Vjollca Konjufca
Vjollca Konjufca
Position: Assistant Professor
Field: Immunology, Host-Pathogen Interactions
Degree: PhD, 2002, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
At SIUC Since: 2010
Office: Life Science II 126
Mailcode: 6508
Phone: 618-453-8161 (Office) 618-453-3721 (Lab)
Fax: 618-453-8036
E-mail:
Courses Taught:

Research Interests:
Immunology, Host-Pathogen Interactions

General research interests: Bacterial infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality world-wide. The emergence of new pathogens, pathogens with acquired resistance to therapeutics, and the increased risk of deliberate transmission of pathogens for purposes of bioterrorism has increased the urgency for new vaccines and therapeutics. Salmonella is a Gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes disease in humans and animals. Human-adapted serovars cause typhoid, a systemic and lifethreatening infection, while non-human-adapted serovars commonly cause enteritis. My main research interests lie in further elucidating the mechanisms of interactions of Salmonella with the host, as well as in constructing and optimizing Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Vaccines (RASVs) that can be designed to target a variety of diseases.

Publications:
Articles in Professional Journals

  • McDole, J.R., Wheeler, L.W., McDonald, K.G., Wang, B., Konjufca, V., Knoop, K.A., Newberry, R.D., Miller , M.J. 2012. Goblet cells deliver luminal antigen to CD103(+) dendritic cells in the small intestine. Nature 483:345-349. PubMed link
  • Sathaliyawala, T., O'Gorman, W.E., Greter, M., Bogunovic, M., Konjufca, V., Hou, Z.E., Nolan, G.P., Miller, M.J., Merad, M. and Reizis, B. 2010. Mammalian target of rapamycin controls dendritic cell development downstream of Flt3 ligand signaling. Immunity 33:597-606. PubMed link
  • Konjufca, V. and Miller, M.J. 2009. Imaging Listeria monocytogenes infection in vivo. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 334:199-226. PubMed link
  • Konjufca, V. and Miller, M.J. 2009. Two-photon microscopy of host-pathogen interactions: acquiring a dynamic picture of infection in vivo. Cell. Micro. 11(4):551-559. PubMed link
  • Arumugaswami, V., Kumar, P.M., Konjufca, V., Dienglewicz, R., Reddy, S.M. and Parcells, M. 2009. Latency of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV) in a Reticuloendotheliosis Virus (REV)- transformed T-cell Line II: Expression of the Latent MDV Genome. Avian Dis. 53(2):156-65. PubMed link
  • Arumugaswami, V., Kumar, P.M., Konjufca, V., Dienglewicz, R., Reddy, S.M. and Parcells, M. 2009. Latency of Marek's Disease Virus (MDV) in a Reticuloendotheliosis Virus (REV) transformed T-cell Line I: Uptake and Structure of the Latent MDV Genome. Avian Dis. 53(2):149-155. PubMed link
  • Aoshi, T., Carrero, J.A., Konjufca, V., Koide, Y., Unanue, R.E. and Miller, M.J. 2009. The cellular niche of Listeria monocytogenes infection changes rapidly in the spleen. E. J. Immunol. 39:417-425. PubMed link
  • Konjufca, V., Jenkins, M., Wang, S., Juarez-Rodriguez, M.D. and Curtiss, R. III. 2008. Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine expressing the SO7 antigen of Eimeria tenella. Infect. Immun. 76(12):5745-5753. PubMed link
  • Aoshi, T., Zinselmeyer, B.H., Konjufca, V., Lynch, J.N., Zhang, X., Koide Y. and Miller, M.J. 2008. Bacterial entry to the splenic white pulp initiates antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Immunity 29:476-486. PubMed link
  • Smith, J.N., Dyszel, J.L., Soares, J.A., Ellermeier, C.D., Altier, C., Lawhon, S.D., Adams, L.G., Konjufca, V., Curtiss, R. III, Slauch, J.M. and Ahmer, B.M.M. 2008. SdiA, an N-Acylhomoserine lactone receptor, becomes active during the transit of Salmonella enterica through the gastrointestinal tract of turtles. PLoS ONE. 3 (7):e2826. PubMed link
  • Curtiss, R. III., Zhang, X., Wanda, S.Y., Kang, H.Y., Konjufca, V., Li, Y., Gunn, B., Wang, S., Scarpellini, G. and Lee, I.S. 2007. Induction of host immune responses using Salmonella-vectored vaccines, p. 297-313. In K. A. Brogden, F. C. Minion, N. Cornick, T. B. Stanton, Q. Zhang, L. K. Nolan, and M. J. Wannemuehler (eds.). Virulence Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogens, 4th ed., ASM Press, Washington, D.C.
  • Konjufca, V., Wanda, S., Jenkins, M. and Curtiss, R. III. 2006. A Recombinant Attenuated Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Vaccine encoding Eimeria acervulina antigen offers protection against E. acervulina challenge. Infect. Immun. 74(12):6785-6796. PubMed link
  • Curtiss, R. III, Wanda, S.Y., Zhang, X., Kong, W., Konjufca, V., Gunn, B. and Zekarias, B. 2004. Emerging bacterial diseases. Congress of the World Veterinary Poultry Association-AVMA Annual Meeting. Pp. 38-43.
  • Konjufca, V., Bottje, W. and Erf, G.F. 2004. Influence of dietary vitamin E on phagocytic functions of macrophages in broilers. Poultry Sci. 83(9):1530-4. PubMed link
  • Konjufca, V., Pesti, G.M. and Bakalli, R.I. 1997. Modulation of cholesterol levels in broiler meat by dietary copper. Poultry Sci. 76:1264-1271. PubMed link
  • Bakalli, R.I., Pesti, G.M., Ragland, W.L. and Konjufca, V. 1995. Dietary copper in excess of nutritional requirement reduces plasma and breast muscle cholesterol of chickens. Poultry Sci. 74:360-365. PubMed link
  • Bakalli, R.I., Pesti, G.M., Ragland, W.L. and Konjufca, V. and Novak, R. 1995. Delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase - A sensitive indicator of lead exposure in chickens (Gallus domesticus). Bull. Environ. Contam. & Toxicol. 55:113-119. PubMed link
  • Ragland, W.L., Bakalli, R.I., Pesti, G.M., Mazija, H. Domi, X., Novak, R. and Konjufca, V. 1994. Immune modulation of chickens by dietary calcium and lead. Krmiva (Zagreb, Croatia) 36:19-22.
  • Bakalli, R., Konjufca, V., Deda, Sh., Berisha, B. and Bytyci, H. 1991. Changes in the lead content of kidneys, liver and brain of laying hens during the intoxication and detoxification of lead taken by feed. Poultry Days, Ohrid, 5:26-30. (Croatian, English summary).