Colleen Sedney

Colleen is a graduate student in the lab of Dr. Eric Harvill. Her research is based on understanding how the causative agent of whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, is able to specifically modulate and override the neonatal immune system. Colleen’s research has identified a specific requirement for pertussis toxin in severe pathology of neonatal mice infected with B. pertussis. Continuing work aims to identify the specific neonatal components which are affected by pertussis toxin to cause disproportionately severe disease compared to adults.