Rachel Siebenmorgen
Author: Rachel Siebenmorgen | Major: Biology
Hello, my name is Rachel Siebenmorgen, and I am a senior in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Biology and minoring in Medical Humanities. I was awarded the Honors College Research Grant for the Summer and Fall 2021 semesters. I am excitingly conducting research with my research mentor, Dr. Ivey, in the department of biological sciences. I plan to continue and finish up my research into the Spring 2022 semester where I will then defend my thesis and graduate.
When I first started in Dr. Ivey’s lab in the summer of 2021, COVID was still hitting us hard. I remember feeling so out of my element and just thinking that I had no idea what I just got myself into. I undoubtedly have gained confidence within the walls of my research lab after so many learning experiences alongside Dr. Ivey and now look forward to experimenting with new processes as they are a learning experience. We are working with the opportunistic pathogen well-known in the medical field, Clostridium difficile, which is the primary cause of infectious diarrhea and colitis especially within long-term patient care settings. One very important reason that this research is significant to the field of science is because C. difficile attacks the intestinal tract when the body’s normal flora within the gut becomes critically damaged or eliminated due to antibiotic therapy. Due to this, it is pertinent to patients and healthcare workers throughout the medical field.
My research efforts within the Ivey lab are focused on the relationship between the structure and functionality of the linker region of the SpoIIE protein within C. difficile. There is little information known on this genetic region specifically nor is there a protein model completed of it. Prior to the summer of 2021, I used two ab initio three-dimensional protein modeling programs to form structures of two specific DNA sequences we are looking at currently, pUA626 and pUA629. The end-all goal of this research would be to create a crystalized structure of these proteins which could then be compared to my ab initio models, however, I most likely will not have enough time here at the University as an undergraduate to complete that goal. Current research effort within the Ivey lab shows hope for the continuation of this project by another student.
Due to COVID shutting research labs down for many months, I first had to begin by determining which DNA samples, mixes, and primers were viable before I could get into anything else. That task compromised the entire summer semester as well as becoming comfortable with lab techniques I do quite often in the lab like completing PCR or running a gel. The highlight of the Fall 2021 semester was finally producing viable and successful colony growths after a couple of attempts of implanting my targeted DNA sequence into competent E. coli cells through a transformation. For each DNA segment, pUA626 and pUA629, five different colonies were picked and served as separate samples. Those 10 colonies underwent DNA extraction using research processes which was a super fun and an interesting process to complete. To ensure the DNA was the correct sequences and everything else was functioning correctly, I completed a gel electrophoresis to observe the weight and quantity of DNA present. Next in my research process would be to perform site-directed mutagenesis within the linker region and hopefully some cloning as it sounds like a very intriguing but daunting process.
I am ecstatic and thankful to say I also received funding from the Honors College Research Grant for the Spring 2022 semester! As for what is next for me after graduation, I have been accepted into UAMS College of Pharmacy, however, graduate school here at the University has also been in my thoughts after a discussion with Dr. Ivey. After working in his research lab and being able to conduct many of the processes on my own, I’ve taken a liking to this area of science. I am so very excited to see what the future holds for me and for Dr. Ivey’s lab.