February 21, 2014

Lars Meisner '14Abstract:

Current therapies for treating cancer primarily involve nonspecific and invasive treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. To treat cancer better, many scientists are attempting to discover the underlying cause of individual tumor growth, or the specific mutations that cause tumorigenesis. A lab at the University of Minnesota has recently highlighted several genes of interest in colorectal a sleeping beauty transposon system in transgenic mice (Starr et. al 2009). A specific gene implicated by this study is protein phosphatase 1H (Ppm1H). The disruption of Ppm1H occurs at a frequent rate in colon cancer tumors, suggesting that this gene, when mutated to have decreased expression, may drive cancer growth. To determine whether this mutation contributes to tumor growth in humans, plasmids containing shRNA designed to knockdown Ppm1H expression were transfected into human colon cancer cells. Results indicated that knockdown was not achieved. Therefore, another approach was attempted utilizing plasmids containing CRISPR guide RNA to knockout Ppm1H using Cas9 enzymatic cutting. These vectors, as well as all the necessary plasmids for clonal selection, were isolated and their identities were confirmed by sequencing. Transfection into human colorectal cancer cells will be completed in the future with subsequent analysis.

What you do not know can hurt you: MRSA in College Dorms

Carissa Wallerich '14Abstract:

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is caused by a strain of bacteria that has become resistant to commonly used antibiotics frequently used to treat staph infections. MRSA was primarily known to be a hospital-acquired infection, but recent studies and statistics have shown that 8-20% of the infections reported in hospitals were of the community strain (CDC, 2013). MRSA is becoming a problem in athletic facilities, prisons, college residential halls and other places in the community outside of the healthcare setting. Unsanitary living conditions, communal living and bathrooms and contaminated personal items are potential areas for MRSA to inhabit and spread. This study was done at Ohio University in 30 bathrooms within 15 residential halls. Seven swab samples within each residential hall bathroom were taken and cultured on BBL CHROMagar plates to determine the frequency of positive MRSA cultures. Shower floors, the shelf below the mirror and toilet seats showed the highest prevalence of MRSA out of the samples tested. There was at least one positive MRSA sample at each residential hall. Proper hygiene, proper cleaning supplies and cleaning regimens and education to prevent the transmission of MRSA is necessary in eliminating community-associated MRSA infections.