Arthropod Toxins Used to Engineer Mosquito-Killing Fungi
By Caleb Sooknanan ’20 Mosquitoes are known to transmit potent diseases — particularly malaria and dengue fever — among humans. The impact of these diseases is most apparent in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 200 million cases of malaria are reported annually. Many disease control programs in the region have used broad-spectrum insecticides to eliminate mosquitoes and reduce the spread of vector-borne diseases. However, malarial mosquitoes … Continue reading Arthropod Toxins Used to Engineer Mosquito-Killing Fungi
Parent and child cortisol levels show concordance in certain conditions
Aaradhana Natarajan, 2020 The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, or HPA axis, is a neuroendocrine pathway that is linked to emotional functioning and health. Researchers at the University of Maryland College Park, led by Dr. Stephanie Merwin, recently investigated whether or not the HPA axis functioning of a child showed correlation to that of their parents. They accounted for both the child’s temperament and parent’s psychological history in … Continue reading Parent and child cortisol levels show concordance in certain conditions
Perinatally acquired HIV associated with lower regional grey matter volume
Aaradhana Natarajan, 2020 The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, commonly called HIV, is one of the most widespread immune disorders across the globe. It weakens the immune system by reducing lymphocyte count and increasing susceptibility to other diseases. While it is most commonly known for its transmissibility, it is also possible for HIV-positive pregnant women to pass on the infection to their offspring. This form of HIV … Continue reading Perinatally acquired HIV associated with lower regional grey matter volume
Sleep disturbances may play a role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis
Aaradhana Natarajan, 2020 Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative condition that has recently become a popular focus for research. As a result, scientists are now aware that the accumulation of amyloid-β-peptide oligomers (AβOs) play a central role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis. However, the effect of sleep disturbances on Alzheimer’s risk is relatively underknown. This knowledge gap spurred Dr. Grasielle Kincheski and her team at the Federal University … Continue reading Sleep disturbances may play a role in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis
A Potential Mechanism Explaining Tactile Defensiveness in Autism
By Anna Tarasova ’19 Hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli is frequently an aspect of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and can lead to defensiveness against touch and other sensory stimuli. This can contribute to hyperactivity and lead to inattention, learning difficulties, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and many other symptoms of autism. Although the mechanism of this phenomenon has long been unknown, Dr. Cynthia He and her colleagues at … Continue reading A Potential Mechanism Explaining Tactile Defensiveness in Autism
Determining a Mechanism for Nervous System Lupus
By Anna Tarasova ’19 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an uncommon but debilitating autoimmune disease that is accompanied by psychiatric and neurological symptoms in 75% of cases. SLE with these neuropsychiatric symptoms that include depression, anxiety, and seizures is known as CNS lupus. The mechanism behind CNS lupus has long been a mystery. Dr. Allison Bialas and her team analyzed SLE progression in a lupus-prone … Continue reading Determining a Mechanism for Nervous System Lupus
New Discoveries in Fetal Immune Response Capacity
By Anna Tarasova ’19 The immune system of a fetus differs significantly from that of an infant or adult. During the second trimester of pregnancy, a fetus’s immune system is able to recognize antigens, or foreign cells, and conduct an immune response using dendritic cells. Dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells (APC), which means that they place antigens along with specific receptors on their cell surface … Continue reading New Discoveries in Fetal Immune Response Capacity
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Oil Removal
Meghan Bialt-DeCelie ’19 One of the costliest processes in oil and gas production is safe disposal of produced water. This water contains tiny amounts of oil that are difficult to separate and make water unsafe for the environment. Traditional methods such as gravitational separation of oil are costly and are not reliable for removing the tiny droplets of oil that remain in the water, making … Continue reading Magnetic Nanoparticles for Oil Removal
How Far the Penguins Should March
Meghan Bialt-DeCelie ’19 The effects of Global Climate Change can dramatically alter the environment as well as the organisms which inhabit it. One species that is particularly affected by climate change is the emperor penguin (EP), so much so that researchers from the Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) believe they should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. The random and unpredictable nature of climate … Continue reading How Far the Penguins Should March
That Buzzing Noise
Meghan Bialt-DeCelie ’19 Bees play a critical role in crop survival. Because of this, farmers and scientists must always stay ahead by following patterns in their behavior to quickly manage and appropriately respond to complications in their population growth. Acoustic analysis of organisms is not a new concept; however, it is not often used on insects. Researchers led by Nicole Miller-Struttmann PhD from Webster University … Continue reading That Buzzing Noise
Compound Found In Olive Oil Found to Prevent Cancer
By Rideeta Raquib MicroRNAs or miRs are small non-coding RNAs that guide gene regulation, such as the expression of their target mRNAs in a complex with ribucleoproteins called miRNPs. Inhibition of translation or a decrease in mRNA can cause miR-mediated downregulation of gene expression. Deregulation of microRNAs is associated with development of pathological illnesses including cancer. A potential tumor suppressor, miR-7, is regulated at both … Continue reading Compound Found In Olive Oil Found to Prevent Cancer
Infant Teeth Reveal Metal Exposure Correlates with Autism
By Rideeta Raquib Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a classification of developmental disabilities characterized by changes in social communication, as well as repetitive and restricted patterns of behavior or interests. Approximately 50 percent of ASD risk is linked to genetics and the rest is attributed to environmental factors, including fetal or early childhood exposure to toxic metals and nutrient deficiencies. Researchers from The Senator … Continue reading Infant Teeth Reveal Metal Exposure Correlates with Autism
