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Department of Microbiology & Immunology Alumni

2022

Avantika I. Ahiya

Advisor/Mentor: Akhil B. Vaidya, PhD


Jennifer Connors

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Elias El Haddad, MD, and Michele Kutzler, PhD


Swati Dass

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Hangjun Ke, PhD; co-advisor: Akhil Vaidya, PhD


Abdullah Izmirly

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Elias Haddad, PhD; co-advisor: Michele Kutzler, PhD


Lilly McQueen

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Joris Beld, PhD


Phillip Palmer

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD


Cassandra Spector

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Michael Nonnemacher, PhD

2021

Olivia Cipollini

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Sonia Navas-Martin, PhD


Rita Esposito

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Fred Krebs, PhD


Katherine (Kaytie) Innamorati

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich, PhD


Robert W. Link

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Will Dampier, PhD, and Brian Wigdahl, PhD


Ronak Loonawat

Advisor/Mentor: Michael Bouchard, PhD


Kiran Madugula

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Pooja Jain, PhD


Haley M. Majer

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Joris Beld, PhD


Hager Mohamed

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Fred C. Krebs, PhD


Danielle Piazza

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Joshua Chang Mell, PhD


Amanda Platt

Advisor/Mentor: Joris Beld, PhD


Dominic J. Sales

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Pooja Jain, PhD


Neeta Shadija

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Hangjun Ke, PhD


Omobukola Solebo

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Hangjun Ke, PhD


Bhavani Taramangalam

LinkedIn
Advisor: Elias El Haddad, PhD


Riley M. Williams

Advisor: Glenn Rall, PhD

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2020

Alexander Allen

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Utilizing the CRISPR/Cas9 system to cure HIV-1 infection


Cheng-Han "James" Chung

Advisors: Brian Wigdahl and Will Dampier
Thesis: Identification and evaluation of guide RNA design determinants for anti-HIV-1 therapy using CRISPR/Cas9


Donald (DJ) C. Hall Jr. (Chemistry, COAS)

LinkedIn
Advisor/Mentor: Garth Ehrlich (Microbiology & Immunology/CAMP) and Frank Ji (Chemistry)
Thesis: Rational Design and Experimental Characterization of Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Bacterial Stringent Response Activating Enzyme RelA


Ogan Kumova

LinkedIn
Advisor: Alison Carey
Thesis: Altered Innate Immune Responses to Influenza Virus in the Neonate


Jamie Marino

LinkedIn
Advisor: Mike Nonnemacher
Thesis: Effects of morphine and HIV-1 Tat on the blood-brain barrier: Implications in HIV disease and HAND


Anthony R. Mele

LinkedIn
Advisor: Mike Nonnemacher
Thesis: Impact of HIV genetic variation on Tat length, function and ability to be targeted by gene-editing


Kevin Raible

LinkedIn
Advisors: Garth Ehrlich and Joshua Mell
Thesis: Effects of morphine and HIV-1 Tat on the blood-brain barrier: Implications in HIV disease and HAND


Aarti A. Ramanathan

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: The antimalarial drug target PfATP4 and effects of its inhibition at the intersection of life and death in P. falciparum


Matthew VanPelt

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns Jr.
Thesis: Identification of CD4+ T cell-stimulating Plasmodium yoelii epitopes via in vivo immunopeptidomics

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2019

Kristen Buenconsejo

LinkedIn
Advisor: Joris Beld
Master's thesis: The Significance of Secondary Metabolism on the Predatory Behavior of Myxococcus fulvus


Jacqueline Schneider Eacret

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Design, Production and Evaluation of a Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein 2-Based Vaccine for Inclusion in a Multivalent Formulation Targeting Multiple Parasite Stages


Ebony Gary

LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Thesis: Enhancing the Immunogenicity of Anti-HIV DNA Vaccines with Molecular Adjuvants


Harmin Herrera

LinkedIn
Advisor: Anand Mehta
Thesis: Development of lectins for cancer-specific fucosylation


Sezin Nicklas

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Exploring Interactions Between the Parasite Plasma Membrane and the Parasite Vacuolar Membrane of Plasmodium falciparum


Muhammad Sheraz

LinkedIn
Advisor: Ju-Tao Guo
Thesis: Identification of Host Proteins Required for Hepatitis B Virus Covalently Closed Circular DNA Biosynthesis by a Chemogenetic Approach


Liudi Tang

LinkedIn
Advisor: Ju-Tao Guo
Thesis: Role and Mechanism of Host Cellular DNA Repair Proteins in Hepatitis B Virus cccDNA Biosynthesis


Breanna Tyrell

LinkedIn
Advisor: Amy Ma
Thesis: The Complex Nature of Cobalamin Biosynthesis in the Pathogenic Bacterium Vibrio cholerae

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2018

Suyash Bhatnagar

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Investigating Na+ and Lipid Homeostasis as Targets for Antimalarial Drugs


Rashida Ginwala

LinkedIn
Advisor: Pooja Jain
Thesis: Potential of the Flavonoid Apigenin in Regulating Immune Cell Functions During


Marguerite Johnson

LinkedIn
Advisor: Sandhya Kortagere
Master's thesis: Sustained proinflammatory signaling contributes to neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s Disease


Vivin Karthik

LinkedIn
Advisor: Elias Haddad
Master's thesis: Role of CMV- and HIV-Specific cTFH response in HIV infection


Jennifer Marcy

LinkedIn
Advisor: Vanessa Pirrone
Thesis: Dysregulation of the Wnt Signaling Pathway in the Development of Colorectal Cancer in HIV-Infected Patients


Courtney Marshall

Advisor: Sandhya Kortagere
Thesis: D3 Receptor Agonism Attenuates Deficits Observed in Rodents with 6-OHDA Induced Medial Forebrain Bundle Lesions


Monique Maubert

LinkedIn
Advisor: Mike Nonnemacher
Thesis: Effects of morphine and the viral protein Tat on the blood-brain barrier, Implications in HIV disease and HAND


Elizabeth Parzych

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Towards a Multivalent, Multistage Malaria Vaccine: Evaluation of a Plasmodium-specific Carrier Protein to Enhance Production and Immunogenicity of a Transmission-blocking Vaccine Candidate


Chris Stairiker

LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Molecular Changes in Alveolar Epithelial Cells During Influenza Virus Infection


Neil Sullivan

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Understanding the functional, immunological and clinical impact of genetic variation in the long terminal repeat (LTR), the viral promoter of HIV-1 in relation to CRISPR/Cas9 gRNA design

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2017

Frank Bearoff

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Genetic Mapping and Analysis of Disease Susceptibility in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis


Hanna David

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Parasite growth inhibitory activity of antibodies to conserved and polymorphic epitopes of a malaria vaccine candidate antigen


Kevin Egan

LinkedIn
Advisor: Stephen Jennings
Thesis: Characterizing Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Replication Kinetics, Latency, and Reactivation in the Lip Scarification Model of Infection and Disease


Jenna Hope

Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Novel roles for microRNAs in the regulation of effective CD8+ T cell responses


Arpita Mondal

LinkedIn
Advisor: Mueller (Lankenau)
Thesis: IDO1, an immuno-oncology target that supports tumor-promoting, inflammatory neovascularization


Andrea Partridge

LinkedIn
Advisor: Julio Martin-Garcia
Thesis: A senescence-like phenotype in human macrophages


Lindsay Pomykala

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Genetic exploration of the ATP synthase complex in Plasmodium falciparum


Arjun Ramamurthi

LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Thesis: Plasmid DNA as a Platform for the Development of Prophylactic and Therapeutic Vaccines Against Clostridium difficile in Aging Models of Disease


Emily Reesey

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Characterization of the Mitochondrial DNA Polymerase in Plasmodium falciparum


Melody Wright

LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: PFF1320C an Essential But Presumptive Plasmodium Myosin Light Chain


Ming Yang

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: The Role of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase and Assessment of Intracellular ATP Levels During the Erythrocytic Stages of Plasmodium falciparum

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2016

Chelsea Burgwin

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Characterization of the cell-autonomous traits of Tsk2/+ mice, a model of systemic sclerosis


Ashley Curtola

LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler


Andrew Holmes

LinkedIn
Advisor: Irwin Chaiken
Thesis: AIDS vaccine candidates from a combinatorial library of human rhinovirus 14 (HRV14): Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV -1) gp41 chimeras


Bethany Jenkins

Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Characterization of PfCoq10 and its use in exploring the Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial proteome


Selena Lin

LinkedIn
Advisor: Ying-Hsiu Su
Thesis: Analysis of the complexity of HBV-host junction sequences in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma


Courtney Marin

LinkedIn
Advisor: Shira Ninio
Thesis: BffA: a Novel Regulator of Biofilm Formation in the Pathogen Legionella pneumophila


April Pershing

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Genetic exploration of the ATP synthase complex in Plasmodium falciparum


Nehal Solanki

Advisor: David Wiest (FCCC)
Thesis: Role of RPL22 in T Cell Development and Transformation


Andreas Solomos

LinkedIn
Advisor: Glenn Rall
Thesis: The central contribution of CD4+ T Cells to neurotropic virus control and neuropathogenesis

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2015

Adam Fike

LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Non-thesis master's degree


Aidan Hancock

LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Effect of Influenza A virus on type II alveolar epithelial cells


Jason Lamontagne

LinkedIn
Advisor: Michael Bouchard
Thesis: Global analysis of HBV-mediated changes to the primary hepatocyte transcriptome and metabolome


Renzo Perales

LinkedIn
Advisor: Sonia Navas-Martin
Thesis: Role of Toll-like receptor 3 in the context of a neurotropic virus infection


Fiorella Rossi

LinkedIn
Advisor: Julio Martín-García
Thesis: The Role of TLR3 Stimulation in the Suppression of HIV-1 Infection in Monocyte Derived Dendritic Cells


Divya Sagar

LinkedIn
Advisor: Pooja Jain
Thesis: Dendritic Cell Trafficking in to the Central Nervous System : Targeting C-type Lectin Receptors to Prevent Neuroinflammation

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2014

Scott Baliban

LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Thesis: Development of a DNA Vaccine Encoding the Receptor-Binding Domain of Clostridium diffiicile Toxin A and Toxin B, and the Role of Immune Suppression in Increased Susceptibility to Clostridium difficile Infection


Satinder Dahiya

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis title: Transcriptional regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 via the cis-acting binding elements in the long terminal repeat


Ian Goodwin

LinkedIn
Advisor: Shira Ninio
Master's thesis: A Novel Virulence-Related Operon in the Pathogen Legionella pneumophila


Archana Gupta

LinkedIn
Advisor: Sonya Navas-Martin
Thesis: Activated Monocyte-Derived Exosomes Transfer MIR-223 to Neural Cells: Impact of Peripheral Inflammation of Cognitive Impairment


Elamaran Meibalan

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Reticulocyte-associated protein export machinery and cytoadherence in blood stage malaria parasites


Mohit Sehgal

LinkedIn
Advisor: Pooja Jain
Thesis: Immunomodulatory effects of IFN-α on dendritic cells: Implications for HIV-1/HCV pathogenesis and treatment


Luz-Jeanette Sierra

LinkedIn
Advisor: Julio Martín-García
Thesis: Characterization of the Genotypes, Phenotypes and Neurotropism of the HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins From Two Highly Neurotoxic CSF-derived Isolates


Gokul Swaminathan

LinkedIn
Advisor: Julio Martin-Garcia
Thesis: Novel roles of toll-like receptor-3 and microRNA-155 in HIV-1 infection of human macrophages

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2013

Christina Kollias

Advisor: Stephen Jennings
Thesis: Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses in Herpes Simplex Virus


Alicia Holmgren

LinkedIn
Advisor: Glenn Rall
Thesis: Interferons induce BST-2/tetherin in measles virus-infected neurons and permissive mice


Ryan Eberwine

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Germline-Encoded T-cell Receptor Sequences Are a Determinant of Diabetes Susceptibility and Islet-Antigen Recognition in the LEW.1WR1 Rat Model of Type-1 Diabetes


Marianne Strazza

LinkedIn
Advisor: Mike Nonnemacher/Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: The Impact of HIV-1 and Mu-Opioids on the Bone Marrow and Blood-Brain Barrier


Sarah Cavanaugh

LinkedIn
Advisor: Glenn Rall
Thesis: Characterization of cell type-specific responses to interferons in the central nervous system


Kathryn Matthias

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: A Tale of Two Regulators: Expression of the Virulence-Associated Type IV Pili and Lipooligosaccharide Sialyltransferase Is Controlled by CrgA and Rsp in Neisseria gonorrhoeae


Nirzari Parikh

LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Using an in vitro model of the polarized cervicovaginal epithelium to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of human semen and impact on the risk of hum


Kelley Healey

LinkedIn
Advisor: Santosh Katiyar
Thesis: Sphingolipids modulate echinocandin susceptibility in opportunistic fungi


Shawn Keogan

LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Sphingolipids modulate echinocandin susceptibility in opportunistic fungi


Noshin Kathuria

LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Thesis: Modulation of immune responses to DNA-based vaccine antigens following co-delivery of mucosal chemokine molecular adjuvants CCL28 and CCL25

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2012

Jennifer Bennett

LinkedIn
Advisor: Garth Erlich
Thesis: Identification and characterization of a novel bacterial virulence in Haemophilus influenza


Amy Cernetich Ott

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Global gene expression profiling, cytoadherence and immune evasion in Plasmodium yoelii blood-stage malaria parasites


Joseph Fraietta

LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Targeting Inflammation for the Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Transmission and Disease Progression


Donald Gracias

LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Role of microRNA-155 in CD8+ T cell Responses


Benjamin Janto

LinkedIn
Advisor: Garth Erlich
Thesis: Characterization of Autoinducer-2 Quorum Sensing and the Lsr locus Haemophilus influenzae


Michael Johnson

LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Mutational and topological analysis of FKS1: A novel for echinocandin action


Lorena Loarca

LinkedIn
Advisor: Carol Artlett
Thesis: The Role of Glucose-derived Compounds in Liver Diseases


Kristen Long

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Examination of a Model of Systemic Sclerosis, Tight Skin 2 Mouse: Before, During and After Fibrotic Disease


Luidmilla Mazaleuskaya

LinkedIn
Advisor: Sonia Navas-Martin
Thesis: Contrasting Effects of Triggering Toll-Like Receptors 2, 3, 4, and 7 in the Macrophage Susceptibility to Murine Coronavirus Infections


Jonathan Pitcher

LinkedIn
Advisor: Olimpia Meucci
Thesis: The role of ferritin heavy chain and opiates in neuroAIDS


Sonia Shah

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Regulation of HIV-1 LTR driven gene expression within a chromatin-based microenvironment


Benjamas Aiamkitsumrit

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Identification of HIV-1 X4 and R5 genetic signatures in the viral promoter, Tat, and Vpr

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2011

Hangjun Ke

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Investigation of the unusual tricarboxylic acid metabolism and mitochondrial electron transport chain functions in Plasmodium falciparum


Kasturi Chaterjee

LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Identification of the myosin B light chain partner in Plasmodium and elucidation of the motor properties


James Alaro

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Development of a novel chimeric blood-stage malaria vaccine


Suresh Maddur Ganesan

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Investigation of mitochondrially targeted proteins in blood stage malaria parasites


Yuanjie Liu

LinkedIn
Advisor: Anand Mehta
Thesis: Ubiquitin plays a critical role in Hepatitis B virus envelope protein MHC class I antigen presentation


Sumit Kumar

LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Identification and characterization of transcription co-factor multiprotein bridging factor-1 in Plasmodium


Nishat Aliya

LinkedIn
Advisor: Ju-Tao Guo
Non-thesis master's degree


Adriano Ferrucci

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: The role of extracellular human immunodeficiency virus type 1 viral protein R in neuropathogenesis


Jennifer Gyamfi

LinkedIn
Advisor: Michele Kutzler
Non-thesis master's degree


Sharron Manuel

Website
Advisor: Pooja Jain/Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Dynamics of dendritic cells and T cells in HTLV-1 associated oncogenesis and neurimflammation: Implications in immunomodulatory therapies and diagnostic tools


Angela Richardson

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Genetic determinants of susceptibility to herpes simplex virus encephalitis in the murine host

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2010

Jessica Kennedy Weidner

LinkedIn
Advisor: Ju-Tao Guo
Thesis: Modes of action of two newly identified interferon-induced antiviral proteins, IFITM3 and GBP5, against vesicular stomatitis virus infection.


Luna Li

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Functional properties of patient-derived human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat and the transactivator protein Tat


Saifur Rahman

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl/Pooja Jain
Thesis: Evaluating the role of dendritic cells in host immune response during human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection using a transgenic mouse model system.


Praveen Balabaskaran Nina

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Investigation of the unusual ATP synthase complexes in the alveolates Tetrahymena thermaphila and Plasmodium falciparum.


Danielle Loughlin

Advisor: Carol Artlett
Thesis: A story of the ACEs: Regulation of dermal fibroblast signaling by the precursor of advanced glycation end products 3-deoxyglucosone


Mitali Purohit

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Anthrax sporulation, the role of proteases in anthrolysin O expression, and interactions of a novel immunomodulator with cells of the innate immune system.


Meghan Wynosky-Dolfi

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Characterization of receptor interactions with ALO and activation of signaling pathways.


Karissa Lozenski

LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Use of the murine model of cervicovaginal toxicity to examine factors that adversely affect epithelial integrity and inflammation following microbicide application.


Viraj Sanghvi

LinkedIn
Advisor: Laura Steel
Thesis: Interactions between HIV-1 and host cell RNAi pathways and the characterization of a conditional promoter for use in RNAi-based anti-HIV-1 therapeutics.


Priyanka Duttagupta

LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: The cellular and signaling requirement of effector CD8+T cells during influenza A virus infection.

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2009

Anupam Banerjee

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Modulation of HIV-1 replication by μ-opiod and cAMP pathways in human bone marrow progenitor cells


Mariana Bernui

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: The effects of antioxidants on the interaction of bacillus anthracis with phagocytes


Hui Nie

LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Finding the link from a surface adhesion in to the actin motor for Plasmodium merozoite invasion


Patricia Petritus

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Analysis of vaccine- and infection-induced immune responses contributing to suppression of blood-stage malaria in the Plasmodium yoelii rodent model


Vanessa Pirrone

LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) (PSMA) as an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection and as a partner in safe and effective combination microbicides


Shriya Raj

LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance in Candida species


Swati Thorat

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Plasmodium yoelii orthologue of macrophage migration inhibitory factor alters the course of blood stage malaria infection


Marissa Panicella-Migaleddi

LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Non-thesis master's degree


Kristen Weaver

LinkedIn
Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Comparative immunogenicity and efficacy studies in a rodent model of a subunit blood-stage malaria vaccine formulated with adjuvants suitable for use in humans

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2008

Christie Deneve Bucks

Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: CD8+ T cells: From Autoimmunity to antigen induced exhaustion


Yujie Liu

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Impact of a downstream C/EBP site on HIV-1 gene expression and pathogenesis


Heather Painter

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: The Role of the Mitochondria in the Life and Death of Plasmodium falciparum


Devanshi Pandya

Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Study of the regulation of the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) promoter formatted in the context of chromatin in T cells and monocytes


Nina Thakkar Rivera

LinkedIn
Advisor: Fred Krebs
Thesis: Mechanism of action studies defining the activity of the biguanide-based, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 co-receptor inhibitor NB325

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2007

Aikaterina Alexaki

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Modeling bone marrow progenitor cell differentiation and susceptibility to HIV-1 infection


Elise Mosser

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: The bacillus anthracis toxin anthrolysin O modulates human macrophage and neutrophil function

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2006

John-Paul Vermitsky

LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Molecular Basis for Azole Resistance in C. glabrata

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2005

Annie Borowski

LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: The role of CD28 costimulation in the reaction of memory CD8+ T cells


Mathanraj Packiam

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Differential expression and regulation of lipooligosacharide specific sialyltransferase in pathogenic neisseria


Qifang Shi

Advisor: James Burns
Thesis: Characterization of merozoite surface protein-8 and evaluation of it's potential as a blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate

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2004

Christian Grant

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Analysis of cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating human T cell leukemia virus type 1 viral gene expression in cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage


Kate Mostoller

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Secretion and extracellular function of the human T cell leukemia virus trans-activator protein Tax


Michael Nonnemacher

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Comparative analysis of lentiviral LTR structure and function


Jason Stumhofer

Website
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Characterization of a functional DNA repair enzyme from Plasmodium falciparum that displays gycolyase and AP-lyase activity

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2003

Timothy Alefantis

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Analysis of amino acid signals within the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 transactivator protein Tax that control nuclear export, cytoplasmic intracellular localization, and secretion


Tricia Burdo

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Cellular and viral factors involved in HIV-1-associated neurologic disease


Bradley Catalone

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Model systems for the preclinical evaluation of topical vaginal microbicides


Shane Quiterio

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Modeling HIV-1 infection of bone marrow progenitor cells: Implications for HIV-1 CNS disease


Devrim Eren

LinkedIn
Advisor: Akhil Vaidya
Thesis: Plasmodium falciparum Enzymes Involved in Redox Balancing of Thesis: Nicotinamide Nucleotides


Janine Knight

LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: The Regulation of Pho81p, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor in Saccharomyces cerevisiae


Ross Albert

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Signaling through serotonin 1B and 2C receptors on lymphocytes is essential for T cell activation and proliferation


Kim Metera

LinkedIn
Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Characterization of the YLR190w Gene Product in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae


Jeffrey Shannon

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Characterization of Anthrolysin O, the Baccillus anthracis cholesterol-dependent cytolysin


Alfred Kim

LinkedIn
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: The role of CD40 in dendritic cell induced CD8+ T cell responses

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2002

Eric Scott Halstead

Website
Advisor: Peter Katsikis
Thesis: Modulating CD8+ T Cell Responses in Vivo


Kerrianne Mello

Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Characterization of proteins that interact with the amino-termius of the plasmodium merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1)

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2001

John Leander Po

LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: Age-associated changes in influenza A virus-specific CD8+ lymphocyte response in C57BL/6 mice


Brian Cocca

LinkedIn
Advisor: Marko Radic
Thesis: Structural basis for autoantibody recognition of phosphatidylserine-Beta2 glycoprotein 1 and apoptotic cells.

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2000

Karl Henry

LinkedIn
Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Molecular basis for tolerance to sterol biosynthesis inhibitors in Candida species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.


Naomi Vishnupad

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Factors that contribute to resistance and susceptibility to EAE in the rat.


Mohamed Elrafaei

Website
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: The effect of aging on the immune response again E55+ murine leukemia retrovirus infection


John McAllister

Website
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Cell type-and differentiation-specific gene regulation and viral replication: Implications for HIV-1 disease pathogenesis


Scott Millhouse

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Biochemical and functional analysis of the herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript promoter


Heather Ross

Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Impact of LTR sequence variation and C/EBP factors on HIV-1 gene expression in cells of the monocytic lineage: Implications for HIV-1 CNS disease


Jing Yao

Website
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Physical and functional interface of CREB-1, SP1, and Tax with the HTLV-1 LTR

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1999

Dawn Maria Shell

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Physical and immunologic characterization of neisserial sialyltransferases; the role of PIII (Rmp) in gonococcal adhesion and invasion.


John Williams

Website
Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Using the yeast two-hybrid system to identify human epithelial cell proteins that bind gonococcal opa proteins.

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1998

Melissa Bourque-Philion

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Characterization of the EAE-resistant LER rat T cell response following immunization for EAE


Rocio Marchese

LinkedIn
Advisor: Rick Rest/Blank
Thesis: Immunogenetic Studies on the Mechanisms of Host Resistance against Experimental Vaginal Candidiasis


Anne Marie Martin

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: The genetics of autoimmunity in the rat: The search for non-MHC-linked genes


Jessica Jenulis

Advisor: Edward Schulman
Thesis: Release of Chemokines from Human Lung and Human Mast Cells


Paul Artur Plett

LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: Age-related decrease in murine natural killer cell activity after interferon-a/b stimulation

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1997

Ana Gabrea-Todor

LinkedIn
Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Analysis of the high nitric oxide and high eosinophil phenotypes in the brown Norway rat


Mark Glaum

LinkedIn
Advisor: Edward Schulman
Thesis: Expression and modulation of asthma-related cytokines by human lung mast cells


John Langell

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Advisor: Libby Blankenhorn
Thesis: Suppression of α1,3-galactosyl epitopes on mammalian cells


Denise LaTemple

LinkedIn
Advisor: Uri Galili
Thesis: Enhancement of tumor vaccine immunogenicity by the nature anti-gal antibody


Erica Bernstein

LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: The role of cell-mediated immunity after influenza vaccination of healthy elderly individuals


Yang Kang

Advisor: Carole Long
Thesis: The 19-kDa Carboxyl-Terminal Region of Merozoite Surface Protein-1 as a Vaccine Candidate against Malaria

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1996

Maria Cristina Cruz

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Advisor: Thomas Edlind
Thesis: Molecular basis for benzimidazole susceptibility and resistance in the opportunistic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans


Fred Krebs

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Advisor: Brian Wigdahl
Thesis: Lymphoid and neuroglial ATF/CREB factors interact physically and functionally with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 long terminal repeat


Joseph Kutza

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Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: The effect of aging on human natural killer and lymphokine activated killer cell activity


Janine Ferguson

Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Regulation of gonococcal sialyltransferase activity by in vivo signals and substrates


Timothy Henion

LinkedIn
Advisor: Uri Galili
Thesis: Primate α1,3-galactosyltransferase: Structure-function analysis and application for the enhancement of vaccine immunogenicity


David McGee

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Advisor: Rick Rest
Thesis: Molecular analysis of the regulation of expression of gonococcal and meningococcal sialyltransferase gene(s)


Norman Waters

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Advisor: Bill Bergman
Thesis: Identification of multiple substances of the Pho85 cyclin dependent protein kinase as key regulators of acid phosphatase expression and glycogen metabolism in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae


Yvette Murley-Henry

LinkedIn
Advisor: John LiPuma
Thesis: Cloning and characterization of the haemocin locus of haemophilus influenzae and assessment of its role in virulence


Le Wang

LinkedIn
Advisor: Uri Galili
Thesis: Anti-Gal immunoglobulin genes


Xiao He

LinkedIn
Advisor: Donna Murasko
Thesis: Response of murine splenocytes to staphylococcal enterotoxin b in vitro: Effects of aging and cytokines

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1995

Joseph Kenny

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Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: An analysis of the cell type-specific transcriptional regulation of the herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript promoter


Christina Nevel-McGarvey

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Advisor: Alan Hudson
Thesis: Changes in the mitochondrial genetic system in rabbit urinary bladder after partial outlet obstruction

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1994

Maribeth Tillmann

LinkedIn
Mentor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: A biochemical and functional analysis of the human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 long terminal repeat region

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1991

Charles Kunsch

LinkedIn
Advisor: Brian Wigdahl (Penn State)
Thesis: Analysis of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 infection of the developing human nervous system

 
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Enlarged view of human cells, translucent high color.