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.

Molly Bletz

Bioscience 2023
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 is two-fold: (1) to investigate the most effective method or combination of methods to transmit beneficial bacteria to amphibians to allow continued resistance to Bd infection. In particular, is transmission through a short-term, individual probiotic bath, which is the current method of choice, or is transmission through a longer lasting environmental reservoir inoculation or both necessary to achieve an effective defense against Bd? And (2) to investigate whether probiotic treatment causes non-target ecosystem effects.

Marc Carpenter

Bioscience 2023
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.

James Conrad
Bioscience 2023
540-568-5048
conradjw@dukes.jmu.edu

In Dr. Mott's lab I am researching predatory bacteria, specifically Bdellovibrio. My research will focus on isolating  Bdellovibrio from geese and the environment. Isolates from geese and the environment will be compared to determine if geese are a vector for disseminating different strains of Bdellovibrio.

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.

Jade Irby

Bioscience 2023
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.

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.

Andy Loudon

Bioscience 2023
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.

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.

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.

Marcus Skaflen

Bioscience 2023
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.

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.