Avery
Infantas
Sponsor: Paul Ashwood, Ph.D. MED: Medical Microbiology&imm BTBR (Black and Tan BRachyury Itpr3tf) mice serve as a model for altered neurodevelopment. They have been found to exhibit less social interaction, unusual vocalizations, unusual play behaviors, and some similar comorbidities, often seen in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). BTBR mice have similar intestinal pathologies as those found in individuals with ASD, including a "leaky gut". Leaky gut is often caused when increased levels of inflammation and dysbiosis causes damage to epithelial cells that act as a barrier within the gut, resulting in increased intestinal permeability. Intestinal crypts are found within the lining of the gut, they hold intestinal stem cells important for epithelial cell differentiation, and aid in gut repair. Anti-inflammatory cytokines like growth factors help to drive a reparative response in the intestinal crypts. We hypothesize that BTBR mice with a leaky gut will have a decreased gene expression of growth factors. We isolated the colonic crypts from BTBR mice alongside the neurodevelopmentally normal B6 mice strain. Using Tag 3' bulkRNA sequencing, 720 differently expressed genes (341 upregulated, 379 down regulated) were observed between strains, revealing altered intestinal physiology in BTBR mice, including growth factor gene expression. Characterization of NGN2 IPSC-Derived Neurons for Functional CRISPRa-Based Gene Modulation
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Avery Infantas
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Genetic disruption of chromatin regulators is a contributor to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). CHD8, which encodes a chromatin remodeling protein, is an ASD risk gene and is thought to influence early neuronal development and gene regulation. Human model systems enabling controlled genetic manipulation are essential for studying CHD8 function. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differentiated into neurons via forced expression of Neurogenin 2 (NGN2) provide a method to generate excitatory cortical-like neurons in vitro. This system is compatible with CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) approaches, allowing targeted upregulation of endogenous genes without altering genomic sequence. The long-term goal of this project is to establish a validated neuronal platform for functional CRISPRa-based modulation of genes of interest, including CHD8. I am characterizing NGN2 iPSC-derived neurons across multiple stages of differentiation via transcriptional and biochemical analyses. Preliminary RNA extraction and bulk RNA sequencing analyses at Days 9 and 21 post-differentiation revealed stage-appropriate gene expression changes, including increased expression of neuronal and synaptic markers over time, consistent with progressive neuronal maturation. These transcriptomic findings suggest successful neuronal differentiation and temporal maturation of the system. Additional later time points (Days 28 and 42) are currently undergoing differentiation to further assess maturation trajectories. Starch Films to Preserve Plasma-Activated-Water Nitrogen Species for Controlled Release in Spinach Growth in Soil Audrey Ioffe
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UC Davis / Neuro Physio & Behavior / 2026
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Avery Infantas