Coco Malnar | 2026 I.S. Symposium
狈补尘别:听Coco Malnar
Title: Dietary Isoflavones Alter Stress Resistance in C. elegans
Major: Biology
Pathway: Public Health
Advisor: Stephanie Strand
Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulate and damage cells, contributing to diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated how exposure to two polyphenols, genistein and daidzein, influenced stress resistance in C. elegans. Oxidative stress was assessed using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) which generates ROS in cells. When ROS concentrations in the cell exceed its antioxidant capacity, it can be very damaging to the cell and lead to oxidative stress. A heat stress assay was used to assess survival under elevated temperature conditions. We studied the differences in survival between treatments of genistein, daidzein, genistein and daidzein combined, and the control of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A choice assay was conducted to analyze if the nematodes showed a preference in polyphenol. These experiments aimed to understand how exposure to polyphenols impacted C. elegans under oxidative and heat stress. The results of the oxidative stress assay showed trends that when C. elegans were exposed to daidzein, there were some protective benefits, and the genistein treated nematodes exhibited the greatest protective effects. The results of the heat stress assay showed trends that combined treatment of genistein and daidzein provided the greatest protection, whereas with genistein alone resulted in the least protection. The results between the treatment groups were not found to be statistically significant for either assay, but differences in survival were shown. The implication of this study is that genistein and daidzein may show protective effects when under heat and oxidative stress in C. elegans.
Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.
