Scholar Profiles
Carmelo Nieves, Jr.
2000 - 2001 University Scholar
Mentor: Bobbi Langkamp-Henken
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
"Through the USP I have a newfound respect for researchers. Research can be difficult and time consuming, but I have learned a lot about my abilities and inabilities. I highly recommend this program to all students who have chosen to make science their career."
Carmelo Nieves is a senior food science and human nutrition major from South Florida. He is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a preprofessional service organization, and he also volunteers at Shands Hospital, the St. Francis House, and the Stop Cancer program. Carmelo hopes to attend medical school. His non-academic interests include cars, computers, sky diving, and art.
Research Description:
Ornithine Decarboxylase Activity in Arginine Fed Mice
The amino acid arginine is known to enhance immune response; however, the mechanism for this phenomenon has not yet been fully determined. We propose that arginine enhances lymphocyte proliferation via the production of ornithine, which ultimately, is converted into polyamines. In polyamine synthesis ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is the rate-limiting enzyme. Groups of mice will be fed a 2% arginine supplemented diet or a control diet. After two weeks of supplementation the spleen and intestinal lymphocytes will be harvested and then stimulated. ODC activity in the lymphocytes will then be measured to estimate polyamine synthesis. Preliminary data suggests that splenocyte ODC activity peaks between 18 to 20 hours post stimulation with mitogen. We anticipate that ODC activity will increase in the arginine supplemented mice.
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