Biology Professor Co-Authored Journal Article

Dr. Veronica Porterfield, Westminster College visiting assistant professor of biology, co-authored an article for the December issue of American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.

"Time-dependent mediators of HPA axis activation following live Escherichia coli" was also authored by Z.R. Zimomra, R.M. Camp, and J.D. Johnson of Kent State University's Department of Biological Sciences.

The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis is activated during times of sickness to make energy available that results in a fever and contributes to other immune responses by working with feedback and regulatory mechanisms.

"In this study we sought to examine what these feedback and regulatory mechanisms are by exposing rats to live E. coli," Porterfield said.

Click here to read the article.

Porterfield, a Westminster graduate who joined the faculty in 2011, earned a Ph.D. from Kent State University.

Contact Porterfield at (724) 946-7784 or email for additional information.

Dr. Veronica Porterfield