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KATHERINE KING

TitleProfessor
InstitutionBaylor College of Medicine
DepartmentDepartment of Pediatrics
Address1102 BATES
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0002-5093-6005 Additional info
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    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Harvard University, CambridgeAB06/1996Biochemical Sciences
    Washington University, St. LouisMD PhD06/2003Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
    Baylor College of Medicine, Houstonresidency06/2006Pediatrics
    Baylor College of Medicine, Houstonfellowship06/2010Infectious Diseases
    Collapse awards and honors
    2015 - 2017Liviya Anderson Research Award, Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
    2015 - 2017Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Award, March of Dimes
    2014 - 2015BCM Junior Faculty Seed Grant, Caroline Wiess Law Fund for Research in Molecular Medicine
    2010 - 2015KO8 Mentored Clinical Scientist Training Award, NIH
    2011 - 2012Pediatric Pilot Award, Texas Children's Hospital
    2008 - 2009Collaborative Research Grant, L.E. and Virginia Simmons Family Foundation
    2017 - 2018New Member Outstanding Science Award, Society for Pediatric Research
    2017 - 2018Woman of Excellence Award, Baylor College of Medicine
    2019Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), President of the United States
    2020Distiguished Alumni Award, St. John's School
    2021 - 2028Emerging Investigator Award, NIH NHLBI
    2022Research Mentorship Award, Department of Pediatrics, BCM and TCH
    2022DeBakey Research Award, Baylor College of Medicine
    2024Award in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, International Society for Experimental Hematology
    2025E. Mead Johnson Award, Society for Pediatric Research
    2025Alumni Achievement Award, Washington University Medical Center Alumni Association

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    Katherine Y. King MD PhD is Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine, where she is also part of the faculty for the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, and the graduate programs in Immunology, Developmental Biology, and Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine. A native Houstonian, Dr. King received her BA in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University and her MD and PhD degrees from Washington University in St. Louis. She completed her residency, chief residency, and fellowship training in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. She served as the Associate Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Pediatrics from 2018-2023 and is now the Co-Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program at BCM.
    The long-term goal of Dr. King’s research is to alleviate deaths from infectious diseases. Given that severe infections are frequently related to weaknesses in the immune system, Dr. King’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which inflammation affects blood and immune cell production by hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. Dr. King has been the recipient of a NIH K08 mentored physician scientist training award, the March of Dimes Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Award, the Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation Liviya Anderson Award, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), and the DeBakey Research Award. She is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the American Pediatric Society. Her research has been published in highly regarded journals such as Cell Stem Cell, Cell Reports, and Blood.

    Current projects in the lab include:
    Impact of Infection and Inflammation on Hematopoiesis
    We are studying how infections affect the quiescence, epigenetic programming, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells and their progeny. Our studies may lead to ways to prevent bone marrow suppression after chronic infections or enhance trained immunity. Funding to support this project: NIH R35, 2021-2028

    The Role of Infection and Inflammation in Clonal Hematopoiesis
    We are studying how the differential responses of hematopoietic stem cells to inflammation contribute to clonal competition and emergence of leukemia. These studies provide a mechanistic understanding of how infections affect cancer risk. Funding to support this project: NIH P01, 2022-2027

    Microbiota-dependent Regulation of Primitive Hematopoiesis
    An adverse side effect of antibiotics is that they may suppress blood and immune cell production by the bone marrow. We demonstrated that these adverse effects of antibiotics are due to disruption of the intestinal microbiome and associated type I interferon signaling. Our current work will define the molecular pathways through which the microbiome signals to support normal blood production. Funding to supporting this project: NIH R01 (co-I), 2018-2023

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
         (Katherine King, Hugo Bellen, Richard Gibbs)Aug 1, 2023 - Jul 31, 2027
    Chan Zuckerberg Institute
    Identifying the Genetic Basis of Rare Disease in Children
    Role Description: The goal of this study is to perform whole genome sequencing of children with rare disease and their parents to identify rare disease gene variants and study their function in cell and animal models. The long term goal is to diagnose and treat disease in humans.
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    5P01CA265748     (Goodell, Margaret)Apr 1, 2022 - Mar 31, 2027
    NIH
    Modifiable Drivers of Expansion and Malignant Transformation from Clonal Hematopoiesis
    Role Description: The overall goal of this Program, with three interactive Projects and two Cores, is to identify modifiable risk factors of CH-associated HSPC expansion and subsequent malignant transformation, with a long-term view toward developing cancer prevention strategies.
    Role: Project 1 Lead, Administrative Core Co-Lead
    R35HL155672     (KING, KATHERINE YUDEH)Jul 1, 2021 - Jun 30, 2028
    NIH
    Impact of Infection and Inflammation on Primitive Hematopoiesis
    Role: Principal Investigator
    T32GM136611     (KING, KATHERINE YUDEH)Jul 1, 2020 - Jun 30, 2030
    NIH
    Medical Scientist Training Program
    Role: Principal Investigator
         (Margaret Goodell)Jul 1, 2019 - Jun 30, 2022
    Helis Medical Research Foundation
    Environmental Drivers of Clonal Hematopoiesis
    Role: Co-PI
    R01AI141716     (BALDRIDGE, MEGAN T)Nov 7, 2018 - Oct 31, 2023
    NIH
    Microbiota-dependent regulation of primitive hematopoieses
    Role Description: The goal of this study is to quantify the impact of a variety of environmental stressors on clonal dynamics of a panel of genetically distinct hematopoietic stem cell clones.
    Role: Co-PI
    R01HL134880     (KING, KATHERINE YUDEH)Aug 1, 2017 - Jun 30, 2021
    NIH
    Inflammatory Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells to Enhance Innate Immunity
    Role: Principal Investigator
    R01HL136333     (KING, KATHERINE YUDEH)May 1, 2017 - Apr 30, 2023
    NIH
    The Contribution ofInfection to Preleukemic Clonal Hematopoiesis
    Role: Principal Investigator
    K08HL098898     (KING, KATHERINE YUDEH)May 1, 2010 - Feb 28, 2015
    NIH
    The Role of Interferon-gamma in the Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
    Role: Principal Investigator
    T32HL092332     (HESLOP, HELEN E)Jul 1, 2003 - Jul 31, 2028
    NIH
    Training In Cell and Gene Therapy
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator

    Collapse Featured Content 
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    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Matatall KA, Wathan TK, Nguyen M, Chen H, McDonald A, Qi G, Belk JA, Florez MA, Le DT, Olarinde T, Vlasschaert C, Buttigieg MM, Fan CW, Carcamo S, Cao R, Kennedy DE, Maknojia AA, Thatavarty A, Fernandez Sanchez JV, Bouzid H, Veeraragavan S, Crocker S, Goodell MA, Rodriguez A, Jaiswal S, Rauh MJ, Papapetrou EP, Marro SG, King KY. TET2-mutant myeloid cells mitigate Alzheimer's disease progression via CNS infiltration and enhanced phagocytosis in mice. Cell Stem Cell. 2025 Aug 07; 32(8):1285-1298.e8. PMID: 40609533; PMCID: PMC12233156.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    2. Mills TS, Kain B, Burchill MA, Danis E, Lucas ED, Culp-Hill R, Cowan CM, Schleicher WE, Patel SB, Tran BT, Cao R, Goodspeed A, Ferrara S, Bevers S, Jir?n Tamburini BA, Roede JR, D'Alessandro A, King KY, Pietras EM. A distinct metabolic and epigenetic state drives trained immunity in HSC-derived macrophages from autoimmune mice. Cell Stem Cell. 2024 Nov 07; 31(11):1630-1649.e8. PMID: 39413777; PMCID: PMC11560650.
      Citations: 14     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    3. Figueroa M, Ma H, Alfayez M, Morales-Mantilla DE, Wang F, Lu Y, Estecio MR, King KY, Kleinerman E, Moghaddam SJ, Daver N, Andreeff M, Konopleva M, DiNardo C, Chandra J. Cigarette smoke exposure accelerates AML progression in FLT3-ITD models. Blood Adv. 2023 11 14; 7(21):6624-6629. PMID: 37486624; PMCID: PMC10628807.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. Roland D, Van Driest SL, Heerman WJ, King KY, Maitre NL, Fritz SA, Barkin S. Navigating success for early stage investigators-practical words of advice. Pediatr Res. 2023 09; 94(3):1248. PMID: 32555500.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Li J, Malouf C, Miles LA, Willis MB, Pietras EM, King KY. Chronic inflammation can transform the fate of normal and mutant hematopoietic stem cells. Exp Hematol. 2023 11; 127:8-13. PMID: 37647982.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    6. Bogeska R, Mikecin AM, Kaschutnig P, Fawaz M, Le D, Ganuza M, Vollmer A, Paffenholz SV, Asada N, Rodriguez-Correa E, Frauhammer F, Buettner F, Ball M, Knoch J, Walter D, Petri A, Wagner V, Brors B, Lipka DB, Essers MAG, Weru V, Holland-Letz T, Mallm JP, Rippe K, Schlesner M, McKinney Freeman S, Florian MC, King KY, Frenette PS, Rieger MA, Milsom MD, B?chler-Sch?ff M, St?ble S, Carre?o-Gonzalez MJ, Haas S, Kr?mer S. Inflammatory exposure drives long-lived impairment of hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal activity and accelerated aging. Cell Stem Cell. 2022 08 04; 29(8):1273-1284.e8. PMID: 35858618; PMCID: PMC9357150.
      Citations: 128     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    7. Zhang CR, Ostrander EL, Kukhar O, Mallaney C, Sun J, Haussler E, Celik H, Koh WK, King KY, Gontarz P, Challen GA. Txnip Enhances Fitness of Dnmt3a-Mutant Hematopoietic Stem Cells via p21. Blood Cancer Discov. 2022 05 05; 3(3):220-239. PMID: 35394496; PMCID: PMC9414740.
      Citations: 14     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    8. Yan H, Walker FC, Ali A, Han H, Tan L, Veillon L, Lorenzi PL, Baldridge MT, King KY. The bacterial microbiota regulates normal hematopoiesis via metabolite-induced type 1 interferon signaling. Blood Adv. 2022 03 22; 6(6):1754-1765. PMID: 35143611; PMCID: PMC8941453.
      Citations: 22     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    9. Chen Y, Talukder R, Merritt BY, King KY, Kimmel M, Rivero G, Sosa R. Genomic trajectory in leukemogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms: a case report. BMC Med Genomics. 2021 May 22; 14(1):137. PMID: 34022887; PMCID: PMC8141236.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Hormaechea-Agulla D, Matatall KA, Le DT, Kain B, Long X, Kus P, Jaksik R, Challen GA, Kimmel M, King KY. Chronic infection drives Dnmt3a-loss-of-function clonal hematopoiesis via IFN? signaling. Cell Stem Cell. 2021 08 05; 28(8):1428-1442.e6. PMID: 33743191; PMCID: PMC8349829.
      Citations: 197     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    11. Demerdash Y, Kain B, Essers MAG, King KY. Yin and Yang: The dual effects of interferons on hematopoiesis. Exp Hematol. 2021 04; 96:1-12. PMID: 33571568; PMCID: PMC8919039.
      Citations: 42     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    12. Han H, Yan H, King KY. Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics Deplete Bone Marrow Regulatory T Cells. Cells. 2021 01 30; 10(2). PMID: 33573218; PMCID: PMC7911786.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    13. Florez MA, Matatall KA, Jeong Y, Ortinau L, Shafer PW, Lynch AM, Jaksik R, Kimmel M, Park D, King KY. Interferon Gamma Mediates Hematopoietic Stem Cell Activation and Niche Relocalization through BST2. Cell Rep. 2020 12 22; 33(12):108530. PMID: 33357430; PMCID: PMC7816211.
      Citations: 31     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    14. Chen J, Matatall KA, Feng X, Hormaechea-Agulla D, Maharjan M, Young N, King KY. Dnmt3a-null hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells expand after busulfan treatment. Exp Hematol. 2020 11; 91:39-45.e2. PMID: 32961298; PMCID: PMC7948254.
      Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    15. Niles D, Boguniewicz J, Shakeel O, Margolin J, Chelius D, Gupta M, Paul D, King KY, McNeil JC. Candida tropicalis Thyroiditis Presenting With Thyroid Storm in a Pediatric Patient With Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 10; 38(10):1051-1053. PMID: 31365478.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimals
    16. Zeng H, He H, Guo L, Li J, Lee M, Han W, Guzman AG, Zang S, Zhou Y, Zhang X, Goodell MA, King KY, Sun D, Huang Y. Antibiotic treatment ameliorates Ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) loss-of-function associated hematological malignancies. Cancer Lett. 2019 12 28; 467:1-8. PMID: 31563562; PMCID: PMC6945766.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    17. Foster CE, Taylor M, Schallert EK, Rosenfeld S, King KY. Brodie Abscess in Children: A 10-Year Single Institution Retrospective Review. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 02; 38(2):e32-e34. PMID: 29620720.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    18. Kennedy EA, King KY, Baldridge MT. Mouse Microbiota Models: Comparing Germ-Free Mice and Antibiotics Treatment as Tools for Modifying Gut Bacteria. Front Physiol. 2018; 9:1534. PMID: 30429801; PMCID: PMC6220354.
      Citations: 129     
    19. Yan H, Baldridge MT, King KY. Hematopoiesis and the bacterial microbiome. Blood. 2018 08 09; 132(6):559-564. PMID: 29853538; PMCID: PMC6085989.
      Citations: 24     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    20. Kitagawa MG, Ettinger N, Breen D, Erklauer J, Chang E, Herce H, King K, Naik S. Transmission of West Nile Virus Through a Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2018 May 15; 7(2):e52-e54. PMID: 29309636.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. Tashi T, Swierczek S, Kim SJ, Salama ME, Song J, Heikal N, King KY, Hickman K, Litton S, Prchal JT. Pegylated interferon Alfa-2a and hydroxyurea in polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia: differential cellular and molecular responses. Leukemia. 2018 08; 32(8):1830-1833. PMID: 29556018; PMCID: PMC6552660.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    22. Matatall KA, Kadmon CS, King KY. Detecting Hematopoietic Stem Cell Proliferation Using BrdU Incorporation. Methods Mol Biol. 2018; 1686:91-103. PMID: 29030815; PMCID: PMC6020038.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    23. Matatall KA, Jeong M, Chen S, Sun D, Chen F, Mo Q, Kimmel M, King KY. Chronic Infection Depletes Hematopoietic Stem Cells through Stress-Induced Terminal Differentiation. Cell Rep. 2016 12 06; 17(10):2584-2595. PMID: 27926863; PMCID: PMC5161248.
      Citations: 88     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    24. Luis TC, Tremblay CS, Manz MG, North TE, King KY, Challen GA. Inflammatory signals in HSPC development and homeostasis: Too much of?a?good thing? Exp Hematol. 2016 10; 44(10):908-12. PMID: 27423816; PMCID: PMC6552661.
      Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    25. Li HS, Jin J, Liang X, Matatall KA, Ma Y, Zhang H, Ullrich SE, King KY, Sun SC, Watowich SS. Loss of c-Kit and bone marrow failure upon conditional removal of the GATA-2 C-terminal zinc finger domain in adult mice. Eur J Haematol. 2016 Sep; 97(3):261-70. PMID: 26660446; PMCID: PMC5680037.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    26. King KY, Matatall KA, Shen CC, Goodell MA, Swierczek SI, Prchal JT. Comparative long-term effects of interferon a and hydroxyurea on human hematopoietic progenitor cells. Exp Hematol. 2015 Oct; 43(10):912-918.e2. PMID: 26072330; PMCID: PMC4592796.
      Citations: 16     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    27. Trompouki E, King KY, Will B, Flores-Figueroa E, Kokkaliaris KD, Bowman T, Lessard J. Bloody signals: from birth to disease and death. Exp Hematol. 2014 Dec; 42(12):989-94. PMID: 25482344.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    28. Matatall KA, Shen CC, Challen GA, King KY. Type II interferon promotes differentiation of myeloid-biased hematopoietic stem cells. Stem Cells. 2014 Nov; 32(11):3023-30. PMID: 25078851; PMCID: PMC4198460.
      Citations: 56     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    29. Rodgers JT, King KY, Brett JO, Cromie MJ, Charville GW, Maguire KK, Brunson C, Mastey N, Liu L, Tsai CR, Goodell MA, Rando TA. mTORC1 controls the adaptive transition of quiescent stem cells from G0 to G(Alert). Nature. 2014 Jun 19; 510(7505):393-6. PMID: 24870234; PMCID: PMC4065227.
      Citations: 277     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    30. King KY, Baldridge MT, Weksberg DC, Chambers SM, Lukov GL, Wu S, Boles NC, Jung SY, Qin J, Liu D, Songyang Z, Eissa NT, Taylor GA, Goodell MA. Irgm1 protects hematopoietic stem cells by negative regulation of IFN signaling. Blood. 2011 Aug 11; 118(6):1525-33. PMID: 21633090; PMCID: PMC3156044.
      Citations: 48     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    31. Brenot A, King KY, Caparon MG. The PerR regulon in peroxide resistance and virulence of Streptococcus pyogenes. Mol Microbiol. 2005 Jan; 55(1):221-34. PMID: 15612930.
      Citations: 80     Fields:    Translation:AnimalsCells
    32. Brenot A, King KY, Janowiak B, Griffith O, Caparon MG. Contribution of glutathione peroxidase to the virulence of Streptococcus pyogenes. Infect Immun. 2004 Jan; 72(1):408-13. PMID: 14688122; PMCID: PMC344014.
      Citations: 64     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    33. King KY, Horenstein JA, Caparon MG. Aerotolerance and peroxide resistance in peroxidase and PerR mutants of Streptococcus pyogenes. J Bacteriol. 2000 Oct; 182(19):5290-9. PMID: 10986229; PMCID: PMC110969.
      Citations: 66     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    34. Smith RF, King KY. Identification of a eukaryotic-like protein kinase gene in Archaebacteria. Protein Sci. 1995 Jan; 4(1):126-9. PMID: 7773169; PMCID: PMC2142968.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:Cells
    35. Worley KC, King KY, Chua S, McCabe ER, Smith RF. Identification of new members of a carbohydrate kinase-encoding gene family. J Comput Biol. 1995; 2(3):451-8. PMID: 8521274.
      Citations: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
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