Melinda Wilkerson

 Professor

BS 1981, SW Missouri St. U.
MS 1989, U. of Missouri
DVM 1989, U. of Missouri
PhD 1994, Washington State U.
Diplomate ACVP

Phone: (785)532-4818
Fax: (785)532-4039
Email: wilkersn@vet.k-state.edu

Awards

2008, Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year Award,
Association for Women Veterinarians Foundation

Specialty Boards

Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathology, Anatomical Pathology (1996) & Clinical Pathology (2003)

Research

My laboratory is interested in host-agent interactions and measuring immune responses in multiple species to pathogens and vaccine antigens. We focus on non-radioactive flow cytometric assays to measure memory lymphocyte responses and cytokine expression to specific antigens. The laboratory is currently developing multiplex assays to measure antibody responses to equine pathogens. I also enjoy contributing to new knowledge in anatomical and clinical pathology and veterinary education.

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 course). I am the coordinator of the 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. Assays include the platelet surface associated IgG test and the direct immunofluorescent antibody test for red blood cells antibodies.

The flow cytometry facility at KSU is a multi-user facility that houses “state of the art” flow cytometry and cell sorting 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. See more information on the research flow cytometry facility.

Book Chapters

Wilkerson, M. Cluster of Differentiation Antigens. Chapter 4. In Schalm’s Veterinary Hematology. July 2010.

D.J. Weiss and M.J. Wilkerson. Flow cytometry. Chapter 137. In Schalm’s Veterinary Hematology. Second Edition. 2010.

Wardrop, K.J. Wilkerson, M.J. Mastrorilli C. Testing for Immune-Mediated Hematologic Disease, Chapter 140. In Schalm’s Veterinary Hematology. Second Edition. 2010.

Select Journal Publications

Rush BR, Hafen M, Biller DS, Davis EG, Klimek JA, Kukanich B, Larson RL, Roush JK, Schermerhorn T, Wilkerson MJ, White BJ: The Effect of Differing Audience Response System Question Types on Student Attention in the Veterinary Medical Classroom. J Vet Med Educ. 2010. 9:145-153.

Ameri, M, Wilkerson, MJ, Stockham, SL, Almes, KM, Patton, K, Jackson, T. Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia in a German Shepherd dog. Vet. Clin. Pathol. 2010. 39:39-35.

Di Terlizzi R., Mohandas N, Gallager PK, Dolce KS, Wilkerson MJ, Stockham SL. Canine elliptocytosis due to a mutant b-spectrin. Vet. Clin. Pathol. 2009:38:52-58.

Davis E, Zhang Y,TuttleJ, Hankins K, Wilkerson MJ. Investigation of antigen specific lymphocyte responses in healthy horses vaccinated with an inactivated west nile virus vaccine. Vet. Immun. Immunopathol. 2008. 126: 293-301

M. Ameri, Wilkerson MJ. Comparison of two commercial radial immunodiffusion assays for detection of bovine IgG in new born calves. J. Vet. Diagn. Invest. 2008. 20: 333-336.

Ameri M, Wilkerson MJ, Wang X, Hampton K, Broce A, Kanost MR. Identification of an immunoglobulin-binding protein in the salivary gland of the stable fly as a potential vaccine candidate.., J. Med. Entomol. 2007. 45:94-101.

Moore S, Wilkerson MJ, Briggs D, Wyatt C., Davis R. Detection of cellular immunity to rabies antigens in human vaccines. J. Clin. Immunol. 2006. 26:533-545.

Paul S, Wilkerson MJ, Shuman W, Harkin K. Development and evaluation of a microphere flow cytometry assay to detect anti-histone antibodies in dogs. Vet. Immun. Immunopathol. 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. Vet. Immun. Immunopathol. 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.

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.

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

Wilkerson MJ., Shuman W. Harkin K. Alterations in Normal Canine Platelets during Storage of EDTA-anticoagulated Blood. Vet. Clin. Pathol. 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.