Ohio State University-Main Campus · BiologyPathogen Dynamics Lab
Yasuko Rikihisa · Columbus, Ohio
Research Focus
Dr. Yasuko Rikihisa's lab at Ohio State University focuses on understanding how the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum, responsible for human granulocytic anaplasmosis, survive and replicate inside human cells. The lab studies how these bacteria hijack host cell machinery to acquire nutrients and evade the immune response. By investigating the molecular mechanisms involved, the research aims to uncover potential new treatments for this emerging tick-borne disease.
Anaplasma phagocytophilumtick-borne diseasesimmune responsenutrient acquisitionhost-pathogen interactions
Research Aims
3AIM 01Elucidate how the EgeA protein hijacks nutrient transport machinery in host cells.
AIM 02Analyze the interaction of EgeA with host proteins to modulate ER stress and UPR.
AIM 03Test if EgeA functions can be blocked using nanoparticle-delivered nanobody mRNA in cell cultures and mice.
Skills the Lab Values
cell culturefluorescence microscopyelectron microscopymolecular cloninganimal models (mouse)protein interaction assaysnanoparticle delivery systemssignal transduction analysisunfolded protein response assessment
Output against the department
Publications342top 15% of dept.152nd of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations27ktop 14% of dept.141st 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.