İhsan Gürsel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Mailing Address
Bilkent University
Faculty of Science, B Building
Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics
06800 Ankara, TURKEY
Office
Science B 244
Telephone
+90-312-290 24 08
Fax
+90-312-266 50 97
e-mail 1
ihsangursel[at]bilkent[dot]edu[dot]tr
e-mail 2
igursel[at]fen[dot]bilkent[dot]edu[dot]tr
Professional Snapshot
Research Focus
1. Evaluation of immunoprotective, anti-cancer and immunoadjuvant effects of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides expressing CpG motifs.
2. Determination of gene expression and transcriptional profiling of immune cells via high throughput screening using gene chips.
3. Designing controlled release systems for o ligodeoxynucleotide targeting and delivery.
4 . Investigation of immunomodulatory properties of bacterial and mammalian DNA.
5. Use of novel biodegradable polymers for biomaterials, tissue engineering, and drug delivery applications. 6. The role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) and TLR-ligand interactions (alone or in combination) in triggering an innate immune response.
Academic Degrees and Employment
Education
* 1998, Docent Degree Higher Education Council ( Ankara, TURKEY)
* 1995, Ph.D. Middle East Technical University (METU), Department of Biological Sciences, ( Ankara, TURKEY)
* 1989, M.Sc. METU, Department of Biological Sciences, ( Ankara, TURKEY)
* 1987, B.Sc. METU, Department of Biological Sciences, with Honors ( Ankara, TURKEY)
Employment
* 2005-Present Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University
* 2002-2005 Staff Scientist-Regulatory Personnel , Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Division of Viral Products, ( USA)
* 1998-2002 Visiting Research Fellow, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Division of Viral Products, ( USA)
* 1997-1998 Assistant. Professor , METU, Department of Biological Sciences, ( TURKEY)
* 1996-1997 Lecturer , METU, Department of Biological Sciences, ( TURKEY)
* 1993-1994 Research Scientist , University of London, The School of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Delivery Research ( UK)
* 1987-1995 Teaching and Research Assistant , METU, Department of Biological Sciences
Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations
Scientific Focus
Research Interests
The focus of my research lab involves the analysis of the intracellular pathways associated with immunostimulatory CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) recognition and signaling. The nature of the immune response elicited by bacterial and mammalian DNA and the potential therapeutic applications of the synthetic ODN mimicking these macromolecules are the major research themes. Accompanying these interests are efforts to better define the role of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR 9) and TLR ligand interactions (alone and in combination with other TLR ligands) in triggering an innate immune response. The techniques used to evaluate these issues range from cellular and molecular biology to the use of gene chips to compare the nature and breadth of gene and genome activation elicited by various TLR ligands. Studies concerning the activity of recently identified “suppressive ODN”, including the mechanisms underlying their ability to block Th1 and pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine production is another major field of the lab. Finally, the in vivo immnunomodulatory efficacy of stimulatory and suppressive ODNs are being tested in mouse model system.
Click for Gursel Lab
Publications
* F.C. Yagci, O. Aslan, M. Gursel, G. Tincer, Y. Ozdamar, K. Karatepe, K.C. Akcali, I. Gursel, “Mammalian Telomeric DNA Suppresses Endotoxin-induced Uveitis,” Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol. 285, pp. 28806-1–6 (2010) PubMed
* G. Bayramoglu, I. Gursel, Y. Tunali, M.Y. Arica, “Biosorption of phenol and 2-chlorophenol by Funalia trogii pellets,” Bioresource Technology, vol. 100, pp. 2685-2691 (2009)PubMed
* M.K. Abak, O. Aktas, R. Mammadov, I. Gursel, A. Dana, “Parametrically coupled multiharmonic force imaging,” Applied Physics Letters, vol. 92, pp. 223113-1-3 (2008) PubMed
* H. Shirota, I. Gürsel, M. Gursel, D.M. Klinman, Suppressive oligodeoxy-nucleotides protect mice from lethal endotoxic shock, J. Immunol. 174(8):4579-4583, 2005 PubMed
* H. Xie, I. Gürsel , B. Ivins, D.O`Hagan, J. Ulmer, D.M. Klinman, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides adsorbed onto PLG microparticles improve the immunogenicity and efficacy of anthrax vaccine, Infect. Immun. 73(2):828-833, 2005. PubMed
* D . M. Klinman, D . Currie, I. Gürsel , D . Verthelyi, Use of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides as immune adjuvants, Immunol. Rev. 199:201-216, 2004. PubMed
* K.J. Ishii,I. Gürsel, M. Gursel, D. M. Klinman, Immunotherapeutic utility of stimulatory and suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides, Curr. Op. Mol. Ther. 6(2):166-174, 2004. PubMed
* F. Takeshita, I. Gürsel, K.J. Ishii, K. Suzuki,M. Gursel, D.M. Klinman, Signal transduction pathways mediated by the interaction of CpG DNA with toll-like receptor 9, Semin. Immunol. 16, 17-22, 2004. PubMed
* K.J.Ishii, K.Kawakami, I. Gürsel, B.H.Joshi, D.M. Klinman, R.K. Puri.Anti-tumor therapy with bacterial DNA and toxin: complete regression of established tumor induced by liposomal CpG ODN plus IL-13 cytotoxin, Clin. Cancer Res. 9(17) , 6516-6522, 2003. PubMed
* D.M. Klinman, R.A. Zeuner, H. Yamada, M. Gursel, D. Currie, I. Gürsel, Regulation of CpG-induced immune activation by suppressive oligodeoxy-nucleotides, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1002, 112-123, 2003. PubMed
* I. Gürsel, M. Gursel, H. Yamada, F. Takeshita, K.J. Ishii, D.M. Klinman, Repetitive elements present in mammalian telomeres suppress CpG DNA induced immune activation, J. Immunol. 171:1393-1400, 2003 ( this study was picked as the cover story: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/vol171/issue3/cover.shtml). PubMed
* A. Yagmurlu, M. Barlas, I. Gürsel. I.H. Gokcora, Reduction of injury induced peritoneal adhesions by continuous release of streptokinase from a drug delivery system, Eur.Surg.Res. 35(1):46-49, 2003. PubMed
* H. Yamada, I. Gürsel, F. Takeshita, J. Conover, K. J. Ishii, M. Gursel, S. Takeshita, and D.M. Klinman, Effect of Suppressive DNA on CpG-Induced Immune Activation, J. Immunol. 169: 5590-5594, 2002. PubMed
* D.M. Klinman, K.J. Ishii,I. Gürsel, Immunoprotective activity of CpG oligonucleotide, In. Microbial DNA and Host Immunity, ed. Raz E, Humana Press, 255-263, 2002. PubMed
* R.A. Zeuner, K.J. Ishii, M. Lizak, I. Gürsel, H. Yamada, D.M. Klinman, D. Verthelyi, Prevention of inflammatory arthritis by suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides, Arthritis Rheum. 46(8) 2219-2224, 2002. PubMed
* D.M. Klinman , F. Takeshita , I. Gürsel , C. Leifer, K.J. Ishii, D. Verthelyi, M. Gursel , CpG DNA: recognition by and activation of monocytes, Microbes Infection,4(9) 897-901, 2002. PubMed
* K.J. Ishii, F. Takeshita, I. Gürsel, M. Gursel, J. Conover, A. Nussenzweig, D.M. Klinman, Potential role of PI3 kinases, rather than DNA-PK, in CpG DNA induced immune activation, J. Exp. Med. 196(2):269-74, 2002. PubMed
* M. Gursel, D. Verthelyi, I. Gürsel , K.J. Ishii, D.M. Klinman, Differential and competitive activation of human immune cells by distinct classes of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide, J. Leuko. Biol, 71(5):813-820, 2002. PubMed
* H.A. Anderson, R. Englert, I. Gürsel, E. Shacter, Oxidative stress inhibits the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells that have externalized phosphatidylserine Cell Death Differ. 9(6):616-625, 2002. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , M.F. Yagmurlu, F. Korkusuz, V. Hasirci, In vitro antibiotic release from poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) rods, J. Microencapsulation 19:(2)153-164, 2002. PubMed
* F. Takeshita, C. Leifer, I. Gürsel, M. Gursel, K.J. Ishii, D.M. Klinman, Role of Toll-like receptor-9 in CpG DNA induced activation of human cells. J. Immunol. 167(7):3555-3558, 2001. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , M. Gursel, K.J. Ishii, D.M. Klinman, Sterically stabilized cationic liposomes improve the uptake and immunostimulatory activity of CpG oligonucleotides, J. Immunol.167(6):3324-3328, 2001. PubMed
* F. Korkusuz, P. Korkusuz, F. Eksioglu, I. Gürsel, V. Hasirci, In vivo response to biodegradable antibiotic release systems, J. Biomed. Mater. Res. 55:217-228, 2001. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , F. Korkusuz, F. Turesin, N.G Alaeddinoglu, V. Hasirci, In vivo application of biodegradable controlled antibiotic release systems for the treatment of implant-related osteomyelitis, Biomaterials22:(1) 73-80, 2001. PubMed
* D.M. Klinman, S. Kampstrup, D. Verthelyi, I. Gürsel , K.J. Ishii, F. Takeshita, M. Gursel, Activation of the innate immune system by CpG: Therapeutic applications and safety issues, Springer Semin. Immunopharmacol. 2(1-2): 173-183, 2000. PubMed
* D.M. Klinman, K.J. Ishii, M. Gursel, I. Gürsel , S. Takeshita and F. Takeshita, Immunotherapeutic applications of CpG containing oligodeoxynucleotides, Drug News and Perspectives13(5),289-296, 2000. PubMed
* F. Türesin, Z. Gümüsyazici, F.N. Kök, I. Gürsel , N.G. Alaeddinoglu V. Hasirci, Biosynthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate and its co-polymers and their use in controlled drug release, Turkish J. Med. Sci30:535-541 2000. PubMed
* D. Sendil, I. Gürsel , V. Hasirci, Preparation of PHBV foams and investigation of their potential for drug release, Tr. J. Med. Sci. 30: 9-14, 2000. PubMed
* F. Eksioglu, I. Gürsel, F. Korkusuz, V. Hasirci, Novel antibiotic carrying biodegradable implant for the treatment of bone infections, J. Bone Joint Surg. [BR] 81-B: Supp II p.179, 1999. PubMed
* M.F. Yagmurlu, F. Korkusuz, I. Gürsel, P. Korkusuz, U. Ors, V. Hasirci, Sulbactam-cefoperazone polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) local antibiotic delivery system: In vivo effectivity and biocompatibility in the treatment of implant related experimental osteomyelitis, J. Biomed. Mater. Res.46, 494-503, 1999. PubMed
* S. Bayari, F. Severcan, I. Gürsel , V. Hasirci, N.G. Alaeddinoglu, The FTIR studies of PHB and PHBV, In. New Biomedical Materials, eds. P. I. Haris and D. Chapman, IOS Press, 58-64, 1998. PubMed
* D. Sendil, I. Gürsel , D.L. Wise, and V. Hasirci, Antibiotic Release from biodegradable PHBV microparticles, J. Contr. Rel.59,207-217, 1999. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , C. Balçik, Y. Arica, O. Akkus, N. Akkas, V. Hasirci, Synthesis and mechanical properties of interpenetrating networks of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate and polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, Biomaterials,19(13):1137-1143, 1998. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , N.G. Alaeddinoglu, Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates: Biosynthesis, screening and characterization, In. Biopharmaceutical and Biomedical Science and Technology, eds. A.A. Hincal, H. S. Kas, Plenum Press, NY, USA, 81-88, 1998. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , D. Sendil, D. L. Wise, V. Hasirci, Antibiotic release from biodegradable PHBV microparticles, In. Biopharmaceutical and Biomedical Science and Technology, eds. A.A. Hincal, H. S. Kas, Plenum Press, NY, USA, 89-96, 1998. PubMed
* V. Hasirci, I. Gürsel , F. Turesin, G. Yigitel, F. Korkusuz, N.G. Alaeddinoglu, In. Biopharmaceutical and Biomedical Science and Technology, Eds. A.A. Hincal ve H. S. Kas, Plenum Press, NY, USA, 183-187, 1998 PubMed
* I. Gürsel , Y. Arica, V. Hasirci, Immobilization of glucose oxidase and urease, in hydrogel matrices, Turkish J. Chem. 21(4):387-393, 1997. PubMed
* G. Gregoriadis. I. Gürsel , M. Gursel, B. Mc. Cormack, Liposomes as immunological adjuvants and vaccine carriers, J. Contr. Rel. 41:49-56, 1996. PubMed
* G. nGregoriadis I. Gürsel , and S.G.Antimisiaris, Microbe entrapment in giant liposomes, In: Non-Medical Applications of Liposomes:”From Gene Delivery and Diagnostics to Ecology” , eds. D. L. Lasic and Y. Barenholz, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Vol. IV, 263-269, 1996. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , C. Balcik, Y. Arica, O. Akkus, V. Hasirci, and N. Akkas, Interpenetrating networks of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate, and polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate : Mechanical properties, Engineering Systems Design and Analysis, 5:107-111, 1996. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , Use of microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates in the construction of biomedical drug release systems, Ph. D. Thesis (M.E.T.U), February 1995. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , and V. Hasirci, Microcapsules of PHB and PHBV: morphology and release characteristics, J. Microencapsulation, 12(2):185-193, 1995. PubMed
* I. Gürsel , P.Jayasekera, S.G. Antimisiaris, and G.Gregoriadis, Giant Liposomes as potential vehicles for live or attenuated microbial vaccines, In: Liposomes in Biomedical Applications, ed. P.Shek, Harwood Academic Publishers, Chur, 35-50, 1995. PubMed
* * I. Gürsel , and V. Hasirci, Matrix entrapment of glucose oxidase by gamma-irradiation, Biomaterials, 13(3):150-155, 1992. PubMed