Infection and Immunity
SSP FOR RISING NINTH GRADERS
First Week: June 15-21
Infection and Immunity - 9F
DR. KAREN AGUIRRE, Assistant Professor of Biology at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, will use case studies, workshops and simulations to chronicle the conflicts that take place every day between self and what she calls “dangerous non-self.” Learn about the world of viruses, bacteria, and parasites, all out to invade your space, and the army of warrior white blood cells your body deploys to fight them. She adds, “We will be discussing virulence strategies pathogens use and the mechanisms the immune system uses to counter infection. We will also explore immunological memory and cutting-edge vaccine technologies.” Tuition $515
Dr. Aguirre received her BA as a Thomas Hunter Interdisciplinary Scholar at Hunter College of the City University of New York and her PhD in Molecular Biology at Princeton University as an NSF doctoral fellow. She currently teaches Cell Biology and Immunology at Coastal Carolina University. RESEARCH: She and her students use macrophage/T cell/ neuron co-culture models to investigate cross-talk between immune system cells engaged in combating cryptococcoal meningitis.
