CSU Biotechnology Conference to feature research presentations by Cal State L.A. students

Los Angeles, CA -- Dedicated to developing biotechnology researchers in California, the California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB) will bring together students and faculty from Cal State L.A. as well as 21 other CSU campuses at its 26th annual CSU Biotechnology Symposium from Jan. 9 to 11 at the Santa Clara Marriott. 

The CSU Biotechnology Symposium is designed to broaden exposure to cutting-edge biotechnologies, product-focused innovation and the spectrum of career paths available in the life sciences.

With research topics ranging from drug resistance genes to zebra fish, 30 CSULA students—16 undergraduates and 14 graduate students—will present their posters during the symposium on Friday and Saturday. 

This year, CSULA biology major Natalie Rodriguez is selected as a nominee for the Don Eden Graduate Student Research Award. The Eden Award fosters excellence in graduate student research throughout the CSU system in biotechnology-related research.

Rodriguez, who is mentored by CSULA Professor Hyunsook Park, will present her research on “Epistatic Analysis of Candida albicans Yck2Δ/Δ Mutant Strain: Implications of Gene Expression Profile on Mutant Morphology and Stress Response.” 

In addition, CSULA biochemistry/physics major Alejandra Rios and microbiology major Jazma Tapia are selected as finalists for the Glenn Nagel Undergraduate Student Research Award. The Nagel Award fosters excellence in undergraduate student research throughout the CSU system in biotechnology-related research.

Rios, who is mentored by CSULA Professor Xin Wen, will present her research on “Probing the binding site of antifreeze proteins to trehalose dihydrate crystals.” 

Tapia, who is mentored by CSULA Professor Edith Porter, will present her research on “Antimicrobial Lipids: Potential Novel Innate Immune Factors in Amniotic Fluid and Vernix Caseosa.”

As part of the three-day program, CSULA Emerita Professor Sandy Sharp will present a workshop, entitled “Molecular Biology Simulation for Case-based Learning in Biology,” while CSULA Professors Howard Xu and Robert Nissen will present roundtable discussions, respectively, on “Professional Post-baccalaureate Degrees and Programs” and “What About Medical School?” 

(The listing of CSULA presentations is available below.) For more information on the symposium, visit http://www.calstate.edu/csuperb/symposium/2014/index.shtml.

Chemical enhancement of a beetle antifreeze protein activity

*Morita, Alexander [G]—Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry

*Bagdagulyan, Yelena [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Arifin, Josh [U]—Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Wen, Xin— Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Antifreeze Activity of Beetle Antifreeze Protein Isoform II from Dendroides canadensis by Small Molecule Enhancers

*Bagdagulyan, Yelena [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

*Chua, Michelle [U]—Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Wen, Xin—Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Chung, Melody [G]—Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Molecular detection for drug resistance genes in Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates collected from LAC+USC Medical Center

*Kuang, Shan N [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

*Jefferson, Jameka S. [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Chong, Melissa [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Chu, Yi-Ming [G]— Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Osby, Melanie—External Partner, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services

Xu, Howard—Los Angeles, Biological Science

Analysis of Wdr68 function in the differentiation of a mouse myoblast cell line

*Alvarado, Estibaliz [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Vela, Tatiana [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Nissen, Robert M.—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Analysis of wdr68 function in craniofacial patterning in the zebra fish

*Alvarado, Gregory [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

*Shang, Robin [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Pham, Annie [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Bhandari, Anish [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Martinez, Andrew [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Wang, Bingyan [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Nissen, Robert M.—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Construction of a gene knock-out mutant in a multidrug-resistant hypervirulent clinical strain of Acinetobacter baumannii

*Molgora, Brenda [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Meas, Diane—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Xu, Howard—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Epistatic Analysis of Candida albicans Yck2Δ/Δ Mutant Strain: Implications of Gene Expression Profile on Mutant Morphology and Stress Response

Park, Hyunsook—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

*Rodriguez, Natalie [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

A sensitive target identification assay for antibacterial inhibitors in an Escherichia coli host cell deficient in outer-membrane

*Martinez, Walfre A. [U]—Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Ward, Matthew S. [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Xu, Howard—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Groziak, Michael P.—East Bay, Chemistry & Biochemistry

*Chow, Felicia [U]—East Bay, Chemistry & Biochemistry

Identifying the kinase that phosphorylates Mad-linker domain during BMP signaling

*Juarez, Matthew [U]—Los Angeles, Biology

Lee, Daniel [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Rios, Marlyn [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

*Aleman, Abigail [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Przybyla, Fletcher—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Eivers, Edward—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Su, Ashley [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Probing the binding site of antifreeze proteins to trehalose dihydrate crystals

*Rios, Alejandra [U]—Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry; Physics and Astronomy

Liu, Fan—External Partner, Material and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology

Kim, Soo-Kyung—External Partner, Material and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology

Abrol, Ravinder—External Partner, Material and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology

Goodard III, William—External Partner, Material and Process Simulation Center, California Institute of Technology

Wen, Xin—Los Angeles, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Antimicrobial Lipids: Potential Novel Innate Immune Factors in Amniotic Fluid and Vernix Caseosa

*Tapia, Jazma [U]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Porter, Edith—Los Angeles, Biological Science

The use of Sus scrofa (porcine) respiratory epithelium as an alternative to human primary bronchial epithelial cells to study the regulation of antimicrobial cholesteryl ester biosynthesis

*Vazquez, Jessica [G]—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

Porter, Edith—Los Angeles, Biological Sciences

[U] = undergraduate students

[G] = graduate students

italicized = faculty members