My First Few Weeks at TRIP by Ella Masino

Hello, Ella Masino here and I am excited to share with you my experiences within the first few weeks of TRIP. Although I was definitely nervous when the program began, the environment at TRIP has become so educational while still remaining exciting. During my introductory experiment I examined the effect of inflammation on fruit fly mobility using a Negative Geotaxis Assay. I had no idea where to start, but I was given step-by-step instructions and was free to ask any questions I had. I was given the opportunity to learn about topics I had no idea existed. I was fascinated by the immense similarities between fruit flies and humans and was eager to view my results. In my experiment I used detergent as the stressor and Vitamin D3 as my drug. I not only learned more about model organisms and how to effectively perform an assay, I was also able to gain confidence in my work and presenting in front of others. TRIP has also allowed me to meet new people who I would have never otherwise met while forming friendships and problem solving together. 

After presenting my initial introductory experiment, I knew exactly what I wanted to test for my independent project: the effects of electronic cigarette juice on intestinal inflammation. My older brother was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease around five years ago and recently has become inseparable from his vape but his doctor recently begged him to quit vaping as the effects would be detrimental to his already fragile health. I was interested to see if I could observe the effects of vaping on intestinal inflammation using our fruit flies; therefore, I decided to ask Dr. Leystra and Dr. Purdy for some advice. As always, they were eager to help and we were able to figure out a way to test my question in the lab. Using a “Smurf Assay,” I will be able to examine the stability of the flies’ intestines by their color. I will feed the flies different vape-juices and expose them to a chemical commonly known as DSS which is known to mock Ulcerative Colitis. I will then place my flies in vials with a dye called “brilliant blue” mixed into their food. This very powerful (and messy) dye will be absorbed into their bodies when they eat normally. Depending on the health of their intestines, the dye will either “leak” through the intestines - causing the fly to have a deep blue color throughout, or the intestine lining will stay intact and the fruit fly can be classified as healthy. Overall, I am very excited to see my results and truly never thought I would be able to do something like this on my own, but with a little help from everyone it became possible so quickly. 

I knew exactly what I wanted to test for my independent project: the effects of electronic cigarette juice on intestinal inflammation.