Date: Friday, August 16th, 2013

Time: 10:00 am

Location: ITE 456

Light refreshments will be served at 9:45 am

Dissertation title: Proteomic Analysis of Aspergillus nidulans during Autophagy and the Role of Autophagy Genes Anatg13 and Anatg8

Abstract:

Aspergilli represent an extremely important genus of microorganisms which can be both harmful pathogens, and beneficial pharmaceutical producers. In Aspergilli’s interactions with man, suboptimal nutrient conditions are often present, and lead to a phenomenon known as autophagy. Autophagy is a cellular recycling mechanism that (in the case of macroautophagy) is augmented under nutrient limited conditions to recycle cytoplasmic macromolecules and organelles for use in essential cell functions. Strategic manipulation of autophagy could ultimately lead to improved bioprocesses or anti-fungal treatments. Using the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, a number of important questions about autophagy have been addressed.

Critical to the study of autophagy is the balance between self-degradation and self-preservation. Therefore, we adapted an XTT metabolic activity assay for use in filamentous fungi. The assay was first tested using a number of bioprocess related stresses (e.g. temperature, shear), and found to be superior to DCW as an assessment of culture health. Next, the metabolic activity of fungal cultures was tested during autophagy inducing conditions, demonstrating that the autophagy capable TN02A3 strain was more viable than an autophagy deficient ∆atg13 strain in nutrient limiting conditions.

By analyzing the proteome of key autophagy mutants ∆Anatg13 and ∆Anatg8, an improved molecular understanding of autophagy in filamentous fungi was achieved. Using 2-dimensional electrophoresis, 44 unique proteins were observed with significant expression changes caused either by addition of rapamycin (a chemical inducer of autophagy) or deletion of Anatg13. AnAtg13 dependent changes of multiple ribosomal proteins and a key polyamine biosynthetic protein, spermidine synthase (AnSpdA), provides molecular evidence of AnAtg13 dependent lifespan extension in A. nidulans.

After establishing improved shotgun proteomic methods on the Thermo LTQ-XL, we generated a more thorough assessment of the A. nidulans response to autophagy induction by measuring protein expression as a function of time. It was found that autophagy induction caused a rapid and sustained increase in proteolysis, amino acid degradation, and lipid metabolism. These changes occurred in both the control (TN02A3) and autophagy deficient ∆Anatg8 strains. Many of the proteins with a delayed change in expression were autophagy dependent. These include proteins involved in those involved in secretion, hydrolysis of alternative carbon sources, and secondary metabolite production; all of which are important to the bioprocess industry.

In January 2013, the EWB-UMBC team traveled to Isongo, Kenya for an assessment trip, during which they successfully established relationships with the residents, mapped the community, analyzed the water quality, and surveyed residents on water, sanitation, and hygiene. Now the group is planning an implementation trip for January 2014 to install a clean water system that will benefit 500 people from Isongo.

But they can’t make the trip without your help.

How can you help?

Your donation makes two things possible: (1) Development of a clean water supply for the community of Isongo, Kenya and (2) transformative experiences for UMBC students interested in international, humanitarian work. You can also help the EWB-UMBC project by spreading the word to your friends, family, and co-workers. Money raised will help pay for materials and tools needed to drill wells in Isongo, as well as travel and lodging costs for student volunteers.
With your help, EWB-UMBC hopes to raise $20,050 to send a team of 6 students to Kenya to complete this important project.

For more information or to donate, please visit EWB-UMBC's crowdfunding page.

Congratulations to Environmental Engineering graduate student Aditi Bhaskar for receiving a Rising Young Star award at the 2013 Gordon Conference on Catchment Science, which was held Jun 16-21, 2013 in Andover, NH.

Regular conference meetings were preceded by a two-day Gordon Research Seminar, in which graduate students and post-doctoral investigators met as a group to share and discuss their cutting-edge research, build new scientific collaborations and prepare for their interactions with more senior scientists. The goal of the symposium was to promote networking among the young people in advance of the conference in a non-threatening, low-key environment. Students were required to apply in order to be allowed to give oral presentations, and the top three outstanding oral presentations were selected by a vote of all seminar attendees. Rising Young Star recipients were then given the honor of presenting their work to the general conference.

Ms. Bhaskar, who is a research assistant in the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE), did a wonderful job giving her presentation and received congratulations from attendees from around the world, many of whom are senior and well known scientists. CBEE is very proud of her remarkable achievement!

Recipients of a Ph.D. degree in Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering

The following Ph.D. graduates completed a doctoral thesis describing significant research contributions to their field:

John Bendick May 2013, High Shear Rotary Membrane System Enhancements for Naval Wastewaters MENTOR: Brian Reed

Philip Gidly Dec. 2012, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Transport in Amended Sediment Caps MENTOR: Upal Ghosh

Hui Guo May 2013, Development of Chromatofocusing Techniques Employing Mixed-Mode Column Packings for Biomolecule Separations MENTOR: Doug Frey

Angele Kwimi May 2013, Interaction of As(III), As(V) and PO4 with Fe Oxide Impregnated Activated Carbons: Modeling Multisorbate Adsorption using the Surface Complexation Approach MENTOR: Brian Reed

Recipients of a Master of Science degree in Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering

The following M.S. graduates completed a thesis describing original research endeavors:

Helena Gaifem, Dec. 2012 The Influence of Neural Stem Cells on the Degradation of Poly(Ethylene) Glycol Hydrogel Scaffolds MENTOR: Jennie Leach

Priyanka Gupta, May 2013 Completely Non-invasive Monitoring of Dissolved Oxygen in Disposable Small Scale Cell Culture Devices MENTOR: Govind Rao

Sunsanee Kanjananimmanot, May 2013 Noninvasive Transdermal Glucose Monitoring using a Fluorescent Glucose Binding Protein MENTOR: Govind Rao

Shengchun Liu, May 2013 The Influence of Micro-patterned Surface on the Formation of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm MENTOR: Julia Ross

Jacob Sarnecki, Dec 2012 Using Genome Scale Metabolic Models to Determine the Similarity of the Crabtree and Warburg Elfects MENTOR: Mariajose Castellanos

Shelby Vargo, Aug. 2012 Cell Response to Hydrogel Tissue Scalfolds MENTOR: Jennie Leach

Bo Wang, Dec. 2012 Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Fish from Maryland Waters MENTOR: Upal Ghosh

Yunqian Wei, Aug. 2012 Polyethylene Glycol-Peptide Hydrogels as Affinity Growth Factor Release Scalfolds MENTOR: Jennie Leach

The following M.S. graduates completed Master level course work and also worked with Faculty Mentors in their laboratories:

Opeyemi Ajayi, Dec. 2012 Developing Chemical Genetic Profiling Methods for Fungi MENTOR: Mark Marten

Chijioke Irrechukwu, May 2013

Sivesh Muthuswarmy, Dec. 2012 Quantifying morphology of autophagy deficient fugal mutants MENTOR: Mark Marten

Brian O'Hara, Dec 2012 Studying processes using differential equations MENTOR: Mariajose Castellanos

Payam Rezaei, May 2013 Large scale sorting of nanoparticles MENTOR: Doug Frey

Nicholas Selock, May2013 C02 Sensor Development MENTOR:Govind Rao

Recipients of Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemical Engineering

Omar M. Ahmed, B.S.
Saqib M. Ashraf, B.S.
Natalie A. Austin, B.S.
Henry 0. Ayoola, B.S.
Zach Bailey, B.S. HONORS: Cum Laude
Adithya Balasubramanian, B.S. HONORS: Summa Cum Laude, Certificate: Honors College
Catherine H. Brown, B.S. Minor: Psychology
Keisha M. Carr, B.S. HONORS: Cum Laude
Rosilyn J. Chirayath, B.S.
Carole-Anne G. Dallo, B.S.
Andrew Dillon, B.S.
Eli Y. Eisenberg, B.S. HONORS: Magna Cum Laude
Azra Hosie, B.S. Minor: Modern Languages and Linguistics
Lilian C. Johnson, B.S. HONORS: Magna Cum Laude; Certificate: Honors College
Nikolaus H. Jost, B.S. HONORS: Cum Laude; Certificate: Honors College
Phillip H. Kang, B.S. HONORS: Magna Cum Laude
Virgil Ketner, B.S. Second Major: Chemistry
Bryan Y. Kim, B.S.
Dongxue Li, B.S.
Hung Lu, B.S.
Joshua M. Martin, B.S.
Jennifer E. Mohr, B.S.
Satomi Morimoto, B.S.
Brittany A. Nordmark, B.S. HONORS: Cum Laude
Chiazor Tolu Nwachukwu, B.S.HONORS: Magna Cum Laude
David J. Ring, B.S. HONORS: Magna Cum Laude; Minor: Mathematics; Certificate: Honors College
Elham Safavi, B.S.
Marc A. Scimonelli, B.S.
Eugene Shin, B.S.
Robert L. Temple, B.S.
Jonathan E. Tourgee, B.S.
Brianna Grace Trankle, B.S.
Camille Q. Vu, B.S. HONORS: Magna Cum Laude
Christopher L. Yankaskas, B.S. HONORS: Summa Cum Laude
Talat Zeini, B.S.

Hui Guo successfully defended her PhD on April 26th, 2013. Her research was performed in the Frey Lab; the title of her dissertation was "Development of Chromatofocusing Techniques Employing Mixed-Mode Column Packings for Biomolecule Separations."

John Bendick successfully defended his Ph.D. on April 17th, 2013. His research was performed in the Reed Lab; the title of his dissertation was "High Shear Rotary Membrane System Enhancements for Naval Wastewaters".

Angele Kwimi successfully defended her Ph.D. on March 29th, 2013. Her research was performed in the Reed Lab; the title of her dissertation was "Interaction of As(III), As(V) and PO4 with Fe Oxide Impregnated Activated Carbons: Modeling Multisorbate Adsorption using the Surface Complexation Approach".

Dr. Aaron Goldstein
Dept.of Chemical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg VA

Date: Monday, April 29
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Location: ITE 456

"Fabrication of complex biomaterial scaffolds for tissue engineering by electrospinning"

The human body contains numerous orthopaedic tissues that are marked spatially gradients of mechanical properties, extracellular matrix composition, and cell phenotype. The bone-to-ligament transition, in particular, exhibits a sharp transition from a compliant fibrous tissue to a hard mineralized tissue that is critical for efficient load transmission without strain concentrations. However, such a transition is not necessarily recapitulated in surgical reconstruction of ruptured ligaments. Over the past decade, we have been interested in the micro-fiber topographies that are produced by the electrospinning process and their impact on the morphology and phenotype of adhesion-dependent mammalian cells. Initially, we began looking at whether these morphologies could be conducive to bone and ligament formation separately, and more recently we have endeavored to create electrospun materials that exhibit spatial gradients in micro-architecture, surface chemistry, and mechanical properties. This presentation will discuss fabrication methods to construct graded biomaterial scaffolds, their chemical and mechanical properties, and the in vitro culture of mesenchymal stem cells – that have the capacity to differentiate into various orthopaedic tissues – on these materials. Next, a strategy will be presented for processing these materials into large three-dimensional structures for ligament reconstruction. Finally, our ongoing efforts to incorporate biologically active factors within these electrospun materials will be described.

In January 2013, the UMBC chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-UMBC) successfully completed an assessment trip to Isongo, Kenya for a clean water project. Students, Chris Mullen (Mechanical Engineering, ‘14) and Dalton Hughes (Chemical Engineering, ‘14), travelled with CBEE professor, Lee Blaney, and professional engineer, Duane Wilding, of the Maryland Environmental Service. The principal goal of this assessment trip was to establish a relationship with the Isongo community and to collect data on the water source currently being used by over 500 villagers. With the help of several community members, the team conducted basic topological surveys, chemical & bacteriological analysis, and household interviews over the weeklong trip.

In partnership with Simiyu House Kenya, a non-profit organization, EWB-UMBC will design and implement a clean and safe water supply for the community of Isongo. Having reliable access to clean water will reduce the incidence of waterborne disease and improve the overall living conditions of the villagers. Currently, the EWB-UMBC chapter is beginning the design phase of the project and raising funds to implement a safe water system in January 2014. The chapter expects to take 5-7 students on the implementation trip.

EWB-UMBC is a student-run organization that seeks to complete sustainable engineering projects in the developing world. All majors and backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to join. More information can be found at http://ewbatumbc.tumblr.com/.

If you would like to join the group, please email Madison Bondoc at umbc.ewb.secretary@gmail.com.

If you would like to donate to the EWB-UMBC project, please follow this link: https://ssl.charityweb.net/ewbusa/pfp/ewbumbckenyawaterproject.htm.
 

Some of the EWB-UMBC team’s helpers.

The EWB-UMBC team (minus Duane Wilding) with community leaders in Isongo.

Dalton Hughes, Chris Mullen, and Duane Wilding conducting water quality testing.

Thumbs-up all around at the end of a successful day!