Location:
Level 6, Seminar Room Wallace Wurth Building UNSW Australia Sydney NSW 2052
Open to
All
Contact for enquiries
Rata Joseph +61 (0)2 9385 0900 rjoseph@kirby.unsw.edu.au
The Kirby Institute is pleased to present:
Mr Arnold Reynaldi, PhD Student- Infection Analytics Program- Kirby Institute
"The association between malaria exposure, Epstein-Barr Virus and Burkitt's lymphoma."
Abstract:
"The association between malaria exposure, Epstein-Barr Virus and Burkitt's lymphoma."
It is known that high levels of malaria exposure are associated with higher levels of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), which in turn leads to Burkitt’s lymphoma. However the mechanisms causing this association are unknown. I have studied data from two infant cohorts living in both high and low malaria regions, and tested regularly for viral and antibody levels. I have modeled the dynamics of antibodies and infection to explore the association between malaria exposure and EBV infection. This work suggests that high malaria exposure is associated with rapid loss of maternal antibodies in early life, and subsequent earlier EBV infection.
Bio:
Arnold Reynaldi is a PhD student in the Infection Analytics Program with an undergraduate qualification in mathematics. His research focuses on the quantitative aspects of infectious diseases by applying his quantitative techniques to gain a better understanding of immunology and infectious diseases. In particular, he is currently working on the dynamics of the neonatal immune system, a malaria and EBV co-infection model, the dynamics of tuberculosis infection, and various projects involving HIV.