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Apparatus for visual place learning through aversive conditioning in Drosophila melanogaster
Title
Apparatus for visual place learning through aversive conditioning in Drosophila melanogaster.
Creator
Alvarado, Christian, Macleod, Gregory, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Learning and memory studies in Drosophila melanogaster have led to advances in understanding fly and mammalian genetics and neurophysiology. Despite extensive studies, there remain gaps in the scientific literature concerning genes and neural pathways involved in learning and memory. There are differences in the memory traces between olfactory and visual memory, yet visual learning has not been studied to the same extent as olfactory learning. Visual place learning has only recently been...
Show moreLearning and memory studies in Drosophila melanogaster have led to advances in understanding fly and mammalian genetics and neurophysiology. Despite extensive studies, there remain gaps in the scientific literature concerning genes and neural pathways involved in learning and memory. There are differences in the memory traces between olfactory and visual memory, yet visual learning has not been studied to the same extent as olfactory learning. Visual place learning has only recently been addressed. We offer a new apparatus for studying visual place learning in D. melanogaster. The new apparatus offers a compelling and cost-effective approach to investigating visual place learning. The most notable difference between the new apparatus and others designed for visual place learning is the use of Peltier units in conjunction with a hydraulic system to supply heat used as a negative stimulus, with the advantages of even heat distribution, ease of construction, and ease of operation.
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Date Issued
2019
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00067
Format
Document (PDF)
ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT AND SOCIAL RECOGNITION IN PTEN+/- MICE
Title
ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT AND SOCIAL RECOGNITION IN PTEN+/- MICE.
Creator
Tygar, Farrah, Macleod, Gregory, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be can be caused by numerous different genetic abnormalities, one of which is Pten haploinsufficiency. There is some evidence to suggest that environmental enrichment can decrease the symptoms of ASD and Pten mutant mice have been shown to have altered social behaviors. Therefore, Pten and WT mice were raised either in standard or environmentally enriched cages and these mice were then tested for social recognition. WT females in both environmentally...
Show moreAutism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be can be caused by numerous different genetic abnormalities, one of which is Pten haploinsufficiency. There is some evidence to suggest that environmental enrichment can decrease the symptoms of ASD and Pten mutant mice have been shown to have altered social behaviors. Therefore, Pten and WT mice were raised either in standard or environmentally enriched cages and these mice were then tested for social recognition. WT females in both environmentally enriched and standard cages and Pten males raised in environmentally enriched cages can recognize and distinguish between other mice. Pten females raised in both standard and environmentally enriched cages, and Pten males in standard cages did not show statistically significant recognition. WT males in both environmentally enriched and standard cages also lacked significant recognition. This outcome indicates that either the experimental protocol should be re-examined or that more mice are required for the experiment.
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Date Issued
2017
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012642
Format
Document (PDF)
IDENTIFYING NOVEL GENETIC MODIFIERS OF BRAIN OVERGROWTH IN THE CORTEX OF A MOUSE MODEL OF MACROCEPHALY/AUTISM SYNDROME
Title
IDENTIFYING NOVEL GENETIC MODIFIERS OF BRAIN OVERGROWTH IN THE CORTEX OF A MOUSE MODEL OF MACROCEPHALY/AUTISM SYNDROME.
Creator
Cabral, Stacy, Macleod, Gregory, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a gene that, when mutated, can cause macrocephaly/autism syndrome. The Pten mutant mouse model will help identify genetic modifiers of Pten-related neurodevelopmental phenotypes, with the goal of gaining insight into the polygenic nature of autism. We hypothesize that genes that display spatiotemporal coexpression patterns similar to Pten in the developing brain are candidates to genetically interact with Pten. Fbxw7, has been identified as a strong...
Show morePhosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a gene that, when mutated, can cause macrocephaly/autism syndrome. The Pten mutant mouse model will help identify genetic modifiers of Pten-related neurodevelopmental phenotypes, with the goal of gaining insight into the polygenic nature of autism. We hypothesize that genes that display spatiotemporal coexpression patterns similar to Pten in the developing brain are candidates to genetically interact with Pten. Fbxw7, has been identified as a strong candidate. We have conditionally deleted Fbxw7 (Fbxw7 cKO), Pten (Pten cHet), and Pten and Fbxw7 together (Pten and Fbxw7 double mutant) in the developing cerebral cortex. We found Fbxw7 cKO mice have decreased cortical mass and cell number, increased cell density, hydrocephalus and premature lethality. Pten cHet mice display increased cortical mass and cell number, with unchanged cell density and no hydrocephalus or premature lethality. Strikingly, Pten and Fbxw7 double mutant mice had the exact phenocopy of Pten cHet mice, indicating a surprising epistatic interaction between Pten and Fbxw7, in which Pten overrides the effects of Fbxw7. Further work will explore the mechanism of this interaction and will characterize cortical phenotypes in mutant animals.
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Date Issued
2017
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012611
Format
Document (PDF)
INHIBITION OF DERMATOPHILUS CONGOLENSIS USING TOPICAL PRODUCTS
Title
INHIBITION OF DERMATOPHILUS CONGOLENSIS USING TOPICAL PRODUCTS.
Creator
Miller, Rachel, Macleod, Gregory, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Dermatophilus congolensis is a gram positive, non-acid fast, facultative anaerobic actinomycetes that causes an epidermal skin infection in bovine, ovine, and equine species. This thesis studies the inhibitory effects of common antibacterial topical products on Dermatophilus congolensis. An initial experiment was performed on equine subjects and a secondary experiment was performed using a live strain of the bacteria. Seven different topical products were used in the final experiment, each...
Show moreDermatophilus congolensis is a gram positive, non-acid fast, facultative anaerobic actinomycetes that causes an epidermal skin infection in bovine, ovine, and equine species. This thesis studies the inhibitory effects of common antibacterial topical products on Dermatophilus congolensis. An initial experiment was performed on equine subjects and a secondary experiment was performed using a live strain of the bacteria. Seven different topical products were used in the final experiment, each showing some level of growth inhibition. Chlorhexidine 2% scrub was by far the most potent product with the greatest growth inhibition in each experiment. The use of a topical product such as Chlorhexidine is not only effective, but it helps to reduce bacterial resistance.
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Date Issued
2017
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012608
Format
Document (PDF)
MAPPING MITOCHONDRIAL NUMBER AND MORPHOLOGY IN THE BRAINS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER MODELS OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Title
MAPPING MITOCHONDRIAL NUMBER AND MORPHOLOGY IN THE BRAINS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER MODELS OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE.
Creator
Murphy, Regina, Macleod, Gregory, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people around the world, although it is more common in individuals aged 60 years or older. PD is associated with the degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. While the underlying cause of neuronal degeneration is poorly understood, mitochondrial dysfunction is a common feature of the cell pathology. Geneticallyencoded fluorescent probes were used to label the mitochondria in wildtype Drosophila...
Show moreParkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people around the world, although it is more common in individuals aged 60 years or older. PD is associated with the degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. While the underlying cause of neuronal degeneration is poorly understood, mitochondrial dysfunction is a common feature of the cell pathology. Geneticallyencoded fluorescent probes were used to label the mitochondria in wildtype Drosophila melanogaster and those genetically manipulated to model PD. Brains were dissected, immunolabeled, and their mitochondria were imaged using structured illumination microscopy (SIM). Mitochondrial number was determined, as well as the sphericity and surface area quantified. This characterization of mitochondrial number and morphology in wildtype Drosophila created a baseline for comparison to Drosophila that over-express the wildtype human α-synuclein protein which is associated with PD.
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Date Issued
2018
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00032
Format
Document (PDF)
The application of opsins to control mitochondrial metabolism: Stage 1 – testing for the presence of opsins in the inner mitochondrial membranes of transgenic fruit flies.
Title
The application of opsins to control mitochondrial metabolism: Stage 1 – testing for the presence of opsins in the inner mitochondrial membranes of transgenic fruit flies.
Creator
Fontinelle, Gabriella, Macleod, Gregory, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Abstract/Description
Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with the pathology of most neurodegenerative diseases. An essential element of mitochondrial function is a robust proton motive force (PMF) across the inner mitochondria membrane (IMM).
Date Issued
2016
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003673
Format
Document (PDF)