Karen Duus, Ph.D.

• 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‐up Funds (2004‐2007). 
• Bridge Grant (2008‐2009) 
  Albany Medical College 
  Virion‐Associated Host Determinants of HIV‐1 Pathogenesis. 
  Goal: To establish the role of virion‐associated HLA‐DR 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. 
• 1RO1A1073178‐01A2 (2007‐2011) 
  NIH/NIAID 
  PI: Carlos de Noronha 
  Vpr as a mediator of proteasomal degradation. 
  Role ‐ Collaborator: Responsible for infectious HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 production, titering, and infections; assist students, postdoc and PI with design and analysis of experiments involving HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 infections for Specific Aim 2. 
  Research Contract: 
  Heptares Therapeutics, Hertfordshire, England (2010‐2012) 
  PI: Karen M. Duus 
  Co‐PI: Deborah Fuller 
  A PMED‐based 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‐dependent 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 (2007‐2012) 
  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 AI092474‐01 (2011‐2013) 
  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 (2012‐2013) 
  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‐opted by HIV‐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)
  Touro University Nevada
  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.
• Touro University Nevada Research Grant Award (2015-2016)
  Touro University Nevada
  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)
  Touro University Nevada
  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)
  Touro University Nevada
  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.
• **Touro University Nevada 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, Touro University Nevada
  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)
  Touro University Nevada
  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. 
  Touro University Nevada
  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)
  Touro University Nevada
  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. (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/comments?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0189780).
• 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‐1 attachment to CD4+ T cells leading to enhanced infection and cell depletion. Journal of Immunology 185:6480‐6488, 2010. 
  ^ Co‐Senior 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‐1 Pr55Gag. PLOS One, 6/24/2010. (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/metrics?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0011304). 
  ^ Co‐Senior Authors
• Grose, C., Carpenter, J.E., Jackson, W., and Duus, K.M. Overview of Varicella‐Zoster 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‐1 long terminal repeat in T lymphocytes through recruitment of the NuRD complex. Virology 380:173‐181, 2008. 
• Paskaleva, E.E.; Lin, X.; Duus, K.,McSharry, J.J.; Veille, J‐C.; Thornber, C., Liu, Y.; Lee, DY‐W.; Canki, M. Sargassum fusiforme fraction is a potent and specific inhibitor of HIV‐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‐1 protein Vpr acts to promote G2 cell cycle arrest by engaging a DDB1 and cullin4A‐containing ubiquitin ligase complex using VprBP/DCAF‐1 as an adaptor. Journal of Biological Chemistry 282:27046‐57, 2007. 
• Duus, K.M., and Grose, C. Human herpesvirus 8, blood transfusions, and hemophagocytic syndrome. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 26:287‐279, 2007. 
• Webster‐Cyriaque, J., Duus, K.,Cooper, C., and Duncan, M. Oral EBV and KSHV Infection in HIV. Adv. Dental Res. 19:91‐95, 2006. 
• * Duus, K.M., *Meissner, E.G., Gao, F., Yu, X.‐F., and Su, L. Characterization of a thymus‐tropic HIV‐1 isolate from a rapid progressor: role of the envelope. Virology 328:74‐88, 2004.
  * Contributed equally to publication. 
• Duus, K.M., Lentchitski, V., Waggenar, T., Grose, C., and Webster‐Cyriaque, J. Tropism of wild‐type 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‐1 replication and pathogenesis in the human thymus. Current HIV Research 1:275‐285, 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‐tropism. Journal of Virology 75:8498‐8506, 2001. 
• Duus, K.M., Miller, E.D., Kovalev, G.I., Smith, J.A., and Su, L. Separation of HIV‐1 replication from nef‐mediated pathogenesis in human thymus. Journal of Virology 75:3916‐3924, 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‐zipper domain of HIV‐1 gp41 and p115‐RhoGEF. Current Biology 9:1271‐1274, 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‐1‐infected SCID‐hu Thy/Liv mice: evidence of indirect mechanisms. Journal of Immunology 162:7555‐7562, 1999. 
• Ye, M., Duus, K.M., Peng, J., Price, D.H., and Grose, C. Varicella‐zoster virus Fc receptor component gI is phosphorylated on its endodomain by a cyclin‐dependent kinase. Journal of Virology 73:1320‐1330, 1999. 
• Hatfield, C., Duus, K.M., Jones, D.H., and Grose, C. Epitope mapping and tagging by recombination PCR mutagenesis. BioTechniques 22:332‐337, 1997. 
• Duus, K.M., and Grose, C. Multiple regulatory effects of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) gL on trafficking patterns and fusogenic properties of VZV gH. Journal of Virology 70:8961‐8971, 1996. 
• Duus, K.M., Hatfield, C., and Grose, C. Cell surface expression and fusion by the varicella‐zoster virus gH:gL glycoprotein complex: analysis by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Virology 210:429‐440, 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 151:34‐47, 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 Touro University Nevada 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, 2001‐2002. 
• Toys‐Я‐Us Postdoctoral Fellowship, Irvington Institute for Immunological Research, New York, 1998‐2001. 
• NIH Institutional Postdoctoral Fellowship, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, 1996‐1998. 
• 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