Title of presentation: The Ups and Downs of Immunity to Malaria
Abstract: In malaria-endemic regions of sub-Saharan Africa, such as western Kenya, Plasmodium falciparum infections is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in children under the age of 5 years, with infants between 6-24 months bearing the greatest brunt of these infections. Immunity is slow to develop resulting in repeated infections throughout infancy. Several reasons have been proposed, however, it is generally agreed that this phenomenon is mainly due to inefficient innate and adaptive immune responses. In this presentation, we will describe our studies on B cell immunity to P. falciparum in two infant cohorts in Kenya with differential exposure to malaria. New research will be described using mass cytometry (also known as Cytometry Time Of Flight, CyTOF) to analyze immunophenotype and immune function in clinical samples. Mass cytometry allows the testing of up to 42 parameters per cell providing a more comprehensive and holistic view of the immune phenotype and an unbiased interrogation of immune function.
Title of presentation: Emergence of Zika and other climate sensitive diseases in the Americas
Abstract: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the primary vectors for dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika viruses. In recent decades the vector has expanded rapidly in South and Central America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States. Viruses transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes are a growing threat in the United States due the proliferation of dengue viruses and the recent introductions of Zika and chikungunya viruses in the Americas, expanding mosquito ranges in the eastern and southwestern U.S., growing numbers of travelers from endemic areas, enhanced climatic suitability for vectors, and high exposure to mosquitoes among vulnerable populations. This presentation will focus on work aimed at addressing factors which modulate human risk for virus transmission including climate variability and change, socio-demographics and human behavior.
