Curriculum Vitae
Karen R. Wasiluk, Ph.D.

Professional Address
Education
Academic Appointments
Professional Societies
Academic Awards
Committees and Appointments
Extramural Funding
Published Manuscripts
Ph.D. Thesis
Published Abstracts

PROFESSIONAL ADDRESS:

Department of Surgery
University of Minnesota
Mayo Mail Code 195
420 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

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EDUCATION:

B.A. Biology, Chemistry, Honors in Biology, 1984
Hamline University
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Ph.D. Microbiology, 1991
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN

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ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS:

Research Associate of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, 1992-1995
Research Associate/Assistant Professor of Surgery 1996-Present
Associate Member, Graduate Faculty in Surgery 1999-Present
Full Member, Graduate Faculty in Surgery, 2002-present

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PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

Surgical Infection Society, 2004-present

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ACADEMIC AWARDS:

1980-1984    National Merit Scholarship
1980-1984    Presidential Scholarship
1983 -           Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society
1983 -           Kappa Phi Honorary Society
1983  -          Beta Beta Beta Honorary Society
1984 -           Walter Alexander Kenyon Award
1984-1985    Graduate School Fellowship
1987-1989    Noble Foundation Fellowship
2005 -           New Member Award, Surgical Infection Society

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COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS:

Health Sciences Policy and Review Committee of the Graduate School, 2000-2002t
Chair: New Course Proposal Sub-committee, 2000-2002
Surgical Sciences Committee of the Department of Surgery, 2000-Present

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EXTRAMURAL GRANT SUPPORT:

Previously funded projects

Minnesota Medical Foundation Research Grant "Peptide LPS antagonists in gram-negative bacterial sepsis" SMF-1038097, Principal Investigator, 1997-1998.

National Institutes of Health Public Health Service Grant Mechanisms of immunotherapeutic protection during gram-negative bacterial sepsis R101 GM 32414 (Co-investigator 1999-2003) Principal Investigator, David L. Dunn, M.D., Ph.D., 1986-2003

Minnesota Medical Foundation Research Grant "Recombinant LPS Antagonists in Gram-negative Bacterial Sepsis" EGMSi Award 20009635-A01, Principal Investigator, 2003-2004.

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PUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS:

*indicates refereed journal publication

1. Meryhew, NL, Messner RP, Wasiluk KR, Runquist OA. Assessment of mononuclear phagocytic system function by clearance of anti-D sensitized erythrocytes: The role of complement. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 105: 277-281, 1985.

*2. Wasiluk, KR. Skubitz KM, Gray BH. Comparison of granule proteins from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes which are bactericidal toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Infect. Immun. 59: 4193-4200, 1991.

*3. Wasiluk KR, Fulcher RG, Jones RJ, Gengenbach BG. Characterization of starch granules in maize using microspectrophotometry. Starch/Starke 46: 369-373, 1994.

*4. Uknis ME, Wasiluk KR, Acton RD, Klaerner HG, Dahlberg PS, Ilyina EE, Haseman JR, Gray BH, Mayo KH, Dunn DL. Design of a potent novel endotoxin antagonist. Surgery 122: 380-385, 1997.

*5 Kellogg TA, Weiss III CA, Johnston JW, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Anti-endotoxin agents share molecular homology within their LPS binding domains. J. Surg. Res 85:136-141, 1999.

6. Weiss III CA, Wasiluk KR, Kellogg TA, Gray BH, Mayo KH, Dunn DL. "Designer" peptides derived from bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) recapitulate its endotoxin binding region. Surg Forum L:217-219, 1999.

7. Kellogg TA, Johnston JW, Weiss III CA, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Use of genetic engineering to create a potent single chain Fv endotoxin antagonist. Surg Forum L:226-228, 1999.

*8. Weiss CA 3rd. Wasiluk KR. Kellogg TA. Dunn DL. Bactericidal and endotoxin neutralizing activity of a peptide derived from Limulus antilipopolysaccharide factor. Surgery 128:339-44, 2000.

*9. Kellogg TA, Lazaron V, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Binding specificity of polymyxin B, BPI, LALF, and anti-deep core/lipid A monoclonal antibody to lipopolysaccharide partial structures. Shock 15:124-129, 2001.

10. Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Inhibition of proinflammatory response to endotoxin by peptides from the extracellular domain of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Surgical Forum LII:196-198, 2001.

*11.Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Accelerated internalization and detoxification of endotoxin by anti-LPS antibody is a Fc-receptor-mediated process. Surgery 130:192-197, 2001.

*12. Wasiluk KR, Leslie DB, Vietzen PS, Dunn DL. Structure/function studies of an endotoxin-neutralizing peptide derived from bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein. Surgery 136:253-260, 2004.

*13. Fiorini RN, Shafizadeh SF, Polito C, Rodwell DW, Cheng G, Evans Z, Wan C, Belden S, Haines JK, Birsner J, Lewin D, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL, Schmidt MG, Chavin KD. Anti-endotoxin monoclonal antibodies are protective against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in steatotic mice. Am J Transplant 4:1567-1573, 2004.

*14. Leslie DB, Vietzen PS, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Cyclization of a peptide based in the LPS-Binding domain of LALF reduces LPS neutralization and bactericidal activity. Surgical Infections. Accepted for publication.

*15. Wasiluk KR, McCulloch KA, Banton KL, Dunn DL. Sp1 elements regulate transcriptional activity within the murine toll-like receptor 4 promoter. Surgical Infections. Accepted for publication.

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PH.D. THESIS:

Wasiluk, KR. Killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas cepacia by bactericidal proteins isolated from the cytoplasmic granules of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, 1991.

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PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS:

*indicates poster presentation

1. Wasiluk KR. Bactericidal proteins of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The Samuel J. Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma. October 1988.

2. Wasiluk KR, Jones RJ, Fulcher RG, Gengenbach. Characterization of proteins associated with starch granules in maize. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, November 1993, Cincinnati, OH.

3. Wasiluk KR, RJ Jones, Fulcher RG, Gengenbach BG. Annual Progress Report. Annual Meeting NC-142 “Regulation of Photosynthesis”. February 1995.

4. Wasiluk KR, Jones RJ, Fulcher RG, Gengenbach BG. Characterization of starch granules in maize. American Society of Plant Physiologists. May 1995, Seattle, WA.

5. Uknis ME, Acton RD, Klaerner HG, Dahlberg PS, Haseman JR, Wasiluk KR, Ilyina EE, Gray BH, Mayo KH, Dunn DL. Design of a potent novel endotoxin antagonist. 57th Annual Meeting of the Society of University Surgeons, p. 50. February 13-15, 1997, Tampa, FL.

6. Klaerner HG, Acton RD, Dahlberg PS, Uknis ME, Johnston JW, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Macrophages expressing a single-chain Fv of an anti-deep core/Lipid A monoclonal antibody are resistant to endotoxin. 17th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, p. 65. May 1-3, 1997, Pittsburgh, PA.

*7. Klaerner HG, Acton RD, Uknis ME, Dahlberg PS, Johnston JW, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Mechanisms of binding of endotoxin antagonists. 17th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, p. 82. May 1-3, 1997, Pittsburgh, PA.

*8. Kellogg TA, Weiss CA, Johnston JW, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Characterization of a monoclonal antibody which mimics the toxic lipid A region of lipopolysaccharide. 18th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society. p.100. April 30-May 2, 1998, New York, NY.

9. Kellogg TA, Johnston JW, Weiss III CA, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Anti-endotoxin (LPS) agents demonstrate molecular homology within their LPS binding domains. 32nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Academic Surgery, p. 138. November 19-22, 1998, Seattle, WA.

10. Weiss C, Wasiluk K, Kellogg T, Dunn D. Localization of bactericidal and endotoxin neutralizing activity to a common determinant of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI). 4th International Shock Congress and 22nd Annual Conference on Shock, June 12-15, Philadelphia, PA, Shock 11(Supplement):52, 1999.

11. Weiss III CA, Wasiluk KR, Kellogg TA, Dunn DL. A peptide from the active domain of Limulus anti-LPS factor (LALF) has potent bactericidal and LPS-neutralizing biological activity. 61st Annual Meeting of the Society of University Surgeons, p. 77, February 9-12, 2000, Toronto, Canada.

*12. Kellogg TA, Lazaron V, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Endotoxin antagonists exhibit differential epitope binding. 20th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, p. 92. April 27-29, 2000. Providence, RI.

*13 Lazaron V, Wasiluk K, Weiss C, Kellogg T, Mayo K, Dunn DL. Sequence and structural requirements for anti-endotoxin activity in synthetic peptides. 20th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, p. 96, April 27-29, 2000, Providence, RI.

*14. Lazaron V, Wasiluk K, Kellogg T, Dunn DL. Endotoxin antagonists of different classes alter macrophage uptake of lipopolysaccharide in disparate manners. 34th Annual Meeting of the Association for Academic Surgery, P70, November 2-4, 2000, Tampa, FL, JSR 93:375, 2000.

15. Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Internalization and detoxification of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by anti-LPS antibody is a Fc receptor-mediated process. 62nd Annual Meeting of The Society of University Surgeons, p. 60, February 7-10, 2001, Chicago, IL.

16. Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Serum transferrin is a cofactor for macrophage activation via cell-surface binding of lipopolysaccharide. 21st Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, p.56, May 3-5, 2001, Snowbird, UT.

17. Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Anti-endotoxin antibodies enhance binding and uptake of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by hepatocytes. 21st Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, p.82, May 3-5, 2001, Snowbird, UT.

18. Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Localisation and inhibition of pro-inflammatory response to endotoxin by peptides from the extra-cellular domain of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), p. 41, 22d Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, 15th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society-Europe, May 2-4, 2002, Madrid, Spain.

19. Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Inhibition of pro-inflammatory response to endotoxin by peptides from the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-associated protein, MD2, is LBP-dependent. J. Am. Coll. Surg. 195:S81, 2002.

20. Leslie DB, Lazaron V, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Charge- and sequence-specific characteristics of the endotoxin-binding domain of LALF are critical to bactericidal activity. 36th Annual Meeting of the Association for Academic Surgery, November 7-9, 2002, Boston, MA. JSR 107:274, 2002.

*21. Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. LBP catalyzes the inflammatory response to endotoxin via distinct domains within the LBP-carboxyl domain. 36th Annual Meeting of the Association for Academic Surgery, November 7-9, 2002, Boston, MA. JSR 107:322, 2002.

22. Leslie DB, Vietzen PS, Wasiluk KR, Dunn DL. Cyclization of a peptide based in the LPS-Binding domain of LALF reduces LPS neutralization and bactericidal activity. 23rd Annual meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, p 68, April 10-12, 2003, San Antonio, TX.

23. Leslie DB, Vietzen PS, Lazaron VL, Wasiluk, KR, Dunn DL. Molecular characteristics of the endotoxin-binding domain of LALF. 2003. J Am Coll Surg 197:S33-4.

24. Wasiluk KR, Leslie DB, Vietzen PS, Dunn DL. Enhanced Endotoxin binding of a bioengineered single chain Fv (scFv) monoclonal antibody (mAb). 2003. J Am Coll Surg 197: S41.

*25. Vietzen PS, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Lazaron V, Dunn DL. Addition of positive charge augments the anti-endotoxin properties of LALF-based peptides. 37th Annual Meeting of the Association for Academic Surgery, P43, November 13-15, 2003, Sacramento, CA. JSR 114:286-287, 2003.

*26. Lazaron V, Leslie DB, Wasiluk KR, Vietzen PS, Dunn DL. Molecular anatomy of the pro-inflammatory catalytic activity of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP). 37th Annual Meeting of the Association for Academic Surgery, P52, November 13-15, 2003, Sacramento, CA. JSR 114:289-290, 2003.

27. Wasiluk KR, Leslie DB, Vietzen PS, Mayo KH, Dunn DL. Structure/function studies of an endotoxin-neutralizing peptide derived from bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein. 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for University Surgeons, p. 127, February 11-14, 2004, St. Louis, MO.

28. Wasiluk KR, McCulloch KA, Leslie DB, Vietzen PS, Dunn DL. Localization of transcriptional regulatory elements unresponsive to LPS within the TLR4 promoter. 24th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, April 29-May 1, 2004, Indianapolis, IN.

*29. Wasiluk KR, Leslie DB, Vietzen PS, Dunn DL. Design of a second-generation novel endotoxin antagonist. 24th Annual Meeting of the Surgical Infection Society, April 29-May 1, 2004, Indianapolis, IN.

30. Vietzen P, Leslie D, Lazaron V, Wasiluk K, Dunn DL. The carboxyl terminus of TIRAP is critical to MyD88-dependent TLR-4 signaling. 2004. J Am Coll Surg 199: S41.

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