John Hansen, Ph.D.
(He/him/his)Dr. Hansen is a Research Immunologist at the Western Fisheries Research Center. His laboratory utilizes a basic research, comparative approach to understand host-pathogen interactions in fish and the impact of environmental stressors on fish and wildlife health.
Research Interests:
Our research team at the WFRC focuses on mediators of inflammation, host-pathogen interactions, and the impact of environmental stressors on fish health. We are particularly interested in how early life and sub-lethal exposure to environmental contaminants affect disease resistance. We focus on Pacific salmon and employ current molecular and biochemical approaches. In addition, we have developed specific research projects that utilize zebrafish. Zebrafish represent an attractive model organism for studies involving fish and vertebrate health owing to the availability and utility of their genomic and genetic resources as well as an abundance of established pathogen challenge protocols for zebrafish.
Current projects include assessing virulence factors for Francisella noatunensis (a fish-specific pathogen) and projects designed to address the effect of specific environmental contaminants including mercury, PFAS, PCBs, and algal toxins on metabolism, disease resistance, and the host microbiome. We are committed to addressing the effects of stormwater runoff (e.g., 6PPDQ) on salmon health. These research efforts have translational value for fish, wildlife, and human health around the world. Our goal is to better understand how the compound effects of pathogens, stressors, and the host immune response contribute to fish health and how this information can be applied to protect vertebrate health everywhere.
Current Laboratory Members:
- Ellie Dalsky, Biological Science Technician
- Justin Greer, Ph.D. Computational Biologist
- Kincer Crovetti, UW Student Contractor
- Prarthana Shakar, Ph.D. Biologist
- Yo Okumura, Ph.D. Postdoctoral fellow co-mentored with Ram Savan, UW Immunology
Professional Experience
2004 to Present - Research Immunologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Western Fisheries Research Center, Seattle, WA
2004 to Present – Affiliate Associate Professor, Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2001 to 2004 – Assistant Professor, Immunology, University of MD Biotechnology Institute
1995 to 2001 – Member, Basel Institute for Immunology, Basel Switzerland
Education and Certifications
Postdoc. Basel Institute for Immunology, Basel, Switzerland
Ph.D. Genetics/Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
B.S. Zoology and Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI
Science and Products
Evolution of the CD4 family: teleost fish possess two divergent forms of CD4 in addition to lymphocyte activation gene-3
Costimulatory receptors in a teleost fish: Typical CD28, elusive CTLA4
Identification and regulatory analysis of rainbow trout tapasin and tapasin-related genes
Comprehensive gene expression profiling following DNA vaccination of rainbow trout against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
Characterization of a C3a receptor in rainbow trout and Xenopus: The first identification of C3a receptors in nonmammalian species
Discovery of a unique Ig heavy-chain (IgT) in rainbow trout: Implications for a distinctive B cell developmental pathway in teleost fish
Potential involvement of rainbow trout thrombocytes in immune functions: a study using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and RT-PCR
Cloning, expression, cellular distribution, and role in chemotaxis of a C5a receptor in rainbow trout: The first identification of a C5a receptor in a nonmammalian species
Science and Products
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Evolution of the CD4 family: teleost fish possess two divergent forms of CD4 in addition to lymphocyte activation gene-3
The T cell coreceptor CD4 is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the Ig superfamily and is essential for cell-mediated immunity. Two different genes were identified in rainbow trout that resemble mammalian CD4. One (trout CD4) encodes four extracellular Ig domains reminiscent off mammalian CD4, whereas the other (CD4REL) codes for two Ig domains. Structural motifs within the amino acid sequeAuthorsK.J. Laing, J.J. Zou, M. K. Purcell, R. Phillips, C.J. Secombes, J.D. HansenCostimulatory receptors in a teleost fish: Typical CD28, elusive CTLA4
T cell activation requires both specific recognition of the peptide-MHC complex by the TCR and additional signals delivered by costimulatory receptors. We have identified rainbow trout sequences similar to CD28 (rbtCD28) and CTLA4 (rbtCTLA4). rbtCD28 and rbtCTLA4 are composed of an extracellular Ig-superfamily V domain, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic tail. The presence of a conserved liAuthorsD. Bernard, B. Riteau, J.D. Hansen, R.B. Phillips, F. Michel, P. Boudinot, A. BenmansourIdentification and regulatory analysis of rainbow trout tapasin and tapasin-related genes
Tapasin (TAPBP) is a key member of MHC class Ia antigen-loading complexes, bridging the class Ia molecule to the transporter associated with antigen presentation (TAP). As part of an ongoing study of MHC genomics in rainbow trout, we have identified two rainbow trout TAPBP genes (Onmy-TAPBP.a and .b) and a similar but distinct TAPBP-related gene (Onmy-TAPBP-R) that had previously only been describAuthorsE.D. Landis, Y. Palti, J. Dekoning, R. Drew, R.B. Phillips, J.D. HansenComprehensive gene expression profiling following DNA vaccination of rainbow trout against infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus
The DNA vaccine based on the glycoprotein gene of Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus induces a non-specific anti-viral immune response and long-term specific immunity against IHNV. This study characterized gene expression responses associated with the early anti-viral response. Homozygous rainbow trout were injected intra-muscularly (I.M.) with vector DNA or the IHNV DNA vaccine. Gene expressAuthorsMaureen K. Purcell, Krista M. Nichols, James R. Winton, Gael Kurath, Gary H. Thorgaard, Paul Wheeler, John D. Hansen, Russell P. Herwig, Linda K. ParkCharacterization of a C3a receptor in rainbow trout and Xenopus: The first identification of C3a receptors in nonmammalian species
Virtually nothing is known about the structure, function, and evolutionary origins of the C3aR in nonmammalian species. Because C3aR and C5aR are thought to have arisen from the same common ancestor, the recent characterization of a C5aR in teleost fish implied the presence of a C3aR in this animal group. In this study we report the cloning of a trout cDNA encoding a 364-aa molecule (TC3aR) that sAuthorsHani Boshra, Tiehui Wang, Leif Hove-Madsen, John D. Hansen, Jun Li, Anjun Matlapudi, Christopher J. Secombes, Lluis Tort, J. Oriol SunyerDiscovery of a unique Ig heavy-chain (IgT) in rainbow trout: Implications for a distinctive B cell developmental pathway in teleost fish
During the analysis of Ig superfamily members within the available rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) EST gene index, we identified a unique Ig heavy-chain (IgH) isotype. cDNAs encoding this isotype are composed of a typical IgH leader sequence and a VDJ rearranged segment followed by four Ig superfamily C-1 domains represented as either membrane-bound or secretory versions. Because teleost fishAuthorsJ.D. Hansen, E.D. Landis, R.B. PhillipsPotential involvement of rainbow trout thrombocytes in immune functions: a study using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and RT-PCR
The functional relationship between fish and mammalian thrombocytes is relatively unknown. In this study, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was used to investigate the functional properties of rainbow trout thrombocytes. The mAbs recognize cell-surface molecules on thrombocytes with molecular weights ranging from 17 to 160 kDa. Flow cytometric and immuno-electron microscopic analyses demonstAuthorsB. Kollner, U. Fisher, J.H.W.M. Rombout, J.J. Taverne-Thiele, J.D. HansenCloning, expression, cellular distribution, and role in chemotaxis of a C5a receptor in rainbow trout: The first identification of a C5a receptor in a nonmammalian species
C3a, C4a, and C5a anaphylatoxins generated during complement activation play a key role in inflammation. C5a is the most potent of the three anaphylatoxins in eliciting biological responses. The effects of C5a are mediated by its binding to C5a receptor (C5aR, CD88). To date, C5aR has only been identified and cloned in mammalian species, and its evolutionary history remains ill-defined. To gain inAuthorsHani Boshra, Jun Li, Rodney Peters, John Hansen, Anjan Matlapudi, J. Oriol Sunyer - Science
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