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

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

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.