Virginia Via Research Day Book 2026

Medical Student Research Biomedical

20 Examining the Impact of Dragon’s Blood Sap on Cytokine Responses of Bacterially-Infected Eukaryotic Cells

Jonas Lane, OMS-II; Jackie Kronen, MA, OMS-II; Sean Dalton, OMS-II; James Mahaney, PhD; Teresa R. Johnson, MS, PhD Corresponding author: jlane@vcom.edu

VCOM-Virginia, Blacksburg, Virginia

Dragon’s Blood is a sap derived primarily from the tropical plant genus Croton. The crimson red resin has been used historically for a wide variety of medical purposes, and the focus of this research is on its antimicrobial properties within eukaryotic cells. Most existing data exemplifying the immunomodulatory effects of Dragon’s Blood originate from acellular or strictly in vitro systems, leaving its behavior in a more physiologically relevant environment poorly defined. This study aims to investigate Dragon’s Blood effects on both bacterial replication and induction of host immune responses during infection. In this study, eukaryotic HEp-2 epithelial cells will be infected with

Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Enterococcus faecalis in the presence or absence of Dragon’s Blood. Analysis of bacterial growth rates and cytokine expression will be measured using microarray assays. We anticipate Dragon’s Blood will exert measurable immunomodulatory effects during infection, produce distinct cytokine expression patterns, and reduce bacterial burden compared to untreated controls. Evidence of altered cytokine signatures will define how Dragon’s Blood interacts with both pathogens and host immune pathways within a biologically relevant system and highlight its potential translational value. Ultimately, this research can inform the future development of naturally

derived antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agents at a time when new strategies are critically needed to combat rising drug resistance.

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109 2026 Research Recognition Day