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Investigating the Binding of BH31-1 Derivatives to the Bcl-XL Protein
Get PDFIn order to develop promising drugs for infectious disease, it is important to find molecules that specifically target the infectious agent without harming human cells. The Butler/Toenjes Lab has recently published an article showing that a small organic molecule called BH3I-1 and several of its derivatives have potent anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans, a common human pathogen. BH3I-1, however, is known to be toxic to human cells through binding to the Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 proteins. The goal of this project is to identify antifungal derivatives of BH3I-1 that do not bind the Bcl-XL and Bcl-2. Such BH3I-1 derivatives would have the potential for low human cell toxicity
How AQP3B Influences Convergent Extension Through Noncanonical WNT Signaling
Get PDFAquaporin-3b, Aqp3b, is an aquaglyceroporin, a membrane water channel, that is present during gastrulation and various other stages of embryonic development. Gastrulation organizes cells into germ layers, which will later form different body tissues. During gastrulation, cells fold into the embryo, then merge by convergent extension to form the long body axis. These cell movements are regulated by noncanonical Wnt signaling, an intercellular signaling pathway that controls the migration and polarity of tissues. When Aqp3b is inhibited using a morpholino oligonucleotide (MO), convergent extension does not occur properly, suggesting a link between Aqp3b and noncanonical Wnt signaling. To assay these defects, we use the Keller tissue explanting method to observe convergent extension. Our goal is to determine which Wnt signaling pathway(s) are influenced by Aqp3b. We conducted rescue experiments by inhibiting Aqp3b with morpholino oligonucleotides and coinjecting an RNA or DNA construct of several proteins involved in Wnt signaling. Successful rescue with Dvl1ΔDix and Dvl2ΔDix constructs indicated that Aqp3b is involved in noncanonical Wnt signaling, since DvlΔDix acts in all noncanonical Wnt signaling. Further, Aqp3b acts through the Wnt/Ca2+ subpathway, indicated by rescue by PKC and PMA, and through a branch of the Wnt/PCP pathway, indicated by successful rescue with RhoA but not with Rac1. Aqp3b does not directly affect the Wnt/Ror2 pathway. In conclusion, I have demonstrated that the ability of Aqp3b to influence convergent extension is dependent on noncanonical Wnt signaling, specifically the Wnt/Ca2+ pathway and the RhoA branch of Wnt/ PCP pathway
Creating an Effective Public Health Campaign Regarding the Potential Health Risks of Chronic Wasting Disease
Get PDFIntroduction: Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a neurodegenerative disease in the family of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE), also known as Prion diseases. CWD has recently been detected in cervids in Montana, posing a potential health risk to game meat consumers. Appropriate places to obtain information on CWD and test meat for infection are low profile. The purpose of this study is to identify and create an effective public health campaign about CWD.
Methods: Information regarding CWD is being obtained from the scientific literature and government websites. Additionally, presentations are being made to obtain ideas from the public. Both print and online educational materials will be made and disseminated to the MSU and Bozeman public.
Results: Recent experiments have shown that CWD can be transmitted to Macaques, genetically closely related to humans, via feeding infected muscle or brain tissue from elk and deer, including from asymptomatic cervids. Although there are no reported cases of animal to human transmission of CWD, people who have contact with and consume game meat are at possible risk of becoming infected. Prion diseases are 100% fatal. The State of Montana is offering the opportunity to get your game meat tested.
Conclusion: Despite all the risk factors, education regarding CWD in the community is limited to a couple State websites. More detailed information is needed, especially for hunters and butchers and must be disseminated to the local public
Clover Trapping Mule Deer in Northwest Montana: Lessons Learned in a Unique Environment
Get PDFMule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations are in decline in many parts of western Montana, and in 2017, harvest in Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) management region 1 (R1) reached an all-time low. This prompts a need to better understand mule deer habitat selection behaviors in a range of ecosystems. Using resource selection functions (RSFs), we will compare how GPS-collared mule deer select nutritional resources and hiding cover at large scales (home range level) and fine scales (within-home ranges) relative to forage quality in 3 distinct ecosystems throughout western Montana. In February of 2017, we successfully captured 30 mule deer does along the Rocky Mountain Front using helicopternet-gunning, but were unsuccessful in the Whitefish Range and Fisher River drainage of R1 due to dense canopy cover. From December 2017 to present, we have relied on a crew of graduate students, MFWP game wardens and biologists, technicians, volunteers, and private citizens to scout for and clover-trap mule deer in R1. Here we present our capture success rate thus far, though trapping efforts are ongoing. We wish highlight how creative methods and recruitment of help from across a state agency can be pooled to initiate rigorous research in a thickly forested environment on a scarcely seen ungulate
The Effect of Varying Moon Phase on Nocturnal Flight Calls
Get PDFMany avian migrants travel at night to avoid predators and reduce the risk of increased exhaustion during the heat of the day. It is well known that nocturnal flight calls (NFCs) allow songbirds to migrate in the dark while still effectively communicating among theirspecies. What is not understood is what factors influence the production of calls over the course of the migratory season. In 2012, the MPG Ranch in Florence, Montana joined with software developer Harold Mills to design his recording program, Vesper, around their workflow. Vesper has enabled researchers to study NFCs using remote recording devices and online software that allows species to be classified both digitally and manually based on spectrograms of individual calls. By collaborating with MPG Ranch, we hoped to better comprehend the effect of luminosity, determined by varying moon phases, on the frequency of NFCs. With the autonomous recording units set up at Florence-Carlton High School and the MPG Ranch floodplain monitor, we collected NFC data from Savannah Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows, and Wilson Warblers, and are in the process of analyzing the relationship between their call activity and luminosity
Editor's Column
Get PDFThe conference issue of the Quarterly allows those of us who were present to relive some of the learning that took place, as well as invites those who weren’t present to also benefit from what was shared
Book Review: Fables for Leaders
Get PDFEditor’s note: Book reviews are an irregular feature of the Quarterly; interested authors, reviewers and publishers may contact the editor for information
Small and Rural Libraries Leading via TV Whitespace Networking Technology
Get PDFThis article describes TV Whitespace (TVWS) technology and the role it can play in addressing access and inclusion, developing distributed programming, and supporting crisis response. Focus is placed on the Pa-cific Northwest as a context for TVWS and the ways in which small and rural communities are uniquely suited to implement TVWS networks. A series of steps are provided for libraries interested in exploring the design and implementation of a new network. Finally, a preview of expected costs and anticipated per-formance is discussed
President's Message
No full textA message from the PNLA President about the issue theme, Leadership in Librarianship