Class
Article
College
College of Science
Department
Biology Department
Faculty Mentor
Susanna French
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Introduction
Energetic trade-offs are a key consideration when understanding an organism’s life history. One of these tradeoffs occurs between investment in immunity and performance.
- Individuals that invest more energy into immunity may be less equipped to avoid predation or find food, while those prioritizing performance may be more susceptible to infection
- Hypothesis: In response to a novel antigen, neonate snakes will have an immune response we can measure by counting immune cells. Additionally, we predict that strike frequency, swim speed, and endurance will be reduced in snakes undergoing an immune response and that with greater immune response we will see a greater effect on behavior.
- To test this hypothesis, neonate Children's pythons (Antaresia childreni) underwent behavioral tests, and we examined white blood cell differentials in blood smears to measure the immune response.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-9-2025 3:30 PM
End Date
4-9-2025 4:20 PM
Included in
Apr 9th, 3:30 PM
Apr 9th, 4:20 PM
Investigation of Immune/Performance Trade-Offs in Neonate Children's Pythons
Logan, UT
Introduction
Energetic trade-offs are a key consideration when understanding an organism’s life history. One of these tradeoffs occurs between investment in immunity and performance.
- Individuals that invest more energy into immunity may be less equipped to avoid predation or find food, while those prioritizing performance may be more susceptible to infection
- Hypothesis: In response to a novel antigen, neonate snakes will have an immune response we can measure by counting immune cells. Additionally, we predict that strike frequency, swim speed, and endurance will be reduced in snakes undergoing an immune response and that with greater immune response we will see a greater effect on behavior.
- To test this hypothesis, neonate Children's pythons (Antaresia childreni) underwent behavioral tests, and we examined white blood cell differentials in blood smears to measure the immune response.