Testing Novelty Synergistic Drug Combinations to Knock-out Toxoplasma gondii in Mice Brains
Advisor Information
Paul Davis
Location
UNO Criss Library, Room 231
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
6-3-2015 11:30 AM
End Date
6-3-2015 11:45 AM
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular obligate parasite that is capable of invading a wide variety of vertebrates. While most infections of Toxoplasma gondii remain latent, infections can result in severe effects like behavioral changes, psychiatric disorders, and death. Currently there is no cure for the chronic infection, the bradyzoite form, of Toxoplasmosis. Prior to this study, preliminary research was performed in an attempt to develop a novel drug that will kill a chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection. Qualitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was performed to quantify remaining cysts in the infected mouse brains. The goal of this experiment is to determine the effectiveness of the novel drugs administered to the test subjects, hopefully leading to an identification of a novel drug combination that successfully eliminates chronic toxoplasmosis infection in mice.
Testing Novelty Synergistic Drug Combinations to Knock-out Toxoplasma gondii in Mice Brains
UNO Criss Library, Room 231
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular obligate parasite that is capable of invading a wide variety of vertebrates. While most infections of Toxoplasma gondii remain latent, infections can result in severe effects like behavioral changes, psychiatric disorders, and death. Currently there is no cure for the chronic infection, the bradyzoite form, of Toxoplasmosis. Prior to this study, preliminary research was performed in an attempt to develop a novel drug that will kill a chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection. Qualitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was performed to quantify remaining cysts in the infected mouse brains. The goal of this experiment is to determine the effectiveness of the novel drugs administered to the test subjects, hopefully leading to an identification of a novel drug combination that successfully eliminates chronic toxoplasmosis infection in mice.
Additional Information (Optional)
Winner of Meritorious Undergraduate Oral Presentation