Guest 1: Libby Kruse, PhD student.
My working title for my thesis: “ETS transcription factor regulation of hematopoiesis“.
Defining the functions of 2 closely related transcription factors, called Erg and Fli-1, in the generation of blood cells. I’m particularly interested in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are the ultimate source of all blood cells, and in platelets, which are the tiny blood cells that form clots to stop people bleeding.
If we understood how to control HSCs, we could make bone marrow transplants more efficient, or grow the blood cells we need for transfusions in the lab. This would be particularly useful in the case of platelets – As platelets have a much shorter shelf life at the blood bank than red cells and are required in many situations including surgery, trauma cases and for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
We have mutated 2 genes, Fli-1 and Erg, in mice (we call them the FLERG mice) and we are looking to see what goes wrong with their stem cells and platelets as a consequence of taking away these genes.
Guest 2: Julia Judd-Mole, PhD student.
My working title for my thesis: “The role of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) in malarial pathogenesis”.
My PhD project is looking at the immune response to malaria. I am looking at the role of a molecule called glycosylphosphatidylinositol (or “GPI”) that coats the surface of the malarial parasite. Malarial GPI has been shown to stimulate an inflammatory immune response and is thought to contribute to the pathology of malaria. My project is investigating how GPI acts on the immune system of the host during malarial infection. Furthering our understanding of how the malaria parasite influences the human immune system may help to design new treatments and/or a vaccine for malaria.
Segment: Dr Andi. A story on the on the dark side of Placebo effect — The science of voodoo: When mind attacks body
Goodbye Hilary, our trusty telephone answerer and interface between EAGG and our listener! Thanks for all your effort and good luck with your future endeavours.
————————————————————–
Direct podcast download: Einstein-A-Go-Go-20090628.mp3
Tags: hematopoiesis, malaria, stem cells
