B.S. Genetics, Cell
Biology and Development, University of Minnesota.
Currently a second-year
at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
Research Interests
The project I am
currently working on is the expression and characterization of 3 nonstructural
proteins (nsps) in the first ORF of the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory
Syndrome Virus (PRRSV). PRRSV is transmitted by the respiratory route and
infects alveolar macrophages.
Symptoms include
respiratory distress, diarrhea in young piglets, and induction of abortions in
pregnant sows. PRRSV consists of seven open reading frames, the first
containing the replicase and non-structural proteins. These nsps are autoproteolytically
cleaved from the protein encoded by orf1a. Nsp1 consists of two papain-like cysteine
proteases (PCPa and PCPb). Nsp2 is a cysteine protease and nsp4 is a serine
protease. The immunogenicity of these proteases has not been fully elucidated.
Recently, linear epitopes in the nsp2 protein have been found to bind to
antibodies from the serum of PRRSV-infected pigs, however, the immunogenicity
of nsp1 and nsp4 has not been tested. Currently, I am working on cloning the
full-length nsps into a bacterial expression vector and consequently expressing
the proteases.
Selected Publications
As morale officer, I have
written a few words on:
"The meaning of
life, death, and everything inbetween."
Honors and Awards
Summer Scholar Research
Program (for 1st and 2nd year veterinary students)
Interests and Activities
Running is a metaphor for
life..
I am a
very active, outdoor individual and am currently training for triathalons and
running races. During my spare time, I enjoy writing, philosophizing, and
spending time with friends. Still, nothing beats curling up in a papasan chair
with a blanket on a cold rainy day reliving Shakespearian theater.
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