DR. GISELA F. ERF
The Holder of Tyson Professorship in Avian Immunology
DR. GISELA F. ERF
The Holder of Tyson Professorship in Avian Immunology
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DR. GISELA F. ERF The Holder of Tyson Professorship in Avian Immunology |
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Dr. Erf received her undergraduate degree (B.S. in Animal
Science, 1981) and Master of Science (Reproductive Endocrinology, 1983) from
the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada and her Ph.D. degree in Immunology
from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York (1988). Upon graduation she became
Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences at Smith College in Northampton Massachusetts.
Dr. Erf joined the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science on July 1, 1994,
where she is a Professor in Poultry Science. Dr. Erf teaches a graduate-level
immunology lecture course, a graduate-level immunology laboratory course, and
coordinates and teaches an undergraduate laboratory research course. She is
a faculty member of the Intercollege Program in Cell and Molecular Biology and
the College's Honors Faculty Committee. In 2006, Erf was endowed given an endowed professorship in avian immunology funded by the Tyson Family and matching funds from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation.
Dr. Erf has an active research program in the area of avian immunology and poultry
health. Current investigations focus on studying immune system development and
function in poultry, with emphasis on aspects of cell-mediated immunity, maternal
immunity, the role of the immune system in pulmonary hypertension, and immunomodulatory
effects of environmental and nutritional factors. Her research also includes
studies on the Smyth line chicken, which is an important animal model for human
autoimmune vitiligo, a pigmentation disorder. This model provides unique opportunities
to study the role of the immune system, environmental factors and the target
cell in the development of autoimmune vitiligo and autoimmune diseases in general.
Her research involves tissue culture, immunohistochemistry, RNA analyses, image
analysis, and flow cytometry. Dr. Erf's research and teaching efforts have been
recognized by several awards including the Young Investigator Award from the
Pan-American Society for Pigment Cell Research (1992), the John W. White Outstanding
Teaching Award (1999), the Poultry Science Association Teaching Award (1999),
the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy Award of Excellence (2001), the Jack G. Justus Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences (2005) and the Helene Cecil Leadership Award from the Poultry Science Association for her significant sustained contributions in the field of poultry science and for her significant leadership in the promotion or development of opportunities for women in the area of poultry science (2005).
SIGNIFICANT PAPERS
Erf, G. F. 2004. Avian cell-mediated immunity. Poult. Sci. 83:580-590
Wang X., and G. F. Erf. 2004. Apoptosis in feathers of Smyth line chickens with
autoimmune vitiligo. J. Autoimmun. 22: 21-30.
Konjufca, V. K., T. K. Bersi, W. G. Bottje and G. F. Erf. 2004. Influence of
dietary vitamin E on phagocytic functions of macrophages in broilers. Poult.
Sci. 83:1530-1534.
Wang, X., and G. F. Erf. 2003. Melanocyte-specific cell mediated immune response
in vitiliginous Smyth line chickens. J. Autoimmun. 21:149-160.
Wang, W., R. F. Wideman, Jr., M. E. Chapman, T. K. Bersi and G. F. Erf. 2003.
Effect of intravenous endotoxin on blood cell profiles of broilers housed in
cages and floor litter environments. Poult. Sci. 82:1886-1897.
Wang, W., R. F. Wideman, Jr., T. K. Bersi, and G. F. Erf. 2003. Pulmonary and
hematological immune responses to intravenous cellulose micro-particles in broilers.
Poult. Sci. 82:771-780.
Wang, X., and G. F. Erf. 2003. Melanocyte-specific cell mediated immune response
in vitiliginous Smyth line chickens. J. Autoimmun. 21:149-160.
Erf, G.F. 2002. Smyth line autoimmune vitiligo; similar to human autoimmune
vitiligo. Pages 316-332 in Modern Concepts of Immunology in Veterinary Medicine-Poultry
Immunology. Mathew, T., editor. Advances in Medical and Veterinary Virology,
Immunology and Epidemiology, Thajema Publishers, Vineland, NJ.
Erf, G.F., T.K. Bersi, X. Wang, G.P. Sreekumar, and J.R. Smyth, Jr. 2001. Herpesvirus
connection in the expression of autoimmune vitiligo in Smyth line chickens.
Pigm. Cell Res. 14:40-46.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Gisela F. Erf
Center of Excellence for Poultry Science
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Telephone: 479-575-8664
FAX: 479-575-7139
