Paul Arsenovic

335 Burruss
540-568-5048
arsenopt@dukes.jmu.edu

 In the Bloss lab, we study the genetics of apoptosis or programmed cell death in the nemotode Caenorhabditis elegans. Specifically, I study the role of apoptotic protein ICD-2 in the neuronal development of C. elegans. In my research, I use RNA inference gene knockdowns, GFP reporters, and in-vitro chemical assays to define ICD-2's role in C. elegans.

Molly Bletz

335 Burruss
540-568-5048

bletzmc@dukes.jmu.edu 

 In the Harris lab our goal is to contribute to the conservation of amphibians threatened by the fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.  We investigate the cutaneous microbial ecology of amphibians and how this plays a role in disease resistance and susceptibility.  The aim of my research will  be to explore two questions: (1) How are beneficial microbes maintained on the amphibian skin? and (2) Can beneficial microbial species be transferred between conspecific individuals?

Marc Carpenter

335 Burruss
540-568-5048

carpe2mb@dukes.jmu.edu

In the Mott lab, our research interests include water quality, soil micro, survival of pathogens in the environment, antibiotic resistance, and Vibrio vulnificus. My current research is looking at persistence of the fecal bacteria, enterococci, in agricultural soils under different environmental conditions because soils have been shown to be a source of contamination and may pose threats to the water quality.

Jennifer Courtwright
335 Burruss
540-568-5048
courtwjl@dukes.jmu.edu

The goal of my research will be to explore food web interactions in intermittent streams and how land use changes may impact these relationships. In particular, intermittent streams may be more dependent upon terrestrial inputs of food resources than perennial streams.    Therefore, intermittent streams may be more sensitive to land use changes in the riparian zones, and these land use changes may have detrimental effects on small isolated populations of native brook trout.

Anna Dinh
335 Burruss
540-568-5048
dinhat@dukes.jmu.edu

My project:Perform quantitative analysis of antioxidant activities in tomato and processed tomato products in order to compare how food processing affects tomato quality.  In addition, an analysis on the effect of light on tomato antioxidant level will also be performed by planting my own tomatoes and applying different light intensities at first anthesis.

Brinton Domangue
335 Burruss
540-568-5048
domangbe@dukes.jmu.edu

As an undergraduate and graduate student here at JMU, my interest has always been in botany. My project this year will be to survey the vascular flora of Shenandoah County, VA. The majority of this research is fieldwork, so I look forward to spending time outdoors and enjoying nature.

Matthew Eddy

335 Burruss
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.

Jade Irby

335 Burruss
540-568-5048

irbyje@dukes.jmu.edu 

 My research focuses on the development of novel amphiphiles with a unique strategy of activity against pathogenic microbes. Previous work in our lab determined that antibacterial activities of bicephalic amphiphiles were affected by chain length of the hydrophobic tail and modestly reliant on head group positioning. My current research expands upon this work, using novel amphiphiles with variations of a tri-substituted arene core in which substitutions consist of a head group and/or a hydrophobic tail. Preliminary data suggest that minimum inhibitory concentrations of some of these compounds are in the low micromolar range against four different bacteria.

Andy Loudon

335 Burruss
540-568-5048

loudonah@dukes.jmu.edu

 Chytridiomycosis is a cutaneous amphibian disease that threatens global amphibian diversity.  The causal agent is the fungal pathogen,  Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which has been shown to be inhibited by skin bacteria. I am interested in the microbial ecology of amphibian skin at the community level. In my research the effects of seasonality and climate change on the dynamics of microbial communities and presence of anti-fungal bacteria on amphibians will be examined.

Caylin Murray

335 Burruss
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.

Marcus Skaflen

335 Burruss
540-568-5048

skaflemd@dukes.jmu.edu

Malaria is a disease that infects hundreds of millions of people every year. The disease is caused by a single celled protozoan parasite known as Plasmodium falciparum. While several other species infect humans, P. falciparum is responsible for the majority of the fatalities. One of the problems with this species is its rapid replication rate. My research focuses on a specific gene of the parasite, which, when disabled, reduces the number of new parasites produced in a 48 hour cycle from 20 to 12. Through a collaborative effort with SRI I will be studying the protein made by this gene to determine how it affects the growth of this deadly parasite.