Ly6G+ Cells Dependent Corneal Immune Response in Contact Lens wear Mice Cornea
Suzanne Fleiszig, Professor
Optometry
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2025.
Contact lens wearers suffer a multitude of complications due to extended contact lens wear, including para-inflammation and bacterial infection. Contact lens wear alters the resident immune cells in the cornea specifically neutrophils after 6 days of continuous contact lens wear and this phenomenon has been observed in mice cornea. Fleiszig lab has developed several methods, including the assessment of corneal immune cells and to explore the relationships between the ocular surface microbes and immune cells during contact lens cornea in mice cornea. Also, our lab has established the technique to stain the neutrophils (Ly6G+ antibody staining) using immunohistochemistry antibody labeling method in mice cornea. Preliminary data showed the absence of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels specifically TRPA1 and TRPV1 nociceptors of corneas (TRPV1/A1 receptors in mice cornea) were unable to recruit Ly6G+ cells during contact lens wear. Now, our goal is to investigate the involvement of neutrophil cells in preventing bacterial adhesion in the presence and absence of TRPA1 and TRPV1 nociceptors in the mice cornea. Using the confocal imaging and image analysis will be conducted on large imaging data sets.
Role: The student will begin by learning cryo-sectioning of the mice cornea, Ly6G+ cells staining in the mice cornea using immunohistochemistry method and learning basic microscopy. The use of the microscope will be supervised until proficiency and responsibility are demonstrated. The project may also include software operated image analysis. Students are expected to present findings in lab meeting and keep an updated electronic lab notebook.
Qualifications: : Basic knowledge of biology and microscope is required, and basic use of Microsoft Excel--completion or concurrent enrollment in general chemistry and biology classes should suffice. Previous lab experience such as the use of pipettes and sterile technique is useful, but not required. Ideally, we would like to recruit students who are interested in a multi-year commitment and able to apply for summer fellowships in 2020 (examples include SURF: surf.berkeley.edu.) It will be necessary to schedule the hours between 9am-5pm for proper attention to training and supervision.
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Related website: http://fleiszig.vision.berkeley.edu/
Biological & Health Sciences