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Kansas State University

Associate Dean for Research

 

Dr. Frank Blecha

 

 

Frank Blecha, PhD

University Distinguished Professor
Associate Dean for Research

Phone (785) 532-4537
e-mail blecha@vet.k-state.edu

 

 

 

 

Responsibilities

  • Work with K-State College of Veterinary Medicine faculty and trainees to develop and sustain programs that are regionally relevant and internationally recognized.

  • Support the independent and collaborative research efforts of College faculty and trainees

  • Advance the research capabilities and reputation of the College through interactions with industry, government and commodity groups

  • Enhance graduate and post-doctoral training opportunities at the College

 

Degrees:

B.S.    University of Idaho, 1971
M.S.    University of Idaho, 1977
Ph.D.  Washington State University, 1981

 

Memberships:

American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association of Immunologists
American Association of Veterinary Immunologists
American College of Veterinary Microbiologists
American Society of Animal Science
Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases
Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine
Society for Leukocyte Biology

 

Selected Publications:

Sang, Y., R.R. Rowland, R.A. Hesse, and F. Blecha.  2010.  Differential expression and activity of the porcine type I interferon family.  Physiol. Genomics.  42:248-258.

Sang, Y., P. Ruchala, R.I. Lehrer, C.R. Ross, R.R.R. Rowland, and F. Blecha. 2009. Antimicrobial host defense peptides in an arteriviral infection: differential peptide expression and virus inactivation. Viral Immunol. 22:235-242.

Sang, Y. and F. Blecha. 2009. Porcine host defense peptides: expanding repertoire and functions. Dev. Comp. Immunol. 33:334-343.

Linde, A.., C. Ross, E.G. Davis, L. Dib, F. Blecha, and T. Melgarejo. 2008. Innate immunity and host defense peptides in veterinary medicine. J. Vet. Internal Med. 22:247-265.

Sang, Y., B. Ramanathan, C.R. Ross, and F. Blecha. 2005. Gene silencing and overexpression of porcine peptidoglycan recognition protein long isoforms: involvement in β-defensin-1 expression. Infect. Immun. 73:7133-7141.

Sang, Y., M.T. Ortega, F. Blecha, O. Prakash, and T. Melgarejo. 2005. Molecular cloning and characterization of three β-defensins from canine testis. Infect. Immun. 73:2611-2620.

Wu, H., Ross C., and Blecha F. Characterization of an upstream open reading frame in the 5' untranslated region of PR-39, a cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide. Mol. Immunol. 39:9-18, 2002.

Kenney, M.J., F. Blecha, D.A. Morgan, and R.J. Fels. Interleukin-1 beta alters brown adipose tissue but not renal sympathetic nerve responses to hypothermia. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ Physiol. 281:H2441-H2445, 2001.

Blecha, F. Immunology. In: Biology of the Domestic Pig, ( W.G. Pond and H.J. Mersmann, Eds.),pp. 688-711, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 2001.

Korthuis, R.J., D.C. Gute, F. Blecha, and C. Ross. PR-39, a proline/arginine-rich antimicrobial peptide prevents postischemic microvascular dysfunction. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Heart Circ. Physiol. 46): H1007-H1013, 1999.

Zhang, G., H. Hiraiwa, H. Yasue, H. Wu, C.R. Ross, D.Troyer, and F. Blecha. Cloning and characterization of the gene for a new epithelial β-defensin: genomic structure, chromosomal localization, and evidence for its constitutive expression. J. Biol. Chem. 274:24031-24037, 1999.

Shi, J., C.R. Ross, T.L. Leto, and F. Blecha. PR-39, a proline-rich antibacterial peptide that inhibits phagocyte NADPH oxidase activity by binding to Src homology 3 domains of p47phox. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:6014-6018, 1996.