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Alexia Karanikas
Study systems include
Bordetella pertussis
Bordetella parapertussis
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Bordetella holmesii
Selected publications
Zhang X, Hester SE, Kennett MJ, Karanikas AT, Bendor L, Place DE, Harvill ET. (2011) Interleukin-1 receptor signaling is required to overcome the effects of pertussis toxin and for efficient infection- or vaccination-induced immunity against Bordetella pertussis. Infection and Immunity. Epub Oct 25.
Long GH, Karanikas AT, Harvill ET, Read AF, Hudson PJ. (2010) Acellular pertussis vaccination facilitates Bordetella parapertussis infection in a rodent model of bordetellosis. Proceedings of the Royal Society. Epub March 3.
Wolfe DN1, Karanikas AT1, Hester SE, Kennett MJ, Harvill ET. (2010) IL-10 induction by Bordetella parapertussis limits a protective IFN-gamma response. Journal of Immunology. 184(3)1392:1400.
Buboltz AM, Nicholson TL, Karanikas AT, Preston A, Harvill ET. (2009) Evidence for horizontal gene transfer of two antigenically distinct O antigens in Bordetella bronchiseptica. Infection and Immunity. 77(8): 3249-3257.
Graduate student
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellow
USDA-AFRI Microbial Functional Genomics Program Fellow
Email: atk137@psu.edu
Phone: 814-865-9134
Office: W-213 Millennium Sciences Complex (MSC)
Research interests
I am interested in studying the interactions between the three classical bordetellae and the host immune system. My particular interests include the following:
- Host responses induced by Bordetella infection and the immune components required for bacterial clearance. Specifically, I am interested in the role of Itk (IL-2 inducible T cell kinase) signaling in host immunity against B. pertussis and B. parapertussis. Additionally, I am investigating the importance of IL-1R signaling in B. bronchiseptica infection.
- Vaccine-induced immunity against B. pertussis and B. parapertussis.
- Characterization of a newly emerging pathogen, B. holmesii, as well as currently circulating B. pertussis strains.
