Senior Thesis Titles 2000

LAUREN ACINAPURA

The Etiology of Autism: The Autoimmunity/ Virus/ Vaccine Hypothesis
Candice Pert, Ph.D., Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Georgetown University

ANOUSHKA AFONSO

Loss of Heterozygosity on Chromosome 13 is associated with advanced stage prostate cancer
Cathy D. Vocke, Urologic Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
Ronda J. Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University
* Anoushka was awarded the Chapman Medal from the Department of Biology for this thesis research project

NATALIE L. AHRONOVITZ

The Survival Characteristics of LNCaP Prostate Cancer Cells
Dr. Gelmann MD/Ph.D, Georgetown Medical Center

Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JOSEPH ALEXANDER

The Non-transcriptional Effects of MAPK Signaling on ER Protein Degradation
Dorraya El-Ashry, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown Hospital

KRISTIN C. ALFANO

Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein-2: Significance in Parasite Biology and Diagnosis
Diane Wallace Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JOHN APOSTOLIDES

The Alaskan oil spill: effects of both the oil spill and subsequent cleanup methods on coastal communities
Philip Sze, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

VERONICA ASCARRUNZ

Regulation of nicotine acetylcholine receptors on pheochromocytoma cells by nicotine and nerve growth factor
Kenneth J. Kellar, Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University School of Medicine

ELLEN K. ASPLAND

Mother-Infant Synchrony in Wild Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops aduncus)
Janet Mann, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KIRSTEN BENDECK

A Transmission Electron Microscope Study of Bacterial Morphotypes on the Anterior Dorsal Tongue Surface of Sus scurfa and Canis familiaris
George B. Chapman, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ERIN BIANCHI

Potential Loss of human menin (MEN-1) and MRCK-γ in Human Breast Cancer
Peter D. Burbelo, Ph.D., Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center

Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MARIANNA LARISA BLYUMIN

A Comparison of Immune Responses to Toxoplasma gondii in Immunocompetent, Immunosuppressed, and Immunologically Immature Individuals
Diane Wallace Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MARIE N. BOUCHER

Techniques in Genetic Forensics
Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MELISSA M. BRYANT

Polyphosphates and Cellular Resistance to UV-irradiation
Elliot Crooke, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center

Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biochemistry, Georgetown University

DANIEL CALVA CERQUEIRA

Caspases in Spinal Cord Injury
Susan Knoblach, Ph.D., Alan Faden, M.D., Georgetown Institute of Cognitive and Computational Science, Georgetown University

Douglas Eagles, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry, Georgetown University

PETER J. COOK

Nitroxide Tempo Induces Apoptosis in Hormone Responsive and Unresponsive Prostate Cancer Cells
Usha Kasid and Simeng Suy, Departments of Radiation Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center; David Nishioka, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MARYANN DEAK

Diet Quality, Calorie-restriction, and Weight-specific Metabolic Rate as important factors in Seizure Protection
Douglas A. Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

CHRISTOPHER MATTHEW DILORENZO

A Pattern of Terminal Mitosis used to Determine the Direction of Cytological Development in the Mouse Cochlea
Matthew Kelley, Department of Cell Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center

David Nishioka, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

RYAN DVORAK

The Physiology of the Somatopause in the Elderly and an Assessment of Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy
Richard S. Blanquet, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

HO VIET DZUNG

Bee Diversity and the Habitat Effects in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, VA (Hymenoptera: Apiformes)
Edward M. Barrows, Laboratory of Entomology and Animal Behavior, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ANTHONY FLYNN

Acetylcholine Transmission and its Effects on Memory
Dr. Karen Gale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

WILLIAM P. FRANK

DNA Methyltransferase regulation of Insulin-like Growth Factor-II in the malignant progression of breast tumor epithelium
Dr. Kevin Cullen, Georgetown University Hospital

JENNIFER A. GENUARDI

The Effect of Antioxidants on the Function of Macrophages and Neutrophils
B.J. Zeligs, JA Bellanti, M.D., Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics

DW Taylor, Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry, Georgetown University

CHARAN GOWDA

Using as Artificially Engineered Kinase Motif to Study the Dissemination of Protease Sensitivity Among Bacteriophage Mu repressor protein isoforms
Horoshi Nakai, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center

EWA HALAMA

The Energy Cost of Building Shelters for Silver-Spotted Caterpillars
Martha Weiss, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

PATRICK J. HLUBIK

The Interaction Between Leptin and Neuropeptide Y in the Hypothalamus and the Effect on Energy Balance
Douglas A. Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ROBERT L. HRUBY

The Role of Serotonin in the State of Depression
Richard S. Blanquet, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SANDRA HUBER

The ecological impact of the introduction of Littorina littorea to the Northeast Coast of North America
Philip Sze, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ANDREW HUNG

Diversity, Flight-periods, and Possible Habitat Effects in Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Virginia
Edward M. Barrows, Laboratory of Entomology and Animal Behavior, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SUZANNE VINCENTI JABBOUR

The Effects of Diet Type and Calorie Restriction on Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures in the Male Sprague-Dawley Rat
Douglas A. Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

KENTON A. JAMES

The Role of Calorie Restriction in the Ketogenic Diet and the Effects of Concurrent Use of Diazepam
Douglas A. Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

LAUREN RAYBOULD KELLY

A Light and Electron Microscope Study of the Mucous Accessory Gland of Xylocopa virginica
L.George B. Chapman, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ANANDI KOTAK

The Effects of Carbamazepine and Calorie-Restriction on Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizures in Rats
Douglas A. Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JOHN W. KRAEMER

Habitat and Flower Fly (Diptera: Syrphidae) Biodiversity and Flight Periods in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Virginia
Edward M. Barrows, Laboratory of Entomology and Animal Behavior, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JOHN KUGLER

The Effect of Sickle Cell Trait on IgG Isotype Titers in Plasmodium falciparum Infected pregnant Women
Diane Wallace Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

IRENE KWON

Analysis of a regulatory element on the hMIP-1β chemokine gene promoter
Dr. Steven G. Irving, Ph.D., Department of Pathology, Georgetown University Medical Center

LESLIE LYONS LOUSTEAU

Tyrosine Phosphorylation of the Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex Protein Dystrobrevin by Src-class Kinases
Sheridan Swope, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University Medical Center

Joseph Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

VANESSA J. MARCELL

Comprehensive Molecular Cytogenetic Characterization of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line Derivatives using Comparative Genomic Hybridization and Spectral Karyotyping
Bassem R. Haddad, M.D., Institute for Molecular and Human Genetics, Georgetown University

Ronda J. Rolfes, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

JUSTIN BIKO MCLAUGHLIN-WILLIAMS

Type 1 Interferons and the Prevention of Insulin Dependent Diabetes in NOD Mice
Douglas Sobel, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinologist, Georgetown Hospital, Laboratory of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics

Richard S. Blanquet, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MICHAEL McLEMORE

The Role of an Inhibitor Protein in the Suppression of Estrogen Receptor Gene Transcription in Breast Cancer
Dr. Mary Beth Martin, Departments of Oncology/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Richard S. Blanquet, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

CHRISTOPHER McMANUS

A Study of Batesian Mimicry at the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Virginia
Edward M. Barrows, Laboratory of Entomology and Animal Behavior, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

PATRICK MUFARRIJ

A Mechanism for the Tumorigenic and Angiogenic-Regulation of Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF-1)
Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ROBIN NAHAS

The Efficacy of Valproic Acid used in Conjunction with Special Diet Treatments to Control Induced Seizures
Douglas A. Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

ANTHONY PANARELLI

Estrogen Independence as a Result of Alterations in the MAP Kinase Signal Transduction Pathway
Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

PETER RENZ

Ecoestrogens in Health and Disease
Martha Weiss, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

COLIN G. ROSE

Screening and Sequencing of Genes that are Possibly Associated with Multiple Sclerosis
John Richert, M.D., Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical School

LINDSAY RUHLMANN

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: An Evaluation of Immunological Responses Responsible for Pathology and a Discussion of the Potential Use of Cyclosporin A as Treatment
Diane Wallace Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

CHAS M. RUOFF

The Effects of the Ketogenic Diet and Calorie Restriction on Generalized Absence Seizures
Douglas A. Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

BRUCE F. SABATH

The Potential Role of NF-1 in Susceptibility to JC Virus Infection and the Roles of Other Transcription Factors in JC Virus Transcription and DNA Replication
Eugene O. Major, National Institutes of Health

Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

SHIREEN SARRAF

Amplification of Specific Oncogenes in Ovarian Cancer Cell Lines
Jan Blancato, Ph.D., Institute of Molecular and Human Genetics, Georgetown University Medical Center

VIRGINIA CHAE SONG

APC-Mediated and Retinoid-Mediated regulation of β-Catenin/LEF Signaling in Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines
Stephen Byers, Ph.D., Lombardi Cancer Center and Departments of Oncology and Cell Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center

KATHERINE S. TAUB

N-Acetylaspartylglutamate Stimulates Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 3 to Regulate expression of the GABA-A β3 Subunit in Cerebellar Granule Cells
Joseph H. Neale, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

DIANA TZENG

The Regulation of Virulence Gene Expression in Bordetella pertussis
Anne G. Rosenwald, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MICHELLE C. WALLACE

Recognition of Myelin Basic Protein by HLA DRB1*1501 restricted T-cell receptors mutated in the CDR3 region
Dr. John Richert, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center

Douglas A. Eagles, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MATTHEW WICKERSHAM

The Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms of Coral Bleaching
Philip Sze, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MOLLY WILCOX

Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus as an Autoimmune Disorder: Disease Development and Preventive Therapies in NOD Mice
Diane Wallace Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

RACHEL WISEMAN

Feeding Preferences of the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) for Eucalyptus: Nutritional Requirements and Toxic Compounds
Martha Weiss, Department of Biology, Georgetown University

MATTHEW WOLENSKI

Role of the Raf/MEK/MAPK Signaling Pathway in the Generation of the Estrogen Receptor Negative Phenotype through Transcriptional Control of the Estrogen Receptor in Breast Cancer
Dorraya El-Ashry, Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown Hospital

JENNIFER Z. ZIESSMAN

Can Monoclonal Antibodies be Used as a Treatment Against Cancer? Evaluation of the drug Rituxan, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody against B-cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Diane Wallace Taylor, Department of Biology, Georgetown University