Turtles in the Wild
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Turtles Under Acute Stress: Immune System Tradeoffs in North American Freshwater Turtles
Most immunological studies observe the immune system using a mammalian model and focus on both innate and adaptive immune responses. Conversely, reptiles are understudied and have a well-developed innate response that allows for the isolation and observation of innate immune mechanisms. The goal of this project is to examine the innate immunological tradeoffs of freshwater turtles, experiencing acute stressors.• Moreover, I aim to examine how the composition of the immune response changes not only in response to various immune challenges (microbes) but between species as well. Species sampled in this project are endemic to Northeastern Arkansas and include Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Eastern River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna concinna), Red-eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), Mississippi Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum hippocrepis), Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), and Spiny Softshell (Apalone spinifera).
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