Alyssa Genaro

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Contributions by Dr.Nigel Yarlett for the Dyson Arts and Science School at Pace University

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Thesis

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is a disease that affects a large amount of people and having a high mortality rate for those that are immunocompromised such as the elderly and infants. The disease is linked to a parasite called Cryptosporidium parvum, which is mostly known to infect cattle and other mammals such as mice and humans. The parasite contains a double stranded RNA virus, the Cryspovirus (CSpV1) that has a non-enveloped icosahedral capsid, with a T=2* icosahedral symmetry. Little is known is known about the contribution of CSpV1 to the disease; In this study we show that infection of an immunocompromised mouse model C57BL/6J with purified CSpV1 results in weight loss compared to uninfected controls. Further the infection resulted in the production of a secretory antibody IgA from weeks 1-3. CSpV1 is unable to enter the intact intestinal epithelial cell line HCT-8 ([HRT-18] CCL-244), however electroporation of HCT8 cells results in a transient survival of CSpV1 after 48h which persists for a further 24h. Cumulatively the results indicate that CSpV1 plays an active role in the infection.

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