The Professional Identity of STEM Faculty as Instructors of Course-based Research Experiences.

The professional identity of scientists has historically been cultivated to value research over teaching, which can undermine initiatives that aim to reform science education. Course-Based Research Experiences (CRE) and the inclusive Research and Education Communities (iREC) are two successful and impactful reform efforts that integrate research and teaching. The aim of this study is to explicate the professional identity of instructors who implement a CRE within an established iREC and to explore how this identity contributes to the success of these programs.

Complete genome sequence of the phage vB_Ec_Tarrare.

We report the isolation, sequencing, and annotation of the novel bacteriophage vB_Ec_Tarrare, which infects the K-12 strain. It was isolated from a bat guano sample collected in Rindge, NH, USA. Its genome is 40,953 base pairs long with 49 putative protein-coding genes and no transfer RNAs.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bacteriophage vB_Hercules_Set, Which Infects Enteric Pathogen Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium.

We report the isolation, sequencing, and annotation of bacteriophage vB_Hercules_Set, a kuttervirus infecting human pathogen Salmonella enterica. vB_Hercules_Set was isolated from a slurry of soil and deli meat collected in New Hampshire in 2021. The genome length is 157,338 nucleotides, containing 210 protein-coding genes and five tRNAs.

Models of Classroom Assessment for Course-Based Research Experiences.

Course-based research pedagogy involves positioning students as contributors to authentic research projects as part of an engaging educational experience that promotes their learning and persistence in science. To develop a model for assessing and grading students engaged in this type of learning experience, the assessment aims and practices of a community of experienced course-based research instructors were collected and analyzed. This approach defines four aims of course-based research assessment - 1) Assessing Laboratory Work and Scientific Thinking; 2) Evaluating Mastery of Concepts, Quantitative Thinking and Skills; 3) Appraising Forms of Scientific Communication; and 4) Metacognition of Learning - along with a set of practices for each aim.

An undergraduate genome research course using "big data".

The ability to analyze large data sets ("Big Data") is an increasingly important skill in modern science. In Biochemistry, the increased volume and velocity of data is particularly evident in the rapid expansion of biological databases. We present a modular bioinformatics course to survey the analysis of genomic data for advanced undergraduates.

An undergraduate laboratory experiment with real-world applications: Utilizing templateless polymerase chain reaction and real-time polymerase chain reaction to test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

We present a course-embedded undergraduate research module that involves real-time polymerase chain reaction testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in environmental samples. A positive control RNA was constructed and two RNA extraction methods were compared and a range of primers were available to compare. Using a combination of published protocols, we assembled a successful project that illustrated a topical exercise similar to real-world assay development.

Prophage-mediated defence against viral attack and viral counter-defence.

Temperate phages are common, and prophages are abundant residents of sequenced bacterial genomes. Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium smegmatis, encompass substantial genetic diversity and are commonly temperate. Characterization of ten Cluster N temperate mycobacteriophages revealed at least five distinct prophage-expressed viral defence systems that interfere with the infection of lytic and temperate phages that are either closely related (homotypic defence) or unrelated (heterotypic defence) to the prophage.

Analysis of Gene Expression in an Inbred Line of Soft-Shell Clams () Displaying Growth Heterosis: Regulation of Structural Genes and the NOD2 Pathway.

is a bivalve mollusk of commercial and economic importance, currently impacted by ocean warming, acidification, and invasive species. In order to inform studies on the growth of , we selected and inbred a population of soft-shell clams for a fast-growth phenotype. This population displayed significantly faster growth ( < 0.

Genome Sequences of Newly Isolated Mycobacteriophages Forming Cluster S.

We describe the genomes of two mycobacteriophages, MosMoris and Gattaca, newly isolated on Mycobacterium smegmatis The two phages are very similar to each other, differing in 61 single nucleotide polymorphisms and six small insertion/deletions. Both have extensive nucleotide sequence similarity to mycobacteriophage Marvin and together form cluster S.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the soft-shell clam Mya arenaria.

We have sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria, an important organism for environmental toxicology and aquaculture. Mya arenaria is located in the taxonomic order Myoida, which lacks any member with a completely annotated mitogenome. The M.

Cluster M mycobacteriophages Bongo, PegLeg, and Rey with unusually large repertoires of tRNA isotypes.

Unlabelled: Genomic analysis of a large set of phages infecting the common host Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155 shows that they span considerable genetic diversity. There are more than 20 distinct types that lack nucleotide similarity with each other, and there is considerable diversity within most of the groups. Three newly isolated temperate mycobacteriophages, Bongo, PegLeg, and Rey, constitute a new group (cluster M), with the closely related phages Bongo and PegLeg forming subcluster M1 and the more distantly related Rey forming subcluster M2.

Community annotation and bioinformatics workforce development in concert--Little Skate Genome Annotation Workshops and Jamborees.

Recent advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies have equipped biologists with a powerful new set of tools for advancing research goals. The resulting flood of sequence data has made it critically important to train the next generation of scientists to handle the inherent bioinformatic challenges. The North East Bioinformatics Collaborative (NEBC) is undertaking the genome sequencing and annotation of the little skate (Leucoraja erinacea) to promote advancement of bioinformatics infrastructure in our region, with an emphasis on practical education to create a critical mass of informatically savvy life scientists.

Interaction of lipoprotein lipase and receptor-associated protein.

Receptor-associated protein (RAP) is a recognized chaperone/escort protein for members of the low density lipoprotein receptor family. In this report, we show that RAP binds to lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and may play a role in the maturation of LPL. Binding of highly purified RAP to LPL was demonstrated in vitro by solid phase assays, surface plasmon resonance, and rate zonal centrifugation.