072— Geneseo COVID-19 Study Group Report IV: Zoonotic Transmission and Variants of SARS-CoV-2

A zoonotic disease is a virus, bacteria, or other organism that is transmitted from animals to humans. There are many zoonotic diseases that have arisen from a family of viruses called Coronaviridae, one of these being SARS-CoV-2 which is more commonly known as Covid-19. We know that viruses can mutate to create variants of themselves with changes to their genetic code. As of March 13, 2021, there are three identified variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus - B.1.1.7 (UK), B.1.351 (South Africa), and P.1 (Brazil). These virulent zoonotic strains have been found globally since 2019 and have managed to become more dangerous with each mutation. The specific strains can vary in their transmission and morbidity. We will be evaluating the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 to the various mammalian bodies by the binding affinity of the virus to the ACE2 receptors. Our goal is to educate the public on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between humans and animals, specifically their own pets in order to help people better protect themselves

Amyloid-Beta Protein Concentration Dependence of Reversible Aggregation Using Gold Colloid Particles

Although Alzheimer’s and COVID-19 are different diseases, the commonality between them is during the process of them developing in a person by fibrillogenesis. The product of fibrillogenesis results in the development of these diseases. We study the first stage of fibrillogenesis where the amyloid-beta peptide monomers are assembled into an oligomer. We want to isolate this oligomer using gold colloids because this step can be reversed. Utilizing gold colloids allows us to freeze fibrillogenesis in the first step by folding and unfolding the protein repeatedly through a series of pH changes from 4 or below to 10 or higher. At an acidic state (pH~4), the protein is unfolded and aggregates while during a basic state (pH~10), the protein is folded and dispersed. A UV-vis spectrophotometer is used to view the results of the change in acidic to basic conditions. For our research we try to keep the amyloid-beta protein in a quasi-reversible state, so we are able to continue to switch between a pH of 4 and 10 to better observe the protein structures of Alzheimer’s and COVID-19

296— Geneseo COVID-19 Study Group Report III: Detection of SARSCOV2 and an Insight into mRNA Replication

Researchers and healthcare professionals are working tirelessly to counteract the newly emerged SARS-COV2 pandemic. Advancements in research today are slowly putting us in a better position to fully understand and deal with this virus. There is relatively a small amount known about this virus because it is a new variation in its family of viruses (Coronaviridae), and thus there is much more to learn. Our poster explores the inner workings behind the scenes that our researchers and healthcare professionals interact with in order to understand the virus and devise treatments going forward. Some of the topics include the detection of SARS-COV2 by using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing as well as insight into the science behind viral mRNA replication. The purpose of this poster is to strengthen the public’s understanding of this newly emerged virus and provide up-to-date information on the validation of testing as knowledge of the virus is better comprehended

076— Geneseo COVID 19 Study Group Report II: Infection Mechanism and Methods of Prevention

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is spread by infected individuals exhaling aerosols that contain active virus cells that are inhaled by another person or land on high-contact surfaces. Once the virus is inhaled, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) protein on the lung cells functions as a receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. ACE2 normally converts angiotensin II (ANG II), a protein that is harmful to the lungs, into another molecule that counteracts the effects of ACE2. When ACE2 is occupied with SARS-CoV-2, ANG II will not be converted, resulting in damage to the lungs. Distancing six feet apart has become a standard guideline in preventing transmission of infectious diseases, SARS-CoV-2 virus droplets can reach up to six feet or more from their source. Masks are used to further control the spread of infection and protect the wearer. Additionally, disinfectants, or biocides, have shown to be the most effective at destroying the virus on high-contact surfaces. Biocides come in a variety of forms ranging from alcohols to aldehydes and function differently, but all achieve the same task of inactivating cells either by disruption of the virus-cell membrane or infiltration into the cell which causes protein degradation, resulting in cell death

Microscopic Investigation of Reversible Nanoscale Surface Size Dependent Protein Conjugation

Aβ1–40 coated 20 nm gold colloidal nanoparticles exhibit a reversible color change as pH is externally altered between pH 4 and 10. This reversible process may contain important information on the initial reversible step reported for the fibrillogenesis of Aβ (a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease). We examined this reversible color change by microscopic investigations. AFM images on graphite surfaces revealed the morphology of Aβ aggregates with gold colloids. TEM images clearly demonstrate the correspondence between spectroscopic features and conformational changes of the gold colloid

Versatile whole-organ/body staining and imaging based on electrolyte-gel properties of biological tissues

Whole-organ/body three-dimensional (3D) staining and imaging have been enduring challenges in histology. By dissecting the complex physicochemical environment of the staining system, we developed a highly optimized 3D staining imaging pipeline based on CUBIC. Based on our precise characterization of biological tissues as an electrolyte gel, we experimentally evaluated broad 3D staining conditions by using an artificial tissue-mimicking material. The combination of optimized conditions allows a bottom-up design of a superior 3D staining protocol that can uniformly label whole adult mouse brains, an adult marmoset brain hemisphere, an ~1 cm3 tissue block of a postmortem adult human cerebellum, and an entire infant marmoset body with dozens of antibodies and cell-impermeant nuclear stains. The whole-organ 3D images collected by light-sheet microscopy are used for computational analyses and whole-organ comparison analysis between species. This pipeline, named CUBIC-HistoVIsion, thus offers advanced opportunities for organ- and organism-scale histological analysis of multicellular systems

Reversible peptide oligomerization over nanoscale gold surfaces

A selective oligomeric formation of amyloid beta 1-40 (Ab1-40) monomers over a nanogold colloidal surface was investigated. An unfolded Ab1-40 monomer is considered to construct a dimer or trimer based oligomeric form with its hydrophobic segment placing outward under an acidic condition. Under a basic condition, a conformation of Ab is expected to take a folded monomeric form with its hydrophilic segment folded inward, avoiding the networking with residual colloidal particles. The most probable oligomeric form constructed over a 20 nm gold colloidal surface within a 25 ℃ to 65 ℃ temperature range is a dimer based unit and that over 30 or 40 nm gold colloidal surface below 15 ℃ is concluded to be a trimer based unit. However, selective oligomerization was not successfully reproduced under the rest of the conditions. A dipole-induced dipole interaction must cause a flexible structural change between folded and unfolded forms