The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) recently honored Michelle Steinauer, a research assistant professor in the University of New Mexico biology department, with the Young Investigator Award at the organization’s annual conference in Philadelphia. Steinauer was one of five recipients recognized with the prestigious award.
Photo: Michelle Steinauer
The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is the principal organization in the United States representing scientists, clinicians and others with interests in the prevention and control of tropical diseases through research and education. The Young Investigator Award recognizes the work of young investigators and encourages developing scientists to pursue careers in various aspects of tropical disease research.
Steinauer, who has been at UNM for three years, was recognized for her research on schistosome parasites, a flat worm that causes the disease, schistosomiasis, in humans. Schistosomiasis is one of the major unconquered infectious diseases afflicting people of developing countries in tropical regions, particularly in Africa. An estimated 200 million people worldwide are affected with the parasite, which causes chronic damage to the organs, particularly the liver.
Steinauer works in collaboration with Eric S. Loker, chair, UNM Biology Department and the Kenya Medical Research Institute on a project that is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Their research program uses molecular and evolutionary techniques to address questions concerning the epidemiology of the parasite in western Kenya, a hotbed for schistosomes.
One of the challenges of studying schistosomes is that the adult worms live within the circulatory system of humans, which makes them routinely unavailable for study. Steinauer and her colleagues have developed a technique to study the adults indirectly through their progeny, which are released from the human body into the environment. They collect genetic information from the progeny and use parentage analyses to make inferences about the adult populations.
“From these data, the worm burdens within humans can be estimated, and the genetics of the adults can be used to learn about patterns of genetic diversity, transmission dynamics, and the evolutionary biology of the parasites,” said Steinauer. “These topics are important to disease control and prevention because the parasites are living organisms that respond and adapt to human initiated control measures such as potential vaccines and drug treatment.
“This research will not only aid in monitoring drug resistance in schistosomes, but also in the prediction of how potential drug resistance genes will spread throughout schistosome populations.”
Media Contact: Steve Carr, (505) 277-1821; e-mail: scarr@unm.edu
Posted by scarr at January 24, 2008 06:50 AM