Presenting on Serological Screening for Inapparent Flavivirus Infection at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Conference

Mariam Goreish is a senior majoring in Biology and Global Development Studies. She was awarded a Fall 2019 Conference Grant which she used to attend the American Society and Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

When I started working in the Collins Lab at Emory Hope Clinic, I was looking forward to participating in research through its different stages, from interacting with human subjects in the clinic to analyzing data on my computer. I worked alongside a public health student to recruit and consent a cohort of ~50 international travelers into our study, conducting questionnaires to provide insight on the nature of their trips and obtaining blood samples pre- and post-travel. In the lab, I started testing sera by antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Immunoglobulin G  (IgG) against Zika and dengue virus pre- and post-travel. The prevalence of IgG, which was quantified by measuring the absorbance of color change due to antibody binding, suggests potential infection. As I became more independent in the lab, I began designing more specific neutralization experiments to clarify ELISA results. 

I spent mornings in the travel clinic enrolling patients into our study and afternoons in the lab running serological tests on the samples. Consequently, conducting translational research has helped me develop a deep appreciation for the meticulous work that went into making the scientific discoveries that have shaped modern medicine. Besides consenting patients and performing experiments, I was responsible for entering serostatus information into a database that I shared with the PI and a public health student who was responsible for epidemiological analysis. Likewise, I interacted with scientists who gave me constructive feedback on experimental design in the lab. Research is collaborative; it requires everyone to do their part. I had to present my findings at biweekly lab meetings and keep everyone updated on my progress. Working on a project that allowed me to take on multiple roles taught me how to effectively communicate with my team. 

In culmination, I presented my research project entitled “Serological Screening for Inapparent Flavivirus Infection in U.S. Travelers” at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. Presenting my poster at an international conference allowed me to engage in meaningful conversations about current research and its implications for human health with established physicians and scientists, an experience for which I am grateful. 

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