Maryland Shared Open Access Repository
MD-SOAR is a shared digital repository platform for twelve colleges and universities in Maryland. It is currently funded by the University System of Maryland and Affiliated Institutions (USMAI) Library Consortium (usmai.org) and other participating partner institutions. MD-SOAR is jointly governed by all participating libraries, who have agreed to share policies and practices that are necessary and appropriate for the shared platform. Within this broad framework, each library provides customized repository services and collections that meet local institutional needs. Please follow the links below to learn more about each library's repository services and collections.
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Item type: Item , Lyme Disease: Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the Detection and Quantitation of Antibodies Against Borrelia burgdorferi(1987-05) Velnoskey, Charles S.; Hood college Biology; Biomedical and Environmental ScienceAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection and quantitation of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies. When compared with IFA and FIAX (Quantitative Fluorescence Immunoassay), this newly developed ELISA demonstrated equivalent sensitivity (97.5%) and specificity (95.1%). Linearity of the ELISA was established using serial two-fold dilutions of serum, thus allowing the use of a single dilution of serum for quantitation of antibody. Positive values were reliable with a mean intra-assay coefficient of variation of 4.30% and a mean inter-assay coefficient of variation of 9.44%. The antigen coated solid phase was shown to be stable for at least three months when stored at 4°C. Sera containing Rheumatoid Factor, anti-nuclear antibodies and antibodies against Rocky Mountain spotted fever did not react in this assay. One of several sera reactive with Treponema pallidum, also a spirochete, exhibited minimal reactivity in the Borrelia burgdorferi ELISA. In overall performance, the ELISA demonstrated the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy essential for use as a diagnostic tool for the detection and quantitation of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi.Item type: Item , EFFECTS OF GLYPHOSATE ON ANTI-PREDATOR MORPHOLOGY IN DAPHNIA PULEX(2016-05) Veldt, Adam Int; Hood College Biology; Biomedical and Environmental ScienceGlyphosate use has rapidly increased over the past several years. It is a broad-spectrum herbicide that destroys weeds and other broadleaf plants. Glyphosate is thought to be a target-specific herbicide that only affects plants. It has been tested on non-target organisms but has not been examined for its effects on anti-predator morphology in cladocerans. The purpose of this experiment was to examine glyphosate effects on Daphnia pulex. I tested three environmentally relevant concentrations of glyphosate in the presence or absence of predatory kairomones to determine its effects on neck teeth induction, number of spines, and carapace growth. Glyphosate significantly decreased organism growth showing that it does have an effect on juvenile D. pulex development. Any changes to anti-predator morphology among D. pulex could make them more vulnerable to predation and result in subsequent changes to freshwater aquatic food webs.Item type: Item , COMPARING SYNTHETIC AND ORGANIC FERTILIZER EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY(2013-05) Vattimo, Danielle; Hood College Biology; Biomedical and Environmental ScienceI examined whether applying organic or synthetic fertilizers to radish plants resulted in more nitrate, nitrite, phosphorus or ammonia runoff compared to a control. Given the widespread pollution from agricultural runoff, any negative impacts need to be documented and ultimately, mitigated. Using a grow lab and radish plants, organic and synthetic fertilizer was applied to determine any significant difference in the runoff amounts. GLM univariate ANOVAs were run for all of the treatments; the runoff concentrations of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia were found to be not significantly different for any of the treatments. Phosphorus runoff concentration for the synthetic fertilizer treatment was significantly higher than organic treatments. Nitrate and nitrite both had readings that were over the EPA maximum contaminant level for drinking water. There are no drinking water standards for phosphorus but 97% of the nutrient runoff readings were above what is needed to stimulate eutrophication.Item type: Item , Primate Retroviruses: Biochemical Characterization Based on the Isoelectric Points of the Envelope Glycoproteins(1978-05) Van Laningham-Miller, Elizabeth Suzan; Hood College Biology; Biomedical and Environmental ScienceThe major envelope glycoproteins of Rauscher murine leukemia virus, feline leukemia virus, RD114, baboon virus, woolly monkey virus, Mason Pfizer monkey virus, and gibbon ape whole virus preparations were examined by isoelectric focusing and competition immunoassay for their isoelectric points. All exhibited isoelectric points in the range of 3.92 to 7.32. All, except feline leukemia virus, exhibited two separate isoelectric points designated Peak I and Peak II. Peak I had isoelectric points in the range of 3.92 to 5.35. Peak II had isoelectric points in the range of 5.35 to 7.32. Isoelectric focusing of purified baboon virus 70,000 molecular weight glycoprotein (gp70) demonstrated the absence of Peak II as seen in the whole virus focusing of baboon. This is the first evidence of the possibility of a lower molecular weight glycosylated breakdown product of gp70 in a virus isolate other than Rauscher murine leukemia virus.Item type: Item , THE EFFECT OF POSITION AND ORIENTATION IN THE EXPRESSION OF TWO GENES IN A DUAL GENE CONSTRUCT(1991-11) Van Der Schalie, Barbara C.; Hood College Biology; Biomedical and Environmental SciencePromoter occlusion (Adhaya and Gottesman, 1982) has been suggested as an explanation for differential gene expression of two genes in the same recombinant construct (Kadesch and Berg, 1986). In this study, four recombinant plasmids were constructed containing two genes, the prokaryotic neo gene and the human ras 1 gene. The pSV2neo plasmid (Southern and Berg, 1982) contains the cis functions necessary for expression in eukaryotic cells: SV40 enhancer, promoter, and k polyadenylation signal surrounding the bacterial neomycin phosphotransferase gene. Gene expression confers neomycin resistance in bacteria and Geneticin (G418) resistance in eukaryotic cells. Detection and quantitation of gene expression is measured by G418 resistant colony formation. The second gene is a clone of the oncogenic human Harvey ras 1 gene which transforms murine NIH 3T3 cells, producing morphologically altered foci that are easily counted. Thus, the dual construct is capable of producing transformed foci and G418 resistant colonies in NIH 3T3 cells selected in G418 medium. The promoter occlusion hypothesis states that one of the two genes may be preferentially expressed and that transcription of one gene in the construct could obstruct equal expression of the second gene. The recombinant neo-ras constructs were made in parallel and antiparallel orientation and with 1 kilobase (kb) and 3 kb of intervening sequence between genes. These plasmids were linearized and transfected, using calcium phosphate precipitation, and grown on selective G418 medium for 12 days. Parallel assays were performed in which G418 resistant colonies were counted as neo expression, and separate ras induced foci were enumerated. A total of five replicate tests were conducted per plasmid. The G418 resistant colony data were normalized to the pSV2neo construct to correct for possible inter-replicate differences not due to treatment effects or second gene expression. Differences between constructs in the mean number of G418 resistant colonies and foci were determined using the a single factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) for parametric data and a Kruskal-Wallis test for non-parametric data. There were no significant differences in foci or G418 resistant colony counts among the recombinant constructs. This suggests that, for NIH 3T3 cells transfected by calcium phosphate precipitation and assayed by focus/G418 resistant colony counts, the position and orientation of the two transcriptional units do not affect the expression of the two genes.