Preparing students for doctoral studies

Student Profiles

Maria Teresa Almanza

Maria Teresa Almanza '24

Hometown: Simi Valley, CA

Major: Biological Sciences

Minor: Public Health & Sociology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Abdelsayed

Research Title: Mango Froyo: A synthetic fluorescent RNA Thermometer

Research Abstract: While RNA has been heavily researched in the field of science, RNA thermometers are historically understudied. An RNA thermometer is a molecule of non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression. Bacteria are able to adapt to a wide range of both environments and temperatures. RNA thermometers (RNATs) control gene expression at the translational level. RNA thermometers enable the bacteria to respond quickly to heat and cold shock conditions through changes in RNA structure. The specific RNA thermometer that our research will be focused on, is a hybrid thermometer known as Mango Froyo. A synthetic hybrid was made with a known RNA thermometer, called blyA, combined with an aptamer called RNA Mango. In cold temperatures, the ribosome binding site is unavailable because of the thermometer’s rigid structure, but with added heat, the thermometer opens up and allows the ribosome to bind. The conical ligand for the mango aptamer is TO-1. The TO-1 dye only fluoresces when bound to the Mango aptamer. Our specific aim is to develop and test a synthetic platform of a thermometer that provides fluorescent feedback in response to a change in expression. We aim to characterize Mango Froyo by using various methods known to the biochemistry field, including PCR reactions, fluorescence assays, and beta-galactosidase assays. The main result that was found during our research was that we were able to validate the thermometer function. To study the synthetic fluorescent RNA thermometer Mango Froyo would bring great significance for research and clinical implications. Future researchers can use the synthetic tool, an RNA thermometer, to regulate gene expression and to control and track RNA expression upon heat induction."

Andrea Banks

Andrea Banks '25

Hometown: Simi Valley, CA

Major: Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Abdelsayed

Research Title: Mango Froyo: A synthetic fluorescent RNA Thermometer

Research Abstract: While RNA has been heavily researched in the field of science, RNA thermometers are historically understudied. An RNA thermometer is a molecule of non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression. Bacteria are able to adapt to a wide range of both environments and temperatures. RNA thermometers (RNATs) control gene expression at the translational level. RNA thermometers enable the bacteria to respond quickly to heat and cold shock conditions through changes in RNA structure. The specific RNA thermometer that our research will be focused on, is a hybrid thermometer known as Mango Froyo. A synthetic hybrid was made with a known RNA thermometer, called blyA, combined with an aptamer called RNA Mango. In cold temperatures, the ribosome binding site is unavailable because of the thermometer’s rigid structure, but with added heat, the thermometer opens up and allows the ribosome to bind. The conical ligand for the mango aptamer is TO-1. The TO-1 dye only fluoresces when bound to the Mango aptamer. Our specific aim is to develop and test a synthetic platform of a thermometer that provides fluorescent feedback in response to a change in expression. We aim to characterize Mango Froyo by using various methods known to the biochemistry field, including PCR reactions, fluorescence assays, and beta-galactosidase assays. The main result that was found during our research was that we were able to validate the thermometer function. To study the synthetic fluorescent RNA thermometer Mango Froyo would bring great significance for research and clinical implications. Future researchers can use the synthetic tool, an RNA thermometer, to regulate gene expression and to control and track RNA expression upon heat induction."

Alyssa Castellanos

Alyssa Castellanos '25

Hometown: Simi Valley, CA

Major: Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Abdelsayed

Research Title:  RNA Thermometer in front of Rose DEAD/DEAH Helicase

Research Abstract:RNA thermometers are a temperature-sensitive non-coding RNA molecule that regulate gene expression through either heat shock or cold shock response. RNA thermometers are temperature sensitive, at cold temperatures the ribosome binding (RBS) site is trapped, translation of mRNA is turned off. Upon heat induction, the RBS is available and translation is on. The Rose DEAD/DEAH box helicase gene has a potential RNA thermometer in the 5’ untranslated region (5’-UTR). The ROSE DEAD/DEAH box helicase contributes to innate immune signaling and remodels misfolded RNA structures.  The purpose of this study is to test the predicted RNA thermometer in front of the Rose DEAD/DEAH box helicase gene to see if more protein can be produced upon heat induction, changing the gene expression. To observe these effects, we designed a specific thermometer sequence, performed PCR tests, Hifi assembly cloning, and performed Beta-galactosidase assays. Beta-galactosidase assays suggest that successful results will show increased enzymatic activity, proving that there is more beta-galactosidase present due to temperature. The more beta-galactosidase present will prove that the RNA thermometer is working with heat change. Although the proposed ROSE… was successfully cloned, the sequence used was not the full sequence necessary to correctly test the 5’UTR . Future experiments involving beta-galactosidase assays will be necessary to determine preliminary findings. Findings reflected the control group and future directions will include obtaining a new sequence and performing triplicates."

Olivia Chee

Olivia Chee '23

Hometown: Camarillo, CA

Major: Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Marcey

Research Title: Investigating a Novel Transgene’s Insertion Site in Drosophila melanogaster

Research Abstract:Comprehending the mechanisms behind gene expression and its regulation plays a vital role in unraveling the intricate processes occurring within living organisms. Drosophila melanogaster's genome has been extensively studied through a multitude of transgenesis experiments made possible by the introduction of transgenes. Swoosh (SW) is a novel expression pattern of a white+ (w+) transgene in Drosophila melanogaster being studied in the Marcey laboratory. The SW phenotype displays w+ low-level expression throughout the eye with a band of high-level expression along the D-V equator, with adjacent curving. This expression pattern suggests that the transgene has fallen under the transcriptional control of a nearby important developmental gene that is expressed equatorially. The equator is an important signaling center during eye development. We are molecularly mapping the insertion site of the w+ transgene in order to search for this putative developmental regulator in nearby genomic sequences.

Our objective is to isolate and determine the precise genomic coordinates of the SW, w+ transgene, along with its surrounding DNA, in order to comprehend its potential interaction with a gene of developmental importance indicated by the transgene's equatorial expression. To explore genes that may influence the expression of the SW transgene, bioinformatic analysis of SW will be performed, using w+ primers and PCR with genomic DNA obtained from genetic lines containing SW. The aim of this research is to further enhance our understanding of epigenetic control, the molecular mechanisms involved in development, and the modification of gene expression in genetically engineered organisms."

Anthony Delgadillo Salas

Anthony Delgadillo Salas '25

Hometown: Oxnard, CA

Major: Environmental Science & Spanish

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert Dull

Research Title:  Macroscopic Charcoal Analysis of the Mayan Cultural-Ecological Landscape in Laguna Cuzcachapa, El Salvador

Research Abstract:El Salvador is historically identified with high rates of ecological degradation, both in prehistoric and modern times. The most striking paleoecological record of anthropogenic environmental change produced to date is from Laguna Cuzcachapa, a small lake 650 meters from the famous Mayan archaeological site of Tazumal. The Maya were revolutionary with Mesoamerican grandeur and social stratification. As a result, prior studies from Laguna Cuzcachapa have identified layers of microscopic charcoal together with pollen from crops including maize. Reported here is a 3700-year record of fire history, which spans the period from the Maya Preclassic through the Postclassic and continues through the 20th century. During this nearly 4000-year period, evidence of human impacts is represented except during two significant periods of demographic collapse: The Tierra Blanca Joven Eruption in 539/40 CE and the European Settlement in the early 1500s. After the TBJ Eruption, it resulted in a demographic collapse which decreased fire rates. Once populations increased, the European Settlement began which brought pandemics to the Maya resulting in another demographic collapse. After the European settlements enacted fire suppression strategies, there were fewer rates of fire. Chalchuapa, El Salvador has undergone anthropogenic changes in its environment, and human-induced wildfires, supported by macroscopic charcoal records, indicate that Mayan settlements assisted with ecological degradation before modern times.Future studies include macroscopic charcoal and pollen analysis in Laguneta El Trapiche, El Salvador. Having both macroscopic charcoal and pollen records in Laguneta El Trapiche will enhance the paleoecological records of Chalchuapa, El Salvador."

Rob Frye

Rob Frye '24

Hometown: Pacoima, CA

Major: Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Abdelsayed

Research Title: DNA Aptamers and Cloning

Research Abstract:Discovery of a novel synthetic DNA aptamer that binds to TO1-Biotin through in vitro selection, a constant process where a DNA pool undergoes a selection process to find a sequence that binds to the target, TO1."

Anthony Garay

Anthony Garay '24

Hometown: Moorpark, CA

Major: Biochemistry 

Minor: Public Health

Faculty Mentor: Dr. David Marcey

Research Title:  Molecularly Mapping the Insertion Site of a Transgene with a Novel Expression in the Eye of Drosophila melanogaster

Research Abstract:Understanding gene expression and its regulation is crucial for unraveling the complexities of biological processes in organisms. The genome of Drosophila melanogaster has been the target of a multitude of transgenesis experiments since transformation via transgenes became available.

The white+ (w+) transgene has commonly served as a reporter due to its ability to facilitate the identification of transformed organisms. In a genetic background where individuals exhibit a white-eye phenotype (white-), the expression of the w+ transgene allows for the quick identification of transformed organisms, which display a red pigment phenotype in the eye. Interestingly, the expression of the transgene is variable in transformed flies, with expression patterns being affected by genomic location, epigenetic status, and regulation by genes in the area of insertion. Our transgene of interest, deemed Racing Stripe (RS), is expressed along the dorsal ventral midline, “equator” region and important developmental signaling center of the Drosophila eye.

Our objective is to isolate and determine the precise genomic coordinates of the RS, w+ transgene and its flanking DNA, to understand its potential interaction with a developmentally important gene indicated by RS's equatorial expression. We will conduct bioinformatic analysis to explore genes that influence RS transgene expression. A forensic analysis of RS will be conducted using w+ primers and PCR with genomic DNA from RS-containing genetic lines. The work aims to further elucidate the nature of epigenetic control, molecular mechanisms of development, and gene expression modification in genetically engineered organisms."

Estefani Gutierrez

Estefani Gutierrez '24

Hometown: Moorpark, CA

Major: Psychology

Minor: Financial Planning & Spanish

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Andrea Sell

Research Title: Perception of CEO vs AI in the workplace 

Research Abstract: “As new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), start to be implemented into the workplace it makes many tasks much faster to do, creating a change in how leadership manages and communicates with the organization. In any organization a critical component is leadership since it brings a direct and indirect impact to the performance of employees, (Kalsoom, Khan, Zubair 2018). Since AI is still new, there has not been much research done on the perception employers have when leadership uses AI to communicate with them. As AI starts making the jobs easier for people with simple everyday tasks like writing emails, essays or texts, it can lead to people feeling skeptical about the use of it. This study was conducted to test the perception people have when a CEO uses an AI to send out an email about budget cuts and layoffs that are going to occur to the company. Specifically, this study aims to see the perception people will have of the CEO regarding the CEOs openness, credibility, and care for their employees and the employee’s confidence in leadership. To test this, I did a survey with three different groups all being shown the same email written by an AI but with some deception they were told a CEO, a communication team or AI wrote the email. The key hypothesis is that when the CEO communicates through an email written through AI, they will show negative feelings towards the CEO. Further research can be done to test how AI can help the workplace environment be more efficient and stress free."

Daisy Juan de Dios

Daisy Juan de Dios '24

Hometown: Oxnard, CA

Major: Psychology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amanda ElBassiouny

Research Title: Understanding The Mental and Physical Health Outcomes of Mexican Farm Workers in Southern California

Research Abstract:This research covers the understanding of mental and physical health outcomes of Mexican farmworkers. They may be going through a psychological and physical battle due to the low advocacy, harsh work environments, discrimination, stressors and the quality of healthcare the farmworkers receive.  Since previous studies explored these outcomes in Latinx farmers, mostly on the east coast, however little is known about Mexican farmworkers in Southern California.  In this study, interviews will be conducted in Spanish one-on-one with residential and H-2A Mexican farmworkers. The same script will be used for all interviews, that includes qualitative and quantitative measures. For quantitative measures, descriptive statistics will be performed on stress, anxiety and depression scales. For qualitative measures, content analysis will be performed on all interview questions related to their work and coping with the stressors related to it to identify major themes. It is expected that Mexican farmworkers experience high levels of anxiety, depression and stress, where many tend to categorize it all as stress. Also a lack of coping skills when it comes to dealing with “stress” may lead workers to overwork themselves because of it. At the end of the study, we will be making recommendations to help their health outcomes and ways of coping with stress."

Monica Lopez

Monica Lopez '25

Hometown: Simi Valley, CA

Major: Biological Sciences & Spanish

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Michael Abdelsayed

Research Title: Mango Froyo: A synthetic fluorescent RNA Thermometer

Research Abstract: While RNA has been heavily researched in the field of science, RNA thermometers are historically understudied. An RNA thermometer is a molecule of non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression. Bacteria are able to adapt to a wide range of both environments and temperatures. RNA thermometers (RNATs) control gene expression at the translational level. RNA thermometers enable the bacteria to respond quickly to heat and cold shock conditions through changes in RNA structure. The specific RNA thermometer that our research will be focused on, is a hybrid thermometer known as Mango Froyo. A synthetic hybrid was made with a known RNA thermometer, called blyA, combined with an aptamer called RNA Mango. In cold temperatures, the ribosome binding site is unavailable because of the thermometer’s rigid structure, but with added heat, the thermometer opens up and allows the ribosome to bind. The conical ligand for the mango aptamer is TO-1. The TO-1 dye only fluoresces when bound to the Mango aptamer. Our specific aim is to develop and test a synthetic platform of a thermometer that provides fluorescent feedback in response to a change in expression. We aim to characterize Mango Froyo by using various methods known to the biochemistry field, including PCR reactions, fluorescence assays, and beta-galactosidase assays. The main result that was found during our research was that we were able to validate the thermometer function. To study the synthetic fluorescent RNA thermometer Mango Froyo would bring great significance for research and clinical implications. Future researchers can use the synthetic tool, an RNA thermometer, to regulate gene expression and to control and track RNA expression upon heat induction."

Cassandra Macias

Cassandra Macias '25

Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA

Major: Chemistry & Environmental Science

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert Dull

Research Title: Evaluating the California Fire Gap through High Energy Sedimentary Deposits In Carpinteria Salt Marsh

Research Abstract:Abundance of natural resources have attracted humans to Southern California coastal ecosystems over thousands of years. Before European settlement, native Chumash communities used fire in their hunting practices and to manage their land. After colonization of California in the late 18th century by the Spanish, the Chumash were introduced to European agricultural and pastoral traditions. The Chumash may have had knowledge of Native American agriculture even if they did not practice it. Therefore, native land use practices were discouraged after colonization. As a result, native use of fire was drastically diminished by the early 20th century, which coincided with the implementation of active fire suppression policies statewide. Consequently, paleofire records from across the state record a major drop in wildfire between 1850 and 1900. This fire gap lasted over a century and only in recent decades has California witnessed a resurgence of wildfires. The Thomas fire of 2017 burned 281,893 acres in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Only a winter later, the area was victim to major mass wasting events such as debris flows and mudslides. The Carpinteria salt marsh is a rare sedimentary archive of past environmental changes, including wildfires, storm events, droughts, floods, etc. High energy deposits, such as sand layers, have been identified in core samples. The origins of these deposits have been speculated to be from one of two sources: 1) marine sands washed over the marsh from ocean storms; and 2) sediments of terrestrial origin deposited on the marsh from the streams channels descending from the Santa Ynez mountains. Our hypothesis is that some of these high energy deposits originate from mass wasting events following large wildfires such as the Thomas fire. The research reported here provides a high resolution record of macroscopic charcoal analysis with the goal of identifying both the historic period fire gap and its impact on high energy sediment deposition in the marsh. The 150cm record (1.6 meter core) demonstrates 2 significant drops at 94cm and 64cm which may represent the post 1850 fire gap identified elsewhere in California. Future work will focus on establishing chronologically by using radiocarbon dating and analysis of sediments from a longer core (2.4 meters) collected in June 9, 2023."

Catherine Ortez Hernandez

Catherine Ortez Hernandez '25

Hometown: El Salvador

Major: Biological Sciences

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Micahel Abdelsayed

Research Title: FourU RNA thermometer as a modulator and activator  of the RNA polymerase sigma-70 Factor  in Escherichia Coli.

Research Abstract:This study investigated the activity of a potential fourU RNA thermometer, upstream of the RNA polymerase Sigma 70 factor, under three distinct temperature conditions (25°, 37°C, and 42°C). This research aims to investigate if the 5’ untranslated region (5’-UTR) of sigma 70 regulates the expression of sigma 70 in a temperature-dependent manner. RNA thermometers are genetic control systems that utilize RNA to detect alterations in temperature. When exposed to lower temperatures, the messenger RNA (mRNA) assumes a specific structure that conceals the ribosome binding site, known as the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence, located within the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR). This structural change effectively obstructs ribosome binding and the subsequent process of translation. The σ70 family of sigma factors is a crucial part of the RNA polymerase, responsible for guiding the bacterial to its specific promoter regions, and initiate transcription.We characterized the impact of temperature increase on the RNA thermometer's functionality by cloning into bacteria cells and testing the expression with a reporter plasmid containing beta-galactosidase. These investigations were performed to explore the implications of RNA thermometers in genomics discovery and elucidate bacterial adaptation mechanisms in response to environmental changes. Initial results demonstrate that the 5’UTR of sigma 70 is an RNA thermometer."

Ashley Pekarek

Ashley Pekarek '24

Hometown: Oxnard, CA

Major: Psychology

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Amanda ElBassiouny

Research Title: The Impact of Gender Identity and Race/Ethnicity on Mock Jurors’ Perceptions of a Sexual Assault Victim and their Decision-Making in Court

Research Abstract:The current study seeks to find how the perceptions and decisions made by mock jurors are influenced by the gender identity and race/ethnicity of the victim of a sexual assault. The purpose is to find if sexual assault victims will be perceived negatively based on their race/ethnicity and gender identity and if the perpetrator will be found less culpable as a result of that. Participants will be selected from a crowdsourcing online platform and presented with one of sixteen vignettes that details a stranger rape with the victim varying in gender (female/male/transgender female/transgender male) and race/ethnicity (Black/Latinx/Indigenous/Arab). Participants will then be asked about their choice of verdict and sentencing of the defendant, perceptions of the victim, emotional reactions towards the victim, and the level of blame that could be attributed to the victim. It is hypothesized that the victims who are Black and transgender female and transgender male will receive the most negative perceptions by participants when compared to the other victims. The results found from this study will be able to illustrate that everyone should have the equal right to justice and are all victims regardless of how they look. Therefore, this could provide a basis for training jurors on implicit bias to reduce inequities in decision-making and perceptions during a trial."

Angel Prado

Angel Prado '24

Hometown: Oxnard, CA

Major: Geosciences

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Robert Dull

Research Title: A Chronicle Of Proxy Histories Beneath Black Lake Pier

Research Abstract:Although the human prehistory of the central coast of California has been relatively well-studied, very few paleoecological records have been produced from this region. The wetlands required for such work include coastal estuaries and freshwater lakes/ponds, which are extremely rare in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The potential for paleoenvironmental analysis of the remaining sites includes evidence of past flora, wildfires, and regional hydrology. The theme of wildfires in California has elicited greater concern over the past decade because of an acceleration in human-induced ecological changes that has fundamentally shifted landscape scale ecological attributes. Considering wildfires alone, the years 2018 to 2022 have already been solidified amidst the worst fire years in California’s recorded history. In fact, the seven largest individual events have occurred within this five-year time frame. This major increase in wildfire activity has come after a well-documented fire “gap” that began with the reduction of active fires in 1850 and was continued by fire suppression policies of the 20th century. The Dune Lakes of San Luis Obispo County, CA are located in what some scientists have termed a “biological hotspot.” Several endangered species only occur in these remnant wetlands. For this study, I report on an 8-meter sediment core from the eastern margin of Black Lake. This site has been gathering remnants of what occurred on its grounds for thousands of years. Reported data include: macroscopic charcoal abundance, Loss on Ignition, magnetic susceptibility, and water content (proxy for density). My results so far indicate that fires are not merely a human caused occurrence in spite of some contributions to their acceleration. Across different eras, fires have occurred on large scales in episodes similar to the revival after our own recent fire gap. I plan to complete a fraction by fraction analysis of a majority of the sediment cores in our possession and use them to construct timelines of ecological activity that ranges from the density of fire growth to the amount of erosional activity that likely brought in deposits. This archive will give important guidance to our collaborators from the US Fish and Wildlife service and endangered species management so that cases can be built on how long these habitats have been active and why these are significant for natural development. It will also potentially help us connect the past hydrology to regional records of drought during the Medieval Climate Anomaly. In contrast to mentioned claims, the actual details are mostly obscure to the present day academia with potential evidence present amidst its growth and water. By using Black Lake Pier as a point of focus, we can add new light to the once obscure chronology and use the relative sediment layers to construct a fire history archive. In order to achieve this objective, the main method of analysis revolved around collecting cores who's finer details can be narrated in a backwards order. These cores would be sectioned out, cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, and looked under a microscope to count charcoal fragments from past fires. If recent events are an indication, the largest fires would have left large quantities of charcoal per focused section. While the entire collections do need time for overall analysis, what has been understood is that the methodology chosen for charcoal is a suitable direction as mentioned by Megan K of the University of Hawaii. Granted this is the first known recording of its kind using Black Lake proxies, it still doesn't take away from the significance of gaining new certainty of a region's activities that can likely relate to more areas. As for the future of this endeavor, I do believe there can be further analysis taken with these particular sediment layers in more than just fire densities. There is also MA for erosion rates and LOI for floral growths, both of which can be built alongside previous records and see if these layouts are something that land management should aim for."

Daniela Rodriguez

Daniela Rodriguez '25

Hometown: Santa Paula, CA

Major: Biological Sciences & Spanish

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Michael Abdelsayed

Research Title:FourU RNA thermometer in TetR family transcriptional regulator C-terminal domain-containing protein

Research Abstract:Ribonucleic acid thermometers are RNA sequences that are temperature sensitive and help regulate gene expression. Typically, RNA thermometers undergo a confirmational change upon heat stress, resulting in an upregulation of a gene downstread of the thermometer sequence. The TetR-family of transcriptional regulators (TFTRs) are a large family of signal transduction proteins that are implicated in the regulation of many processes, including cell division and the stress response in cells. In this study, we used a FourU RNA thermometer to analyze the effect it has on gene expression with the TetR family transcriptional regulator C-terminal domain-containing protein. We used PCR, HIFI assembly, Beta-galactosidase assay, and cloning to undergo this experiment. Preliminary results indicate and increase in expression in response to heat induction. This is presumably due to the zipper-like melting of a motif containing the ribosome binding site (RBS). Overall, this helps us with further development of antibiotic resistance through gene regulation."

Maia Sable

Maia Sable '24

Hometown: Glendora, CA

Major: Psychology

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Nicole Talarico

Research Title: Perceptions of Older Adults in the Health and Fitness Industry

Research Abstract:Past research in the health and fitness industry has shown that in order to increase one's life span, exercise is vital to maintain health and increase quality of life. However, despite increases in longevity and productivity into older age, older adults are stigmatized and portrayed in a negative light causing them to experience discrimination and ageism. Therefore, it is important to understand how contextual priming impacts perception and implicit ageism among people in late adulthood. It is also important to understand how older adults perceive themselves and if implicit ageism exists within their own population. Lastly, it is beneficial to understand gender differences present within the fitness industry and how they could affect older individuals. In this study, participants will be recruited through several locations in the Ventura and Los Angeles areas. Participants will also be recruited through social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. In addition, a sample of traditional undergraduate students will also be recruited through the California Lutheran University SONA system for the undergraduate psychology department. After providing their informed consent, participants will be randomly assigned to one of four contextual priming conditions: positive male, positive female, negative male, negative female. Participants will complete a variety of questionnaires addressing ageism, open-ended questions, as well as demographic information. The study will use a between-subjects two-way ANOVA to compare the effects of contextual priming and gender on implicit ageism. Data is currently being collected on older adults."

JoseJulian Sanchez Hernandez

JoseJulian Sanchez Hernandez '24

Hometown: Oak View, CA

Major: Biochemistry & Spanish

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Jason Kingsbury

Research Title: Synthesis of succinyl cadaverine (SC) and N1-hydroxy-N1 succinyl Cadaverine: small molecule precursors for enzymatic synthesis of the synthesis of the siderophore desferrioxamine E (DFOE)

Research Abstract:With antibiotic resistant bacteria on the rise, it is crucial that new types of antibiotics become readily available. NIS synthetases are a family of proteins which are proving themselves to be valuable drug candidates. This protein class biosynthetically produces siderophores and is linked to the virulence of bacteria. We have two target substrates, N-hydroxy-N-succinyl cadaverine (HSC) and N-succinyl cadaverine(SC); HSC which has been and SC yet to be coupled with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). SC had yet to be synthesized and assayed so we set to synthesize SC first. SC synthesis starts with a gram of N-Boc Cadaverine and is succinylated with succinic anhydride in pyridine at 100°C and then the boc protecting group is removed by TFA in DCM. Our future work is to run SC with ITC binding assays and scale up production of both SC and HSC."

Maximilian Segeberg

Maximilian Segeberg '24

Hometown: Temecula, CA

Major: Biochemistry

Minor: Applied Scientific Computing

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Michael Abdelsayed

Research Title: Investigating a Potential RNA Thermometer in RadC DNA Repair Protein

Research Abstract:RNA Thermometers are heat-regulated novel RNA structures that play a vital role in the regulation of protein synthesis. RNAs are generally single stranded molecules, but thermometers are hairpin structures that base-pair on themselves, constricting ribosome binding through sequestering the ribosome binding site (RBS). When introduced to higher temperatures,  the hairpin containing the RBS denatures, allowing binding to a ribosome to complete translation. Using bioinformatics programs, RNArobo and BLAST, an RNA thermometer structure, similar to an established thermometer, was discovered in front of DNA repair protein RadC in Staphylococcusepidermidis RP62A. The hypothesized RNA sequence was inserted into a DNA plasmid that was, first, amplified and linearized using polymerase chain reaction, PCR. Then, HIFI DNA Assembly kit was utilized to clone the plasmid that had the insert sequence in it. The cloned plasmid was inserted into a cultured bacteria colony and beta-galactosidase assays were performed to test if the hypothesized sequence is a functional RNA thermometer. Preliminary results have shown an increase in fluorescence when the samples were exposed to heat induction."

Moises Velasquez

Moises Velasquez '25

Hometown: North Hills, CA

Major: Exercise Science

Faculty Mentors: Dr. Louise Kelly

Research Title: Home Based Strength Training to reduce Depression and Anxiety in Latino Children aged 11-17 years

Research Abstract:Background: There are many efforts today to help reduce mental stress and burden amongst younger children by suggesting therapy, openness, mindfulness and school services. While the data has shown that the overall prevalence of depression in is 6% in adolescents and 3% in children younger than 13 years, these statistics are primarily based on white peers. Latino children are more likely to suffer anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders compared to their non Latino peers. While incidents of are higher in Latino kids (22% suffer from depression), few receive treatment when compared to white children (8% vs 14%). Given the prevailing burden and impact of mental health disorders in youth, it is essential that effective interventions are identified and implemented.

AIM: To assess the effects of a 16-week (2x week) home-based strength training (HBST) program on the reduction of stress and depression symptoms in Latino children aged 11-17 years.

Methods: 108 Latino children aged 11-17 years, were recruited, and randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) Control (n=54) or 2)Home-Based Strength Training (n=54). C – No intervention. HBST – Progressive program consisted of a 1 hours, 2X weekly strength training program for 16 weeks. Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles for age and gender will be determined using CDC age appropriate cut-offs. Height and weight will be measured using a beam medical scale and wall-mounted stadiometer. We will measure anxiety using the trait anxiety scale, and depression using the center of Epidemiology Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). An adolescent version of the POMS may be used to measure the profile of mood states (POMS-A).. All testing was performed before and after the 16 week intervention.

Results: Based on an earlier pilot study in Latino children aged 14-17 years, we say the following results in a much smaller sample (n=32). All participants attended >85 %of the strength training sessions. Repeated Measures General Linear Model showed significant improvements in the intervention group only, with participants reporting an “increasedhappiness” (p=0.06) and increased “enjoyment in life” (p=0.009). In the intervention group, scores improved for questions such as “I felt depressed”, and “I felt sad”, although these improvements were not statistically significant (p=0.16, p=0.17 respectively).

Conclusion: Based on the findings of our previous pilot study, the HBST was acceptable to our population and also showed reductions in depression and anxiety. Therefore, we are anticipating similar/higher reductions in anxiety and depressions."

 

 

 

 

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