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Karsten Hueffer, DVM, Ph.D. |
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Assistant Professor of Microbiology
Institute of Arctic Biology office: (907) 474 6313 khueffer@alaska.edu |
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Research Interests Education Publications Teaching Award Students Last Modified on: |
Research InterestsThe focus of my research is the host pathogen interaction in infectious disease. First I am interested in how pathogens exploit cellular function in their life cycles. Secondly, I wish to study how these mechanisms of host cell exploitation are regulated. These studies are important not only for the better understanding of the biology of infectious disease and for developing new therapeutic strategies against them, but also for the better understanding of host cell biology, using infectious agents as an evolutionarily well-adapted tool in cell biology. We investigate the interactions between Francisella tularensis subspecies novicida with host cells. More specifically we investigate the role of a genetic element in Francisella (the Francisella pathogenicity island) in pathogenesis. In addition we are interested in other zoonotic pathogens and their distribution in the Alaska Ecosystem. This work is done in close collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Todd M. O'Hara here at UAF.
Below is a recent interview I gave to KNOM, a radio station in Nome about some of my work:
Education1993 - 1999 Veterinary degree, School of Vet Med Hannover (Germany) 1999 - 2003 PhD, Cornell University (with Colin R. Parrish) 2003 - 2006 Post graduate training, Yale School of Medicine (with Jorge E. Galán) Publications (Google Scholar Profile)Lieske C., Moses S., Castellini J.M., Hueffer K., O’Hara T.M.: Toxicokinetics of Total Mercury in Canine Blood. Accepted for publication in Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 53:66. de Bruin, O.M., Duplantis B.N., Ludu, J.S., Hare, R.F., Nix, E.B., Schmerk, C.L., Boraston A.B., Hueffer, K., Nano, F.E.: Requirement of Francisella Pathogenicity Island (FPI)-encoded proteins for intracellular growth and biochemical features of the FPI-encoded proteins IglA, IglB, IglC, IglD, PdpB and DotU. Microbiology 157 (2011) 3483-3491. Hansen C.M., Castrodale L.J., Vogler A.J., Keim P., Wagner D.M., Hueffer K. (Review): Tularemia in Alaska 1938 – 2010. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 53 (2011):61. Follmann, E.H., Ritter D., Swor R., Hueffer K.: Preliminary evaluation of Raboral V-RG® oral rabies vaccine in Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus). Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 47 (2011): 1032-1035. Hueffer, K., Holcomb, D., Ballweber, L., Gende, S., O’Hara, T.M.: Serologic Surveillance of Multiple Pathogens in a declining Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) Population in Glacier Bay National Park and a Reference Site. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 47 (2011): 984-988. Hueffer, K., O’Hara T. M., Follmann E. F. (review): Adaptation of Mammalian Host-Pathogen Interactions in a Changing Arctic Environment. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica. 53 (2011): (1):17. Hueffer, K., Lieske, C. L., McGilvary, L. M., Hare, R. F., Miller, D. L., O’Hara, T. M.: Strectocccus phocae Isolated form a Spotted Seal (Phoca largha) with Pyometra in Alaska. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 42, (2011): 108-112.
Triebenbach A. N, Hueffer K.: Detection of Francisella tularensis in Alaskan Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) and Assessment of a Laboratory Model for Transmission. Journal of Medical Entomology. 47 (2010) 639-648 Pathel J. Hueffer K., Lam T. T., Galán J. E.: Diversification of a Salmonella effector protein function by ubiquitin-dependent differential localization. Cell (137) (2009): 283-294. Read A. Vogl S., Hueffer K., Gallagher L , and G. M. Happ. Francisella genes required for replication in mosquito cells. Journal of Medical Entomology 45 (2008) 1108-1116. Hueffer, K., and J. E. Galán.. Salmonella-induced macrophage death: multiple mechanisms, different outcomes. Cellular Microbiology 6 (2004) 1019-25.
Hueffer, K., Truyen, U., Parrish, C. R.: Evolution und Wirtswechsel des Caninen Parvovirus: Molekulare Grundlagen der Entstehung eines neuen Virus Berliner Muenchner Tieraerztliche Wochenschrift 117 (2004),130 - 135.
Book chapters:
TeachingFall 2006, Spring 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 Concepts of infectious diseases (Biol 462/ 662) University of ALaska Fairbanks Spring 2007 Microbiology (Biol 342) Spring 2009, 2010 Introdcution to Cell and Molecular Biology (Biol 261) Spring 2009, 2012 Priniples of Virology Awards1996 H. Wilhelm Schaumann Stiftung award (Preis für beste Studienleistungen) 1999 – 2001 Graduate Research Assistantship (College of Vet. Med., Cornell) 2001 – 2002 Stockler Fellowship (Graduate School, Cornell University) 2003 Award for Scholarship in Basic Science, Alpha Chapter of Phi Zeta 2004 – 2006 Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Fellow 2008 - 2009 National Academies Education Fellow in the Life Scienes 2010 Outstanding teacher, Biology and Wildlife Department UAF
StudentsPast: Alison N. Triebenbach (MS 2009) Current: Lisa K. Smith Renee Rember, MS, DVM Cristina Hansen, DVM Katie Kokx Back to top |