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

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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Molecular evolution and epidemiology of echovirus 6 in Finland (2013)

Infection, Genetics and Evolution
Smura T, Kakkola L, Blomqvist S, Klemola P, Parsons A, Kallio-Kokko H, Savolainen-Kopra C, Kainov DE, Roivainen M
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Genoprevalence in human tissues of TT-virus genotype 6. (2004)

Archives of Virology
Kakkola L, Kaipio N, Hokynar K, Puolakkainen P, Mattila PS, Kokkola A, Partio EK, Eis-Hübinger AM, Söderlund-Venermo M, Hedman K
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))