Congratulations to Benjamin King on receiving the University of Maine鈥檚 first National Institutes of Health (NIH) R16 award.

91福利 News recently featured King and his team鈥檚 research exploring an unexpected connection between blood pressure regulation and the immune response to influenza (91福利 researchers explore unexpected connection between blood pressure regulation and the flu)

King, an associate professor of bioinformatics at the University of Maine, received $400,000 in direct funding over four years through the NIH Research Excellence Award (R16) program.

The project will investigate whether the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which is best known for regulating blood pressure, also influences the body鈥檚 immune response to influenza. King and his research team are using zebrafish to examine how different components of RAAS affect immune cells and the body’s ability to fight influenza without triggering excessive inflammation.

An important component of the R16 award is creating hands-on research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Students in King鈥檚 lab are directly involved in the federally funded research, working with zebrafish, conducting experiments, collecting data, and using specialized techniques to observe immune responses in real time.

The four-year project will help researchers better understand the relationship between blood pressure regulation, inflammation, and influenza while providing 91福利 students with meaningful research experience.

Read the full 91福利 News story.

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Congratulations to Jared Talbot on the acceptance of the manuscript, 鈥淢yosin light chain proteins cooperatively promote sarcomere growth in fast-twitch muscle,鈥� for publication in Nature Communications.

91福利 News featured the findings in a post, 91福利 researchers identify a molecular linchpin for muscle health.

University of Maine researchers have published new findings about how muscles form, why certain muscle diseases develop and why symptoms may not appear until years after muscle degeneration begins.

The study, published in , focuses on a protein called Mylpf that is essential for the development of fast-twitch muscle fibers, which propel rapid, powerful movements like sprinting and lifting heavy weights. When Mylpf does not form correctly, muscles completely lose their ability to contract. 

鈥淢ylpf is sort of the linchpin that makes the whole muscle fiber work,鈥� said Jared Talbot, the project鈥檚 principal investigator and an associate professor of developmental biology at 91福利. 

Using zebrafish as a model organism, the team measured how Mylpf protein levels corresponded to muscle development, revealing a surprisingly sensitive relationship between protein levels and muscle health.

When Mylpf function was eliminated, fast-twitch muscles failed to build the structures they needed to contract or generate force. Crucially, the severity of this defect tracked closely with how much protein was present: animals with moderately reduced Mylpf had moderately impaired muscles, while those with none had no functional fast-twitch muscle at all. By testing many combinations of gene doses in a single study, the team was able to model the protein鈥檚 effects with unusual mathematical rigor.

The researchers also found that a human version of the Mylpf gene could fully restore normal muscle development in mutant fish, suggesting the protein plays a similar fundamental role across bony vertebrates, including humans. 

鈥淭hat finding tells us this isn鈥檛 just a zebrafish story. Most of what we know about ourselves are insights drawn from other creatures,鈥� Talbot said. 鈥淭his study helps us learn the rules of how the muscle builds itself. Once you know those rules, it is far easier to develop drug treatments that could help people with muscle disorders.鈥�

The team then tested a version of the gene linked to Distal Arthrogryposis, a congenital disorder characterized by joint contractures and muscle weakness. Unlike the normal human gene, this disease-associated version could not restore muscle development in the zebrafish model. People with Distal Arthrogryposis typically carry only one defective copy of the gene; the other copy is normal, yet they still develop the disease. Together, these findings suggest that even a partial reduction in Mylpf function is enough to hinder muscle formation and cause the disorder.

One of the study鈥檚 most significant findings concerns how the body compensates for muscle loss, and what that may mean for understanding delayed disease onset. When fast-twitch muscles failed to form properly, slow-twitch muscles 鈥� normally a minor player in zebrafish movement 鈥� grew larger and became more active. This allowed the mutant fish to travel just as far as their healthy relatives in some tests. 

The researchers believe this compensatory mechanism may help explain why patients with diseases like muscular dystrophy can appear healthy for years, even as muscle degeneration is already underway. When one muscle system compensates for another, the damage may go unnoticed until the reserve is exhausted.

The study was supported, in part, by 91福利鈥檚 first Center for Biomedical Research Excellence grant. This significant award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is designed to build institutional capacity for biomedical research. The COBRE program is central to 91福利鈥檚 broader push to build its biomedical research enterprise, including a recent investment in an expanded zebrafish lab where researchers investigate fundamental questions in developmental biology and muscle disease.

Another NIH award, an R15, helped provide hands-on experience for three graduate and 11 undergraduate students, all of whom earned authorship on the paper. For many of the undergraduates, it represented their first experience contributing to peer-reviewed science.

鈥淎 lot of people listed were owners of the project at some point. Each of these students made a unique contribution, and I鈥檓 proud of everyone involved,鈥� Talbot said. 

Contact: Erin Miller, erin.miller@maine.edu

The post Jared Talbot鈥檚 publication accepted in Nature Communications appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

Faculty, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers are eligible to apply. Graduate student and postdoctoral applications require a letter of support from the principal investigator. Awards support biomedical research projects and are made on a competitive basis. Awarded funds must be expended by April 30, 2027, and cannot be carried over.

Learn more about eligibility, application requirements, and submit your application here:

The post Maine INBRE Core Access Awards Now Accepting Applications appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

The study, 鈥淭argeting the D93 cryptic collagen epitope alters integrin 伪2尾1-dependent cellular migration and collagen remodeling in metastatic breast cancer,鈥� examines how changes in the tumor-associated extracellular matrix (ECM) may influence cancer progression and metastasis.

Using 3D human metastatic breast cancer spheroid models embedded in collagen type I hydrogels, the research team investigated the therapeutic potential of targeting the D93 cryptic collagen epitope with a monoclonal antibody. The study found that treatment with mAb D93 reduced cellular migration into collagen hydrogels and altered collagen architecture at both the fiber and fibril levels.

Two-photon microscopy further revealed that breast cancer cells drive exposure of D93 sites while remodeling collagen structure within the extracellular matrix. Together, the findings suggest that targeting the D93 cryptic collagen epitope may help inhibit integrin 伪2尾1-dependent metastatic migration in breast cancer.

The project was supported through a COBRE pilot project and represents another important milestone for the Tilbury Laboratory鈥檚 work in cancer imaging and extracellular matrix research.

The post Tilbury Laboratory Research Accepted to Scientific Reports appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

New research from the Tilbury Laboratory highlights how advanced label-free optical imaging techniques can provide deeper insight into collagen remodeling in metastatic breast cancer and its role in tumor progression.

Using Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging and two-photon microscopy in 3D human breast cancer spheroid models, researchers investigated how breast cancer cells remodel collagen architecture across multiple spatial scales, from fibril-level organization to larger extracellular matrix (ECM) structures. These imaging approaches allowed the team to better visualize cancer-driven collagen remodeling and its potential as a therapeutic target.

The research also explored how targeting the D93 cryptic collagen epitope with a monoclonal antibody reduced metastatic cell migration, further supporting the growing understanding that extracellular matrix remodeling plays a critical role in cancer invasion and progression.

This work represents an exciting contribution to the growing field of tumor microenvironment and extracellular matrix imaging research and marks Jordan Miner鈥檚 first manuscript developed from dissertation research.

Contributors to the project include , , , , , , and .

The post New Research Explores Advanced Imaging in Metastatic Breast Cancer appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

Undergraduate researchers mentored by COBRE-affiliated faculty presented their work at the University of Maine Student Symposium this spring, highlighting research across virology, inflammation, and infectious disease biology. Through hands-on laboratory experience, students are contributing to ongoing biomedical research while developing technical and analytical skills that support future careers in science and healthcare.

Sydney Frazier

Sydney Frazier is conducting research in the Maginnis Laboratory focused on understanding how JC Polyomavirus interacts with the histamine H1 receptor and the role the receptor may play in viral infection. Her work explores how antihistamine drugs such as doxepin may help inhibit infection pathways associated with the virus.

Frazier joined the project after it was already underway and now spends approximately 8鈥�10 hours each week conducting research in the lab. Her responsibilities include infecting and staining cells, imaging samples, and evaluating how different cell lines respond to treatment. One of the most rewarding moments in her research came after overcoming early experimental setbacks and observing consistent inhibitory effects against the virus across multiple cell lines.

She credits graduate student Kris Kelly and Dr. Melissa Maginnis for their mentorship and support throughout the research process. Research in the Maginnis Laboratory aims to better understand viral entry mechanisms that could eventually help guide therapeutic development for Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML), a fatal disease caused by JC Polyomavirus that currently has no approved antiviral treatment.

Fiona Johnson

Biochemistry, Class of 2028
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Benjamin King
Research Project: Determining How pak1 Reduces Hyperinflammation Caused by Influenza Infection

Fiona Johnson鈥檚 research in the King Laboratory focuses on a gene known as pak1, which plays a role in the inflammatory response in zebrafish and has a human ortholog connected to immune signaling pathways. Her project investigates why inhibiting the gene appears to reduce hyperinflammation and increase lifespan in zebrafish infected with influenza.

Johnson spends approximately 5鈥�6 hours each week conducting research, including collecting zebrafish embryos, performing microinjections with influenza virus, extracting RNA, and analyzing gene expression using qPCR techniques. She was drawn to the project because it allows her to think creatively about how genes influence inflammation and immune responses.

Looking ahead, Johnson hopes to expand the project through confocal imaging and potentially develop a mutant zebrafish line with the pak1 gene knocked out. She also hopes the research may contribute to future approaches for reducing harmful inflammatory responses associated with influenza infection in humans. Johnson credits Dr. Benjamin King for his mentorship and guidance throughout her research experience.

The post COBRE Student Research Spotlight appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

This spring, students mentored by COBRE-affiliated faculty presented research at the University of Maine Student Symposium. The posters represented a wide range of disciplines, including biomedical sciences, engineering, infectious disease research, zebrafish models, mitochondrial biology, and tissue engineering. The symposium highlighted the collaborative research environment at 91福利 and the important role faculty mentorship plays in student research success.

Featured Student Posters and Faculty Mentors

The list below highlights student poster presentations associated with COBRE faculty mentors during the symposium, including student researchers, project titles, and participating laboratories across campus.

Dr. Suzanne Angeli Laboratory

Determining the Role of ROS Within the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore and the Maladaptive Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response

Student Researcher(s): Alyssa Castle

Reducing the Detrimental Effect of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore (mPTP) in Caenorhabditis elegans

Student Researcher(s): Kirin Guay

Examining Sex-Specific Differences in Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response Activation Using C. elegans

Student Researcher(s): Nathaniel Jordan

Tissue-Specific Role of atp-3 in Lifespan Regulation

Student Researcher(s): Holden Zuras

Mitochondrial Stress & Lifespan Extension in C. elegans Through RNAi-Mediated Gene Knockdown

Student Researcher(s): Melisa Matonsi, Kirin Guay, Seth Ashby, Timber Mattson

Characterization of Differentially Expressed Genes Between the Developmental and Post-Developmental Mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response (UPRMT) in Caenorhabditis elegans

Student Researcher(s): Riley Jerome, Justin Solomon, Franklin Libby, Seth Ashby

Dr. Clarissa Henry Laboratory

Removal of Dpm3 in Zebrafish Leads to Impaired Neuromuscular Development and Failure to Thrive

Student Researcher(s): Amanda Ignacz, Lillian Warwick, Veronica Doyle, Clare MacDonald, Clarissa Henry

Dr. Joshua Kelley Laboratory

Pointing Shmoo North: Mapping the Polarized Proteome

Student Researcher(s): Remi Geohegan, Ahmed Almaghasilah, Sudati Shrestha, Nick Leclerc, Toby Dunne, Joshua Kelley

Septin, Exocyst and Polarisome Coordination in the Yeast Mating Pathway

Student Researcher(s): Catherine Beazley, Sudati Shrestha, Joshua Kelley

Dr. Benjamin King Laboratory

Increasing Rural Lung Cancer Patient Access to Precision Medicine Improves Overall Survival

Student Researcher(s): Michael Babcock

Genetic Causes of Differential Survival in DBA/2J Mice vs. C57BL/6J Mice Infected with Influenza A Virus

Student Researcher(s): Zacharie Claude, Abigail Bergmark, Ada Sinclair-Steele, Aubrey Dionne, Benjamin Curtis

Genetic Causes of Differential Survival in DBA/2J Mice vs. C57BL/6J Mice Infected with Influenza A Virus

Student Researcher(s): Sydney DeSimone, Ada Sinclair-Steele, Abigail Bergmark, Zac Claude

An Easily Imageable Localized Influenza Infection in Zebrafish Larvae

Student Researcher(s): Ben Curtis, Benjamin King

Investigating the Roles of Myeloperoxidase in Regulating the Inflammatory Response to Influenza A Virus Infection

Student Researcher(s): Lillian Campbell, Ben Curtis, Adeline Shanahan, Fiona Johnson

Determining How pak1 Reduces Hyperinflammation Caused by Influenza Infection

Student Researcher(s): Fiona Johnson, Brooke Jacomine, Ben Curtis

Topology to Targeting: Percolation to Identify Biologically Relevant Genes from Transcriptomic Data

Student Researcher(s): Eric Jestel

Dr. Melissa Maginnis Laboratory

Defining Cellular Mechanisms of JC Polyomavirus Entry and Infection in Primary Cell Models

Student Researcher(s): Gabriella Giftos, Sophie Craig

Characterizing Src in JC Polyomavirus Infection via Bosutinib Inhibition

Student Researcher(s): Joshua Hicks, James Feduccia

Genotype-Specific Binding Properties of BK Polyomavirus

Student Researcher(s): Luise Reinwald, Lara Kirkby, Sophie Craig, Kristina Kelly

A Novel Kidney Organoid Model for Polyomavirus Infection

Student Researcher(s): Sophie Craig, Orianna Goldberg, James Feduccia, Jasper Makowski

Investigating the Effect of Serotonin on JC Polyomavirus Infection

Student Researcher(s): Owen Axelson, Lucas Bennett

Defining the Role of Src and the MAPK Pathway During JCPyV Infection

Student Researcher(s): Abigail McNally, James Feduccia, Joshua Hicks, Melissa Maginnis

Determining the Pathway of BK Polyomavirus Entry into Human Kidney Cells Using Endocytosis Inhibitors

Student Researcher(s): Emma Nicholson, Gabriella Giftos, Sophie Craig

Investigating Histamine Receptor-Mediated Pathways to Inhibit JC Polyomavirus Infection

Student Researcher(s): Sydney Frazier

Inhibition of Src Kinase Reduces JC Polyomavirus Infection in Immortalized and Primary Astrocytes

Student Researcher(s): James Feduccia, Sophie E. Craig, Abigail McNally, Joshua Hicks

Hijacking a Common Regulatory Receptor: How JCPyV Utilizes Serotonin Type II Receptors for Its Own Gain

Student Researcher(s): Lucas Bennett, Kristina Kelly, Orianna Goldberg, Amanda Sandberg, Owen Axelson, Samuel Hess, Melissa Maginnis

Effects of Calcium and GPCR Inhibitor Drugs on BK Polyomavirus Infection in Kidney-Derived Cells

Student Researcher(s): Cintia Bukaka, Gary Au-Yeung, Abby Bouchard, Takashi Fasulo, Portia Gagnon, Addison Gambol, Grace Johnson, Meagan Libby, Lily Poulin, Marcus Russano, Liz Saavedra Perez, Morgan White, Gabriella Giftos, Sophie Craig

Defining the Role of Calcium Signaling in BK Polyomavirus Infection

Student Researcher(s): Jasper Makowski, Sophie Craig

Opening the Door: Histamine Receptor H1 Identified as a Potential Novel Entry Receptor for JC Polyomavirus

Student Researcher(s): Kristina Kelly, Lucas Bennett, Melissa Maginnis

Dr. Jared Talbot Laboratory

Independently Verifying Behavioral Compensation in Danio rerio Model of Muscle Disease

Student Researcher(s): Jesse Persons, Troy E. Hupper, Teresa E. Easterbrooks, Jared C. Talbot

Retinoic Acid Signaling Controls Muscle-Forming Cell Migration in Zebrafish

Student Researcher(s): Alexandra Myles, Jared Talbot, Teresa Easterbrooks

Dr. Karissa Tilbury Laboratory

Effect of Fibrinogen-Thrombin Hydrogel Stiffness and Osteogenic Media on Osteogenic Maturation of MC3T3-E1 Cells

Student Researcher(s): Autumn Greene, Jonathan Sawyer, Tyler Russell, Victoria Dungey, Savannah Connor-Schade

Effects of Media, Matrix Stiffness, and Dimensionality on Osteogenesis

Student Researcher(s): Lydia Bates, Jasmine Connor-Schade, Noah Cote, Madison Striegel

Collagen Hydrogel Contraction Caused by M1, M2 and M4 Breast Tissue Cell Lines

Student Researcher(s): Tyler Judd

Dr. Robert Wheeler Laboratory

Standardizing NanoLuc Luciferase Bioluminescence Assay for Candida albicans Growth

Student Researcher(s): Abby Bouchard, Gursimran Dhillon, Robert Wheeler, Lindsey Stover

Mechanisms of Bacterial-Drug Synergy Against Candida

Student Researcher(s): Allie Conner, Siham Hattab, Lindsey Stover, Robert Wheeler

Do Cross-Kingdom Interactions Affect Antibiotic Susceptibility in Cystic Fibrosis?

Student Researcher(s): Cameron Bains, Allie Conner, Robert Wheeler

Using Intravital Imaging in Zebrafish to Understand the Role CXCR1/2 Receptor-Signaling Plays in Phagocyte Activity During the Innate Immune Response to C. albicans Infection

Student Researcher(s): Nnamdi Baker

Investigating the Role of NMD5 in Cell Wall Structure and Host Immune Recognition in Candida albicans

Student Researcher(s): Noah Colby

This collection of student presentations reflects the continued impact of faculty mentorship and collaborative research opportunities supported through COBRE-affiliated laboratories at the University of Maine.

The post COBRE Faculty Mentor Student Posters appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

Disruptions in nucleolar organization have been linked to a range of diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, yet many of the biological mechanisms that govern this structure remain poorly understood. Spaulding鈥檚 research seeks to address these questions by examining how nucleolar organization varies across tissues and by using model organisms that enable scientists to observe cellular processes in living systems.

Support from Maine INBRE has played an important role in helping Spaulding establish her research program, acquire specialized equipment, and train early-career researchers. The new NIH funding will provide long-term stability as her lab continues investigating how cellular organization influences health and disease outcomes.

The post Maine INBRE Project Leader Emily Spaulding Awarded $2.3 Million NIH Grant appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

Zebrafish are widely used in scientific research because they share many genetic similarities with humans and allow researchers to observe developmental and regenerative processes in real time. The expanded facility at 91福利 is strengthening the university鈥檚 ability to contribute to global research efforts, while also providing hands-on learning experiences for undergraduate and graduate students.

Current projects in the lab focus on understanding muscle development, cell movement, and the genetic mechanisms that influence tissue repair and regeneration. These efforts have the potential to inform new approaches to treating human diseases and improving long-term health outcomes.

The lab also plays an important role in outreach and workforce development by engaging students, supporting collaborative research initiatives, and helping to attract future scientists to the field.

Read the full Bangor Daily News story to learn more about the lab鈥檚 impact and ongoing research:

The post 91福利 Zebrafish Research Lab Highlighted in Bangor Daily News appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

Understanding how the body repairs itself and why that ability declines with age is at the center of research led by Romain Madelaine, Ph.D., assistant professor at MDI Biological Laboratory. In a recent Q&A feature, Madelaine shares insights into how studying zebrafish regeneration may help scientists uncover new strategies to support human health.

Madelaine鈥檚 research focuses on the molecular signals that coordinate tissue repair and regeneration. Zebrafish have an extraordinary ability to regenerate organs such as the retina, heart, and spinal cord, making them a powerful model for understanding biological pathways that humans share but cannot fully activate. His laboratory investigates how hormonal signaling, vascular development, and neural processes work together as an interconnected system that supports successful regeneration in fish.

A key focus of the team鈥檚 work is understanding how regenerative capacity changes over time. Many of the mechanisms that support tissue repair in early life gradually decline with age. This contributes to muscle weakness, vision loss, and other age-related conditions. By studying hormones such as insulin and apelin, which help regulate stem cell activity, inflammation, and blood vessel growth, researchers aim to better understand how changes in signaling networks influence aging and tissue health.

The lab is also examining how communication between blood vessels and neural cells shapes regeneration. Findings suggest that this coordination may be essential for effective tissue repair and may help explain why regenerative processes weaken in aging mammals and in neurodegenerative diseases.

In addition to advancing scientific discovery, Madelaine emphasizes the importance of training future scientists. His team works with students at multiple levels, helping to build research capacity in regeneration biology and aging science.

By investigating how regenerative pathways function in zebrafish and how similar mechanisms operate in humans, this research supports long-term progress toward treating conditions such as macular degeneration and age-related muscle decline.

The post Faculty Q&A: Exploring Regeneration and Aging with Romain Madelaine, Ph.D. appeared first on Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).