Protein expression studies of the Rad51 homolog in Trichomonas vaginalis
Poster Number
6
Format
Poster Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Lisa Wrischnik
Additional Faculty Mentor Name
Kirkwood Land
Abstract/Artist Statement
The purpose of our project is to ultimately find out where Rad51 localizes in the unicellular protist parasite Trichomanas vaginalis (T. vag) and how its expression levels react to drug treatment. We have been working on testing different bleeds from two different bunnies that have been injected with Rad51. They have been injected with Rad51 in order to produce antibodies. We have obtained bleeds (serum collected from the rabbits) at different stages post-injection to fmd at what stage the most anti-Rad51 antibodies have been produced. The Rad51 protein was transformed into bacteria and expressed as protein. We then ran Westerns to test which bleeds contained anti-Rad51 antibodies. After discovering the exsanguination bleeds (the final collection of blood serum from the rabbit) contained the most antibodies, we proceeded with our experiments. We carried out Westerns on T. vaginalis cells and immunofluorescence microscopy to study Rad51 expression and cellular localizations, but our experimental trials ga;e us too much background. We have proceeded to purify the Rad51 antibody in hopes of decreasmg the background and will present the results of this purification in our poster
Location
Wendell Phillips Center, 1st floor hallways
Start Date
3-5-2008 1:00 PM
End Date
3-5-2008 3:00 PM
Protein expression studies of the Rad51 homolog in Trichomonas vaginalis
Wendell Phillips Center, 1st floor hallways
The purpose of our project is to ultimately find out where Rad51 localizes in the unicellular protist parasite Trichomanas vaginalis (T. vag) and how its expression levels react to drug treatment. We have been working on testing different bleeds from two different bunnies that have been injected with Rad51. They have been injected with Rad51 in order to produce antibodies. We have obtained bleeds (serum collected from the rabbits) at different stages post-injection to fmd at what stage the most anti-Rad51 antibodies have been produced. The Rad51 protein was transformed into bacteria and expressed as protein. We then ran Westerns to test which bleeds contained anti-Rad51 antibodies. After discovering the exsanguination bleeds (the final collection of blood serum from the rabbit) contained the most antibodies, we proceeded with our experiments. We carried out Westerns on T. vaginalis cells and immunofluorescence microscopy to study Rad51 expression and cellular localizations, but our experimental trials ga;e us too much background. We have proceeded to purify the Rad51 antibody in hopes of decreasmg the background and will present the results of this purification in our poster