About
Yasuko Rikihisa is a University Distinguished Professor of Veterinary Biosciences at The Ohio State University, specializing in obligate intracellular bacteria such as Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Neorickettsia. Her research focuses on understanding how these pathogens subvert host immune systems and manipulate cellular processes for survival and replication. She holds membership in the National Academy of Sciences and leads the Rikihisa Lab, which integrates genomic, molecular, and in vivo studies to address pathogen transmission, virulence mechanisms, and diagnostic advancements.
- Education: M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo; Postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School.
- Key Research Areas: Type IV secretion systems, autophagy manipulation, cholesterol acquisition, bacterial effector proteins.
Her recent work emphasizes identifying novel therapeutic targets and vaccines, particularly against tick-borne pathogens. Notable contributions include elucidating Ehrlichia’s evasion of immune responses and its exploitation of host cell machinery for replication.
- Awards: Member, National Academy of Sciences.
- Labs/Teams: Rikihisa Lab at The Ohio State University.
