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
Preface to the special issue “Impact of omics on comparative immunology”
Interaction of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis with Oreochromis mossambicus bulbus arteriosus cell line
Biofilm formation of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis
Genome complexity in the coelacanth is reflected in its adaptive immune system
A tetrapod-like repertoire of innate immune receptors and effectors for coelacanths
Characterization of the OmyY1 region on the rainbow trout Y chromosome
Roles of inflammatory caspases during processing of zebrafish interleukin-1β in Francisella noatunensis infection
Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to IgM of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)
A novel antibody-based biomarker for chronic algal toxin exposure and sub-acute neurotoxicity
Induction of anti-viral genes during acute infection with Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) genogroup IVa in Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)
Discovery and characterization of secretory IgD in rainbow trout: secretory IgD is produced through a novel splicing mechanism
Exxon Valdez oil spill restoration project final report: Prince William Sound Herring disease program (HDP), restoration project 070819
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 44
Preface to the special issue “Impact of omics on comparative immunology”
No abstract available.AuthorsPierre Boudinot, Unni Grimholt, John D. HansenInteraction of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis with Oreochromis mossambicus bulbus arteriosus cell line
Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno) (syn. F. asiatica) is an emergent warmwater fish pathogen and the causative agent of piscine francisellosis. Although Fno causes septicemia and can live extracellularly in infected tilapia (Oreochromis spp.), the early interaction of Fno with vasculature endothelium is unknown. In the present study, we examined the interaction of wild-type Fno (WT) aAuthorsEsteban Soto, Susan Yun, J. Lewis, Michael T. Kearney, John D. HansenBiofilm formation of Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis
Francisella noatunensis subsp. orientalis (Fno) is an emergent fish pathogen in both marine and fresh water environments. The bacterium is suspected to persist in the environment even without the presence of a suitable fish host. In the present study, the influence of different abiotic factors such as salinity and temperature were used to study the biofilm formation of different isolates of Fno inAuthorsEsteban Soto, Iona Halliday-Wimmonds, Stewart Francis, Michael T. Kearney, John D. HansenGenome complexity in the coelacanth is reflected in its adaptive immune system
We have analyzed the available genome and transcriptome resources from the coelacanth in order to characterize genes involved in adaptive immunity. Two highly distinctive IgW-encoding loci have been identified that exhibit a unique genomic organization, including a multiplicity of tandemly repeated constant region exons. The overall organization of the IgW loci precludes typical heavy chain classAuthorsNil Ratan Saha, Tatsuya Ota, Gary W. Litman, John Hansen, Zuly Parra, Ellen Hsu, Francesco Buonocore, Adriana Canapa, Jan-Fang Cheng, Chris T. AmemiyaA tetrapod-like repertoire of innate immune receptors and effectors for coelacanths
The recent availability of both robust transcriptome and genome resources for coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) has led to unique discoveries for coelacanth immunity such as the lack of IgM, a central component of adaptive immunity. This study was designed to more precisely address the origins and evolution of gene families involved in the initial recognition and response to microbial pathogens, whAuthorsPierre Boudinot, Jun Zou, Tatsuya Ota, Francesco Buonocore, Giuseppe Scapigliati, Adriana Canapa, John Cannon, Gary Litman, John D. HansenCharacterization of the OmyY1 region on the rainbow trout Y chromosome
We characterized the male-specific region on the Y chromosome of rainbow trout, which contains both sdY (the sex-determining gene) and the male-specific genetic marker, OmyY1. Several clones containing the OmyY1 marker were screened from a BAC library from a YY clonal line and found to be part of an 800 kb BAC contig. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), these clones were localized toAuthorsRuth B. Phillips, Jenefer J. DeKoning, Joseph P. Brunelli, Joshua J. Faber-Hammond, John D. Hansen, Kris A. Christensen, Suzy C.P. Renn, Gary H. ThorgaardRoles of inflammatory caspases during processing of zebrafish interleukin-1β in Francisella noatunensis infection
The interleukin-1 family of cytokines are essential for the control of pathogenic microbes but are also responsible for devastating autoimmune pathologies. Consequently, tight regulation of inflammatory processes is essential for maintaining homeostasis. In mammals, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is primarily regulated at two levels, transcription and processing. The main pathway for processing IL-1βAuthorsLucia N. Vojtech, Nichole Scharping, James C. Woodson, John D. HansenProduction and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to IgM of Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)
Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) have a central role in the North Pacific ecosystem as a forage fish species and are natural reservoirs of several important finfish pathogens, including Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV). Here, we report the identification of the gene encoding the immunoglobulin mu (IgM) heavy chain, as well as the development and characterization of monoclonal antibodiesAuthorsMaureen K. Purcell, Erin S. Bromage, Jessica Silva, John D. Hansen, Samantha M. Badil, James C. Woodson, Paul K. HershbergerA novel antibody-based biomarker for chronic algal toxin exposure and sub-acute neurotoxicity
The neurotoxic amino acid, domoic acid (DA), is naturally produced by marine phytoplankton and presents a significant threat to the health of marine mammals, seabirds and humans via transfer of the toxin through the foodweb. In humans, acute exposure causes a neurotoxic illness known as amnesic shellfish poisoning characterized by seizures, memory loss, coma and death. Regular monitoring for highAuthorsKathi A. Lefebvre, Elizabeth R. Frame, Frances Gulland, John D. Hansen, Preston S. Kendrick, Richard P. Beyer, Theo K. Bammler, Frederico M. Farin, Emma M. Hiolski, Donald R. Smith, David J. MarcinekInduction of anti-viral genes during acute infection with Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) genogroup IVa in Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii)
Infection with the aquatic rhabdovirus Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) genogroup IVa results in high mortality in Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) and is hypothesized to be a potential limiting factor for herring recovery. To investigate anti-viral immunity in the Pacific herring, four immune response genes were identified: the myxovirus resistance (Clpa-Mx), a major histocompatibilityAuthorsJohn D. Hansen, James C. Woodson, Paul K. Hershberger, Courtney Grady, Jacob L. Gregg, Maureen K. PurcellDiscovery and characterization of secretory IgD in rainbow trout: secretory IgD is produced through a novel splicing mechanism
The gene encoding IgH δ has been found in all species of teleosts studied to date. However, catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is the only species of fish in which a secretory form of IgD has been characterized, and it occurs through the use of a dedicated δ-secretory exon, which is absent from all other species examined. Our studies have revealed that rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) use a novel stAuthorsF. Ramirez-Gomez, W. Greene, K. Rego, J.D. Hansen, G. Costa, P. Kataria, E.S. BromageExxon Valdez oil spill restoration project final report: Prince William Sound Herring disease program (HDP), restoration project 070819
Surveys of pathogens in Pacific herring from 2007 – 2010 indicated that Ichthyophonus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus, and erythrocytic necrosis virus are endemic in Prince William Sound and throughout the NE Pacific. Laboratory studies with VHSV indicated that multiple herring stocks are equally susceptible to the resulting disease, Pacific herring shed copious levels of VHSV (as high at 5x10AuthorsPaul Hershberger, Diane G. Elliott, Eveline J. Emmenegger, John D. Hansen, Gael Kurath, James R. Winton, Richard Kocan, Scott LaPatra - Science
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