Immunology of Infectious Disease Commons^™

The Covid-19 Pandemic And Its Influence On The Human Immune System, Nicole L. Riha

Undergraduate Honors Theses

COVID-19 rapidly infected the world, and scientists continue to research how the disease spread and killed as many as it did by analyzing how it affects the human immune system and referring to past pandemics. Since the pandemic is ongoing, scientists do not fully understand how the virus works and if lockdowns were effective. Nevertheless, a discussion on what is known about COVID-19's influence on the human immune system is needed. With an understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists can make more effective treatments for COVID-19 and learn how to manage future pandemics.

Assessment Of The Immune Response To Posthodiplostomum Minimum Infection In Bluegills, Olamide S. Olayinka

Masters Theses

Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) are common intermediate hosts for white grub (Posthodiplostomum minimum). They tolerate heavy infections with minimal effect on condition and continue to accumulate metacercariae as they age. This suggests that any immune response to this parasite might not be effective. This study was conducted to better understand the immune mechanisms underlying P. minimum infection in bluegills.

Infected organs (liver, kidney, and heart) were examined histologically, and serum from infected fish was tested for antibodies to white grub. Juvenile flukes were recovered from isolated metacercarial cysts. Polyclonal antibodies were produced in mice against white grub …

White-Nose Syndrome And Immune Responses In A Resistant Bat Species (Eptesicus Fuscus), Keslie Skye Naffa

MSU Graduate Theses

White-nose syndrome (WNS) has had a large negative impact on bat populations across eastern North America since its arrival in 2006. Bats affected by WNS appear to die of starvation, possibly due to the increased arousals during hibernation when there is no food present to replace the energy used to arouse. During hibernation, the bat’s immune system should be suppressed. However, once a bat of a susceptible species is exposed to the fungus that causes WNS, Psuedogymnoascus destructans (Pd), the immune system seems to respond, potentially causing an elevation in metabolic rate, which may cause the bat to …

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 …