Adjunct Faculty

VMP Adjunct Faculty


Michael Konkel

Michael Konkel

Professor; Senior Associate Director

Open Researcher

Contributor ID


konkel@wsu.edu

 

Contact Information

Office:  Biotechnology/Life Sciences Bldg, Room 447    Phone: 509-335-5039
Lab:   Phone: 509-335-3522    Fax: 509-335-4159

    Research & Interests:

    Improving Human and Animal Health through Understanding of Disease

    Campylobacter species are the most common culture-proven cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, accounting for 400 – 500 million cases of diarrhea each year. In developed countries, particular strains of C. jejuni correlates with a higher incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome, reactive arthritis, and/or post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome. In low- and middle-income countries, C. jejuni infections result in malnourishment and stunted growth (reduced height). Additionally, reports of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter continue to increase and fluoroquinolone-resistant Campylobacter spp. have been added to the World Health Organization priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, studies dissecting the fundamental mechanisms of C. jejuni virulence factors and their contribution to disease in a susceptible host are sparse.

    Dr. Mike Konkel is a professor in the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University. The Konkel research group focuses on the characterization of host-C. jejuni interactions. Biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, and high throughput genomic/proteomic approaches are currently being used to understand the unique virulence factors that contribute to the pathogenesis of this facultative intracellular bacterium. One of our current aims is to identify and dissect the mechanism of cell binding and entry-promoting proteins used by C. jejuni to cause disease. To this extent, we have identified several bacterial adhesins and secreted effector proteins. Dr. Konkel’s research is supported by a grant from the NIH. 

    Model of Mechanism

    Figure:Campylobacter jejuni demonstrates specific binding to host epithelial cells. C. jejuni are stained red, host cell microfilaments are stained green, and cell nuclei are stained blue. Photograph courtesy of Nicholas Negretti and Michael E. Konkel.

     

    Courses Taught

    • MBioS 410: Medical Microbiology
    • MBioS 499: Special Problems

    Graduate Students


    Courtney KlappenbachCourtney Klappenbach 

    Courtney joined the School of Molecular Biosciences in Summer Semester of 2020 as a graduate student in the Konkel laboratory. As an undergraduate student at WSU, she was a member of the Honors College and a member of the Students Targeted toward Advanced Research Studies (STARS) Program. STARS is a fast-track program that allows exceptional students to make a seamless transition to graduate-level courses in their senior year. She joined the Konkel lab as an undergraduate student in Spring 2018, and successfully completed her Honor’s thesis to pass with distinction. She presented her data at the Conference for Research Workers in Animal Disease (CRWAD) in Chicago, IL, in December of 2018. She also presented her work at the 20th Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Related Organisms (CHRO) Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland in September 2019. Courtney received the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program award for the 2019-20 academic year. Courtney graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Cell Biology and Genetics in May 2020.


    Courtney is from Clarkston, WA. When she’s not at the lab, Courtney enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and playing with her kittens Rosie and Franky. After graduation, Courtney wants to pursue a job in industry working on development of translational treatments for cancer and genetic diseases. 
    Courtney’s projects in the lab surround understanding C. jejuni manipulation of the host cell focal adhesion complex and dissecting the role of secreted effector proteins in invasion. She is a co-author of a recent review article published in Frontiers in Microbiology (PMCID: PMC7161372).


    Cody LauritsenCody Lauritsen

    cody.lauritsen@wsu.edu
    Trainee, NIH Protein Biotechnology Training Grant

    Cody received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology and Public Health from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. While attending Wartburg, he conducted research in the laboratory of Dr. Roy Ventullo. Research in the lab looked at how the fermentation of various yeasts and bacteria affects the alcohol content of fermented beverages. The relevance of the work was evident in the fact that the researchers were able to form a partnership with a local brewery to assay the contents of their products.  He was able to present his work at the annual Research, Internship, and Creative Endeavors Day. 

     Cody joined Dr. Konkel's lab in 2020. His current research looks at how the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni is able to invade and survive within a host cell. Outside of the lab, he enjoys reading a good book, especially fantasy-adventure. He also loves to cook and bake for others, hike, and sleep as much as possible.

    Cody grew up outside the small town of Forest City, Iowa. Fun tidbit, that is where Winnebago Motorhomes are made. Growing up on a farm allowed him to get in mischief in the fields and groves, maybe getting in poison ivy once in a while; this is where he found his love of biology. After graduation, Cody wants to pursue a carrier in academics with an emphasis on teaching.
     

     

    Select Publications
    • Nicholas M Negretti, Yinyin Ye, Lais M Malavasi, Swechha M Pokharel, Steven Huynh, Susan Noh, Cassidy L Klima, Christopher R Gourley, Claude A Ragle, Santanu Bose, Torey Looft, Craig T Parker, Geremy Clair, Joshua N Adkins, Michael E Konkel (2020)

      A porcine ligated loop model reveals new insight into the host immune response against Campylobacter jejuni

      Gut Microbes PMID: 32887530 PMCID: PMC7524355
    • Jason M Neal-McKinney, Xiaonan Lu, Tri Duong, Charles L Larson, Douglas R Call, Devendra H Shah, Michael E Konkel (2012)

      Production of organic acids by probiotic lactobacilli can be used to reduce pathogen load in poultry

      PLoS One PMID: 22962594 PMCID: PMC3433458
    • Christopher R Gourley, Nicholas M Negretti, Michael E Konkel (2017)

      The food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni depends on the AddAB DNA repair system to defend against bile in the intestinal environment.

      Scientific Reports Article number: 14777 (2017) PMID: 29089630 PMCID: PMC5665897
    • Mohammed J Hakeem, Jinsong Feng, Azadeh Nilghaz, Luyao Ma, Hwai Chuin Seah, Michael E Konkel, Xiaonan Lu (2020)

      Active Packaging of Immobilized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Controls Campylobacter jejuni in Raw Chicken Meat

      Applied and Environmental Microbiology PMID: 32887715 PMCID:
    • X Lu, A T Weakley, D E Aston, B A Rasco, S Wang, M E Konkel (2012)

      Examination of nanoparticle inactivation of Campylobacter jejuni biofilms using infrared and Raman spectroscopies

      Journal of Applied Microbiology PMID: 22734855 PMCID: PMC3440558
    • Derrick R Samuelson, Michael E Konkel (2014)

      Serine phosphorylation of cortactin is required for maximal host cell invasion by Campylobacter jejuni

      Cell Communication and Signaling Article number 82 PMID: 24188565 PMCID: PMC3832248
    • Nicholas M Negretti, Michael E Konkel (2017)

      Methods to Study Campylobacter jejuni Adherence to and Invasion of Host Epithelial Cells.

      Methods of Molecular Biology Pages 117-127 PMID: 27885603 PMCID:
    • Nicholas M Negretti, Christopher R Gourley, Geremy Clair, Joshua N Adkins, Michael E Konkel (2017)

      The food-borne pathogen Campylobacter jejuni responds to the bile salt deoxycholate with countermeasures to reactive oxygen species.

      Scientific Reports Article number: 15455 (2017) PMID: 29133896 PMCID: PMC5684402
    • Patricio Jeraldo, Maksim Sipos, Nicholas Chia, Jennifer M Brulc, A Singh Dhillon, Michael E Konkel, Charles L Larson, Karen E Nelson, Ani Qu, Lawrence B Schook, Fang Yang, Bryan A White, Nigel Goldenfeld (2012)

      Quantification of the relative roles of niche and neutral processes in structuring gastrointestinal microbiomes

      Proc of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA vol. 109 no. 25 9692-9698 PMID: 22615407 PMCID: PMC3382495
    • Mohammed J Hakeem, Khalid A Asseri, Luyao Ma, Keng C Chou, Michael E Konkel, Xiaonan Lu (2019)

      A Novel Mathematical Model for Studying Antimicrobial Interactions Against Campylobacter jejuni.

      Frontiers in Microbiology PMID: 31139168 PMCID: PMC6527739
    • Jason M Neal-McKinney, Jeffrey E Christensen, Michael E Konkel (2010)

      Amino-terminal residues dictate the export efficiency of the Campylobacter jejuni filament proteins via the flagellum

      Molecualr Microbiology PMID: 20398207 PMCID: PMC2914605
    • Alexandra C Vaughn, Erin M Cooper, Patricia M DiLorenzo, Levi J O'Loughlin, Michael E Konkel, James H Peters, Andras Hajnal, Tanusree Sen, Sun Hye Lee, Claire B de La Serre, Krzysztof Czaja (2017)

      Energy-dense diet triggers changes in gut microbiota, reorganization of gut‑brain vagal communication and increases body fat accumulation.

      Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis Volume 77, Issue 1 PMID: 28379213 PMCID: PMC5382806
    • Jason M Neal-McKinney, Michael E Konkel (2012)

      The Campylobacter jejuni CiaC virulence protein is secreted from the flagellum and delivered to the cytosol of host cells

      Frontiers in Cellular and Infectious Microbiology PMID: 22919623 PMCID: PMC3417660
    • Prabhat K Talukdar, Nicholas M Negretti, Kyrah L Turner, Michael E Konkel (2020)

      Molecular Dissection of the Campylobacter jejuni CadF and FlpA Virulence Proteins in Binding to Host Cell Fibronectin

      Microorganisms Volume 8, Issue 3 PMID: 32168837 PMCID: PMC7143056
    • X Lu, A T Weakley, D E Aston, B A Rasco, S Wang, M E Konkel (2012)

      Examination of nanoparticle inactivation of Campylobacter jejuni biofilms using infrared and Raman spectroscopies

      Journal of Applied Microbiology Volume 113, Issue 4 PMID: 22734855 PMCID: PMC3440558
    • Kristin E Burnum-Johnson, Jennifer E Kyle, Amie J Eisfeld, Cameron P Casey, Kelly G Stratton, Juan F Gonzalez, Fabien Habyarimana, Nicholas M Negretti, Amy C Sims, Sadhana Chauhan, Larissa B Thackray, Peter J Halfmann, Kevin B Walters, Young-Mo Kim, Erika M Zink, Carrie D Nicora, Karl K Weitz, Bobbie-Jo M Webb-Robertson, Ernesto S Nakayasu, Brian Ahmer, Michael E Konkel, Vladimir Motin, Ralph S Baric, Michael S Diamond, Yoshihiro Kawaoka, Katrina M Waters, Richard D Smith, Thomas O Metz (2017)

      MPLEx: a method for simultaneous pathogen inactivation and extraction of samples for multi-omics profiling.

      The Analyst Issue 3 PMID: 28091625 PMCID: PMC5283721
    • Jason L O'Loughlin, Tyson P Eucker, Juan D Chavez, Derrick R Samuelson, Jason Neal-McKinney, Christopher R Gourley, James E Bruce, Michael E Konkel (2015)

      Analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni genome by SMRT DNA sequencing identifies restriction-modification motifs.

      PLoS One PMID: 25695747 PMCID: PMC4335053
    • Jinsong Feng, Lina Ma, Jiatong Nie, Michael E Konkel, Xiaonan Lu (2018)

      Environmental Stress-Induced Bacterial Lysis and Extracellular DNA Release Contribute to Campylobacter jejuni Biofilm Formation

      Applied and Environmental Microbiology PMID: 29269493 PMCID: PMC5812928
    • Neal-McKinney JM, Samuelson DR, Eucker TP, Nissen MS, Crespo R, Konkel ME. (2014) Reducing Campylobacter jejuni colonization of poultry via vaccination. PLoS One PMID: 25474206 PMCID: PMC4256221
    • Maksim Sipos, Patricio Jeraldo, Nicholas Chia, Ani Qu, A Singh Dhillon, Michael E Konkel, Karen E Nelson, Bryan A White, Nigel Goldenfeld (2010)

      Robust computational analysis of rRNA hypervariable tag datasets

      PLoS One PMID: 21217830 PMCID: PMC3013109
    • Charles L Larson, Derrick R Samuelson, Tyson P Eucker, Jason L O'Loughlin, Michael E Konkel (2013)

      The fibronectin-binding motif within FlpA facilitates Campylobacter jejuni adherence to host cell and activation of host cell signaling

      Emerging Microbes & Infections PMID: 26038437 PMCID: PMC3826066
    • Rui Xue, Jinsong Feng, Lina Ma, Chunrong Liu, Ming Xian, Michael E Konkel, Shuo Wang, Xiaonan Lu (2018)

      Whole Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis of the Synergistic Antimicrobial Effect of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Ajoene on Campylobacter jejuni.

      Frontiers in Microbiology PMID: 30233546 PMCID: PMC6127312
    • Xiaonan Lu, Derrick R Samuelson, Barbara A Rasco, Michael E Konkel (2012)

      Antimicrobial effect of diallyl sulphide on Campylobacter jejuni biofilms.

      Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Volume 67, Issue 8, Pages 1915–1926 PMID: 22550133 PMCID: PMC3394439
    • Michael E Konkel, Prabhat K Talukdar, Nicholas M Negretti, Courtney M Klappenbach (2020)

      Taking Control: Campylobacter jejuni Binding to Fibronectin Sets the Stage for Cellular Adherence and Invasion.

      Frontiers in Microbiology PMID: 32328046 PMCID: PMC7161372
    • Tyson P Eucker, Derrick R Samuelson, Mary Hunzicker-Dunn, Michael E Konkel (2014)

      The focal complex of epithelial cells provides a signalling platform for interleukin-8 induction in response to bacterial pathogens

      Cellular Microbiology Volume 16, Issue 9 PMID: 24779413 PMCID: PMC4146656
    • Xiaonan Lu, Barbara A Rasco, Dong Hyun Kang, Jamie M F Jabal, D Eric Aston, Michael E Konkel (2011)

      Infrared and Raman spectroscopic studies of the antimicrobial effects of garlic concentrates and diallyl constituents on foodborne pathogens

      Analytical Chemistry PMID: 21553849 PMCID: PMC3433400
    • T P Riley, J M Neal-McKinney, D R Buelow, M E Konkel, S M Simasko (2013)

      Capsaicin-sensitive vagal afferent neurons contribute to the detection of pathogenic bacterial colonization in the gut

      Journal of Neuroimmunology Volume 257, Issues 1-2, Pages 36-45 PMID: 23481698 PMCID: PMC4188534
    • Nicholas M Negretti, Geremy Clair, Prabhat K Talukdar, Christopher R Gourley, Steven Huynh, Joshua N Adkins, Craig T Parker, Colby M Corneau, Michael E Konkel (2019)

      Campylobacter jejuni Demonstrates Conserved Proteomic and Transcriptomic Responses When Co-cultured With Human INT 407 and Caco-2 Epithelial Cells.

      Frontiers in Microbiology PMID: 31031730 PMCID: PMC6470190
    • O'Loughlin JL, Samuelson DR, Braundmeier-Fleming AG, White BA, Haldorson GJ, Stone JB, Lessmann JJ, Eucker TP, Konkel ME (2015)

      The Intestinal Microbiota Influences Campylobacter jejuni Colonization and Extraintestinal Dissemination in Mice.

      Applied Environmental Microbiology PMID: 25934624 PMCID: PMC4551207
    • Konkel ME, Samuelson DR, Eucker TP, Shelden EA, O'Loughlin JL. (2013)

      Invasion of epithelial cells by Campylobacter jejuni is independent of caveolae.

      Cell Communication and Signaling Article number: 100 (2013) PMID: 24144181 PMCID: PMC3880046

    External Adjunct Faculty

    Aguilar-Carreno, Hector
    Altermatt, Elizabeth Ann
    Baldwin, Thomas James
    Bimczok, Diane
    Brown, Gary Robert
    Burdette, Michael John
    Cassirer, Elizabeth Frances
    Charles, Elizabeth Marianne
    Cinar, Mehmet Ulas
    Dark, Michael James
    Diaz-Campos, Dubraska V
    Frandle, Kyle A
    Gamer, Michael M

    Gilbertsen, Aaron Michael
    Gomes da Silva, Marta
    Gowen, Brian B
    Hardy, Michele
    Heiser, Brian Pierre
    Hylin, Jennifer Marie
    Keiser, Stith
    Nene, Vishvanath
    Nguyen, Angela Chau
    Pence, Suzanne Hawkins
    Plowright, Raina K
    Quist, Charlotte F
    Rood, Kerry A

     

    Stone, Diana Margaret
    Tarbet, Ernest Bart
    Taus, Naomi
    Taylor, Sandra Dawn
    Thomas, Samantha Jean
    Trueblood, Esther S
    Trullinger, Elisa Hall
    Van Wettere, Arnaud
    Vandyke, Peter Rients
    Vellutini, Peter George
    Viall, Austin Keith
    Wills, Tamara Beth
    Wolley, Nichole Ann