2008-2009 University Scholar Profile
Jessica M. Mayor
Mentor: Peter Kima
College of Medicine
"I applied to the Scholars Program because I wanted to complete an undergraduate thesis. Research is how discoveries and progress are made, and I wanted to contribute during my undergraduate career. The Scholars program is the best way at UF to pursue an undergraduate thesis because of the financial support and instructional resources it provides. I have always been fascinated with pathogenic organisms and viruses I want to become a physician in order to treat people with these diseases and to increase our knowledge about them."
Courses of Study
Major
Microbiology and Cell Science
Research Interests
Pathogens, infectious disease, medicine, and cellular biology
Awards
- High school valedictorian
- CALS Dean's List, several semesters
- President's Honor Roll, several semesters
Volunteer Service / Organizations
- Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED)
- CALS Upper Division Honors Program Student Advisory Board
- Volunteer, Haven Hospice
- Intramural volleyball director
Hobbies/Activities
Volleyball, music, shopping, reading, exercise, and eating healthy
Research Description
The Effect of Leishmania Parasite Infection on Macrophage Morphology and Motility
Leishmania are kinetoplastid protozoan parasites which cause the disease, Leishmaniasis, which currently affects approximately 12 million people worldwide. There are four variations of the disease including, cutaneous, visceral, mucocutaneous, and diffuse cutaneous. Visceral is the most lethal form because it infects internal organs, such as the liver. The parasite is transmitted to the host by the sandfly, and has two major forms in its life cycle. Amastigotes do not have flagella, and promastigotes have flagella and are the infective form. When the parasite enters the host cell through phagocytosis, it eventually resides in a phagolysosome. Depending on the species, the parasite will either multiply in one large vacuole or will form several small vacuoles, each with its own parasite.
My project examines how the parasite affects the morphology of the host cell cytoskeleton. The cytoskeletal changes induced by the presence of the parasite may increase the parasite’s survival in the host by either making the host cell more motile, which would spread infection, or by affecting the capability of the cell to participate in antigen presentation, which would allow the infected cell to persist. I am currently gathering data on the relative frequencies of various morphologies in mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7) infected with Leishmania parasites using immunofluorescence assays and a fluorescent microscope. I am also looking at how certain drugs alter the frequencies and existence of these morphologies. Wortmannin affects the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway (PI3K). This pathway functions in the insulin signaling pathway, cell growth, motility, survival, and intracellular trafficking. I am also using Miltefosine, a drug developed for malignant cancers, which has rec! ently been used to treat Leishmaniasis. Additionally, I am performing migration assays to confirm that the changes in morphology are indicative of changes in motility.
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