Author: Christie Williams

Halmos Undergraduate Co-Authors an Article in a Bioanalytical Chemistry Journal

This spring, Halmos College Biology major Elaine Ognjanovski (minors in Psychology and Experiential Leadership) co-authored a publication with Richard H. Perry, Ph.D. entitled, “Identification of lipid biomarkers of metastatic potential and gene expression (HER2/p53) in human breast cancer cell cultures using ambient mass spectrometry”, which was published in the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Dr. Perry, a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Physics, worked with Elaine on developing a desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry method that enables the identification of lipid biomarkers of HER2/p53 expression, metastatic potential, and disease state in monolayer, suspension, and spheroid human breast cancer cell cultures.

The article’s abstract states: “In breast cancer, overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) correlates with overactivation of lipogenesis, mutation of tumor suppressor p53, and increased metastatic potential. The mechanisms through which lipids mediate p53, HER2, and metastatic potential are largely unknown. We have developed a desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) method to identify lipid biomarkers of HER2/p53 expression, metastatic potential, and disease state (viz. cancer vs. non-cancerous) in monolayer and suspension breast cancer cell cultures (metastatic potential: MCF-7, T-47D, MDA-MB-231; HER2/p53: HCC2218 (HER2+++/p53+), HCC1599 (HER2−/p53−), HCC202 (HER2++/p53−), HCC1419 (HER2+++/p53−) HCC70 (HER2−/p53+++); non-cancerous: MCF-10A). Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) of DESI-MS spectra enabled identification of twelve lipid biomarkers of metastatic potential and disease state, as well as ten lipids that distinguish cell lines based on HER2/p53 expression levels (> 200 lipids were identified per cell line). In addition, we developed a DESI-MS imaging (DESI-MSI) method for mapping the spatial distribution of lipids in metastatic spheroids (MDA-MB-231). Of the twelve lipids that correlate with changes in the metastatic potential of monolayer cell cultures, three were localized to the necrotic core of spheroids, indicating a potential role in promoting cancer cell survival in nutrient-deficient environments. One lipid species, which was not detected in monolayer MDA-MB-231 cultures, was spatially localized to the periphery of the spheroid, suggesting a potential role in invasion and/or proliferation. These results demonstrate that combining DESI-MS/PCA of monolayer and suspension cell cultures with DESI-MSI of spheroids is a promising approach for identifying lipid biomarkers of specific genotypes and phenotypes, as well as elucidating the potential function of these biomarkers in breast cancer.”

 

Citation: Heather M. Robison, Corryn E. Chini, Troy J. Comi, Seung Woo Ryu, Elaine Ognjanovski and Richard H. Perry *, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2020, 412, 2949–2961. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02537-4

New Study on the Evolutionary History of Extinct and Living Lions

The “king of the jungle” is in peril.

Over the past 200 years the lion has lost 90% of its former numbers – today they are found in small, isolated populations, principally in southern and eastern Africa. Tiny relict populations persist in central Africa, West Africa and in the Gir Forest Reserve within the Kathiawar peninsula of India.

North African subspecies, the Barbary lion and the Cape Province lion, disappeared within the last century and a half, and they have all but disappeared from Eurasia since their apex during the late Pleistocene ice age when cave lions were dispersed from Iberia to Alaska. Lions are listed as vulnerable by Red List, IUCN, and US Endangered Species Act.

The details of lion natural history are murky.

  • When did Pleistocene cave lion split from modern lions?
  • What was their ancestral hierarchy?
  • Did the lost lion subspecies hybridize with ancestors of modern African or Asian lions?
  • Was their extinction preceded by genetic impoverishment, reminiscent of other lost mammal groups?

To help answer some of these questions, a new study “The Evolutionary History of Extinct and Living Lions” published in Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, uses the power of ancient DNA and whole genome analyses to resolve these issues. Stephen J. O’Brien, Ph.D., a research scientist and professor in Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, was part of the research team.

“The new results illustrate the power of the genomics era in revealing lost secrets of pre-history by reading DNA footprint codes in the ancestors of modern species,” O’Brien said. “And the ‘Indian Lion’s’ alarming genetic impoverishment is clearly affirmed.”

O’Brien’s career spans several decades, going back to a 25-year tenure as the Chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1986-2011. He joined the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics in St. Petersburg State University (Russia) in December 2011, where he serves as its Chief Scientific Officer.

Lead authors Marc de Manuel and Ross Barnett sequenced museum and permafrost paleontological samples of lions (up to 30,000 years old) from outside their current range, alongside modern samples from living lions to look at how historic lions evolved and spread.

“It was amazing to work with samples from 30,000 year-old cave lions and get the whole genome of the animal,” said Barnett. “It shows just how much the technology for ancient DNA has advanced in the past decade and how genomics of the past can inform the conservation of the future.”

Along with NSU’s Halmos College, the research team included members from the Globe Institute – University of Copenhagen and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology. They concluded that the ancestors of living modern lions and extinct cave lions diverged into distinct lineages approximately 500,000 years ago. Computer modelled simulations indicated little gene flow or detectable hybridization after the split despite potential areas of range overlap in western Asia and prior strong evidence for widespread hybridization among other Panthera (great cat) species.

This tentatively suggests that as yet unidentified factors conspired to prevent effective breeding between the two lion types during the Pleistocene. The authors also find no clear evidence of a decline in genetic diversity in Cave lions, Barbary lions or Cape lions prior to extinction.

Around 70,000 years ago, modern lions clearly split into two distinct lineages: (1) Lions found in central, eastern and southern Africa today; and (2) Indian, West African, and extinct North African lions.

This has strong conservation implications.

Knowing the closest relative of the extinct Barbary lion will inform any potential reintroduction attempts. Similarly, the precarity of the Indian population (less than 500 individuals) is a politically sensitive topic, but resolving their closest living relatives could inform future restoration and outbreeding initiatives.

Modern Indian lions were found to be near genetically uniform consequent of centuries of persecution and historic genetic bottlenecks. These lions show multiple physiological correlates of inbreeding (e.g. depleted sperm counts, skeletal defects, testosterone reduction and derivative reduced mane size.) Also, the new study demonstrated firmly the Indian lions of today are, in fact, native to the region and were not brought over from Africa during pre- colonial times as has been floated in the popular media.

This new study provides unparalleled detail of the evolutionary history of the lion, showing relationships between different modern geographic populations and even extinct populations. The results have wide implications for future conservation work in what is now a vulnerable species.

Webinar: NSU’s Alvin Sherman Library to host “YOU GOT THIS! How to Save Money Now!”, June 10

YOU GOT THIS! How to Save Money Now!

The unemployment program, the stimulus check and the PPP money may not help as much as you need it to, so finding ways to save money is essential. Join Professor JoAnn Ackerman, from the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University, as she provides practical tips and resources to help you manage your budget.

Registration is required.

Date:
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Time:
12:30pm – 1:15pm

Zoom link will follow in an email before the program.

Presented by the NSU Alvin Sherman Library and sponsored by SunTrust Foundation, these workshops are designed to inspire and educate you to become financially successful.

 

 

CAHSS Alumna Collaborates with Department of Family Therapy on Quality of Life Grant

 

Janessa Dominquez, Ph.D., doctoral graduate of the Department of Family Therapy (DFT) in NSU’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS) is collaborating on a research project with Pei-Fen Li, Ph.D., faculty and Director of Accreditation and Arlene Brett Gordon, Ph.D., Director of the Brief Therapy Institute in DFT. The project focuses on providing Solution-Focused Brief Group Therapy to parents and caregivers of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in order to explore strengths and strategies. It received Quality of Life funding in 2018.

Dominguez is the founder and CEO of Shaping Change, LLC. in Weston. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Qualified Behavior Analyst (QBA), and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Dr. Dominguez is also the Co-Coordinator of the Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) South Broward/North Dade Chapter, and a Professional Crisis Management (PCM) instructor. She has worked in a variety of settings from schools, homes, clinics and community settings providing a multitude of services to address challenging behaviors. She supervises individuals seeking certification as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) and behavior analysts, and conducts trainings on a variety of topics. Dominguez has presented at national conferences, as well as international conferences, focusing on autism, behavior, and the family system. Dominguez is an adjunct instructor for DFT and for the College of Psychology at NSU.

In addition to her doctoral degree from NSU, Dominguez received her B.S. in Psychology with a miner in Business, and her M.S. in Counseling with an advanced concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from NSU.

NSU Musical Ensembles and Drumline Perform at the Celebration of Excellence and other Functions

NSU’s Celebration of Excellence held on February 29, 2020, featured the fabulous musical performances of Canta Sempre, the Pistris Ensemble, and the NSU Drumline. Canta Sempre is a vocal ensemble established by Shark Talent Scholars. The Pistris Ensemble is a chamber music ensemble from the Department of Performing and Visual Arts (DPVA). NSU’s Drumline was established in August 2019. DPVA music majors, Razor’s Edge Shark Talent Scholars, and other Razor’s Edge Scholars are a part of this exciting group.

Wags & Tales Mini-Storytime with the Alvin Sherman Library

Wags & Tales Mini-Storytime

Saturdays | 10:30 AM – 10:40 AM

Enjoy Wags & Tales Mini-Storytime, a collaboration with NSU Alvin Sherman Library and the Humane Society of Broward County’s Animal Assisted Therapy Program. Usually you read to a dog at Wags & Tales, but in this special virtual storytime, volunteers are reading to their therapy dogs and to you! Join us for a new pre-recorded mini-storytime each week on our Facebook page.

 

Like the NSU Alvin Sherman Library’s page or visit each week: facebook.com/AlvinShermanLibrary

STEM Special: Aliens – Escape from Earth

STEM Special: Aliens – Escape from Earth

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

ScienceTellers presents an intergalactic story exploring the world of science through experiments and demonstrations with chemical reactions, polymers, pressure, inertia, energy, explosions and so much more! Don’t miss this action-packed and educational alien adventure. It’s totally out of this world! Recommended for ages 4 to 8. Class size limited, pre-registration required.

  1. Register at lib.nova.edu/aliens
    2. Check email for Zoom meeting ID and password
    3. On Saturday, May 12, 10:25 a.m., click on the Zoom invite link in the email
    4. Enter log-in information to attend

NSU University School Students Honored as Pinnacle Award Winners

 

 

NSU University School is proud to congratulate our exemplary students Max, Avery, and Sofia who were selected as Pinnacle Award recipients by the Broward County Non-Public School Association.

Awards are presented to students who set a positive example at home, school, or in the community and excel in one or more of the following areas: academics, community service, citizenship, fine arts, athletics, and student activities. Award winners also exhibit strong character traits, such as perseverance, effort, dedication, commitment to positive goals, improvement in performance, and attitude. Congratulations to our Sharks.

Ethic Bowl 2020: Promoting Deliberation and Ethical Practice in Healthcare

The physician assistant team, the 2020 Ethics Bowl Spirit Award winners.

The College of Health Care Sciences hosted the 16th annual Ethics Bowl Competition on Thursday, February 27, 2020.  This annual interprofessional experience brings students together from different health care professions to engage in thoughtful deliberation about current ethical issues in healthcare.

Seventy-four students, faculty coaches, faculty judges, and staff moderators participating from the following professions:

  • Physician Assistant
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Anesthesiology Assistant
  • Nursing Ft Lauderdale
  • Pharmacy
  • Nursing Palm Beach
  • Medical Sonography

Teams practiced together for many weeks with the hopes of winning the Ethics Bowl trophy. It was a close competition, but the Nursing team from the Palm Beach campus won the final round and took home the gold medals. Physical Therapy earned silver medals this year and the Physician Assistant program rocked the house with a large and boisterous group of faculty and students adorned in costumes waving homemade signs.

The practice of ethics is the systematic, reasoned deliberation regarding values and the appropriateness of choices that are made in the ever-changing circumstances of personal and organizational life. Health care ethics specifically focuses on matters of health, life and death that arise from the complex relationships among medicine, science, technology, and society.  Some of the cases the student teams considered involved the opioid epidemic, organ donation, and a young girl with AIDS.

 

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