Students

Michelle H Nelson

Major: Immunology
Joined program in 2006

Mentor: Dr. Milligan
Awards/Grants: 2009-2010 McLaughlin Predoctoral Fellow
Arthur V. Simmang Academic Scholarship Award
Graduate Student Organization Student Award
Sealy Center for Vaccine Development Travel Award to 2^nd Global Vaccine Congress
2007-2008 Sealy Center for Vaccine Development Fellow
2007 Christina Fleischmann Scholarship

Publications/Experience:
1. Nelson MH, Stein DA, Kroeker AD, Hatlevig SA, Iversen PL, Moulton HM. Arginine- Rich Peptide Conjugation on Morpholino Oligomers: Effects on Antisense Activity and Specificity. Bioconjug Chem. 16: 959-966; 2005.
2. Moulton HM, Nelson MH, Hatlevig SA, Reddy MT, Iversen PL. Cellular Uptake of Antisense Morpholino Oligomers Conjgated to Arginine-Rich Peptides. Bioconjug Chem. 15: 290-299; 2004.
3. Moulton HM, Hase MC, Smith KS, Iversen PL. HIV Tat Peptide Enhances Cellular Delivery of Antisense Morpholino Oligomers. Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev. 13: 31-43; 2003.
4. Iversen, PL, Moulton HM. Nelson MH. Kroeker AD. Stein DA. Compositions for Enhancing
5. Transport of Molecules Into Cells. Published Patent Application Number: 20040265879. 2004 Dec 30. Svastia S, Suwanmaneea T, Fucharoenb S, Moulton HM, Nelson MH, Maedad N, Smithiesd O, and Kole R. RNA Repair Restores Hemoglobin Expression in IVS2–654 Thalassemic Mice. PNAS 106: 1205–1210; 2009.
6. Wu R, Youngblood D, Hassinger J, Lovejoy C, Nelson M, Iversen P, Moulton H. Cell-Penetrating Peptides as Transporters for Morpholino Oligomers: Effects of Amino Acid Composition on Intracellular Delivery and Cytotoxicity. Nucleic Acids Res. 35: 5182-5191; 2007.

Research Description:
Research activities are aimed at investigating the adaptive immune system involved in resolution and protection from herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection using a murine model. A current project focuses on the quality of a polyfunctional CD8⁺ T cell response required for optimal HSV-2 resolution, in that, suboptimal production of IFN-γ and cytolytic capacity at the single cell level appears to hinder virus clearance. Another part of this project is to investigate the effects of IFN-γ, or the lack of IFN-γ, early during CD8⁺ T cell activation. The second project is to understand the characteristics of the CD8+ T cell memory response elicited and promote those candidate vaccine strategies that generate memory responses needed for effective protection by investigating the results of variable HSV-2 antigen exposure. It involves looking at the homing, long-term memory of the CD8⁺ T cells and their protective attributes in anogenital mucocutaneous sites and sensory ganglia. Ultimately, we want to contribute to understanding the significance of CD8⁺ memory T cells at mucocutaneous sites following vaccination to prevent primary infection, which will likely correlate to their replication abilities and adjuvant properties, in turn, indicating particular vaccine tactics that will warrant further investigation.

Hometown: Portland OR
Education: Western Oregon University
Hobbies:: hiking
Contact: mhnelson@utmb.edu

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