Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

Spring 5-10-2019

Abstract

Quantitative fluorescence microscopy is a highly technical, swiftly evolving field of methodologies that are uniquely able to probe the nano-scale biological environment. With these optimized, advanced technologies available, scientists and medical providers are equipped to illuminate a plethora of puzzles in science and medicine through the multiplexing and high spatiotemporal resolution offered. Here I first exploit these capabilities to study a rare cancer with multiplex immunohistofluorescence (IHF) to confirm cell type and undocumented protein expression that may have implications for our understanding of the biology of mast cells and the potential efficacy of treatment and symptom management in mast cell disease. Second, I utilize the high spatiotemporal resolution of quantum dot (QD) single particle tracking to demonstrate a previously suspected but un-proven heterodimerization between two receptor tyrosine kinases (EGFR and RON) implicated in cancer and targeted cancer therapy resistance.

Keywords

EGFR, RON, PD-L1, single particle tracking, immunohistofluorescence

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Biomedical Sciences

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program

First Committee Member (Chair)

Diane S. Lidke

Second Committee Member

Bidget S. Wilson

Third Committee Member

Ashwani Rajput

Fourth Committee Member

Ellen Beswick

Download

Share

COinS