Jennifer Bennett Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program B.S., Biology, Slippery Rock University M.S., Cellular Biology, Duquesne University Email: jennifer.marie.bennett@drexel.edu Status: 1st Year Ph.D. Student

Background and Interests:

I was born and still reside in Mars, Pennsylvania, a small town just outside of Pittsburgh. I received a B.S. degree in biology from Slippery Rock University and went on to receive a Masters Degree from Duquesne University in Cellular Biology. My research focused on tissue engineering and from there I took a position at the Bone Tissue Engineering Center at Carnegie Mellon University. My research goals were to someday be in the field of immunology and study autoimmune diseases, specifically multiple sclerosis. Inspired by several close friends afflicted with the disease, I decided to go back to school and attain a Ph.D. from Drexel but attend the Pittsburgh campus. I am very excited about the Pittsburgh campus and am sure it will grow very quickly.

I am currently working with a mouse model for multiple sclerosis called Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis (EAE). Interferon-β is a common treatment for patients with MS. We are interested in the gene expression patterns in CD4+ T cells from relapsing remitting MS patients undergoing βIFN treatment. Because of my interest in the workings of the immune system I am also involved with a project looking at the immunology side of Biofilms. We are studying Haemophilus influenzae (Hi), the most commonly detected bacteria in Otitis media (OM).  Although routine immunizations against the virulent invasive Hi type b (HIB) strain has been extremely effective, some of the nontypeable Hi strains are filling the niche once occupied by HIB. We are interested in a polmorphic protein family with highly conserved structures among all of the Hi strains that could serve as a target for vaccine development. We are also interested in the possible use of decoy epitopes where by the successful pathogen have highly antigenic regions that serve as a flag to decoy the host’s immune response.

My hobbies include camping, hiking, biking and spending time with family and friends.