Writing Intensive Program

Investigation of Tau Pathology and Neurodegeneration in Mice After the Removal of Amyloid Beta Plaques Through Alkalization of Endosomal pH

Abstract 
Alzheimer’s disease is widely studied across the world as many scientists and medical professionals try to understand the pathology of such a detrimental and rapid growing disease. A limitation researchers continue to battle is the ability to observe the pathology of the disease since the disease cannot be fully diagnosed until postmortem, when an autopsy is performed (Spillantini et al., 1998). During autopsy, a buildup of plaques, identified as amyloid beta, and lesions on the neurons, identified as neurofibrillary tangles, are observed. The presence of these alterations ultimately results in neuronal death and cognitive decline. Neurofibrillary tangles have been identified to be composed of aggregated tau protein (Šimić et al., 2016). The protein MAPT, known as Tau, was first discovered in the 1980s. Tau is known for its association with neurodegenerative diseases, especially its link to Alzheimer’s disease (Avila et al., 2004). Curiosity and questions continue to grow around the protein as its function and pathology continues to be researched. Researchers have recently developed methods to clear amyloid beta (Prasad et al., 2018) as well as expanded methods to view tau in living subjects (Maruyama et al., 2013). Researchers were able to clear amyloid beta plaques in humanized mice subjects through alkalization of endosomal pH. I propose a study that investigates tau pathology after amyloid beta plaque removal through alkalization of endosomal pH. This project will provide insight on pH influence on tau aggregation and observations of amyloid beta plaque influence on tau aggregates once the pathology of Alzheimer’s is initiated.

Race Determines Fate: An Analysis on the High Indigenous Maternal and Infant Mortality in Guatemala

When exploring the health of indigenous Maya women living in Guatemala, the differences in access and availability to maternal health care and resources for infants are drastic compared to non-indigenous women in the population. The limitations on adequate care for the Maya women and children are reflected in the high rates of indigenous maternal mortality and infant mortality. According to Franco de Méndez (2003), "Maternal mortality affects women from all economic and social strata, but a disproportionate number of those affected live in poverty, have little education, and live in rural areas” (section 3). Indigenous women make up majority of those disproportionate maternal deaths – the rate is three times higher compared to non-indigenous mothers – as they have “the most precarious living conditions, the highest fertility rates, and the smallest percentage of births attended by doctors and nurses” (Franco de Méndez, 2003, section 4). As for the high infant mortality rate, for indigenous Maya women who survive or do not survive childbirth, their infants are at high risk for premature death due to congenital defects, neonatal encephalopathy, respiratory issues, malnutrition, and overall health complications (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2016). Despite the rich, natural resources of Guatemala, indigenous Maya mothers and infants suffer greater mortality rates and lack adequate resources to reduce preventable deaths due to deeply rooted systemic racism and oppression from the Government and society which originated from the complex history of the Spanish colonization of Guatemala.