Emily Burke

Year entered the Ph.D. Program: Fall 2021

Research Advisor: Todd Schlenke

Research Topic: Host-Parasite Interactions and Immunogenetics

Email: emilygburke@email.arizona.edu

Lab web page: https://cals.arizona.edu/research/schlenke/

Research Interests: I am interested in the evolved interactions between insect hosts and their natural parasites. Historically, the term "acquired immunity" has been restricted to vertebrate antibody-mediated responses. However, recent evidence shows that insect "innate immunity" may have similar characteristics in terms of memory and specificity of pathogen encounters. I aim to investigate how the innate immune system of Drosophila melanogaster responds to pathogens, and the mechanisms that may mediate "immune priming".