Head of the Proteomics Group, NLHI, Public Health Agency of Canada, Adjunct Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology Degrees: Ph.D. (Microbiology, Manitoba, 2005) B.Sc. (Hons,) (Biotechnology, Manitoba, 1999) Mailing Address: National Microbiology Laboratory 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Mb., R3E 3P6 Tel: (204) 784-8092,  Fax: (204) 784-2018 E-mail: burgener@cc.umanitoba.ca

Research Interests:
My main research interest has been to develop and apply proteomic and systems biology techniques to understand host responses to infectious disease and innate immunity.  Using HIV as the model, the central theme of this research area is the study mucosal immune systems and the soluble protein components that act in innate defense against viruses.  We utilize multiple proteomic and biochemical techniques to identify and characterize protein factors in humans that are associated with protection from HIV, and evaluate their mechanism of action in cell culture systems.  The identification of naturally occurring factors that can mediate protection from HIV is of critical importance to the development of preventative technologies and increases our understanding of host immunity to viruses

Publications:

1. A. Burgener, A Tjernlund, T. Kaldensjo, M. Abou, S. McCorrister, G. Westmacott, K. Mogk, E. Hauch, K. Broliden, T. Ball. A systems biology examination of the human female genital tract shows compartmentalization of immune factor expression. J. Virology. Feb 2013.
2. A. Burgener, K. Mogk, G. Westmacott, F. Plummer, B. Ball, K. Broliden, K. Hasselrot.  Salivary basic proline-rich proteins are elevated in HIV-exposed seronegative men who have sex with men.  AIDS. 26 (15). 2012.
3. S. Rahman, R. Rabbani, C. Wachihi, J. Kimani, FA Plummer, TB Ball, A. Burgener. Mucosal serpin A1 and A3 levels in HIV highly exposed seronegative women are affected by the menstural cycle and hormonal contraceptives but are independent of epidemiological confounders. Am. J. Repr. Immunology. 69 (1).  2012.
4. A. Burgener, S. Rahman, R. Ahmad, J. Lajoie, S. Ramdahin, C. Mesa, S. Brunet, C. Wachihi, J. Kimani, K. Fowke, S. Carr, F. Plummer, T.B. Ball. A comprehensive proteomic study identifies serpin and cystatin antiproteases as novel correlates of HIV-1 resistance in the cervicovaginal mucosa of female sex workers.  J. Proteome Research. 10 (11), pp 5139–5149. 2011.
5. A. Burgener, J. Sainsbury, F. Plummer, T. Ball.  Systems Biology-based approaches to understand HIV-exposed uninfected women.  Review.  Current HIV/AIDS Reports (Volume 7, issue 1).  March 2010.  
6. A. Burgener, J. Boutilier, C. Wachihi, J. Kimani, M. Carpente, G. Westmacott, K. Cheng, T. B. Ball, F. Plummer.  Identification of Differentially Expressed Proteins in the Cervical Mucosa of HIV-1-Resistant Sex Workers. J. Proteome Research. Volume 7 (10), pp 4446–4454. August 2008.
7. Lajoie J, Juno J., Burgener A, S. Rahman, K. Mogk, Kimani J, Ball TB, Plummer F, Fowke K.  A distinct cytokine and chemokine profile at the genital mucosa is associated with HIV-1 protection among HIV exposed seronegative commercial sex workers. Mucosal Immunol. 2012 May;5(3):277-87.
8. A. Burgener.  Profiling cervical lavage fluid by SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry.  Book chapter in “SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry”, Methods in Molecular Biology.  Vol 818. P143-152. Humana Press.  2011. 
9. D. Stein,A. Burgener, T. Ball. Proteomics as a novel HIV immune monitoring tool. Curr. Opin. HIV/AIDS. 8 (2). 2013.
10. Kim KA, Yolamanova M, Zirafi O, Roan NR, Staendker L, Forssmann WG, Burgener A, Dejucq-Rainsford N, Hahn BH, Shaw GM, Greene WC, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Semen-mediated enhancement of HIV infection is donor-dependent and correlates with the levels of SEVI. Retrovirology. Volume 7:55. Jun 23, 2010.

Laboratory Members: