The first part of this manuscript is about the total synthesis of the Arundo donax bis(indole) natural products. The A. donax alkaloids were prepared using the first example of an ynindole Diels–Alder reaction. Each were then separated, isolated, and determined to have stable enantiomeric conformations at room temperature (Chen, J.;...
The first part of this manuscript is about the total synthesis of the aspidosperma alkaloids leuconoxine, melodinine E and mersicarpine. Our synthetic strategy used a radical translocation-conjugate addition cascade to construct the core of the natural product. Specifically, a vinyl radical was generated from the homolysis of the C–I bond...
This dissertation uses manipulative experiments to explore amphibian-Bd infection dynamics. Although there has been almost two decades research since the discovery of Bd, many questions still remain regarding what conditions mediate chytridiomycosis virulence. My research shows how certain host and pathogen factors can influence disease virulence. Identifying how host and...
Emerging infectious diseases are increasing globally and are a threat to human, wildlife, and ecosystem health. The emerging fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), or amphibian chytrid fungus, is associated with worldwide amphibian population declines and extinctions. Bd has been found on every continent where amphibians exist and has been documented...
Fungi play critical roles in ecosystem processes and interact with plant communities in mutualistic, pathogenic, and commensal ways. Fungal communities are thought to be influenced by both associated tree communities and soil properties. However, the relative importance of the biotic and abiotic drivers of soil fungal community structure and diversity...
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Frank Andrew Jones
Fungi play critical roles in ecosystem processes and interact with
The ongoing worldwide loss of biodiversity has been described as a "biodiversity crisis," "the Anthropocene defaunation," and alternatively "an extinction spasm." More recently, many scientists have come to the conclusion that we are witnesses to Earth's sixth major mass extinction event, which has the potential to fundamentally alter basic ecological...
Emerging infectious diseases impact both human and wildlife populations. Infectious agents, in particular the aquatic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid), have an influential role in driving global amphibian population declines. The emergence of the chytrid fungus has aspects of both geographic spread as well as climate shifts altering environmental conditions and...
Infectious diseases are a growing concern for both humans and wildlife. The negative effects of infectious disease have been exemplified by the recent global amphibian population declines associated with disease outbreaks. Although multiple pathogens and factors play a role in these declines, the aquatic fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has...
Peroxiredoxin (Prx) enzymes catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrous acid, and organic peroxides, and are extremely efficient peroxidases, with k[subscript cat]/K[subscript M] on the order of 10⁷ - 10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Besides their role in oxidative stress defense, evidence has accumulated that some eukaryotes, including humans, use Prxs as...
This dissertation presents a different approach to understanding how amphibians are responding to disease through ontogeny. Although numerous efforts have been conducted to understand host responses to the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), studies have been restricted to distinct developmental stages. This dissertation provides information on host response to Bd across...