Melinda Wilkerson BS 1981, SW Missouri St. U. MS 1989, U. of Missouri DVM 1989, U. of Missouri PhD 1994, Washington State U. Diplomate ACVP Associate Professor Phone: (785)532-4818 Fax: (785)532-4039 Email: wilkersn@vet.k-state.edu

Research

My laboratory is interested in the development and implementation of immunological assays to measure memory or recall responses in multiple species to vaccine antigens. We focus on non-radioactive assays to measure proliferation of memory lymphocytes to specific antigens.


One of our recent projects was characterization of the immunomodulatory and anti-hemostatic properties of stable fly salivary gland proteins in the bovine. The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), is an economically important pest affecting the health of livestock. Blood-feeding arthropods have adapted to their hosts by secreting a pharmacological armory of salivary proteins at the time of feeding that counter host defenses, including pain-itch responses, hemostasis, and immune responses. Recently, we demonstrated suppressive properties of salivary gland extract of Stomoxys calcitrans on mitogen driven-bovine lymphocyte responses (Link to PDF). In collaboration with others, we are in the process of identifying the immunosuppressive and anti-hemostatic function of two recombinant proteins generated from a cDNA library of stable fly saliva. The recombinant proteins are homologous to Antigen 5 of the tsetse fly (immunodominant protein reactive with cattle serum) and to thrombostasin of the hornfly. Future goals are to identify salivary gland proteins that will be good vaccine candidates for the bovine and other species afflicted with stable flies.

The laboratory is currently involved in a multi-center project (funded by American Veterinary Medical Foundation) to investigate adverse reactions and detection of abnormal immune responses to canine vaccines in dogs. This is a multi-center study, a collaborative effort between clinicians at Kansas State University, private practitioners, and researchers at Purdue and Michigan to document evidence of adverse reactions and early indication of immune mediated diseases.

Teaching

I teach classes in the Veterinary curriculum as well as graduate classes in the department. These include Principles in Veterinary Immunology (DMP 705; 3 credit hours), Theory and Applications of Flow Cytometry (DMP 878; 2 credit hour). I am also active in the Veterinary Clinical Pathology Residency training program.

Service

I direct the Clinical Immunology/Flow cytometry laboratory. We offer diagnostic testing services to practitioners at the Clinical Immunology laboratory. New assays  include the platelet surface associated IgG test and the direct immunofluorescent antibody test for red blood cells antibodies. The former has replaced the Platelet factor 3 assay and the latter supplements the manual Coombs’ test. See http://www.vet.ksu.edu/depts/dmp/service/immunology/index.htm for more information.

The flow cytometry facility at KSU is a multi-user facility that houses state of the art flow cytometry equipment for the KSU campus and state research community. This facility contains a Becton Dickinson FACSCalibur and a high speed cell sorter (FACSVantage) with G4 Macintosh computers and high quality printers. For more information on the research flow cytometry facility see http://www.vet.ksu.edu/depts/dmp/research/cylab.htm . I have additional service duties include cytology service in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory.http://www.vet.ksu.edu/depts/dmp/service/clinpath/index.htm

Select Publications:

Paul S, Wilkerson MJ, Shuman W, Harkin K. Development and evaluation of a microphere flow cytometry assay to detect anti-histone antibodies in dogs. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 2005. 107; 315-325.

Wilkerson MJ, Dolce K, Koopman T, Shuman W, Chun R, Garrett L, Barber L, Avery A. Lineage differentiation of canine lymphoma/leukemias and aberrant expression of CD molecules. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 2005, 106:179-196.

Wilkerson MJ, Johnson GS, Stockham S, Riley L. Afibrinogenemia and a circulating inhibitor in a dog. Vet. Clin. Pathol., 2005, 34:148-155.

Oelke AM, Nagaraja TG, Wilkerson MJ, Stewart GC. The leukotoxin operon of Fusobacterium necrophorum is not present in other species of Fusobacterium. Anaerobe, 2005:11;123-129.

Armbrust LJ, Hoskinson J.J, Biller D.S., Wilkerson MJ. Low-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Bone Marrow in the Lumbar Spine, Pelvis, and Femur in the Adult Dog. J. Vet. Radiol.,Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound. 2004. 45:393-401.

Wilkerson MJ, Bagladi-Swanson, Wheeler D, Floyd K, Craig C, Dryden D. Immunopathogenesis of flea bite hypersensitivity in dogs; an experimental model. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol., 2004;99:179-192.

Wilkerson MJ, Dolce, KD, DeBey B, Heeb H, Davidson H. Metastatic balloon cell melanoma in a dog. Vet. Clin. Pathol., 2003;32:31-36.

Swist SL, Wilkerson MJ, Wyatt CR, Kanost M, Broce A. Modulation of bovine lymphocyte responses by salivary gland extract of the stable fly. Journal of Medical Entomology 39;900-907, 2002.

Davis EG, Wilkerson MJ, Rush B. Flow Cytometry: Clinical Applications in Equine Medicine. J. Intern. Vet. Med., 2002;16:404-410.

Wilkerson MJ., Shuman W. Harkin K. Alterations in Normal Canine Platelets during Storage of EDTA-anticoagulated Blood. Vet. Clinical. Pathology. Vet. Clin. Pathol. 2001;30:107-113.

Wilkerson MJ., Shuman W., Harkin K., Meinkoth J, Kocan A.A. Platelet surface associated IgG and reticulated platelets in dogs with thrombocytopenia. Vet. Clin. Pathol. 2001;30:141-149.

Wilkerson MJ., Davis EG, Shuman W, Harkin K, Cox J, Rush B. Isotype Specific Antibodies in Horses and Dogs with Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2000;14:190-196.

Wilkerson MJ, Baszler TV, Davis WC, Cheevers WP. 1995. Immunopathology of Chronic Lentivirus-Induced Arthritis. The American Journal of Pathology. 146:1433-43.