Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver that is caused by the Hepatitis C virus. The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronically infects between 130-170 million people in the world making it a significant health burden. HCV is 9.6 kb single-stranded RNA virus and a member of the Flaviviridae family of viruses which includes viruses such as Zika and Dengue. It is a smaller virus with a mature virion size between 50-80 nm. With a specific tropism for liver cells, the diseases of Hepatitis C are accordingly associated with the liver. The two predominant diseases related to HCV infection are cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. These are both caused as a result of chronic infection which occurs in about 80% of cases as opposed to acute infection which composes only 20% of cases. In order to establish a chronic infection the virus has evolved the ability to inhibit the innate immune response leading to a greater likelihood of reproduction and survival. Our specific interest was the mechanism by which HCV evades the host immune response. In previous studies we have shown that NS5A 10A, a mutant protein of NS5A, inhibits the activation of the IFN-β promoter which serves a key role in the innate immune response. In this paper we investigate the specific mechanism of the ability of NS5A 10A to interfere with the activation of the IFN-β promoter.

We are in the process of conducting a study on the effects of microgravity on Red Wiggler Earthworm decomposers. This experiment has been chosen for flight to the International Space Station to be conducted in the next several months. If we are to explore other planets in the future, we are hopeful that decomposers can grow and live successfully to bring the benefits that come with their existence. Ecosystems rely on decomposers as a building block to break down nutrients for plants. Decomposers are a critical part of an ecosystem. Earthworms play a role in in an ecosystem to constantly recycle broken down organic matter. With our experiment, we will gain more information about the growth of an Earthworm in microgravity. This experiment can help further space exploration to understand the effects of the microgravity on the growth of Earthworms.

Earthworms are crucial to the colonization of a planet due to being decomposers. They improve nutrients of the soil and they remove the dead roots, grass, and biotic factors by breaking them down. Breaking down organic matter to improve the fertility of the soil and create air pockets is such an important step in the process of decomposition. These air pockets are another benefit to the soil because it allows air flow through the soil. If we study the growth of the earthworm in microgravity, this could possibly help gain information in the process of growing produce and colonization on other celestial bodies in the future. This experiment will allow us to learn how a living organism reacts when it is growing and changing in microgravity. One part of this experiment is that we are going to compare the size of the earthworms grown in microgravity to the earthworm grown in Earth’s gravity. The growth size is a determining factor to whether earthworms are able to further space exploration and assist with the colonization of planet.

This experiment requires special handling during transportation to the International Space Station. We will be using a mini lab system provided called a Fluid Mixture Enclosure (FME) provided by the organization for the Student Spaceflights Experiment Program. This tube will be refrigerated from Burleson, TX. to NASA with a temperature of at least 40℉ or below. It will also need to be refrigerated on its return to Burleson, TX from NASA. We will follow the same experimental process with the control test on Earth.

We will be attempting to answer the question: What is the effect of microgravity vs gravity on the growth of a lentil bean? We chose this test subject to determine if lentil beans are a solution to help bone density issues and bone degeneration while astronauts are onboard the International Space Station.
While astronauts are in space, their bones degenerate and they lose muscle tone. Lentil beans can help bones and muscles develop as they contain calcium, magnesium, potassium, and protein. In our experiment, we hope to learn the effects of microgravity on plant growth ans to see if lentils grow the same in both environments. We can also use the information gathered from the lentils to conclude whether or not microgravity conditions are an adequate environment for farming and developing crops, which in turn will help determine if lentils are an appropriate crop to cultivate while on board the ISS.

Lentil beans are part of the legume family, which are usually inexpensive, nutritionally dense and a great source of protein. They are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Besides human consumption, lentil beans can be used for livestock feed too. In the agricultural context, the lentil beans can be utilized as a rotational crop with wheat. Lentil beans are a highly nutritious food, rich in minerals, protein, and fiber. Lentil beans are an economical source of protein, meaning it is affordable at a low-cost to prepare the beans. Lentil beans can be used as a supplement to a grain diet due to the high-protein and high-carbohydrate nutritional content.

Our hypothesis is that lentil beans will grow faster in space since there is a lesser amount of gravity in the ISS. Our experiment will help us understand how to better provide a sustainable food source for astronauts. Lentil beans, along with exercising, will allow their bones and muscles to stay strong and healthy in a microgravity environment. With our collected data after the experiment, the science community will understand how the effects of microgravity have on the growth of the lentil bean. If we explore and further understand the growth effects in microgravity of a lentil bean, this will allow us to seek deeper into understanding how other useful plants will grow in microgravity. This study will add to the research that has already been conducted. This experimental test is crucial to analyze the adjustments or changes that might need to occur to continue the legacy of the lentil bean in microgravity.

Large numbers of bats are killed at wind energy facilities world-wide and there is a pressing need to improve our understanding of why this is happening and develop effective strategies to minimize impacts. Although Texas has more installed wind energy than any other state in the U.S., there are very few publicly available data about bat mortality at Texas wind farms. This is especially true of areas that are only recently seeing wind energy development, such as far south Texas in the Rio Grande River Valley. A couple of reports suggest that northern yellow bats (Lasiurus intermedius) and southern yellow bats (Lasiurus ega) may frequently be killed at these wind energy facilities, but we know very little about population sex ratios or population structure in these two species. In collaboration with a researcher at Texas State University, San Marcos, we have extracted DNA from tissue samples taken from 88 northern yellow bats and 64 southern yellow bats killed at wind farms in Starr and Hidalgo Counties. First, we used a genetic method, in which we amplified regions of the X and Y chromosomes using PCR, to determine the sex of the bat carcasses. Next, we used a DNA barcoding approach to assess the accuracy of species identification in the field. These efforts represent the first steps in a study to evaluate genetic diversity and population structure in two species of yellow bats that will likely be negatively impacted by wind energy development.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is an environmental contaminate that has harmful effects on
wildlife. Anthropogenic sources like coal mining emit inorganic mercury (Hg) into the
atmosphere. From the atmosphere, Hg is deposited into aquatic ecosystems. Once in aquatic
ecosystems, inorganic Hg is converted to MeHg by bacteria and enters the food web. Emergent
aquatic insects (e.g. dragonflies), insects with aquatic larval stages and terrestrial adult stages,
will transport MeHg from the aquatic ecosystem to terrestrial predators like songbirds.
This project focuses on MeHg contamination of nestling Red-winged blackbirds
(Agelaius phoeniceus) from nests at the Eagle Mountain Hatchery Pond Facility. It is believed
that nestling Red-winged blackbirds (RWBL) consume aquatic-based prey, primarily odonates
(damselflies and dragonflies) but can consume terrestrial prey as well. Odonates are known to
have high levels of MeHg contamination. Although studies have attempted to observe what
RWBL parents feed nestlings, there are no studies of the actual prey composition in the
nestlings’ digestive tracts. Insects consumed by birds can be analyzed because external coverings
of insect body parts (head capsules, mandibles, legs) are composed of undigestible chiton. This study looks at nestling RWBL diets to quantify odonates in their diets. We will sort through varying fecal samples from the Pond Facility in order to determine the diet composition of the RWBL, and if the composition correlates with MeHg levels in nestlings.