Dr. Abel is an immunologist working in viral diseases. In particular, Dr. Abel is interested in the underlying immunological differences between infants and adults that often result in more severe disease in infants compared to adults to improve pediatric vaccines. This research is pursued using the SIV and rhesus CMV pediatric infection models.
Her main research focuses on the rhesus macaque model of SIV infection. She has experience in the vaginal transmission model of SIV to mimic heterosexual transmission of HIV in humans, and in the oral pediatric SIV infection model to reflect HIV breast-milk transmission in infants. In addition, Dr. Abel is expanding research into SIV-coinfection models as other infectious diseases (malaria, TB) are highly prevalent in most Sub-Saharan and South-East Asian countries with HIV infection rates.
Please contact her at: kabel@ucdavis.edu or (530) 754-5673.