Nittaya Khakhum

Email: nikhakum@utmb.edu
Degree(s):
PhD Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Focus: Live Attenuated Vaccines against Glanders and Melioidosis
Mentor: Alfredo G. Torres

Research Statement: My research interest is in the area of development of live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) against Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei infection. Glanders and melioidosis are caused by the infection with the intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, Burkholderia mallei (Bm) and B. pseudomallei (Bpm), respectively. Humans and other mammals acquire this pathogen through different routes of infection. There is an urgent need for an effective vaccine against these two pathogens for public health and biotreat protection. My research is focus on evaluation of effectiveness of LAVs candidates to protect against Bm and Bpm infection using mouse model. Moreover, the humoral and cellular immune responses following vaccination, routes of vaccination as well as the safety of vaccines are also determined to provide the strong evidence for advancing our vaccine candidates to pre-clinical trials.