Tetrahymena pyriformis, is an important single-celled freshwater eukaryotic model organism that is easy and inexpensive to maintain in a laboratory setting. Tetrahymena pyriformis shares many biological features with some types of white blood cells (phagocytes) found in vertebrates and which are involved in immune defence against infections through their abilities to seek out, ingest and kill invading microorganisms. Phagocytosis (cell eating) is a process by which cells engulf particles from their environments. It is used by Tetrahymena to ingests food particles which are later digested in their cells. In mammals, various abnormalities in fluid and electrolyte balance are associated with changes in cell volume, impaired phagocytosis, enhanced susceptibility to infections and, in extreme situations, cell and/or organism death. This poster was presented at the Douglas College Student Research Day 2022 on April 15, 2022. Lara was a SRA (student research assistant) to Dr. Lynette Sigola (Biology Faculty) as part of a Research Incentive Grant (RIG) Innate Immunity project for Fall 2021 - Winter 2022.
