"Let's Get Together, Yeah Yeah Yeah" (The Parent Trap)

I have participated in my share of trips to Europe, but never have I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture. Short trips to Europe provided only a brief overview of each country. I continuously noticed the role I played as a tourist who was only interested in the historic and not modern culture of each country. As a student, I have been able to piece-by-piece break the boundary of this perspective and enter Italy's cultural and scientific sectors.

My visit to San Miniato to view the Unisi Poster Presentation broadened my understanding of Italian science. At Emory's Aflac Cancer Center, my research has exposed me to international research articles, but I never had the opportunity to view the Materials and Methods section with my own eyes. Therefore, I was delighted to listen to the Unisi presentations and observe the researchers' approach to scientific questions. I found Tatiana Baldari's presentation truly amazing. Her topics ranged from anthrax to the reduction of cholesterol. I was able to quickly understand her research because the information closely matched my previous biochemistry studies and research at Aflac. After the presentation, I quickly searched for the posters related to her research and discovered a topic titled: Anthrax Toxins Suppress Immune Cell Activation and Chemotaxis By Perturbing Receptor Signaling.

Since Anthony has written a brilliant overview of the topic, I will explore areas not familiar to readers. As previously mentioned, Lethal toxin (LT) and Edema toxin (ET) prevent the activation of T lymphocytes; yet what struck me as familiar with each toxin is pathways used to suppress T lymphocyte production. As some of you know or will learn in biochemistry, the Akt pathway is connected to a vast number of pathways that lead to the control of cell proliferation and survival. My research along with Dr. Baldari's research takes into account the Akt pathway. Before I explain the connection, allow me to give you an overview of my research on tumors. I am currently working with cancerous brain cells (glial cells) to test the effects of the tumor suppressor PTEN. PTEN blocks the activation of the Akt pathway and has been effective in preventing the uncontrolled proliferation of brain cells. Clinical trials revealed that the effects of PTEN are short-lived. I have been working to pinpoint the duration of PTEN's effects and to prolong the outcome. With this knowledge, I was amazed that LT and ET also use the Akt pathway to control T lymphocyte activation. For example, ET increases Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which leads to the activation of the Akt pathway. The Akt pathway then inhibits the Raf pathway. The Raf pathway controls cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation.

The possibility that two labs can collaborate to reach their scientific goals is profound! Even though both groups are dealing with different illnesses, we are targeting the Akt pathway through indirect means. My goal is to learn the techniques used by Dr. Baldari's lab and to contribute my ideas and techniques to her research.