mcnair2021 - 9:00 AM PDT Breakout 11: Biology Panel B

Maya Martinez

University of California, Davis

Presentation 1

Utilizing Community-Based Approaches to Evaluate Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Lead Burning on Herbivory in Culturally Significant Flora

Cultural burning is a practice done by numerous Indigenous groups in order to improve the qualities and densities of ecocultural resources central to subsistence and spiritual practices. One of the many benefits of cultural burning recorded is the reduction of insect populations in specific and important plant species in hopes to eliminate herbivory, the consumption of plants by animals. This pilot project will build upon past knowledge and utilize mixed qualitative and quantitative methods to show the effect of Indigenous and non-Indigenous led burning on herbivory in plants deemed culturally significant within the Cache Creek area. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches will be the foundation of the research method framework in order to ethically and efficiently gather findings. This will be done through interviews with tribal and community members of this area in conjunction with the post-burn examination of herbivory upon select plant species over different time intervals. It’s predicted that interviewees will discuss the ecocultural importance of cultural burning and highlight the differences between Indigenous-led cultural burning and non-Indigenous prescribed fire. In addition, I believe that cultural burning will initially reduce insect herbivory and increase mammalian herbivory. However, over time, both types of herbivory will increase. Currently, interviews are beginning to take place, but fieldwork has yet to be started. Overall, this project aims to demonstrate the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) through CBPR approaches and this presentation will focus on the research process and the intersections of culture, history, and science through an Indigenous lens.

Gabrielle Peterson

The University of Arizona

Presentation 3

Exploring the Effects of Environmental Factors in ALS

ALS is a fatal complex disorder characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. Genetics likely play a role in most cases, however, only 10% of cases are familial while 90% are sporadic. The finding that TDP-43 cellular protein aggregation occurs in 97% of ALS cases illuminated a key component of ALS pathology, however the underlying disease mechanics are unknown. Additionally, disease progression varies between patients. These disease characteristics have led to the consensus that the ALS phenotype is not solely determined by genetics and that environmental factors likely play a role. Physical activity and toxin exposure have been theorized as environmental contributors based on clinical data. One process which could mechanistically link these factors to the ALS phenotype is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been shown to induce TDP-43 aggregation in recent studies and many of the theorized environmental factors are likely capable of inducing oxidative stress. Presently, each individual step of this potential pathway has been researched in an isolated manner. To address this holistically, I have designed a comprehensive study that investigates the pathway of environment to ALS phenotype via the proposed oxidative stress mechanism. I am introducing the herbicidal toxin, sodium arsenite, and the common sweetener, sorbitol, as oxidative stress inducing environmental factors via drug food for Drosophila. If an ALS-like phenotype based on diminished function can be established in this animal model, oxidative stress and TDP-43 aggregation will be observed and quantified in drosophila motor neurons to further elucidate the potential mechanism.

Antionette Yasko

Purdue University Northwest

Presentation 2

Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Cartilage Study

Degeneration of the cartilage due to osteoarthritis (OA) has proven challenging to treat. Options such as pharmaceutical drugs, total knee replacement therapies, and regenerative therapy techniques have been utilized thus far. However, further improvements in regenerative therapy may allow for OA to be treated at the source in a safe, effective, and cheaper manner. The purpose of this study is to identify the efficacy and variability of regenerative therapies from the current literature. We aim to determine in the last five years, (1) the types of stem cells being used for the regeneration of cartilage in OA patients and (2) determine if scaffolding improved cartilage stem cell growth. Both questions will be used to determine if better patient outcomes are possible by identifying which stem cells work best dependent upon patient outcome. Over an eight week period, data collected from the last five years regarding stem cell types used for cartilage regeneration and scaffolding use will be centered on both clinical trials and retrospective clinical data. Data regarding patient satisfaction, mobility improvement, the quantity of tissue repair, and any side effects will be collected. Statistical analysis will be performed to evaluate the significance of types of stem cells being linked to better patient outcomes, as well as if there is a correlation between using scaffolding and better stem cell growth. With the data collected, specific stem cells can be selected and an experimental design will be created to experimentally test variables related to scaffolding materials to improve regenerative therapy outcomes.