Spring 2024 Graduate Seminar Highlights

The Spring 2024, CVM Graduate Student Seminar series allows postdoctoral students and graduate students the opportunity to share their research with their peers, faculty, and staff. We recently reached out to the VBS postdocs and graduate students who gave presentations for Spring 2024.

January 18, 2024, Lexi Frank, Advised by VBS Assistant Professor Peter Larsen

Title: “Epigenetic Changes Associated with Chronic Wasting Disease in a Hamster model”

Summary: My presentation was highlighting an on-going project I am working on researching the epigenetic changes associated with prion disease in a hamster model. For this project, I utilized nanopore sequencing technology to perform whole genome methylation sequencing on hamsters that were inoculated with prions (misfolded proteins that cause fatal, transmissible, neurodegenerative disease). I presented some early results showing no distinct global methylation patterns in the infected versus control hamsters and summarized future analysis that will include differential methylation analysis at the regional and loci scale.

What inspired you to present on your topic?

I presented this topic because there is little research that has been done to investigate the association of prions and methylation changes in the genome. Research like my project could help us better understand mechanisms of prion disease in mammals.

What are your goals for the future?

I intend to continue studying mammals and pathogens throughout my career, specifically focusing on small mammals (bats and rodents) and potentially zoonotic pathogens.

January 25, 2024, Hannah Murphy, Advised by VBS Professor Yuying Liang

Title: “Unveiling the Dynamics of Arenaviral Gene Expression Regulation”

Summary: My presentation will give insights into the viral-host interactions of arenaviruses during infection. We are the first group to purify Pichinde virus and subsequently use proteomics to identify host cellular proteins incorporated into budding virions. This research will give insights into host-pathogen interactions and aid in developing host-targeted antiviral therapies.

What inspired you to present on your topic?

I was inspired to present on this topic because I'm generating exciting data, and we are the first group to use this purification and proteomics strategy to study this particular virus. I am excited to see what future experiments are derived from our work.

What are your goals for the future? 

My goals for the future are to supplement this work with RNAseq data, finish my second manuscript, and to write and defend my thesis. 

February 15, 2024, Jason Hatfield, Advised by VBS Professor Hinh Ly and Assistant Professor Craig Bierle (UMN Medical School)

Title: “Pichende virus as a model of arenavirus infection during pregnancy”

Summary: Arenavirus infections, such as Lassa Fever, lack any real animal model due to the restrictions of working in a BSL-4 and are deadly, especially to pregnant women and their fetuses. We have developed an animal model using pregnant guinea pigs and an arenavirus called Pichende that is safe to work with in BSL-2 that can show how arenavirus infection occurs in a safer environment. We hope to use this model to further understand the mechanisms of arenavirus infection and be able to translate this to work eventually to open up a way to better develop treatment and therapeutics options for arenavirus infection.  

What inspired you to present on your topic?

It's a part of my thesis work and I am really excited to present our findings so far. 

What are your goals for the future? 

Finish grad school, then continue on investigating infectious disease, especially viruses that disrupt or affect pregnancy.

The CVM Graduate Student Seminar series runs Fall and Spring semesters, Thursdays from 12-1pm, in 215 Veterinary Science Building. Please see the full schedule for details.