From Mad Scientist to Scientist with Mad Skills: Natural Remedies and C. Albicans, a Prologue

Rema Elmostafa is a recent graduate who majored in Biology and Spanish. She was awarded a Spring 2017 Independent Grant which she used to conduct research on natural remedies for yeast infections under Dr. Meleah Hickman. 

I bet you’re wondering how I got here. It all started with a small white pillow and a magazine article. A year ago, almost exactly. It was 1:16pm on a warm Friday. After three tries, I was finally able to quickly slide the key into my room, toss my backpack on the floor and change out of my work-study clothes into something more… business casual? Presentable? Ahh, that outfit, the same pale teal shirt I wore to an interview at the Pre-Health Mentoring Office last month. Maybe it’s a good luck shirt? I’ll put it on, with grey bottoms and black flats. What should I bring, a notepad, resume, water? Definitely a smile. I close the door behind me, take a quick glance at the mirror. Sharp breath out, I’m good to go. It’s 1:32pm now.

Off the shuttle, up the bridge, with a brisk walk as I usually do. To my right, I pass 1462 Clifton, its familiarity warms me, calms me, reminds me. I know science, I like science, I can do science. I stand tall in front of Rollins, I’d been in countless times for office hours, yet this time it seemed strange, unrecognizable, new.

With a deep breath and sip of water, I pull open the door and my eye catches her name. Standing clear white on a black panel- Hickman M. 1027. I count down the hall, 1023, 1025, 1027. I peek my head in with a gentle knock on the office door, I am greeted by a bright green couch in the left corner, mauve painted walls, and a lady with purple hair. 

From that initial encounter with Dr. Hickman (who now insists I call her Meleah), my lab experience has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with uncertainties, hidden adventures unlocking personal growth, and discoveries about science and myself I never knew existed.

I was introduced to my project when I saw a faded pillow sitting on one of our lab shelves. After taking a closer look, our lab manager explained that the homemade pillow had home remedies for yeast infections on it, and it was a lingering idea for an undergrad to test them out and see if they actually work. I immediately fell in love.

     

In my project I am bridging the gap between popular culture and scientific research; I research home remedies for yeast infections. These home remedies include Apple Cider Vinegar (my main focus) and over the counter natural remedies. A yeast called Candida albicans is responsible for yeast infections, thrush, and athlete’s foot. Like antibacterial resistance, these yeast are strategically developing modes of resistance against antifungal medication. For example, they form highly intricate biofilms or change their chromosome number, which makes antifungal medication less effective. This is very bad news for us because there are only 3 different types of antifungal medication (compared to more than 120 types of antibiotics). So, this has sparked the interest in old ‘wive’s tales’ as a means of treating infection. The most interesting part of this is that there is almost no scientific basis behind these claims, yet we see them all the time in magazines, blogs, and natural health books. Some online magazines even claim that home remedies like apple cider vinegar are “the wonder drug of yesterday, today, and tomorrow”! Although the mainstream internet is riddled with self-help articles like these, if we go to the flipside (Google Scholar) we find almost nothing.

I am working at that delicate intersection between what popular culture says we should do and what the scientific data says. Because my research is relatively novel, the most challenging part of lab for me is figuring out how to test my hypothesis. Where do I start? There is very little scientific literature for me to refer to, so I am learning to trust my own judgement when it comes to making decisions for my research. I used to be utterly nervous at the thought of making a mistake or messing up but I’ve realized through my time in lab that mistakes happen all the time in science, and these mistakes can lead to discovery. The important part is analyzing, trouble-shooting, and moving forward from those mistakes.

Through my independent project, I’ve grown more confident in my communication and presentation skills, as well as more patient as a team member and more receptive to the advice of my peers. I even had the opportunity to present my preliminary work in the ARC seminar where I got to meet and network with fellow scientists interested in my work. They gave helpful advice on what to improve about my poster, and raised interesting questions for me to explore. One of the best parts about research is becoming dedicated to your own individual project, and discovering that it can serve as a catalyst to spark your passion for whatever you’re interested in: social equality, healthcare reform, pedagogy, the list goes on! For example, in my work now with home remedies, I feel like a revolutionary for women; investigations using alternative treatments for yeast infections are very sparse. Without health insurance, antifungal medication can be expensive and many drugs are not as effective as they used to be. In order to help women who may not be able to afford these drugs, my research is looking into the efficacy of alternatives that have the potential to be affordable, effective, and accessible to a wide range of people.

Now, here I am, the confident, passionate, and happy researcher I am today! Through my independent grant, I hope to inspire researchers to delve into the realm of the humanities, to question and study the claims they see in popular culture, especially to remind their communities at home of the relevancy of scientific research in medicine. From mad scientist to scientist with mad skills, independent research has been an enriching part of my experience at Emory-rewarding, challenging, and uplifting! Maybe that pale teal shirt was good luck after all… 

Visit the Undergraduate Research Programs website to learn more about applying for Independent Research Grants.