The Winona State University CLASP Lecture Series will host “Harnessing the Power of Ebola Virus: Developing Enhanced Vaccines” with Osvaldo Martinez at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, in Stark Hall 103.
The Ebola virus is an emerging pathogen, which causes sporadic outbreaks of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever with a mortality rate that can approach 90 percent. In this seminar, Martinez will outline some of the general biology of the Ebola virus infection including viral transmission as well as how the virus targets and deregulates the immune system. Martinez believes that by understanding how the Ebola virus targets human immune system cells, scientists can develop better vaccines, not just against Ebola virus, but many other potential pathogens.
Martinez is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at WSU. He teaches microbiology and Immunology. His research focuses on host-pathogen interactions, specifically looking at the effect of emerging highly pathogenic viruses such as West Nile Virus and Ebola virus on the host immune response. He is also working on developing novel virus-like particle vaccines.
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Matthew Bosworth at MBosworth@winona.edu.
