Ayoub Kamari
Pronouns: He/Him
Research Mentor(s): Jessica O’Konek
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Mary H Weiser Food Allergy Center / Medicine
Program:
Authors:
Session: Session 5: 2:40 pm – 3:30 pm
Poster: 15
Abstract
A previous experiment was conducted to study the effect of early-life immunization on immune development, which showed that neonatal immunization with a Hep-B vaccine resulted in changes to how mice responded to a later immunization with a different vaccine (OVA-MPLA). During this study, however, the mice were immunized without regards to which leg they received the two different vaccines. This study aims to evaluate the extent to which receiving different immunizations on the same vs contralateral leg has an effect on the immune response. To examine the effects of age on immune response, mice were separated into groups based on when they receive their Hep-B vaccine, with half receiving it at 7 DOL and half at 56 DOL. They were then given an OVA-MPLA vaccine in either the same or contralateral leg. Sera was harvested from the mice throughout the study and was analyzed to determine antibody production. Cytokine production was assessed at the end of the study by harvesting the spleen and LN and restimulating the lymphocytes with OVA to determine the OVA-specific immune response. The presence of antibodies and cytokines will indicate the strength and polarization of the immune response. With the study currently being conducted, results are still underway. We hypothesize that the immune response to an immunization received later in life won’t be dependent on the site of an early-life immunization. By studying the effects of administering a vaccine to the same or contralateral location, a previously uncontrolled variable can now be controlled, should it be needed. Given that humans often receive immunizations at whichever side is most convenient for them, this study can also allow vaccine administrators to control vaccination sites if needed.
