Sigma Xi 2018 Student Research Showcase
Cell Biology & Biochemistry
Investigation Into the Efficacy of Nanoparticle Use as an Inhibitor for Yellow Fever Vax
Diana Demchenko, Portland State University
I am researching the possibility of a new antiviral for Yellow Fever virus. Silver nanoparticles act as broad spectrum antivirals by inhibiting viruses such as HIV and Monkeypox. By showing that a certain type of silver nanoparticle can inhibit Yellow Fever virus, then it would most likely inhibit Zika virus, since both of the viruses are in the same family.
Regenerating Bone On P4VP Fibers Using Dental Pulp Stem Cells
Sahith Vadada, Herricks High School
Stem cell based tissue engineering offers a therapeutic alternative that promotes the regeneration—rather than the replacement—of dental tissue. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) exhibit tremendous potential in tissue and bone regeneration using in vitro scaffolds.
Natural Antioxidant and Nano-Antioxidant Effects Against Oxidative Stress
Jessie Gan, San Diego Jewish Academy
My presentation has the overall report of my research, including my hypotheses, background on oxidative stress and antioxidants, methods, results, and discussion on my results.
Cytokine Treatment for Myocarditis Negatively Impacts Cardiomyocytes
Jacob Kasner, American Heritage School
This research investigated CXCL1/KC, a specific cytokine treatment for myocarditis. It sought to identify any negative side effects of the treatment. One was identified, a significant decrease in cell density, which is discussed in the presentation.
MTH1 as a Therapeutic Target for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Meghna Sharma, Pine Crest School
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.. Limited treatment options have led to increased efforts to find therapeutic targets. One protein, MTH1, hydrolyzes a deoxyribonucleotide and prevents its byproducts from being reused by salvage pathways. This prevents the inclusion of oxidized products into genomic DNA, creating a dependency of tumor cells on MTH1. We hypothesized that overexpressing MTH1 in lung epithelial tumor cells results in increased MTH1 activity. Confirming these results with an enzymatic activity assay, we introduced MTH1 as a potential therapeutic target for lung cancers.
Structure-Function Analysis of MKL1 in Megakaryocytopoiesis
Nicole Eskow, Yale University
This project aims to understand how the domains of the MKL1 protein influence megakaryocytopoiesis, the process by which hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into megakaryocytes. This research will provide insight into how the RBM15-MKL1 fusion protein contributes to the development of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (AMKL), a cancer that primarily occurs in infants.
Combatting Insulin Resistance Using Medicinal Plants as a Supplementary Treatment to Metformin in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes: Improving Early Intervention-Based Diabetes Treatment
Diya Jayram, American Heritage School
This study presents a multifunctional, more effective early intervention-based diabetes treatment that averts severe type 2 diabetes, therefore, reducing health care costs and engendering a healthier population overall.
Treating Parkinsonian Neurodegeneration in Diabetic, Paraquat-exposed Drosophila by Increasing Caffeine Intake
Ephraim Oyetunji, American Heritage School
This experiment focused on studying the neuroprotective capabilities of caffeine in diminishing and preventing neurodegeneration in fruit flies exposed to paraquat, excessive sugar, and overproduction of α-synuclein. The experiment showed that caffeine significantly improved neuromotor function within the flies and larvae as well as reduced the long-term neurodegenerative effects of added oxidative stress. These results indicate that caffeine reduces neurological impairment from Parkinson’s and delays neurodegeneration.
The Physical Effects of Ethylparaben on Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) Embryos
Albert Ting, American Heritage School
This presentation is about my experiment on ethylparaben exposure and it’s physical effects on zebrafish embryos.
Novel Vascularization of Mouse Heart Tissue-Engineered Vascular Scaffolds by Triggering Decidualization of Mouse Endometrial Stromal Cells for Use in Bio-Synthetic Organs
Emily Pallack, American Heritage School
In my project I used a novel method of introducing endometrial stromal cells into a bio-synthetic organ scaffold and induced them to become progenitors to vascular networks.
The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to Test for Identification of Antibodies
Cindy Beatriz Wong Lema, Frederick Community College
HIV Detection by ELISA.
Improving Wound Healing by Breaking Down Biofilm Formation and Reducing Nosocomial Infections
Nicholas DiStefano, American Heritage School
I created a hydrogel using Hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E, silver nanoparticles, and a species specific bacteriophage cocktail to improve wound healing and combat nosocomial infections.
Identifying Specificity-Altering Allosteric Mutations in the PDZ Domain Using Novel Computational Tools
Pia Wahi-Singh, BASIS Ahwatukee High School
The PDZ protein domain has the potential to be an important drug target. Yet what is hindering the outbreak of this novel drug target is the missing technology that can incorporate its conformational dynamics. I plan to address this by employing a complete set of computational novel tools developed in the Ozkan lab that are able to correctly simulate PDZ conformational dynamics. Using these tools, I will identify residues that are at distal positions from the binding site, yet allosterically control binding site conformational dynamics.
The Effect of Sodium Dichloroacetate on Cellular pH and Viability of Cancer Cell Lines
Brianna Dessa,American Heritage School
My presentation looks into the hopeful usage of Sodium Dichloroacetate as an alternative drug used in chemotherapy by viewing it's effect on the intracellular Ph and viability of 2 esophageal cancer cell lines (0e33 and 0e19) and 2 pancreatic cell lines (MiaPaca2 and Panc1).
Development of a Novel Monitoring System for Insulin-Producing Beta Cells Using Gaussia Luciferase Reporter Driven by the Synthetic Human Insulin Promoter
Anam Ahmed,American Heritage School
This project aims to provide a way to monitor beta cells in vitro and aims to mitigate the supply concern of beta cell transplantation, furthering research to find a cure for T1D.
Graviola Fruit and Leaf Extracts Effect on Chondrosarcoma Cell Line (JJ012) and Chondrocyte Cell Line (C28) Proliferation. An Ex-Vivo Study.
George Aquilini,American Heritage School
My name is George Aquilino, and my project is titled; Graviola Fruit and Leaf Extracts Effect on Chondrosarcoma Cell Line (JJ012) and Chondrocyte Cell Line (C28) Proliferation. An Ex-Vivo Study.
The Effect of Antitumor Supplements on the Regeneration Growth of Dugesia tigrina
Sophia Zheng, American Heritage School
This presentation is about my experiment on the effects of antitumor supplements on the regeneration growth of Dugesia tigrina, or brown planaria. It describes the results from testing the effects of Vitamin K2, Vitamin D, and Coenzyme Q10 on the regeneration, in addition to a control, which was spring water. The Vitamin K2 solution was the most effective, followed by the spring water, Vitamin D, and Coenzyme Q10.
Predicting the Malignancy of Pancreatic Cancer with Artificial Intelligence
Anish Ravichandran, American Heritage School
The presentation is about a novel viewpoint in the process of finding cures for cancer that can also save the money and time of patients.
Demystifying Notochord Formation through the use of a dynamic physical model
Vaishnavi Siripurapu, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
This is a weebly website with an abstract, a presentation, a video, and a video presentation.
Identifying Specificity-Altering Allosteric Mutations in the PDZ Domain Using Novel Computational Tools
Pia Wahi-Singh, BASIS Ahwatukee High School
The PDZ protein domain has the potential to be an important drug target. Yet what is hindering the outbreak of this novel drug target is the missing technology that can incorporate its conformational dynamics. I plan to address this by employing a complete set of computational novel tools developed in the Ozkan lab that are able to correctly simulate PDZ conformational dynamics. Using these tools, I will identify residues that are at distal positions from the binding site, yet allosterically control binding site conformational dynamics.
Identifying Specificity-Altering Allosteric Mutations in the PDZ Domain Using Novel Computational Tools
Pia Wahi-Singh, BASIS Ahwatukee High School
The PDZ protein domain has the potential to be an important drug target. Yet what is hindering the outbreak of this novel drug target is the missing technology that can incorporate its conformational dynamics. I plan to address this by employing a complete set of computational novel tools developed in the Ozkan lab that are able to correctly simulate PDZ conformational dynamics. Using these tools, I will identify residues that are at distal positions from the binding site, yet allosterically control binding site conformational dynamics.
Novel Investigation into the Effects of Time-Mediated Addition of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles on the Differentiation and Proliferation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells
Yuqing Liu, Texas Academy of Mathematics & Science
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) have therapeutic promise due to their rapid proliferation and multipotency but require further research to reach their full potential. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) possess unique properties for cell tracking and imaging, but their harmful effects on cell viability and function pose roadblocks to their usage. Through the lens of mechanical properties, this study investigates the timing of TiO2 NP addition to DPSCs, a commonly neglected variable when testing NP toxicity, and its effects on DPSC proliferation and differentiation. Ultimately, my study showed that time should be considered in testing NP toxicity and demonstrated a simple, novel method for controlling NP-cell interaction in labs to safeguard cells from TiO2 toxicity, allowing for the application of TiO2 in drug delivery systems, regenerative medicine, biological imaging, cancer management, etc.
Chol-RNAi Molecule Polyplexes of PLL-PEG for the RNAi-Mediated treatment of Neuroblastoma
Zhen Ye, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Long–term goal: develop cholesterol-modified RNAi molecules to improve the treatment of pediatric cancer. Rationale: determine if Chol-si/DsiRNA polyplexes and/or with ligand-targeting are likely to improve the efficacy or potency of RNAi molecules in-vivo and justify future preclinical studies.
Studying the Cell Cycle in Plants using 4D Visualization
Renee Dale, Louisiana State University
The process by which cells accumulate multiple copies of DNA without dividing is called endoreplication. Endoreplication occurs normally during development, but shows up uncontrolled in cancerous cells. Cells make the transition from division to endoreplication by suppressing mitosis. In order to understand how organisms make this switch, we need to understand how endoreplication is triggered.
A New Quantitative Model for the Detection of Microcephaly: A Much Needed Method in the Age of Zika
Jessica Su, Bronx High School of Science
My project is focused on the application of a newly discovered relationship between time and the ratio of the sizes of the femur to the abdomen.
Sigma 1 Receptor Mediates IL-24 Induced Cancer Apoptosis through Lipid Raft Formation: an in vitro and in silico approach
Alexa Asch, Bronx High School of Science
Interleukin-24 (IL-24) is an immunomodulatory cytokine with tumor-suppressing activity. The objective was to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying IL-24’s antitumor activity with Sigma 1 receptor (Sig-1R) to induce cancer apoptosis, a process that cancer cells typically override.
Glial Enriched Progenitors as a Cell Based Therapy for White Matter Stroke
Stacey Gallegos, California State University, Northridge
My project involves the use of mouse models to show brain repair after stroke. We transplant stem cells into the damage brain regions.
Elucidating the Role of Zona Incerta in Fear Inhibition
Archana Venkataraman, Emory University
In this study, I explore the role of the less-studied subthalamic region - zona incerta in fear inhibition.
Studying the Cell Cycle in Plants using 4D Visualization
Renee Dale, Louisiana State University
The process by which cells accumulate multiple copies of DNA without dividing is called endoreplication. Endoreplication occurs normally during development, but shows up uncontrolled in cancerous cells. Cells make the transition from division to endoreplication by suppressing mitosis. In order to understand how organisms make this switch, we need to understand how endoreplication is triggered.