๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฆ?
The Seifert Scholars program appealed to me because it allows undergraduate students to work closely with professor-mentors and continue research over the summer without the demands of coursework. With dedicated time for research, I had the opportunity to build a strong foundation for my new project under the guidance of my PIs, Dr. Temesvari and Dr. Melvin.
Acanthamoeba castellaniiย causes Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK), a rare but severe corneal infection primarily affecting contact lens wearers. Current treatments for AK are intense and produce significant off-target effects, fueling the search for safer therapies. One possible approach is introducing plasmids via transfection to increase sensitivity to immune responses and antimicrobials. Early transfection efforts, however, have achieved lower transfection efficiencies. My project repurposes a microfluidic device capable of high throughput deformation of cancer cells to explore biomechanical deformation as an alternative means of transfectingย Acanthamoeba. By investigating flow rates, channel dimensions, serial deformation events, and the effects of Pluronic F-68, Cytochalasin B, and fluid shear stress on cell integrity, we are optimizing our device and characterizingย Acanthamoebaย deformation. Our long-term goal is to improve transfection efficiencies, expanding the genomic tools available to study this pathogen.
I am grateful for this research opportunity for growing my understanding of the little-known pathogens affecting patients worldwide and the combined scientific and medical efforts to combat them. Through the program, I have gained incredible mentors and friendships that will continue to encourage me post-graduation as I pursue medicine.
I am applying to medical school this cycle and hope to pursue a career in primary care (family medicine and rheumatology currently interest me the most!). I am passionate about integrating patient counseling into my future medical practice to provide long-term, holistic, patient-centered care for underserved rural communities.ย