SzSA YearBook 2018/19

SZENT-GYÖRGYI STUDENTS
ZSÓFIA EDIT TÓTH
Szeged Scientists Academy, 3 rd year
University of Szeged,
Faculty of Science and Informatics,
Biology, 3 rd year
YEAR OF BIRTH:
1998
FORMER
SZENT-GYÖRGYI
PUPIL:
yes
SZENT-GYÖRGYI
MENTOR:
Attila Gácser
SPECIALIZATION:
immunology
SECONDARY
SCHOOL:
Radnóti Miklós
Experimental Grammar
School, Szeged
NAME OF TEACHER:
Sándor Bán
LANGUAGES:
English/advanced
Spanish/basic
IMPORTANCE, AIMS AND POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF RESEARCH
Importance, aims and possible outcome of research:
Members of the genus Candida are the most common opportunistic human pathogenic
fungal species that cause nosocomial infections. Although C. albicans is the most common
cause of candidiasis and thus, the most investigated, the number of infections caused by
other Candida species is also rising since the last decade. Host responses, enabling an
effective clearance of these fungi, originate from the combination of innate and adaptive
immune responses.
Nowadays, we have a wide range of information about the innate immune system’s
responses to the presence of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis. Based on these, the
fundamental difference between these two species is that unlike C. albicans, C. parapsilosis
does not induce strong inflammatory responses. Our laboratory’s previous results suggest
that C. parapsilosis, instead of inducing an inflammatory response, may trigger some
kind of tolerogenic reaction. This conclusion was drawn from the fact, that this species’
interaction with human mononuclear cells from peripheral blood (PBMCs) resulted in a
cytokine response indicating Th2 polarization, instead of Th1 and Th17 differentiation, a
response characteristics of fungal infections (especially those caused by C. albicans).
In our present work, we aim to examine how C. parapsilosis influences the adaptive immune
response of the host, compared to C. albicans. During this process, purified epitopes
specific for these species are used to investigate Th1, Th17, Th2 and T-reg polarization of
T-cell populations, the induced humoral immune responses and transcriptomic changes
in host cells.
AMBITIONS AND CAREER GOALS
After finishing the BsC and Msc programme I would like to get my PhD degree. As
a researcher I would like to contribute to the development of medicalbiology and
immunology.
HONORS AND PRIZES
• 2012 - Kitaibel Pál Biology Competition - 17 th place
• 2013 - Árokszállásy Zoltán Biology Competition -18 th place
• 2016 - National Student Competition Assays 33 rd place
PUBLICATIONS
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130