Thursday Physiologicals

The Grbic lab is interested in investigating the role of phenylpropanoids, a class of plant secondary metabolites, in the plant-pest interaction between A. thaliana (Thale cress) and T. urticae (Two Spotted Spider Mite). In this study, I hope to elucidate the potential mode(s) of mite adaptation to common and species - specific toxic phytochemicals.

Hummingbirds use torpor to save energy during cold nights. I am investigating how changes in fuel use on a whole-animal level are mirrored on a mitochondrial level using flow-through and high-resolution respirometry.

Freezing compromises mitochondrial function yet freeze-tolerant insects return to normal whole organism metabolic rate after thawing. We measured mitochondrial function and damage in Gryllus veletis and found that freeze-tolerant crickets protect their mitochondria from freeze-injury.

My project is to elucidate the impacts of climate change on poplar growth and to determine if inoculating poplars with mycorrhizae will enhance poplar biomass and resiliency to future climatic stresses.

Ginseng cultivation is restricted by ginseng replant disease (GRD), primarily caused by fungal root rot pathogen Ilyonectria mors-panacis (Imp). Using various Imp isolates, my research investigates Imp-ginsenoside interactions and the pathogenicity of Imp post-ginsenoside exposure.

Mycotoxins from fungal pathogens are toxic to humans and livestock. Enzymatic biotransformation presents a specific and safe solution. A pipeline has been developed to identify and characterize novel mycotoxin biotransformation activities from diverse environmental samples.

Determining the mechanism for decreased nitrogen fixation in legumes that have been exposed to heavy metals, specifically examining the consequences of copper-induced oxidative stress on the legume-rhizobia symbiosis and the essential nitrogenase enzyme.

The most distal leg joint in some spiders contains a pad of material that filters vibrations. I am investigating whether this pad contributes to vibration filtering in the whole joint in black widow spiders.

The Grbic lab is interested in investigating the role of phenylpropanoids, a class of plant secondary metabolites, in the plant-pest interaction between A. thaliana (Thale cress) and T. urticae (Two Spotted Spider Mite). In this study, I hope to elucidate the potential mode(s) of mite adaptation to common and species - specific toxic phytochemicals.

Thirteen-lined ground squirrels oscillate between two physiological states during hibernation: torpor and interbout euthermia. My research investigates posttranslational modifications as a potential driving force in changes to mitochondrial metabolism between these two states.

The biopolymer suberin protects plants from desiccation and pathogen infection. My research employs biochemical and genome editing tools to characterize key enzymes in aliphatic suberin biosynthesis and test its role in pathogen resistance in soybean.

Ginseng cultivation is hampered by ginseng replant disease (GRD), primarily caused by a root rot fungus. My research aims to understand the fungal interactions causing GRD and the dynamic between ginsenosides, soil, and GRD.

Suberin is a polymer of phenolic and aliphatic domains deposited in the cell wall. Peroxidases and CASP genes polymerize polyphenolic domain. I will knockdown these genes in potato to understand their role in suberin assembly.

Energetic performance may be influenced by dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. My research investigates thermoregulation as a mechanism through which diet may affect energy use in a migratory sandpiper (Calidris mauri).

Migration is associated with reduced reproductive capacity in many insects. Insects may minimize this trade-off by differentially allocating limited resources. My thesis explores impacts of rearing conditions on differential fatty acid use in nectivorous lepidopterans.

Spiders sense vibrations through joint bending. The stiffness of a spider’s leg joint will determine how much the joint bends but, what determines stiffness is unknown. I am trying to predict stiffness using leg size.

Thiamine deficiency (TD) presents as a major threat to lake trout viability in the Great Lakes, however the cardiac impairments associated with TD are unknown. In this study, I examine the effects of TD on cardiac function and morphology.

Migrating songbirds exercise at high intensities for long distances. For my PhD thesis, I study how mitochondrial physiology varies in migratory songbirds in the contexts of evolved migratory strategy, seasonal flexibility and flight challenges.

Posture can affect the sensitivity of black widow spiders to different prey vibrations. I am investigating their walking kinematics and the resulting mechanics to test whether they actively use their posture to aid perception.

It is self-evident that the brain is important. However, ice formation in the brain is lethal for most organisms. I am exploring how some freeze-tolerant insects protect their nervous system from ice formation.

Suberin, a protective cell wall biopolymer, has two spatially and chemically distinct domains. Metabolism leading to each domain was tracked using stable isotope labelling. Differential partitioning of carbon between pathways to each domain was observed.

Many assume hibernators are a natural model of vascular ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury, similar to strokes. Using pulse-oximeter and fMRI technology, arterial oxygen saturation triples during arousal and tissues are differentially reoxygenated. This suggests I-R resistance.