UAPB Summer Research Internships Advance Glioblastoma Modeling and Antibiotic-Resistance Alternatives

Thirty-five students gained hands-on professional and research experience this summer through internship opportunities coordinated through the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (搜索)搜索该公司's School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences (SAFHS). Among the diverse projects, two biomedical research efforts stand out for their potential clinical significance: the development of a patient-derived glioblastoma (搜索)搜索该疾病 zebrafish xenograft model and the investigation of endolysins (搜索)搜索该药品 as alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

A Patient-Derived Glioblastoma Zebrafish Model

In the Zebrafish Laboratory, Jemimah Ramena, a student at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (ASMSA) in Hot Springs, contributed to the development of a patient-derived glioblastoma (搜索)搜索该疾病 zebrafish xenograft model under the mentorship of graduate students and Dr. Obadiah Njue, assistant dean for Extension in SAFHS. The project also involves Humphrey Wanjala, a SAFHS graduate student, and Moniq Muhia, an undergraduate nursing major.

The research aims to develop a zebrafish model that can support research into treatment options and prognosis for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma (搜索)搜索该疾病. Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer, and the development of a patient-derived xenograft model represents a step toward enabling preclinical investigation of therapeutic strategies and disease progression.

Endolysins as Alternatives to Conventional Antibiotics

In the Fish Health Laboratory, ASMSA student Isamary Mendez worked under the mentorship of Dr. Grace Ramena, associate professor of fish pathology and director of UAPB's Fish Health Inspections and Disease Diagnostics program. Mendez contributed to research on endolysins (搜索)搜索该药品 as potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics for controlling antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (搜索)搜索该疾病 and Streptococcus iniae (搜索)搜索该疾病.

The research has potential applications in aquaculture and human medicine. By exploring endolysins (搜索)搜索该药品—enzymes that target and degrade bacterial cell walls—the work addresses the growing challenge of antibiotic resistance, a concern relevant to both animal health and clinical infectious disease management.

A Broader Commitment to Experiential Learning

Interim dean and director of SAFHS Dr. Christopher Mathis emphasized the significance of the internship program within UAPB's land-grant mission. "Summer research internships at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (搜索)搜索该公司 provide students with experiential learning opportunities that bridge classroom instruction with real-world applications," Dr. Mathis said. "As the nation's only 1890 land-grant university in Arkansas, UAPB has a unique responsibility to educate a diverse workforce capable of advancing agricultural innovation, promoting food security and strengthening underserved communities."

Dr. Mathis further noted that the internships enable students to move beyond classroom concepts. "Research internships enable students to apply scientific theories and technical knowledge learned in the classroom to practical research questions," he said. "Rather than simply learning concepts, students gain firsthand experience designing experiments, collecting data, analyzing results and communicating scientific findings."

The 35 internships provided students with opportunities to develop technical and professional skills while working with faculty members, researchers, industry professionals and community organizations. Experiences ranged from laboratory research and field studies to health care, conservation, human services and hospitality, reflecting UAPB's commitment to student-centered research and service.