First Oral Immunization

Rafael Castro Vargas

After embarking on a journey through the intricate landscapes of veterinary vaccinology, the time has come! My first oral presentation was every day closer. We spend hours and hours determining the best route to present the data, much like we were finding the best routes to vaccinate, finding the correct times not to bore the audience, and formulating the best connectors to enhance the power of our presentations as we do with adjuvants, and finally, as vaccine development demands precision, learning the critical difference between the words shedding and shredding.

At first glance, the situation looked entirely out of my comfort zone, beyond the pressure and anxiety of presenting, mainly due to the linguistic boundaries I fortify myself against the tide of nerves that threatened me. In retrospect, this was an invaluable experience. Now, I know that the way to generate an adaptative response is by accepting the transformative power of facing challenges.

Also, I must especially mention that the guidance, support, and encouragement of Dr. Abuelo and all my lab mates made my presentation better as immune cells amplify each other's potential to mount a good response. Now, I’m looking forward to the next challenge, carrying a reminder that this is but the first immunization in a series of doses to mount an eloquent and seasoned response in the face of oral presentations (What a bunch of silly immunological jokes and analogies we got here).