Partner and Localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2) is a necessary linker protein between BRCA1 and BRCA2. In order to create this connection it interacts directly with BRCA1 via a coiled-coil domain in both proteins. Facilitating this linkage directs cells to fix double stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) through homologous recombination. The mutation L35P has been shown to disrupt this linkage forcing the cell to complete repair through alternate pathways that are not as accurate. This inaccuracy can lead to the accumulation of mutations and increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. The L35P variant within the coiled-coil domain of PALB2 has been linked with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. However, it is unknown if loss of leucine in the interface is causing the decrease in binding or if it is the introduction of a proline into the coiled-coil region that is destroying the secondary structure thereby inhibiting binding. We are studying five variants of unknown significance (VUS) from PALB2 that are within the coiled-coil and are also proline substitutions. One of these mutations is within the binding interface and the other four are on the backside of the coil. We are investigating the structure and BRCA1-interaction of these VUS to directly connect structural changes in the coil to functional deficiencies. Currently we have found that these proline variants are inhibiting binding with BRCA1 through measuring heat exchange with isothermal titration calorimetry. We also plan on evaluating these variants through circular dichroism as well to assess if the secondary structure of PALB2 is affected as well.

Malesia is a vast phytogeographic region in Southeast Asia, spanning roughly one-fifth of the world’s circumference and considered one of the most biodiverse regions of the world. It is divided into three subregions: Sahul, Sunda, and Wallacea, primarily distinguished by their geological history and differences in floristic composition. Research based on fossil-calibrated phylogenetic trees has begun to provide insights into the historical phytogeography of Malesia, specifically regarding the reciprocal migration of plant lineages across the Sunda and Sahul regions known as the “Sunda-Sahul floristic exchange (SSFE).” This study aims to test the SSFE hypothesis with the use of the Asian tropical blueberry clade of tribe Vaccinieae (Ericaceae). Silica-dried specimens from previous fieldwork, garden-grown plants of wild origin, and herbarium specimens were used to extract genomic DNA. The samples were sequenced with the Angiosperms353 bait set, and a dated phylogenomic tree was constructed, incorporating all available genomic data from online repositories. Divergence time analysis and ancestral area reconstruction was performed to test the hypotheses of the SSFE. This research will serve as a steppingstone towards resolving the phylogeny and evolutionary history of tribe Vaccinieae. It will also form a foundation for assessing the conservation status of micro-endemic and threatened Asian tropical blueberry species, especially in Malesia. Lastly, this study will highlight the crucial role of botanical gardens and herbaria as vital repositories of natural history collections.

Understanding and documenting the diversity and distribution of species on Earth is crucial, especially in the face of habitat loss and species extinction. Without this knowledge, we risk losing valuable understanding of the natural world, including species with ecological, medicinal, or economic significance. Ferns, one of the oldest lineages of land plants, still hold many scientific mysteries, particularly in tropical regions where diversity is high and under-explored.
Herbarium specimens—dried plants collected and preserved over centuries—serve as critical windows into the past, allowing botanists to study plant diversity across time and space. When combined with modern tools such as imaging and DNA analyses, these collections become powerful data sources for unraveling evolutionary relationships, discovering new species, and improving our understanding of biodiversity. Our research focuses on Elaphoglossum, one of the most diverse and taxonomically challenging fern genera. Using herbarium specimens, powerful microscopes, and molecular phylogenetic studies, we are conducting a systematic review of the Elaphoglossum dendricola clade, a group of Andean ferns. Our aims are to clarify species boundaries, uncover undescribed species, reconstruct evolutionary relationships, and evaluate the conservation status of these ferns.
This poster presents preliminary results and outlines future directions of our research in tropical ferns, highlighting the importance of integrating collections-based taxonomy and molecular phylogenetics to explore and preserve tropical fern diversity.

The fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas; FHMs) have been the most utilized small fish model in North American ecotoxicity assessments for decades. However, the behavior of FHMs across their lifespan remains poorly characterized relative to other small fish models. Given the growing recognition of the importance of evaluating ecologically-relevant behavioral endpoints in environmental monitoring, aquaculture, and ecotoxicology, there is a need to develop assays to assess such behaviors in fish across multiple life stages. One class of ecologically-relevant behaviors is predator avoidance behaviors, which hold importance for the survival and propagation of fish populations. While the predator avoidance behaviors of adult FHMs (e.g., shelter seeking/hiding, freezing) have been well documented, there has yet to be a comprehensive study characterizing the responses of larval FHMs to chemical predator stimuli. Thus, the present study aimed to develop a behavioral assay that assesses predator avoidance behaviors of FHMs across multiple life stages. The specific predator stimulus was alarm cue, a chemical released from damaged or injured epidermal club cells of FHMs to signal conspecifics of a predator attack. In turn, the objectives were to 1) verify that the use of alarm cue collected from pond-reared donors induced predator avoidance behaviors, as measured via ToxTrac, an open-source tracking software, in adult fathead minnows, and 2) develop a predator avoidance assay for use in 14 days post-hatch (dph) larval FHMs using the alarm cue from pond-reared donors verified in adult FHMs. Exposure of adult FHMs to alarm cue collected from pond-reared donors induced significant changes in the predator avoidance behaviors detected by ToxTrac, verifying its use as a predator stimulus for lab-reared FHMs. Moreover, this study represents the first characterization of the behavioral response of 14 dph FHMs to alarm cue from pond-reared donors, providing insight into the maturation of predator avoidance behaviors of FHMs. Future work may investigate the sensitivity of the larval predator avoidance assay to chemicals with known neurological effects to validate its use as an ecologically-relevant behavioral assay in an aquaculture, ecotoxicity, or environmental management context.

White-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by a fungus called Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has caused dramatic declines in North American bat populations, with mortality rates exceeding 90% in some species. WNS has spread widely, now to southern regions such as Texas, and presents new challenges for disease modeling due to differences in climate and bat hibernation behavior. This study developed a open patch epidemiological model integrating bat populations from the Northeastern United States to examine how migration and disease exposure affect population dynamics. By modifying a standard SIR model, we analyzed interactions between wild and robust bat genotypes at varying levels of migration and frequency of disease pulses. Preliminary findings suggest that increased migration favors robust genotypes, while frequent disease pulses initially favor robustness but may eventually penalize it if disease prevalence remains low. These insights enhance our understanding of regional disease dynamics and provide a framework for conservation strategies aimed at mitigating WNS-driven biodiversity loss.