Trade-offs between environmental concerns and disease control influence disease dynamics across communities

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Redon Limani Biology Kenny Lai Biology Grant Xiong Biology
Advisor(s): Jing Jiao Biology
Location: Third Floor, Table 6, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Mosquitoes are primary vectors in the transmission of many infectious diseases, spreading pathogens through their bites after feeding on infected
hosts. Vector-borne diseases like Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever, mostly transmitted by mosquitoes, cause over 700,000 deaths each year and
account for 17% of infectious diseases, heavily burdening vulnerable communities and economies. Public perception of mosquito control can significantly shape outbreak outcomes [1]. This project uses a mathematical model to simulate how disease spreads between two regions connected by mosquito migration. The model considers how people’s concern for the environment can influence their support or opposition to mosquito control efforts. Our goal is to explore how these factors shape disease prevalence and to better understand the role of community behavior in outbreak prevention.

The enzymatic role of nucleosome ubiquitylation by BRCA1 in C. elegans

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Meagan McMann Biology Nathalie Carlon Biology Lucy McCollum Biology
Advisor(s): Mikaela Stewart Biology
Location: Third Floor, Table 1, Position 3, 1:45-3:45

BRCA1 protects genomic stability by signaling for the homologous recombination pathway, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. A pathogenic mutation in the BRCA1 region causes a higher predisposition to the development of breast and ovarian cancer. Our lab is exploring the different enzymatic functions of BRCA1 by looking at its role in histone ubiquitylation, leading to transcriptional regulation of certain parts of the genome. Join us to see our plan for connecting molecular mechanisms of a large, multi-functional gene to the phenotype of an organism. A homolog of BRCA1 is conserved in C. elegans as BRC-1. We propose that mononucleosome ubiquitylation is a key mechanism contributing to the cellular functions of BRC-1. Understanding the significance of mononucleosome ubiquitylation in BRC-1 with C. elegans gives insight into the mechanisms of genetic variations in BRCA1 and further expands C. elegans’ function as a model organism. We have generated a C. elegans mutant with two point mutations that alter the ability of BRC-1 protein to interact with the nucleosome and ubiquitinate histone H2A while retaining all other functions. We hypothesize this mutation increases DNA damage accumulation and disrupts transcriptional regulation to establish nucleosome ubiquitylation as a necessary precursor for these, but likely not all, BRC-1 functions. We compare three strains of C. elegans (wildtype, brc-1 knockout, and our mononucleosome ubiquitylation-deficient mutant) in different conditions designed to induce cellular stress or DNA damage accumulation. We find that BRC-1 nucleosome ubiquitylation contributes to embryonic survival under standard conditions as well as DNA damage-inducing conditions. We also share preliminary results regarding the role of nucleosome ubiquitylation in transcription regulation and reactive oxygen species generation. Our findings further the understanding of the many enzymatic functions of the large BRCA1 gene.

Investigating Mercury Transfer from Aquatic to Terrestrial Food Webs: The Influence of Distance from Pond Shorelines on Methylmercury Concentrations in Arctic Wolf Spiders

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Camryn Middlebrooks Biology Aleah Appel Biology Sommerlyn Babineau Biology Kurt Burnham Biology Ethan Cary Biology Titus Crawford Biology Sage Dale Biology Charlie Duethman Biology Aidan Duffield Biology Piper Dumont Biology Skyler Dunn Biology Madeline Hannappel Biology Sydney Hill Biology Ramsey Jennings Biology Ben Katzenmeyer Biology Chidi Mbagwu Biology David Peebles Biology Benjamin Strang Biology Emma Sullivan Biology Lance Viscioni-Wilson Biology Kimberlee Whitmore Biology Tyler Williams Biology David Wright Biology
Advisor(s): Matt Chumchal Biology
Location: Basement, Table 6, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

Mercury is emitted from various anthropogenic processes in temperate and tropical regions and is transported to northern latitudes via air and ocean currents. Although there are few point sources of mercury in the Arctic, elevated mercury levels have been observed in Arctic predators such as marine mammals, seabirds, fish, and spiders. This is concerning due to mercury’s known neurotoxic and teratogenic effects. Mercury deposited in the Arctic can be converted into its bioavailable form, methylmercury (MeHg), by aquatic bacteria. It can then be transferred into nearby terrestrial habitats by aquatic emergent insects. A previous study indicated that Arctic wolf spiders (Pardosa glacialis) collected from the shoreline of ponds had elevated concentrations of MeHg. In temperate zones, adult aquatic insects typically disperse within 30 meters of freshwater sources, suggesting that upland predators may consume fewer emergent aquatic insects, thereby reducing their contamination from these sources. While Arctic wolf spiders are ubiquitous predators across the tundra, it is unclear whether spiders collected in upland habitats are similarly contaminated with MeHg. The purpose of this study was to investigate the movement of mercury from aquatic to terrestrial food webs on the Pituffik Peninsula of northwest Greenland. Specifically, we examined the effects of shoreline proximity on mercury concentrations in Arctic wolf spiders. We collected Arctic wolf spiders and their insect prey at varying distances (0m, 10m, and 35m) from six freshwater ponds. We found a positive relationship between mercury concentrations and body size in P. glacialis. Spiders captured 35 meters away from the shoreline had significantly lower mercury concentrations than those captured at 0m or 10m from the shoreline. These results suggest that the dispersal of Arctic emergent aquatic insects declines with increasing distance from the shoreline and that emergent insects are an important source of mercury for Arctic wolf spiders.

New Smiles Drive

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Alexandra Much Biology Aimee Garibay Interdisciplinary Annie Loomis Biology Sarina Schwarze Biology Kameryn Smudde Nutritional Sciences
Advisor(s): Sarah Jung Biology
Location: SecondFloor, Table 8, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Oral health is a critical component of overall well-being, yet many individuals in underserved communities lack access to essential dental care and hygiene resources. The New Smiles Drive is a student-led initiative dedicated to improving oral health education and access to hygiene supplies in the Fort Worth community. Through the TCU Tooth Fairies program, we present at elementary schools, engaging students in interactive lessons on proper brushing and flossing techniques to foster lifelong oral hygiene habits. Additionally, we donate hygiene kits—containing toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, and a laminated educational card outlining proper brushing steps in both English and Spanish—to Mercy Clinic, which provides medical and dental care to uninsured patients, as well as to local homeless shelters. By combining education with tangible resources, New Smiles Drive aims to promote preventive dental care and address disparities in oral health access.

In Vitro Evaluation between 5-LO Inhibitor, Zileuton, and Antifungal Activity Against Cryptococcus

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Khoi Nguyen Biology Natalia Castro Lopez Biology Floyd Wormley Biology
Advisor(s): Natalia Castro Lopez Biology Floyd Wormley Biology