Stander Symposium abstract book - University of Dayton

ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Reprogramming Fibroblasts into Stem Cell like Cells
Presenter(s): Christopher J Kovaleski
Advisor(s): Yiling Hong
Biology
4:00 PM-4:20 PM
Honors Thesis Kennedy Union - 211
Stem cells are a unique type of cell that have the ability to renew themselves through cell division and to differentiate into specialized cells (giving
rise to the specific cells of the developed human body). Consequently, stem cells have potential to serve as therapeutic treatment because of
their ability to differentiate into specialized new tissue. This project is to identify a novel approach to derive pluripotent stem cells from fibroblasts
through chemical treatments. These fibroblast cells will be converted from an elongated fibroblastic appearance to stem cell like cells using a
combination of proteins and chemicals (RG 108, (R)-(+)-Bay K 8644, BIX 01294, and Trichostatin A). The converted stem cell like cells have been
characterized with stem cell factor expressions that distinguish stem cells from differentiated somatic cells.
The role of diet and sex in the gustatory behavioral responses of the blow fly, Lucilia
sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae), to decomposition-related amino acids
Presenter(s): Allissa M Blystone
Advisor(s): Karolyn M Hansen
Biology
4:00 PM-4:20 PM
Graduate Research Kennedy Union - 312
Blow fly members of the family Calliphoridae, specifically Lucilia sericata, are important to forensic investigations by aiding in the determination
of a post-mortem interval, or the time elapsed since the expiration of a living organism. Decomposing organic material is a source of nourishment
and is key to the normal development of the blow fly; without a nutritive source the eggs will often fail to hatch, and the larvae will fail to
pupate. Nutrition is not only vital for proper larval development, but also for physiological maintenance in adults. Attracted to the volatile organic
compounds (smells) released by decaying material, L. sericata will alter its behavior to fly towards the decaying source of protein. It is known that
a protein meal is essential for sexual maturation in female blow flies, but the nutritional role in males has yet to be determined although it is typical
to find both males and females near and on decomposing material. Seeking to understand the role sex and nutrition in the attraction of blow
flies to different nutritive sources, and building on previous research that shows a sex difference in the gustatory response of the blow flies, both
male and female adult blow flies were raised from emergence on diets of either honey-water only, or honey-water and a broad-spectrum protein
source (bovine liver) after which the flies were then offered a meal of decomposition-related amino acids to determine if diet affects behavior. Six
decomposition-related amino acids and two sugar sources (in water) were tested for gustatory response, utilizing the proboscis extension reflex
(PER) assay to determine differences in the behavior of the sexes associated with the stimulus. Results demonstrated that there are statistically
significant age-, sex-, and diet-related differences associated with olfactory attraction to and gustatory interest in the amino acids and sugars
tested.
CHEMISTRY
Nickel, copper, and zinc centered ruthenium substituted porphyrins: Effect of transition
metals on photoinduced DNA cleavage and photoinduced melanoma cell toxicity
Presenter(s): Patrick J Sweigert
Advisor(s): Yiling Hong, Shawn M Swavey
Chemistry
2:20 PM-2:40 PM
Honors Thesis Kennedy Union - 311
Synthesis and electrochemical properties of a diruthenium porphyrin complex and three subsequent complexes with nickel(II), copper(II), and
zinc(II) ions inserted into the porphyrin center are outlined and characterized. DNA titrations of the complexes indicate that they interact strongly
with DNA potentially through an intercalation mechanism. Irradiation of aqueous solutions of the complexes and supercoiled DNA shows nicking
of the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA for the nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes and complete photocleavage for the zinc(II) complex. Cell
studies with dermal skin (normal) fibroblast and melanoma cells indicate the free base porphyrin is toxic to both normal and melanoma cells,
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