Natasha S. Wiles, Ph.D.
SPIRE Postdoctoral Teaching & Research Fellow
Department of Biology and Marine Sciences
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Office:
425 Health Center Drive
Nags, Head, NC 27959
Phone: 252-480-8582 ext. 230
Fax: 252-480-0719
Email: kwiles@email.unc.edu
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Bio
Currently Natasha is a postdoctoral fellow in the SPIRE (Seeding Post-doctoral Innovators in Research and Education) program at UNC Chapel Hill. SPIRE is a multi-dimensional professional development program that focuses on teaching, research, and professional development, with a fundamental goal of increasing diversity in science professions.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|
SPIRE Postoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Marine Sciences & Biology
April 2006-Present
Concentration: Microbial Ecology
Proposal focus: Evaluating environmental parameters, acquiring meteorological data, and combining novel molecular techniques, including Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (QPCR), with traditional microbial indicators to identify diverse pathogenic constituents and their sources of contamination from storm water outfall sources. Using rhodamine dye tracking methodology to assess the mean velocity and dispersion over time from the outfall sources will enable the development of a model that will more adequately predict the human health risks posed in the surrounding waters.
Principal Investigators: Michael F. Piehler and Rachel T. Noble
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
SPIRE Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacology
September 2005- April 2006
Concentration: ‘Smart’ nanoparticle fabrication and cellular uptake analysis in various cancer model systems
Proposal focus: Evaluation of smart nanoparticles produced by PRINT (Particle Replication In Non-wetting Templates) technology in the diagnosis and therapy of cancer. In vitro studies with NIH 3T3 murine cells to analyze the effect of nanoparticle shape, size, charge specifications on uptake characteristics determined by confocal microscopy. Analyze the biodegradation attributes of nanoparticles containing various amounts of disulfide linkages to enhance circulation lifetime and increase opsinization in target locations.
Principal Investigators: Joseph M. DeSimone and Rudolph Juliano
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Virginia Tech
Ph.D. Biology, 2005
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Indiana University
B.A. College of Arts and Science
Major: Psychology
Minors: Biology and Animal Behavior
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Research interests
Nastasha's research activities involve investigating the physical parameters and biological constituents of storm water outfalls on the ocean and sound sides of the North Carolina Outer Banks, specifically focusing on the use of innovative molecular techniques to identify, quantify and determine the fate of various bacterial and viral pathogens that pose health threats in this region. In addition to my research endeavors, Natasha is interested in participating in educational outreach activities in general public and educational platforms in an effort to cultivate awareness of environmental issues, engineer and implement solutions to address these issues, and engage students in activities and projects related to the research conducted at the Coastal Studies Institute. Natasha's previous postdoctoral research activities in the SPIRE program included the analysis of monodisperse polyethylene glycol nanoparticles as therapeutic delivery agents for pharmacological applications. This collaborative research endeavor required an interdisciplinary platform, and enabled a convergence of the physical life sciences as Natasha worked with polymer chemists, pharmacological researchers and practicing oncologists to achieve interconnected goals.
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Research Experience
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
SPIRE Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Sept. 2005- April 2006
· Developing an integrated approach to merge physical and environmental parameters at ocean and sound storm water outfall with a thorough analysis of pathogenic consituents and prediction of their origins.
· Combining microbial source tracking with traditional microbial indicators as an innovative tool to identify, quantify and determine the fate of bacterial and viral pathogens near ocean and sound stormwater outfalls.
· Devising strategies to minimize health hazards caused by pathogens released at outfall sites and providing platforms to inform public of practices they can employ to help reduce public health risks in the waters surrounding outfall sites.
· Designed and fabricated uniform monodisperse polymeric nanoparticles by PRINT (Particle Replication In Non-wetting Templates) technology.
· Comparatively evaluated the cellular uptake characteristics of nanoparticles comprised of varying shapes, sizes and charge characteristics by optical confocal microscopy in NIH 3T3 murine cells.
· Collaborated and developed the design of smart nanoparticles decorated with cell-specific ligands to recognize and target delivery to specific tumor types.
Virginia Tech
Graduate Researcher
Sept. 2000- May 2005
· Analyzed the transcriptional regulation of the 5’-nucleotidase gene in Dictyostelium discoideum.
· Generated a series of 5’ and 3’ promoter deletions in the upstream regulatory sequence of 5’-nucleotidase using PCR-based and vector amplification based approaches.
· Fused deletion-containing promoters to the luciferase and B-galactosidase reporter genes and measured reporter gene activity in clones acquired at various stages of development to identify specific temporally regulated sites required for expression control during development.
· Incorporated fourteen different 6-base pair and 12-base pair site-directed mutations in regulatory regions identified from the promoter deletion analysis.
· Fused mutagenized promoters to the luciferase and B-galactosidase reporter genes and measured reporter gene activity in clones acquired at various stages of development to assess temporal regulation. Also measured activity in cells incubated in the presence and absence of cAMP to identify inducible sites of regulation.
· Performed electromobility gel shift assays with fractionated cytoplasmic and nuclear protein extracts using P32 radiolabeled nucleotides to identify DNA-protein interactions determined to be specific by extensive competition experiments.
· Implemented protein purification schemes, which included DEAE Sephacel Chromatography, Heparin Sepharose Chromatography, DNA affinity Chromatography, Gel Filtration Chromatography and SDS PAGE to isolate and identify two novel transcription factors previously known to be involved in folic acid metabolic activities within cells.
Presentations
· July 2003: Oral presentation of dissertation research at the annual international Dictyostelium conference in Lorne, Victoria, Australia.
· May 2003: Oral presentation of dissertation research at the 81st annual Virginia Academy of Sciences meeting at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Publications
· Accepted for publication by the Journal of Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics November 2005: Identification and Purification of a DNA-Binding Protein Interacting with the Promoter of 5’-nucleotidase in Dictyostelium discoideum. Natasha S. Wiles, Can M. Eristi, Bradley R. Joyce, and Charles L. Rutherford. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States.
· Submitted for publication Novemeber 2005: Identification and Purification of a DNA-Binding Protein in Dictyostelium discoideum Identified as a Dihydro-6-hydroxymethylpterin Pyrophosphokinase. Can M. Eristi, Natasha S. Wiles and Charles L. Rutherford. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States.
· Article currently under review: Identification of Temporal Sites Involved in the Transcriptional Regulation of 5’-nucleotidase in Dictyostelium discoideum by Deletion and Mutagenesis Analysis. Natasha S. Wiles, Can M. Eristi, Lauren E. Sangenario, and Charles L. Rutherford. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States.
· Article currently under review: Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the 5’-nucleotidase Promoter in Dictyostelium discoideum to Identify Control Elements Influenced by cAMP that Participate in Transcriptional Regulation. Natasha S. Wiles, Lauren E. Sangenario, and Charles L. Rutherford. Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States.
· June 2003: Identification of Regulatory Binding Sites and Corresponding Transcription Factors Involved in the Developmental Control of 5'-nucleotidase Expression in Dictyostelium discoideum. N.S. Wiles, C.M. Eristi, M.Ubeidat, B.R Joyce and C.L Rutherford. Virginia Journal of Science, Summer 2003, Vol.54, No.2, pg.61.
· June 2003: Expression and Regulation of Alkaline Phosphatase during Development of Dictyosteium discoideum. B.R. Joyce, M.Ubeidat, C.M. Eristi, N.S.Wiles and C.L. Rutherford. Virginia Journal of Science, Summer 2003, Vol. 54, No. 2, pg.61.
Awards
· December 2005: Received the Department of Biological Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award at Virginia Tech.
· May 2005: Received University recognition and scholarship stipend as nominee for the University Graduate Teaching Excellence Award at Virginia Tech.
· May 2003: Received Best Student Paper Award in the Biology section from the oral presentation of dissertation research at the 81st annual Virginia Academy of Sciences meeting at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.
