Document Actions
Eric Harvill
Study systems include
Bordetella: closely-related subspecies differing in virulence and gene expression (B.pertussis, B.parapertussis and B.bronchiseptica)
Laboratory in-vitro and in-vivo studies (using a mouse model)
Selected publications
Joo J, Gunny M, Cases M, Hudson P, Albert R & Harvill ET (2006) Bacteriophage-mediated competition in Bordetella bacteria. Proc. Roy. Soc. B.
Pilione MR, Agosto LM, Kennett MJ & Harvill ET (2006) CD11b is required for the resolution of inflammation induced by Bordetella bronchiseptica respiratory infection. Cellular Microbiology 8: 758-768
Kirimanjeswara GS, Agosto LM, Kennett MJ, Bjornstad ON & Harvill ET (2005). Pertussis toxin inhibits neutrophil recruitment to delay antibody-mediated clearance of Bordetella pertussis. J. Clin. Invest. 115: 3594-3601
Wolfe DN, GS Kirimanjeswara & Harvill ET (2005) Clearance of B. parapertussis from the lower respiratory tract requires both humoral and cellular immunity. Infection & Immunity 73: 6508-6513
Bjornstad ON & Harvill ET (2005). Evolution and emergence of Bordetella in humans. Trends in Microbiology 13: 355-359.
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Infectious Disease
Email: harvill@psu.edu
Phone: 814-863-8522
Office: 125 Henning Building
Research interests
I investigate how host and pathogen characteristics and host dynamics affect the spread of respiratory infection within individuals and host populations. My group has four main research areas:
Virulence factors
- Effects of bacterial virulence factors on infection pathology and immune response to infection within a host
- How bacterial virulence factors such as toxins affect the dynamics of transmission between hosts (e.g. by lengthening infectious period)
Host immune functions
- Mechanisms of immune-mediated bacterial clearance: how they differ between organs of the respiratory tract
Genomics
Comparing genomes of closely-related pathogens to investigate important questions such as:
- Which bacterial factors determine host specificity
- How animal pathogens adapt to infect humans
- What determines the severity of pathology
- How bacteria cause persistent infections that last for the life of the host
Phylodynamics
- Emergence of human pathogens from commensals of agricultural and companion animals
The transmission and dynamics of disease within populations
