cells by
transformed E. coli pCJL100. Specific Aim 2 will examine whether or not temperature
plays a role in the expression of (ialB) and if it is up-regulated or
down-regulated at different degree of temperature. In Specific Aim 3, we will determine the significance
of temperature fluctuations, which are a common event in bacteria transmitted
from an arthropod to a human. The
CAT reporter gene will be tested for by Elisa, tests will give us an easy way to
measure the (ialB) promoter’s activity in response to temperature changes.
BACK
TO INDEX
Jacqueline Papez,
Hometown:
Belfry, MT
Research Mentor: Dr. Matthias Rillig, U of M Professor
Project
Title: Soil aggregate formation: Determining the timeline for aggregate formation
using a glacial chronosequence
Project
Description:
Although the process of soil aggregation is known
to be an important element in soil stability, little is known about the
processes and organisms involved in the formation of these soil units starting
from non-aggregated material. Soil
aggregation is known to be dependant on stabilization by plant roots, fungal
hyphae, and binding agents, of which the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-produced
protein glomalin has been shown to be extremely important.
The goal of this project is to determine the time needed for soil
aggregates to form by examining glacial chronosequences of two receding glaciers
in Glacier National Park over a 50-year regression.
The recently exposed soils, which have been covered by snow and ice for
thousands of years, should exhibit minimal aggregation due to the breakdown of
organic binding agents. Soil cores
from the A horizon (top 15 cm of soil) will be collected, dried, and examined
for soil aggregate stability, glomalin content, and hyphal content.
I hypothesize that recently uncovered soils will have less glomalin
content and hyphal content and therefore less aggregate stability as compared
with less recently uncovered soils.
BACK
TO INDEX
Mike Reed,
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Research Mentor: Dr. William Holben, U of M Professor
Project
Title: Studying Microbial Transport in Subsurface Aquifers by Quantitative PCR
Project
Description:
Bacteria with biodegradative activities have been
proposed as a possible solution to the effective clean up of contaminated
subsurface environments around the United States. Bacterial metabolism can degrade the toxins in situ in the subsurface, converting them into less harmful organic
material or even metabolizing them all the way into CO2; this process
is called bioremediation. To
successfully employ introduced bacteria for bioremediation, it must first be
determined whether bacteria injected into the subsurface can migrate to
contaminated areas. The focus of the proposed research is to study bacterial
transport potential, the ability for bacteria to move to all areas of
contamination, and to determine the factors that cause the bacteria to colonize
in these areas at an aquifer field site in Oyster, Virginia.
Specifically, my project will attempt to relate bacterial transport
behavior to colonization and attachment of bacteria to sediments, which to date
has not been successfully accomplished for an in
situ field injection of bacteria. The
in situ injection experiment introduces a large number of bacteria
into the field site, followed by recovery and analysis of water and sediment.
The laboratory analysis involves the determination of the concentration
of target bacterial DNA in each sample by quantitative PCR, which is
subsequently translated into the actual number of bacteria in each sample.
This data is then transferred to a spreadsheet where it can be compared
to data from other sites to determine the transport behavior of the bacteria.
BACK
TO INDEX
Alex Rodriguez,
Hometown: Missoula, MT
Research Mentor: Dr. William Holben
Project Title: The
Quantification of Microbial Communities in Soils Associated with
Centaurea maculosa Lam (Spotted knapweed)
Project Description: Centaurea maculosa Lam (Spotted knapweed) is one of the most destructive invasive weeds in North America. Biological control measures have produced ambiguous results in the field, and greenhouse experiments have led a number of researchers to note the potential for an escalation in the spread of C. maculosa in response to the herbivorous activities of natural enemies released as agents of bio-control. These observations contrast significantly with the effects of natural enemy attack on C. maculosa in its native environment, Eurasia, where the plant is held in check and poses no problem. Studies indicate that the relationship between C. maculosa and Festuca idahoensis Elmer (Idaho fescue), a bunch grass native to North American, may be driven indirectly through associations with microorganisms in the soil. This has prompted examination of microbial communities that form in association with the roots of C. maculosa in Eurasian versus North American soils, and in response to mixed species cohabitation. The goal of this proposal is to use microbial community DNA to quantify soil microbial communities that influence the spread of C. maculosa. DNA will be isolated from soil samples, to be purified and segregated through molecular techniques in preface to phylogenetic analysis. This study is expected to produce a taxonomic description of the specific microorganisms that mediate ecological interactions between C. maculosa and the plant species with which it competes.
James Stephens-Brown,
Hometown: Missoula, MT
Research Mentor: Dr. J. E. Gannon, U of M Professor
Project
Title:
Analysis of Mixed Function
Antimicrobials in the Inhibition of Legionella
pneumophila Infection
and Replication within the Acanthamoeba
castellanii
Project
Description:
Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent in both Legionnaires disease and
Pontiac fever is an intercellular parasite that cannot replicate outside of a
host organism. L. pnuemophila is a fastidious organism that requires high
iron concentrations, cysteine, and the vacuoles of a host amoebae or human lung
macrophage to replicate in the environment. This bacterium is commonly found in water-cooling towers,
spas, pools, and showers where aerosolized water can carry this hardy bacterial
pathogen into human hosts. This proposal is directed at developing an assay to
measure the effectiveness of a mixed function antimicrobials (dithiocarbamate)
ability to control infection and replication of L. pnuemophila within A.
castellanii. Dithiocarbamate not only affects enzyme activities but also
chelates divalent metals such as iron removing them from the environment making
them no longer accessible to the microbe. The properties of dithiocarbamate
suggest that it might be very affective against L. pneumophila. If an
effective mixed function antimicrobial that controls or prevents Legionella
pneumophila growth could be found, water system outbreaks of Legionnaires
disease could become a thing of the past.
BACK
TO INDEX
Kevin Sterling,
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Research Mentor: Dr.
Scott Mills, U of M Wildlife Biology Professor
Project
Title:
Testing for Differences
in Newborn Snowshoe Hare Survival
Project
Description:
Newborn
survival is an extremely important and influential factor in population growth
in snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus).
My proposed research seeks to understand the factors affecting survival
rate of newborn snowshoe hare. Working
as part of a larger snowshoe hare study, I will attach radio-transmitters to
newborn snowshoe hares (leverets) at birth.
I will then monitor daily survival rates and movement in order to test my
three related hypotheses:
1.
The first 35-day survival rate of leverets depends on litter size.
2.
The first 35-day survival rate of leverets depends on birth pulse number.
3.
The first 35-day survival rate of leverets depends on habitat context.
My proposed research on leveret survival will be the
most extensive study in the lower 48 states.
My research will be significant in applying forest management practices
to the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)
because the adult snowshoe hare is an essential part of the lynx diet.
In the lower 48 states, the Canada lynx has recently been added to the
threatened list of the Endangered Species Act (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2000). Managing for high snowshoe
hare abundance is an objective that will aid lynx management plans.
My third hypothesis, that survival depends on habitat context, will
provide a clearer knowledge on the impacts of forest management on hare
population growth. Also a better
understanding of snowshoe hare natural history in Montana will be achieved by
testing my first two hypotheses pertaining to the influence of litter size and
birth pulse number on leveret survival.
BACK
TO INDEX
Nathan Stevens, Hometown:
Missoula, MT
Research Mentor: Dr.
William Holben, U of M Professor
Project
Title:
ITS rDNA sequence Variation between Chlamydomonas
nivalis populations of Western Montana and Northern Wyoming
Project
Description:
Red colored snow can be seen in the mountainous
regions around the world every late spring or early summer. Persisting or
permanent snow packs provide the suitable habitat for a number of psychrophilic
algae. The most widely distributed
and recognized is Chlamydomonas nivalis.
C. nivalis is the causative agent of red snow.
While it may seem feasible for the wind or animals (i.e. migrating birds)
to transport C. nivalis considerable distances, suitable snow algal
habitats are rare and widely separated. C.
nivalis is truly trying to find a needle in a haystack on its journey from
snow pack to snow pack. Despite the
limited habitats and chance dispersal C. nivalis is still common in every
hemisphere on earth. Relative
isolation and limited dispersal of C. nivalis suggest considerable
genetic variation may exist between isolated populations of C. nivalis.
Here techniques in molecular genetics will be applied to compare differences
between populations in Montana and Northern Wyoming.
By analyzing sequences within the internal transcribed sequences (ITS) of
ribosomal DNA genetic differences can be found in closely related organisms.
These differences will allow us to estimate spatial and perhaps historical
dispersal patterns, and identify separate distinct C. nivalis populations
based on their geographical distribution.
BACK
TO INDEX
Colby Stoddard,
Hometown: Missoula, MT
Research Mentor: Dr.
Stephen Lodmell, U of M Professor
Project
Title: Effects
of Nucleocapisid and Gag Protein on HIV-2 dimerization
Project
Description: Human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1
and HIV-2) cause similar disease in humans and are the etiological agents of the
global AIDS pandemic. As
retroviruses, each contains a diploid RNA genome linked by complementary
sequences known as the dimerization initiation site or DIS.
Although the mechanism of dimerization may be comparable, the sequence(s)
responsible for dimerization have been shown to occur at different sites in
HIV-2. A large portion of the HIV
genome codes for the Gag polyprotein, which, among other roles, acts as a
nucleic acid chaperone during assembly. Cleavage
of Gag by the virally encoded protease yields matrix, capsid and nucleocapsid
(NC) proteins. NC contains one or
two unique nucleic acid binding structures known as ‘zinc fingers’ which are
responsible for the interaction between the Gag polyprotein and RNA during
assembly. NC has also been shown to participate in reverse transcription and
dimerization in HIV-1 but little is known about the role of NC in HIV-2. The proposed research will focus on the construction of
expression vectors capable of producing different proteins coded within the gag
gene of HIV-2 ROD DNA. The proteins
of interest will be nucleocapsid and full length Gag with and without a p6
region. Once active proteins are
recovered, the involvement of each in the dimerization process will be
investigated. Information regarding
nucleic acid-protein interactions in HIV-2 is valuable because compared to
HIV-1, very little is known about the roles of the Gag proteins in HIV-2.
BACK TO INDEX
Jesse
Thompson, Hometown: Bethel, CT
Research Mentor: Dr. Mary
Poss
Project
Title:
Characterization of the immune response in wild cougars infected with feline
immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
Project
Description: Infection
with a pathogenic organism will elicit an immune response and the production of
antibodies in the host organism.
It is known that domestic and wild feline species are infected with
feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
An immunoblot assay was developed during the summer of 2000 and data from
this serological screening shows that a population of wild cougars in the Snowy
Range, Wyoming are infected with FIV.
The proposed study aims to detect the presence of antibodies to FIV
proteins in a population of wild cougars in the Yellowstone ecosystem by
conducting immunoblot assays on the serum of these animals.
This will provide data on the prevalence of FIV infection in the
Yellowstone population, and will additionally increase the number of cougars
tested by this method so that any trends noticed for the Snowy Range population
can be verified.
The hypothesis that an individual’s antibody response will change over
the course of FIV infection will be tested.
This will be accomplished by analyzing sequential serum samples from the
same cougar. Analysis of the serum antibody recognition from mother-kitten pairs
will also be conducted to elucidate observations that have been made based on
the Snowy Range data set.
BACK
TO INDEX
Andrew
VanEck, Hometown:
Research Mentor: Dr. Colin Henderson, U of M Adjunct Professor
Project
Title:
Using harmonic radar to study the behavioral ecology of long-toed salamanders
Project
Description: Over the last 20 years amphibians have been disappearing at
an alarming rate. Even pristine
environments have seen dramatic losses in the number and kinds of amphibious
species. Understanding why this
disturbing trend of world wide declines continues has been hampered by
methodological limitations. The
inability to track amphibians has prevented us from determining why amphibians
are present where they are and what environmental factors may be important in
their conservation.
New
technology, called harmonic radar, holds the key to unlocking the mysteries of
the terrestrial phase in amphibious life. Harmonic
radar works where traditional tracking techniques have failed.
With this system the tag does not require a battery, hence dramatically
reducing its’ size such that it can be used with small and fragile species
like amphibians.
Working
with salamanders indigenous to forested lands of western Montana, I will employ
harmonic radar to determine their ecology and behavior.
Discovering how long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma
macrodactylum) use their environment will present specific aspects of the
ecosystem to consider when deciding land management policies.
Furthermore, I will describe a technique for actively tracking small
vertebrates. Currently, such
methods do not exist. Hence, this
research will open the door for future scientific work addressing previously
unanswered questions.
BACK
TO INDEX
Chelsea Vollmer, Hometown:
Fort Collins, CO
Research Mentor: Dr. Carol Brewer, U of M Professor and Project
IBS-CORE Director
Project
Title:
Developing and implementing Techniques for
Determining if Floral Wetness is a Source of Selective Pressure
Project
Description: Flowers have the potential for wet petals nearly
everyday due to rainfall or dewfall. The collected water has the potential to flow back into the
corolla of a tubular flower such as those common in Penstemon.
There are many possible detrimental effects that could arise from floral
wetness. Water could affect pollen
count by removing pollen from the anthers before a vector, such as a bee or
hummingbird, has had a chance to visit the flower thus decreasing the
reproductive capacity of the plant. Also
water could flood the nectary, thus diluting the nectar and discouraging vectors
from returning, thus limiting the amount of cross-breeding within a population.
All of these factors could be potential pressures
selecting against individuals that have wettable petals.
If there are in fact detrimental effects associated with having wet
petals and floral wetness has been influenced by natural selection, then a plant
would evolve mechanisms to protect its reproductive organs by minimizing water
contact with petals.
In my study I will determine if there are
physiological or morphological features on a flower that protect from floral
flooding. To do this I will perfect
a means of measuring petal wettability, then I will investigate the wettability
of different areas of the petal, and finally I will investigate the evolutionary
fitness of wettable plants versus non-wettable plants.
BACK
TO INDEX
