Laura Kakkola profile picture
Laura
Kakkola
Docent, Institute of Biomedicine
Laboratory Manager, Institute of Biomedicine
Adjunct Professor, Bioturvapäällikkö/Biosafety Officer

Contact

+358 29 450 4555
+358 46 921 4211
Kiinamyllynkatu 10
20520
Turku

Links

ORCID

Areas of expertise

virology
immunology
infection
zoonoses
biosafety

Biography

I am a researcher with the cell biologist's background interested in intra-cellular events on infection, immunological responses (innate and adaptive), effect of host genetics in infectious diseases, and viruses' counteractions on these - including emerging pathogens, virus surveillance and diagnostics. I act as a Biosafety Officer at the Institute of Biomedicine and my responsibilities are to coordinate, supervise and educate laboratory work with infectious pathogens (viruses and bacteria). I am a Laboratory Manager in the Research Center Infections and Immunity, I teach on university courses, supervise MSc and PhD students, and conduct independent research.

Teaching

I have taken the course on Medical pedagogics. I am co-supervising MSc and PhD students, and am a member of thesis committees for PhD students. I have given lectures and taught on laboratory courses at the university level.

Research

My research interests are on virus-host interactions, how viruses interfere with immune responses, and could these events be utilized in vaccine, antiviral drug or diagnostic test development. At the moment I am working with coronaviruses, influenza viruses, filoviruses and flaviviruses.

Publications

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Comparative analysis of COVID-19 vaccine responses and third booster dose-induced neutralizing antibodies against Delta and Omicron variants (2022)

Nature Communications
Belik M, Jalkanen P, Lundberg R, Reinholm A, Laine L, Väisänen E, Skön M, Tähtinen PA, Ivaska L, Pakkanen SH, Häkkinen HK, Ortamo E, Pasternack A, Ritvos MA, Naves RA, Miettinen S, Sironen T, Vapalahti O, Ritvos O, Österlund P, Kantele A, Lempainen J, Kakkola L, Kolehmainen P, Julkunen I
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

A Combination of N and S Antigens With IgA and IgG Measurement Strengthens the Accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 Serodiagnostics (2021)

Journal of Infectious Diseases
Jalkanen P, Pasternack A, Maljanen S, Melén K, Kolehmainen P, Huttunen M, Lundberg R, Tripathi L, Khan H, Ritvos MA, Naves R, Haveri A, Österlund P, Kuivanen S, Jääskeläinen AJ, Kurkela S, Lappalainen M, Rantasärkkä K, Vuorinen T, Hytönen J, Waris M, Tauriainen S, Ritvos O, Kakkola L, Julkunen I
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

COVID-19 mRNA vaccine induced antibody responses against three SARS-CoV-2 variants (2021)

Nature Communications
Jalkanen Pinja, Kolehmainen Pekka, Häkkinen Hanni K., Huttunen Moona, Tähtinen Paula A., Lundberg Rickard, Maljanen Sari, Reinholm Arttu, Tauriainen Sisko, Pakkanen Sari H., Levonen Iris, Nousiainen Arttu, Miller Taru, Välimaa Hanna, Ivaska Lauri, Pasternack Arja, Naves Rauno, Ritvos Olli, Österlund Pamela, Kuivanen Suvi, Smura Teemu, Hepojoki Jussi, Vapalahti Olli, Lempainen Johanna, Kakkola Laura, Kantele Anu, Julkunen Ilkka
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))
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