Kristin Michel, Professor
Contact information
267 Chalmers Hall
kmichel@ksu.edu
Lab website: http://www.k-state.edu/michellab
Education
Ph.D. 2002, University of California-Riverside. Entomology.
Area(s) of Specialization
Host-pathogen interactions; Bacterial and fungal entomopathogens; Vector biology.
Research Focus
We study how mosquitoes fend off infections and how this relates to the pathogens these insects transmit to us. Our efforts are focused in two major research areas:
The first is to determine the role of proteases in immune regulation. These enzymes allow mosquitoes to fend off potentially harmful microorganisms without becoming overzealous.
The second is to understand the interactions between mosquitoes and fungi. We study how these encounters shape the mosquito's immune system and test fungi for their potential as bioinsecticides.
To do our work, we use techniques from fields such as biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell biology, genetics, and ecology. Our long term goal is to apply our findings to the improvement of vector control strategies.
Recent Primary Research Articles
Morejon B, Michel K. 2025. The expanded immunoregulatory protease network in mosquitoes is governed by gene coexpression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 122(18):e2425863122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2425863122.
Zhang X, Zhang S, Kuang J, Sellens KA, Morejon B, Saab SA, Li M, Metto EC, An C, Culbertson CT, Osta MA, Scoglio C, Michel K. 2023. CLIPB4 Is a Central Node in the Protease Network that Regulates Humoral Immunity in Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes. J Innate Immun. 2023 15(1):680-696. doi: 10.1159/000533898.
Tawidian P, Kang Q, Michel K. 2023. The Potential of a New Beauveria bassiana Isolate for Mosquito Larval Control. J Med Entomol. 2023 12;60(1):131-147. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjac179.
Kuang J, Buchon N, Michel K, Scoglio C. 2022. A global gene co-expression network constructed from hundreds of experimental conditions with missing values. BMC Bioinformatics. 2022 May 9;23(1):170. doi: 10.1186/s12859-022-04697-9.
Tawidian P, Coon KL, Jumpponen A, Cohnstaedt LW, Michel K. 2021. Host-Environment Interplay Shapes Fungal Diversity in Mosquitoes. mSphere. 2021 Oct 27;6(5):e0064621. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00646-21.
Review Articles
Michel K, Ioerger NM, Ake AM, Hettenbach SM, Olds C, Pendell DL, Stack J, Higgs S, Vanlandingham DL. Understanding the Burden of Agriculturally Significant Vector-Borne and Parasitic Diseases in Kansas. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2025 Apr 26;. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2025.0023.
Tawidian P, Rhodes VL, Michel K. Mosquito-fungus interactions and antifungal immunity. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2019 Aug;111:103182. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103182.
Bartholomay LC, Michel K. Mosquito Immunobiology: The Intersection of Vector Health and Vector Competence. Annu Rev Entomol. 2018 Jan 7;63:145-167. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ento-010715-023530.
View the complete publication list in NCBI