Microbiology & Immunology Graduate Student
Research | Publications | Awards | Posters & Presentations
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Valerie Sexton
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Education
B. S. in Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio
Research
Research interests:
My dissertation research aims to develop novel therapeutics for inhibition of lentiviral infections. Specifically, I am using siRNA molecules to target conserved regions of the SIV genome in order to test these molecules in the non-human primate model of HIV/AIDS. To deliver these molecules, we have formulated and tested a nanoparticle delivery system that can overcome some of the disadvantages of traditional delivery systems, such as toxicity. After delivery of these nanoparticles to SIV infected macaques, we are now tracking changes in viral load as well as the immune response to the treatment.
Publications
- An age-old paradigm challenged: old baboons generate vigorous humoral immune responses to LcrV, a plague antigen. Journal of Immunology
- Role of BBA64 locus of Borrelia burgdorferi in early stages of infectivity in a murine model of Lyme disease. Infection and Immunity
Awards
2010 ASV Student Travel AwardPosters & Presenations
Selection for oral presentation at 2010 American Society for Virology Meeting; "Design and validation of siRNA molecules targeting conserved regions of the SIVmac"
