E-mail: akin0017@umn.edu

Thesis Advisor: Chris Pennell

Year entered: 2005

Degrees received:
B.S., Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 200

Honors and awards:
Cancer biology training grant

Thesis research:
Mouse dendritic cells (DC(s), are typically defined by CD11c expression but otherwise are heterogeneous. My project is to determine which dendritic cells respond to heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) immunization. To address if hsp70 activated different DC subsets based on phenotype and location, weimmunize C57BL/6 mice either s.c. or i.v. with an hsp70 fusion protein conjugated to the fluorochrome Alexa Fluor 488. At varying times after immunization, DCs in draining lymph nodes or spleens were analyzed for antigen uptake and presentation, and activation.