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Date of Graduation

5-2025

Description

Previous studies have shown that individuals exposed to fever temperatures are much more likely to combat infections compared to those who are at normal body temperatures. However, in recent years, achieving fever responses has gotten much more difficult. Fortunately, in Dr. Durdik’s lab, it has been seen that effective fever temperatures can be generated artificially. The primary focus of the Durdik lab is an understudied field: the relationship between macrophage activity and fever temperatures. One key piece of information discovered from this research is the pattern of macrophages to go through different levels of glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration, with the four most important peaks being labeled BANG. This BANG pattern is of particular interest as it can convey the degree of macrophage activity; for example, a BANG pattern revealed earlier and at a higher level demonstrates hastened and heightened macrophage response. Nevertheless, total RNA profiling has never been conducted on macrophage responses, particularly at fever temperatures. Thus, the aim of this study is to perform RNA profiling/sequencing on each of the four peaks in BANG in a mouse macrophage cell line. In order to perform this experiment, RNA from each of the BANG peaks will be gathered from two different temperatures (37°C and 39°C). Afterwards, this data will be sent to a total RNA sequencing company for processing. Lastly, the final data will be analyzed through a variety of programs, generating heat maps and line-by-line comparisons; these may then be compared with other BANG peaks, temperatures, and macrophages from different species. As a result, critical pieces of information will be generated on BANG peaks, such as functional molecules and metabolic pathways, which can then provide a foundation for future investigations and greater insight into how fever temperatures (especially artificially) may improve immune function in the real world.

Publication Date

2025

Document Type

Book

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Biological Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Durdik, Jeannine

Disciplines

Life Sciences

Keywords

Natural Science

Glucose Limitation and the Second Glycolysis Peak in Stimulated Macrophages

Included in

Life Sciences Commons

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