Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Riley Dienna, Junior Astrid Senko, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Riley Dienna
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Amber Paul
Abstract
Immune dysfunction is a feature of spaceflight, resulting in the immune system being more susceptible to infections caused by pathogens such as Candida albicans. One of the most common clinical treatments for candidiasis is amphotericin B, however this treatment also targets somatic cells, making this a highly toxic and aggressive therapy. Novel treatments are required to fight fungal infections while minimizing damage to host cells. Therefore, this project has developed a novel treatment against C. albicans by utilizing an AAVS1 plasmid vector to knock-in endo-alpha-mannosidase, an enzyme produced by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, to regulates the growth of C. albicans in macrophage-like U937 cells. These engineered cells will be exposed to simulated microgravity and differentiated into macrophages with phorbol 12- myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 100nM). Evaluation of cell activation and function through cell surface markers, reactive oxygen species, and phagocytic activity were evaluated via flow cytometry. Transfected cells exposed to simulated microgravity are hypothesized to have increased expression of cell surface markers associated with phagocytosis as well as increased phagocytic activity. Preliminary data supports this hypothesis that simulated microgravity reduces immunological activity, indicating that microgravity causes dysregulation in the immune system is restored within engineered macrophages.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Working with the Immune System to Fight Infection: An Innovative Alternative to Chemical Antifungal Treatment
Immune dysfunction is a feature of spaceflight, resulting in the immune system being more susceptible to infections caused by pathogens such as Candida albicans. One of the most common clinical treatments for candidiasis is amphotericin B, however this treatment also targets somatic cells, making this a highly toxic and aggressive therapy. Novel treatments are required to fight fungal infections while minimizing damage to host cells. Therefore, this project has developed a novel treatment against C. albicans by utilizing an AAVS1 plasmid vector to knock-in endo-alpha-mannosidase, an enzyme produced by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, to regulates the growth of C. albicans in macrophage-like U937 cells. These engineered cells will be exposed to simulated microgravity and differentiated into macrophages with phorbol 12- myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 100nM). Evaluation of cell activation and function through cell surface markers, reactive oxygen species, and phagocytic activity were evaluated via flow cytometry. Transfected cells exposed to simulated microgravity are hypothesized to have increased expression of cell surface markers associated with phagocytosis as well as increased phagocytic activity. Preliminary data supports this hypothesis that simulated microgravity reduces immunological activity, indicating that microgravity causes dysregulation in the immune system is restored within engineered macrophages.