Laura Kakkola profile picture
Laura
Kakkola
Docent, Institute of Biomedicine
Laboratory Manager, Institute of Biomedicine
Adjunct Professor, Bioturvapäällikkö/Biosafety Officer

Contact

+358 29 450 4555
+358 46 921 4211
Kiinamyllynkatu 10
20520
Turku

Areas of expertise

virology
immunology
infection
zoonoses
biosafety

Biography

I am a researcher with the cell biologist's background interested in intra-cellular events on infection, immunological responses (innate and adaptive), effect of host genetics in infectious diseases, and viruses' counteractions on these - including emerging pathogens, virus surveillance and diagnostics. I act as a Biosafety Officer at the Institute of Biomedicine and my responsibilities are to coordinate, supervise and educate laboratory work with infectious pathogens (viruses and bacteria). I am a Laboratory Manager in the Research Center Infections and Immunity, I teach on university courses, supervise MSc and PhD students, and conduct independent research.

Teaching

I have taken the course on Medical pedagogics. I am co-supervising MSc and PhD students, and am a member of thesis committees for PhD students. I have given lectures and taught on laboratory courses at the university level.

Research

My research interests are on virus-host interactions, how viruses interfere with immune responses, and could these events be utilized in vaccine, antiviral drug or diagnostic test development. At the moment I am working with coronaviruses, influenza viruses, filoviruses and flaviviruses.

Publications

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Comparative Analysis of Whole-Genome Sequences of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Viruses Isolated from Hospitalized and Nonhospitalized Patients Identifies Missense Mutations That Might Be Associated with Patient Hospital Admissions in Finland during 2009 to 2014. (2015)

Mishel P, Ojala T, Benner C, Lakspere T, Bychkov D, Jalovaara P, Kakkola L, Kallio-Kokko H, Kantele A, Kankainen M, Ikonen N, Ripatti S, Julkunen I, Kainov DE.
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))

Molecular evolution and epidemiology of echovirus 6 in Finland (2013)

Infection, Genetics and Evolution
Smura T, Kakkola L, Blomqvist S, Klemola P, Parsons A, Kallio-Kokko H, Savolainen-Kopra C, Kainov DE, Roivainen M
(Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tai data-artikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä (A1))