Dr. Petersen’s Research Interests
 • Investigation of host-pathogen interaction between the murine or canine immune system/dendritic cells and Leishmania species.
• Characterization of key signaling events required to induce clearance of disease vs. chronicity
• Understanding of processing of and immune responses to carbohydrates
• Development of diagnostics and epidemiological studies of Brucella canis

2004 - Ph.D. (Immunology and Infectious Diseases), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115
1998 - D.V.M., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
1994 - B.A. (Biology) with departmental honors, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218

1. Petersen C.A. and Burleigh B.A. (2003) “Role for IL-1b in Trypanosoma cruzi-induced Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy.” Infection and Immunity, Vol 71(8), 4441-4447.

2. Woolsey A.M., Sunwoo L., Petersen C.A., Brachmann S.M., Cantley L.C. and Burleigh B.A. (2003) “A PI-3 kinase-independent phagosome maturation pathway follows trypanosome invasion of non-phagocytic cells.” J. Cell. Science., Vol 116, 3611-3622.

3. Petersen C.A., Krumholz K.A. and Burleigh B.A. (2005) “Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy Elicited by Toll-like Receptor Signaling” Infection and Immunity, Vol 73(10), 6974-6980.

4. Petersen C.A., Krumholz K.A., Carmen J., Sinai A.P. and Burleigh B.A. (2006) “Trypanosoma cruzi infection and Nuclear Factor KB activation prevents apoptosis in cardiac cells.” Infection and Immunity, Vol 74(3), 1580-1587.

5. Mukbel, R. M., Petersen C. A., and Jones D. E. (2006) “Soluble factors from Leishmania major-specific CD4+ T cells and B cells limit L. amazonensis amastigote survival within infected macrophages.” Microbes and Infection Vol 8(9-10), 2547-2555.

6. Mukbel R.M., Patten C., Ghosh, M, Gibson-Corley, K, Petersen C. and Jones D.E. (2007) “Macrophage killing of Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes requires both nitric oxide and superoxide.” The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Vol 76(4), 669-675.

7. Fisch, S., Grey, S, Heymans, S, Wang, B, Haldar, S, Pfister, O, Cui, L, Kumar, A, Lin, Z, Sen-Banerjee, S, Das, H, Petersen C.A., Mende, U, Burleigh, B.A., Zhu, Y, Pinto, Y, Liao, R, and Jain M.K. (2007) “The Kruppel-like factor KLF15 is a novel regulator of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol 104, 7074-7079.

8. Gibson-Corley, K. N., Hostetter, J.M., Hostetter, S.J., Mullin, K., Ramer-Tait, A.E., Boggiatto, M.P., Petersen, C.A. (2008) “Disseminated Leishmania infantum Infection in Two Sibling American Foxhound Dogs from Potential Vertical Transmission.” Canadian Veterinary Journal, Vol. 49, 1005-1008.

9. Boggiatto, M. P., Gibson-Corley, K. N., Ghosh, M., Jie, F., Jones, D. E., Petersen, C. A. (2009) “Altered dendritic cell phenotype in response to Leishmania amazonensis is mediated by MAP kinase ERK.” American Journal of Pathology.

10.  Petersen, C.A.  (2009) “New means of Canine Leishmaniasis transmission in North America; the possibility of transmission to humans still unknown.”  Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases, Article ID 802712, 5 pages. (doi:10.1155/2009/802712).

11.  Petersen, C.A.  (2009) “Leishmaniasis: An Emerging Disease Found in Companion Animals in the United States.”  Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, (in press).

12.  Gibson-Corley K.N., Boggiatto P.M., Petersen C.A., Jones D.E.  (2010) Co-infection with Leishmania major and Leishmania amazonensis in Two Murine Models; a role for B cells in the Cell-Mediated Immune Response.  International Journal of Parasitology, (in press).

13.  Ramer-Tait, A.E., Petersen, C.A., Jones D.E.  “IL-2 limits IL-12 enhanced lymphocyte proliferation during Leishmania amazonensis infection.”  Infection and Immunity, (resubmitted).

Organized and chaired first annual Biological Sciences in Public Health Alumni Career Panel and Career Mentoring Day, Harvard School of Public Health, April 18, 2003.  

2006-present Volunteer Veterinarian, United Animal Nations, Emergency Animal Rescue Service. Responded to Louisiana post-hurricanes Katrina and Rita, 2005.

Coordinated symposium for Annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Atlanta, GA, Nov. 2006, on elimination of Leishmania infantum from US foxhounds, raised $4000 total honoraria for 5 speakers.

Coordinated Breeders symposium sponsored by the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation held at ISU CVM, Ames, IA, Nov. 17-18, 2007, on important health topics for dog breeders, 60 attendees, and 10 speakers.

2007- 2010 Co-chairman (2008-present) Student Faculty Relations Committee, CVM, ISU.

2008-present Volunteer Veterinarian, Iowa Veterinary Rapid Response Team. Responded to Cedar Rapids, IA post-flooding, 2008. Helped coordinate ISU CVM response to disaster.

2003-2007 NIH Health Disparities Scholar.

2006-2007, President, Veterinary Honor society, Phi Zeta, gamma chapter, Iowa State University.

2004-present, member Veterinary Honor society, Phi Zeta, gamma chapter, Iowa State University.

1998 Leonard Pearson Veterinary Prize, for professional and academic leadership, Cornell University.

American Association for the Advancement of Science

American Society of Microbiologists

American Society of Parasitologists

American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

American Veterinary Medical Association

Association of Shelter Veterinarians

Iowa Veterinary Medical Association