Science Cafe' at Cook Library: A Carnivore's Nightmare

News item published on: 2016-01-26 16:42:19

Tick bites are known to be the causes of diseases such as Lyme and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and certain tick bites can cause you to develop an allergic reaction to meat. This meat allergy, to a sugar carbohydrate found in beef, lamb and pork products, can cause a dangerous, and sometimes life threatening, reaction. Join Gary Crispell on Monday, April 25 in Cook Library Room 123 (LIB 123) at 6 p.m. for a discussion of this new and growing problem.

Crispell, a graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences at Southern Miss, is a molecular biologist who has been studying the role of tick saliva in the development of red-meat allergy. In particular, the association between the Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americium) and α-galactose hypersensitivity in human red meat allergy.

During the Science Café events at Cook Library, faculty and graduate students from The University of Southern Mississippi, as well as local professionals and experts, share their perspectives and allow participants to get to know the face behind the science in a relaxed and informal setting. Science Cafés are free and open to the public. No science background is assumed or required. For more information, contact Tracy Englert, Science and Technology Librarian, at 601.266.6396 or tracy.englert@usm.edu. For more information about The Department of Biological Sciences visit https://www.usm.edu/biological-sciences.