Bacillus anthracis is the bacterial pathogen responsible for the lethal disease anthrax. For the pathogens to cause disease, they must overcome several host defenses including obtaining essential nutrients like iron. Our lab has identified that the dUTPase-1 gene is critical for iron acquisition from hemoglobin in B. anthracis. Normally, dUTPase functions to hydrolyze dUTP into dUMP. This functions to maintain DNA integrity as hydrolysis lowers the concentration of dUTP preventing uracil incorporation. This enzyme has never been linked to iron acquisition before, although in other systems, it has been linked with a secondary role in regulating signaling. Our goal is to determine whether the enzymatic activity, dUTP hydrolysis, is important for iron acquisition from hemoglobin. We hypothesize that dUTPase’s enzymatic activity is not responsible for the iron acquisition phenotype, and that it is through another mechanism. To test this we will introduce amino acid substitutions into two highly conserved residues in the active site using site-directed mutagenesis. This mutation should destroy enzymatic activity which we will confirm using a PCR-based assay. We will then test for iron acquisition ability using our established hemoglobin assay. We are currently working on the construction of our enzymatic mutant and optimizing our hemoglobin to test it once it is completed. This research will help us determine which structural domains are key to the iron acquisition activity of dUTPase and shed light on the secondary function of this enzyme.

The Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) has undergone dramatic population declines across its native range due to habitat loss, invasive species, and predation. As a result, Texas zoos and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have been attempting to reintroduce hatchlings of this species into areas where it has become extinct. To support reintroduction, graduate researchers from TCU’s biology program glued harmonic tags onto the backs of the hatchling THL, making them easier to locate in the wild and to determine the most viable areas for reintroduction. The hatchlings, however, still experience high predation, and we often find their tags in the scat of various predators, such as snakes, birds, and small mammals. Previous tracking studies suggest coachwhip snakes (Masticophis flagellum) are a major predator of these lizards. Identifying the primary predators of reintroduced populations is critical for improving hatchling survival and informing conservation strategies. Tissue samples were collected for coachwhips, other potential Texas snake predators, and a few mammals to create and test a coachwhip-specific primer. We extracted DNA from the scat and used the coachwhip-specific genetic marker and a horned lizard-specific primer to screen over 80+ fecal samples with tracking tags collected across multiple THL release sites from the 2024 fall season. The results of this study will be used to determine how common coachwhip predation is at the reintroduction sites and whether management actions can be implemented to reduce predation during the early hatchling stage.

A notable occupational gap exists within the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field between employed women and men. It is likely to occur around the ages of 10-12, as this is when girls typically start to lose interest in STEM-related activities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the views of fourth- and fifth-grade girls on STEM, careers, and post-secondary education as they participate in the STEMpower After-School Club. Additionally, we aim to determine the students’ baseline STEM identities and their interests in STEM careers following their participation in the STEMpower After-School Club. This study is being conducted by following a group of fourth and fifth-grade girls during a year-long academic after-school program. Our methods include a STEM careers survey.

Alzheimer’s disease is the fastest growing form of dementia in the world. Currently the origin of disease is unknown, however, there are distinct signs seen in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Chronic neuroinflammation, increased ROS, dyshomeostasis of metal ions, Tau tangles, and mitochondrial dysfunction are well known to the pathogenesis and progression of this disease. Despite the pathogenesis being well documented, most current drugs treat symptoms of the disease, but have no effect on the progression of disease. The aim of this study is to test novel antioxidant compounds (L2 and L3) for their ability to reduce intracellular ROS in mice microglial cells (BV-2) and mice hippocampal cells (HT-22). DCFH-DA assays were used to measure the ROS levels. MTT assays were used to assess cell viability and determine safe concentrations of antioxidant compounds to use. Results of this study show significant reductions of ROS (TBHP) in BV-2 and HT-22 cells by L2, as determined by the DCFH-DA assay. These results are significant because it shows that L2 does not only protect neuronal cells from oxidative stress, but it can also decrease microglial inflammatory response.

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, has intensified the search for alternative antimicrobial strategies. Metal oxides have emerged as promising candidates, with zinc oxide (ZnO) attracting particular interest due to its low cost, thermal and mechanical stability, and minimal generation of harmful by-products. ZnO has potential applications in medical device coatings, food preservation, and topical therapeutics. Previous work in our laboratory demonstrated that growth inhibition of S. aureus correlates with the release of Zn²⁺ ions from ZnO Sigma particles in Mueller–Hinton broth (MHB) (Caron et al., 2024). However, it has been reported that the media can influence Zn2+ dissolution and ZnO toxicity. In support of this, we find that ZnO particles exhibit increased dissolution in saline compared to MHB, resulting in enhanced cytotoxicity toward S. aureus. To further investigate the influence of different media types on ZnO dissolution and bacterial survival, we will investigate HEPES and MOPS buffers as media alternatives to assess ZnO toxicity. By evaluating how different chemical environments affect Zn²⁺ release and antimicrobial activity, this work aims to maximize the potential of ZnO-mediated cytotoxicity.