Jovani Raya, a student from Abaraham Baldwin Agricultural College, worked with Dr. Sonia Altizer and Dr. Andy Davis to study the effect of infection on the stress reaction of monarch butterflies. Abstract: The protozoan parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) affects the adult mortality, longevity, body size, and flight ability of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus). However, very
LaTrice Montgomery, a student from Hampton University, worked with Paul Ginsberg in the lab of Dr. Kelly Dyer to study sperm competition in an infected fly species. Abstract: Wolbachia, a maternally inherited bacterium, is broadly distributed among arthropod hosts. It is also capable of reducing viral load in its host, preventing the transmission of human
Lindsey Jones, a student from Albany State University, worked with Michelle Evans in the lab of Dr. Courtney Murdock to look at fecundity of a mosquito vector species. Abstract: Dynamics of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, yellow fever, chikungunya, and dengue depend on the ecology of both the disease and vector. Past studies have shown
Carl Hintz, a student from North Carolina State University, worked with Emily Cook in the lab of Dr. Courtney Murdock to examine mosquito larvae dynamics. Abstract: The Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is nonnative to North America and is a vector of Dengue virus (DENV) and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in humans. Like most other mosquito
Hira Hasan, a student from Louisiana State University, worked with Monica Cartelle-Gestal in the lab of Dr. Eric Harvell to study the intracellular survival of Bordetella bacteria. Abstract: Bordetella pertussis and B. parapertussis are Gram-negative bacteria that cause a respiratory infection, known as whooping cough, in humans. Another member of the Bordetella species, B. bronchiseptica
Molly Hancuh, a student from University of Minnesota-Morris, worked with Bret Boyd and Ruby Harrison in the lab of Dr. Mike Strand to examine the role of bacteria in mosquito larval development. Abstract: The digestive tract of a mosquito is home to bacterial community that is essential for normal development (1). In the larval stages,
Keri-Niyia Cooper, a student from Savannah State University, worked with Drs. John Drake and Andrew Park over the summer to investigate parasite sharing in mammals. Abstract: After a literature review was performed to compile a list of parasites that infect marine mammals, we created a database of parasite-host pairings found in the articles. We then
Katie Adkins, a student from Clemson University, participated in an ongoing study of infectious disease dynamics in urban bird populations, supervised by Drs. Sonia Hernandez and Michael Yabsley. Many wildlife species benefit from novel resources – especially supplemental food – offered in human-altered habitats. Shifts in wildlife ecology in response to intentional or accidental feeding
Annaliese Wiens, a student from Tabor College, worked with Dr. Andreas Handel to examine the relationship between inoculum dose and infection outcome. Abstract: Dose-response models describe how different inoculum doses of a pathogen alter the probability of infection with a host. It is generally assumed that higher amounts of inoculum increase infection rates, but the
Mauricio Gallegos, a student from Clemson University, along with Austin Mesa from Florida International University, worked in the lab of Dr. Juan Guttierrez to design an implantable biomedical sensor. Abstract: The goal of this project was to design and miniaturize an implantable biomedical telemetry sensor that provides continuous, long-term telemetry data that could, in turn,
Magdalene Walters, a student from the University of Notre Dame, worked with Dr. John Drake to study the age distribution of a measles outbreak. Abstract: In 1997, São Paulo, Brazil experienced a measles outbreak with an unusually high average age of infection. It has since been hypothesized that this high age of infection was due
Djion Holness, a student from the University of Connecticut, worked with Amaka Nina Ananaba in the lab of Dr. Nicole Gottdenker to examine pathogen co-infection in dogs. Abstract: Pathogens can interact with each other within a host, which can influence patterns of co-infection in populations by complex interactions within the host’s immune system, such as
Lauren Kleine, a student from Colorado State University, examined the enemy release hypothesis in a project directed by Dr. Patrick Stephens and Dr. J.P. Schmidt. Abstract: The Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH) predicts that invasive species will achieve greater success in non-native ranges due in part to escape from parasites found in their native ranges. The