Gum disease can now be stopped thanks to OU researchers. A group of students and professors from various departments unearthed a molecule arresting the development of thrush, an oral yeast infection, recently.
The study began in 2008 when researchers decided to focus on the bacteria mutanobactin A after researchers at the Health Sciences Center, headed by microbiologist, Dr. Felicia Qi, sequenced four strains of Streptococcus mutans, an oral bacteria that causes tooth decay.
Qi, who has been sequencing the microbe’s genome since 2002, said S. mutans bacteria is present in everyone’s mouth, but the strain differs from person to person, which provides for interesting findings.
“We think these differences may determine whether a particular bug is more virulent than another strain,” Qi said in an e-mail.
Robert Cichewicz , assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said he became involved after Qi approached his group after discovering an unexpected gene in the Streptococcus mutants. After reviewing the data, he became intrigued.
“Almost nothing is known about the natural products produced by microbes that live in humans,” Cichewicz said in an e-mail, “despite the fact that the adult human body has more bacteria than cells.”
Cichewicz said knowing the structures and properties of the bacteria is important to shed light on the relationship that exists between humans, microbes and disease.
“(S. Mutans) is one of the few examples of a complex natural product made by microbes in the body,” Cichewicz said. “It appears to inhibit the transition of Candida Albicans into its pathogenic form. It could have some very important medical applications.”
These applications include new and better drugs for treating infections and provide antibiotics that are not as susceptible to becoming resistant, according to a press release.
The discovery of this molecule also carries with it implications for the university.
“Exciting discoveries help OU attract the best students,” former postdoctoral researcher Dr. Matthew Joyner said. “From a more business-centered view, (a discovery) brings in publicity and potential funding for more research.”
Qi said it also benefits her mind and her field. Qi is a member of the OU Health Sciences Center College of Dentistry, according to a press release.
“It keeps my brain active, and keeps my students updated in the current research and development in the field,” Qi said.
Aside from being lucrative for the mind, studies like this one provide real-world job experience for students, Chichewicz said.
“Your (bachelor’s of science) degree only puts you on par with your peers. However, we (the faculty) can offer the students a critical advantages,” Chichewicz said. “It is not the core curriculum that sets you apart from others; it is the wealth of unique discoveries that your professors shared with you that give you one-of-a-kind knowledge.”
This “one-of-a-kind” knowledge is perpetuated by the different disciplines involved on each project, particularly this one, Joyner said.
“Having experts in both fields allowed us to quickly identify the chemical structure and important chemical features of this new molecule,” Joyner said. “Good collaborations allow great work to happen much faster since everyone is able to contribute in their own expertise”
Chichewicz said there is little end to the project in sight.
“I think things are just getting started,” Chichewicz said.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Meeting Story
Kaitlyn Bivin
Lab 21
The University of Oklahoma Student Congress (UOSA) elected six potential justices to the Superior Court and the Integrity Council at their meeting on Tuesday evening.
In order to be considered for the UOSA Superior Court one must be a sophomore, junior, or senior, complete four essay questions submit to a 30-minute group interview, then the candidate may or may not be appointed.
Candidates up for election are graduate student Erick Harris, sophomore Jeff Vogt, law student Jason Waddell, junior Sara Wittrock and law student Caleb McCoy. Biographical information was provided by UOSA in the form of resumes and applications.
Graduate Student Erick Harris said his undergraduate student government experience at Tuskegee University will bring a vast amount of experience, leadership abilities and work ethic to the Superior Court position. Harris interned for Congressman John Sullivan's Office in Washington D.C in 2008 and is currently getting his masters in Public Administration.
Sophomore Jeff Vogt is a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, summer intern for Jones, Gotcher, and Bogan, Attorneys at Law from 2007-2009. He is also a National Merit Scholar. Vogt said he bejlieved that he would bring knowledge and comfort to his position on the Superior Court because of his intern experience.
Second year Law student Jason Waddell, said he decided to run for Superior Court because he felt is his skills and experience as a Senator in student government would better serve the students as a whole on the Court. Waddell is a former competitive cyclist for the Sharper Image/Mathis Brothers Professional Cycling Team in 2004.
Junior, Sarah Wittrock, is interested in law, a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, and is running for Integrity Council/Superior Court of UOSA. She said she believes the role of the court is not to make laws but to interpret them, and must ensure an environment of fairness to all students.
Second year Law student Caleb McCoy said he believes that feeling has little to do with a judicial officer's duties, rather, (the court) should remove itself from any feeling and approach each case with objectivity. McCoy has a bachelors degree in Business Administration, and acted as a summer associate for the Conner and Winters law firm in Oklahoma City from 2007-2009.
The meeting also included roll call and a flag salute as well as general announcements from the chair, secretary, and general committees. Public Relations announced the commencement of Town Hall Week beginning Oct. 11. Flyers will be sent out via e-mail for the event. T-shirt designs were also discussed. The t-shirt is crimson with a newspaper depicting the words "representing you Daily."
Lab 21
The University of Oklahoma Student Congress (UOSA) elected six potential justices to the Superior Court and the Integrity Council at their meeting on Tuesday evening.
In order to be considered for the UOSA Superior Court one must be a sophomore, junior, or senior, complete four essay questions submit to a 30-minute group interview, then the candidate may or may not be appointed.
Candidates up for election are graduate student Erick Harris, sophomore Jeff Vogt, law student Jason Waddell, junior Sara Wittrock and law student Caleb McCoy. Biographical information was provided by UOSA in the form of resumes and applications.
Graduate Student Erick Harris said his undergraduate student government experience at Tuskegee University will bring a vast amount of experience, leadership abilities and work ethic to the Superior Court position. Harris interned for Congressman John Sullivan's Office in Washington D.C in 2008 and is currently getting his masters in Public Administration.
Sophomore Jeff Vogt is a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, summer intern for Jones, Gotcher, and Bogan, Attorneys at Law from 2007-2009. He is also a National Merit Scholar. Vogt said he bejlieved that he would bring knowledge and comfort to his position on the Superior Court because of his intern experience.
Second year Law student Jason Waddell, said he decided to run for Superior Court because he felt is his skills and experience as a Senator in student government would better serve the students as a whole on the Court. Waddell is a former competitive cyclist for the Sharper Image/Mathis Brothers Professional Cycling Team in 2004.
Junior, Sarah Wittrock, is interested in law, a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, and is running for Integrity Council/Superior Court of UOSA. She said she believes the role of the court is not to make laws but to interpret them, and must ensure an environment of fairness to all students.
Second year Law student Caleb McCoy said he believes that feeling has little to do with a judicial officer's duties, rather, (the court) should remove itself from any feeling and approach each case with objectivity. McCoy has a bachelors degree in Business Administration, and acted as a summer associate for the Conner and Winters law firm in Oklahoma City from 2007-2009.
The meeting also included roll call and a flag salute as well as general announcements from the chair, secretary, and general committees. Public Relations announced the commencement of Town Hall Week beginning Oct. 11. Flyers will be sent out via e-mail for the event. T-shirt designs were also discussed. The t-shirt is crimson with a newspaper depicting the words "representing you Daily."
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Semi Precious Weapons review
July 22, 2010:
“We are SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS from New York Mother-Fucking City and we hope you all get LAID!” It seems unreal now that I heard these words spoken from a man clad in chains and sequined platforms, but he does exist, and his name is Justin Tranter, fashionista extraordinaire and front man for Semi Precious Weapons.
I traveled to Dallas assuming that Lady Gaga alone would blow me away, and that like so many other opening bands before them Semi Precious Weapons would be subpar---I was wrong. Immediately the band hypnotized me with their abundance of energy. Tranter stepped on stage looking like a cross between Andy Warhol and David Bowie, kicking and wailing to lyrics like “I can’t pay my rent, but I’m fuckin’ gorgeous” and screaming about his sequined heels. The energy did not deteriorate throughout the set. At one point, he poured champagne upon the eager heads of spectators. Before long, they had me spending exorbitant amounts of money on tote bags, t-shirts, and their new CD “You Love You” released on Jun. 29, 2010.
“You Love You” is only comparable to the raw power of punk rock if punk were born out of Andy Warhol’s factory scene. The debut song “Semi Precious Weapons” brings rock back to it’s roots with simple but effective music, and lyrics that will have you wishing you sported bleach blond hair and leggings. It threatens with lyrics like “I’ve got a diamond in my pocket and a gun in my purse scream SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS or you might get hurt,” a clear statement that glam rock is here to stay, and if it stays far from the likes of Poison and Nelson I welcome it with open arms.
The album also creates a flair for egotism. “It’s not my fault I look better in her party dress...it’s not my fault this is how my momma made me I’ve been magnetic since I was a baby” is the first line on the second single “Magnetic Baby,” which sets the “don’t hate me because I’m beautiful” tone for the song and the entirety of the album beautifully. A fun party song, it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
“You Love You” carries more than egotism and fall-on-your-ass drunken rock-n-roll-- it reinvents the power ballad (not ala White Snake). “Leave Your Pretty To Me” depicts the hopelessness of a girl, quite possibly exemplifying Tranter’s gender bending self saying “the only thing that ever came easy to her was me and tragedy..go ahead and drink because I can only be so many things.” It is possibly Tranter’s finest vocal achievement, and solidifies SPW as legitimate artists as opposed to a one-hit-wonder glam band.
From the first night I saw SPW I knew they were special. “You Love You” is kick ass party CD and an anthem for everyone who is too afraid to be themselves. It’s amazing what sequined platforms can do. “Hey DALLAS, do you like my shoes?” I don’t just like your shoes, I love your shoes, Justin.
“We are SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS from New York Mother-Fucking City and we hope you all get LAID!” It seems unreal now that I heard these words spoken from a man clad in chains and sequined platforms, but he does exist, and his name is Justin Tranter, fashionista extraordinaire and front man for Semi Precious Weapons.
I traveled to Dallas assuming that Lady Gaga alone would blow me away, and that like so many other opening bands before them Semi Precious Weapons would be subpar---I was wrong. Immediately the band hypnotized me with their abundance of energy. Tranter stepped on stage looking like a cross between Andy Warhol and David Bowie, kicking and wailing to lyrics like “I can’t pay my rent, but I’m fuckin’ gorgeous” and screaming about his sequined heels. The energy did not deteriorate throughout the set. At one point, he poured champagne upon the eager heads of spectators. Before long, they had me spending exorbitant amounts of money on tote bags, t-shirts, and their new CD “You Love You” released on Jun. 29, 2010.
“You Love You” is only comparable to the raw power of punk rock if punk were born out of Andy Warhol’s factory scene. The debut song “Semi Precious Weapons” brings rock back to it’s roots with simple but effective music, and lyrics that will have you wishing you sported bleach blond hair and leggings. It threatens with lyrics like “I’ve got a diamond in my pocket and a gun in my purse scream SEMI PRECIOUS WEAPONS or you might get hurt,” a clear statement that glam rock is here to stay, and if it stays far from the likes of Poison and Nelson I welcome it with open arms.
The album also creates a flair for egotism. “It’s not my fault I look better in her party dress...it’s not my fault this is how my momma made me I’ve been magnetic since I was a baby” is the first line on the second single “Magnetic Baby,” which sets the “don’t hate me because I’m beautiful” tone for the song and the entirety of the album beautifully. A fun party song, it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
“You Love You” carries more than egotism and fall-on-your-ass drunken rock-n-roll-- it reinvents the power ballad (not ala White Snake). “Leave Your Pretty To Me” depicts the hopelessness of a girl, quite possibly exemplifying Tranter’s gender bending self saying “the only thing that ever came easy to her was me and tragedy..go ahead and drink because I can only be so many things.” It is possibly Tranter’s finest vocal achievement, and solidifies SPW as legitimate artists as opposed to a one-hit-wonder glam band.
From the first night I saw SPW I knew they were special. “You Love You” is kick ass party CD and an anthem for everyone who is too afraid to be themselves. It’s amazing what sequined platforms can do. “Hey DALLAS, do you like my shoes?” I don’t just like your shoes, I love your shoes, Justin.
News Brief
A new molecule that arrests the growth of the thrush molecule, a type of oral yeast infection, was discovered by a group of OU researchers recently.
The study developed as a part of ongoing research of the Streptococcus mutans bacteria led by Dr. Felicia Qi of the Heath Sciences Center College of Dentistry.
Qi, who has been investigating the microbe's genome since 2002, approached assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Dr. Robert Cichewicz's research group to investigate the molecule further.
The research has been going on for sometime with little end in sight.
"I think we're just getting started," Chichewicz said.
The molecule's discovery opens opportunities for new and better drugs to be created for treating infections.
The study developed as a part of ongoing research of the Streptococcus mutans bacteria led by Dr. Felicia Qi of the Heath Sciences Center College of Dentistry.
Qi, who has been investigating the microbe's genome since 2002, approached assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Dr. Robert Cichewicz's research group to investigate the molecule further.
The research has been going on for sometime with little end in sight.
"I think we're just getting started," Chichewicz said.
The molecule's discovery opens opportunities for new and better drugs to be created for treating infections.
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