Advancing New Possibilities in Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
Ariel Magee, Doctoral Candidate, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
An estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) according to the Alzheimer’s Association. AD is a brain disorder that leads to progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. It is the most common type of dementia and the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.
“Nearly everyone knows someone who is affected by AD, but there is no medication available today that can reliably treat the disease,” said Ariel Magee, who is currently studying the disease as part of the Doctor of Philosophy in pharmacology and neuroscience co-op program between SIUE and the SIU School of Medicine.
The few therapeutic options for AD only temporarily treat or slow down the symptoms of the disease. Magee’s research is focusing on drug discovery and development, specifically using a novel σ1/σ2 receptor modulator known as BBZI, which was created by Michael Crider, PhD, chair and professor of pharmaceutical sciences.
“My investigations assess BBZI across behavioral animal models to determine the effects on learning, memory, anxiety and general motor movement in an AD-mouse model,” explained Magee. “This work coincides with biochemical analyses of key brain tissues involved in these behavioral responses, as well as AD pathology.”
“Initial evaluations identify an enhancement of learning and memory with BBZI dosing,” Magee continued. “With the initial animal testing performed, I am now advancing into cellular models to delineate biochemical pathways of effect respective to BBZI, with focus on neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress markers.”
Magee began her research alongside Ken Witt, PhD, professor of pharmaceutical sciences, in 2021 and expects the project to continue for at least two more years in order to make adjustments along the way.
“The σ-receptor field has been rapidly growing, with a significant push for new drug candidates able to modulate these receptors,” said Witt. “A dual-receptor modulator has great potential, and Ariel’s work will add substantially to the field.”
Magee hopes her research will clarify the actions of sigma receptors as a target for treatment of AD and eventually lead to human trials.
“When asked about what I do in school, nearly everyone has a story about a family member or relative who is affected by AD,” added Magee. “While the disease is devastating and the stories are emotionally difficult to hear, it helps me keep in perspective the importance of my lab work and moving forward with the project to find a better treatment option.”
Auxin Production of Root-Associated Bacteria in Illinois Prairie Orchids
Noah Pyles, MS Biological Sciences ‘23
Spiranthes orchids are a native Illinois prairie plant under threat due to urbanization, overgrazing, overcollection and difficult cultivation methods. These orchids rely on microbes present in the soil to successfully germinate, because they lack endosperm, a carbohydrate nutrient source which functions to feed the developing embryo.
“Orchids are fascinating, because they require a fungal partner in order to germinate and develop properly,” Pyles said. “Orchid fungi deliver sugars and nitrogen to the orchid seeds since they lack endosperm.”
According to Pyles, most research focuses on these orchid fungi. He took a stark pivot and explored all the various microbes present in the roots of Spiranthes orchids, not just the fungi, to observe if there are other unique relationships occurring. Specifically, Pyles looked at bacteria which produce auxin, a plant hormone thought to have a direct impact on orchid growth.
By exploring these types of bacteria and other microbes, Pyles aimed to provide a better understanding of the root microbiome of orchids to aid in the conservation of Spiranthes orchids.
Pyles worked with three species of Spiranthes orchids, including the following:
- Spiranthes magnicamporum: Globally vulnerable.
- Spiranthes cernua: Vulnerable in Illinois.
- Spiranthes vernalis: Critically imperiled in Illinois.
Using the auxin-producing bacteria, he conducted growth studies to observe their impact on seed germination and development. Research results include:
- All three orchid species contained bacteria that produced auxin.
- Bacteria were observed to directly stunt the growth of primary roots in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana.
- After being reintroduced into the roots of orchids, the bacteria were able to live within the root cells.
- These orchids could have as many as 1,000 unique fungal and bacterial species present within their roots.
Funding from the Illinois Native Plant Society bolstered Pyles’ research which challenges the widely-accepted belief that orchid germination is dependent on fungi to provide the necessary carbohydrates for pre-photosynthetic development. Existing data between bacteria and orchids are not well characterized. Pyles results provide another stepping stone for potential in vitro conservation of these vulnerable Illinois species.
“We have limited knowledge of the identity, function and interactions of microbiomes associated with orchids,” said Pyles’ faculty mentor Betsy Esselman, PhD, professor of biological sciences. “Studies like this, identifying bacterial species present, are essential first steps to developing successful conservation strategies.”
Radicalizing Home: A Study of Diaspora Women’s Autobiography
Rodaina Mousa, MA English Language and Literature ’23
When Rodaina Mousa placed the texts of two impressionable memoirs authored by bi-racial authors side by side, she noted that the publishing dates made them ideal bookends for the last decade. “The Girl Who Fell to Earth” by Sophia Al-Maria (2012) and “Aftershocks” by Nadia Owusu (2021) struck Mousa, herself an international scholar from Egypt, as radical in that they wrote against the expectations of their genre.
Mirroring this duality from her own identity, the two memoirs and the experiences of other international students, Mousa completed a project that explores ways literary and artistic works represent dislocation from home, nation, ethnicity and culture. She completed a written critical paper addressing the radical features of both memoirs and created a visual exhibit that encourages critical engagement with these two diaspora women’s autobiographies.
“I knew I wanted to create an accessible, inclusive space for the audience to come close to and interact with diaspora women’s writings and experiences,” Rodaina said. “Identity and home are constantly changing, so is the nature of my exhibition.”
The two memoirs explore and grapple with themes of diaspora, belonging, home and identity. Rodaina’s exhibition brought these ideas to life in ways that are visual, tactile and accessible to the public. This project
Held in SIUE’s Lovejoy Library, the exhibition featured interactive art pieces that reflected Mousa’s visual analysis of the two memoirs. The show was centered around the audience’s own experiences alongside her’s in ways that encourage them to interact with the artwork and make it their own. Artworks ranged from mixed-media canvases and sculpture to prints and artist books representing, addressing, imagining and reimagining “Home and Away.”
“SIUE announced its largest international student population in fall 2022,” Mousa said. “Yet, public humanities and intellectual programming that directly addresses international student audiences remains limited. My project seeks to address that gap.”
The immersive exhibit offered a gateway to learn about diaspora women’s writing and the international experience. The exhibit opened first to SIUE’s international student body, who were especially encouraged to take part in the creation of the pieces, which were designed to prompt student reflections on their experience as international student-scholars, who are by this classification, scholars who are dislocated from their homelands.
"It's crucial for our graduate students to consider the challenges and opportunities that intersecting academic and public work presents,” said Associate Professor of English Elizabeth Cali, PhD. “Exit options in the English master’s program offer an opening for this kind of intellectual, public facing work. I'm thrilled that Roudi embraced the challenge to produce a project that spoke especially to our international student community at SIUE.”
