Arasu, Prema, PhD, DVM
Associate Professor

Ph.D.: Hahnemann University of Health Sciences, Pennsylvania
D.V.M.: Cornell University, New York
Post-doctoral: James A. Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, New York
Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital
New England Biolabs, Inc., Massachusetts

Phone: (919) 513-6530
Fax: (919) 513-6455
E-mail: prema_arasu@ncsu.edu

Research Area:

My research interests are focused on host/parasite interactions and nematode development. There are two major programs in the lab: (1) developmental arrest, pregnancy-associated reactivation and the transmission of hookworm infection during lactation, and (2) how the host response to parasitic infections protects against allergic diseases. Transmammary transmission of hookworm infection to the nursing neonates is relatively prevalent with human Ancylostoma duodenale as well as canine A. caninum, and we are interested in defining the molecular mechanisms of reactivation and signaling between host and parasite (in particular, TGF-beta and insulin pathways) . More recently, we have begun to investigate how hookworm infection protects against the allergic response to sensitization with house dust mites. Using the dog model, we are pursuing clinical, immunological and molecular responses in a multi-disciplinary collaboration with Drs. Greg Gibson (NCSU Genetics/Bioinformatics), Gregg Dean (immunology/clinical pathology) and Hilary Jackson (dermatology). With the Gibson lab, we are also investigating the population diversity of hookworms and using microarray analyses to define gene expression signature profiles during parasite development and in the dog’s response to hookworm infection.

Selected Publications:

Freitas, T., and Arasu, P. 2005. Cloning and characterization of genes encoding two Transforming Growth Factor-beta-like ligands from the hookworm, Ancylostoma caninum. International Journal of Parasitology. Sep 1; [Epub].

Trivedi, S. and Arasu, P. 2005. Evaluation of endogenous reference genes for real-time PCR quantification of gene expression in Ancylostomacaninum. Molecular & Biochemal Parasitology. 143(2):241-4.

Moser, J.M., Freitas, T., Arasu, P. and Gibson, G. 2005. Gene expression profiles associated with the transition to parasitism in Ancylostoma caninum larvae. Molecular & Biochemical Parasitology. 143(1):39-48.

Mitreva, M., McCarter J.P., Arasu, P., et. al. 2005. Investigating hookworm genomes by comparative analysis of two Ancylostoma species. BMC Genomics. 26;6(1):58.

Arasu, P. 2001. In vitro reactivation of Anyclostoma caninum tissue-arrested third stage larvae by Transforming Growth Factor b. The Journal of Parasitology. 87(4):733-738.

Arasu, P. and Heller, A. 1999. Antibody responses during pregnancy-induced transmammary transmission of arrested larvae of Ancylostoma caninum nematodes. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 70:289-298.

Arasu, P. and Kwak, D. 1999 Developmental arrest and pregnancy-induced transmission of Ancylostoma caninum larvae in the murine model. The Journal of Parasitology 85(6):779-784.

Lab Personnel

Simoes, Rita, Research Specialist
rita_simoes@ncsu.edu

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