Debbie McKenzie, PhD

Area of Study / Keywords

Prions Infectious Disease Chronic Wasting Disease Muscle Aging Mitochondrial DNA Deletion Mutations

Research

The major research focus of my lab has been chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease affecting deer, elk and moose. Prions are unique pathogenic agents, consisting primarily, if not solely, of misfolded conformations of a normal host protein. We use a number of different model systems, ranging from cell-free to cell culture to primary neuronal cultures to whole lab animals, to address questions regarding the etiology and pathogenesis of CWD. Research is performed in the state-of-the-art Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases. My research focuses on: 1) the role of Prnp genetics on susceptibility to prion infection, 2) CWD strains, 3) CWD spillover, and 4) environmental contamination by CWD prions. 

A second research focus was the role of mitochondria in aging processes. In collaboration with Jonathan Wanagat (UCLA), we have demonstrated a role for mitochondrial DNA deletion mutations in the loss of muscle mass and function with age (sarcopenia). 

I retired as of Aug 31, 2024. My research team is wrapping up studies on various aspects of CWD.