Fifth Annual Wehner Research Symposium and Darwin Day Celebration

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Autonomic regulation of blood pressure is mediated by nodose baroreceptors which are severely impaired in hypertension. Nodose baroreceptor dysfunction, as a decrease in excitability, leads to uncontrolled surges of blood pressure and results in heart failure and stroke. Through mathematical modeling of neurons in MATLAB, it is possible to estimate ion channel dysfunction in these nodose baroreceptors. By comparing experimental results to normotensive subjects, it will be possible to predict what changes in receptor physiology can contribute to dysfunction of nodose baroreceptors.

The model was validated through manipulation of ion channel conductances seen in response to the application of natural inhibitors and toxins in vivo. The model perfectly predicts the activity of neurons exposed to tetrodotoxin; which acts upon the fast tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium ion channels. As well, the model mimics the administration of 4-Aminopyridine and enhances action potential firing both in our model through reducing A- and D- type potassium channel conductances and in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.

Moving towards our goal, we manually fitted an experimentally obtained trace from a nodose neuron to the general mathematical model. Currently, we are working on a mathematical algorithm to minimize the difference between the model and experimental trace to find the best fit.

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We consider the Hodgkin-Huxley model which describes the formation and propagation of action potential in excitable cells. The model consists of a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations which are numerically solved using an adaptive Runge-Kutta solver in the Python programming language. The results show that the model is capable of accurately describing experimental results: duration and form of action potentials, amplitude of the spike, oscillations, and ionic changes (sodium and potassium). The model can easily be extended to include additional ionic channels. This enables one to study the effects of both A-type and C-type nodose sensory neurons as well the effects of known ion channel blockers, such as tetrodotoxin which is found in pufferfish, Lidocaine which is a local anesthetic, and scorpion toxins.

The Medial Prefrontal Cortex (MPFC) is a vital component that underlies human social functions, specifically self-awareness, self-enhancement and social monitoring. The association of the MPFC with self and social monitoring may influence positive self-image, thus buffering negative affect. In addition, we have found that the MPFC may also have an influence on self-deception because disruption of the MPFC or decrease activity in the MPFC leads to more honest replies, thus a decrease in self-deception. In correlation, separate studies have found that a decrease in MPFC activity also results in a decrease in affect. The current study investigated mood and self-deception in response to TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) delivered to the MPFC. While participants rated their mood and current emotional state, TMS, as well as Sham TMS was delivered to the MPFC. The results indicated that disruption of the MPFC leads to a reduced mood and self-deception.

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The effects of bridges and smaller impoundments on freshwater habitat and water quality is an under-researched aspect in the field of urban ecology. This study examines how a smaller bridge affects macroinvertebrate taxa abundance between upstream and downstream areas of the impoundment. It was found that the bridge slows water velocity and increases sedimentation at the outlet, which reflects in greater proportions of silt and mud benthic cover. In addition, this increase in sedimentation was correlated with a decrease in macroinvertebrate biodiversity, EPT abundances, and average PTVs of collected taxa in comparison to upstream areas. This implies that bridges may still have impacts on water quality and macroinvertebrate communities similarly to dams and culverts, which may negatively affect the availability of food for local fish and terrestrial species, as well as decrease the ecological services that macroinvertebrates provide.

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This research is of value because miRNA is still currently studied and may lead to new innovation in cancer research in which cancer is still a growing issue globally. Methylsulfonylmethane has already proven to have anti-inflammatory and prevent over-stress of immune cells, we can further explore this beneficial supplement and its possible role in cancer therapy. The main question of this study is Can Methylsulfonylmethane play a role in cancer research?

Neurons in C. elegans could provide a basis for understanding the function of genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In our lab, we focus specifically on neuronal microtubules and their MAPs (Microtubule Associated Proteins), a class of proteins that is not well understood. Mutations in RP1 cause retinitis pigmentosa, while mutations in RPI1L1 (“RP1-like-1”) cause occult macular dystrophy. Both diseases result in progressive blindness. RP1 and RPI1L1 proteins are members of the doublecortin/DCX family of MAPs. To understand the function of RP1L1, we constructed a recombinant transgene rpil-1::gfp to determine its localization. We used epifluorescence microscopy to find that rpil-1 is expressed in a subset of ciliated sensory neurons. We have obtained a mutant C. elegans strain in which the rpil-1 gene has an early stop codon, abolishing its function. We plan to determine if this mutant has a neurodegenerative phenotype in C. elegans that parallels human disease.

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The Chrysaora Chesapeakei is a jellyfish that lives in Barnegat Bay. Due to a degraded water quality, they have become a problem. In this study, a bioinformatics analysis of the transcriptome was primarily used. Gene Ontology values allowed for putative venom proteins to be identified. Over 200 venom components were identified, and a number of them were able to be identified in other Cnidarians. Venom proteins that are thought to be unique to this organism are chrysaoralin, hyaluronidase, and disintegrin. Studying their transcriptome and subsequently their venom components will allow for many problems to be solved. These findings will bring improved treatment for jellyfish stings, as well as advance the current knowledge that exists about Cnidarians and their venom.

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Bacterial identification has been an important area of research over the last 150 years. Advances in genetic sequencing technology have made it the norm to molecularly identify bacteria. Metagenomic studies look to identify genetic material present in an environmental sample. Most metagenomic bacterial studies utilize Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology and targeted amplification of the 16S V3/V4 hyper-variable region for species level identification.

However, there is growing interest in whole genome shotgun metagenomics as a more inclusive method. Shotgun sequencing is where large fragments of DNA are sheared into smaller fragments and then randomly sequenced and subsequently reassembled using bioinformatics. Shotgun sequencing avoids the pitfalls of targeted PCR amplification such as PCR bias (some organisms amplify better than others or fail to amplify at all due to primer mismatch). Therefore, a comparative study of targeted 16S rRNA amplification and the shotgun based approach is appropriate. For this study we chose to look at benthic samples collected from four different Barnegat Bay, NJ localities.