Kevin Vannella, Ph.D.
e-mail address: kvannell@umich.edu

Mentor: Bethany Moore, Ph.D.

Techniques Used:

Research Description:

I study the pathogenesis of fibrotic lung disease. I am currently investigating a role for viruses as cofactors or exacerbating agents of fibrosis with particular attention to the involvement of fibrocytes, chemokines, and eicosanoids.


Publications:

Hsu, J. L., S.B. Rho, K.M. Vannella, S.A. Martinis. 2006. Functional divergence of a unique c-terminal domain of leucyl-tRNA synthetase to accommodate its splicing and aminoacylation roles. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 23075-23082.

Vannella, K.M. , T.R. McMillan, R.P. Charbeneau, C.A. Wilke, P.E. Thomas, G.B. Toews, M. Peters-Golden, B.B. Moore. 2007. Cysteinyl leukotrienes are autocrine and paracrine regulators of fibrocyte function. J. Immunology. 179, 7883-7890.

McMillan, T.R., B.B. Moore, J.B. Weinberg, K.M. Vannella, W.B. Fields, P.J. Christensen, L.F. van Dyk, G.B. Toews,. 2008. Exacerbation of established pulmonary fibrosis in a murine model by gammaherpesvirus. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 177, 771-80.

Vannella, K.M., B.B. Moore. 2008. Viruses as co-factors for the initiation or exacerbation of lung fibrosis. Fibrogenesis and Tissue Repair. 1,2.

Honors and Awards:

Herman and Dorothy Miller Fund Award

Monte V. Hobbs Immunology Student Award