James Madison University

Graduate Students

	Sarah Auclair Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 auclaisr@dukes.jmu.edu	In the Lantz lab we are investigating the role of interleukin-3 in Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium is the genus of protozoan parasites that cause malaria, which causes 25% of all childhood mortality worldwide in addition to being the primary cause of morbidity for 40% of the world’s population. Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is a type of cell signaling molecule, called a cytokine, which helps to coordinate theimmune response to infection. We compare the course and outcome of Plasmodium infection in mice that lack the gene to produce IL-3 to that of wild type mice in order to determine the role IL-3 plays in resistance or susceptibility to this disease.


	James Conrad Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 conradjw@dukes.jmu.edu	I am isolating and characterizing Vibrio vulnificus through phenotypic assays. V. vulnificus as a human and animal pathogen and has a 50% mortality rate when consumed in infected oysters and shellfish. My research involves isolating V. vulnificus from local pet stores and Va coastal sites. Along with an additional ~250 isolates, from around the country, each will have its antibiotic susceptibility profile, Biolog Gen III metabolic profile, and differential media color analyzed.
	Matthew Eddy Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 eddymw@dukes.jmu.edu	Joint pain is a common symptom for those suffering from Dengue fever. My research interests involve looking at the interactions between chondrocytes and the viral E protein of the Dengue virus in hopes of better understanding the relationship between the virus and joint pain. Using various analytical methods we aim to identify what genes are being expressed in response to the E protein. A second goal of this lab is to see if there are any interactions between chondrocytes and macrophages in regard to E protein. In other words, does E protein influence macrophages that, in turn, effect chondrocyte gene expression.
	Alaina Esposito Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 espos2ac@dukes.jmu.edu	The federaly endangered James Spinymussel, Pleurobema collina, has experienced a drastic decline of its population in size recent years. Although this bivalve is small in size they play a pronounced role in our local ecosystem, but their cryptic nature and declining population size have made them difficult to study. In the May lab, we are working towards understanding the ecosystem dynamics and population preferences of the James Spinymussel. Our ultimate goal is to establish a habitat preference model that will serve ecologists and conservationists in better understanding this species and how to protect them from further population decline.
	Dehat Jalil Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 jalildm@dukes.jmu.edu	In Dr. Rife’s Lab, we investigate the role of Z-DNA in Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. A purine-pyrimidine dinucleotide repeat leads to a conformational change of normal DNA into a zig-zag conformation called Z-DNA. We are interested in seeing if the conformational change of DNA contributes to abnormal gene expression and if there is a certain size of dinucleotide repeats associated with Parkinson’s disease or not.

	John Marafino Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 marafinjn@dukes.jmu.edu	Amphiphiles are fast becoming a new tool in combating bacteria; thus fully exploring how amphiphile structure determines its function allows us to expand our “toolbox”. In Dr. Caran’s lab, we are constructing amphiphiles then delivering them for deployment against a battery of gram (-) and (+) bacteria. The aim of my research will include, synthesizing novel amphiphiles, investigating the actual mechanism of action, and determining how the structure will effect bacteria.
	Steven McBride Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 mcbridsg@dukes.jmu.edu	In the Mott lab we are interested in water quality and the effects of agricultural runoff into local streams. Enterococcus is commonly used as an indicator of fecal contamination. We will be quantifying various species of Enterococcus, using QPCR, in poultry litter, exposed to simulated environmental conditions, and hope to contribute to predictive models.
	Caylin Murray Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 murraycs@dukes.jmu.edu	My research focuses on the unfolded protein response and its effect on apoptosis in the model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. The unfolded protein response is a stress induced cellular response that is initiated when proteins are improperly managed by the endoplasmic reticulum. While the main goal of the unfolded protein response is to maintain cellular homeostasis, it is also responsible for initiating a caspase cascade that can lead to apoptosis. While much is known about mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, knowledge of ER-mediated apoptosis in C. elegans is very limited. The goal of our research is to more closely characterize this apoptotic pathway via manipulation of the unfolded protein response.
	Will Noftz Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 noftzwa@dukes.jmu.edu	The Gabriele lab focuses on the developing auditory system in mice prior to hearing onset. Eph receptors and their corresponding ephrin ligands are proteins that aid in the guidance and formation of developing axonal patterns. My research is focused on their involvement in the establishment of topographic maps and projection patterns in the auditory midbrain. In particular, my project examines this connectivity in transgenic mice that either lack or express a mutant form of one specific Eph-ephrin member, ephrin-B3. In collaboration with Dr. Lincoln Gray’s laboratory (CSD), I aim to determine any physiological/ behavioral consequences inephrin-B3 mutant mice due to altered auditory connections.
	Jonathan Sandoval Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 sandovje@dukes.jmu.edu	In Dr. Bloss' lab we are studying the role of the nascent polypeptide associated complex (NAC) in response to cell stress and death. NAC, a heterodimer composed of two sub-units, contributes to translation by binding to the ribosome and acts as a chaperone by aiding in the proper folding of nascent polypeptides. Due to its role in protein folding, and the inherent proteotoxic environment found in cancer cells, NAC has shown to be over-expressed in various cancers as NAC is involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR). Triggering the UPR may lead to cell death or cell rescue depending on the levels of misfolded protein. Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a highly conserved developmental mechanism that cancerous cells must overcome to become successfully invasive. My research aims to gain further insights into the involvement of NAC and the UPR in cancer evolution by over-expressing the NAC gene in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans.
	Jamie Smith Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 smith9jd@dukes.jmu.edu	I am interested in the taxonomy and systematics of vascular plants. I will be conducting a survey of vascular plants in an area of the Shenandoah Valley that has not previously been catalogued. By conducting these surveys we gather valuable information about the types, numbers, and distribution of plant species which can greatly contribute to future conservation efforts.
	Kyle Snow Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 snowkj@dukes.jmu.edu	Land use changes have increased the amount of sediment carried by runoff into our streams and rivers. Much of this sediment becomes embedded between the course sediment of streambeds. Since spawning trout bury their eggs in gravel beds and juveniles use the stream bed for velocity cover, sedimentation can severely reduce available habitat. In Dr. May's lab, we are looking at the effects of sedimentation on cover use by trout.
	Anisa Tracy Bioscience 2023 540-568-5048 tracyac@dukes.jmu.edu	In Dr. Cresawn’s lab our focus of study is mycobacteriophage, or viruses that infect bacteria. My research specifically aims to identify novel bacteriophage that can successfully infect the host Mycobacterium ulcerans. After identification of bacteriophage that are successful, we will be looking for commonalities at the genomic level that may be contributing to their success using a bioinformatics tool called Phamerator.