Centre for Applied Entomology and Parasitology

Karen Russell attained her BSc in Microbiology from the University of Manchester in 2002 (final year project - Characterization of the Surface Properties of the Tufted Oral Streptococcus crista CR311 and mutants). Having developed an interest in parasitology during her undergraduate degree she returned in 2005 to complete an MSc in Molecular Parasitology and Vector Biology on the joint programme offered at the Universities of Manchester, Keele and Salford . As part of her MSc, Karen investigated the Kinetics of the Development of Transferable CD4 T Cell Mediated Immunity to Trichuris muris with Dr Kathryn Else at the University of Manchester. Karen is now based at Keele University where she is working towards a PhD under the supervision of Dr Paul Horrocks (BBSRC Research Studentship) with Dr Richard Emes as her research advisor. Karen is utilizing molecular and bioinformatic tools in her study of the mechanisms that drive coordinated temporal control of cofunctional genes during the asexual stage of Plasmodium falciparum development.

• Handley, P.S., Correia, F.F., Russell, K., Rosan, B., DiRienzo, R.M. (2005). Association of a novel high molecular weight, serine-rich protein (SrpA) with fibril-mediated adhesion of the oral biofilm bacterium Streptococcus cristatus. Oral Microbiology and Immunology 20(3), 131-140.