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18. Effects of calcium ion on the invasion of Toxoplasma gondii

Presenters Name: 
Lauren Laughlin
Co Presenters Name: 
Primary Research Mentor: 
Brian Helmke
Session: 
1
Grant Program Recipient: 
USOAR Program
Abstract: 

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can be found in humans and animals across the world. The disease caused by the infection of the parasite has the greatest effect on people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women. This project studies the effect of both increasing the concentration of calcium within the cells as well as the effect of the stiffness of the gels that the cells grow on have on the invasion rate of the parasite. The first step in the experiment is to produce the gels of different stiffness levels. The soft, medium, and stiff gels are then plated with equal concentrations of cells. The concentration of calcium within the cell is then increased by treating the cells with calcium ionophore. The plated cells are then infected with the parasite. The predicted results are that the calcium treatment will decrease the invasion rate of the parasite. This project has given the scientific community more knowledge on the invasion of Toxoplasma gondii that could potentially lead to a treatment for the people who have the disease.