Sonia Bakkour, PhD
Research and Clinical Interests
My main research in the BSRI Molecular Transfusion Core, which I lead, has focused on the design of molecular assays for the specific detection of nucleic acids using real-time PCR. We specialize in developing and performing assays for detection of viral and parasitic pathogens, host genetic variants relevant to blood donation or response to transfusion, genetic material from allogeneic cells, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released after cell injury, and nucleic acid modification after treatment of blood products with pathogen reduction technologies.
Selected Publications
- Brooks T, Roy-Burman A, Tuholske C, Busch MP, Bakkour S, Stone M, Linnen JM, Gao K, Coleman J, Bloch EM. Real-Time Evolution of Zika Virus Disease Outbreak, Roatán, Honduras. Emerg Infect Dis. 23:1360-1363, 2017.
- Chen Z, Schubert P, Bakkour S, Culibrk B, Busch MP, Devine DV. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates mitochondrial function and microvesicle release in riboflavin- and ultraviolet light-treated apheresis platelet concentrates. Transfusion. 57:1199-1207, 2017.
- Bakkour S, Acker JP, Chafets DM, Inglis HC, Norris PJ, Lee TH, Busch MP. Manufacturing method affects mitochondrial DNA release and extracellular vesicle composition in stored red blood cells. Vox Sang. 111:22-32, 2016.
- Jin J, Liss NM, Chen DH, Liao M, Fox JM, Shimak RM, Fong RH, Chafets D, Bakkour S, Keating S, Fomin ME, Muench MO, Sherman MB, Doranz BJ, Diamond MS, Simmons G. Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibodies Block Chikungunya Virus Entry and Release by Targeting an Epitope Critical to Viral Pathogenesis. Cell Rep. 13:2553-2564, 2015.
- Bakkour S, Baker CA, Tarantal AF, Wen L, Busch MP, Lee TH, McCune JM. Analysis of maternal microchimerism in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) using real-time quantitative PCR amplification of MHC polymorphisms. Chimerism. 5:6-15, 2014.
Additional Information
- Assistant Adjunct Professor
- Laboratory Medicine
- Division: Blood Systems Research Institute
Specialty Areas
- Molecular biology, transfusion medicine
Contact Information
- SBakkour@
bloodsystems.org - Phone: (415) 923-5771 ext. 330
- Blood Systems Research Institute
- 270 Masonic Avenue
- San Francisco, CA 94118
Web Site
Other UCSF Organizational Association(s)
- Staff Scientist, Blood Systems Research Institute