Vuokko Loimaranta
vuokko.loimaranta@utu.fi +358 29 450 4172 +358 44 011 1746 Lemminkäisenkatu 2 Turku |
biochemistry of saliva, salivary immune functions, oral streptococci, bacterial adhesion
I have made my MSc in Biochemistry in 1993 and
obtained my PhD in 1999 in the University of Turku. For 2000-2002 I worked
as a Marie Curie Fellow in the University of Umeå. I returned back to University of Turku to work
as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and
Genetics and continued there as a University Teacher. In 2007-2008 I made a
short visit to industry and worked as a Visiting Scientist at Valio Ltd.
Adjunct professorship I received in 2008. Since 2018 I have worked as a Laboratory Manager at the Institute of Dentistry.
My research consists studies on the role of
saliva in the control of oral and oro-pharyngeal microbiota. Saliva contains a
plethora of components that regulate oral microbiota. Activity and amount of
these components differ between individuals. The main focus of our research is
on identification of the nature and functions of these molecules and exploring
their individual variations.
- Galectin-3-binding protein: A multitask glycoprotein with innate immunity functions in viral and bacterial infections (2018)
- Journal of Leukocyte Biology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The Salivary Scavenger and Agglutinin (SALSA) in Healthy and Complicated Pregnancy (2016)
- PLoS ONE
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The Salivary Scavenger and Agglutinin in Early Life: Diverse Roles in Amniotic Fluid and in the Infant Intestine (2014)
- Journal of Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Bacterial Adhesion of Streptococcus suis to Host Cells and Its Inhibition by Carbohydrate Ligands (2013)
- Biology
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Expression, purification and crystallization of the C-terminal LRR domain of Streptococcus pyogenes protein 0843 (2013)
- Acta Crystallographica Section F: Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Glutamine synthetase and glucose-6-phosphate isomarase are adhesive moonlighting proteins of Lactobacillus crispatus released by epithelial cathelicidin LL-37 (2012)
- Journal of Bacteriology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Glutamine synthetase and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase are adhesive moonlighting proteins of Lactobacillus crispatus released by epithelial cathelicidin LL-37. (2012)
- Journal of Bacteriology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Identification of a unique TLR2-interacting peptide motif in a microbial leucine-rich repeat protein (2012)
- Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The salivary scavenger and agglutinin binds MBL and regulates the lectin pathway of complement in solution and on surfaces (2012)
- Frontiers in Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Decorin Binding by DbpA and B of Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto (2011)
- Journal of Infectious Diseases
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Identification of a Novel Streptococcal Adhesin P (SadP) Protein Recognizing Galactosyl-alpha 1-4-galactose-containing Glycoconjugates CONVERGENT EVOLUTION OF BACTERIAL PATHOGENS TO BINDING OF THE SAME HOST RECEPTOR (2011)
- Journal of Biological Chemistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Identification of a novel streptococcal adhesin P (SadP) protein recognizing galactosyl-α1-4-galactose-containing glycoconjugates: convergent evolution of bacterial pathogens to binding of the same host receptor (2011) Kouki A, Haataja S, Loimaranta V, Pulliainen AT, Nilsson UJ, Finne J
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Screening of Binding Activity of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus suis to Berries and Juices (2010)
- Phytotherapy Research
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Probiotic bacteria affect the composition of salivary pellicle and streptococcal adhesion in vitro (2008)
- Oral Microbiology and Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Inhibition of P-fimbriated Escherichia coli adhesion by multivalent galabiose derivatives studied by a live-bacteria application of surface plasmon resonance (2007)
- Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Variant size- and glycoforms of the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich protein gp-340 with differential bacterial aggregation (2007)
- Glycoconjugate Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Host-derived pentapeptide affecting adhesion, proliferation, and local pH in biofilm communities composed of Streptococcus and Actinomyces species (2006)
- Infection and Immunity
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Oral adhesion and survival of probiotic and other lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in vitro (2006)
- Oral Microbiology and Immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Origin, structure, and biological activities of peroxidases in human saliva (2006)
- Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Construction of antibody mimics from a noncatalytic enzyme-detection of polysialic acid (2004)
- Journal of Immunological Methods
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)