Biology

Evolvability of Sporulation and Germination in Bacillus Subtilis Batch Culture

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Abstract: Important research focuses on endospore-forming bacteria because of their diverse relevance to our lives, from pathogens to plant growth promoters. Our research uses the endospore-forming Bacillus subtilis to compare heat-treated and control populations to determine evolvability of sporulation and germination in batch culture, the most common method of growing bacteria in a lab setting. We quickly … Read more

Transgenerational plasticity in the annual plant Polygonum persicaria: effects of the grandparent environment on plant development

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Abstract: The Sultan lab studies phenotypic plasticity and its transgenerational effects in the generalist, annual plant Polygonum persicaria. Phenotypic plasticity describes the ability of a single genotype to produce multiple phenotypes (physical traits) in different environments. The plasticity we study allows plants to integrate information from their current and previous (parental and grandparental) environments in … Read more

Isolation of Potential Plastic Degraders using Winogradsky Columns

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Abstract: Plastic pollution is everywhere nowadays. It consists of wrappers, utensils, bottles, and countless other single-use items. Many of these items we use to store food, fluids, and medication even tend to shed nano and microplastics when exposed to heat or chemical stress. Plastic is typically classified as a non-biodegradable substance. However, some bacteria have … Read more

Apical Radial Actin Filaments in the Drosophila eye

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Abstract: The actin cytoskeleton provides the framework necessary for epithelial cells to maintain shape and structural integrity. Drosophila eye tissue contains several different types of epithelial cells. Each type has a specific shape and is arranged in a specific location to pattern the eye and generate a functional organ. We have observed that each cell … Read more

Role for Hippocampal δ-GABAA Receptors in the Effects of Adolescent Alcohol Exposure on Endocrine or Behavioral Stress Reactivity in Adulthood

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Abstract: Adolescent binge drinking is linked to abnormal stress reactivity in adulthood and increased vulnerability to developing anxiety disorders. However, the neuronal mechanisms driving this relationship are unknown. Though previous research focused on plasticity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, recent work has highlighted the importance of the hippocampus in regulating both stress and anxiety. Our … Read more

Hormesis of Bacillus velezensis in response to low doses of polystyrene

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Abstract: The abundance of microplastics in soil presents a major crisis for not only human physiology, but also the entire global ecosystem. Much of this microplastic originates from agriculture – as mulch fertilizer contains significant amounts of plastic. In addition, large plastic sheets are used as crop covers to regulate temperature and prevent unwanted plant … Read more

Determining the Effect of Wolbachia on Octanoic Acid Resistance in D. sechellia

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Abstract: Gut microbes have been recently recognized for their ability to contribute to Drosophila form, fitness, and function. Multiple recent studies have shown that Wolbachia, an intracellular bacterium that is passed from mother to offspring, can influence numerous phenotypes in insect systems including viral resistance, regulation of diet selection and tolerance of different temperatures. Drosophila … Read more

Genome-wide effects of the GeneSwitch GAL4 system on Drosophila melanogaster gene expression

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Abstract: Our understanding of gene function in model organisms has increased dramatically over the last 30 years utilizing new reverse genetic techniques to manipulate gene expression. Selectively changing the expression of a gene in an otherwise wild-type organism allows for much greater understanding of that gene’s function and downstream effects on phenotypes than mutant analysis … Read more