Office of Undergraduate Research

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Emphasizing equitable and inclusive access to research opportunities, the University of Maryland's Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) empowers undergraduates and faculty to engage and succeed in inquiry, creative activity, and scholarship. This collection includes materials shared by undergraduate researchers during OUR events. It also encompasses materials from Undergraduate Research Day 2020, Undergraduate Research Day 2021, and Undergraduate Research Day 2022, which were organized by the Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research.

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Author: search.filters.author.Alcoleas, Mariana

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    DNA Aptamer Against Alzheimer’s β-Amyloid 42 Protein
    (2025) Abasi, Keon; Alcoleas, Mariana; Kothale, Siya; Munyaneza, Joey; Spirito, Catherine
    Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder. Currently, there are 6.9 million cases in individuals aged 65+ in the US, with an expected rise to 13.8 million by 2060. Current diagnostic methods, such as spinal taps and brain scans, are invasive and not widely accessible, exacerbating public health inequities. Recently, antibody-based blood tests have been developed to detect Alzheimer's, but aptamer-based diagnostics can be a cheaper and more accessible alternative to these antibody-based diagnostics. This study aims to develop a DNA aptamer capable of binding to the β-amyloid 42 protein, a biomarker associated with Alzheimer's, for a wide range of potential diagnostic applications. We conducted positive and negative selections using a Ni-NTA bead-based in vitro selection method against a His-GST tagged β-amyloid 42 protein. During selection, we utilized asymmetric PCR and gel extraction to amplify the single-stranded DNA. Results indicated enrichment of target-binding sequences in early selection rounds, though we encountered issues with low yields from gel extraction. Future work includes optimizing gel extraction protocols, gel shift assays to measure binding affinity, and increasing selection stringency to enhance aptamer specificity and binding affinity. This research aims to further contribute to developing non-invasive, cost-effective diagnostic tools for early Alzheimer's detection, aligning with the broader goals of improving access to diagnostic resources for all.
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    DNA Aptamer Against Alzheimer’s β-Amyloid 42 Protein
    (2024) Alcoleas, Mariana; Abasi, Keon; Munyaneza, Joseph; Kothale, Siya; Spirito, Catherine