Abstract

Understanding the immune system and its responses to foreign threats (antigens) is a matter of understanding the immune cells involved, their individual responses, and chemicals responsible for intracellular and intercellular communication. The overall immune response is driven by individual actions of neutrophils, antigen-presenting cells, and lymphocytes (T cells and B cells), among other cells. Intercellular communication is the means by which immune cells develop coordinated response while intracellular signals determine responses within a cell; both depend on systems of chemical reactions at their respective scales. The perspective taken in this dissertation is that of understanding B cells at the intracellular scale and the signaling molecules responsible for its responses.

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Mathematics

Date of Award

January 2015

First Advisor

Gregery T Buzzard

Committee Member 1

Ann E Rundell

Committee Member 2

Robert L Geahlen

Committee Member 3

Zhilan Feng

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