Nicole Klatt
Single-cell RNA sequencing has fundamentally changed our understanding of disease and the methods we utilize to classify cell types and discover new biology. However, some rare cell types can have a disproportionately large impact on overall development and progression for disease. To study these cells, traditional methods for cell classification and purification involve tagging cells with fluorescent antibodies targeting proteins on a cell’s surface. However, some cells cannot be identified based solely on their surface protein profile. In the Clark Lab, we develop new workflows for nucleic acid cytometry to […]
Charlie Kortleven
As atmospheric CO2 concentrations rise, rapid environmental shifts have led to more frequent and severe droughts. Some plants have demonstrated the capacity for rapid acclimation to abiotic stressors; however, the extent to which these responses are retained and transmitted across generations remains unclear. This study aims to explore how parental effects, potentially mediated by epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, prime offspring to cope with similar stressful environments before experiencing them directly, by altering gene expression—a process often implicated in phenotypic plasticity. To understand the mechanisms underlying transgenerational plasticity in […]
Emma Lalor
As an EMT, I believe it is exceedingly important to try to gain a full-picture perspective of patients and providers in order to work with each in the best way possible. One way that this can be done is through the use of graphic medicine, or the implementation of graphic novel, cartoons, and comics in order to convey stories and lessons from emergency medicine. My research is in tandem with many healthcare providers, patients, and educators through the volunteer group, Graphic Medicine. With this project, we aim to create an […]
Nathan Lin
The increasing threat of devastating wildfires in California has sparked interest in improving forest management, initiating work with indigenous tribes to integrate traditional knowledge with modern practices such as prescribed burning and mechanical fuel reduction. The efficacy of these techniques has previously been studied, but less is known about their effects on invertebrate communities. To address this, the Will lab has an ongoing, 4-year sampling project in the San Vicente Redwoods, studying how ground-dwelling arthropods are affected by different levels of mechanical treatment. I will characterize the beetle community in […]
Morgan Apolonio
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis) is a fast-growing unicellular photosynthetic microorganism comprising a potential cell factory for the generation of bioactive compounds, therapeutic proteins, and biofuels. Fusion constructs of recombinant proteins with the CpcB β-subunit of the light-harvesting phycocyanin in Synechocystis has enabled the over-expression of proteins of interest up to 10-20% of the total cellular protein. I will use human interferon α-2 protein (IFN), a human immunoprotein that protects cells from infection, as a case study of over-expression and downstream signal processing of IFN. One problem in the biosynthesis […]
Rachel Arakawa
The four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1-4) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are among the most prevalent mosquito-borne flaviviruses worldwide. These viruses pose major public health challenges across various regions of the globe, with DENV infecting up to 390 million individuals yearly and resulting in an estimated 96 million cases worldwide. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic infections to dengue fever (DF) and severe outcomes such as dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS), which can be fatal if untreated. Interestingly, we have found that a first ZIKV infection increases the risk of DHF/DSS […]
Sona Asatryan
Every 40 seconds, someone in the US experiences a stroke. Ischemic stroke triggers a stress response in the body, inducing hyperglycemia which exacerbates outcomes following stroke. One mechanism by which hyperglycemia worsens stroke symptoms is by fueling NADPH oxidase-2 (NOX2) activity, producing superoxide and increasing cellular damage through oxidative stress. Inhibiting NOX2 activity may serve as a potential treatment. While hyperglycemia after stroke is common, its treatment with insulin is not a viable option due to the risk of developing hypoglycemia. Therefore, a thorough investigation of hyperglycemia after stroke is […]
Rachel Bai
Rising temperatures due to climate change pose a serious threat to global crop production. Understanding the plant heat stress response is therefore critical to the fight against climate change. Heat stress is a major stressor of plants, disrupting nearly every part of normal plant function with effects ranging from reduced photosynthetic efficiency to premature cell death. Importin-βs, a family of nuclear transport receptors that shuttle cargo between the nucleus and cytoplasm, are essential in many plant cellular processes, including stress response, immunity, and development. While some Arabidopsis importin-βs are known […]
Annette Bennett
My research explores the connection between dopamine, a key neurotransmitter involved in learning and reward, and operant conditioning. Using zebra finches as a model organism, the study investigates how manipulating dopamine levels affects learning outcomes. By modulating neural activity, we examine whether changes in dopamine impact response times and accuracy in operant conditioning tasks. The findings could shed light on the neural mechanisms behind reward-based learning and contribute to advancements in cognitive and behavioral therapies. The results will provide valuable insights into the role of dopamine in learning and behavior, […]
Sohaib Butt
Studies have shown that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) establishes lifelong infection in 50% of the human population. One reason for its success in infection of host cells is its ability to evade immune responses, which is what a large majority of herpesvirus genomes are devoted to: evading the immune response. An immune evasion tactic identified by our lab is ERAP protein downregulation, an aminopeptidase required for peptide trimming prior to loading on MHC-I. ERAP protein is essential for antigen processing and recognition of infected cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), cells […]