Karen S. Coats
		Associate Professor
		Education B.S. Microbiology, Southeastern Louisiana University M.S. Microbiology, Southeastern Louisiana University Ph.D. Vet Med Sciences, Louisiana State University
		Statement of Research Interests		Contact Information
		Pediatric AIDS remains an important component of the AIDS pandemic, resulting mainly from vertical transmission of HIV. The use of AZT by HIV-infected pregnant women in the U.S. has dramatically reduced the rate of maternal-fetal transmission, but vertical transmission rates remain very high in underdeveloped countries where the use of AZT is not available. Many immunomodulators are produced in the placenta, including cytokines and chemokines that are normally involved in the maintenance of pregnancy. Successful pregnancy requires precise regulation of immunomodulators with suppression of inflammatory Th1 cytokines early in pregnancy. HIV infections are known to alter cytokine profiles in infected individuals, and Th1 cytokines were shown to be elevated in the trophoblastic cells of HIV-infected pregnant women. Placental immunology and vertical transmission of HIV is an important area of investigation. The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cat is an accepted animal model for the study of AIDS, including vertical transmission of the virus, due to the genetic relatedness of FIV to HIV and the biological similarities of the infection process. Thus, the FIV-infected cat may provide a useful model for the study of placental immunological parameters that may predispose transplacental transmission. To date, the relationship between feline placental immunology and vertical transmission of FIV is unresolved. My laboratory is investigating whether the expression of selected inflammatory Th1 cytokines, β-chemokines, and chemokine receptors differs in the placentae of FIV-infected and uninfected cats. We are also evaluating expression of FIV in placental cells, fetal tissues, and full-term kittens to document in utero infection and to determine whether there is a correlation between levels of immunomodulators, levels of virus expression, and transplacental transmission in these animals. This project may identify an important small-animal model for the study of the role of placental immunology in the vertical transmission of HIV.		113 Harned Hall 662.325.8252 662.325.7939 Fax kcoats@biology.msstate.edu Lab Web Page
		Selected Publications
		Scott VL, Burgess SC, Shack LA, Lockett NN, Coats K.S. in press. Expression of CD134 and CXCR4 mRNA in term placentas from FIV-infected and control cats. Vet Immunol Immunopathol.
		Coats, K.S.  2005. Vertical transmission of feline immunodeficiency virus: a model for lentivirus-induced placental immunopathology and reproductive failure (mini-review). Am. J. Reprod. Immunol. 54:169-185.
		Weaver, C., Burgess, S., Nelson, P., Wilkinson, M., Ryan, P., Nail, C., Kelly-Quagliana, K., May, M., Reeves, K., Boyle, C., and Coats, K.S. 2004. Placental immunopathology and reproductive failure in the FIV-infected cat.  Placenta 26 (2-3): 138-147.
		Thadani, P.V. PhD, Strauss, J.F., III, MD, PhD, Dey, S.K., PhD, Anderson, V.M., MD, Audus, K.L., PhD, Coats, K.S., PhD, Cross, J.C., DVM, PhD, Erlebacher, A., MD, PhD, Ganapathy, V., PhD, Linzer, D.I., PhD, Miller, R.K., PhD, Novak, D.A., MD, Rapaka, R.S.,PhD, Sadovsky, Y., MD, Salafia, C.M., MD, Soares, M., PhD, Unadkat, J., PhD. 2004. NIDA Conference Report on Placental Proteins, Drug Transport and Fetal Development. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 191 (6):1858-1862.
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, 130 Harned Hall, Lee Blvd., Mississippi State, MS 39762