During the summer of 2008, Aaron Hasenkrug, a senior in Cell Biology & Neuroscience major at Montana State University, had the unique opportunity to perform research in Brazil. This opportunity was funded through the Hughes Undergraduate Biology Program. Taking the initiative, Aaron sought out a position on a collaborative project with Dr. Douglas Nixon at the University of California, San Francisco and Dr. Esper Kallast at the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The aim of the project is to determine the frequency and number of T regulatory cell subsets in human lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and ascertain associations with T cell derangements and disease states.

For the first two weeks of his experience, Aaron was in San Francisco with Dr. Nixon training in the techniques needed to perform the work in Brazil. The next 10 weeks were spent in Brazil working with Dr. Kallas, and occassionally Dr. Nixon, as well as a host of doctors, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students and research technicians. Pictured to the left is Aaron in the lab where he worked during these 10 weeks.

Aaron continues to work with the project members on data analysis and will be presenting his work on January 23, 2009 at the Cell Biology & Neuroscience Departmental Seminar.