Laura Kakkola
Adjunct Professor, Bioturvapäällikkö/Biosafety Officer
laura.kakkola@utu.fi Kiinamyllynkatu 10 Turku ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9271-4059 |
virology; immunology; infection; zoonoses; biosafety
I am a researcher with the cell biologist's background interested in intra-cellular events on infection, immunological responses (innate and adaptive), effect of host genetics in infectious diseases, and viruses' counteractions on these - including emerging pathogens, virus surveillance and diagnostics. I act as a Biosafety Officer at the Institute of Biomedicine and my responsibilities are to coordinate, supervise and educate laboratory work with infectious pathogens (viruses and bacteria). I am a Laboratory Manager in the Research Center Infections and Immunity, I teach on university courses, supervise MSc and PhD students, and conduct independent research.
My research interests are on virus-host interactions, how viruses interfere with immune responses, and could these events be utilized in vaccine, antiviral drug or diagnostic test development. At the moment I am working with coronaviruses, influenza viruses, filoviruses and flaviviruses.
I have taken the course on Medical pedagogics. I am co-supervising MSc and PhD students, and am a member of thesis committees for PhD students. I have given lectures and taught on laboratory courses at the university level.
- Filovirus VP24 Proteins Differentially Regulate RIG-I and MDA5-Dependent Type I and III Interferon Promoter Activation (2022)
- Frontiers in immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Long-Lasting T Cell Responses in BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccinees and COVID-19 Convalescent Patients (2022)
- Frontiers in immunology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Low pre-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Finnish health care workers: a prospective cohort study (2022)
- Infectious DiseasesMicrobiology spectrum
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Rapid high-throughput compatible label-free virus particle quantification method based on time-resolved luminescence (2022)
- Analytical and Bioanalytical ChemistryMicrobiology spectrum
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Serological Follow-Up Study Indicates High Seasonal Coronavirus Infection and Reinfection Rates in Early Childhood (2022)
- Microbiology spectrum
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Vaccine-Induced Antibody Responses against SARS-CoV-2 Variants-Of-Concern Six Months after the BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination (2022)
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - A Combination of N and S Antigens With IgA and IgG Measurement Strengthens the Accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 Serodiagnostics (2021)
- Journal of Infectious Diseases
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - A Highly Sensitive and Specific SARS-CoV-2 Spike- and Nucleoprotein-Based Fluorescent Multiplex Immunoassay (FMIA) to Measure IgG, IgA, and IgM Class Antibodies (2021)
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - COVID-19 mRNA vaccine induced antibody responses against three SARS-CoV-2 variants (2021)
- Nature Communications
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Influenza A Viruses (Orthomyxoviridae) (2021) Encyclopedia of Virology Kakkola Laura, Ikonen Niina, Julkunen Ilkka
(D2 Article in a professional compilation book)
- Immunologinen leimautuminen01.01.2026 - 31.12.2026
- Institute of Biomedicine
- TYS_Zikaviruksen tutkimus01.01.2026 - 31.12.2026
- Institute of Biomedicine
- CrossBar_Kakkola01.09.2021 - 31.08.2025
- Institute of Biomedicine



