Serap Aksoy, Ph.D.
Professor and Head,
Division of Epidemiology of Microbial
Diseases
Laboratory Web page
Dr. Aksoy's research aims to understand the biology of host-pathogen interactions; in particular in tsetse flies, which transmit African trypanosomes and harbor multiple symbiotic microbes. Basic studies focus on the immune aspects of trypanosome transmission in tsetse, while the applied studies aim to harness this information to develop biologically sound and novel disease control strategies to interrupt parasite development in the tsetse vector.
A second area of research focuses on the molecular and evolutionary basis of symbiosis. The biology of each tsetse symbiont is characterized using biochemical, genomic, genetic, cellular and molecular techniques to understand their functional significance in the context of host ecology.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Ph.D., Columbia University, 1982
Awards and Honors
Ambross Monell Foundation, 2006
Robert Leet and Clara Gutherie Patterson Trust Award, 2000
Culpeper Foundation Biomedical Initiative Award, 1998
Columbia University Graduate Scholar Award, 1978-1982
National Science Foundation Presidential Award for Undergraduate Research, 1977
Professional Services
Director, International Glossina Genome Initiative, World Health Organization (WHO)/ The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)
Member, Disease Reference Group, Human African Trypanosomiasis, WHO
Editorial Board, Kinetoplastid Biology and Disease
Editorial Board, Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Member, Study Section K22, National Institutes of Health, 2000, 2002–2006
Courses Taught
EMD682a/b Advanced Topics in Vector Biology
Yale Affiliations
Member, Committee on International Health
BBS Microbiology Program
In the News
Genetic Clues to Sodalis Deepens Knowledge of Bacterial Diseases
Selected Publications
Hu, C. and Aksoy, S. Innate Immune Responses Regulate Trypanosome Parasite Infection of the Tsetse Fly Glossina morsitans morsitans. Molecular Microbiology 60: 1194-1204, 2006.
Rio, R.V., Wu, Y. N., Filardo, G., and Aksoy, S. Dynamics of Multiple Symbiont Density Regulation during Host Development: Tsetse Fly and its Microbial Flora. Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences 273: 805-814, 2006.
Toh, H., Weiss, B. L., Perkin, S. A.,Yamashita, A., Oshima, K., Hattori, M., and Aksoy, S. Massive genome erosion and functional adaptations provide insights into the symbiotic lifestyle of Sodalis glossinidius in the tsetse host. Genome Res 16: 149-56, 2006.
Akman, L., Yamashita, A., Watanabe, H., Oshima, K., Shiba, T., Hattori, M., and Aksoy, S. Genome Sequence of the Endocellular Obligate Symbiont of Tsetse Flies, Wigglesworthia glossinidia. Nature Genetics 32(3): 402-407, 2002.
Akman, L. and Aksoy, S. A Novel Application of Gene Arrays: Escherichia coli Array Provides Insight into the Biology of the Obligate Endosymbiont of Tsetse Flies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 98(13): 7546-7551, 2001.
Hao, Z., Kasumba, I., Lehane, M., Gibson, W., Kwon, J., and Aksoy, S. Tsetse immune responses and trypanosome transmission: Implications for the development of tsetse-based strategies to reduce trypanosomiasis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 98(22): 12648-12653, 2001.
For a further list of Dr. Aksoy’s publications, please see PubMed. |
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