Stander Symposium abstract book - University of Dayton

9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
important during the events of freezing and thawing, and are dependent upon the expression and function of HC-3, an ortholog of the aquaglyceroporin
AQP3. Erythrocytes of H. chrysoscelis cultured for 48 hrs in media made hyperosmotic (400 mOsM) through the addition of 150 mM
glycerol or urea showed enhanced HC-3 glycosylation and membrane localization compared to those cultured in control or hypertonic media (250
mOsM culture media + 150 mM sorbitol or 75 mM NaCl). Cultured erythrocytes transferred from hyperosmotic culture media (glycerol or urea) to
a hypotonic solution containing 250 mM glycerol or urea underwent a series of shape changes as they swelled, initially elongating, then becoming
swollen and round. Cells cultured in hypertonic media (sorbitol or NaCl) responded with significantly less osmotically-induced swelling (i.e. cell
shape change). When aquaporins were blocked by HgCl2, cells retained normal dimensions, indicating the importance of aquaporins in conferring
water and solute permeability in these cells. Funding for this research was provided through an NSF Research Grant IOS-1121457 and University
of Dayton Graduate Summer Fellowship support.
Comparison of Biofilm Growth on Lonicera maackii and Prunus serotina in a stream
environment using Fluorescent Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy
Presenter(s): Anastasia I Stolz
Advisor(s): Ryan W McEwan
Biology - Independent Research
Lonicera maackii, or Bush Honeysuckle is an invasive plant that is becoming quite the problem in parts of Ohio. The leaf litter of L. maackii ends up
in the streams, replacing the leaf litter from native species which microorganisms within the stream use for food. This experiment was preformed
to observe the differences in biofilm growth on the leaf litter of Lonicera maackii and the native plant, Prunus serotina, or black cherry, using Scanning
Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fluorescence Microscopy. Samples of Amur Honeysuckle and black cherry leaves were collected and placed
in leaf bags, then left in the stream for biofilm to develop for 3 days. After this time had elapsed, the samples were collected and prepared for
microscopy. Once prepared, the leaves were observed using fluorescent microscopy and SEM. The samples were then compared to prepared fresh
leaf samples of the two species, then compared to each other. It was observed that the biofilm growth on Lonicera maackii was noticeably more
developed than the biofilm growth on Prunus serotina. It was also observed that the hairiness of the L. maackii leaves was a determining factor
in the growth of biofilm. This was likely the reason why the biofilm developed better on the hairy L. maackii rather than the flat P. serotina. This
result also suggests that the introduction of L. maackii into a stream has an effect on a stream ecosystem.
Comparison of Notophthalamus viridescens Transposon Expression in the Dorsal and
Ventral Iris during Lens Regeneration
Presenter(s): Glenna M Knape
Advisor(s): Panagiotis A Tsonis
Biology - Honors Thesis
The Eastern Newt, Notophthalamus viridescens, has regenerative abilities. This study delved into the ability of the newt to regenerate the lens
of its eye from the iris following a lentectomy surgery. To regenerate, the dorsal and ventral regions of the iris dedifferentiate and proliferate, yet
only the dorsal iris redifferentes to create a lens, rather than both the dorsal and ventral iris. Several candidate transposons, or sections of viral
DNA incorporated into another organism’s genome, were selected from a transcriptome to study. In order to compare the differences between the
dorsal and ventral irises, the candidate genes’ expression levels were monitored in regenerating lens at 0, 4, and 8 day time points following the
surgery. The expression levels were compared to determine whether they are correlated with the regenerative ability. A further understanding of
the newt’s regenerative abilities as a model organism could lead to groundbreaking advances in regenerative biology and medicine.
defective proventriculus (dve), a new member of DV patterning in the eye.
Presenter(s): Oorvashi Roy G Puli
Advisor(s): Amit Singh
Biology - Graduate Research
Axial patterning is crucial to eye development. During eye development, Dorso-ventral (DV) axis determination is the first lineage restriction
event. The early eye primordium begins with the default ventral fate on which the dorsal eye fate is established by expression of a GATA-1 transcription
factor, pannier (pnr). Loss-of-Function (LOF) of pnr results in dorsal eye enlargements and antennal duplications in adult flies. We found
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