Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Education

Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been one of the most dreaded, recent pandemics impacting multifarious global sectors, including education. To control contagion, affected nations ordered academic campus closures and home-schooling plans. Schools, colleges, and universities underwent a paradigm shift adopting internet-based delivery of lectures, synchronously or asynchronously (recorded), with virtual labs. Medical education suffered significantly; suspending student internships in hospitals decreased practical exposure to clinical specialties, impairing students’ performance, and competency.Teachers of traditional classes, with technical assistance, undertook rigorous trainings to restructure pedagogical and assessment strategies online using web/mobile applications and other digital tools.https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facbooks/1027/thumbnail.jp

The 14-3-3 (YWHA) Proteins in Mammalian Reproduction

The 14-3-3 (YWHA or Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/Tryptophan 5-Monooxygenase Activation protein) is an acidic and homologous protein family involved in regulation of key biological events including cell cycle, signal transduction and development. They are highly conserved and are expressed ubiquitously across a wide variety of species ranging from plants to animals. Seven isoforms of 14-3-3 exist in mammals, which are encoded by separate genes, have tissue-specific, developmental stage-specific as well as isoform-specific presence and consequences. It is known that these proteins play significant roles in mitosis of mammalian cells and meiosis of amphibians. However, their effects on development and functioning of mammalian gonads and germ cells are not entirely delineated. This paper, for the first time, provides a comprehensive review of the comparative expression, localization/distribution, binding interactions, and importance of the 14-3-3 proteins in gametogenesis and reproduction among multiple female and male mammalian species. Thorough understanding of these proteins in oogenesis and spermatogenesis would help elucidate the physiological basis of fertility in mammals, including humans

Protein 14-3-3 (YWHA) isoforms and their roles in regulating mouse oocyte maturation

The 14-3-3 (YWHA) is a highly conserved, ubiquitously expressed protein family regulating important cellular processes including cell cycle. This work, for the first time, explored the differential expression and roles of 14-3-3 isoforms during mouse oocyte maturation. All seven mammalian 14-3-3 isoforms were identified in mouse eggs and ovarian follicular cells including oocytes, by Western blotting. Immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the presence of all 14-3-3 isoforms in oocytes, eggs and ovarian follicles with characteristic similarities and differences in their distributions. Mammalian oocytes are arrested at meiosis prophase I by an inhibitory phosphorylation on Cyclin-Dependent Kinase I (CDK1), released by CDC25B phosphatase which is bound and inactivated in phosphorylated form by 14-3-3 in oocyte cytoplasm. Here, in situ Proximity Ligation Assays (PLA) revealed that all 14-3-3 isoforms interact with CDC25B in oocytes, with reduced interactions in eggs. Phosphorylation of CDC25B at Ser-149 was found to be reduced in eggs compared to oocytes. Microinjection of a translation-blocking morpholino oligonucleotide against 14-3-3eta mRNA caused germinal vesicle breakdown in significantly higher percentage of oocytes compared to oocytes injected with morpholinos targeting other 14-3-3 isoforms. Thus, interaction of 14-3-3eta with CDC25B is required for maintaining prophase I arrest in oocytes. Protein 14-3-3eta was observed to accumulate and co-localize with alpha-tubulin at both meiosis I and II spindles during mouse oocyte maturation in vivo as well as in vitro. It interacts directly with alpha-tubulin with an accumulation of the interactions at meiotic spindles, detected by in situ PLA. In a significant 76% of mouse oocytes microinjected with the morpholino against 14-3-3eta mRNA, meiotic spindles were deformed or absent with clumped chromosomes, no accumulation of 14-3-3eta and no polar body formation. All control eggs showed normal, bipolar spindles with accumulation of 14-3-3eta. Therefore, 14-3-3eta is essential for normal meiotic spindle formation during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes, in part by interacting with alpha-tubulin, to regulate the assembly of microtubules. These studies reveal 14-3-3 isoform-specific interactions with key proteins involved in mouse oocyte maturation, such as CDC25B and alpha-tubulin. The results help to elucidate the roles of 14-3-3 proteins in mammalian oogenesis and reproductive development.https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cnso_bio_facbooks/1021/thumbnail.jp

Identification and Cloning of Putative Serine Protease Inhibitor (Serpin) Genes in Rice (Oryza sativa) and a Preliminary Approach to Generate RNAi using the Cloned Sequences

Programmed Cell Death (PCD) is an important mechanism of plant immune response against diseases. Serine protease inhibitors (‘serpins’) are a conserved superfamily of proteins that inhibit serine protease targets and prevent programmed cell death (PCD) in plants, in absence of pathogen infection. In this project, putative serpin genes in rice (Oryza sativa) which are homologous to necrotic/‘Nec’ serpin genes in Drosophila are identified by bioinformatic analyses. This is followed by cloning of specific exon sequences of the rice serpin genes identified. Finally, one of the cloned sequences is utilized in a series of steps to produce interfering RNA (RNAi), to block the gene expression. Results of this study would help elucidate the importance of serpins in the regulation of PCD in rice. The work could lead to further research aimed at generating disease-resistant transgenic plants

Kinetic Arrest of Field-Temperature Induced First Order Phase Transition in Quasi- One Dimensional Spin System Ca3Co2O6

We have found that the geometrically frustrated spin chain compound Ca3Co2O6 belonging to Ising like universality class with uniaxial anisotropy shows kinetic arrest of first order intermediate phase (IP) to ferrimagnetic (FIM) transition. In this system, dc magnetization measurements followed by different protocols suggest the coexistence of high temperature IP with equilibrium FIM phase in low temperature. Formation of metastable state due to hindered first order transition has also been probed through cooling and heating in unequal field (CHUF) protocol. Kinetically arrested high temperature IP appears to persist down to almost the spin freezing temperature in this system.Comment: Kinetic arrest of first order magnetic transition in spin chain compound Ca3Co2O

Expression & Localization of the 14-3-3 Protein Family Within Mammals

This past summer, I was able to complete a remote Independent Study with Dr. Santanu De. As a team of four, we interacted via Zoom meetings and shared documents. Together, we researched and analyzed the 14-3-3 protein family, a class of molecular chaperones found in essentially all mammals. I was able to conclude that this protein family has many implications in cellular biology, and that expression levels could potentially be used as a diagnostic tool for various cancers. Overall, this was a beneficial experience as I was able to strengthen my research skills, publish a manuscript, and gain a newfound appreciation for the research process