Cara Skon

E-mail: skonx011@umn.edu

Year entered: 2008

Thesis Advisor: Steve Jameson

Degrees received:
B.A., St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

Thesis research:

The transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is critical for normal T-cell development and is known to regulate naïve T-cell trafficking. My thesis project in the Jameson lab will be centered on the characterization of KLF2 expression in memory T cells using a KLF2 reporter mouse recently created by Micheal Weinreich. These reporter mice express a GFP-KLF2 fusion protein on a B6 background allowing for KLF2 expression analysis in live cells. My project will investigate the expression of KLF2 in CD4 and CD8 memory T cells to understand the relationship, if at all, between KLF2 expression and cell function and location. Understanding the factors contributing to memory T cell trafficking will help clarify the particular memory T cell subsets required for effective vaccine development.

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