In the US over 100 million people live with diabetes or pre-diabetes. The economic burden of this is approximately $327 billion every year. This study seeks to establish an alternative mode of insulin production using a polyethylene glycol (PEG) transformation of Pleurotus ostreatus. P. ostreatus is a valuable target for genetic transformation due to its lack of endotoxins, rapid growth, and fully sequenced genome. In this study, I transformed P. ostreatus using PEG with a plasmid containing the human insulin gene, a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene, and a selectable resistance gene. Transformed cells were selected using hygromycin, extracted, and regenerated on growth media. Confocal microscopy confirmed the presence of the GFP and presumably the human insulin gene. An ELISA for insulin and proinsulin will be used in the upcoming months to test for genetic expression, and to determine the efficacy of protein folding in the transgenic fungal cells. This has the potential to not only expand the market for diabetic treatment options, but it initiates a valuable conversation about the importance of diversifying production methods and costs in the treatment of diabetes.

Thirteen months after the first confirmed case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the United States (U.S.), over 500,000 people have died. However, the pandemic in the U.S. has not affected all populations equally; there are vast differences in morbidity and mortality in areas of differing population densities. We hypothesized that the number of SARS-CoV-2 mutations would be higher in densely populated areas due to closer proximity among inhabitants, which would lead to increased viral spread from person to person, and thus a greater number of mutations. These mutations can impact and reduce vaccine efficacy, as well as morbidity and mortality, depending on where they occur in the virus’s genome. The complete genomes of SARS-CoV-2 cases from March 1^st, 2020 to March 1^st, 2021 were collected from the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data (GISAID) for counties of varying population density. These genomes were analyzed to identify geographic areas where problematic mutations had the potential to occur. Demographic data was collected at the county level from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) for additional analysis. Mapping the incidence of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome and the correlation of these mutations with population density and other demographic indicators may help decrease disease spread and ensure the vaccines will remain effective.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic emerged in the United States in January 2020, altering how most individuals interact in public spaces. Many familiar indoor spaces such as restaurants, planes, and classrooms suddenly posed a significant risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Most transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is airborne through contagious aerosols exhaled with carbon dioxide (CO₂) by infected individuals in indoor and outdoor spaces. Indoor CO₂ levels are impacted by factors including: size of the space, air changes per hour, number of individuals present, the activities of the individuals, humidity, and temperature. Vigorous activities — such as speaking or exercising — increase CO₂ levels just as they increase aerosol production. Thus, CO₂ levels provided a good approximation of the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 in a specific location. We investigated how available ventilation impacts the transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 in different indoor settings. An indoor air quality monitoring system that utilized CO₂ levels was developed to evaluate risk of transmission. CO₂ levels were measured using CO₂ sensors in Seattle, WA from March 2021 to April 2021. This data was collected in a variety of public indoor spaces including public transit, educational buildings, restaurants, gyms, and grocery stores. CO₂ levels were analyzed with a COVID-19 Aerosol Transmission Estimator based on the Wells-Riley equation. This information is critical to understanding the comparative risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 in various indoor public spaces and highlighting where improvements can be made to mitigate such risk.