Project Summary
Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that is potentially fatal for immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individuals. It causes diarrhea and malnutrition; the resulting intestinal damage can lead to long-term cognitive and immune deficiencies. Limited therapeutic options exist, partially due to the lack of physiologically relevant in vitro cultivation systems. The gut microbiome is a key factor in intestinal health and immune response, however, no in vitro model incorporating the microbiome exists for Cryptosporidium. The team aims to develop a microbiome/mammalian cell co-culture model that can be used for future therapeutic design. In summer 2019, we propose working with two undergraduate students and a graduate student on this interdisciplinary project to accomplish the short term goal of identifying and isolating microbiome cultures, in addition to developing methods for co-culture of bacterial/mammalian cells. Demonstration of a preliminary co-culture model will stimulate the development of a future NIH proposal.
