ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Kwanho Ki is an author on ‘ High sugar diet alters immune function and the gut microbiome in juvenile green iguanas (Iguana iguana)’, published in JEB. Kwanho is a PhD candidate in the lab of Susannah French at Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA, investigating how different anthropogenic factors can alter immunity.
Kwanho Ki
How did you become interested in biology?
I first became interested in biology after a winter of studying the roosting behavior of passerine birds during my first year of college. I remember how bitterly cold it was to sit in the snow and watch birds through binoculars for hours. And yet, if you watch something in nature for long enough, you start to see fascinating behaviors. This interest developed as I took behavioral ecology and physiology classes. I found every aspect of biology interesting, learning about anything from cryptic female choice in sexual selection to how the loop of Henle works. Eventually, my passion for biology led me to pursue research opportunities throughout my undergraduate career. I am grateful for my mentors and professors who have taught me thus far; their passion and enthusiasm have continued to inspire my love for biology.
Describe your scientific journey and your current research focus
During my undergraduate years at Lafayette College, I spent several years studying behavior in passerine birds. I was involved in several projects ranging from learning about winter roosting behaviors in songbirds to investigating which visual cues eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) used to identify parasitic eggs. As I took more physiology classes, my focus shifted from behavior to physiological mechanisms. I completed an honor's thesis as part of my bachelor's degree, where I studied the antioxidant effects of biliverdin in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). I was very eager and pursued a graduate degree at Utah State University right after I graduated from Lafayette. At Utah State University, I became interested in immunology as it is a critical part of any organism's physiology. Currently, I study how immunity is affected in different contexts using a non-model organism, the green iguana (Iguana iguana). My research is centered around how diet and the microbiome interact with their immune system. I also conduct observational studies on an endangered species of iguana in Roatán (Ctenosaura oedirhina), Honduras, to understand how environmental factors such as parasite load, tail-break and access to resources can interact with immunity.
How would you explain the main findings of your paper to a member of the public?
The amount of sugar found in a species' natural diet can vary. Some organisms require large amounts of sugar in their natural diet, and some do not. Green iguanas are herbivores and do not naturally have a high amount of sugar in their diet. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a high sugar diet on the immune system of the green iguana. Additionally, changing an organism's diet also changes the gut microbiome of the organism. In the past two decades, many research articles have found links between the gut microbiome and the immune system. In our study, we measured how different parts of the immune system and the gut microbiome changed when iguanas were fed a high sugar diet to learn more about how diet, immunity and the gut microbiome are related. In addition to the diet, we simulated a bacterial infection in the iguanas (without actually making them sick) to see how their immune system would respond. Interestingly, one component of the immune system, agglutination, was enhanced in the sugar group before the immune challenge. But, after the immune challenge, we found that a high sugar diet reduced the ability of the immune system to fight off bacteria. We also found that the immune challenge and sugar diet changed the proportion and diversity of bacterial families in the gut microbiome.
What is the most important lesson that you have learned from your career so far?
As a woman of color in STEM surrounded by incredibly intelligent and talented colleagues, I often question and doubt my own abilities. I feel that I must work harder, be better and do more, just to earn my place in academia and my doctoral program. I don't look or feel like I belong, therefore I must prove to everyone else that I have something of value to contribute. While these feelings are legitimate and quite common across all of STEM (it's called imposter syndrome!), particularly for minority groups, they are not actually true. The most important lesson I learned thus far is to find confidence within myself and to not give in to imposter syndrome.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I love being outside. I currently live in Utah and am afforded an amazing opportunity to have incredible access to the outdoors. I love rock climbing, backpacking, camping and skiing. These activities, much like my field research, allow me to connect and engage with places I would otherwise not be able to explore. Aside from spending time with friends to do these things, I also love to spend time with my dog, Clover. She is an excellent backpacker/camper and loves to be outside too. She makes any adventure twice as fun, except when she jumps into a river right before we get into the tent.
Kwanho Ki’s contact details: Department of Biology, Utah State University, 5205 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
E-mail: [email protected]
