Date of Thesis

Spring 2024

Description

Hibernation is characterized by significantly decreased metabolism, respiration, and heart rate. In this study, we assessed how immune responses were affected by hibernation, using the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) as a model organism. Ebola virus-like particles (eVLPs, which present Ebola antigens but are not infectious) were used to trigger an immune response. Twenty-four squirrels were housed in a hibernation chamber at 4°C, while eighteen were maintained at room temperature (21°C). In addition to eVLPs, a subset of squirrels were given either LPS (bacterial) or Poly (I: C) (synthetic dsRNA analog) adjuvants, which are biological molecules that help mount a more robust immune response and probe different immune pathways. Blood was drawn before immunization and 35 days later to measure the anti- Ebolavirus antibodies. Additionally, subdermal temperature loggers recorded the squirrel's body temperature every ten minutes throughout the study. Hibernating squirrels immunized with eVLP alone, eVLP + LPS, or eVLP + Poly (I: C) had a maximum temperature greater than sham- immunized squirrels during the first arousal post-immunization. Squirrels immunized with eVLP alone or eVLP + LPS produced a mean increase in temperature during both the first arousal post- immunization and subsequent arousals. During hibernation, only squirrels immunized with eVLP alone produced detectable antibody titers. The lack of antibody production in immunizations that contained adjuvants suggests that antibody production during hibernation is dependent on the type of immune response activated.

Keywords

Hibernation, Immune responses, Thirteen-lined ground squirrel, Thermoregulation, Ebola virus-like particles, Torpor

Access Type

Honors Thesis (Bucknell Access Only)

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science

Major

Biology

First Advisor

Ken Field

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Available for download on Sunday, April 25, 2027

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