Yvonne Drechsler,
Associate Dean for Research / Professor Immunology
College of Veterinary Medicine
Join year: 2007
2001 PhD in Molecular Biology, Children's Hospital University Tübingen, Germany
1997 Dipl. Biol (equivalent to Masters Degree in Biology) University Tübingen, Germany
2025-current:Associate Dean of Research, College of Veterinary Medicine,WUHS, CA
2024: Acting Associate Dean of Research, College of Veterinary Medicine,WUHS, CA
2021-current: Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, WUHS, CA
2013-2021 Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, WUHS, CA
2007-2013 Assistant Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, WUHS, CA
2004-2007 Postdocteral Fellowship at the Veterinary College Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
2000-2003 Postdoctoral Fellowship at University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Problem Based Learning
Undergraduate virology
Veterinary virology/molecular biology/immunology classes
Laboratory classes
Undergraduate/graduate research
Problem Based Learning
Molecular Cellular Biology
Basic Science Activities
I have several projects ongoing with the major focus of immune responses in disease processes.
Current areas of interest are:
Underlying immunological signaling in canine atopic dermatitis.
Immune signaling and genetics in the chicken in response to infection.
Current:
Drechsler Yvonne: 2023-2029. "Veterinary Research Initiative for Student Engagement (VetRise)" $227,225. NIH NIAID
Drechsler Yvonne, Ng Theros: 2023-2026. “Characterizing the spatial expression of the “clustered homolog of immunoglobulin-like receptors” (CHIR) in the chicken intestine after coccidiosis vaccine challenge”. $300,000. USDA-NIFA.
Previous:
Drechsler Yvonne, Tkalcic Suzana, Hawkins David 2018-2024. Genome-Wide Annotation of Cis-Regulatory Elements in the Chicken Genome. USDA-NIFA. $2,500000 (Program Director)
Drechsler Yvonne, Collisson Ellen, Diniz Pedro, Bossong Frank, 2010-2012: Identifying Genetic Determinants Differentiating Feline Coronavirus and Peritonitis Virus Pathotypes, Morris Animal Foundation $108,000. (Primary Investigator)
Drechsler Yvonne, 2010-2011: Genetic regions involved in Coronavirus Nephropathogenesis. Western University Intramural Grant $15000 (Primary Investigator).
Collisson, E.W., PI, Drechsler Y, Barr M, Terra R, Gordon Ross P. (2010-2012) USDA Avian Influenza Cooperative Agricultural Program, Avian Influenza Education for Families with Backyard Poultry in Southern California. $83,915. (Co-PI)
Collisson E.W., PI, Drechsler Y, Dawes M and Irizarry K. (2008-2011) USDA-NRI, Competitive grants program, “Impact of immune responses of chickens with defined B haplotypes on resistence to respiratory coronavirus infection.” $375,000. (Co-PI).
Adler Moore Jill, (Cal Poly), Collisson EW, Drechsler Y, 2010-2012: State University Agricultural Research Initiative “Combination liposomal and DNA vaccine technologies for development of non-infectious influenza vaccines for protecting poultry,” $150,000 (Co-Investigator)
Collisson E.W. Drechsler Y: Surro Immune (Surro Immunology) 2010-2011. “Effects of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus on macrophage and T lymphocyte function,” $40,116. (Co-PI).
Drechsler Y 2008-2009: Development of IBV as viral vectors for HA of avian influenza. Western University Intramural Grant $22000 (Primary Investigator).
Collisson E.W. PI, Drechsler Y. 2006-2009: Federal Wildlife Service, “Controlling for the REV Threat to the Endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chicken,” $50,000/year for 5 years ($250,000). (Co-PI).
2019 Zoetis Award for Research Excellence
2018 Independent Researcher Award CVM
2012 Pfizer Award for Veterinary Research Excellence
2010 Membership Phi Zeta
2000 Magna Cum Laude PHD graduation at the University of Tübingen, Germany
1997-1999 FORTUNE Scholarship of the University of Tübingen, Germany
1995-1996 FORTUNE Scholarship of the University of Tübingen, Germany
American Association of Immunology
USDA Research Groups: NE2334, NC1170, NRSP8, FAANG (Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes)
Society for Investigative Dermatology
Research Advisory Committee CVM, EXO
Brown O, de Lima AO, Drechsler Y, Hawkins RD: INFO GRAB: An interactive shiny application for gene expression analysis and visualization. Genomics, 2026, 111222, ISSN 0888-7543, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2026.111222.
de Lima AO, Ng TT, Sparling B, Griggs LM, Lai K, Drechsler Y, Hawkins RD. An updated Gallus gallus genome annotation through multi-tissue transcriptome analysis. Genomics. 2025 Jul;117(4):111056. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.111056. Epub 2025 May 16. PMID: 40383208.
E. R. Sculley, E. S. Ricemeyer, R. C. Carroll, J. Driver, J. Smith, J. Kaufman, et al. A single-nucleus census of immune and non-immune cell types for the major immune organ systems of chicken. bioRxiv 2024 Pages 2024.08.05.606414.https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.05.606414
Drechsler Y, Dong C, Clark DE, Kaur G. Canine Atopic Dermatitis: Prevalence, Impact, and Management Strategies. Vet Med (Auckl). 2024 Feb 13;15:15-29. doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S412570. PMID: 38371487; PMCID: PMC10874193.
Sparling BA, Ng TT, Carlo-Allende A, McCarthy FM, Taylor RL Jr, Drechsler Y: Immunoglobulin-like Receptors in Chickens: identification, functional characterization, and renaming to Cluster Homolog of Immunoglobulin-like Receptors. Poultry Science Volume 103, Issue 2, 2024.
J. Smith, J. M. Alfieri, N. Anthony, P. Arensburger, G. N. Athrey, J. Balacco, et al.: “Fourth Report on chicken genes and chromosomes.” Cytogenet Genome Res. 2023. DOI: 10.1159/000529376
Brandi A. Sparling, Nicholas Moss, Gagandeep Kaur, David Clark, R. David Hawkins, Yvonne Drechsler: “Unique cell subpopulations and disease progression markers in canines with atopic dermatitis.”J Immunol. 2022 Oct 1;209(7):1379-1388. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200304. Epub 2022 Aug 31. PMID: 36165204.
Overbey EG, Ng TT, Catini P, Griggs LM, Stewart P, Tkalcic S, Hawkins RD and Drechsler Y:Transcriptomes of an Array of ChickenOvary, Intestinal, and Immune Cells and Tissues. Front. Genet. 2021; 12:664424. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.664424
Drechsler Y, Vasconcelos EJR, Griggs LM, Diniz PPPV.CRFK and Primary Macrophages Transcriptomes in Response to Feline Coronavirus Infection Differ Significantly. Front Genet. 2020 Dec 3;11:584744. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2020.584744. PMID: 33343631; PMCID: PMC7745755.
Drechsler Y, Vasconcelos EJR, Griggs LM, Diniz PPPV, Collisson E.Host Gene Expression of Macrophages in Response to Feline Coronavirus Infection. Cells. 2020 Jun 9;9(6):1431. doi: 10.3390/cells9061431. PMID: 32526950; PMCID: PMC7349523.
Drechsler Y, Vasconcelos EJ, Diniz PPVP.Host Transcriptome Studies in Response to Feline Coronavirus Reveal Differences in Macrophages vs CRFK. J Immunol204 (1 Supplement) 92.27, 2020.
Ramírez GA, Richardson E, Clark J, Keshri J, Drechsler Y, Berrang ME, Meinersmann RJ, Cox NA, Oakley BB.Broiler chickens and early life programming: Microbiome transplant-induced cecal community dynamics and phenotypic effects.PLoS One. 2020 Nov 13;15(11): e0242108.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242108. PMID: 33186366; PMCID: PMC7665843.
Koury J, Ramirez A, Xie C, Harb J, Dong C, Maki C, Ramos T, Izadyar F, Clark D, Drechsler Y, Kaur G, Hao J.Phosphodiesterase 4D, miR-203 and selected cytokines in the peripheral blood are associated with canine atopic dermatitis. PLoS One. 2019 Jun 21;14(6)
Eric J. Fish, Pedro Paulo V. P. Diniz, Yen-Chen Juan, Frank Bossong, Ellen W. Collisson, Yvonne Drechsler,Bernhard Kaltenboeck:.A cross-sectional quantitative RT-PCR study of feline coronavirus viremia and replication in peripheral blood of healthy shelter cats in Southern California.J Feline Med and Surgery. 2018 Vol 20(4) 295-3-1.
Irizarry KJL, Downs E, Bryden R, Clark J, Griggs L, Kopulos R, Boettger CM, Carr TJ Jr, Keeler CL, Collisson E, Drechsler Y.RNA sequencing demonstrates large-scale temporal dysregulation of gene expression in stimulated macrophages derived from MHC-defined chicken haplotypes. PLoS One. 2017 Aug 28;12(8)
Collisson E, Griggs L, Drechsler Y.Macrophages from disease resistant B2 haplotype chickens activate T lymphocytes more effectively than macrophages from disease susceptible B19 birds.Dev Comp Immunol. 2017 Feb;67:249-256.
Irizarry KJ, Chan A, Kettle D, Kezian S, Ma D, Palacios L, Li Q, Keeler CL, Drechsler Y.Bioinformatics Analysis of Chicken miRNAs Associated with Monocyte to Macrophage Differentiation and Subsequent IFNgStimulated Activation. MicroRNA. 2016 Nov 29.
Irizarry KJL, Punt N, Bryden R, Bertone J, Drechsler Y.Leveraging Naked Mole Rat (Heterocephalus glaber) Comparative Genomics to Identify Canine Genes Modulating Susceptibility to Tumorigenesis and Cancer Phenotypes. J Vet Sci Techno 2016. 7:322.
Dawes ME, Griggs L, Collisson EW, Drechsler Y:Dramatic differences in the response of macrophages from B2 and B19 MHC-defined haplotypes to interferon gamma and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid stimulation. Poultry Science93(4):830-838. 2014
Drechsler Y, Tkalcic S, Shrivaprasad H.L., Ajithdoss DK, Saggese M, Collisson EW. “Partial protection against reticuloendotheliosis virus challenge in the prairie chicken (tympanicus cupido) by a DNA vaccine.”J Zoo Wildl MedJun; 44(2):251-61. 2013
Drechsler Y, Alcaraz A, Bossong F.J., Collisson E.W., Diniz P.P.:Feline Coronavirus in Multicat Environments.Vet Clin Small Anim 411133–1169. 2011
Drechsler Y, Bohls RL, Smith R, Silvy N, Lillehoy H, Collisson EW:An avian, oncogenic retrovirus replicates in vivo in more than fifty percent of CD4+and CD8+T lymphocytes from an endangered grouse.Virology386(2):380-6, 2009.
Collisson EW, Singh S, Drechsler Y:Evolving vaccine choices for the continuously evolving avian influenza viruses.CAB Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources 3, No. 088, 2008.
Drechsler Y, Dolganiuc A, Norkina O, Romics L, Li W, Kodys K, Bach FH, Mandrekar P, Szabo G:Heme oxygenase-1 mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of acute alcohol on IL-10 induction involving p38 MAPK activation in monocytes. J Immunol 177(4): 2592-2600, 2006.
Romics L, Mandrekar P, Kodys K, Velayudham A, Drechsler Y, Dolganiuc A, Szabo G:Increased lipopolysaccharide sensitivity in alcoholic fatty livers is independent of leptin deficiency and toll/like receptor 4 (TLR4) or TLR2 mRNA expression. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 29(6): 1018-1026, 2005.
Romics L, Dolganiuc A, Kodys K, Drechsler Y, Oak S, Velayudham A, Mandrekar P, Szabo G:Selective priming to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), not TLR2, ligands by P. acnes involves up-regulation of MD-2 in mice.Hepatology. 40(3): 555-564, 2004.
Drechsler Y, Chavan S, Catalano D, Mandrekar P, Szabo G: FcgR crosslinking mediates NFKB activation, reduced antigen presentation capacity, and decreased IL-12 production in monocytes without modulation of myeloid dendritic cell development. Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 72(4):657-67, 2002. ar P, Szabo G: Selective priming to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), not TLR2, ligands by P. acnes involves up-regulation of MD-2 in mice. Hepatology. 40(3): 555-564, 2004.
Publications under my maiden name (Brockmann) as a graduate PhD student:
Gessler P. Neu S. Brockmann Y. Speer CP. Decreased mRNA expression of G-CSF receptor in cord blood neutrophils of term newborns: regulation of expression by G-CSF and TNF-alpha. Biology of the Neonate. 77(3):168-73, 2000.
Neu S, Brockmann Y, Grau R, Geiselhart A, Speer CP: KIR expression by neonatal and adult cytotoxic CD56+ cells. Pediatric Research. 44: 444, 1998.
Neu S, Geiselhart A, Brockmann Y, Speer CP: Immunomagnetic enrichment of neonatal and adult cytotoxic CD56+ cells. Pediatric Research. 44: 448, 1998.