Sigma Xi 2015 Student Research Showcase
Cellular & Molecular Biology
If you want to connect with them on social media, click on their Twitter and/or LinkedIn icons if available.
"Ectopic Bmp4 on Thymus and Parathyroid Fate in Organogenesis"
Isabella Alexis Castronova, Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology
This study examined how Bmp4 affected the Foxn1 and Gcm2 domains within the third pharyngeal pouch. Bl6 mice embryos at stage E10.5 were tested using a localized Bmp4 bead explant culture to determine changes in the gene domains of Foxn1 and Gcm2. The emb
"Vitamin D mitigates diabetic and oxidative stresses on kidney cells"
Xinyi Chen, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
The effects of vitamin D on cell viability under various glucose concentrations as well as the mechanism that vitamin D possibly takes to protect cells were investigated in hopes of finding a possible prevention strategy for diabetes.
"Examining the Role of Human Alpha-Synuclein in Cadmium Homeostasis and Transporter Systems in a Dopaminergic Cell Model of Parkinson’s Disease"
Weelic Chong, Oberlin College
Gene-Environment Interaction in a Cell Model of Parkinson’s Disease: Alpha-synuclein Modulates Cadmium Transport Dynamics and Homeostasis
"The Development of a Three-Dimensional Cell Culture System for Retinoblastoma Cells"
Ayling Zulema Dominguez, The Bronx High School of Science
This study was the first to develop uniform clusters in 3D cell cultures for retinoblastoma cells. It demonstrates potential for more accurate findings of future studies involving cell cultures, such as studies regarding potential treatments for cancers.
"Lithium-Induced Neuroprotection is Associated with Epigenetic Modification of Specific BDNF Gene Promoter and Altered Expression of Apoptotic-Regulatory Proteins"
Tushar Dwivedi, Neuqua Valley High School
This study examines lithium's neuroprotective function in Bipolar Disorder by determining its impact on neuronal viability, dendritic length and number, the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, and the exon specific epigenetic regulation of BDN
"Investigation of autophagy in Huntington's disease using a mutant huntingtin knock-in striatal cell line"
Lauren Anji Houle, Pine Crest School
Lauren used a cell model to investigate the relationship between the mutant huntingtin protein, aberrant lysosomal positioning, and premature autophagosome-lysosome fusion and how this relationship contributes to the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease.
"Genetic Analysis of Toll-like Receptor Signaling in Neurodevelopment"
Farzana Faiza Khan, The Bronx High School of Science
C. elegans have a pair of neurons called BAG that require a Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway to properly develop. To identify new genes in TLR signaling, a suppressor screen was conducted and identified the gene unc-31 as a suppressor of pmk-3.
"Characterization of A Novel Groundbreaking Radioresistance Pathway in the Endometrial Cancer Stem Cell Niche: The Interplay of WNT, Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α)"
Nelly Lin, The Bronx High School of Science
KerCheng Chen, The Bronx High School of Science
Discovery of the core circuitry explaining radioresistance in the endometrial cancer stem cell niche. The pathways COX-2, HIF-1α, and WNT are responsible for creating a hypoxic radio-barrier for the cancer stem cell and allowing for the tumor to persist a
"Characterizing Ear2 Gene in Alternatively Activated Macrophages and Its Potential Anti-Helminth Property in Helminth Infections"
Jiayi Lily Ma, The Bronx High School of Science
According to a study in 2007, helminth or parasitic worm affected about 2.7 billion people living in under-developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This project investigates a gene called Ear2 and its potential protective role in helminth
"The Development of a Novel Fusion Protein to Facilitate Connectomic Analysis of Brain Networks"
Gurion Marks, The Bronx High School of Science
In order to allow for more efficient tracing of neural networks (“connectomes”), I created a fusion protein to tag specific parts of neurons. Electron microscopy tags in those parts will let machine learning algorithms more effectively trace neural networks.
"Nicotine induces estrus in adult female rats"
Rebecca Elizabeth Philip, The Bronx High School of Science
Females are significantly more likely to become addicted to nicotine, as well as other drugs. Intensive research has been conducted on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as the agents responsible for nicotine addiction. However, the mechanism by which fema
"The Artificial Chimeric Antigen Receptor Provides the Prospect for Efficacious Treatment of B-Cell Malignancies Through Immunotherapy"
Andre Mordell Radensky, Pine Crest School
T-cell immunotherapy has arisen in recent years as a potential alternative form of cancer treatment that largely became possible as a result of the chimeric antigen receptor, which is an artificial T-cell receptor that can be programmed to recognize certa
"Analysis of sypK Gene in Vibrio fischeri Biofilms"
Aishwarya Raj, Illinois Math and Science Academy
How over and under expression of certain genes can affect bacterial traits and consequently biofilm formation and motility.
"Progression of Liver Disease in Mice Fed High Soybean Oil"
Antonia Rizo, University of California Riverside
The incidence of obesity in the U.S. has increased from 15% to 35% in the last 40 years and is expected to rise to 50% by 2030(1). Paralleling this increase in obesity are a number of dietary changes, most pronounced of which is a >1000 fold increase in c
"Literary Investigation of Gene Therapy in the Treatment of Cancer"
Evin Freddi Rothschild, Pine Crest School
Gene knockdowns look to be a promising treatment method of a variety of types of cancer.
"How ApoE4 Interacts with Estrogen to Cause Alzheimer’s Disease?"
Nicholas F. Smith, Eastern Illinois University
The purpose of my research is to examine if isoforms of apolipoprotein E (apoE), a major risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease (AD), differentially alter the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) subtype ERα in brain areas susceptible to AD.
"Quantum Physics Model of Kinesin Walking Nanomotors"
Bill Chen Tan, The Bronx High School of Science
All existing models of kinesin (1BG2) are insufficiently accurate to direct engineering efforts not only for kinesin but also for the production of synthetic walking nanomotors. In this research project, a quantum physics model is developed in order to ag