Sharon Bandstra Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program B.S., Biochemistry, Lafayette College, 2006 Email: sharon.ruth.bandstra@drexel.edu Advisor: Dr. Stephen Jennings

Thesis Research Summary:

In our lab, we are investigating the innate and adaptive immune responses to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Previous work in our lab has shown that in vivo depletion of dendritic cells causes more viral spread into the nervous system of B6 mice, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. This depletion also reduced NK and T cell responses to HSV-1 infection. Current work in our lab focuses on deciphering mechanisms of immune evasion using recombinant HSV-1 viruses. Additionally, ongoing studies are investigating the protective properties of a Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis replicon particle as a prophylactic vaccine against the neurovirulent HSV-1 strain McKrae. We are also developing and maintaining a colony of gBT-1.1 transgenic mice to use to explore the importance of CD8 T cells in control of the infection. My project will be focused on phenotyping CD8 T cell populations present within sensory ganglia of infected mice as well as at the site of infection and how these populations relate to the reactivation of HSV-1.