Photo of Benita Westerlund-Wikström
 

Benita Westerlund-Wikström

University lecturer, PI

 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5307-3858

  • PL 56 (Viikinkaari 9)

    00014

    Finland

  • Viikinkaari 5, Biocenter 2

    00790 Helsinki

    Finland

1987 …2018
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Personal profile

Description of research and teaching

My research

I am interested in the basic mechanisms involved when bacteria infect the human host. My research group studies, at the molecular level, the function of bacterial surface proteins and protein appendages involved in infectious processes and bacteria-host interactions. A special emphasis is on uropathogenic bacteria, health-promoting lactic acid bacteria and bacterial antibiotic resistance. We also apply bacterial proteins and protein complexes biotechnologically for medical or diagnostic purposes.

For more information about my research and research group, please visit our homepage  

http://blogs.helsinki.fi/molecularbacteriology/

 

 

 

Education information

 

MSc, University of Helsinki, Finland, 1986

PhD, University of Helsinki, Finland, 1991

Adjunct professor (Molecular microbiology), University of Helsinki, Finland, 1993

 

External positions

R&D Microbiologist, Orion Diagnostica Oy

1 Aug 2000 → 31 Jul 2001

Fields of Science

  • 1183 Plant biology, microbiology, virology
  • Molecular microbiology
  • 1182 Biochemistry, cell and molecular biology
  • 318 Medical biotechnology

Publications 1987 2016

Penicillin binding protein 3 of Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 8325-4 binds and activates human plasminogen.

Kylväjä, S. R. K., Ojalehto, T. H. I., Kainulainen, V. L., Virkola, R. T. H. & Westerlund-Wikström, B. A., 4 Aug 2016, In : BMC research notes. 9, 10 p., 389.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Open Access
File

Fermentation and dry fractionation increase bioactivity of cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus)

Puupponen-Pimiä, R., Nohynek, L., Juvonen, R., Kössö, T., Truchado, P., Westerlund-Wikström, B. A., Leppänen, T., Moilanen, E. & Oksman-Caldentey, K-M., 14 Nov 2015, In : Food Chemistry. 197 , Part A, p. 950–958

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Comparative genomics of Lactobacillus crispatus suggests novel mechanisms for the competitive exclusion of Gardnerella vaginalis

Ojala, T., Kankainen, M., Castro, J., Cerca, N., Edelman, S., Westerlund-Wikstroem, B., Paulin, L., Holm, L. & Auvinen, P., 5 Dec 2014, In : BMC Genomics. 15, 21 p., 1070.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Open Access
File

Colony Immunoblotting Assay for Detection of Bacterial Cell-surface or Extracellular Proteins

Lehti, T. A. & Westerlund-Wikström, B., 5 Sep 2013, In : Bio-Protocol. 3, 17

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Professional

Cytotoxic response persists in subjects treated for tuberculosis decades ago

Savolainen, L., Koskivirta, P., Kantele, A., Valleala, H., Pusa, L., Tuompo, R., Westerlund-Wikström, B. & Tuuminen, T., 5 Dec 2013, In : BMC Infectious Diseases. 13, 11 p., 573.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Open Access
File

Projects 1997 2018

Tekes / Salwe 2014 / Westerlund-Wikström Research Program

Westerlund-Wikström, B. & Brandt, A.

01/07/2014 → 31/12/2018

Project: Research project

Functional phenolics

Heinonen, M., Kylli, P., Maarit, R., Viljanen, K., Vuorela, S., Salminen, H., Kähkönen, M., Puupponen-Pimiä, R., Nohynek, L., Vuorela, H., Moilanen, E., Westerlund-Wikström, B. & Ollilainen, V.

01/01/1997 → 31/12/2012

Project: Research project

Activities 1987 2019

Current Topics in Biotechnology (Journal)

Benita Westerlund-Wikström (Reviewer)
2019

Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review of manuscripts

Validation of drug targets in quorum sensing pathways of uropathogenic E. coli

Benita Westerlund-Wikström (Member of thesis committee / follow-up group)
2019 → …

Activity: Examination types › Member of doctoral thesis committee / follow-up group

PLoS One (Journal)

Benita Westerlund-Wikström (Reviewer)
1 May 2018

Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Peer review of manuscripts

Pre-examiner of MSc thesis by Natalie Istomin

Benita Westerlund-Wikström (Participant)
Feb 2018

Activity: Other activity types › Other

Co-supervisor of MSc thesis by Kira Virtanen

Benita Westerlund-Wikström (Co-supervisor), Mirja Puolakkainen (Supervisor)
2018 → 2019

Activity: Examination types › Supervision of other thesis (Master's, Licentiate)