Frank Blecha

Frank BlechaUniversity Distinguished Professor
Director of Core Research Laboratories

PhD, Immunology, Washington State University

Phone: 785-532-4537
Email: blecha@vet.k-state.edu

Research Interests

Our laboratory studies the interrelationship of immunology and physiology in animals. This includes evaluation of the regulatory mechanisms involved in innate immunity and in stress- and pathogen-induced immune alterations. A major interest of our laboratory is understanding the interactions between antimicrobial peptides and antiviral cytokines, bacteria, viruses and pattern recognition receptors.

One of the most fundamental, innate defense mechanisms is the cellular production of antimicrobial peptides. These natural antibiotics are produced by a diverse array of cell types including cells of the immune system and epithelial cells of the small intestine and respiratory tract. Because of the pluripotent functions of many of these antibacterial peptides, we are investigating the role of porcine antimicrobial peptides in innate immune mechanisms of young pigs. Cytokine immunopotentiation and regulation, and investigations of the influence of environmental stressors on cellular and antibody-mediated immune responses also have been a focus of our laboratory.

K-State Media Guide Short Bio

Selected Publications

Shields L.E., J. Jennings, Q. Liu, J. Lee, W. Ma, F. Blecha, L.C. Miller, and Y. Sang. 2019. Cross-species genome-wide analysis reveals molecular and functional diversity of the unconventional interferon-ω subtype. Front. Immunol. 10:1431. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01431

Miller, L.C., D.S. Fleming, X. Li, D.O. Bayles, F. Blecha, and Y. Sang. 2017. Comparative analysis of signature genes in PRRSV-infected porcine monocyte-derived cells to different stimuli. PLoS One. 12 (7):e0181256.

Liu Q., L.C. Miller, F. Blecha, and Y. Sang. 2017. Reduction of infection by inhibiting mTOR pathway is associated with reversed repression of type I interferon by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. J Gen. Virol. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.000802.

Sang, Y., Q. Liu, J. Lee, W. Ma, D.S. McVey, and F. Blecha. 2016. Expansion of amphibian intronless interferons revises the paradigm for interferon evolution and functional diversity. Sci. Rep. 6:29072. doi: 10.1038/srep29072.

Sang, Y., L. C. Miller, and F. Blecha. 2015. Macrophage polarization in virus-host interactions. J. Clin. Cell. Immunol. 62:311. http://doi.org/10.4172/2155-9899.1000311

Sang Y., J. Bergkamp and F. Blecha. 2014. Molecular evolution of the porcine type I interferon family: subtype-specific expression and antiviral activity. PLoS One. 9 (11):e112378

Sang, Y., R.R.R. Rowland, and F. Blecha. 2014. Antiviral regulation in porcine monocytic cells at different activation states. J. Virol. 88:11395-11410.

Sang, Y., W. Brichalli, R.R.R. Rowland and F. Blecha. 2014. Genome-wide analysis of antiviral signature genes in porcine macrophages at different activation statuses. PLoS One. 9(2):e87613.

Dawson, H.D., J.E. Loveland, G. Pascal, J.G. Gilbert, H. Uenishi, K.M. Mann, Y. Sang, J. Zhang, D. Carvalho-Silva, T. Hunt, M. Hardy, Z. Hu, S.H. Zhao, A. Anselmo, H. Shinkai, C. Chen, B. Badaoui, D. Berman, C. Amid, M. Kay, D. Lloyd, C. Snow, T. Morozumi, R.P. Cheng, M. Bystrom, R. Kapetanovic, J.C. Schwartz, R. Kataria, M. Astley, E. Fritz, C. Steward, M. Thomas, L. Wilming, D. Toki, A.L. Archibald, B. Bed Hom, D. Beraldi, T.H. Huang, T. Ait-Ali, F. Blecha, S. Botti, T.C. Freeman, E. Giuffra, D.A. Hume, J.K. Lunney, M.P. Murtaugh, J.M. Reecy, J.L. Harrow, C. Rogel-Gaillard, and C.K. Tuggle. 2013. Structural and functional annotation of the porcine immunome. BMC Genomics, 15;14:332.

Groenen, M.A.M., A.L. Archibald, H. Uenishi, C.K. Tuggle, Y. Takeuchi, M.F. Rothschild, C. Rogel-Gaillard, C. Park, D. Milan, H.-J. Megens, S. Li, D.M. Larkin, H. Kim, L.A.F. Frantz, M. Caccamo, H. Ahn, B.L. Aken, A. Anselmo, C. Anthon, L. Auvil, B. Badaoui, C.W. Beattie, C. Bendixen, D. Berman, F.Blecha, et al. 2012. Analyses of pig genomes provide insight into porcine demography and evolution. Nature, 491:393-398.

Sang Y, R.R. Rowland, and F. Blecha. 2011. Interaction between innate immunity and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus. Anim. Health Res. Rev. 12:149-167.

Sang Y, R.R. Rowland, and F. Blecha. 2010. Molecular characterization and antiviral analyses of porcine type III interferons. J. Interferon Cytokine Res. 30:801-807.

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

Ganta, C.K., B.G. Helwig, F. Blecha, R.R. Ganta, R. Cober, S. Parimi, T.I. Musch, R.J. Fels, and M.J. Kenney. 2006. Hypothermia-enhanced splenic cytokine gene expression is independent of the sympathetic nervous system. Am. J. Physiol. Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 291:R558-R565.

Kenney, M.J., Blecha F., Wang Y., McMurphy R., and Fels R.J. Sympathoexcitation to intravenous interleukin-1ß is dependent on forebrain neural circuits. Am. J. Physiol Heart Circ. Physiol. 283:H501-H505, 2002.

Wu, H., G. Zhang, J.E. Minton, C.R. Ross, and F. Blecha. Regulation of cathelicidin gene expression: induction by lipopolysaccaride, interleukin-6, retinoic acid, and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection. Infect. Immun. 68: 5552-5558, 2000.

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