Yuberki Delgadillo
  • Biology
  • Class of 2018
  • Quaker Hill, CT

Eastern Student Yuberki Delgadillo of Quaker Hill Presents Research Poster at CREATE Conference

2016 May 3

More than 250 talented students at Eastern Connecticut State University presented research and creative work at the university's second annual CREATE conference this past April. CREATE stands for Celebrating Research Excellence and Artistic Talent at Eastern, and is the university's premier, academic year-end showcase. At the culminating event, students of all majors presented professional posters, live music, dance performances, artwork, photography, documentaries and panel discussions.

Yuberki Delgadillo '17 of Quaker Hill, who majors in Biology, presented a research poster at the event. Delgadillo's research, conducted alongside classmate Megan Barnes, was titled "The Role of Astrocyte Beclin 1 in Alzheimer's Pathogenesis."

"Neurodegeneration seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is accompanied by amyloid plaques and neuronal loss," said the students in a joint statement. "AD is also accompanied by reduced beclin 1 protein levels within diseased regions of the brain. Beclin 1 is involved in numerous processes, including autophagy and receptor trafficking. Because reduced beclin 1 levels were observed in whole AD brain lysates, it is unclear which cells experience a reduction and how this might affect disease progression. Astrocytes are the most numerous cell in the brain and provide neuronal support, potentially being a key player in this process. Currently we are working towards reducing beclin 1 within C6 astrocytes, by transfecting them with shRNA plasmids that co?express green fluorescent protein (GFP). Transfected cells, confirmed by the presence of GFP, were analyzed by western blot. This technique allows for the quantification of specific protein amounts in the cells, including beclin 1. We are currently working on obtaining higher transfection rates, potentially using a viral vector, to allow us to achieve quantifiable difference in beclin 1 within transfected astrocytes, compared to control transfected astrocytes."

Remarking on the variety of presentations, Professor Dickson Cunningham, conference co-chair, said, "CREATE encapsulates the essence of the liberal arts in one afternoon. It is an intellectual smorgasbord."

Speaking to the value of CREATE, Eastern President Elsa Nunez said, "It takes a very strong and dedicated student to produce this quality of work, and it's important for other students to see this output." Praising the faculty, she added, "It takes a committed and skillful mentor to guide students to the work that is on display. Mentorship is such an integral part of undergraduate research."

During the one-day conference, the Student Center crawled with artistic and scholarly activity. Students in professional attire addressed their peers, faculty and family. In the cafe, ensembles performed; in the theatre, student-produced documentaries were shown; in the Betty R. Tipton Room, aisles of posters depicting scientific research were displayed; across the hall, a gallery-worth of paintings lined the walls; and on the ground floor, panel discussions and oral presentations about the humanities took place.

In celebration of students' exemplary research, experiential learning and creative activity, CREATE serves to reinforce high-impact practices such as mentored research; increases the number of students presenting their work in a professional forum; raises public awareness of Eastern's liberal arts mission and student accomplishments; and contributes to the intellectual richness of the campus community.