Friday April 26, 2024
12:00-1:00pm, Digital Auditorium
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Coral reconstruction of the last 200 years climate in the central Pacific
By Ainsley Lord Faculty Mentor: Dr. Grothe Abstract The central tropical Pacific is a major driving force for global climate variability due to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). However, it is unclear how this region is responding to human-induced climate change, which is critical to understand considering how this region may drive future impacts…
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Deciphering Therapeutic Potential: Functional Annotation of Bacillus Phage Jabberwock Proteins in Biochemistry of Proteins
By Elizabeth Sullivan and Brooke Johnson Faculty Mentor: Swati Agrawal Abstract Nearly eight million individuals succumb to bacterial infections annually, positioning it as the second leading cause of death worldwide. As bacterial resistance to antibiotics continues to rise, research on bacteriophages has emerged as a valuable alternative in mitigating fatalities caused by bacterial pathogens. Characterized…
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Determination of the Dihydrogen Potential Energy Curve using Computational Chemistry
By Willow Candage, Charlea Kimbleton, Owen White Faculty Mentor: Leanna Giancarlo Abstract The bond length and bond dissociation energy for a molecule play an important role in the thermodynamic properties of that molecule. Both the equilibrium bond length and the bond dissociation energy of a molecule can be determined from its potential energy curve. One…
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Determining the Relationship Between Bond Energy and Bond Length Using Computational Chemistry
By Ksenia Mangino, Catherine Nguyen Faculty Mentor: Leanna Giancarlo Abstract Computational chemistry is used to simulate experiments that cannot be performed in a lab setting. In the case of bond energy, one could simply assume an average/optimal bond length; however, the length of the bond realistically oscillates and affects bond energy as shown theoretically by…
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Drug Development Targeting KasA in M. tuberculosis
By Megan Baxter Faculty Mentor: Davis Oldham Abstract Tuberculosis is a highly infectious disease affecting the lungs and respiratory system caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). As one of the most dangerous lung diseases, recent studies have found existing treatments to become resistant and call for new treatments. Research involving the inhibition of KasA (β-ketoacyl…
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Effect of Lithium Chloride Against NDV in BHK-21 Cells
By Aisling Berrios Faculty Mentor: Lynn Lewis Abstract Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is a severe and fatal disease to poultry, causing widespread economic losses for both industries and private farms. With the search for treatment continuing, this research project aims to uncover the antiviral properties of the antipsychotic drug, lithium chloride, for treatment against NDV…
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Effect of Proton Pump Inhibitors on the Growth of Jurkat T Lymphocytes
By Emma Jones, Caroline Sampson Faculty Mentor: Randall Reif Abstract Proton pump inhibitors, or PPI’s, have been shown to be toxic to Jurkat T lymphocytes, but it is unknown whether this is due to apoptosis, programmed cell death, or simply ceasing of growth. PPI’s kill cancer cells by inhibiting the movement of H+ (protons) out…
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Effect of Water Conditions on Great Blue Heron Distribution and Fishing Success in the Rappahannock River Fall Line Rapids
By Carly Radgowski, Thalia Sabit, Evan Kupsky Faculty Mentor: Andrew Dolby Abstract The Rappahannock River serves as a habitat for many animal species. It is essential for migratory fish, such as Hickory Shad, and various piscivorous birds use the rapids to catch them, including Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorants, and Osprey. Monitoring birds’ usage of…
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Effect of Water Level on Cercarial Infection in Freshwater Snails
By Morgan Hicok Faculty Mentor: Abbie Tomba Abstract Flatworms are internal parasites with complex, multi-host lifecycles. Most infect freshwater snails as their first intermediate host. The presence of flatworms allows us to draw conclusions about stream health and functioning, and serves as an ecological indicator. This study addresses water level and flow in relation to…
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Effects of pH and Temperature Change on Calcium Ion Transport Mutants of Toxoplasma gondii
By Ashley Smith, Beliyu Habtemariam, Caitlin Harris, Paul James Solis Faculty Mentor: Professor Swati Agrawal Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can cause fatal infection in immunocompromised individuals, stillbirth and miscarriage in pregnant women, and congenital birth defects in infants. According to the CDC, around 800,000 individuals are infected by T.…
