2020 Real-Time PCR Grant Program
Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 Real-Time PCR Grant!
We are excited to partner with these three researchers. Be sure to check in throughout the year for updates on their projects and details about their use of Real-Time PCR.
Abbeah Mae Navasca
TADECO Inc. | Philippines
“Philippines is one of the top banana exporters in the world. However, the detection of RNA-based viruses infecting banana plants remains a challenge. These viruses may be present in asymptomatic plants and hence the risk of using these materials as sources for tissue-culture procedures is high. It is therefore important to establish a protocol that can reliably detect these RNA-based viruses, namely Banana Bract Mosaic Virus and Cucumber Mosaic Virus.”
Alberto Biscontin
University of Padova | Italy
“The Antarctic krill is a key species of the Southern Ocean ecosystem where it plays a central role in the Antarctic food web as the most abundant organism of zooplankton. Available evidence indicates that an endogenous timing system, which enables it to synchronize its metabolism and behavior with an environment characterized by extreme seasonal changes in terms of day length, food availability, and surface ice extent. The aim of my research is to characterize the molecular endogenous clock of the Antarctic krill in both adult and larval life. In particular, we plan to determine 1) whether adult krill possess a working circadian clock; 2) how the circadian clock adapts its oscillation to different photoperiod; 3) how early in the development the expression of circadian genes starts; and 4) at which larval stage the endogenous clock starts ticking.”
Leonardo Acuna
Florida International University | United States
“To best understand the development and progression of liver disease in people living with HIV, it is imperative to recognize cofactors that could be exacerbating liver disease. One such cofactor is the use of illicit drugs such as cocaine. The relationship between cocaine and HIV, and how these two variables contribute to the progression of liver disease, has not been extensively studied. The metabolism of cocaine into norococaine has been shown to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage hepatocytes by liver peroxidation. Cocaine can also prime cells for HIV infection and enhance HIV replication and gene transcription.”