Kirsi Gröndahl-Yli-Hannuksela
kagron@utu.fi +358 29 450 4548 +358 50 347 3441 Kiinamyllynkatu 10 Turku ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1479-8925 |
bacteriology; medical bacteriology; beta haemolytic streptococci; clinical studies; epidemiological studies
2007 MSc in biochemistry (Uni. Turku), 2016 PhD in Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine (Uni.Turku), 2020 Adjunct professor in bacteriology (Uni. Turku)
Post docotral research and collaboration in professor Jaana Vuopio group (Uni. Turku) since 2015. Ongoinig supervison of three PhD candidates. Principal investigator 1.9.2022 onwards Academy of Finland project funding
The main focus of my research is on beta haemolytic streptococci. Group A streptococci is one of the most common human pathogens. The disease spectrume is wide from mild tonsillitis to severe life-threathning conditions such as bacteremia. In addition to infections, Group A streptococci may colonize throat or skin asymtomatically. Carriage is significant factor for the spread of the bacteria.
Childbed fever of puerperal sepsis is a rare but severe disease condition that may develop after delivery. Group A streptococci is one of the common causatives of puerperal sepsis. The source of bacteria usually remains unknown.
Group B streptococci is another common human pathogen. It is transmitted from mother to newborn baby during the delivery. Bacteria may cause severe infection in the newbor as well as for the mother. In several countries, including Finland, Group B streptococci is screened from pregant women and treated before the delivery.
Academy of Finland has funded our research project on streptococci, pregancy and delivery. We have an ongoing clincal study in which we investigate the prevalence of asymptomatic carriage of beta haemolytic streptococci in pregnanct women and their partners. We investigate the identified streptococcal bacteria with several molecular techniques (such as whole genome sequencing, antimicrobial susceptility). In addition, we investigate the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery in relation to asymptomatic carriage of these bacteria.
Other research topics (in collab. with prof Jaana Vuopio) are epidemiology of group A streptococcal diseases (tonsillitis) and MRSA.
- Epidemiology and emm types among group A streptococcal pharyngitis in Finland: a prospective laboratory-based study (2023)
- European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Presence of Streptococcus pyogenes in the throat in invasive Group A Streptococcal disease: a prospective two-year study in two health districts, Finland (2023)
- Infectious Diseases
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Detection of group A streptococcus in children with confirmed viral pharyngitis and antiviral host response (2022)
- European Journal of Pediatrics
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Low rate of asymptomatic carriage and salivary immunoglobulin A response to Group A Streptococci in the healthy adult population in Finland (2022)
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Whole genome sequencing reveals new links between spa t172/CC59 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus cases in low-endemicity region of Southwest Finland, 2007‒2016 (2022)
- Scientific Reports
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Genetic evolution of invasive emm28 Streptococcus pyogenes strains and significant association with puerperal infections in young women in Finland (2021)
- Clinical Microbiology and Infection
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a low endemicity area- new challenges for MRSA control (2020)
- European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Group A streptococcal bacteremias in Southwest Finland 2007–2018: epidemiology and role of infectious diseases consultation in antibiotic treatment selection (2020)
- European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Performance of the Check-Direct ESBL Screen for BD MAXTM for detection of asymptomatic faecal carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (2020)
- Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Prevalence of pneumococcal nasopharyngeal colonization and serotypes circulating in Cameroonian children after the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction (2020)
- International Journal of Infectious Diseases
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Reduced In Vitro Susceptibility of Streptococcus pyogenes to β-Lactam Antibiotics Associated with Mutations in the pbp2x Gene Is Geographically Widespread (2020)
- Journal of Clinical Microbiology
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli from outpatient urinary tract infection in women in six European countries including Russia (2019)
- Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Integrated analysis of population genomics, transcriptomics and virulence provides novel insights into Streptococcus pyogenes pathogenesis (2019)
- Nature Genetics
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Changing molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Southwest Finland, 2007 - 2016 (2018) Jenna Junnila, Tiina Hirvioja, Kaisu Rantakokko-Jalava, Kari Auranen, Esa Rintala, Laura Lindholm, Jaakko Silvola, Harri Marttila, Anu Harttio-Nohteri, Kirsi Gröndahl-Yli-Hannuksela, Jaana Vuopio
(Other (O2)) - ESBL:ää tuottavien suolistobakteerien oireeton kantajuus Etelä-Suomessa (2018)
- Lääkärilehti
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Large variation in ESBL-producing Escherichia coli carriers in six European countries including Russia (2018)
- European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Performance of the Check-Direct ESBL Screen for BD MAX for detection of asymptomatic fecal carriage of ESBL producing E. coli and K. pneumonia (2018) Gröndahl-Yli-Hannuksela K, Lönnqvist E, Marttila H, Rintala E, Rantakokko-Jalava K, Vuopio J
(Other (O2)) - The first human report of mobile colistin resistance gene, mcr-1, in Finland (2018)
- APMIS
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism in relation to periodontal infection (2017)
- Journal of Periodontal Research
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1)) - Rapid detection of functional gene polymorphisms of TLRs and IL-17 using high resolution melting analysis (2017)
- Scientific Reports
(Refereed journal article or data article (A1))