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Publication Date
2022-05-09
First Advisor
Steven A. Williams
Document Type
Honors Project
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Biochemistry
Keywords
chromatin immunoprecipitation, genome sequencing, nematode, parasite drug development, neglected tropical diseases, lymphatic filariasis, transcription factor, binding sites, worm
Abstract
Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) caused by the parasitic nematodes Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori that infect 120 million people worldwide. LF causes debilitating clinical manifestations such as elephantiasis and contributes to the cycle of disease and poverty in developing countries. While efforts to combat LF have met some success, the prevalence of the disease and the increasing prevalence of drug resistance among parasitic nematodes indicates the need for novel therapeutics. The transcription factor UNC-86, which regulates differentiation of neural cells in the model organism C. elegans, has been identified as a potential drug target for B. malayi. Previous studies in our lab have characterized the binding of B. malayi UNC-86 to the mec-3 promoter based on binding site predictions made from C. elegans, suggesting that UNC-86 plays a similar role in B. malayi. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing (ChIP-seq) was selected as a method of investigating other binding sites of UNC-86 throughout the B. malayi genome. ChIP-seq data will allow for the generation of a genomic map of other genes regulated by this transcription factor that can potentially be used as drug targets against filarial parasites. This study reports progress made and issues encountered in the optimization of chromatin extraction and fragmentation for ChIP-seq, as well as the completion of chromatin immunoprecipitation and purification of immunoprecipitated DNA.
Rights
©2022 Grace Mosley. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Mosley, Grace, "Genome-Wide Identification of Brugia Malayi Transcription Factor Binding Sites Using ChIP-Seq" (2022). Honors Project, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/2463
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