Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University · BiologyNielsen Lab
Kirsten Nielsen · Blacksburg, Virginia
Research Focus
Kirsten Nielsen's lab at Virginia Tech focuses on understanding the interactions between the immune system and the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, which can cause serious infections in people with weakened immune systems, especially those with HIV/AIDS. The research investigates how different strains of the fungus and the environment of the host impact disease outcomes. By exploring these interactions, the lab aims to develop new treatments that could help patients better manage their infections.
Cryptococcus neoformanstitan cellsimmune responsecryptococcal meningitisHIV/AIDSfungal infectionspathogenesishost-pathogen interaction
Research Aims
3AIM 01Identify how immune responses lead to latency or lethal disease in Cryptococcus infections.
AIM 02Determine the genetic changes in titan cells that aid in pathogen adaptation in the host.
AIM 03Investigate how titan cell formation impacts the immune response during infection.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelscell cultureimmunohistochemistryflow cytometrypathogen characterizationmolecular biology techniquesRNA sequencingdata analysisexperimental design
Output against the department
Publications131bottom 47% of dept.550th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.9ktop 43% of dept.441st of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.