STUDENT RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2020 PRESENTATIONS

Cell Biology and Biochemistry

Ziziphus jujuba as a Treatment for Parkinson's Disease in Reducing Oxidative Stress and Bacterial Infection in Drosophila melanogaster
Lexie Ben-Meir, The Archer School for Girls

This proposed research will first determine the optimal dose of Z. jujuba to reduce oxidative stress following paraquat exposure in Wild-type Drosophila. A Drosophila Parkinson's Disease (PD) model exposed to paraquat will then be infected with bacteria in order to test Z. jujuba’s antimicrobial potential. It is predicted that the combined antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities will provide enhanced protection against oxidative stress and bacterial infection. Given the role of the gut-brain axis in PD, reducing gut bacterial infection and oxidative stress may preserve dopamine neurons. While most PD treatments simply target motor symptoms, this proposed research is significant to the PD field as it may reduce dopamine neuron death that underlies PD.

Promoting Remyelination Through Stimulation of Oligodendrocytes by Using Extracellular Matrix Mechanical Cues
Illiana Bennett, American Heritage School Plantation

This project aimed to promote the cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation through manipulating the stiffness of the Extracellular Matrix that surrounds the cells. This was in the hopes that increasing those factors would contribute to an increased rate of remyelination and thus slowing the progress of degenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis.

Biolistic Gene Delivery as a Potential Treatment for Skin Cancer
Justin Bromell, Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology

This presentation consists of the components of a standard research paper with a embedded video.

Developing a Urinalysis Immunoassay for Cortisol Detection Year 2
Sarah Burkey, Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology

Over 80% of Americans face chronic stress every year, however very few people know that severe stress can result in numerous health problems. Cortisol is the hormone that is synthesized as a result of increased stress levels and plays a critical role throughout the body. However, although it is very important to monitor a person's cortisol levels on a regular basis, very few tests are available to measure a person's cortisol level, and all previously existing tests are very expensive and time consuming. Because of the lack of rapid and inexpensive tests available to measure a person’s cortisol level, this project focuses on creating a test strip that has numerous lines show up depending on how much cortisol is present in urine, assisting millions of Americans across the country. The test is both inexpensive and provides results quickly, aiding people with all incomes and backgrounds.

Putting the Plant in Transplant: Plant Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering
Maya Butani, Moorestown High School

Novel plant-derived scaffolds harbor great potential for regenerative medicine. I assessed the capacity of plant scaffolds for bone tissue engineering by evaluating stem cell viability and proliferation in the scaffolds, ultimately inducing differentiation into bone cells. My results indicate the suitability of plant-derived biomaterials for bone tissue engineering, with potential to explore other tissue applications in the future.

The Small Heat Shock Protein αB-Crystallin is Critical to Cell Survival in Response to the Phytochemical Withaferin A in Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells
Melissa Carmichael, Bridgewater State University

The focus of my research is to determine the molecular mechanisms by which small heat shock proteins (Hsps) inhibit apoptosis. Currently, my project is focused on exploring the molecular mechanism induced by the phytochemical Withaferin A (WA) in cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer cells to determine if there is a differential death response to treatment with WA. Through my research I have found that two small heat shock proteins, αB-Crystallin and Hsp27, are constitutively overexpressed in a cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line (OVCAR8R) as compared to its cisplatin-sensitive syngeneic counterpart (OVCAR8) which lack these proteins. Furthermore, αB-Crystallin is upregulated in a dose-dependent manner following treatment with WA. This finding supports that overexpression of heat shock proteins can confer resistance to chemotherapy and promote a more aggressive tumor type. Ongoing experiments include silencing of αB-Crystallin by CRISPR/Cas9 to define the role of this Hsp in cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.

Designing a Tumor-Specific Oncolytic Virus to Induce Suicide Gene Expression in Glioblastoma Cancer
Sowmya Chundi, Carmel High School

This project is geared towards enhancing cancer treatments to pass through the blood-brain barrier and target several aspects of brain cancer before cancer cells become resistant. I designed a virus that uses a multitude of pathways to attack cancer cells in the brain while protecting healthy tissue.

Modeling Alzheimer's Disease in Caenorhabditis elegans
Harys Dalvi, American Heritage School Boca Delray

Alzheimer's is becoming an increasingly important problem in society. My project models Alzheimer's disease and lifestyle changes in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Overexpressing Sprouty Gene To Downregulate MAPK Pathway to Target Obesity
Abdul-Jalil Dania, American Heritage School Plantation

The Sprouty (SPRY) gene is present in humans and conserved in fruit flies. It negatively regulates mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), which control the expansion of fat tissue. It was hypothesized that if the sprouty gene was overexpressed in D. Melanogaster, then it would result in flies with decreased triglyceride concentrations and weight. Flies with the sprouty gene overexpressed given a control diet had the second greatest decrease in the average weight of the fly. When given a high-fat diet, transgenic flies had a lower final triglyceride concentration than flies given the standard drug. Finding a compound that can mimic the effects of the sprouty protein can lead to a discovery that could help to fight obesity.

Predicting Metastasis with a Novel Cell-Adhesion Quantification Method
Jessie Gan, San Diego Jewish Academy

My project is about applying a physics solution to a biological problem, culminating in a simple, interdisciplinary method that has the potential to change the lives of thousands of cancer patients and their prognosis in terms of metastasis. I'm using a novel biophysical technique that measures adhesion force at the cell surface to distinguish metastasizing cells.

The Effects of Amelioration of Gut Dysbiosis on Changes in Trehalose, Triglyceride, and DILP Levels Caused by Type 1 Diabetes in Drosophila Melanogaster
Pranav Iyer, American Heritage School Plantation

This presentation is about observing the effects of increased intestinal permeability on type 1 diabetes as well as potential treatment options for this pathogenic factor

Investigating the Effects of Propofol on Reduced Cell Proliferation and Invasion of Human Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes (RA-FLSs)
Maryam Imran, American Heritage School Boca Delray

The goal of this experiment was to explore an alternative treatment to the debilitating autoimmune disease Rheumatoid Arthritis. This experiment investigated a commonly used anesthetic drug, propofol, on reduced cell proliferation and invasion of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs). Three different drug concentrations were tested in order to observe whether or not the RA-FLSs’s responded differently to different concentrations of the drug.

The Effect of Glyphosate on Gene Expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Joshua Grover, Pine Crest School

I exposed yeast cells to varying concentrations of glyphosate (the active ingredient in many weed killers) and measured changes in the expression of several genes. The data indicate an upregulation in DNA maintenance and repair genes when exposed to a high glyphosate concentration, suggesting that glyphosate is a carcinogen.

Human Platelet-derived Conditioned Medium Enhances the Proliferative, Immunosuppressive, and Anti-inflammatory Abilities of Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro
Jared Gould, Pine Crest School

The purpose of the research in this presentation is the compare to effectiveness of a human-based and bovine-based stem cell media by comparing the differentation and immunoregulatory capacities of mesenchymal stem cells after induction in each media. Discovering a potential alternative to traditional bovine-based stem cell media is important in bypassing regulatory restrictions to allow for widespread stem cell use.

SIRT1 and Breast Cancer: Taking out the Trash
Amrit Hingorani, Cornell University

This webpage will "clue you in" on the role of sirtuins, in particular SIRT1, in breast cancer. We elucidated the pathway through which down regulation of SIRT1 impacts breast cancer cell aggressiveness. The mechanism includes a reduction in lysosomal acidification which causes a buildup of cellular "trash," which can promote cancer cell survival and invasion capability. Future steps include developing drugs targeting elements of this pathway or even generalizing findings in breast cancer to other disease processes.

The Neuroprotective and Neuroregenerative Effects of the Endocannabinoid System on Primary Cortical Neurocytes
Avinash Kanakam, American Heritage School Boca Delray

My presentation involves the usage of endocannabinoids being in the environment of primary cortical neurocytes, and the amount of cells that were generated or kept/ the amount of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor made was measured while said cells were in an environment of high stress (small concentration and amount of ethanol)

Assaying the Effects of UVA and UVB Light on A375 Cells Exposed to Curcuma Longa
Sruthi Karanam, American Heritage School Boca Delray

This research explores the effect of different types of UV rays on the effectiveness of natural remedies on A375 melanoma cells.

BAP1 and interferon signaling in kidney cancer
Lauren Langbein, Thomas Jefferson University

In this presentation, Lauren discusses her research in a particular type of kidney cancer called clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). She focuses on the role of BAP1, a tumor suppressor gene that, when mutated, results in aggressive cancer. Lauren and her research group found that BAP1 appears to be involved in type I interferon signaling, which may affect how ccRCC is recognized by the immune system. Her work will have implications for how BAP1-deficient kidney cancer is treated in the clinic.

Plant Hormones: Effects on Human Tissue
Savanah Lares, American Heritage School Plantation

My presentation is about “The Effect of Kinetin Riboside on AGS Cells”. I will explain the process and results of my experiment.

Engineering a DNA Aptamer Nanomachine Platform for T Cell Detection Based on Cancer Metabolites
Jared Lenn, Bronx High School of Science

I designed a DNA sequence that can locate cancer cells based on their microenvironment. This presentations details the rationale behind that design and how I tested it.

Characterizing the Role of Zinc and Developing a Treatment Using a Combination of Gemcitabine, Zinc, TPEN, and Chloroquine to Target the Ras/MAPK and Hedgehog Signaling Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer
Larissa Ma, American Heritage School Plantation

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers with a 7% 5-year survival rate and the median patient survival with the current therapy being 8 months. A prominent issue with the treatment mainly used today, Gemcitabine, is that it is unable to penetrate the stroma around the pancreatic cancer tumor. The stroma also contains several factors promoting cancer cell growth and chemoresistance. Targeting the pathways responsible for both the stroma and the tumor could potentially lead to more effective treatments. This was investigated by combining several drugs Zinc, TPEN, and Chloroquine with Gemcitabine in order to create a synergistic cytotoxic effect targeting both pathways simultaneously. With further research and clinical trials, a treatment for pancreatic cancer could potentially increase survival rates.

The Epigenetic Effects of Choline on Memory and the Development of the Brain in Drosophila Melanogaster
Lauren McDonough, American Heritage School Boca Delray

My presentation seeks to explain my research on the topic of epigenetics and neuroscience in fruit flies. The purpose of my project was to test whether or not choline could affect memory in flies, which my experiment proved was possible because of epigenetic transformation within the brains of flies that ultimately allowed a higher capacity for memory.

Targeting the Chemotherapy-Resistant Population of Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Regan Miller, Oakland University

My work describes how a combination therapy (Venetoclax + CUDC-907) reduces the size and viability of the chemotherapy-resistant population of acute myeloid leukemia in vitro.

Inhibiting Serine/Threonine and Tyrosine Phosphorylation Sites in YKL40 to Identify the Role of its Novel Antibody in Cancer Cell Apoptosis
Roshni Mishra, American Heritage School Plantation

My presentation details the methods and conclusions of my experiment in which I blocked specific phosphorylation sites of a protein that resulted in a significant decrease in the metastatic ability of cancer.

The Effect of UVC Light and Riboflavin on Human Donor Platelets
Divyansha Moparthy, American Heritage School Boca Delray

The Effect of UV Light and Riboflavin on Human Donor Platelets UVC and riboflavin are used for disinfection. In this experiment the effect of the mixture of riboflavin and UVC on human platelets was tested and analyzed to see if the pH levels would change as well as whether or not the bacteria levels would increase or decrease. It was hypothesized that the more concentrated the platelets are with riboflavin and exposed to UVC light, the pH levels would increase becoming more basic and the bacteria levels would decrease.
The application of this research can create a treatment to treat acidosis and help with blood transfusion by developing a way to disinfect the platelets from bacteria that may delay blood transfusion.

RNA Regulation: Identifying and Preventing AMP Depurination in Early Life RNA Polymerization
Michelle Nazareth, Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School

The objective of the presentation was to identify and prohibit AMP depurination in simulated prebiotic conditions (the development of RNA 4 billion years ago). Conditions were simulated by running phosphoric acid and AMP through wet-dry cycles. Depurination was inhibited by a statistically significant amount by adding Lysophosphotidylcholine, a lipid, and adenine to the AMP. These results suggest that, in prebiotic conditions, the integrity of AMP was protected in the presence of lipid and adenine.

Inhibition of Neutrophils with Hydroxyurea, Imatinib, and Ruxolitinib
Cameron Silverman, American Heritage School Boca Delray

The presentation will include a personal video, a discussion widget for judges and other observers, the abstract for this project, and a slide show presentation summarizing the scientific process in detail.

Examining the Role of Chromatin Remodeler skp-1(snw1) During C. elegans Anchor Cell Invasion
Nithin Parsan, Clements High School

Cellular invasion is a fundamental feature of cancer metastasis. We utilize a unique in vivo model, studying the process of anchor cell (AC) invasion in C. elegans. Previous studies suggest AC invasion is a differentiated cell behavior that is tightly regulated.
We identify 6 novel pro-invasive chromatin regulators using a tissue-specific RNAi screen. We further characterize the gene skp-1 using a cell cycle biosensor, demonstrating that RNAi mediated knockdown of skp-1 results in cycling, non-invasive ACs. In addition, we created an improved RNAi vector, which has increased the penetrance of invasion defects, using available cDNA sequences. We have also identified the upstream regulation of hlh-2 activity, a conserved TF in AC invasion, by skp-1 using quantitative measures of endogenous protein levels paired with perturbation analyses. Together, the results identify novel pro-invasive genes and provide possible therapeutic targets to limit invasiveness in disease states.

Spatil Distribution Patterns of Genes in Intracardiac Neurons
Rohan Patil, Charter School of Wilmington

With the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, neural circuits are being studied due to their connection to cardiac function. We analyzed 2 gene families for ion channels in intracardiac neurons to determine their spatial expression patterns and draw conclusions on the connection between the ICN and cardiac function. We found that the ICN affects the sinoatrial node which has been extrapolated in rats and pigs, leading us to believe the ICN has a role in cardiac output.

Discovery of a Novel Regulator of MiDAS-like Senescence in Primary Human Fibroblasts
Advait Thaploo, Mira Loma High School

Cellular senescence is a state of cell cycle arrest that causes the production of the SASP (senescence-associated secretory phenotype), a known factor in aging. This project discovered that impairment of Drp1 protein receptor production induces MiDAS-like (Mitochondrial Dysfunction Associated Senescence) senescence.

Effects of Chaperonin on Protein Folding
Lexi Simon, American Heritage School Boca Delray

This project explores the effects of an alteration of the chaperonin protein sequence on the protein folding process. The researcher altered the DNA sequence of the chaperonin protein, inserted it into E. coli cells, and then grew the cells to determine if there was a change in the E. coli after the altered gene was inserted. This project showcases the researcher's methods and concludes with an analysis of the results.

The Effect of Presenilin inhibition on Lipids and C99 Presence in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Andrew Sosunov, Bronx High School of Science

In my presentation, I present my research on the inhibition of presenilin, a co-factor of an enzyme that cuts down C99 into into Aβ, which in Alzheimer's disease develops into Aβ plaques. This research focuses on both mice and human cells to investigate how C99 and lipids accumulate in cells.

The Effects of BIBR1532 Telomerase Inhibitor on the confluency rate of HeLa cells
Vishrutha SampathAnandi, American Heritage School Boca Delray

This presentation focuses on measuring the confluence rates of HeLa cells when affected with the telomerase inhibitor BIBR1532. This situation is created in order to showcase possible measurements in the period of cancer cell apoptosis. The immortalized telomerase found in HeLa cells was exposed to a type of telomerase inhibitor called BIBR1532 which neutralizes the enzyme that lengthens the telomeres of a cell. Cell confluence rates are measured in order to measure the level of apoptosis that resulted from the inhibitor.

The Effects of Diisononyl Phthalate on the Respiratory System
Sydney Spector, Pine Crest School

Phthalates are chemicals known to be harmful to many parts of the human body, including the respiratory system.

Targeting the MEK Pathway Using PD0325901 in Fibroblast-Enhanced Melanoma
Albert Ting, American Heritage School Plantation

Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the United States, causing up to 75% of skin cancer-related deaths. With the help of skin fibroblast cells found in the human body, late stages of melanoma are capable of spreading from its place of origin to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, brain, or liver.

Impact of Chromatin Condensation on Rad51—Mediated DNA Damage Repair in a Pten Deficient Breast Cancer Model
Akaneh Wang, Bronx High School of Science

A study on the effect of radiation on DNA damage response measured through levels of DNA damage (γH2AX) and DNA damage repair protein (Rad51). A mouse breast cancer model was utilized to observe the outcomes based on the presence of PTEN and HP1α. We aimed to answer the question, "What is the impact of chromatin condensation on Rad51--mediated DNA damage repair?"

Inhibiting the ERK Pathway and the TRPM7 Ion Channel in Gastric and Bladder Cancer Cells
Megan Yang, American Heritage School Plantation

The purpose of this project was to test the effectiveness of ginsenoside Rd, NS8593, curcumin, and icariin and AGS gastric cancer cells and T24 bladder cancer cells. These treatments inhibit the TRPM7 and ERK pathways and had shown a correlation between the inhibition of these treatments, an increase in proliferation, and a decrease in apoptosis. These treatments could pose a potential novel, more effective, and cheaper alternative to current chemotherapeutic drugs on the market in the future with further testing.

LDH Stability: Heart vs Muscle
Phoebe Yang, Western Canada High School

Lactate dehydrogenase is an enzyme that plays an important role in the conversion between pyruvate and lactate in the process of cellular respiration. It catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to lactate as it converts NADH to NAD+. NAD+ and oxamate are molecules that commonly and naturally bond with LDH. NAD+ is a cofactor, while oxamate is a noncompetitive inhibitor. The presence of these additional bonds change the bonding structures within the LDH. Different isoenzymes of LDH are found in different parts of the human body. These isoenzymes also vary structurally. The objective of this project is to observe how structures and bonding of different LDH isoenzymes affect their activity and stability.

Researching the Expression of the DRD4 Gene in Alzheimer's Patients
Mahdere Yared, Pine Crest School

I used RT-qPCR to see if there is a difference in the expression of the DRD4 gene in Alzheimer's patients compared to older controls.

Recurrent SMARCB1 Mutations Reveal a Conserved BAF Complex–Nucleosome Interaction Conserved for Millennia
Alfredo Valencia, Harvard University

Informed by human genetics, this is the first study to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the neurodevelopmental disorder, Coffin-Siris Syndrome.

Beyond Pancreatic Cancer—Using Novel Natural Product Derivatives to Treat Multiple Cancer Types
Lily Widdup, Wellesley College

The DCM has synthesized coumarin derivatives to treat cancer under nutrient-deprived conditions. This work extends cytotoxicity evaluations to other cancer types.

Brachyury Expression In the Moon Jellyfish Aurelia coerulia by In Situ Hybridization
Sue Xu, UCLA

The Brachyury subfamily of transcription factors plays key roles in animal development. This project uses in situ hybridization to examine the expression pattern of one member of the Brachyury gene family, BracB, in the medusa formation process in the moon jellyfish Aurelia coerulia.

The Effect of Estrogen and its Interacting Protein, E6AP, on the Transcriptional Regulation of the NPY1R Gene to Study the Pathogenesis of Angelman Syndrome
Alyan Zafar, American Heritage School Plantation

This study is aimed to determine the mechanism by which E6-AP regulates NPY1R in neurons. The overall objective of this aim is to study the potential transcriptional regulation of NPY1R by E6AP in the pathogenesis of AS using neuro2a cell line to create novel treatment models for AS

STUDENT RESEARCH SHOWCASE 2020 PRESENTATIONS

Cell Biology and Biochemistry

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