Tiffany Pai L&S Biological Sciences
Illuminating Immune Cell Motility Strategies with Optogenetic Viruses
Insect-borne viral diseases such as Zika and Dengue cause over 700,000 deaths annually (1). For transmission to occur, the virus must spread within the insect and evade an antiviral response from the insect immune system (2). While pathways of the antiviral response are known, the mechanisms by which insect immune cells migrate to infected cells are poorly understood, limiting our ability to identify molecular targets for controlling disease outbreaks. In this work, we will determine whether insect immune cells migrate to virus-infected cells by crawling or by transport in the blood, and whether these motility patterns depend on the severity or location of the infection. We will do this by using live imaging methods to track fluorescent immune cells in fruit fly larvae, a model vector. To precisely control infection timing and location, we will combine genetically-encoded virus replicons with temperature-dependent and optogenetic expression systems.
Message To Sponsor
Thank you, Pergo Fund, for supporting my research during Summer 2024. Your support enabled me to pursue an independent project that I am truly passionate about. Additionally, participating in SURF provided invaluable insights through its workshops, equipping me with the skills and knowledge to better prepare for my future plans. This has been one of the most fulfilling and productive summers I have ever had.