Category: Science

Segmentation analyses to identify and quantify microglia in 3D image stacks

Abstract: Using time-lapse confocal microscopy to record and observe microgliabehavior in living zebrafish embryos, the Mitchell lab investigates themolecular basis of dynamic migration and phagocytic behavior of microgliain the central nervous system. Microglial cells regulate brain development,maintain neuronal networks, and repair neural injuries. Timelapse imagingprovides crucial insight into the behavior of these cells. Other methods, …

Tailocin treatment of American Foulbrood Disease in honeybees

Tailocins are antibacterial proteins produced by some bacteria to kill closely related bacterial strains. In nature, this benefits the microbe by offering a way for them to control the bacterial composition of their environments. However, in a lab setting, researchers can use these tailocins to treat against unwanted bacteria. The purpose of this research project …

Selective Reflections for the Nelder-Mead Algorithm

Background The Nelder-Mead algorithm is used to find the smallest value of a function. The algorithm first evaluates the function at a set of points, called the simplex. Then the algorithm replaces the worst point with a new point generated via a geometric reflection of the worst point through the simplex. The most basic movement …

Testing the Capacity to Over-Stabilize Viruses by Engineering Mutations into the Capsid of Bacteriophage ɸX174

An effective virus must successfully attach to a receptor on a host cell and inject its genetic material into the cell so that new viruses can be produced. Its ability to infect the host cell is highly dependent on both the binding capability of its capsid proteins as well their ability to modify their conformation …

Expression Staining to Qualify Presence of Dscam Expression

Gene Mutations Involved in Brain Development and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability characterized by sensory and communication deficits. Recently, diagnosis of ASD has increased, and it is now estimated to affect 1 in 68 children. The symptoms of autism begin to appear during the first three years of life, which coincides with the development of learning ability and a …

LAMP-OSD Assay for Insect-Borne Diseases

Abstract The distribution of vector-borne diseases such as Zika virus continues to expand, leading to epidemics across a variety of geographical locations, but monitoring the spread of these diseases for public health purposes is made difficult by a lack of instrumentation. With the assay we are developing and testing, there is no need for special …

Using Exoplanets to Study Planet Formation

Observations of exoplanets, planets outside of our solar system, have exploded in the last 20 years, to the point where we know now of thousands of exoplanet systems. One of the great mysteries to come out of these discoveries has been the great diversity in types of planetary systems seen. Up until we started discovering …

Genomic Diversity and Evolution of Succinea Land Snails in the Galápagos Archipelago

The Galápagos Islands are home to many diverse species, but not all have diverged as extensively as Darwin’s finches. What could be preventing diversification in the Succinea land snails?