Office of Undergraduate Research

Permanent URI for this communityhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/20157

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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Subject: search.filters.subject.FIRE Molecular Diagnostics

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Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
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    One-Pot Ligation LAMP Assay to Detect miRNA-222: A Glioma Biomarker
    (2024) Pallavajjala, Roshni; Adane, Yedidya; Fernandes, Catarina; Kaiser, Jillian; Patel, Khushi; Spirito, Catherine
    Many cancer diagnostic methods are invasive, time-consuming, and expensive. Delayed cancer diagnosis can lower patient survival rates. PCR-based techniques that detect miRNA biomarkers in blood have been utilized as early screening tools for various cancers. As an alternative to PCR, we designed and optimized an isothermal amplification technique, Ligation Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (Ligation LAMP) assay, to detect miR-222, an established biomarker that is found in elevated levels in the bloodstream of early-stage glioma patients. We designed colorimetric and fluorescent Ligation-LAMP assays and demonstrated their specificity and sensitivity in detecting miR-222. We are working on implementing our assay into a One-Pot system, using Thermally Responsive Alkane Partitions (TRAPs) and a strand displacement assay utilizing magnetic beads. We found that the Ligation LAMP assay is sensitive and specific to glioma biomarker miR-222 and different probe lengths for Strand Displacement did not have a significant impact on ligation. With these results, we can further improve the One-Pot assay to be more point-of-care.
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    Selecting DNA Aptamers Against Airway Mucin Proteins for Therapeutics and Diagnostics
    (2024) Savage, Colin; McDonald, Cyan; Shpilman, Zackary; Spirito, Catherine
    Mucus is a viscous bodily fluid composed of mucin proteins, inorganic salts, and water. MUC5AC and MUC5B are the two mucin proteins that makeup airway mucus. Elevated levels of MUC5AC can indicate certain diseases, like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Current treatments for mucus-associated respiratory diseases include using enzymes and chemical agents to clear mucus buildup. These existing treatments are limited in their ability to selectively target specific mucin proteins within mucus. Our research aims to select DNA aptamers that bind to MUC5AC or MUC5B, within mucus samples. We are optimizing a One-Pot SELEX or in vitro selection methodology previously used by other researchers to select aptamers against MUC16. Selected DNA aptamers with high binding affinity and specificity can detect airway mucin proteins and deliver engineered proteases to cleave and destroy them.
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    DNA Aptamers against Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Alpha-Synuclein
    (2024) Cabrera Martin, Maria; Lynch, Margaret; Marin, Andrea; Saluja, Jasmine; Spirito, Catherine
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    DNA Aptamer Against Alzheimer’s β-Amyloid 42 Protein
    (2024) Alcoleas, Mariana; Abasi, Keon; Munyaneza, Joseph; Kothale, Siya; Spirito, Catherine
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    Fluorescent Cell-Free Biosensor to Detect Tuberculosis
    (2024) Amankwah, Amma; Connolly, Isabella; Kotoulek, Klara; Sembria, Maricka; Spirito, Catherine
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    Ligation LAMP Assay Targeting miRNA-155 Biomarker for Diagnosing Acute Myeloid Leukemia
    (2024-12-06) Berdia, Jason; Buckmon, Logan; Vitievsky, Mark; Hebbar, Soma; Spirito, Catherine; Mcdonald, Cyan; Adane, Yedidya
    Ligation LAMP Assay Targeting miRNA-155 Biomarker for Diagnosing Acute Myeloid Leukemia Mark Vitievsky, Logan Buckmon, Soma Hebbar, Jason Berdia Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a severely dangerous form of blood cancer with high mortality rates, in part due to limitations in current diagnostic methods, which are invasive, expensive, and time-consuming. This study uses a ligation LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) assay as a possible new diagnostic tool which targets the overexpression of the miRNA-155 biomarker, which is known for its role in immune suppression in AML. The Ligation-LAMP assay offers a rapid, cost-effective, and minimally invasive alternative to the traditional methods of diagnosis, such as bone marrow biopsies or blood counts. This project evaluates the sensitivity and specificity of the Ligation LAMP assay using both fluorescent and colorimetric standards to detect varying concentrations of miRNA-155. Early findings show that higher levels of miRNA-155 correlate to faster fluorescence and colorimetric changes, in turn validating the assay’s potential for earlier AML detection. Future enhancements include the implementation of machine learning algorithms to hone in on the diagnostic thresholds, testing patient samples to address variability, and improving assay reliability. This project represents a step forward in the development of accessible and relatively inexpensive diagnostic tools for AML, providing the possibility of earlier diagnosis and improved patient livelihoods.
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    Development of a Cell-Free Heme Biosensor
    (2024) Ly, Andrew; Savage, Emily; Bansal, Navya; Herbert, Xan; Spirito, Catherine