Vjollca Konjufca | Microbiology | SIU

Home
Southern Illinois University

CONTACT

SIU.EDU

College of Agriculture, Life and Physical Sciences

Vjollca Konjufca

Professor

Vjollca Konjufca

Life Science III 1012
Phone: 618-453-8161
Fax: 618-453-8036
E‑mail: vjollca@micro.siu.edu

Research Specialties: Immunology and Host-Pathogen Interactions.

Education:

PhD, 2002, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Courses Taught:

MICR 301: Principles of Microbiology
MICR/MBMB 453: Immunology
MICR/MBMB 481: Diagnostic and Applied Microbiology Laboratory
MBMB 551: Advanced Immunology

Publications:

Articles in Professional Journals

  • Shillova N, Howe SE, Hyseni B, Ridgell D, Fisher DJ, Konjufca V. 2020. Chlamydia-specific IgA secretion in the female reproductive tract induced via per-oral immunization confers protection against primary Chlamydia challenge. Infect Immun. 2020 Nov 2:IAI.00413-20. doi: 10.1128/IAI.00413-20. PMID: 33139380. Link
  • Talluri B, Amar K, Saul M, Shireen T, Konjufca V, Ma J, Ha T, Chowdhury, F. 2020. COL2A1 Is a Novel Biomarker of Melanoma Tumor Repopulating Cells. Biomedicines 2020, 8(9), 360. Link
  • Howe SE, Shillova N, Konjufca V. 2019 Dissemination of Chlamydia from the reproductive tract to the gastro-intestinal tract occurs in stages and relies on Chlamydia transport by host cells. PLoS Pathog 15(12): e1008207. Link 
  • Jenkins MC, Stevens L, O'Brien C, Parkera C, Miskac K, Konjufca V. 2018. Incorporation of a recombinant Eimeria maxima IMP1 antigen into nanoparticles confers protective immunity against E. Maxima challenge infection. Vaccine 36(8): 1126–1131. Link
  • Abrams JS, Howe SE, Becerra N, Kohli P, Konjufca V. 2016. Immunogenicity of Antigen-Conjugated Biodegradable Polydiacetylene Liposomes Administered Mucosally. Biomed Mater Res A. Oct 17. doi: 10.1002/jbm.a.35938. PubMed link
  • Howe SE, Sowa G, Konjufca V. 2016. Systemic and Mucosal Antibody Responses to Soluble and Nanoparticle-Conjugated Antigens Administered Intranasally. Antibodies, 5(4), 20; doi:10.3390/antib5040020. Link
  • Sopjani, M., Konjufca, V., Rinnerthaler, M., Rexhepaj, R., and Dërmaku-Sopjan, M. 2016. The relevance of JAK2 in the regulation of cellular transport. Curr Med Chem. 23(6):578-88. PubMed link
  • Rosche KL, Aljasham AT, Kipfer JN, Piatkowski BT, Konjufca V 2015.  Infection with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Leads to Increased Proportions of F4/80+ Red Pulp Macrophages and Decreased Proportions of B and T Lymphocytes in the Spleen. PLoS ONE 10(6): e0130092. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0130092 Link
  • Howe SE, Konjufca VH 2015. Per-Oral Immunization with Antigen-Conjugated Nanoparticles followed by Sub-Cutaneous Boosting Immunization Induces Long-Lasting Mucosal and Systemic Antibody Responses in Mice. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0118067. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0118067 Link
  • Howe SE, Konjufca VH. 2014. Protein-Coated Nanoparticles Are Internalized by the Epithelial Cells of the Female Reproductive Tract and Induce Systemic and Mucosal Immune Responses. PLoS ONE 9(12): e114601. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114601 Link
  • Howe, S.E., Lickteig, D.J., Plunkett, K.N., Ryerse, J.S. and Konjufca, V. 2014. The uptake of soluble and particulate antigens by epithelial cells in the mouse small intestine. PLoS ONE 9(1): e86656. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086656. Link
  • McDole, J.R., Wheeler, L.W., McDonald, K.G., Wang, B., Konjufca, V., Knoop, K.A., Newberry, R.D. and Miller , M.J. 2012. Goblet cells deliver luminal antigen to CD103(+) dendritic cells in the small intestine. Nature 483:345-349. PubMed link
  • Sathaliyawala, T., O'Gorman, W.E., Greter, M., Bogunovic, M., Konjufca, V., Hou, Z.E., Nolan, G.P., Miller, M.J., Merad, M. and Reizis, B. 2010. Mammalian target of rapamycin controls dendritic cell development downstream of Flt3 ligand signaling. Immunity 33:597-606. PubMed link
  • Erdmann, J. 2009. Immunology: Lights, camera, infection. Nature 460:568-570.PubMed link
  • Konjufca, V. and Miller, M.J. 2009. Imaging Listeria monocytogenes infection in vivo. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 334:199-226. PubMed link
  • Konjufca, V. and Miller, M.J. 2009. Two-photon microscopy of host-pathogen interactions: acquiring a dynamic picture of infection in vivo. Cell. Micro. 11(4):551-559. PubMed link
  • Aoshi, T., Carrero, J.A., Konjufca, V., Koide, Y., Unanue, R.E. and Miller, M.J. 2009. The cellular niche of Listeria monocytogenes infection changes rapidly in the spleen. E. J. Immunol. 39:417-425. PubMed link
  • Konjufca, V., Jenkins, M., Wang, S., Juarez-Rodriguez, M.D. and Curtiss, R. III. 2008. Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine expressing the SO7 antigen of Eimeria tenella. Infect. Immun. 76(12):5745-5753. PubMed link
  • Aoshi, T., Zinselmeyer, B.H., Konjufca, V., Lynch, J.N., Zhang, X., Koide Y. and Miller, M.J. 2008. Bacterial entry to the splenic white pulp initiates antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Immunity 29:476-486. PubMed link
  • Smith, J.N., Dyszel, J.L., Soares, J.A., Ellermeier, C.D., Altier, C., Lawhon, S.D., Adams, L.G., Konjufca, V., Curtiss, R. III, Slauch, J.M. and Ahmer, B.M.M. 2008. SdiA, an N-Acylhomoserine lactone receptor, becomes active during the transit of Salmonella enterica through the gastrointestinal tract of turtles. PLoS ONE. 3 (7):e2826. PubMed link
  • Curtiss, R. III., Zhang, X., Wanda, S.Y., Kang, H.Y., Konjufca, V., Li, Y., Gunn, B., Wang, S., Scarpellini, G. and Lee, I.S. 2007. Induction of host immune responses using Salmonella-vectored vaccines, p. 297-313. In K. A. Brogden, F. C. Minion, N. Cornick, T. B. Stanton, Q. Zhang, L. K. Nolan, and M. J. Wannemuehler (eds.). Virulence Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogens, 4th ed., ASM Press, Washington, D.C.
  • Konjufca, V., Wanda, S., Jenkins, M. and Curtiss, R. III. 2006. A Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Vaccine encoding Eimeria acervulina antigen offers protection against E. acervulina challenge. Infect. Immun. 74(12):6785-6796. PubMed link
Link to googlescholar for a full list of pubs.