Dr. Barb Katzenback

Biography

Professor Katzenback's research interests focus on examining the influences of environmental stress on the immune system and health of amphibians, understanding interactions that contribute to the worldwide decline of amphibian populations. Her research aims to elucidate mechanisms of amphibian innate immunity, characterize host-pathogen interactions, and study how abiotic environmental stressors (such as climate change and contaminants), alone or in combination with biotic stressors (like pathogens), impact innate immune function and health status in amphibians. She investigates a unique group of terrestrial hibernators, the North American wood frog (Rana sylvatica), which can survive whole body freezing during winter months, and the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), a dehydration-tolerant species that serves as a well-studied model organism. Current research themes in the Katzenback Lab include the development of amphibian cell lines, interactions between amphibians and Frog Virus 3, and the regulation of innate immune defenses in response to environmental stressors.

Research Interests