Current Search: Harriet L. Wilkes��Honors College (x) » Macleod, Gregory (x)
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- 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
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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)
- 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
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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.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00067
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- 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
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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.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00032
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- ENVIRONMENTAL ENRICHMENT AND SOCIAL RECOGNITION IN PTEN+/- MICE.
- Creator
- Tygar, Farrah, Macleod, Gregory, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
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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.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012642
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- 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
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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.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012611
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- INHIBITION OF DERMATOPHILUS CONGOLENSIS USING TOPICAL PRODUCTS.
- Creator
- Miller, Rachel, Macleod, Gregory, Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
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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.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012608
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Nf1 Mutations Impair Memory-Related Plasticity in the Drosophila melanogaster Mushroom Body.
- Creator
- Gilliland, Brandon, Tomchik, Seth, Macleod, Gregory, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Abstract/Description
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The purpose of this project was to understand the effects of therapeutic antidepressants with respect to circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. Antidepressants are known to have a role in dopamine and serotonin signaling pathways. These pathways have been observed to have a role in circadian rhythm, the biological process involving sleep patterns. In the experiments completed thus far, it has been observed that the flies administered antidepressants have more fractioned sleep than the...
Show moreThe purpose of this project was to understand the effects of therapeutic antidepressants with respect to circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. Antidepressants are known to have a role in dopamine and serotonin signaling pathways. These pathways have been observed to have a role in circadian rhythm, the biological process involving sleep patterns. In the experiments completed thus far, it has been observed that the flies administered antidepressants have more fractioned sleep than the control group flies. It has also been noted that normal light to dark sleep cycles are altered significantly in the flies given antidepressants. It is important to research and to understand the effects of antidepressants in Drosophila melanogaster because it could lead to a more effective way to administer antidepressants to humans without harmful side effects.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005191
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Lack of CuZnSOD Leads to Impaired Neurotransmitter Release, Neuromuscular Junction Destabilization and Reduced Muscle Strength in Mice.
- Creator
- Shi, Yun, Ivannikov, Maxim V., Walsh, Michael E., Liu, Yuhong, Zhang, Yiqiang, Jaramillo, Carlos A., Macleod, Gregory, Van Remmen, Holly, Phillips, William
- Abstract/Description
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Elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS-dependent protein damage is a common observation in the pathogenesis of many muscle wasting disorders, including sarcopenia. However, the contribution of elevated ROS levels to –a breakdown in neuromuscular communication and muscle atrophy remains unknown. In this study, we examined a copper zinc superoxide dismutase [CuZnSOD (Sod1)] knockout mouse (Sod1-/-), a mouse model of elevated oxidative stress that exhibits accelerated loss of...
Show moreElevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS-dependent protein damage is a common observation in the pathogenesis of many muscle wasting disorders, including sarcopenia. However, the contribution of elevated ROS levels to –a breakdown in neuromuscular communication and muscle atrophy remains unknown. In this study, we examined a copper zinc superoxide dismutase [CuZnSOD (Sod1)] knockout mouse (Sod1-/-), a mouse model of elevated oxidative stress that exhibits accelerated loss of muscle mass, which recapitulates many phenotypes of sarcopenia as early as 5 months of age. We found that young adult Sod1-/- mice display a considerable reduction in hind limb skeletal muscle mass and strength when compared to age-matched wild-type mice. These changes are accompanied by gross alterations in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology, including reduced occupancy of the motor endplates by axons, terminal sprouting and axon thinning and irregular swelling. Surprisingly however, the average density of acetylcholine receptors in endplates is preserved. Using in vivo electromyography and ex vivo electrophysiological studies of hind limb muscles in Sod1-/- mice, we found that motor axons innervating the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and gastrocnemius muscles release fewer synaptic vesicles upon nerve stimulation. Recordings from individually identified EDL NMJs show that reductions in neurotransmitter release are apparent in the Sod1-/- mice even when endplates are close to fully innervated. However, electrophysiological properties, such as input resistance, resting membrane potential and spontaneous neurotransmitter release kinetics (but not frequency) are similar between EDL muscles of Sod1-/- and wild-type mice. Administration of the potassium channel blocker 3,4-diaminopyridine, which broadens the presynaptic action potential, improves both neurotransmitter release and muscle strength. Together, these results suggest that ROS-associated motor nerve terminal dysfunction is a contributor to the observed muscle changes in Sod1-/- mice.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014-06-27
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000036
- Format
- Citation