Measuring ROS in Plant Immune Systems as a Model for Human Immune Systems

Overview

Plants and humans have both evolved to have similar innate immune systems, with almost identical receptors for identifying pathogens and many similar response pathways. This proposes the question: Can plants be used as a limited model for human innate systems? We predict that, in response to stresses, ROS responses in Centranthus ruber (Jupiter’s Beard) in specimens can match existing results at a small scale. We performed epidermal peels on Centranthus Ruber and measured the relative ROS intensity over time to a salt stress. For each time point, three peels were selected for a control group and a stressed group. Then, the peels were soaked in fluorescent dye then washed with a buffer and observed under a fluorescent microscope. Six pictures were taken for the control group and six for the stressed group. Our results consist of the ΔCTCF calculated using ImageJ Fiji between the control and the stressed samples. We noted that the peak in ΔCTCF happened at t = 4 hours with a relative value around 12.5 compared to a value of 0 at t = 0. The course of ΔCTCF over time provided results that support our hypothesis. With an ANOVA test we determined statistical significance and correlation. To conclude, when the ROS response in plants along with other immune markers are compared to humans our hypothesis is supported. This study provides results that can be used in the future medicine industry, specifically with drug testing, as a replacement for some animal testing.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Plant Biology (Senior Division) · Entry S-18-11

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