High school student honoured in national biotech competition for graduate level HIV research

A Coquitlam high school student working alongside a team of internationally known Simon Fraser University researchers is being recognized for her role in studying viral genetic mutations – research that may one day help HIV patients fight the infection without medication.

Selin Jessa, a Grade 12 student at Dr. Charles Best Secondary School, has won the top B.C. regional prize in the 2013 Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada (SBCC) competition, an annual competition designed to raise awareness among students, educators and the public about the emerging science of biotechnology and its applications in health care, agriculture and the environment.

Jessa received the award April 4 and represented B.C. at the national finals April 8-9 in Ottawa, finishing in second place.
SFU health sciences graduate students Anh Le and Xiaomei (Tallie) Kuang together with assistant professor Zabrina Brumme mentored the 17-year-old in carrying out graduate level molecular biology research.

The team is studying a rare group of HIV-infected patients known as "elite controllers” whose immune systems are able to suppress infection without the need for medications.

Because of their highly effective immune responses, HIV survives in these individuals by making mutations that evade host immunity but may compromise its ability to replicate.  Identifying these viral mutations may help design vaccines or other HIV therapies.
Jessa applied advanced molecular biology techniques, including molecular cloning, DNA sequencing, cell culture and a process known as flow cytometry to engineer and test a mutant version of an HIV protein.

“Selin’s knowledge in the field of biology and infectious diseases is advanced for her level – it was clear that she’d done substantive work outside of school to prepare for her project,” says Brumme.

“Her research work at SFU was a comprehensive ‘crash course’ in molecular biology/virology/immunology – she learned techniques that most students in the field don’t apply until graduate school or later,” says Brumme.

Jessa was introduced to the SFU lab after her high school science teacher, Wooje Choi, contacted the faculty. She began working a few days a week after school and continued until the end of February.

“Doing hands-on research in a university lab this year was a transformative experience,” says Jessa. “It made me realize that research is simultaneously far less intimidating and far more exciting than it seems from outside the lab doors, and I'm really grateful that I was welcomed into the lab with such support.”

Brumme says Choi’s engagement was key. “As a teacher he is extremely active in science education and has previously partnered bright students with university professors.”

She also credits the efforts of SFU grad students Le and Kuang, who “went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure Selin’s research experience was enriching, enjoyable and successful.”

Jessa says delving “so deeply” into molecular biology and the topic of HIV specifically has catalyzed her direction for university and beyond. “I think what I've learned is that science is as much about being intensely curious about the world as it is about exploring ways to make the world better, and I hope to keep doing both as long as I can.”

Adds Brumme: “I’m very pleased that our lab participated in this program. I’m grateful for opportunities like this - it’s important for us to foster and inspire and mentor the next generation of scientists.”