Wednesday, March 22, 2017 (2:00 p.m. in Yost 306)

Title: Modeling the appendix’s role in C. difficile infection

Speaker: Tejas Joshi (Case Western Reserve University)

Advisor: Wanda Strychalski (Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University)

Abstract: The appendix has been hypothesized to defend the colon against C. difficile infection, although epidemiological studies have led to conflicting conclusions. This protection might occur through the physical migration of cells, production of antibodies, and/or prevention of inflammation. In this talk, I describe two ordinary-differential equation models of the appendix and gut microbiome and explore which, if any, of these mechanisms plausibly produce the hypothesized protection. I also highlight some of the clinically-relevant findings of the project with regard to treatment options.