Investigating The Role Of The Gene, Rho1 On The Innate Immune Response In Drosophila Melanogaster

Mukta Sangar, Shivam Patel
Mentor: Dr. Jeff Leips, Biological Sciences

Immunosenescence, the decline in immune function with age is a hallmark of aging but varies among individuals. This variation has a genetic basis but the genes involved are unknown. A recent genome-wide association study identified Rho1 as a candidate gene contributing to the variation of immune function with age. We investigated the role of Rho1 on bacterial clearance at young and old ages using Drosophila melanogaster. We used the GAL4-UAS system to knock down the expression of Rho1 in hemocytes of male and female flies and tested the effect of reduced expression on the ability of flies to clear bacterial infection at 1 and 5 weeks of age. Overall, older flies had reduced ability to clear infection compared with younger flies and males were significantly better at clearing infection than females. The effect of reduced expression of Rho1 on clearance ability depended on sex. Reduced Rho1 expression decreased the ability of males to clear infection but had no significant effect on clearance ability in females. Future work focused on understanding how Rho1 influences the innate immune response and why it has sex specific effects will provide new avenues for improving the immune function and the health span of the elderly.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Be like Mukta and Shivam: become a URA scholar today!

https://ur.umbc.edu/ura/

Cultural Pluralism in Practice: A Mixed-method Study on Reducing Asian American Students’ COVID-19-related Stress

Liz Weir, Aguiling, W., Aquino, A.K.
Mentor: Dr. Charissa Cheah, Psychology

Increased anti-Asian sentiment during the COVID-19 pandemic created a more hostile environment for Asian Americans (Cheah et al., 2020). For Chinese American adolescents, this sinophobic fear could impact their stress in school. Previous research has found experiences of discrimination among Chinese American adolescents to be associated with negative academic outcomes (Benner & Kim, 2009). One factor that might moderate this link is the extent to which adolescents believe their schools practice cultural pluralism by making minority students more visible and celebrating cultural differences (Brand et al., 2003; Green et al., 1988). Promoting diversity and inclusivity may increase students’ sense of belonging in school, thus minimizing the stressful effects of messages of rejection about their racial/ethnic group (Schachner et al., 2016). Applying the School Ethnic Racial Socialization (ERS) Transmission model (Saleem & Byrd, 2021) to Asian American adolescents, this study will examine the potential moderating role of schools’ support for cultural pluralism (SSCP) in the relation between students’ perceived Sinophobia and school stress in the context of COVID-19. In addition, we will incorporate qualitative interview data to understand Asian American adolescents’ ideas surrounding how schools can create inclusive learning environments that address and/or prevent racial marginalization.

This work was funded, in part, through an Undergraduate Research Award from the UMBC Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Be like Liz! Apply to be a URA Scholar today! Get up to $1500 to support your research or creative work!

https://ur.umbc.edu/ura/

URAs provide up to $1,500 to undergraduate students to support their research, scholarship, or creative work with a UMBC faculty mentor on an original project. UMBC students of all years and disciplines are invited to apply, as long as they remain enrolled at UMBC long enough to complete the proposed work.

Applications require a research proposal and mentor statement of support.

"My mentor gave me a great letter of support. He liked ponds too," Matt explained.

Apply now using the link below. Applications are due on May 2, 2005.

"It's a fantastic opportunity!" Matt said (loudly).

Balochistan: A Silent Resistance

Ayan Shaikh
Mentor: Zareen Taj, Global Studies

Produced as a project for the Documentary Film as Activism seminar (GLBL409), this film aims to educate and raise awareness about the evolution of oppressive ethnic, class, and state systems that have shaped the Balochi struggle in Pakistan. Creating this film deepened my passion for the subject and reinforced my commitment to sharing the daily adversities faced by the Baloch people. Acknowledging the severe deterioration of their socio-political condition is imperative.

The documentary encompasses a concise historical overview of Balochistan’s contested past and a portrayal of its current landscape. Through the film, I hope to provide viewers with a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be Balochi and the current lived experiences of this resilient community.

A Message From the Dean

Stephen Freeland, Interim Dean and Vice Provost of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Dear Participants and Guests,

Undergraduate research and creative achievement matters!

At UMBC, the degree to which we encourage and celebrate this fact is a source of deep institutional pride. Converting learning into doing, is central to our university’s concept of student success because we know that the journey grows skills and builds identity that improve outcomes both within and beyond any undergraduate degree. I therefore welcome you with enthusiasm to UMBC’s 29th annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD).

This inspiring day showcases research and creative achievements co-created between students, staff, and faculty across UMBC and across the academic disciplines. Today you are warmly invited to experience films, musical performances, art exhibits, video games, along with presentations about experiments and analyses in every discipline. Together we celebrate this hard work showing gratitude for the mentorship and encouragement that have inspired each student to develop their potential. We celebrate the power of applied learning to develop critical thinking skills, communication skills, and skills of working in partnerships and teams. From another and equally important perspective, we celebrate the power of applied learning to produce stories and experiences that connect people across cultures, disciplines, and ideologies. These are the skills our students will take forward as leaders of the future.

Our students’ achievements today are a tribute to their imaginations, their hard work, and their resilience in the face of challenges. They are also testament to the skill, passion, and service of mentors drawn from our faculty and staff across the campus. Please accept my appreciation and admiration for you all.

Welcome to URCAD 2025!

Stephen Freeland
Interim Dean and Vice Provost of Undergraduate Academic Affairs