“I was exposed to the life of grad students and researchers, allowing me to sample the lifestyle.”
—Ethan Carpenter

BY | Ethan Carpenter ’17
Plymouth, Minn.
Neuroscience Studies (psychology emphasis)

 

Over the summer, I worked in a microbiology research lab at the University of Arizona studying Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Human Cytomegalovirus is a herpesvirus that infects 60% to nearly 100% of people, depending on the country. Though it does not typically affect healthy patients, the virus can be very dangerous for some, especially the immunocompromised, such as HIV patients and organ transplant recipients, and for babies infected before birth, which can result in severe birth defects or death.

Dr. Felicia Goodrum’s lab investigates how HCMV achieves latency, the characteristic of maintaining an asymptomatic lifelong infection while in healthy individuals. My role was to research specifically how EGR1, a transcription regulator protein, affects Gene UL138 of the HCMV genome, which is known to promote latency. In order to do this, I created clones of the virus with individual nucleotides changed to prevent EGR1 transcription factor binding, and examined the protein expression of cells infected with these plasmid clones.

Coming from a background in neuroscience and behavioral experiments, the transition to microbiology and virology was intimidating. Fortunately, Dr. Goodrum and the lab’s grad students were very patient and helpful. They taught me about the biological foundations of the research as well as the various laboratory techniques required for my project. Over the course of my 10 weeks in Tucson, I learned and implemented techniques such as phusion mutagenesis, Western blotting, electroporation, mini-preps, cell culture, gel electrophoresis and others. I also used computer programs such as MacVector and PhysBinder to aid me in my research.

In addition to the experience gained in the lab, I was exposed to the life of grad students and researchers, allowing me to sample the lifestyle. Tucson offered an opportunity to explore a new part of the country. There was an abundance of museums, restaurants and hiking trails to explore while I wasn’t working in the lab.

After Mac, I plan on going to medical school. Though this particular program is geared toward a PhD track, it was extremely beneficial in improving my general knowledge of biology and how I think about pathology and the underlying mechanisms of disease.

 

Ethan’s research opportunity was funded in part by Macalester’s Science and Research Office. 

September 21 2016

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