2022 – 2024 Cohort
Deadline extended – the application will be open till all seats are filled!
Your project title
Project description after discussion with your mentor.
The role of Phosphoglucomutase 5 in embryonic development
Phosphoglucomutase 5 (PGM5) is an enigmatic member of the PGM family of glycolytic enzymes. Studies in muscle tissue suggest PGM5 serves as a structural protein promoting cell-cell adhesion in association with cytoskeletal proteins, which distinguishes PGM5 from the other four PGM proteins that clearly function as enzymes. While some members of the PGM family have been shown to be essential for development using mouse models, it has not been determined whether this is the case for PGM5. This project will determine whether PGM5 deficiency in mice is embryonic lethal and, if so, at what stage of embryonic development is disrupted.
TBA
TBA
The characterization of mice lacking the gene for selenocysteine lyase in brown adipocytes
Selenium is an essential micronutrient that is necessary for energy metabolism and expenditure. Selenocysteine Lyase, Scly, is an enzyme that assists in recycling selenium in the body. Brown adipocytes or brown fat are responsible for producing heat and maintaining body temperature, expending energy. By using a brown fat Scly-specific knockout mouse model, this project will focus on the consequences of the removal of Scly in this tissue and for heat production. The goal will be achieved by feeding customized diets containing known amounts of selenium and exposing animals to the cold to initiate adaptive thermogenesis. Thermo probes will be surgically implanted in the mice to record internal body temperature, glucose levels will be measured, and molecular techniques will be conducted for measuring levels of brown fat markers when Scly is not present.2021 – 2023 Cohort
Poinsettia Anthocyanin Analysis
My project focuses on HPLC analysis of different Poinsettia cultivars and studying them at different life stages. We are working to determine how different light intensities and temperatures affect anthocyanin content and to understand the pigment profiles of different colors of Poinsettias. This information will give insight into anthocyanin biosynthesis in poinsettias. Understanding how to manipulate temperature to optimize the quality of the color in poinsettia bracts can result in more successful poinsettia yields for breeders and growers.
TBA
TBA
CO2 Nanobubbles in Microalgal Culture
Nanobubbles (NB), bubbles with diameters of 50 to 200 nm, can be generated with gases like CO2. Their small size increases the interfacial area to the surrounding aqueous environment, which can improve mass transfer rates of CO2 . Microalgae are single-celled, photosynthetic organisms that can produce high-value products such as supplements and bioenergy. However, they require large amounts of dissolved CO2 to grow, which can be a limiting factor in their growth. In this study, we are exploring the potential of NB to enhance mass transfer of CO2 , which can then enhance the growth rate and biomass production of microalgae
The role of a peptidoglycan-recognition protein, EsPGRP4, in the establishment of the squid-vibrio symbiosis
The binary association between Euprymna scolopes, the Hawaiian bobtail squid, and its symbiont, Vibrio fischeri provides an opportunity to investigate bacterial recruitment in horizontally acquired mutualisms. Previous studies have shown that peptidoglycan from bacterioplankton induces mucus secretion from the symbiotic light organ of the squid. As a result, the symbiont is captured in a mucus matrix, promoting host colonization. I am investigating a peptidoglycan recognition protein, EsPGRP4, that is hypothesized to mediate the mucus secretion response. These findings are hoped to uncover the mechanisms of bacterial recruitment in Euprymna and motivate studies of how other hosts initiate symbiotic relationships. Published Manuscript: Olaso CM, Viliunas J, McFall-Ngai M. A peptidoglycan-recognition protein orchestrates the first steps of symbiont recruitment in the squid-vibrio symbiosis. Symbiosis. 2022 May;87(1):31-43. doi: 10.1007/s13199-022-00855-y. Epub 2022 Aug 6. PMID: 36177150; PMCID: PMC9518823.
The microbiome of Aedes albopictus modulates host lipid storage and starvation resistance
The microbiome is a known modulator of host biology. In mosquitoes, the composition of the microbiome has been implicated in metabolic pathways related to lipid storage. Using the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, as a model, my research compares the microbiome that recruits among host individuals raised in natural environments to those in a laboratory setting. I am investigating how these divergent microbiomes affect patterns of lipid storage as a determinant of starvation resistance. These findings hold the promise of informing contemporary strategies of mosquito control and the use of lab-reared mosquitoes as models for natural populations.
Understanding the biological mechanisms of BAP1 in regulating glycolytic metabolism
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is commonly associated with prolonged asbestos exposure leading to mesothelial cell transformation in the pleura and peritoneum. Additionally, germline mutations in the BRCA1 associated protein 1 (BAP1) gene can predispose individuals to developing mesothelioma and other cancers. Cancer cells often favor a metabolic switch known as the Warburg effect characterized by the increased rate of glucose uptake and over production of lactate, which favors malignant transformation. Individuals with BAP1 mutations display a distinct metabolic signature of the Warburg phenomenon. Our objective is to study the biological mechanisms of BAP1 in regulating glycolytic metabolism.
Understand the effects of SARS-CoV-2 proteins independent of active replication in lung microvascular endothelial cells
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Making up the virus particles are 4 crucial structure proteins: spike (S), envelope (E), membrane (M), and nucleoprotein (N). SARS-CoV-2 virus infection of lung airway epithelial cells leads to severe cytopathicity in not only epithelial cells but also causes activation of lung microvascular endothelial cells. Whether viruses can infect these endothelial cells is still not very clear. Recent studies have shown that the S1, E, and N proteins alone can cause cytotoxic effects in cells independent of the virus. However, it is not known if these proteins affect lung endothelial cells independent of active replication. Our goal is to understand this mechanism by exposing lung cells to these proteins and measuring cell death and injury at different time points.
Tracking Leptospira bacteria in the He‘eia watershed
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria in the Leptospira genus and is transmitted from mammal carriers via urine to human hosts through contact of contaminated soil and water with damaged skin or mucous membranes. The objective of this project is to determine whether the abundance of Leptospira in aquatic ecosystems positively correlates with feral pig populations in the He‘eia watershed, where historical agricultural irrigation networks may facilitate the transmission of the disease to humans. The results of this research may provide necessary epidemiological information that can guide prevention of outbreaks and epidemics of the disease in fluvial and estuarine communities.