Serap Aksoy Explained

Serap Aksoy
Birth Place:Fatih, Istanbul
Education:BSc, Biology, 1978, Vassar College
PhD, 1982, Columbia University
Thesis Title:Regulation of rRNA gene expression in Escherichia coli
Thesis Year:1982
Known For:tsetse flies
Workplaces:Yale School of Public Health

Fatma Serap Aksoy (born in 1955) is a Turkish–American medical entomologist.

Early life and education

Aksoy was born in Fatih, Istanbul[1] in 1955.[2] After graduating from Robert College, she moved to the United States for her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Vassar College. Following this, she earned a PhD in Biology from Columbia University and then completed a postdoctoral fellowship the Yale School of Public Health.[1]

Career

Following her post-doctoral fellowship, Aksoy joined the faculty at the Yale School of Public Health in 1988.[2] She was eventually promoted to full professor in 2001[1] and served as the department chair from 2002 to 2010.[2] As a full professor, Aksoy focused on studying the transmission of human African Trypanosomiasis. She was specifically interested in conducting studies to genetically alter tsetse flies so it would be unable to transmit the parasite to humans and livestock.[3] As part of this research, Aksoy also studied the genome in Sodalis, which was published in Massive genome erosion and functional adaptations provide insights into the symbiotic lifestyle of Sodalis glossinidius in the tsetse host.[4] In 2009, Aksoy was appointed editor in chief of the PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, after having served as the journal’s deputy editor.[3]

In 2014, Aksoy was a member of an international team of researchers that successfully sequenced the genetic code of the tsetse fly. This was a 10-year effort that began when Aksoy helped initiate the collaborative research project in the early 2000s.[5] Following the sequencing of the genetic code, Aksoy continued to research ways to improve control methods of infections and develop strategies to reduce or eliminate its transmission. As such, she received a Fulbright Scholarship to support her project "Innovative Methods for Control of Insect-Transmitted Diseases" in Italy.[6] Upon returning, Aksoy led a research team into examining an additional control strategy called para-transgenic expression to synthesize proteins that target trypanosomes in microbes cultivated from the gut of tsetse flies.[7] Aksoy was also one of four Yale female professors to be honored with Women of Innovation awards by the Connecticut Technology Council.[8] The following year, she was the first recipient of the Breakthroughs in Medical Entomology Award in recognition of her discoveries regarding the mammalian trypanosome surface proteins known as Variant Surface Glycoproteins (VSG). Her research team were the first to find why these proteins favored parasite infection transmission.[9]

As a result of her global efforts in reducing infection, Aksoy and Peter Salovey participated in a signing ceremony with the Kenya Agricultural Research and Livestock Organization and Kenya Wildlife Service in 2018 to continue their existing partnership. The renewed agreement also allowed for the transfer of tsetse fly parts to Yale for further research.[10] The following year, she was honored by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering.[11] In 2021, Aksoy was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences for her research into microbial diseases.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Conversation with Serap Aksoy . Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association . October 22, 2021 . 2015.
  2. Web site: Serap Aksoy, ESA Fellow (2015) . . October 22, 2021.
  3. Web site: Greenwood . Michael . Aksoy Named Editor of Journal on Tropical Medicine . Yale University . October 22, 2021 . October 9, 2009.
  4. Hidehiro . Toh . Weiss . Brian L. . Perkin . Sarah A. H. . Yamashita . Atsushi . Oshima . Kenshiro . Hattori . Masahira . Aksoy . Serap . Massive genome erosion and functional adaptations provide insights into the symbiotic lifestyle of Sodalis glossinidius in the tsetse host . . February 2006 . 16 . 2 . 149–156 . 10.1101/gr.4106106 . 16365377 . 1361709 .
  5. Web site: Greenwood . Michael . A scourge of rural Africa, the tsetse fly is genetically deciphered . Yale University . October 22, 2021 . April 24, 2014.
  6. Web site: Serap Aksoy . . October 22, 2021.
  7. Web site: Gaber . Adam . Aksoy Labs combats the tsetse fly to protect Africa from sleeping sickness . Yale University . October 22, 2021 . February 15, 2018.
  8. Web site: Four Yale affiliates honored with 'Women of Innovation' awards . Yale University . October 22, 2021 . February 26, 2015.
  9. Web site: Aksoy wins the " Breakthrough in Medical Entomology Award" . Yale University . October 22, 2021 . November 29, 2016.
  10. Web site: Yale, Kenyan scientists renew collaboration on tsetse fly research . Yale University . October 22, 2021 . March 16, 2018.
  11. Web site: Yale faculty honored by Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering . Yale University . October 22, 2021 . February 20, 2019.
  12. Web site: Four Yale professors elected to National Academy of Sciences . Yale University . October 22, 2021 . April 27, 2021.