Nico Tenorio*, Victoria Colling*, Keaton Silver*, Audi Fineran*, Aidan Quinn, Dylan Poch*, Marissa Allen, Mary Quansah*, Chris Chamblee, Andrew Smith*, Tyler Sodia*, Lindsey Armstrong, Austin Haider, Marcos Maldonado*, Anika James, Marlea Kudlauskas, Lisa Fetter*, Anna Nguyen*, Derek Clark, Dr. Ilia Mazin, Dr. Nazar Dubchak, Jena Jacobs, Dr. Jessica Daniel*, Aviva Bulow, Susan Jett*, Dr. Ryan Warren, Dr. Tiffany Ashbaugh, Michael McCoy, Ebony Miller, Jonathan Richards*, Laura Roon*, Becky Addison, Jeremy O’Brien, Travis Ingraham, Sarai Graves, Kathryn Norquest*, Stephen Schaffner*, Kyra Brandt, Elina Baravik*, Yerelsy Reyna*, Dr. Josh Sowick, Jody Stephens*, Dr. Ryan Masterson*, Mason Preusser, Dr. Tonya Santaus, Amanda Faux, Matthew Stoddard, Morgan Miller.
(* denotes a researcher with a publication from the lab)
Dr. Andrew J. Bonham
Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Bonham’s Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Bonham is a research biochemist and data scientist with an emphasis on development of biosensors for detection and quantification of bio-markers, and bioinformatic analysis of human epigenetic methylation. At Metropolitan State University of Denver, Dr. Bonham is leading an innovative undergraduate research program focused on engineering new tools and analyses.
Dr. Bonham’s research skills include:
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: molecular cloning / DNA mutagenesis; protein interface characterization, structure prediction, and engineering; DNA/RNA structure prediction and design; CRISPR/Cas9 human genome-editing design; protein expression, modification, and labeling; enzyme kinetics and thermodynamics; SPR and TIRF binding affinity measurement; radiation training (H3 and P32).
Polymers and nanomaterials: Cross-linking chemistry; hydrogel synthesis and characterization; DNA microarray fabrication; FPLC and HPLC purification; gold nanoparticle and nanorod development; GC-MS analysis.
Spectroscopy and microscopy: fluorescent confocal microscopy; Raman optical spectroscopy; TEM and SEM microscopy; fluorescent anisotropy; AFM microscopy.
Analytical Electrochemistry: square wave voltammetry; surface roughening; signal processing.
Bioinformatics: Python coding for GUI and software development; next-generation sequencing (NGS) data analysis; data science and predictive machine learning; development of Python training materials.
Christabel Ofori
Lab Member 2024-
Project: Spectroscopic studies of the role of Methylene Blue in DNA Aptamer Binding
The small molecule methylene blue (MB) has been used in a wide variety of scientific, medical, and veterinary applications since its discovery in the late 19th century. MB interacts with a variety of molecules including double-stranded DNA and single-stranded DNA. Numerous groups have explored the mechanisms of how MB interacts with both double-stranded and single-stranded DNA using laboratory and modeling methods. MB can be reduced to leucomethylene blue (LMB) electrochemically, or via chemical reduction by reducing agents such as glutathione, NADH, ascorbic acid, glucose, sodium sulfite, as well as tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine hydrochloride (TCEP). Critically, however, the binding affinity of LMB for DNA and the photophysical effects this causes have not been reported. To fill this gap, we are characterizing the interaction of LMB with both double-stranded and single-stranded DNA constructs via absorbance and fluorescence.
Zoe Ward
Lab Member 2024-
Project: Electrochemical DNA Biosensors for Detection of Herpes Papilloma Virus
For this project, a DNA Aptamer that is capable of binding to the protein E6 from Human papillomavirus (HPV) will be used as the sensing element in an electrochemical DNA-based biosensor. It is known that the E6 protein is excreted into the blood stream when HPV is in the human body. We aim to see if this offers a feasible route to rapidly detect the presence of HPV, such as in a collected blood sample. In our proposed design, less than a single drop of blood or other fluid is required for analysis by the biosensor. The electrical current response of the biosensor should vary with the presence and concentration of protein E, therefore offering insight on the presence of HPV in the sample.