Food security has become a growing concern as we look to the future. Having a more thorough understanding of plant functioning can help to improve the efficiency of crops and their response to changing environmental conditions. In this study, we seek to outline specific carbohydrate phloem loading mechanisms in Nicotiana tabacum by intentionally downregulating sucrose transporter 1 (SUT1). Phloem loading is a significant mechanism utilized in plants to transport sugars and amino acids from photosynthetic sites to conducting sieve tubes. This process is fundamental to growth, storage, and other significant plant functions. The cellular structure of N. tabacum resembles those of major crops and can be utilized as a model species for the transformation technique to better understand physiological mechanisms. We measured SUT1 mRNA concentration in transformed leaf samples to analyze the effectiveness of downregulation. Downregulated N. tabacum samples showed phenotypic chlorosis made evident by the accumulation of carbohydrates in leaf tissue. To quantify the difference among SUT1 downregulated N. tabacum and wild type, we performed a soluble carbohydrate analysis. Accumulation of carbohydrates among downregulated N. tabacum is suspected to result in decreased photosynthetic efficiency. Therefore, photosynthetic rates were measured for downregulated N. tabacum and wild type. The results indicate that downregulated N. tabacum utilized apoplastic phloem loading and when manipulated, affects sucrose transport and photosynthetic abilities.

Infectious diseases in wildlife populations are becoming an increasing concern in conservation due to their ability to act alone or in combination with other factors. European carnivores are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases due to the isolated nature of their populations and interactions with domesticated dogs and humans. One disease of concern is Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), which has been destroying native wolf populations throughout Europe. These outbreaks are initiated by contact with infected feral and domestic dogs, and future outbreaks of CDV are expected to occur. Maiella National Park (MNP), located in South-Central Italy, is at particular risk because it is near parks that have had outbreaks, has a large feral dog population, and many visitors bring their dogs to the park. For this project, MNP collared 18 European wolves and collected location and activity data on each animal. QGIS was used to visualize home ranges and the movement of wolves in the park. Additionally, a social network and susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model was developed using Program R to predict the spread of CDV in the MNP wolf population. We found that neighboring packs had substantial overlap which could allow CDV strains to quickly spread, with potentially devastating outcomes. These models will provide crucial insight into the disease dynamics of the wolf population in the park and help MNP with its conservation and management efforts. Further, visualizations of our project results will be utilized by MNP to educate park visitors about the effects of bringing unvaccinated dogs into the park.

Within a population of conspecific individuals, genetic variation is essential for natural selection and entails not only morphological variation but also cognitive and behavioral variation. Levels of cognition, as well as its intraspecific variation, are observed widely in a variety of species. However, this is disproportionately less documented among insects. This study aims to contribute to further understanding of intraspecific variation in cognition among mealworms (Tenebrio molitor L.). We will use a laboratory colony of mealworms in a series of experiments crafted to assess individual cognitive capability of individuals raised in solitude or in small groups. In the first experiment, mealworms will be placed individually in a maze with food placed at the completion point. In a second experiment, we will determine whether individuals will be able to associate surface textures with food rewards. Time needed to find food in a maze and weight gain as a function of food consumption (and effort spent on finding food) will be assessed. These results will be used to discuss levels of intraspecific variation in cognition and factors affecting it. In bettering our understanding of mealworms as individuals, we hope to expand the overall perspective on insects, as we (as humans) tend to view all insects as identical beings. For the mealworm, this could have ethical and practical implications for how they are used in research and how they are managed as pests.

Outer membrane lipoprotein carrier protein (LolA) transports lipoproteins from the inner membrane to the outer membrane in pathogenic bacteria. It has been demonstrated that LolA knockdown cells in Borrelia burgdoferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, prevents cell growth which suggests that LolA could serve as a target for drug development. Additionally, LolA is present in other tick-borne pathogens such as Francisella (F. philomiragia and F. tularensis) and Rickettsia bellii which cause Tularemia or “Rabbit Fever” and typhus respectively. The structures of LolA from Borrelia and Francisella were determined using X-ray crystallography and the resulting models used for in silico screening to identify potential inhibitors. In addition, LolA proteins from Borrelia, Francisella and Rickettsia were utilized for Fragment-Based Drug Design experiments in an effort to identify small molecule scaffolds that may serve as a basis for the development of inhibitors that bind with high affinity.