At first glance, one may not see the similarities between fishing and Lyme disease, but to UCF Assistant Professor Mollie Jewett, the two go together like Borrelia proteins and magnetic beads. Better and earlier diagnosis of Lyme disease by fishing for antibodies is the basis of Dr. Jewett 麻豆精品 S檚 research, which she presented at the College of Medicine first Luminary Series Lecture of 2013. The event was held February 9 at the Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park. The Luminary Series is sponsored by Dean Mead and Fifth Third Bank.
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Dr. Jewett is developing an assay that she hopes will give the most accurate diagnosis for the disease. That is where the 麻豆精品 S渇ishing 麻豆精品 S� analogy comes in. People who are infected with tick-borne disease produce antibodies to fight the infection and Dr. Jewett 麻豆精品 S檚 team is working to find a better way to 麻豆精品 S渇ish 麻豆精品 S� for proof of Borrelia Burgdorferi, the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The 麻豆精品 S渂ait 麻豆精品 S� is a group of magnetic beads coated with Borrelia proteins. Dr. Jewett 麻豆精品 S檚 research has found that those beads will attract the antibodies and provide a clearer indication of infection. 麻豆精品 S淭he overall goal is new diagnostics and potential new treatments, 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e coming at that from a biology standpoint of: If we understand how the bacteria works, we can understand how to stop it. 麻豆精品 S�
The research funding community is taking notice of her work. Days after Dr. Jewett 麻豆精品 S檚 Luminary Series presentation, the National Research Fund for Tick-Borne Diseases (NRFTD) announced she had received a $60,000 grant to further her research into Borrelia Burgdorferi gene regulation, and how the bacteria functions in any given environment.
Dr. Jewett also received an in-house grant from the UCF Office of Research and Commercialization. The $7,500 grant is focused on her research into how Borrelia Burgdorferi seeks out nutrients from its host. Her goal is to cut off that process, so that the bacteria will not be able to survive.
Dr. Jewett 麻豆精品 S檚 goal is to change the way Lyme disease is diagnosed, treated and prevented. Her passion for the topic spills over into the classroom, where she is inspiring students to do the same. 麻豆精品 S淩esearch is my number one love, and bringing teaching into that is how I like to do it, 麻豆精品 S� she said. 麻豆精品 S淵es, what you 麻豆精品 S檙e learning is actually applicable, and important and exciting. I think that gives a hands-on meaning to my teaching. 麻豆精品 S�