Opportunities for Student Research

All of the Biology faculty holds doctoral degrees and most are actively engaged in research in such areas as molecular genetics, immunology, cell physiology, ecology, and functional morphology. The faculty are nationally and internationally recognized with over 50 articles and papers appearing over the last five years in prestigious journals. Almost half of the faculty have recently received grant support from either the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation. Research facilities, as well as classrooms, are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment such as liquid scintillation and gamma counters, spectrophotometers with recorders, a digitized HPLC system, and scanning and transmitting electron microscopes. The Biology Department also manages the 20,000 specimen William Darlington Herbarium and a 126-acre Robert B. Gordon Natural Area for Environmental Studies.

Undergraduates interested in receiving academic credit for participating in departmental research activities should take BIO 491, Special Problems in Biology. Senior biology majors interested in gaining research experience in an off campus medical, commercial, industrial or government agency should take BIO 409, Internship in Biological Sciences. Students interested in these research opportunities should consult their advisor or any faculty member in their field of interest. An overall GPA of 2.5 and a GPA 2.5 or better in Biology are required before taking BIO 409 or BIO 491.

Many opportunites exist for students to conduct independent research in the laboratories of Biology Faculty. Student research often results in either publications in peer reviewed journals or presentations at national meetings of professional societies. Listed below are representative publications and presentations in which WCU students participated (student names shown in bold; undergraduate students marked with *).

Publications in Peer Reviewed Journals

Pagán, Oné R., A. L. Rowlands* and K. R. Urban. 2006. Toxicity and behavioral effects of dimethylsulfoxide in planaria. Neuroscience Letters 407(3):274-8.

Bartholomew-Began, S. and N. L. Jones. 2005. Juvenile gametophyte development in the Blasiales (Marchantiophyta; Metzgeriidae). 1. Receptacular gemmae/gemmaling ontogeny of Blasia pusilla. The Bryologist 108(4): 497-505.

Brooks, R.A.* and Woodruff, R.I. 2004. Calmodulin Transmitted Through Gap Junctions Stimulates Endocytic Incorporation of Yolk Precursors in Insect Oocytes. Devel. Biol. 271: 339-349.

Maresh, J. L.*,Fish, F. E., Nowacek, D. P. and Nowacek, S. M. 2004. High performance turning capabilities during foraging by bottlenose dolphins. Marine Mammal Science 20(3): 498-509.

Fish, F. E., Peacock, J. E.*, and Rohr, J. J. 2003. Stabilization mechanism in swimming odontocete cetaceans by phased movements. Marine Mammal Science 19(3): 515-528.

Triano, E.A, L.B. Slusher, T.A. Atkins, J.T. Beneski, S.A. Gestl, R. Zolfaghari, R. Polavarapu, E. Frauenhoffer, and J. Weisz. 2003. Class I Alcohol Dehydorgenase is highly expressed in normal human mammary epithelium but not in invasive breast cancer: Implications for breast carcinogenesis. Cancer Research 63:3092-3100.

Davis, A., L.B. Slusher, and J.T. Beneski. 2002. A novel method for extraction and amplification of DNA from salamanders. Herpetological Review 33:104-105.

Fish, F. E., Smelstoys, J.*, Baudinette, R. V. and Reynolds, P. S. 2002. Fur doesn’t fly, it floats: buoyancy of hair in semi-aquatic mammals. Aquatic Mammals 28.2: 103-112.

Musée, J.*, Mbuy, G.N.K. and Woodruff, R.I. 2002. Antiviral agents alter ability of hsv-2 to disrupt gap junctional intercellular communication between mammalian cells in vitro. J. Antiviral Research, 56: 143-151.

Waksmonski, S.L.* and Woodruff, R.I. 2002. For uptake of yolk precursor, epithelial cell-oocyte gap junctional communication is required by insects representing six different orders. J. Insect Phys. 48:667-675.

Anderson, K.L. and R.I. Woodruff 2001. A gap junctionally transmitted epithelial cell signal regulates endocytic yolk uptake in oncopeltus fasciatus. Dev. Biol. 239: 68-78.

Fischer, N.O.*, G.N.K. Mbuy, and R.I. Woodruff. 2001. HSV-2 disrupts gap junctional intercellular communication between mammalian cells in vitro. J. Viro. Methods. 91(2): 157-166.

Fish, F. E., Frappell, P. B, Baudinette, R. V., and MacFarlane, P. M. 2001. Energetics of terrestrial locomotion of the platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus. Journal of Experimental Biology 204(4): 797-803.

Glatt, C., Slusher, L.B., Lladics, G., and Davis, L. 2001. Analysis of the high density gene array: Examining differential gene expression in human breast cancer. Pharmacological and Taxocological Methods 31:1223-1231.

Adler, Erika L.* and R.I. Woodruff. 2000. Varied effects of 1-octanol on gap junctional communication between ovarian epithelial cells and oocytes of Oncopeltus fasciatus, Hyalophora cecropia, and Drosophila melanogaster. Arch. Insect. Biochem. Physiol. 43: 22-32.

Carfioli M.A*., Tiebout III, H.M., Pagano, S.A*., Heister, K.M. and Lutcher, F.C.* (2000). Monitoring Plethodon cinereus populations: field tests of experimental coverboard designs, Chapter 26, Pp. 463-475 In R. C. Bruce, R. J. Jaeger, and L. D. Houck (Eds.) The Biology of the Plethodontid Salamanders, Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York.

Cole, R.W. and R.I. Woodruff (2000). Vitellogenic ovarian follicles of Drosophila exhibit a charge dependent distribution of endogenous solulble proteins. J. Insect Physiol. 46: 1239-1248.

Fish, F. E. and Shannahan, L.D.* 2000. The role of the pectoral fins in body trim of sharks. Journal of Fish Biology 56(5): 1062-1073.

Fish, F. E., Peacock, J. E.* and Rohr, J. 2000. Phase relationships between body components of odontocete cetaceans in relation to stability and propulsive mechanisms. Pp. 57-60. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Aqua Bio-Mechanisms/ International Seminar on Aqua Bio-Mechanisms (N. Kato and Y. Suzuki), Tokai University Pacific Center, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Brainerd, E. L., Page, B. N. and Fish, F. E. 1997. Opercular jetting during fast starts by flatfishes: Adhesion attenuation or jet propulsion? Journal of Experimental Biology, 200: 1179-1188.

Fish, F. E., Baudinette, R. V., Frappell, P. and Sarre, M. 1997. Energetics of swimming by the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus): Metabolic effort associated with rowing. Journal of Experimental Biology, 200: 2647-2652.

Cole, R.W., and R.I. Woodruff (1997). Charge dependent distribution of endogenous proteins within ovarian follicles of Actias luna. J. Insect Physiol.43: 275-287

Aigeldinger, T. L.*, and Fish, F. E. 1995. Hydroplaning by ducklings: Overcoming limitations to swimming at the water surface. Journal of Experimental Biology, 198: 1567-1574.

Fish, F. E. and Battle, J. M.* 1995. Hydrodynamic design of the humpback whale flipper. Journal of Morphology, 225: 51-60.

Fish, F. E., Fegely, J. F.* and Xanthopoulos, C. J.* 1991. Burst-and-coast swimming in schooling fish (Notemigonus crysoleucas) with implications for energy economy. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A, 100A(3): 633-637.

Woodruff, R.I., J.H. Kulp*, and E.D. LaGaccia*.(1988). Electrically mediated protein movement in Drosophila follicles. Roux's Arch. Devel. Biol., 197 :231-238.

Fish, F. E. and Cosgrove, L. A.* 1987. Behavioral thermoregulation of small American alligators in water: Postural changes in relation to the thermal environment. Copeia, 1987(3): 804-807.

Woodruff, R.I., and K.L. Anderson (1984). Nutritive cord connection and dye coupling of the follicular epithelium to the growing oocyte in telotrophic ovarioles in Oncopeltus fasciatus, the milkweed bug. Roux's Arch. Devel. Biol., 193: 158-163.

Presentations and Published Abstracts

Ahmad, S.*, M. T. Knabb, G. N.K. Mbuy. (2005) Inhibition of HSV-2 infection by Pilostigma thonningii in Vero cells. Presented at St. Joseph's University Sigma Xi Research Conference. April 8, 2005. Philadelphia PA.

Gichuru, R.*, G.N.K. Mbuy, M. T. Knabb. (2005) Effects of Depo-Provera on Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Infectivity in Rat Liver Epithelial Cells.Presented at St. Joseph's University Sigma Xi Research Conference. April 8, 2005. Philadelphia PA.

DeFulvio, B.*, G.N.K. Mbuy, R.I. Woodruff, M. T. Knabb. (2005) Localization of membrane proteins in communication competent and deficient cell lines following infection with Herpes Simplex Virus- Type 2 (HSV-2). Presented at St. Joseph's University Sigma Xi Research Conference. April 8, 2005. Philadelphia PA.

Patel, A.*, G. N.K. Mbuy, R.I. Woodruff, M. T. Knabb. (2005) Transfection of rat liver epithelial cells (WB) with HSV-2 UL13 protein kinase alters the cellular distribution of Connexin-43 gap junction protein. Presented at St. Joseph's University Sigma Xi Research Conference. April 8, 2005. Philadelphia PA.

Curran, J.* and Woodruff, R.I. (2005). Calmodulin can transit vertebrate Gap junctions of zebrafish Danio rerio Transfection of rat liver epithelial cells (WB) with HSV-2 UL13 protein kinase alters the cellular distribution of Connexin-43 gap junction protein. Presented at St. Joseph's University Sigma XiResearch Conference. April 8, 2005. Philadelphia PA.

McShane- Kay, K., G. N.K. Mbuy, R.I. Woodruff, M. T. Knabb. (2004) HSV-2 Infectivity in Gap Junctional IntercellularCommunication-Competent and - Deficient WB Rat Liver Epithelial Cell Lines. Presented at American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting. December 4-8, 2004, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington DC.

Marquette, M. J*., H. A. Jacobs*, K. Pidcock*, M. Knabb (2004) Targeting Helicobacter pylori with Antibodies: Exploring Drug Delivery with Polymer Beads. Federation of the Societies for Experimental Biology. Washington DC.

Gazerwitz, Linda, Cullen, G., Golden, G. 2003. Morphometric Computer Analysis of the Human Pineal in the Aging Brain. Society for Neuroscience, 33rd Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.

Duff, C. M. and Fish, F. E. 2002. Enhanced propulsion using undulation of the elongate tail of the South American giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). Integrative and Comparative Biology, 42(6): 1223.

Holak, J. L.*, Fish, F. E., Nowacek, D. P. and Nowacek, S. M. 2002. High performance turning capabilities during foraging by bottlenose dolphins. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 42(6): 1244.

Kojeszewski, T. and Fish, F. E. 2002. Swimming of the Florida manatee: Kinematics of an aquatic grazer. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 42(6): 1259.

Slusher, L., Misquith, G., Gaverwitz, L. and Casotti, G. 2003. Expression and localization of aquaporin homologs in the avian kidney. Society for Integrative and Comparative Biologist P1.95, 308.

Burns*, A.C. Archer, J.*, Slusher, C.*, Slusher, L., and Casotti, G. 2002. Localization of aquaporins in the lower intestinal tract of birds. American Zoologist 41, 141.

Fish, F. E., Smelstoys, J.*, Baudinette, R. V., and Reynolds, P. S. 2001. Fur doesn’t fly, it floats: buoyancy of hair in semi-aquatic mammals. American Zoologist, 41(6): 1444.

Kojezewski, T. and Fish, F. E. 2001. Kinematics of swimming in manatees American Zoologist 41(6): 1495.

Fish, F. E., Frappell, P. B, Baudinette, R. V., and MacFarlane, P. M. 2000. Energetics of terrestrial locomotion of the platypus: metabolic inefficiencies due to aquatic adaptation. American Zoologist, 40(6): 1015-1016.

Atkins, T. A., Weisz, J. P., Beneski, J. T., Triano, E. A., and Slusher, L. B. 1999. Alcohol dehydrogenase I is expressed in human breast epithelial cells and is down regulated in breast cancer. Proc. American Assoc. Cancer Res. 40:269.

Davis, A., L. Slusher, and J.T. Beneski. 1999. A novel method for DNA extraction and amplification from amphibians. Joint Annual Meeting Hepetologists' League and Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, State College, PA.

Davis, A., L. Slusher, and J.T. Beneski. 1998. Sequencing 12S rRNA from formalin preserved salamanders. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Zoologists, Denver, CO.

Tiebout, H.M., III, Pagano, S.A.*, Heister, K.M., Carfioli, M.A.*, and Lutcher, F.C. 1998. Fourth Conference on the Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders, "Evaluation of coverboard designs for plethodontid salamander monitoring: creating variation in microhabitats," 12-15 June, Highlands, NC.

Carfioli, M.A.*, Tiebout, H.M., III, Heister, K.M.,, Pagano, S.A.*, and Fredric C. Lutcher, F.C. 1998. Fourth Conference on the Biology of Plethodontid Salamanders, "Plethodon cinereus preferences among experimental coverboard types at Valley Forge National Historical Park, PA," 12-15 June, Highlands, NC.

Fish, F. E. and Shannahan, L.D.* 1998. Comparative shark locomotion in relation to body and pectoral fin angles. American Zoologist, 38(5): 17A.

Tiebout, H., Anderson, R, and Pecora, T. 1998. Society for Conservation Biology, "Mesocosm simulations of commercial logging in the Florida Sand Pine Scrub: effects of anthropogenic habitats on fitness of the endemic Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi)," 10-14 August, Brown University, RI.

Fonseca, C. E. and Fish, F. E. 1997. Energetic implications of surfacing for bottlenose dolphins. American Zoologist, 37(5): 108A.

Tiebout, H., Anderson R., and Pecora, T. 1996. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, "Effects of commercial logging on fitness of the endemic Florida Scrub Lizard (Sceloporus woodi): mesocosm simulations of anthropogenic habitats," 24-29 July, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.

O'Brien, C.*,Tiebout, H., Anderson, R., and Mikula, P. 1996. National Council for Undergraduate Research, "Utilization of unpaved roads as habitat corridors by the Florida Scrub Lizard in Ocala National Forest, Florida," April 18-20, University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC.

Fish. F. E., and Battle, J. M.* 1994. Hydrodynamic design of the humpback whale flipper. American Zoologist, 34(5): 90A.

Aigeldinger, T.* and Fish, F. E. 1993. Mechanics of skimming by surface swimming ducklings. Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, 66: 175.

Aigeldinger, T. L.* and Fish, F. E. 1993. Hydroplaning by ducklings: Overcoming limitations to swimming at the water surface. American Zoologist, 33(5):120A.

Battle, J.* and Fish, F. E. 1993. Hydrodynamic design of the humpback whale flipper. Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, 66: 177.

Brainerd, E. L., Page, B. N.* and Fish, F. E. 1992. Fast-start performance and opercular jetting in flatfishes: Overcoming a sticky problem? American Zoologist, 32(5):139A.

Fish, F. E., Fegely, J. F.* and Xanthopoulos, C. J.* 1989. Kinematic analysis of energy economy in schooling fish. American Zoologist, 29(4): 149A.

Fish, F. E. and Euker, L. A.* 1986. Behavioral thermoregulation of small American alligators in water: Postural changes in relation to the thermal environment. American Zoologist, 26(4): 112A.

Other Publications

Waldron, T., Slusher, L.B., Casotti, G. Passer domesticus AQP1 complete cDNA sequence. Genbank Accession number AY817455, September 2004.

Davis, A., Slusher, L.B., Beneski, J.T. Pseudotriton ruber 12S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence of a mitochodrial gene. Genbank Accession number AF290190, July, 2000.

Davis, A., Slusher, L.B. Beneski, J.T. Gyrinophilus porphyriticus 12S ribosomal RNA gene sequence, partial sequence of a mitochondrial gene. Genbank Accession number AF290189, July, 2000.

Davis, A., Slusher, L.B., Beneski, J.T., Eurycea wilderae 12S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence. Genbank Accession Number AF290189, July, 2000.

Davis, A., Slusher, L.B., Beneski, J.T. Eurycea bilineata 12S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence. Genbank Accession Number AF 290186, July, 2000.

Davis, A., Slusher, L.B., Beneski, J.T. Eurycea bislineata 12S ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence. Genbank Accession number AF290185, July, 2000.

Davis, A., Slusher, L.B., Beneski, J.T. Desmongnathus welteri 12S ribosomal gene, partial sequence. Genbank Accession number AF 290185, July, 2000.

Davis, A., Slusher, L.B., Beneski, J.T. Desmognathus conanti 12S ribosomal gene, partial sequence, Genbank Accession number AF290184, July, 2000.

Davis, A., Slusher, L.B., Beneski, J.T. Desmognathus fuscus 12S ribosomal gene, partial sequence. Genbank Accession number AF290183, July, 2000.