Research Team to Publish in Stanford U. Scientific Journal

Published: April 13, 2021

One current student and three recent graduates representing Greenville Universitys Department of Biology will have a paper published in the September 20 issue of The Journal of Bio-protocol, a peer-reviewed international journal. G.U. Assistant Professor of Biology Bwarenaba Kautu received word of the publication August 15.

Authors include co-first author Jessie Chappel 20 (at left) and alumni co-authors Kellie Steele 18, Juliana Phillips 17 and M. Shawn Mengarelli 15.

Several scientific journals invited the researchers to publish with them. The team chose Bio-protocol, a publication established by professors at Stanford University.

Using inexpensive materials and a laboratory organism called C.elegans, the team created an experimental assayan investigative procedurethat could help neuroscientists gain further insight into the neurophysiological effects of plant chemicals called kavalactones.

Kavalactones are found in the root of kava, a medicinal plant native to the South Pacific Islands. When consumed, these chemicals interact with the human nervous system to produce calming and relaxing effects. Scientists do not fully understand how these chemicals interact with the nervous system.

The protocol that our students developed could potentially help the scientific community uncover the mechanism of interaction, said Kautu.

Kautu encourages his students to exercise creativity in the science laboratory.

These students demonstratedcreativity by using inexpensive materials to build something that could potentiallymake an importantcontribution to the scientific/medical community, he said. It is important for students to understand that what theybuild ordiscover in thelaboratory could alsopotentially change the lines of scientific andmedical textbooks. My goal as a professor is to provide opportunities for students to dothese things.

Mengarelli helped start the development of the assay as a junior. Steele and Phillips joined the project as freshmen. They helped refine the conditions of the assay and alsoassistedwith writing the manuscript. Chappel took on the project after her freshman year. She completed all of the unfinishedexperiments and assisted with writing and submitting the manuscript. She also helped addressed all of the journal reviewers' comments.

Chappel has submitted another paper for consideration. We hope to get this one published as well, within two to three months, said Kautu.

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Your gift to Greenville Universitys Catalyst Fund powers student research including the kavalactone project. Thank you for giving.