Molecular Parasitology
Paul Ulrich, Georgia State University
Of the approximately 1000 different proteins that populate eukaryotic mitochondria, ~50% have no known function. Molecular Parasitology is a course-based intensively engages undergraduates by investigating roles of uncharacterized, mitochondrial proteins in trypanosomatid parasites. Students utilize basic bioinformatics (subcellular localization, conserved domain prediction, BLAST, secondary structure) to predict protein function followed by construction and transfection of GFP-fusion constructs into cell lines to validate their predictions. The CURE is designed to encourage independent problem-solving, science identity, and support career success.

Drosophila as a Model Organism for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Rick Topinka, American River College
There is concern that chemical exposure may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) such as autism. Drosophila (fruit fly) is a model system for NDDs and flies with mutations in genes homologous to known human autism-risk genes exhibit behavioral abnormalities. As part of the course-based undergraduate research experience in this biology class we will be exposing developing flies to environmental toxins and measuring one aspect of their behavior, either mating behavior or grooming behavior. In addition, we will be investigating whether neural development is impaired in these flies using dissection and fluorescent labeling of particular brain structures.

A Microbial-Traits CURE for terrestrial ecosystems (mT-CURE)
Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Microbial traits are defined as phenotypic properties whose expression determines the tempo and mode of microbial activity. Growth rate, pH range, Q10, substrate affinity and nutrient-use efficiency, are traits whose variation across microbes can lead to differential contribution to ecosystem processes. The combination and distribution of traits among organisms can generate functional guilds in soils; hence a quantitative understanding of trait presence, trait magnitude and trait spectrum of variation can be a powerful component for function-based modeling of the contribution of different microbes to ecosystem level processes like carbon degradation or generation of methane gas in soils. In this "Microbial-Traits CURE for terrestrial ecosystems (mT-CURE)" students will participate for two semesters, develop hypothesis on the variability of traits and its organismal and/or environmental sources. During first semester evaluations of traits will be completed and hypothesis addressed using previous ecosystem-specific microbial culture collections derived from previous CUREs. In second semester, an effort to predict traits from microbes directly from genomic information will be evaluated against trait values collected on the first semester. The goal is to use available and accessible bioinformatic approaches to test their predictive capacity for validation and possible future expansion into metagenomic-assembled genomes.

Phage Investigations
Sonia Singhal, Johnson C Smith University
Bacteriophages -- viruses that infect bacteria, or "phages" for short -- are the most abundant organism on the planet. We can harness them to fight diseases, restore environmental functions, and search for new genes. However, we only know about a tiny fraction of all the bacteriophages that exist. In this lab-based course, students will participate in hands-on research by isolating and characterizing their own bacteriophages from the environment.

Flow Cytometry Based CURE – Genotoxic Stress and Immune Cells
Charlie Benson, Georgia State University; Megan Dickherber, Georgia State University
This lab will focus on learning laboratory techniques commonly used in cellular immunology and cancer cell biology research. Over the course of the semester students will conduct research investigating the impact of genotoxic stress and DNA damage agents on immune cell phenotype and function. It is not well characterized how diverse types of immune cells are changed following exposure to such agents. It is important to understand how exposure to such stressors influences cell biology as many such agents are used therapeutically in medicine (radiation and chemotherapy). In particular, the field of cancer immunotherapy relies on the function of immune cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. Thus, the impact of these standard therapies (radiation) on the immune cells themselves is useful knowledge that could help optimize immune based therapies. During the course they will learn the scientific process while also learning common research techniques for eukaryotic cell culture and diverse flow cytometry assays.

Microbial Community Diversity and Interactions
Rachel Bleich, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Generic Arthropod Behavioral Syndromes CURE
Donna McDermott, Emory University
Behavioral syndromes research can be done with many students and few expensive materials. This field is fairly recent, so much of this research begins with descriptive observational studies where researchers identify behavioral types in a study system of interest. An animal exhibits a behavioral type if their behavior is consistent through time and ecological context, but differs from other individuals of their species. For example, a spider might consistently behave aggressively while hunting, finding mates, and avoiding predators as opposed to another conspecific spider which behaves with relative docility in all of those contexts. In this example, the behavioral types present in the population are aggressive and docile. In this CURE, students perform an observational study followed by an experiment. In the observational study, students will devise an assay used to investigate whether or not their study species displays multiple "types" of one behavior (e.g. boldness, aggression, exploration, sociability, activity level.) In the experiment, students investigate the role of developmental factors on those behavioral types OR the fitness outcomes of those behavioral types in different ecological contexts.

Assessing antibiotic resistance in E. coli isolates from environmental samples in urban Atlanta
Mauricio Lascano, American Intercontinental University

La Fermentación: Teaching Cell Biology with Kombucha
Bobbi Johnson, Wenatchee Valley College; Karina Vega-Villa, Wenatchee Valley College
Kombucha is made by introducing a SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast) into brewed tea. Health benefits of consuming kombucha are often described, but there is limited research supporting most claims. Additionally, there is conflicting information regarding some specific claims. For example, some websites advocate that frequent consumption of kombucha could reduce symptoms of Candida (a pathogenic yeast) while others claim that kombucha may actually contain Candida yeast or otherwise contribute to the growth of yeast in the body due to the sugar and yeast present in the beverage. The purpose of this CURE is to guide students through core concepts related to introductory cell and molecular biology through the lens of kombucha. Students investigate two hypotheses during the CURE: (1) a student-developed hypothesis related to yeast, bacteria, or kombucha and (2) testing if Candida can be identified in samples of kombucha. As part of the CURE, students learn the core concepts of an introductory cell and molecular biology course, develop basic transferable laboratory skills, and build their science-identity through supported application of the scientific process.

Invertebrate Biology
Michael Sitvarin, Georgia State University
In this course, students will collaborate with Dr. Michael Sitvarin to understand the behavioral decisions made by various arthropods, with an emphasis on spiders. Questions that could be explored include, "How do individuals choose their mates?", "How do predators find prey to consume?", and "How do prey avoid being eaten by their predators?". Students will gain experience working with arthropods as well as practice with experimental design, data collection and analysis, and scientific communication. This CURE will allow students to carry out the entire scientific process and will prepare them for future careers in STEM fields.