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Mathematical Modeling Of T Cell Clustering Following Malaria Infection In Mice, Reka Katalin Kelemen
Mathematical Modeling Of T Cell Clustering Following Malaria Infection In Mice, Reka Katalin Kelemen
Masters Theses
Malaria is the result of the immune system's unsuccessful clearance of hepatocytes (liver cells) infected by the eukaryotic pathogen of the Plasmodium genus. It has been shown that CD8 T cells are required and sufficient for protective immunity against malaria in mice [29, 36], but the mechanisms by which they find and eliminate infected hepatocytes are not known yet. Recently we reported the formation of CD8 T cell clusters consisting of up to 25 cells around infected cells [8]. Our mathematical modeling and data analysis revealed that malaria-specific T cells likely recruit each other and also non-malaria-specific T cells to …
Plasmodium Suppresses T Cell Responses To Heterologous Infections By Impairing T Cell Activation, Chelsi Elizabeth White
Plasmodium Suppresses T Cell Responses To Heterologous Infections By Impairing T Cell Activation, Chelsi Elizabeth White
Masters Theses
Malaria is a devastating disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium falciparum, which is responsible for most malaria related fatalities, suppresses host immune responses during heterologous coinfections or following vaccination. However the mechanisms responsible for this defect are not well defined. The mechanism and to what extent this immunosuppression is occurring was investigated. This study demonstrates that both dendritic cell and T cell activation are impaired following a Plasmodium infection, ultimately altering the adaptive T cell response to secondary infections. T cell suppression is evident early on following a secondary infection and continues throughout the peak of parasitemia. …