Karen Duus, Ph.D.
Dr. Karen M. Duus earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from The University of Iowa in 1996, studying varicella-zoster virus, which causes chicken pox and shingles. She completed two postdoctoral fellowships at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill, NC studying HIV pathogenesis and oral carriage of Kaposis Sarcoma-Associated Herpes Virus (HHV-8).
Dr. Duus joined the faculty of the Center for Immunology & Microbial Disease at Albany Medical College (Albany, NY) in 2004 where she investigated HIV interactions with CD4+ T cells, and developed an interest in vaccine development and hybridoma monoclonal antibody reagents. She also taught microbiology and immunology to medical and graduate students.
In 2014, Dr. Duus joined the faculty of the Touro Nevada Basic Sciences Department where she teaches immunology and microbiology in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Physician Assistant Studies and Masters in Health Sciences programs. Her research interests at Touro Nevada include bacteriophage isolation and characterization, COVID-19 immune responses, measuring patient perceptions of their health, cancer immunotherapy, and studying how best to help healthcare professional students develop life-long active learning skills.
Professional Profiles: ,
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center 1996-2002
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC - Doctor of Philosophy, Microbiology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 1991-1996
- Bachelor of Science, Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 1988-1990
- Associate in arts, Natural Sciences, Grand View College, Des Moines, Iowa 1978-1980
- Course Director: MHS Survey of Immunology
- Co-Course Director: PA Immunology
- Instructor:
- MHS: Advanced Study Skills, Introduction to Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- PA: Infectious Disease/Diagnostic Microscopy
- OMS1: Molecular Cell Mechanisms, Host Defense Mechanisms, Gastrointestinal System 1
- OMS2: Integument-Musculoskeletal (IM) System, Blood and Lymph, Respiratory System 2, Gastrointestinal System 2, Pediatrics and Geriatrics
- Bacteriophage isolation from environmental and wastewater samples in collaboration with Dr. Terry Else.
- Las Vegas area COVID serology study in collaboration with Dr. Terry Else, Dr. Amy Stone, and Dr. Azliati Azizan.
- Pre- and post-pandemic health perceptions questionnaire study.
- Effects of circadian clock on influenza vaccine responses in collaboration with Dr. Jutta Ward.
- Development of a card game for teaching immunology cytokines to medical students in collaboration with Dr. Mark Santos, Dr. Amy Stone, and others.
- Effects of high intensity interval training (HIIT) on serum exerkine levels in collaboration with Dr. Paul McDonough.
- Generation of active learning modalities for teaching immunology to medical students in collaboration with Dr. Mark Santos.
Past Research Support:
- Albany Medical College Start鈥恥p Funds (2004鈥2007).
- Bridge Grant (2008鈥2009)
Albany Medical College
Virion鈥怉ssociated Host Determinants of HIV鈥1 Pathogenesis.
Goal: To establish the role of virion鈥恆ssociated HLA鈥怐R in disease progression by more precisely defining the mechanisms of its pathogenic effects on T cells in vitro and in human lymphoid tissues ex vivo. - 1RO1A1073178鈥01A2 (2007鈥2011)
NIH/NIAID
PI: Carlos de Noronha
Vpr as a mediator of proteasomal degradation.
Role 鈥 Collaborator: Responsible for infectious HIV鈥1 and HIV鈥2 production, titering, and infections; assist students, postdoc and PI with design and analysis of experiments involving HIV鈥1 and HIV鈥2 infections for Specific Aim 2.
Research Contract:
Heptares Therapeutics, Hertfordshire, England (2010鈥2012)
PI: Karen M. Duus
Co鈥怭I: Deborah Fuller
A PMED鈥恇ased DNA vaccine strategy for GPCR monoclonal antibody
Goals: To test the feasibility of the PMED immunization platform in the development of a monoclonal antibody designed to bind a unique conformationally鈥恉ependent region of the HIV envelope protein and expose that region for therapeutic targeting and vaccine antigen discovery.
Role: Responsible for subcloning into vaccine vector and protein expression for screening, PMED inoculation of DNA into rabbits and screening/analyses of serum antibody expression. - U01 AI074509 (2007鈥2012)
NIH/NIAID
DNA vaccine for seasonal and pandemic influenza.
PI: Deborah Fuller
Role: Subcontract Virology Core: Responsible for growing and titering Influenza A strains for virus challenge and titer experiments, analysis of virus loads in challenge samples by infectious focus assay; development of a universal qPCR Influenza A genome copy assay. - R03 AI092474鈥01 (2011鈥2013)
NIH/NIAID
PI: Karen M. Duus
Reagents for the analyses of CMI in the ferret influenza model.
Goal: To generate murine monoclonal antibodies against Ferret immune cells and thus establish the Ferret as a viable immune response model for influenza pathogenesis and vaccine development studies. - Bridge Grant (2012鈥2013)
Albany Medical College
PI: Karen M. Duus
The Role of BCL11B Repression in Initiation and Maintenance of HIV Latency. The goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that one or more human transcriptional regulators is co鈥恛pted by HIV鈥1 to initiate and maintain viral latency via specific binding to the HIV LTR, and that BCL11B is a key regulator of HIV latency. - Mentored Student Research Grant Award (Summer 2015)
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PI: Karen M. Duus
Student: Jessica Yang, DO19
Production, characterization and validation of monoclonal antibody reagents for the analyses of cell-mediated immunity in the ferret influenza model.
Goal: To generate murine monoclonal antibodies against Ferret immune cells and thus establish the Ferret as a viable immune response model for influenza pathogenesis and vaccine development studies. - MHS Student Research Support (2015-2016)
Student: Dallin Elmer (MHS16)
Production, characterization and validation of monoclonal antibody reagents for the analyses of cell-mediated immunity in the ferret influenza model.
Goal: To generate murine monoclonal antibodies against Ferret immune cells and thus establish the Ferret as a viable immune response model for influenza pathogenesis and vaccine development studies. - 91制片厂 Research Grant Award (2015-2016)
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Co-PIs: Karen M. Duus, Terry Ann Else
Development of Bacteriophage Therapy for Novel Treatment of Bacterial Infections
Goal: To generate data for the preclinical development of novel bacteriophage cocktail therapies against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. - Mentored Student Research Grant Award (Summer 2016)
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PI: Karen M. Duus
Student: Geoffry Burks, DO19
Production, characterization and validation of monoclonal antibody reagents for the analyses of cell-mediated immunity in the ferret influenza model.
Goal: To generate murine monoclonal antibodies against Ferret immune cells and thus establish the Ferret as a viable immune response model for influenza pathogenesis and vaccine development studies. - Medical Health Sciences Program Research Support 2016-17
Development of Bacteriophage Therapy for Treatment of Tularemia
PI: Karen Duus
Student: Monique Busacay (MHS17)
Goal: To isolate Francisella novacida-specific bacteriophages that infect and kill Francisella tularensis
cells. - Medical Health Sciences Program Research Support 2016-17
Production, characterization and validation of monoclonal antibody reagents for the analyses of cell-mediated immunity in the ferret influenza model.
PI: Karen Duus
Student: Ruslam Nam (MHS17)
Goal: To generate murine monoclonal antibodies against Ferret immune cells and thus establish the Ferret as a viable immune response model for influenza pathogenesis and vaccine development studies. - Mentored Student Research Grant Award (Summer 2017)
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PI: Karen M. Duus
Student: Ruslam Nam, DO21
Production, characterization and validation of monoclonal antibody reagents for the analyses of cell-mediated immunity in the ferret influenza model.
Goal: To generate murine monoclonal antibodies against Ferret immune cells and thus establish the Ferret as a viable immune response model for influenza pathogenesis and vaccine development studies. - **91制片厂 Internal Research Funding 2016-17
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Newly Diagnosed RA Patients
Co-PIs: Karen Duus, Ph.D., Scott Harris, D.O., Julie Zacharias, D.O., Shannon Martin, D.O.T.
Goal: To generate proof-of-mechanism data for the preclinical development of novel omega-3 fatty acid-based therapies against human inflammatory and age-related diseases, in an early rheumatoid arthritis patient pilot study with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.
**Award funds returned unspent; unable to recruit study subjects due to Co-PI health issues, and lack of protected time to do research. - Seed Funding Grant in the Biomedical/Health Sciences (2016-2017) – no-cost extension to 6/30/18.
Touro College/Touro University System
Co-PIs: Karen M. Duus, 91制片厂
Chandra Shekhar Bakshi, DVM., Ph.D., New York Medical College
Development of a novel bacteriophage cocktail therapy to treat tularemia.
Goal: To generate data for the preclinical development of a novel bacteriophage cocktail therapy against tularemia. - Mentored Student Research Grant Award (Summer 2018)
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PI: Karen M. Duus
Student: Ruslam Nam, DO21
Production, characterization and validation of monoclonal antibody reagents for the analyses of cell-mediated immunity in the ferret influenza model.
Goal: To generate murine monoclonal antibodies against Ferret immune cells and thus establish the Ferret as a viable immune response model for influenza pathogenesis and vaccine development studies. - TUN Strategic Funding Award, 2019
Microbial Analysis of Storm Drain Homeless Settlements in Las Vegas, NV.
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PI: Phillip Tobin, DHSc, PA-C
Co-PIs: Aimie Duford,MPAS, PA-C; Karen Duus, PhD; Terry Else, PhD, MT (AMT),MLT (ASCP); Oksana Matvienko, PhD; Amy Stone, PhD.
Goal: To create a pathogen database for use by healthcare professionals to assess wound infection etiologies among homeless populations in Las Vegas, NV. - Medical Health Sciences Program Research Support 2018-19
Isolation and Characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae-specific Bacteriophages.
Co-PIs: Karen Duus and Terry Else
Students: Ryan Briggs, Heerod Malekghassemi – MHS 2019
Goal: To isolate Neisseria gonorrhoeae-specific bacteriophages that infect and kill the bacterial cells. - American Osteopathic Association Grant #2311848725, Sept. 2018-August, 2020
P.I. Karen M. Duus, Ph.D.
Co-PIs: Kimberly McGinn, D.O., Robert Kessler, D.O., Shannon Martin, OTD
Oral Fluid Pain Biomarkers as Subjective Measures of OMT Outcomes for Cervicogenic Headache (CGH).
Goals: To demonstrate that successful OMT for CGH can be measured objectively through modulations in levels of molecules in oral fluids which can serve as chronic pain biomarkers. - Medical Health Sciences Program Research Support 2019-20
Isolation and Characterization of Neisseria gonorrhoeae-specific Bacteriophages.
Co-PIs: Terry Else and Karen Duus
Students: Kira Jorgensen Duus – MHS 2020, Shelby Burton, DO22
Goal: To isolate Neisseria gonorrhoeae-specific bacteriophages that infect and kill the bacterial cells. - Mentored Student Research Grant Award (Summer 2021)
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PI: Karen M. Duus
Student: Luis Sanchez, DO2023
Generation and Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-Pseudotyped Lentivirus Particles for Use in Neutralizing Antibody Titer Testing of Human Serum.
Goal: To generate and characterize the ability of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-pseudotyped lentivirus particles to bind to huACE2-expressing HEK-293T cells, and express green fluorescence protein in the successfully infected cells for use in subsequent assays of virus neutralization by serum antibodies in vaccinated individuals. - Medical Health Sciences Program Research Support 2021-22
Growing Fastidious Bacteria-specific Bacteriophages in Broth Culture.
Co-PIs: Terry Else and Karen Duus
Students: Kira Jorgensen Duus – PA2022, Guadalupe Mercado, MHS2021
Goal: To grow fastidious bacteria in broth culture to log phase for phage isolation studies. - Medical Health Sciences Program Research Support 2022-23
Growing Fastidious Bacteria-specific Bacteriophages in Broth Culture.
Co-PIs: Terry Else and Karen Duus
Students: Guadalupe Mercado, DO25 and Silva Topchyan, DO26
Goal: Development of bacteriophage therapy for novel treatment of bacterial infections. - Current Research Support:
Medical Health Sciences Program Research Support 2024-25
Circadian Immunity: Using variations in the circadian rhythm to identify optimal vaccination times in healthy adults who receive an influenza vaccine.
Co-PIs: Jutta Ward and Karen Duus
Student: Payson Broome, DO27
Goal: To determine the effect of an individual’s circadian clock on immune responses.
Pending Research Support: None
- Ellyn Hirabayashi1, Guadalupe Mercado1α, Brandi Hull1α, Sabrina Soin1α, Sherli Koshy-Chenthittayil1, Sarina Raman1β, Timothy Huang1β, Chathushya Keerthisinghe1, Shelby Feliciano1, Andrew Dongo1γ, James Kal1γ, Azliyati Azizan1, Karen Duus1δ, Terry Else1δ, Megan DeArmond2ε, Amy E.L. Stone1ε Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of rapid antigen tests for COVID19 compared to the viral genetic test in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JBI Evidence Synthesis ():10.11124/JBIES-23-00291, August 26, 2024. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-23-00291
α These authors contributed equally to this work
β These authors contributed equally to this work
γ These authors contributed equally to this work
δ These authors contributed equally to this work
ε These authors contributed equally to this work - DeArmond, M., Feliciano, S., Hirabayashi, E., Duus, K.M., Else, T.A., and Stone A.E.L. Diagnostic accuracy of rapid antigen test for COVID-19 compared to the viral genetic test in adults: a systematic review protocol. JBI Evid Synth 2021; 19(0):1–11.
- Merika Treants Koday; Jolie A Leonard; Paul Munson, Adriana Forero; Michael Koday; Debra L Bratt; James T Fuller; Robert Murnane; Shulin Qin; Todd A Reinhart; Karen Duus; Ilhem Messaoudi; Amy Hartman; Kelly Stefano-Cole; Juliet Morrison; Michael G Katze; Deborah Heydenburg Fuller. Multigenic DNA vaccine induces protective cross-reactive T cell responses against heterologous influenza virus in nonhuman primates. PLOS One, 12/21/2017. ().
- Porter, K.A., Kelley, L.N., Nekorchuk, M.D., Jones, J.H., Hahn, A.B., de Noronha, C.M.C., ^Harton, J.A., and ^Duus, K.M. CIITA enhances HIV鈥1 attachment to CD4+ T cells leading to enhanced infection and cell depletion. Journal of Immunology 185:6480鈥6488, 2010.
^ Co鈥怱enior Authors - Porter, K.A., Kelley, L.N., George, A., ^Harton, J.A., and ^,#Duus, K.M. Class II transactivator (CIITA) enhances cytomplasmic processing of HIV鈥1 Pr55Gag. PLOS One, 6/24/2010. ().
^ Co鈥怱enior Authors - Grose, C., Carpenter, J.E., Jackson, W., and Duus, K.M. Overview of Varicella鈥怹oster virus glycoproteins gC, gH and gL. In: Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2010 Feb 26.
- Cismasiu, V.B., *Daya, S.S., *Paskaleva, E., Canki, M., ^Avram, D., ^Duus, K.M. BCL11B is a general transcriptional repressor of the HIV鈥1 long terminal repeat in T lymphocytes through recruitment of the NuRD complex. Virology 380:173鈥181, 2008.
- Paskaleva, E.E.; Lin, X.; Duus, K.,McSharry, J.J.; Veille, J鈥怌.; Thornber, C., Liu, Y.; Lee, DY鈥怶.; Canki, M. Sargassum fusiforme fraction is a potent and specific inhibitor of HIV鈥1 fusion and reverse transcriptase. Virology Journal 5:8, 2008.
- Wen, X., Duus, K.M., Friedrich, T.D., and de Noronha, C.M.C. The HIV鈥1 protein Vpr acts to promote G2 cell cycle arrest by engaging a DDB1 and cullin4A鈥恈ontaining ubiquitin ligase complex using VprBP/DCAF鈥1 as an adaptor. Journal of Biological Chemistry 282:27046鈥57, 2007.
- Duus, K.M., and Grose, C. Human herpesvirus 8, blood transfusions, and hemophagocytic syndrome. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 26:287鈥279, 2007.
- Webster鈥怌yriaque, J., Duus, K.,Cooper, C., and Duncan, M. Oral EBV and KSHV Infection in HIV. Adv. Dental Res. 19:91鈥95, 2006.
- * Duus, K.M., *Meissner, E.G., Gao, F., Yu, X.鈥怓., and Su, L. Characterization of a thymus鈥恡ropic HIV鈥1 isolate from a rapid progressor: role of the envelope. Virology 328:74鈥88, 2004.
* Contributed equally to publication. - Duus, K.M., Lentchitski, V., Waggenar, T., Grose, C., and Webster鈥怌yriaque, J. Tropism of wild鈥恡ype human KSHV isolated from the oropharynx of immune competent individuals for cultured oral epithelial cells. Journal of Virology 78:4074, 2004.
- Meissner, E.G., Duus, K.M., Loomis, R., D’Agostin, R., and Su, L. HIV鈥1 replication and pathogenesis in the human thymus. Current HIV Research 1:275鈥285, 2003.
- Miller, E.D., Duus, K.M., Townsend, M., Yi, Y., Collman, R., Reitz, M., and Su, L. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 IIIB selected for replication in vivo exhibits increased envelope glycoproteins in virions without alteration in coreceptor usage: separation of in vivo replication from macrophage鈥恡ropism. Journal of Virology 75:8498鈥8506, 2001.
- Duus, K.M., Miller, E.D., Kovalev, G.I., Smith, J.A., and Su, L. Separation of HIV鈥1 replication from nef鈥恗ediated pathogenesis in human thymus. Journal of Virology 75:3916鈥3924, 2001.
- Zhang, H., Wang, L., Kao, S., Whitehead, I.P., Hart, M.J., Liu, B., Duus, K., Burridge, K., Der, C.J., and Su, L. Functional interaction between the cytoplasmic leucine鈥恴ipper domain of HIV鈥1 gp41 and p115鈥怰hoGEF. Current Biology 9:1271鈥1274, 1999.
- Kovalev, G., Duus, K., Wang, L., Lee, R., Bonyhadi, M., Ho, D., McCune, J.M., Kaneshima, H., and Su, L. Induction of MHC class I expression on immature thymocytes in HIV鈥1鈥恑nfected SCID鈥恏u Thy/Liv mice: evidence of indirect mechanisms. Journal of Immunology 162:7555鈥7562, 1999.
- Ye, M., Duus, K.M., Peng, J., Price, D.H., and Grose, C. Varicella鈥恴oster virus Fc receptor component gI is phosphorylated on its endodomain by a cyclin鈥恉ependent kinase. Journal of Virology 73:1320鈥1330, 1999.
- Hatfield, C., Duus, K.M., Jones, D.H., and Grose, C. Epitope mapping and tagging by recombination PCR mutagenesis. BioTechniques 22:332鈥337, 1997.
- Duus, K.M., and Grose, C. Multiple regulatory effects of varicella鈥恴oster virus (VZV) gL on trafficking patterns and fusogenic properties of VZV gH. Journal of Virology 70:8961鈥8971, 1996.
- Duus, K.M., Hatfield, C., and Grose, C. Cell surface expression and fusion by the varicella鈥恴oster virus gH:gL glycoprotein complex: analysis by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Virology 210:429鈥440, 1995.
- Duus, K.M., Welshons, W.J., and Girton, J.R. Blackpatch: a neural degeneration mutation that interacts with the Notch locus in Drosophila. Developmental Biology 151:34鈥47, 1992.
- MHS2024 “Best Jeopardy Host” award, May, 2024
- MHS2023 “Most Inspiring” award, May, 2023.
- MHS 2021 “Exam Preparation” award, May 2021.
- MHS 2020 “Faculty of the Year” award, May 2020.
- MHS 2019 “Overtime” award, May 2019.
- MHS 2018 “Biggest Heart” award, May 2018.
- Nominated for 91制片厂 Employee of the Year, 2017.
- Albany Medical College Sosa Academy of Medicine Faculty Teaching Scholars Award, May, 2011.
- NIH Institutional Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Infectious Disease, University of North Carolina, 2001鈥2002.
- Toys鈥愋怳s Postdoctoral Fellowship, Irvington Institute for Immunological Research, New York, 1998鈥2001.
- NIH Institutional Postdoctoral Fellowship, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, 1996鈥1998.
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1990.
- Distinguished Student Award, Microbiology, Iowa State University, 1990.
- Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society; Full Member, 1995-2023.
- American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1996 - present
- American Society of Virology; 1996-2014, 2019-present
- American Society for Microbiology Eastern NY Branch; 2005-2014
- American Society for Microbiology Northern Arizona/Southern Nevada Branch Secretary 2018-present.
- American Society for Microbiology National Member, 2015 - present
- American Association of Immunologists Member, 2019 - present
