LTC Kurt Jerke Assistant Professor kurt.jerke@westpoint.edu Biography LTC Jerke is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences and teaches courses in biology. He was commissioned in 1993 as an armor officer after graduating from New Mexico Military Institute with an A.A. in Life Science and completed a B.S. in Biology from Purdue University in 1996. LTC Jerke completed an M.S. in Environmental Science at Pace University and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics from Purdue University. While serving in the Indiana Army National Guard he deployed to Afghanistan as an infantry officer supporting the embedded team trainer mission. In 2007 LTC Jerke transferred to the active Army as a Medical Service Corp Officer (71A, Microbiologist) and has held a variety of positions in clinical and research settings. In 2017 LTC Jerke completed the Clinical and Public Health Microbiology training fellowship at UCLA and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Microbiology. He was most recently the Chief and Medical Director of Microbiology at Madigan Army Medical Center. Ongoing Research Projects LTC Jerke’s research interests include the role of horizontal gene transfer in the dissemination of resistance to metals and antimicrobials. He is also interested in the validation of new and emerging technology for use in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Publications & Presentations Publications and Presentations Theel, E.S., M.R. Corturier, L. Filkins, E. Palavecino, S. Mitchell, S. Campbell, M. Pentella, S. Butler-Wu, K. Jerke, V. Dharmarha, P. McNult, A. Schuetz. 2020. Application, Verification, and Implementation of SARS-CoV-2 Serologic Assays with Emergency Use Authorization. J. Clin Microbiol. 59:e2148-20. Jerke K.H., M.L. Lee and R. M. Humpheries. 2016. Polymyxin Susceptibility Testing: A Cold Case Reopened. Clin. Microbiol. Newslett. 38:69-77. Kwilas, S., J. Kishimori, M. Josleyn, K. Jerke, J. Ballantyne, M. Royals, J.W. Hooper. 2014. A Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) DNA Vaccine Delivered Using a Spring-Powered Jet Injector Elicits a Potent Neutralizing Antibody Response in Rabbits and Nonhuman Primates. Curr Gene Ther. 14:200-210. Kocik J, M. Niemcewicz, M. Johns, K. Jerke, A. Michalski, A. Bielecka, K. Lasocki, J. Gaweł, A. Bielawska-Drózd, J. Joniec, M. Kołodziej, G. Graniak, M Goniewicz, L. Kubiak. 2013. Severe Influenza Outbreak in Western Ukraine in 2009 – A Molecular Epidemiological Study. Ann Agric Environ Med. 20:509-514. Bryce L, M. Koenig, K.H. Jerke*. 2012. A Large Scale Study of Respiratory Virus Infection Over Two Years Using the Luminex xTAG™ RVP Assay. Mil Med. 177:1533-1538. *Corresponding author Abstracts & Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings Gibson, C., M. Gee, A. Imboden, K. Jerke*. Evaluation of a Rapid Identification and Susceptibility Test System from Positive Blood Cultures. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting. San Francisco, CA, June 2019. (Poster) Jerke, K., M. Lee, and R. Humphries. Detection of Enteric Parasites by RT-PCR at a Large Tertiary Care Facility. 33rd Annual Clinical Virology Symposium. Savannah, GA, May 2018. (Poster) Jerke, K., M. Lee, R. Shimizu, and R. Humphries. Evaluation of a Multiplex Real Time Assay for the Detection of Enteric Parasites at a Large Tertiary Care Facility. 32nd Annual Clinical Virology Symposium. Daytona Beach, FL, May 2016. (Poster) *Corresponding author