Areas of expertise
Biography
High school graduation 1987, Licentiate of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland 1996, Doctor of Medical Sciences (MD, PhD), University of Turku 2003, Specialist in Clinical Microbiology 2007, Docent in Medical Microbiology, University of Turku 2011, Special Competence in Medical Education 2015.
Various research and teaching positions, University of Turku 1996–2012
Academy Research Fellow, University of Turku 2012-2017
Associate professor of bacteriology (tenure track), University of Turku 1.9.2017-31.8.2022
Teaching
Bacteriology; Infectious diseases laboratory diagnostics; Lyme borreliosis; Vector-borne infections; Tick-borne infections
Research
My project focuses on Lyme borreliosis (LB) and other tick borne infections and addresses the following questions: Pathogenesis of LB and the role of borrelia adhesins in the process. Molecular and cellular events in the pathogenesis of Lyme neuroborreliosis. Development of novel diagnostic tools for LB. Development of PET/CT imaging of LB. Antibiotic treatment of LB. Prevalence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Finland. Epidemiology of LB and other borrelioses in Finland.