Silicateins, members of the cathepsin L family, are enzymes that have been shown to be involved in the biosynthesis/condensation of biosilica in spicules from Demospongiae (phylum Porifera), e.g. Tethya aurantium and Suberites domuncula. The class Hexactinellida also forms spicules from this inorganic material. This class of sponges includes species that form the largest biogenic silica structu...

Crystals formed in biological tissues often adopt remarkable morphologies that are thought to be determined mainly by the shapes of the confined spaces in which they grow. Another possible way of controlling crystal shape, demonstrated only in vitro, is by means of specialized proteins preferentially interacting with certain crystal faces. In so doing, they reduce the rate of growth in these di...

Pottery was a traditional art and technology form in pre-colonial Amazonian civilizations, widely used for cultural expression objects, utensils and as cooking vessels. Abundance and workability of clay made it an excellent choice. However, inferior mechanical properties constrained their functionality and durability. The inclusion of reinforcement particles is a possible route to improve its r...

Two new species ofrhabdochonid nematodes are described from the intestine of freshwater fishes in Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand: Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) pseudomysti sp. n. from the catfish Pseudomystus siamensis (Regan) (Bagridae, Siluriformes) in the Fang Brook, a tributary of the Kok River (the Mekong River basin), Fang District and Rhabdochona (Globochona) thaiensis sp. n. from th...

Spauligodon timbavatiensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of Pachydactylus turneri (Sauria: Gekkonidae) in the Northern Province (RSA) is described and illustrated. It is the fifth species in the Ethiopian region, the others being Spauligodon smithi from Pachydactylus bibronii and Spauligodon petersi from Mabuya sulcata, both in the Northern Cape Province, South Afr...

Three new and two known species of free-living marine nematodes of the family Ironidae from the East China Sea are described and illustrated. Conilia sinensis sp. nov. is identified by the relatively large body size (1883-2399 µm); the well developed lips; the number, shape and length of spicule (single and striated, length 87-100 µm as arc); the shape of telamon; the number of supplements (1)....

Characterization of microbial community structure in the octocoral Leptogorgia virgulata" (2011). Honors Theses. 1 This thesis has been accepted as part of the honors requirements in the Department of Biology. _____________________________________ ____________________ (advisor signature) (date) _____________________________________ ____________________ (reader signature) (date) 2 Abstract The p...

Two adult rock partridges raised in a city zoo were examined parasitologically and pathologically. Two distinctive eggs resembling those of Capillaria and Heterakis were detected in the feces. At necropsy, a markedly-dilated duodenum with severe catarrhal exudates, containing adult worms of Capillaria sp. and Heterakis sp. in the cecum, was observed. Male Capillaria had the cloacal aperture ext...

TGF-beta signaling in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans plays multiple roles in the development of the animal. The Sma/Mab pathway controls body size, male tail sensory ray identity and spicule formation. Three Smad genes, sma-2, sma-3 and sma-4, are all required for signal transduction, suggesting that the functional complex could be a heterotrimer. Because the C termini of Smads play import...