Abbiana Arenas, a biology major at NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, earned a second place presentation award for her research poster and manuscript at the seventh annual International Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology Education and Research at Marymount University in Virginia, Oct. 11–13. More than 100 students and faculty from across the globe presented at the symposium spotlighting research conducted in the fields of math, biology, and ecology.
About the Research
Title: “A Repeated Challenge Humoral Immune Response Model”
Abstract: Influenza vaccination is considered the best method of control for seasonal influenza outbreak. While the effectiveness of vaccination depends on the host’s humoral immunity to clear viral infections, the dynamics of humoral immunity on controlling virus titers have been relatively unexplored, specifically the qualitative impact of humoral immunity during primary and secondary immune response. Arenas’ research establishes a parsimonious model to study the significance of B cells and antibodies that neutralize a virus and terminate infection. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the humoral immune response during a primary infection and shows that memory formation is a slow process that may lead to detrimental conditions for the host in the absence of other immune effectors. Moreover, once-formed memory B cells are highly efficacious in controlling subsequent challenges by the host.
Arenas, who is also minoring in mathematics and sociology, has worked under the guidance of faculty advisers Evan Haskell, Ph.D., associate professor at the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, and Samita Andreansky, Ph.D., research assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.
The Awards Are Adding Up
Prior to winning an award for her research poster and manuscript, Arenas earned a travel award from the National Science Foundation, which funded her attendance and presentation at the symposium. Last June, she presented at the Society for Mathematical Biology’s annual meeting and conference in Arizona, for which she received a grant from NSU’s Pan Student Government Association.
Arenas, Haskell, and Andreansky also earned a 2013–2014 President’s Faculty Research and Development Grant from NSU, along with Joshua Loomis, Ph.D., assistant professor at the college. The group continues to utilize mathematical models to study the humoral immune response to influenza.
Math Can Help Solve All Sorts of Problems
Because math can be applied to countless scenarios in society, the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences introduces the mathematics major. This major will equip you with the skills for solving problems encountered by mathematicians, educators, government officials, scientists, engineers, and others. When you add it all up, the mathematics major prepares you for graduate school and/or a career in science, industry, and business.