Alec Thompson, a Microbiology major from the University of Oklahoma, worked in the lab of Dr. Michael Yablsey to increase understanding of the genetic diversity of a parasite. Abstract: Dracunculus spp. are spiruroid nematode parasites that live in the subcutaneous tissues or abdominal cavity of mammals. The most important species is D. medinensis, the human
Temitayo Adanlawo, a Biology major from Howard University, worked with Kerri Miazgowicz in the lab of Dr. Courtney Murdock to study an important disease vector. Abstract: Malaria is a disease endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, India, southeast Asia and parts of Central and South America, and affects 300-600 million people every year. Malaria is a temperature-sensitive
Jesus Cantu, a Sociology major from Princeton University, worked with Drs. Tobias Brett and Pejman Rohani to model Hepatitis A infection. Abstract: Hepatitis A is an acute infectious disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). In the US, an incremental approach to vaccination was initiated after the vaccine became available in 1995. In effect, a
Anaija Hardmon, a Biology major from Spelman College, worked in the lab of Dr. Nicole Gottdenker to describe the population structure of an important disease vector. Abstract: Describing the population structure of zoonotic disease vectors includes understanding their life history strategies and population dynamics, as well as the development of vector-borne diseases, and control strategies
Sydney Keane, a Biology and Chemistry major from East Texas Baptist University, worked with Dr. Kelly Dyer examining the effects of infection on reproduction in Drosophila. Abstract: are bacterial parasites that commonly infect arthropods and nematodes. These parasites have damaging effects on the progeny of those they infect, including cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). CI occurs when
Jonathan Waring, a Computer Science major at the University of Georgia, worked with Ana Bento in the lab of Pejman Rohani to examine how the the choice of data used in a disease model affects the results. Abstract: During an emerging infectious disease outbreak, epidemiological parameters, such as transmission potential and mean infectious period, are
Celine Snedden, a Mathematics major at the University of California Berkeley, worked with Drs. Richard Hall and Sonia Altizer to look at how supplemental feeding of wildlife can affect disease spread. Abstract: Recreational and unintentional feeding of wildlife occurs frequently but can have negative consequences, such as increasing pathogen transmission within provisioned sites. However, it
Chevana Dorris, a Biology major from Jackson State University, and Dr. J.P. Schmidt looked at relationships between fungal pathogens and their insect hosts. Abstract: The USDA-ARS Collection of Entomopathogenic Fungal Cultures (ARSEF) database features nearly 8,000 fungal pathogen-insect host entries. For each fungal entomopathogen and its insect host, the database lists taxonomy and geographic location.
Kennesaw State University Biology Major Victoria Mendiola, worked in the lab of Dr. Nicole Gottdenker to study hookworm infectioun in South American fur seals. Abstract: Hookworm infection is endemic in many otaiird species and can cause up to 70 % pup mortality in some populations (Lyons 2001, Seguel in press). South American fur seal (SAFS)
Nicole Solano, a dance and biology major from Agnes Scott College, worked with Michelle Evans in the lab of Dr. Courtney Murdock to examine the effects of temperature on mosquito life history traits. Abstract: The Asian Tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is an invasive mosquito vector that can transmit up to 27 different arboviruses. Since mosquitoes
Yaw Kumi-Ansu, a Biology major from Emory University, worked with Dr. Andrew Kramer on an ongoing project to model White-Nose syndrome in bats. Abstract: White-Nose Syndrome is an epizootic fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans which has caused a significant decline in Vespertilionid bat populations in the United States. It is a psychrophilic fungus and
Lexi Lerner, a biology major from Brown University, worked with Dr. John Drake to look for critical slowing down in consumer fad systems. Abstract: Consumer fads are often characterized by unpredictable explosive outbreaks. Early warning signals have been retroactively successful at anticipating critical phenomena of complex systems such as infectious disease epidemics, but they have