EID Faculty
Emerging Infectious Diseases
Contact Us
Dr. Christopher C. Broder
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Director, Emerging Infectious Diseases Graduate Program
Patricia A. Grant
Program Administrative Specialist
Emerging Infectious Diseases Graduate Program
EID Primary Faculty
Timothy H. Burgess, M.D., M.P.H., Captain, Navy
Name: Timothy H. Burgess, M.D., M.P.H., Captain, Navy
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics
Title:
Director, IDCRP
Faculty Rank:
Assistant Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Infectious diseases, immunology, epidemiology
arboviral disease, respiratory viral disease, vectorborne pathogens, vaccine development
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-1579
Education
M.P.H., Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 1999-2000
Fellowship, Infectious Diseases, National Capitol Consortium, Bethesda, MD, 1997-1999
Residency, Internal Medicine, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 1994-1997
M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 1990-1994
B.S. in Chemistry, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, 1986-1990
Fellowship, Infectious Diseases, National Capitol Consortium, Bethesda, MD, 1997-1999
Residency, Internal Medicine, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, 1994-1997
M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 1990-1994
B.S. in Chemistry, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, 1986-1990
Biography
CAPT Burgess currently serves as Director, Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program (IDCRP). He has served in a variety of research and clinical capacities over 20 years in Navy Medicine. He established the Immunology Section in the Department of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases at the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) in 2001, investigating immunopathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever. He then served overseas at Naval Medical Research Unit #2 in Jakarta, Indonesia, where he headed the Viral Diseases Program, conducting studies on dengue hemorrhagic fever and avian influenza and engaging with partners throughout the Asia-Pacific as well as the USG Interagency. He returned to NMRC to head the Viral and Rickettsial Diseases Department where he oversaw vaccine development and diagnostic R&D efforts. Subsequent assignments included Deputy Director of the IDCRP and Chief of the Infectious Diseases clinical service at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda. In January 2016, returned to USUHS as Director of IDCRP. He holds the collateral duty position as Navy Medicine Specialty Leader for Infectious Diseases.
Bibliography
- Fischer WA Nd, Vetter P, Bausch DG, Burgess T, Davey RT Jr, Fowler R, Hayden FG, Jahrling PB, Kalil AC, Mayers DL, Mehta AK, Uyeki TM, Jacobs M. Ebola virus disease: an update on post-exposure prophylaxis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017 Nov 15. pii: S1473-3099(17)30677-1. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(17)30677-1.
- Riddle MS, Connor P, Fraser J, Porter CK, Swierczewski B, Hutley EJ, Danboise B, Simons MP, Hulseberg C, Lalani T, Gutierrez RL, Tribble DR; TrEAT TD Study Team. Trial Evaluating Ambulatory Therapy of Travelers' Diarrhea (TrEAT TD) Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing 3 Single-Dose Antibiotic Regimens With Loperamide. Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Nov 29;65(12):2008-2017. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix693. PubMed PMID: 29029033.
- Sun P, Crum-Cianflone NF, Defang G, Williams M, Ganesan A, Agan BK, Lalani T, Whitman T, Brandt C, Burgess TH. Evaluation of T and B memory cell responses elicited by the pandemic H1N1 vaccine in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals. Vaccine. 2017 Oct 27;35(45):6103-6111. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.09.059. Epub 2017 Oct 4. PubMed PMID: 28987439.
- Riddle MS, Martin GJ, Murray CK, Burgess TH, Connor P, Mancuso JD, Schnaubelt ER, Ballard TP, Fraser J, Tribble DR. Management of Acute Diarrheal Illness During Deployment: A Deployment Health Guideline and Expert Panel Report. Mil Med. 2017 Sep;182(S2):34-52. doi: 10.7205/MILMED-D-17-00077. PubMed PMID: 28885922; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5657341.
- Beigel JH, Tebas P, Elie-Turenne MC, Bajwa E, Bell TE, Cairns CB, Shoham S, Deville JG, Feucht E, Feinberg J, Luke T, Raviprakash K, Danko J, O'Neil D, Metcalf JA, King K, Burgess TH, Aga E, Lane HC, Hughes MD, Davey RT; IRC002 Study Team. Immune plasma for the treatment of severe influenza: an open-label, multicentre, phase 2 randomised study. Lancet Respir Med. 2017 Jun;5(6):500-511. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(17)30174-1. Epub 2017 May 15. PubMed PMID: 28522352.
- Simmons M, Putnak R, Sun P, Burgess T, Marasco WA. Antibody Prophylaxis Against Dengue Virus 2 Infection in Non-Human Primates. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016 Nov 2;95(5):1148-1156. Epub 2016 Sep 19. PubMed PMID: 27645784; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5094231.
- PREVAIL II Writing Group; Multi-National PREVAIL II Study Team, Davey RT Jr, Dodd L, Proschan MA, Neaton J, Neuhaus Nordwall J, Koopmeiners JS, Beigel J, Tierney J, Lane HC, Fauci AS, Massaquoi MBF, Sahr F, Malvy D. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of ZMapp for Ebola Virus Infection. N Engl J Med. 2016 Oct 13;375(15):1448-1456. PubMed PMID: 27732819; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5086427.
- Crum-Cianflone NF, Won S, Lee R, Lalani T, Ganesan A, Burgess T, Agan BK. Vitamin D levels and influenza vaccine immunogenicity among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected adults. Vaccine. 2016 Sep 22;34(41):5040-5046. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2016.06.019. Epub 2016 Aug 28. PubMed PMID: 27577557.
- Lalani T, Yun H, Tribble D, Ganesan A, Kunz A, Fairchok M, Schnaubelt E, Fraser J, Mitra I, Kronmann KC, Burgess T, Deiss RG, Riddle MS, Johnson MD. A comparison of compliance rates with anti-vectorial protective measures during travel to regions with dengue or chikungunya activity, and regions endemic for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. J Travel Med. 2016 Jul 4;23(5). doi: 10.1093/jtm/taw043. Print 2016 May. PubMed PMID: 27378367; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4939934.
- Koren MA, Arnold JC, Fairchok MP, Lalani T, Danaher PJ, Schofield CM, Rajnik M, Hansen EA, Mor D, Chen WJ, Ridoré M, Burgess TH, Millar EV. Type-specific clinical characteristics of adenovirus-associated influenza-like illness at five US military medical centers, 2009-2014. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2016 Sep;10(5):414-20. doi: 10.1111/irv.12392. Epub 2016 May 13. PubMed PMID: 27062998; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4947946.
EID Medicine
Naomi E Aronson, MD
Name: Naomi E Aronson, MD
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Medicine
Title:
Director, Infectious Diseases Division
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Leishmaniasis
Tuberculosis
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3621
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Director, Infectious Diseases Division
- Chief, Infectious Diseases Clinic, Walter Reed Army Medical Center
- Chief, Infectious Diseases Service, William Beaumont Army Medical Center
- Chief, Department of Medicine, 121 EVAC Hospital, Seoul Korea
EID Microbiology/Immunology
Christopher C. Broder, Ph.D.
Name: Christopher C. Broder, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Title:
Professor and Chair
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Virology; emerging viruses, virus-host cell interactions, vaccines and therapeutics, viral serological surveillance
Basic Biology of Bacterial, Viral, or Parasite Diseases
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3401
Department Website:
Education
1983 B.S., Biological Sciences, with honors. Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida.
1985 M.S., Molecular Biology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida.
1989 Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology. College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
1985 M.S., Molecular Biology, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida.
1989 Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology. College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Biography
Christopher C. Broder received his B.S. (1983) and M.S. (1985) degrees from the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Florida, Gainesville (1989) establishing a molecular-pathogenic model for the flesh-eating Group A streptococci. He began his postdoctoral studies in 1989 as a National Research Council Research Associate in the Laboratory of Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, focusing on HIV-1 host cell entry and infection. He joined the faculty of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences as Assistant Professor in 1996 and rose through the ranks to become a full Professor in 2005. His laboratory has focused on virus-host cell interactions with an emphasis on virus receptor discovery, virus entry and virus-mediated membrane fusion, vaccines and antibody therapeutics development. Research areas include HIV-1 and emerging zoonotic viruses including Nipah virus and Hendra virus; Ebola and Marburg viruses, and bat lyssavirus. His major collaborative research contributions include the discoveries of the CXCR4 and the CCR5 HIV-1 coreceptors (1996-Breakthrough of the Year, Science magazine and the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize 1997); the development of the first oligomeric, HIV-1 soluble gp140 glycoprotein vaccine candidate; discovery of the host cell receptor proteins (ephrin ligands) used by Nipah virus and Hendra virus; development of the Hendra/Nipah soluble G glycoprotein subunit vaccine; one formulation known as Equivac® HeV, the first commercialized vaccine against a BSL-4 agent, and development of therapeutic antiviral human monoclonal antibodies, including the anti-Hendra/Nipah human mAb m102.4 which recently completed a Phase I clinical trial in Australia. He currently serves on the editorial board of five journals, and recent honors include the 2013 Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer, the CSIRO Chairman’s Medal for 2013, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); Australia's national science agency, the 2014 Cinda Helke Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Advocacy and the 2016 James J. Leonard Award for Excellence in Translational/Clinical Research. He has mentored 13 graduate students and 12 postdoctoral scientists, has coauthored more than 155 scientific articles and book chapters and his work has been cited more 17,000 times. He is currently Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) and Director of the EID Graduate Program at Uniformed Services University.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Viral serological surveillance in wildlife and livestock:
- Li, Y, Wang, J, Hickey, AC, Zhang, Y, Li, Y, Wu, Y., Zhang, H, Yuan, J, Han, Z, McEachern, J, Broder, CC, Wang, LF, Shi, Z. Antibodies to Nipah or Nipah-like viruses in bats, China. Emerg Infect Dis. 14(12):1974-6 2008.
- Chowdhury S, Khan SU, Crameri G, Epstein JH, Broder CC, Islam A, Peel AJ, Barr J, Daszak P, Wang LF, Luby SP. Serological evidence of henipavirus exposure in cattle, goats and pigs in Bangladesh. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014 Nov 20;8(11):e3302. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003302. 2014 Nov.
- Lyssavirus-host cell interactions:
- Weir DL, Smith IL, Bossart KN, Wang LF and Broder CC. Host cell infection tropism mediated by Australian bat lyssavirus envelope glycoproteins. Virology, 2013; 444(1-2):21-30. Virology Highlights: http://www.virologyhighlights.com/
- Weir DL, Laing ED, Smith IL, Wang LF, Broder CC. Host cell virus entry mediated by Australian bat lyssavirus G envelope glycoprotein occurs through a clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway that requires actin and Rab5. Virol J. 2014 Feb 27;11(1):40.
- Structural studies on viral envelope glycoproteins:
- Xu K, Rockx B, Xie Y, DeBuysscher BL, Fusco DL, Zhu Z, Chan YP, Feldmann H, Dimitrov DS, Broder CC, and Nikolov DB. Crystal structure of the Hendra virus attachment G glycoprotein complexed with a potent cross-reactive neutralizing human monoclonal antibody. Plos Pathogens, 2013 Oct;9(10):e1003684.
- Xu K, Chan YP, Bradel-Tretheway B, Akyol-Ataman Z, Zhu Y, Dutta S, Yan L, Feng YR, Wang LF, Skiniotis G, Lee B, Zhou ZH, Broder CC*, Aguilar HC* and Nikolov DB*. Crystal structure of the pre-fusion Nipah virus fusion glycoprotein reveals a novel hexamer-of-trimers assembly. PLoS Pathog. 2015 Dec 8;11(12):e1005322. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005322
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- Broder, CC, R Lottenberg, GO vonMering, K. Johnston and MDP Boyle. Isolation of a prokaryotic plasmin receptor: relationship to a plasminogen activator produced by the same microorganism. J. Biol. Chem. 266:4922-28, 1991.
- Broder, CC, DS Dimitrov, R. Blumenthal, and EA Berger. The block to HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein-mediated membrane fusion in animal cells expressing human CD4 can be overcome by a human cell component(s). Virology. 193:483-491, 1993.
- Broder, CC, PL Earl, D Long, B Moss, and RW Doms. Antigenic Implications of HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein Quaternary Structure: Oligomer-Specific and -Sensitive mAbs. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 91:11699-11703, 1994.
- Broder, CC and EA Berger. Fusogenic Selectivity of the Envelope Glycoprotein is a Major Determinant of HIV-1 Tropism for CD4+ T-Cell Lines vs. Macrophages. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 92:9004-08, 1995.
- Feng, Y, CC Broder, PE Kennedy, and EA Berger. HIV-1 Entry Cofactor: Functional cDNA Cloning of a Seven-Transmembrane, G Protein-Coupled Receptor. Science. 272:872-877, 1996.
- Bossart, K.N., G. Crameri, A.S. Dimitrov, B.A. Mungall, Y.R. Feng, J.R. Patch, A. Choudhary, L.F. Wang, B.T. Eaton, and C.C. Broder*. Receptor Binding, Fusion Inhibition, and Induction of Cross-Reactive Neutralizing Antibodies by a Soluble G Glycoprotein of Hendra Virus. J. Virol., 79(11):6690-702. 2005.
- Bonaparte, MI, AS Dimitrov, KN Bossart, G Crameri, BA Mungall, KA Bishop, V Choudhry, DS Dimitrov, LF Wang, BT Eaton, and CC Broder*. Ephrin-B2 Ligand is a Functional Receptor for Hendra Virus and Nipah Virus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 102(30):10652-7. 2005. (from the cover)
- Bossart KN, Rockx B, Feldmann F, Brining D, Scott D, Lacasse R, Geisbert JB, Feng YR, Chan YP, Hickey AC, Broder CC*, Feldmann H, Geisbert TW. A Hendra virus G glycoprotein subunit vaccine protects African green monkeys from Nipah virus challenge. Sci Transl Med. 4(146):146ra107. 2012
- Middleton D, Pallister J, Klein R, Feng YR, Haining J, Arkinstall R, Frazer L, Huang JA, Edwards N, Wareing M, Elhay M, Hashmi Z, Bingham J, Yamada M, Johnson D, White J, Foord A, Heine HG, Marsh GA, Broder CC, Wang LF. Hendra virus vaccine, a one health approach to protecting horse, human, and environmental health. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;20(3).
- Geisbert TW*, Mire CE, Geisbert JB, Chan YP, Agans KN, Feldmann F, Fenton KA, Zhu Z, Dimitrov DS, Scott DP, Bossart KN, Feldmann H, Broder CC*. Therapeutic treatment of Nipah virus infection in nonhuman primates with a neutralizing human monoclonal antibody. Sci Transl Med. 2014, 6(242):242ra82.
Stephen J. Davies, B.V.Sc., Ph.D.
Name: Stephen J. Davies, B.V.Sc., Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty Rank:
Associate Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Basic Biology of Bacterial, Viral, or Parasite Diseases
Immunology, Host Defenses
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3446
Department Website:
Education
B.V.Sc. ~ School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol, United Kingdom, 1993
Ph.D. ~ College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, United States, 1998
Postdoctoral Fellow ~ Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, United States, 1998-2004
Ph.D. ~ College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, United States, 1998
Postdoctoral Fellow ~ Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, United States, 1998-2004
Biography
Current Research Interests:
• Elucidation of host factors that modulate schistosome blood fluke development
• Initiation of innate immune responses by schistosomes and other helminths
• Immune evasion by schistosomes and other helminths
• Role of helminth proteases in immune responses to helminths
• Elucidation of helminth signaling pathways that transduce host signals
• Exploitation of helminth protein kinases as novel drug targets
• Mucosal immune responses to Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli
• Elucidation of host factors that modulate schistosome blood fluke development
• Initiation of innate immune responses by schistosomes and other helminths
• Immune evasion by schistosomes and other helminths
• Role of helminth proteases in immune responses to helminths
• Elucidation of helminth signaling pathways that transduce host signals
• Exploitation of helminth protein kinases as novel drug targets
• Mucosal immune responses to Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- Riner, D.K., Ferragine, C.E., Maynard, S.K., Davies, S.J. (2013) Regulation of innate responses during pre-patent schistosome infection provides an immune environment permissive for parasite development. PLoS Pathogens 2013;9(10):e1003708. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003708
- Lamb, E.W., Walls, C.D., Pesce, J.T., Riner, D.K., Maynard, S.K., Crow, E.T., Wynn, T.A., Schaefer, B.C., and Davies, S.J. (2010) Blood fluke exploitation of non-cognate CD4+ T cell help to facilitate parasite development. PLoS Pathogens 6(4):e1000892
- Swierczewski, B.E. and Davies, S.J. (2009) A Schistosome cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Catalytic Subunit is Essential for Parasite Viability. PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 3(8), e505
- Davies, S.J., Grogan, J.L., Blank R.B., Lim, K.C., Locksley, R.M. and McKerrow, J.H. (2001) Modulation of Blood Fluke Development in the Liver by Hepatic CD4+ Lymphocytes. Science 294, 1358-1361
Kristi L. Frank, Ph.D.
Name: Kristi L. Frank, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty Rank:
Assistant Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Bacterial pathogenesis and genetics
Treatment and prevention of biofilm infections
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3415
Department Website:
Education
2002 B.S., Microbiology, B.S., Medical Technology, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT
2007 Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
2007 Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN
Biography
Dr. Kristi L. Frank is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) in Bethesda, MD. A native of Great Falls, MT, she earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Microbiology and Medical Technology from The University of Montana in Missoula, MT, in 2002. Dr. Frank attended Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, in Rochester, MN, where she earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2007. She carried out her dissertation research on Staphylococcus lugdunesis biofilm formation in the laboratory of Dr. Robin Patel. Dr. Frank completed her postdoctoral research in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN, where she worked with Drs. Gary Dunny and Patrick Schlievert. She joined the faculty at USU in January 2016.
Dr. Frank's lab studies relationships between bacterial pathogens and their hosts in biofilm-associated infections. Biofilms are organized communities of microbes attached to a surface, or to each other, and are encased in a self-produced extracellular matrix. Biofilm growth provides protection from adverse environmental conditions, enables evasion of the host immune defenses, and confers resistance to remarkably high concentrations of antimicrobial agents. Pathogenic bacteria can form biofilms on surfaces throughout a host and on virtually any implantable medical device. Biofilm infections pose a significant challenge to human health because of their chronic nature and the difficulty associated with treating them.
The Frank Lab's current efforts focus on Enterococcus faecalis, a Gram-positive bacterium that is both a human commensal and an opportunistic pathogen. Enterococci are exceptionally robust, recalcitrant to many classes of antimicrobial agents, and highly proficient at acquiring virulence factors via horizontal gene transfer. These characteristics have enabled E. faecalis and other enterococci to emerge as leading causes of healthcare-associated infections. In immunosuppressed patients, E. faecalis can cause a myriad of infections with biofilm etiology, including endocarditis, surgical site infections, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The Frank Lab pairs animal models of biofilm formation with genetic, molecular, and biochemical approaches to (1) define sensing pathways and regulatory circuits that are involved in triggering transcriptional and stress responses in the host environment, (2) identify biofilm-associated virulence factors in E. faecalis and determine how they affect interactions between the bacterium and its host, (3) test new methods to remove biofilms and prevent their formation, and (4) pursue the mechanisms by which E. faecalis colonizes endovascular tissues as part of a broader interest in understanding how biofilm-forming bacteria may affect human cardiovascular health.
Dr. Frank's lab studies relationships between bacterial pathogens and their hosts in biofilm-associated infections. Biofilms are organized communities of microbes attached to a surface, or to each other, and are encased in a self-produced extracellular matrix. Biofilm growth provides protection from adverse environmental conditions, enables evasion of the host immune defenses, and confers resistance to remarkably high concentrations of antimicrobial agents. Pathogenic bacteria can form biofilms on surfaces throughout a host and on virtually any implantable medical device. Biofilm infections pose a significant challenge to human health because of their chronic nature and the difficulty associated with treating them.
The Frank Lab's current efforts focus on Enterococcus faecalis, a Gram-positive bacterium that is both a human commensal and an opportunistic pathogen. Enterococci are exceptionally robust, recalcitrant to many classes of antimicrobial agents, and highly proficient at acquiring virulence factors via horizontal gene transfer. These characteristics have enabled E. faecalis and other enterococci to emerge as leading causes of healthcare-associated infections. In immunosuppressed patients, E. faecalis can cause a myriad of infections with biofilm etiology, including endocarditis, surgical site infections, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections. The Frank Lab pairs animal models of biofilm formation with genetic, molecular, and biochemical approaches to (1) define sensing pathways and regulatory circuits that are involved in triggering transcriptional and stress responses in the host environment, (2) identify biofilm-associated virulence factors in E. faecalis and determine how they affect interactions between the bacterium and its host, (3) test new methods to remove biofilms and prevent their formation, and (4) pursue the mechanisms by which E. faecalis colonizes endovascular tissues as part of a broader interest in understanding how biofilm-forming bacteria may affect human cardiovascular health.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Frank, K. L., A. M. Barnes, S. M. Grindle, D. A. Manias, P. M. Schlievert, and G. M. Dunny. 2012. Use of recombinase-based in vivo expression technology to characterize Enterococcus faecalis gene expression during infection identifies in vivo-expressed antisense RNAs and implicates the protease Eep in pathogenesis. Infection and Immunity. 80:539-549.
- Frank, K. L., P. S. Guiton, A. M. T. Barnes, D. A. Manias, O. N. Chuang-Smith, P. L. Kohler, A. R. Spaulding, S. J. Hultgren, P. M. Schlievert, and G. M. Dunny. 2013. AhrC and Eep are biofilm infection-associated virulence factors in Enterococcus faecalis. Infection and Immunity. 81:1696-1708.
- Frank, K. L., C. Colomer-Winter, S. M. Grindle, J. A. Lemos, P. M. Schlievert, and G. M. Dunny. 2014. Transcriptome analysis of Enterococcus faecalis during mammalian infection shows cells undergo adaptation and exist in a stringent response state. Plos One. 9:e115839.
- Frank, K. L., P. Vergidis, C. L. Brinkman, K. E. Greenwood-Quaintance, A. M. T. Barnes, J. N. Mandrekar, P. M. Schlievert, G. M. Dunny, and R. Patel. 2015. Evaluation of the Enterococcus faecalis biofilm-associated virulence factors AhrC and Eep in rat foreign body osteomyelitis and in vitro biofilm-associated antimicrobial resistance. Plos One. 10:e0130187.
- Colomer-Winter, C., A. O. Gaca, O. N. Chuang-Smith, J. A. Lemos, and K. L. Frank. 2018. Basal levels of (p)ppGpp differentially affect the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis in Enterococcus faecalis. Microbiology. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.000703
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
Chou-Zen Giam, Ph.D.
Name: Chou-Zen Giam, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Title:
Professor and Vice Chair
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
The molecular biology and pathogenesis of human retroviruses and viral oncogenesis. How chronic NF-kB activation promotes genomic instability and cellular senescence.
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-9624
Department Website:
Education
B.S. Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan (05/1975)
Ph. D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA (05/1983)
Post-doctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA (09/1987)
Ph. D. Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA (05/1983)
Post-doctoral Fellow, Laboratory of Molecular Virology, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA (09/1987)
Biography
The work in my lab revolves around human viruses, with a special emphasis on human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), and with occasional forays into other viruses such as HIV and KSHV. We seek a mechanistic understanding of how viral regulatory proteins hijack cellular mediators of mRNA transcription, cell cycle control, and signal transduction to effect viral replication and pathogenesis, especially, oncogenesis. My interest in cancer viruses and human retroviruses developed initially in the early 1980s in the Laboratory of Molecular Virology (LMV) at the NIH where I was a post-doctoral fellow under the direction of Dr. George Khoury. Our major focus at that time was to understand how transcriptional enhancer elements drive eukaryotic mRNA synthesis by studying the HTLV-1 trans-activator, Tax, and its interaction with the cellular transcription machinery. After leaving LMV for the academia, I have been continuously funded by grants from the NIH and other funding agencies (AmFAR, VA, and DoD). We (and others) have since elucidated the mechanism by which Tax activates viral transcription and contributed to current understanding of how HTLV-1 infects, replicates and causes diseases. Due to the global nature of HTLV-1 infection, we frequently collaborate with colleagues in continental US, Asia (Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong), Europe (France, UK, Germany, Italy, etc.), Africa (Uganda), and South America (Brazil). Together with our domestic and international partners, we seek fundamental understanding of HTLV-1 replication, persistence, and pathogenesis, and strive to translate basic science findings into preventive measures and therapeutic approaches for HTLV-1-associated diseases, especially adult T cell leukemia (ATL). Our current efforts focus on (1) elucidating the mechanisms that underlie the genomic instability of ATL cells; (2) understanding how the transcriptional activity of NF-B drives the induction of cellular senescence; (3) identifying the genetic alterations in ATL cells that facilitate the clonal expansion of HTLV-1-infected T cells based on whole genome sequence information; and (4) uncovering the mechanisms that regulate HTLV-1 latency and reactivation.
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- NF-kB signaling mechanisms in HTLV-1-induced adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Harhaj EW, Giam CZ, FEBS J. 2018. doi: 10.1111/febs.14492.
- HTLV-1 Infection and Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma-A Tale of Two Proteins: Tax and HBZ. Giam CZ, Semmes OJ. Viruses. 2016 Jun 16;8(6). pii: E161. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27322308
- HTLV-1 Tax Stimulates Ubiquitin E3 Ligase, Ring Finger Protein 8, to Assemble Lysine 63-Linked Polyubiquitin Chains for TAK1 and IKK Activation. Ho YK, Zhi H, Bowlin T, Dorjbal B, Philip S, Zahoor MA, Shih HM, Semmes OJ, Schaefer B, Glover JN, Giam CZ. PLoS Pathog. 2015 Aug 18;11(8):e1005102. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26285145
- KSHV vCyclin counters the senescence/G1 arrest response triggered by NF-kB hyperactivation. Zhi H, Zahoor MA, Shudofsky AM, Giam CZ. Oncogene. 2015; 34(4):496-505. NIHMSID: NIHMS550287 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24469036
- HTLV-1 tax-induced rapid senescence is driven by the transcriptional activity of NF-kB and depends on chronically activated IKKa and p65/RelA. Ho YK, Zhi H, DeBiaso D, Philip S, Shih HM, Giam CZ. Journal of Virology. 2012; 86(17):9474-83. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22740410
- Complex cell cycle abnormalities caused by human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 Tax. Yang L, Kotomura N, Ho YK, Zhi H, Bixler S, Schell MJ, Giam CZ. Journal of Virology. 2011; 85(6):3001-9.
- NF-kB hyper-activation by HTLV-1 tax induces cellular senescence, but can be alleviated by the viral anti-sense protein HBZ. Zhi H, Yang L, Kuo YL, Ho YK, Shih HM, Giam CZ. PLoS pathogens. 2011; 7(4):e1002025. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21552325
- Activation of the anaphase promoting complex by HTLV-1 tax leads to senescence. Kuo YL, Giam CZ. The EMBO journal. 2006; 25(8):1741-52. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16601696
- Published video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=votp2hRndIk&spfreload=10
- Published video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XasVBcMRGls&spfreload=10
Ann E. Jerse, Ph.D.
Name: Ann E. Jerse, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Title:
Professor
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Adaptation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to the female reproductive tract; animal modeling of gonococcal and gonococcal-chlamydial infections; antibiotic resistance and microbial fitness; development of novel anti-infectives and vaccines
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-9629
Department Website:
Education
B.A. Medical Technology, Indiana State University (1979)
Ph.D. Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA (1983)
Post-doctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (1991-1993)
Ph.D. Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA (1983)
Post-doctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC (1991-1993)
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Jerse AE, Wu H, Packiam M, Vonck RA, Begum AA, and LE Garvin. 2011. Estradiol-treated female mice as surrogate hosts for Neisseria gonorrhoeae genital tract infections. Front. Microbio. 2:107. doi: 10.3389.
- Vonck R.A., T. Darville, C.M. O’Connell, and A.E. Jerse. 2011. Chlamydial infection increases gonococcal colonization in a novel murine coinfection model. Infect Immun. 79:1566-1577. PMCID: PMC3067530.
- Muench D.F., Kuch D.J., Wu H., Begum A.A., Veit S.J., Pelletier M. E., Soler-Garcia A.A., and A.E. Jerse. 2009. H2O2-producing lactobacilli inhibit gonococci in vitro but not during experimental genital tract infection. J. Infect. Dis. 199:1369–1378. PMCID: PMC2864085.
- Song W., Condron S., Mocca B.T., Veit S.J., Hill D., Abbas A., and A.E. Jerse. 2008. Local and humoral responses against primary and repeat Neisseria gonorrhoeae genital tract infections of 17-β-estradiol-treated mice. Vaccine 26:5741-5751. PMCID: PMC 2855896.
- Packiam R., H. Wu, S.J. Veit, N. Mavrogiorgios, A.E. Jerse*, and R.R. Ingalls. 2012. Protective role of Toll-like receptor 4 in experimental gonococcal infection of female mice. Mucosal Immunol. 5:19-29. *Co-senior author with RR Ingalls.
- Simms, A.N., and A.E. Jerse. 2006. In vivo selection for Neisseria gonorrhoeae opacity protein expression in the absence of human CEACAM receptors Infect. Immun. 74:2965-2974. PMCID: PMC1459723.
- Warner D.J., W.M. Shafer, and A.E. Jerse. 2008. Clinically relevant mutations that cause derepression of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae MtrC-MtrD-MtrE efflux pump system confer different levels of antimicrobial resistance and in vivo fitness. Mol. Micro. 70:462-478. PMCID: PMC 2602950.
- Kunz A.N., A.A. Begum, H. Wu, J.A. D’Ambrozio, J.M. Robinson, W.M. Shafer, M.C. Bash, and A.E. Jerse. 2012. Impact of fluoroquinolone resistance mutations on gonococcal fitness and in vivo selection for compensatory mutations. J Infect Dis 205:1821-1829.
- Packiam M., Y. Yedery, A.A. Begum, R.W. Carlson, J. Ganguly, G.D. Sempowski, M.S. Ventevogel, W.M. Shafer, and A.E. Jerse. 2014. Phosphoethanolamine decoration of Neisseria gonorrhoeae lipid A plays a dual immunostimulatory and protective role during experimental genital tract infection. Infect. Immun. 82:2170-2179.
- Hobbs M.M., J.E. Anderson, J.T. Balthazar, J.L. Kandler, R.W. Carlson, J. Ganguly, A.A. Begum, J.A. Duncan, J.T. Lin, P.F. Sparling, A.E. Jerse, and W.M. Shafer. 2013. Lipid A structure mediates Neisseria gonorrhoeae fitness during experimental infection of mice and men. mBio 4:e00892-13.
George W. Liechti, Ph.D.
Name: George W. Liechti, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty Rank:
Assistant Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Basic Biology of Bacterial, Viral, or Parasite Diseases
Molecular Genetics of Bacterial Pathogenesis
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-8138
Department Website:
Education
2012, Ph.D., Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
2008, M.S., Biology, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
2003, B.S., Biology, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
2008, M.S., Biology, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
2003, B.S., Biology, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
Biography
Dr. George Liechti is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He obtained his Bachelor of Sciences from The College of William and Mary in 2003 and his Masters of Science in 2008. Dr. Liechti earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology in 2012 from the University of Virginia. He conducted his postdoctoral studies at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences from 2012-16 as a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Fellow, and subsequently joined the Department as an Assistant Professor in 2016. Current studies in Dr. Liechti’s laboratory focus on the molecular genetics of bacterial pathogenesis, specifically as it relates to human-adapted microbes. Pathogenic Chlamydia, Borrelia, and Helicobacter species are currently under investigation, specifically the physiological mechanisms that confer persistence to these microbes, allowing them to evade clearance by the host and as well as killing by antibiotic treatment. Dr. Liechti is a contributing member of both the American Society for Microbiology and the Chlamydial Basic Research Society, and is the current faculty advisor to the USUHS Postdoctoral Association.
Bibliography
- Liechti G, Kuru E, Packiam M, Rittichier JT, Tekkam S, Hall E, Hsu Y, VanNieuwenhze M, Brun YV, and Maurelli AT. Pathogenic Chlamydia use a narrow, midcell peptidoglycan ring regulated by MreB for replication. PLOS Pathogens. 2016; 12(5):e1005590. PMID: 27144308
- Liechti G, Kuru E, Hall E, Kalinda A, Brun YV, VanNieuwenhze M, and Maurelli AT. A new metabolic cell wall labeling method reveals peptidoglycan in Chlamydia trachomatis. Nature 2014. Feb 27;506(7489):507-10. PMID: 24336210.
Joseph J. Mattapallil, B.V.Sc., M.S., Ph.D.
Name: Joseph J. Mattapallil, B.V.Sc., M.S., Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Title:
Co-Director of Bench to Bedside and Beyond (BBB) Module and Graduate Molecular Virology (MCO501)
Faculty Rank:
Associate Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Basic Biology of Bacterial, Viral, or Parasite Diseases
Immunology, Host Defenses
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3737
Department Website:
Education
1997: Ph.D., Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA
1994: M.S., Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA
1986: B.V.Sc, Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, APAU, India
1994: M.S., Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA
1986: B.V.Sc, Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, APAU, India
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Standing/Chartered Member, AIDS Immunology and Pathogenesis (AIP) Study Section, Center for Scientific Review, NIH (2014 – 2020)
- Member, DAIT, NIAID Radiation-Nuclear Countermeasures Program Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (RNMC-DSMB), 2011 – 2014
- Member, Over 25 NIH Special Emphasis Panels reviewing AIDS, and Biodefense related grant applications, 2006 – Present
- Associate Editor, Journal of Immunolgy (2013 - present)
- Academic Editor, Plos One (2013 - present)
- Associate Editor, Cellular Immunology (2015 - present)
- Editorial Board Member, Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (2012 - present)
- Editorial Board Member, AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses (2012 - present)
- Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Mucosal Immunology, Plos Pathogens, FASEB Journal, Blood, Retrovirology, Journal of Virology
Bibliography
- Mattapallil, J., Douek, D. C., Hill, B., Nishimura, Y., Martin, M. A and Roederer, M. 2005. Massive infection and loss of memory CD4 T-cells in multiple tissues during acute SIV Infection. Nature. 434: 1093-97.
- Mattapallil, J., Douek, D.C., Buckler-White, A., Montefiori, D., Letvin, N. L., Nabel, G. J and Roederer, M. 2006. Vaccination prevents the destruction of CD4 memory T cells during acute SIV infection. J. Exp. Med. 203: 1533-41.
- Kader, M., Hassan, W., Eberly, M., Piatak, M., Lifson, J., Roederer, M and Mattapallil, J. J. 2008. Anti-retroviral therapy prior to acute viral replication preserves CD4 T cells in the periphery but not in the rectal mucosa during acute simian immunodeficiency virus infection. J. Virol. 82: 11467-71.
- Eberly, M. D., Kader, M., Hassan, W., Rogers, K. A., Zhou, J., Mueller, Y.M., Mattapallil, M. J., Piatak, M., Lifson, J. D., Katsikis, P. D., Roederer, M., Villinger, F and Mattapallil, J.J. 2009. Increased IL-15 production is associated with higher susceptibility of memory CD4 T cells to SIV during acute infection. J. Immunology. 182: 1439-48.
- Kader, M., Wang, X., Piatak, M., Lifson, J., Roederer, M., Veazy, R and Mattapallil, J. J. 2009. a4+β7hiCD4+ memory T cells harbor most Th-17 cells and are preferentially infected during acute SIV infection. Mucosal Immunology: 2: 439-49.
- Moore, A. C., Bixler, S. L., Lewis, M. G., Verthelyi, D and Mattapallil, J. 2012. Mucosal and Peripheral Lin–HLA-DR+CD11c/123–CD14– Mononuclear cells are preferentially infected very early during simian immunodeficiency virus infection. J Virology: 86: 1069-78.
- Bixler, S., Sandler, N., Douek, D. C. and Mattapallil, J. 2013. Suppressed Th17 levels correlate with elevated PIAS3, SHP2, and SOCS3 Expression in CD4 T cells during acute simian immunodeficiency virus infection. J. Virology: 87: 7093-101.
- Onabajo, O. O., George, J., Lewis, M. and Mattapallil, J. 2013. Rhesus macaque lymph node PD-1hiCD4+ T cells express high levels of CXCR5 and IL-21 and display a CCR7loICOS+Bcl6+ T follicular (Tfh) cell phenotype. Plos One: 8(3):e59758.
- George, J., Lewis, M. G., Renne, R and Mattapallil, J. 2015. Suppression of transforming growth factor b receptor 2 and smad5 is associated with high levels of microRNA miR-155 in the oral mucosa during chronic simian immunodeficiency virus infection. J. Virology: 89: 2972-8.
- George, J., Renn L., Lewis, M. G., Verthelyi, D., Roederer, M., Rabin, R. L. and Mattapallil, J. 2016. Early treatment with reverse transcriptase inhibitors significantly suppresses peak plasma IFNα in vivo during acute simian immunodeficiency virus infection. Cellular Immunology: 310:156-164.
Angela R. Melton-Celsa, Ph.D.
Name: Angela R. Melton-Celsa, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty Rank:
Associate Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Toxins, Diagnostics, and Therapies
Basic Biology of Bacterial, Viral, or Parasite Diseases
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3649
Department Website:
Education
BS, Loyola Marymount University
Ph.D. Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia
Ph.D. Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia
Bibliography
- Russo LM, Melton-Celsa AR, O'Brien AD. Shiga Toxin (Stx) Type 1a Reduces the Oral Toxicity of Stx Type 2a. J Infect Dis. 2016 Apr 15;213(8):1271-9.
- Melton-Celsa AR, O'Brien AD, Feng PC. Virulence Potential of Activatable Shiga Toxin 2d-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Fresh Produce. J Food Prot. 2015 Nov;78(11):2085-8.
- Melton-Celsa AR, O'Brien AD. New Therapeutic Developments against Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli. Microbiol Spectr. 2014 Oct;2(5). doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.EHEC-0013-2013.
- Boisen N, Melton-Celsa AR, Scheutz F, O'Brien AD, Nataro JP. Shiga toxin 2a and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli--a deadly combination. Gut Microbes. 2015 Jul 4;6(4):272-8.
- Melton-Celsa AR, Carvalho HM, Thuning-Roberson C, O'Brien AD. Protective efficacy and pharmacokinetics of human/mouse chimeric anti-Stx1 and anti-Stx2 antibodies in mice. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2015 Apr;22(4):448-55.
- Melton-Celsa AR. Shiga Toxin (Stx) Classification, Structure, and Function. Microbiol Spectr. 2014 Aug;2(4):EHEC-0024-2013.
- Zangari T, Melton-Celsa AR, Panda A, Smith MA, Tatarov I, De Tolla L, O'Brien AD. Enhanced virulence of the Escherichia coli O157:H7 spinach-associated outbreak strain in two animal models is associated with higher levels of Stx2 production after induction with ciprofloxacin. Infect Immun. 2014 Dec;82(12):4968-77.
- Boisen N, Hansen AM, Melton-Celsa AR, Zangari T, Mortensen NP, Kaper JB, O'Brien AD, Nataro JP. The presence of the pAA plasmid in the German O104:H4 Shiga toxin type 2a (Stx2a)-producing enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strain promotes the translocation of Stx2a across an epithelial cell monolayer. J Infect Dis. 2014 Dec 15;210(12):1909-19.
- Russo LM, Melton-Celsa AR, Smith MA, Smith MJ, O'Brien AD. Oral intoxication of mice with Shiga toxin type 2a (Stx2a) and protection by anti-Stx2a monoclonal antibody 11E10. Infect Immun. 2014 Mar;82(3):1213-21.
- Zumbrun SD, Melton-Celsa AR, O'Brien AD. When a healthy diet turns deadly. Gut Microbes. 2014 Jan-Feb;5(1):40-3.
D. Scott Merrell, Ph.D.
Name: D. Scott Merrell, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Title:
Professor
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Basic Biology of Bacterial, Viral, or Parasite Diseases
Microbiome, Bacterial stress response and adaptation, Polymicrobial interactions
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-1584
Department Website:
Education
1988-1992 B.S. Biology magna cum laude, Lyon College
1994-1996 M.S. Microbiology, University of Arkansas, Advisor: Mack Ivey, Ph.D.
1996-2001 Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Advisor: Andrew Camilli, Ph.D.
2001-2004 Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford School of Medicine, Advisor: Stanley Falkow, Ph.D.
1994-1996 M.S. Microbiology, University of Arkansas, Advisor: Mack Ivey, Ph.D.
1996-2001 Ph.D. Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Advisor: Andrew Camilli, Ph.D.
2001-2004 Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford School of Medicine, Advisor: Stanley Falkow, Ph.D.
Biography
D. Scott Merrell (Scotty) was born and raised in rural Bald Knob, Arkansas but left the south to complete his Ph.D. studies at Tufts Medical School. While there he conducted studies that were focused on understanding the role of the acid tolerance response in the ability of Vibrio cholerae to successfully colonize the human host. After completing his Ph.D. in 2001, he moved to Stanford University, where he completed a postdoctoral fellowship, which focused on utilization of genomic techniques to understand the stress response of the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori. He is currently a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. Scotty is a former “Applied Genomics of Infectious Diseases,” ID Training Fellow, a Damon Runyon-Walter Winchell Cancer Fund Postdoctoral Fellow and received a Merck Irving S. Sigal Memorial Award for excellence in basic research in medical microbiology and infectious diseases in 2008. Scotty’s research group currently studies colonization and virulence factors of the gastric pathogen H. pylori, the microbiome associated with S. aureus infection, S. aureus resistance and polymicrobial interactions, and stress response in A. baumannii.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- 2008, Merck Irving S. Sigal Memorial Award for excellence in basic research in medical microbiology and infectious diseases.
- 2012-2014, ASM Branch Lectureship
- 2015, Cinda Helke Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Advocacy
- 2015, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine Impact Award
- 2014-present, Graduate Education Chair
- 2007-present, EID Graduate Program Executive Committee
- 2007-present, Biomedical Instrumentation Advisory Committee
- 2010-present, Associate Editor Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
- 2006-present, Member, Editorial Board Infection and Immunity
- 2017-2020, Member, Editorial Board International Journal of Medical Microbiology
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- D.S. Merrell, S.M. Butler, F. Qadri, N. A. Dolganov, A. Alam, M.B. Cohen, S.B. Calderwood, G.K. Schoolnik, and A. Camilli. “Host Induced Epidemic Spread of the Cholera Bacterium.” Nature 417(6889):642-645, 2002. PMC2776822
- D.R. Bridge, J.M. Whitmire, J.J. Gilbreath, E.S. Metcalf, and D.S. Merrell. "An Enterobacterial Common Antigen Mutant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium as a Vaccine Candidate." International Journal of Medical Microbiology, Sep;305(6):511-22. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2015.05.004, 2015.
- R.C. Johnson, C.D. Schlett, K. Crawford, J.B. Lanier, D.S. Merrell, and M.W. Ellis. “Recurrent Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Cutaneous Abscesses and the Selection of Reduced Chlorhexidine Susceptibility During Chlorhexidine Use.” Journal of Clinical Microbiology, Nov;53(11):3677-82. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01771-15, 2015.
- A. Kim, S.L. Servetas, J. Kang, J. Kim, S. Jang, H.J. Cha, W.J. Lee, J. Kim, J. Romero-Gallo, R.M. Peek Jr. D.S. Merrell*, and J.H. Cha “Helicobacter pylori bab Paralog Distribution and Association with cagA, vacA, and homA/B genotypes in American and South Korean Clinical Isolates.” PLoS ONE, Aug 28;10(8):e0137078. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137078, 2015.
- A.S. Lo, D.S. Merrell, H. Lei, A. Sardi, T. McAvoy, and T.L. Testerman. "A Novel Member of Chitinophagaceae Isolated from a Human Peritoneal Tumor." Genome Announcements, Nov 12;3(6). pii: e01297-15. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.01297-15, 2015.
- C.L. Williams, H.M. NEU, J.J. Gilbreath, S.L. Michel, D.V. Zurawski and D.S. Merrell. “Copper Resistance of the Emerging Pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii.” Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 82(20):6174-6188, 2016.
- J. Singh, R.C. Johnson, C.D. Schlett, E.M. Elassal, K.B. Crawford, D. Mor, J.B. Lanier, N.N. Law, W.A. Walters, N. Teneza-Mora, J.W. Bennett, E.R. Hall, E.V. Millar, M.W. Ellis, and D.S. Merrell. “Multi-Body Site Microbiome and Culture Profiling of Military Trainees Suffering From Skin and Soft-Tissue Infections at Fort Benning, GA.” mSphere, Oct 5;1(5), 2016. pii: e00232-16.
- R.C. Johnson, M.W. Ellis, C.D. Schlett, E.V. Millar, P.T. LaBreck, D. Mor, E.M. Elassal, J.B. Lanier, C.L. Redden, T. Cui, N. Teneza-Mora, D.K. Bishop, E.R. Hall, K.A. Bishop-Lilly, and D.S. Merrell. “Bacterial Etiology and Risk Factors Associated with Cellulitis and Purulent Skin Abscesses in Military Trainees.” PLoS ONE, Oct 25;11(10):e0165491. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165491.
Edward Mitre, M.D.
Name: Edward Mitre, M.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Immunology, Host Defenses
Basic Biology of Bacterial, Viral, or Parasite Diseases
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-1958
Department Website:
Education
2001 Infectious Diseases Fellowship, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD
1998 Internal Medicine Residency, New York University, New York, NY
1995 M.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore,
1991 B.A., Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY
1998 Internal Medicine Residency, New York University, New York, NY
1995 M.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore,
1991 B.A., Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY
Biography
Edward Mitre is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Maryland. He obtained his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1995 and then completed an internal medicine residency at New York University. He then did an infectious diseases fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, followed by post-doctoral research work in helminth immunology as well as clinical training in tropical medicine at the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases at the NIH. Dr. Mitre’s laboratory studies the biology, immunology, and pathogenesis of filarial infections and allergic diseases. Filariae are tissue-invasive nematodes that cause diseases such as elephantiasis and river blindness. Current studies in Dr. Mitre’s laboratory are focused on identifying novel drug and vaccine targets in filarial nematodes, evaluating natural products for the treatment of filariae, developing helminth-derived therapies for allergy and autoimmunity, and elucidating the mechanisms that drive immunoregulation in chronic helminth infections and allergy immunotherapy. In addition to his laboratory research and teaching responsibilities at the Uniformed Services University, Dr. Mitre regularly attends on the internal medicine and infectious diseases services at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Morris, C.P., Bennuru, S., Kropp, L.E., Zweben, J.A., Meng, Z., Taylor, R.T., Chan, K., Veenstra, T.D., Nutman, T.B., and Mitre, E., “A proteomic analysis of the body wall, digestive tract, and reproductive tract of Brugia malayi.” PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2015, 9(9):e0004054.
- Evans, H., Killoran, K.E., Mitre, B.K., Smith, M.A., Morris, C.P., Kim, S. and Mitre, E. “Ten weeks of infection with a tissue-invasive helminth protects against immune complex-mediated inflammation but not clinical type I hypersensitivity in previously sensitized mice.” Journal of Immunology, 2015, 195(7):2973-84.
- Fox, E.M., Torrero, M., Evans, H., and Mitre, E. “Immunologic characterization of three murine regimens of allergen-specific immunotherapy.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2015, 135(5):1341-51.
- Evans, H. and Mitre, E., “Worms as therapeutics for allergy: understanding why benefits in animal studies have not translated into clinical success.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2015, 135(2):343-53.
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- Commendation Letter from Major General Jeffrey B. Clark, U.S. Army, on behalf of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, “For meritorious service while serving as a health care provider to a critically ill and complex patient in the Medical ICU" 2016
- Outstanding Lecturer of the Preclinical Years (USU SOM classes of 2009, 2012, 2016-18)
- Outstanding Civilian Educator Award, USU SOM class of 2016
- Chair, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Young Investigator Competition 2016-present (member and judge, 2008-15)
- Associate Editor PLoS Pathogens 2014-present
- Chair, Filariasis Section, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Annual Meeting Committee, 2010-2013 (member 2007-2009)
- Senior Chief Resident in Internal Medicine, New York University, 1998-1999
Brian C. Schaefer, Ph.D.
Name: Brian C. Schaefer, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Immunology, Host Defenses
Cell Mechanisms of Disease, Cell Injury and Repair
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3402
Department Website:
Education
Ph.D. in Immunology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 1995
B.S. in Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1989
B.S. in Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1989
Biography
Dr. Brian C. Schaefer is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Uniformed Services University (USU) in Bethesda, MD. He also holds secondary appointments as Professor in the following USU graduate (Ph.D.) programs: Emerging Infectious Diseases; Molecular and Cell Biology; and Neuroscience. Dr. Schaefer received his B.S. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, MA in 1989. He then performed doctoral studies at Harvard University, where he was awarded his Ph.D. in Immunology in 1995. His dissertation project was performed with Drs. Samuel Speck and Jack Strominger, investigating the molecular basis of a restricted program of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gene expression in Burkitt lymphoma. After a brief post-doctoral term with Drs. Speck and Strominger, Dr. Schaefer performed post-doctoral studies (1996 - 2002) with Drs. Philippa Marrack and John Kappler, investigating mechanisms of T cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction. Upon starting his faculty position at USU in 2002, Dr. Schaefer's initial research focus was defining molecular mechanisms by which the TCR transduces signals to the transcription factor, NF-kappaB. This project remains a major emphasis in his research program. Additional areas of active investigation now include defining the role of the inflammatory response in the central nervous system in response to traumatic brain injury (TBI) and viral infection; developing new therapeutic strategies to combat neurotropic viral infections; determining the role of myeloid cells in establishing local immunosuppression in lung adenocarcinoma; and elucidating molecular mechanisms that regulate cell death in myeloid cells. Dr. Schaefer has several NIH- and DoD-funded projects on the above topic areas, with collaborators at USU, the NIH, the Murtha Cancer Center (MCC) at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), the University of Maryland, Duke University Medical Center and the Inova Health System. Dr. Schaefer's honors and awards include the USU Henry Wu Award for excellence in basic science research (2016), a competitive research award from the Dana Foundation Program in Brain and Immuno-imaging (2005) and a Kimmel Scholar Award (2004).
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Uniformed Services University Biomedical Instrumentation Center (BIC) Faculty Advisory Committee – Chair, 2009 - present
- National Institutes of Health CMIB (Cell and Molecular Immunology-B) study section, ad hoc member, 2011 - current
- Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology Cell Death and Survival Section, Editorial Board, 2013 - current
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- Traver M, Paul S and Schaefer BC. T cell receptor activation of NF-κB in effector T cells: visualizing signaling events within and beyond the cytoplasmic domain of the immunological synapse. The Immune Synapse: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, Cosima T. Baldari and Michael L. Dustin (ed.), 2017; 1584:101- 127.
- Lagraoui M, Sukumar G, Latoche JR, Maynard S, Dalgard CL, and Schaefer BC. Salsalate treatment following traumatic brain injury reduces inflammation and promotes a neuroprotective and neurogenic transcriptional response with concomitant functional recovery. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 2017; 61:96-109.
- Paul S and Schaefer BC. Visualizing TCR-Induced POLKADOTS Formation and NF-κB Activation in the D10 T-Cell Clone and Mouse Primary Effector T Cells. NF-κB: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology, Michael J. May (ed.), 2015; 1280:219- 38.
- Paul S, Traver MK, Kashyap AK, Washington MA, Latoche JR, and Schaefer BC. T cell receptor signals to NF-kappaB are transmitted by a cytosolic p62-Bcl10-Malt1-IKK signalosome. Science Signaling. 2014; 7:ra45.
- Paul S, Kashyap AK, Jia W, He Y-W, Schaefer BC. Selective autophagy of the adaptor protein Bcl10 modulates T cell receptor activation of NF-kappaB. Immunity. 2012; 36:947-58.
- Lagraoui M, Latoche JR, Cartwright NG, Sukumar G, Dalgard CL, Schaefer BC. Controlled cortical impact and craniotomy induce strikingly similar profiles of inflammatory gene expression, but with distinct kinetics. Front Neurol. 2012; 3:155.
- Kingeter LM, Paul S, Maynard SK, Cartwright NG, and Schaefer BC. Cutting Edge: T cell receptor ligation triggers digital activation of NF-kappaB. J. Immunol. 2010; 185:4520-4.
- Langel FD, Jain NA, Rossman JS, Kingeter LM, Kashyap AK, and Schaefer BC. Multiple protein domains mediate interaction between Bcl10 and Malt1. J. Biol. Chem. 2008; 283: 32419-31.
- Kingeter LM and Schaefer BC. Loss of PKCθ, Bcl10, or Malt1 selectively impairs proliferation and NF-κB activation in the CD4+ T cell subset. J. Immunol. 2008; 181:6244-54.
- Rossman JS, Stoicheva NG, Langel FD, Patterson GH, Lippincott-Schwartz J, and Schaefer BC. POLKADOTS are foci of functional interactions between cytosolic intermediates in T cell receptor-induced activation of NF-kappaB. Mol. Biol. Cell 2006; 17:2166-76.
Kim C. Williamson, Ph.D.
Name: Kim C. Williamson, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Microbiology and Immunology
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Basic Biology of Bacterial, Viral, or Parasite Diseases
Immunology, Host Defenses
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3951
Department Website:
Education
PhD, Boston University
BS, Ithaca College
BS, Ithaca College
Biography
Kim C. Williamson recently joined the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Faculty as a Professor in the Microbiology and Immunology Department. Her primary research interests are malaria immunity and transmission. Specific projects include developing malaria drugs and vaccines as well as studying the basic biology of parasite differentiation in vitro and in vivo in Ghana. She received a Ph.D. from Boston University and started working on malaria as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. After her fellowship she joined the faculty at Loyola University Chicago, where she taught and did research before moving to USUHS. Dr. Williamson is also on the editorial board of Parasitology Research and a member of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and the malERA Refresh Panel.
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
EID Pathology
John Stephen Dumler, M.D.
Name: John Stephen Dumler, M.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Pathology
Title:
Professor and Chairperson
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Medical Microbiology
Vector-borne diseases
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3044
Education
BS Medical Technology - 1978 University of Maryland at Baltimore, Sch Medicine
MD - 1985 University of Maryland at Baltimore, Sch Medicine
POST GRADUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
Anatomic Pathology Residency 1985-1988 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Laboratory Medicine Residency 1988-1989 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Pathology Residency (Research) 1990 University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Postdoctoral Fellowship 1990-1992 University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
MD - 1985 University of Maryland at Baltimore, Sch Medicine
POST GRADUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING:
Anatomic Pathology Residency 1985-1988 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Laboratory Medicine Residency 1988-1989 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Pathology Residency (Research) 1990 University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Postdoctoral Fellowship 1990-1992 University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston
Biography
Research Description: The laboratory is predominantly set to investigate vector-borne disease pathogenesis, with a strong emphasis on tick-borne infectious agents and intracellular bacteria in the order Rickettsiales. We employ multidisciplinary approaches toward scientific investigation ranging from simple diagnostic methods for clinical purposes, to molecular, genomic and epigenetic approaches for fundamental scientific discovery. Most basic work focuses on Anaplasma phagocytophilum AnkA, a type IV secretion system substrate that epigenetic regulates host chromatin and nuclear structure to influence eukaryotic gene transcriptional programs by binding gene promoters in cis and by binding chromatin into the nuclear lamina in trans. Additional investigations in the lab focus on i) Rickettsia, Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Borrelia infections and immunopathology mediated by NKT and cytotoxic T cells; ii) A. phagocytophilum immunopathology related to NKT, NK, and CD8 T cells immune responses; iii) Stat1 signaling and its role in immunopathology with A. phagocytophilum infection. We also study tick-borne co-infections and their synergistic pathogenetic mechanisms with Lyme disease and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Because an underlying tenet of infection pathogenesis with many vector-borne pathogens is increased vascular permeability or access to the vasculature for systemic dissemination, we also study, pathogen endothelial cell barrier intravasation, invasion, dissemination, extravasation, and vascular permeability by Borrelia, Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and other pathogens in vitro and in vivo. These studies focus in part on the roles of intracellular calcium concentrations, divalent cation chelators, phospholipase C inhibitors and antagonists of signaling through G protein-coupled receptors that prevent increases in vascular barrier permeability. Finally, the laboratory supports clinical investigations of febrile disease etiology in under-resourced regions, including Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua, Tanzania, among other locations. These studies focus on high-throughput and multiplexed methods for molecular diagnosis and avoidance of misdiagnosis to prevent inappropriate treatment and the consequent negative outcomes. The aims are to i) answer how much fever in such regions is the result of undiagnosed rickettsial disease, and ii) implement clinical studies and trials of new diagnostic tests, therapies and vaccines to prevent these vector-borne infections.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- 1992-1995 Assistant Professor, Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine
- 1996-2003 Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School Public Health
- 2003-2013 Professor (tenured 2003), Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health
- 2011-2012 Professor, Pathology and Microbiology, Perdana University Graduate School of Medicine, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- 2013-2016 Professor, Departments of Pathology and Microbiology & Immunology; University of Maryland School of Medicine.
- 2016-present Chair, Joint Departments of Pathology, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD and Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, MD
- 2010 American Society for Microbiology Becton Dickinson Award for Research in Clinical Microbiology, 110th ASM General Meeting, San Diego, CA
- 2013 Brindley Visiting Professor, University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Pathology, Galveston, TX
- 2013 Meeting Keynote Lecturer, XVII Congreso Sociedad Espanola de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiologia Clinica (Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology), Zaragoza, Spain; May 29-31, 2013.
- 2013 Barnett L. Cohen Award, In recognition of contributions, devotion and interest in promoting the science of microbiology; Maryland Branch, American Society for Microbiology; December 4, 2013.
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- Bakken JS, Dumler JS, Chen SM, Eckman MR, Van Etta LL, Walker DH. Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in the upper midwest United States. A new species emerging? JAMA 1994;272:212-218.
- Goodman JL, Nelson C, Vitale B, Madigan JE, Dumler JS, Kurtti TJ, Munderloh UK. Direct cultivation of the causative agent from patients with human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. N Engl J Med 1996;334:209-215. PMID:8531996
- Dumler JS, Barbet AF, Bekker CPJ, Dasch GA, Palmer GH, Ray SC, Rikihisa Y, Rurangirwa FR. Reorganization of genera in the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales; unification of some species of Ehrlichia with Anaplasma, Cowdria with Ehrlichia, and Ehrlichia with Neorickettsia; descriptions of six new species combinations; and designation of Ehrlichia equi and "HGE agent” as subjective synonyms of Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2001; 51:2145-2165.
- Martin ME, Caspersen K, Dumler JS. Immunopathology and ehrlichial propagation are regulated by interferon gamma (IFN) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in a murine model of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE). Am J Pathol 2001, 158:1881-1888.
- Dumler JS, Barat NC, Barat CE, Bakken JS. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis and macrophage activation. Clin Infect Dis 2007; 45: 199-204.
- Choi KS, Scorpio DG, Dumler JS. Stat1 negatively regulates immune-mediated injury with Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection. J Immunol 2014; 193:5088-98. PMC4225178
- Garcia-Garcia JC, Rennoll-Bankert KE, Pelly S, Milstone AM, Dumler JS. Silencing of host cell CYBB Gene expression by the nuclear effector AnkA of the intracellular pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Infect Immun. 2009; 77:2385-91. PMC2687357.
- Garcia-Garcia JC, Barat NC, Trembley SJ, Dumler JS. Epigenetic silencing of host cell defense genes enhances intracellular survival of the rickettsial pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum. PLoS Pathogen 2009; 5:e1000488. PMC2694362.
- Sinclair SHG, Yegnasubramanian S, Dumler JS. Global DNA methylation changes and differential gene expression in Anaplasma phagocytophilum-infected human neutrophils. Clin Epigenetics 2015 7:77. PMC4518890
- Rennoll-Bankert KE, Garcia-Garcia JC, Sinclair SH, Dumler JS. Chromatin-bound bacterial effector ankyrin A recruits histone deacetylase 1 and modifies host gene expression. Cell Microbiol. 2015; 17:1640-1652; PMID: 25996657
Barbara E.C. Knollmann-Ritschel, M.D., Captain, Navy
Name: Barbara E.C. Knollmann-Ritschel, M.D., Captain, Navy
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Pathology
Title:
Vice Chair
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Education
Viral countermeasures, TBI, and radioprotection
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3963
Education
Undergraduate: 1984-1988 Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
Medical School: 1988-1993 Doctor of Medicine University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
Internship: 1993-1994 Transitional Internship National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Residency: 1994-1998 Pathology: Anatomic Pathology/Clinical Pathology National Capitol Consortium/ USUHS, Bethesda, Maryland
Medical School: 1988-1993 Doctor of Medicine University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
Internship: 1993-1994 Transitional Internship National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
Residency: 1994-1998 Pathology: Anatomic Pathology/Clinical Pathology National Capitol Consortium/ USUHS, Bethesda, Maryland
Biography
CAPT Knollmann-Ritschel has 24 years of continuous active duty service in the Navy. She is board certified as an Anatomic and Clinical pathologist having served as Chief of Surgical Pathology and manager of Anatomic pathology at the National Naval Medical Center, Pathology Department Head in Naval Hospital Charleston, SC, Course Director of pathology, interim Chair, and Vice Chair of Pathology at USUHS. Dr. Knollmann-Ritschel is a leader in pathology education nationally, chair- elect of the Undergraduate Medical Education Section (UMEDS) of the Association of Pathology Chairs (APC), and Associate Editor of Academic Pathology. At the Uniformed Services University she developed the educational architecture of the Fundamentals Module of the pre-clerkship curriculum, integrating basic science and clinical courses into the module. She led the integration of medical student laboratory sessions and assessment. Clinically she practices pathology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and teaches the residents. She assumed responsibility for the laboratory of the late Dr. Radha Maheshwari, and collaborated in many areas including his research projects focusing on the development of miRNA biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), radioprotection, and viral, mainly alpha virus, countermeasures, teaching, Global Health projects, and the Indo-Uniformed Services Collaboration.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- 2013-Present Professor, Department of Pathology, Secondary Appointment: Professor, Emerging Infectious Disease
- 2011-Present Staff Pathologist, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, MD
- 2016 Association of Pathology Chairs, Undergraduate Medical Education Council: Chair-Elect
- 2017 Carol John’s Medal recipient
- 2014 Faculty Development Certificate of Advanced Expertise in Medical Education
- 2013 Innovation in Education, Award Winner
- 2012 F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine Annual Faculty Teaching Award
- 2012 Alpha Omega Alpha, Member
- 2016 Associate Editor for the journal Academic Pathology
- 2011-2014 Module Director for Fundamentals Module and Council of Module Directors, Member: Integrated the basic sciences and clinical sciences in the first module of the new (2011) curriculum and designed the assessment, remediation, and laboratory integration for the curriculum.
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- Knollmann-Ritschel, B., Regula, D, Borowitz, M., Conran, R., Prystowsky, M.; Pathology Competencies for Medical Education and Educational Cases. Academic Pathology, Vol 4
- Paridhi Gupta, Anuj Sharma, Jing Barbara Knollmann-Ritschel, Raj K Puri and Radha K Maheshwari. Differential host gene responses from infection with neurovirulent and partially-neurovirulent Han, Amy Yang, Manish Bhomia, strains of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. MAR 72017 BMJ INFD-D-16-00222R1
- Gayen, M., Gupta, P., Morazzani, E., Gaidaakova, E, Knollmann- Ritschel, B., Daly, M., Glass, P., Maheshwari, R. Dienococcus Mn2+ Peptide Complex: A Noval Approach to Alphavirus Vaccine Development. Vaccine Ms. Ref. No.: JVAC-D-16-01956
- Kiang, J., Smith, J., Anderson, M., Elliott, T., Gupta, P., Balakathiresan, N., Maheshwari, R., Knollmann-Ritschel, B.; Hemorrhage Enhances Cytokine, Complement Component 3, and Caspas-3, and Regulates MiRNAs Associated with Intestinal Damage after Whole-body Gamma-Irradiation. PLoS ONE, Vol 12(9): e0184393
- Knollmann-Ritschel, B, Suarez, E, Gilliland, W, Pock, A. Pathology Course Director Perspectives of a Recent LCME Experience: Preparation in an Integrated Curriculum with the Revised Standards, Academic Pathology, Jan 2017, Vol 4:1-7 DOI:10.1177/2374289516687070
- Raghavendar Chandran, Sharma, A., Bhomia, M., Balakathiresan, N., Knollmann-Ritschel, BE., Maheshwari, R.: Differential Expression of MicroRNAs in the Brains of Mice Subjected to Increasing Grade of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Brain Injury 2017, 31-1: 106-119 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2016.1213420
- Gupta P, Gayen M, Smith JT, Gaidamakova EK, Matrosova VY, Grichenko O, Knollmann-Ritschel B, Daly MJ, Kiang JG, Maheshwari RK.MDP: A Dienococcus Mn2+ Decapeptide Complex Protects Mice from Ionizing Radiation. PLoS One. 2016 Aug 8;11(8):e0160575. doi: 10.1371
- Knollmann-Ritschel, B., Durning, S.; Using Concept Maps in a Modified Team-Based Learning Exercise; AMSUS March 2014, Special Edition
- Sadofsky, M., Knollmann-Ritschel, B., Conran, R., Prystowsky, M.; National Standards in Pathology Education: Developing Competencies for Integrated Medical School Curricula; Arch Path Lab Med, Vol 138, Mar 2014: 328-332.
- Chopra, N., Yang, T., Asghari, P., Moore, E., Huke, S., Akin, B., Cattolica, R., Perez, CF., Hlaing, T., Knollmann-Ritschel, B., Jones, L., Pessah, I., Allen, P., Franzini-Armstrong, C., Knollmann, B., Ablation of triadi causes loss of cardic Ca2+ release units, impaired excitation-contraction coupling, and cardiac arrhythmias. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 May 5;106(18):7636-41.
Clifford M. Snapper, M.D.
Name: Clifford M. Snapper, M.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Pathology
Title:
Professor
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Basic and Translational Immunology
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3490
Education
B.S. Brooklyn College (City University of New York), Brooklyn, New York, 1975
M.D. Albany Medical College (Union University, Albany, New York, 1981
Intern, Internal Medicine, Albany Medical Center Hospital, Albany, New York, 1981-1982
Resident, Department of Pathology, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, 1982-1985
Medical Staff Fellow, Laboratory of Immunology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 1985-1988
M.D. Albany Medical College (Union University, Albany, New York, 1981
Intern, Internal Medicine, Albany Medical Center Hospital, Albany, New York, 1981-1982
Resident, Department of Pathology, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York, 1982-1985
Medical Staff Fellow, Laboratory of Immunology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, 1985-1988
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- 1994-present Professor (secondary), Cell and Molecular Biology Program,USUHS
- 1998-present Professor (secondary), Department of Medicine, USUHS
- 1998-present Adjunct Professor, Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani (Rajasthan),India
- 2000-present Professor (secondary), Emerging Infectious Diseases Program
- 2000-present Director, Institute for Vaccine Research, USUHS
- 1975 Theodore Smits Memorial Award in Astronomy and Physics
- 1989 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Developing Investigator Award, Immunopharmacology of Allergic Diseases
- 1992 The Jeffrey Modell Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2009 Exceptional Lab Instructor in Pathology, USUHS
- 2008 Member, Ad Hoc; NIH Center for Scientific Review Special Emphasis Panel: “Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune, and Immune-Mediated Diseases”
Bibliography
- Snapper, C. M., and F. D. Finkelman. Immunoglobulin class switching. In: Fundamental Immunology 4th edition, W. E. Paul ed., Raven Press, N.Y., 1997.
- Snapper, C. M. and J. Banchereau. Cytokines in antibody responses. In: The cytokine network and immune functions, 1999. Ed. J. Theze.
- Vos, Q., Lees, A., Wu, Z-Q., Snapper, C. M., and Mond, J. J. 2000. B cell activation by T cell independent type 2 antigens as an integral part of the humoral immune response to pathogenic microorganisms. Immunol. Rev. 176:154.
- Snapper, C. M., Shen, Y., Khan, A. Q., Colino, J., Zelazowski, P., Mond, J. J., Gause, W. C., and Wu, Z-Q. 2001. Distinct types of T-cell help for the induction of a humoral immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae. Trends in Immunology. 22:308.
- Colino, J. and Snapper. C. M. 2003. Dendritic cells, new tools for vaccination. Microbes and Infection 5: 311.
- Snapper, C. M., Wu, Z-Q., Khan, A. Q., and Colino, J. The humoral immune response to Streptococcus pneumoniae. In: The Pneumococcus. 2004. Eds. E. Tuomanen, T. Mitchell, D. Morrison, and B. Spratt.
- Snapper, C. M. 2006. Differential regulation of protein- and polysaccharide-specific Ig isotype production in vivo in response to intact Streptococcus pneumoniae. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 7 :295.
- Goldblatt, D. and Snapper, C. M. 2007. Immunobiology of pneumococcal polysaccharides and conjugate vaccines. In. Pneumococcal Vaccines: The Impact of Conjugate Vaccine. Eds. G. Siber, K. Klugman, and H. Makela, ASM Press.
- Snapper, C. M. 2012. Mechanisms underlying in vivo polysaccharide-specific immunoglobulin responses to intact extracellular bacteria. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 1253: 92.
- Snapper, C. M. 2015. The humoral immune response to T cell-independent antigens. Encyclopedia of Immunology, Elsevier.
Charles S Via, M.D.
Name: Charles S Via, M.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Pathology
Title:
Professor
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
T cell immunology
Systemic lupus erythematosus, allograft rejection
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3801
Education
BA (cum laude), University of Virginia
MD, University of Virginia
Internship and Junior Residency, Internal Medicine, St. Elizabeth's Hospital (Tufts), Boston, MA
Senior Residency, Internal Medicine, The Carney Hospital (Boston Univ), Boston, MA
Rheumatology Fellowship, Walter Reed Army Med Ctr
Medical Staff Fellow, Experimental Immunology Branch, DCBD, NCI, NIH
MD, University of Virginia
Internship and Junior Residency, Internal Medicine, St. Elizabeth's Hospital (Tufts), Boston, MA
Senior Residency, Internal Medicine, The Carney Hospital (Boston Univ), Boston, MA
Rheumatology Fellowship, Walter Reed Army Med Ctr
Medical Staff Fellow, Experimental Immunology Branch, DCBD, NCI, NIH
Biography
Positions and employment
1976-1980 U.S. Army: Internist, Stuttgart, Germany; Asst. Chief Int. Med, West Berlin, Germany
1982-1984 Chief, Rheumatology, Brooke Army Med. Center, San Antonio, TX
1988-2004 Assistant, Associate and Full Professor (with tenure), Univ. Maryland Med. Sch., Chief, Arthritis Clinic, Baltimore VA Hospital. Co-Founder and Director, Maryland Lupus Program.
2004-present Professor, Pathology Dept., Uniformed Services Univ. of Health Sci. Bethesda, MD.
Advisory Committees
Study Sections, full member: NIH: Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune and Immune Diseases (HAI) (2009-2013); Veterans Affairs: Immunology, Merit Review Board (1995-98); Arthritis Foundation: Clinical and Applied Immunology (1991-92), Cellular Immunology (2002-03). DOD: DTRA-TMTI Viral Therapeutics (2006-07). Alliance for Lupus Research: Target Identification in lupus (2005-07, 2009-2013); Lupus Research Inst. (2012-13). NIH ad hoc reviewer: IMS/HAI, IMB, ACTS (1992-2008).
Editorial Boards: Clinical Immunology (1992-2004); Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology (2002- 2006), Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (2006-2010), Current Immunol Reviews (2005). Section Editor: The Journal of Immunology (2005-2008), Cellular Immunology (2015-present)
NIAMS Advisory Council, ex officio DOD representative. (2002-2004).
Patents
1996 US Patent # 5,514,556: Method for detecting immune dysfunction in asymptomatic AIDS patients and for predicting organ transplant rejection.GM Shearer, M Clerici, CS Via.
1976-1980 U.S. Army: Internist, Stuttgart, Germany; Asst. Chief Int. Med, West Berlin, Germany
1982-1984 Chief, Rheumatology, Brooke Army Med. Center, San Antonio, TX
1988-2004 Assistant, Associate and Full Professor (with tenure), Univ. Maryland Med. Sch., Chief, Arthritis Clinic, Baltimore VA Hospital. Co-Founder and Director, Maryland Lupus Program.
2004-present Professor, Pathology Dept., Uniformed Services Univ. of Health Sci. Bethesda, MD.
Advisory Committees
Study Sections, full member: NIH: Hypersensitivity, Autoimmune and Immune Diseases (HAI) (2009-2013); Veterans Affairs: Immunology, Merit Review Board (1995-98); Arthritis Foundation: Clinical and Applied Immunology (1991-92), Cellular Immunology (2002-03). DOD: DTRA-TMTI Viral Therapeutics (2006-07). Alliance for Lupus Research: Target Identification in lupus (2005-07, 2009-2013); Lupus Research Inst. (2012-13). NIH ad hoc reviewer: IMS/HAI, IMB, ACTS (1992-2008).
Editorial Boards: Clinical Immunology (1992-2004); Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology (2002- 2006), Clinical and Vaccine Immunology (2006-2010), Current Immunol Reviews (2005). Section Editor: The Journal of Immunology (2005-2008), Cellular Immunology (2015-present)
NIAMS Advisory Council, ex officio DOD representative. (2002-2004).
Patents
1996 US Patent # 5,514,556: Method for detecting immune dysfunction in asymptomatic AIDS patients and for predicting organ transplant rejection.GM Shearer, M Clerici, CS Via.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- The Honor Society of Phi Beta Kappa
- Meritorious Service Medal, United States Army
- VA Career Development Award, Research Associate
- Phillip Hench Award in Rheumatology, Assn of Military Surgeons of the United States
- 26th Annual Einbender Lecturer in Lupus, University of Missouri Medical School, Columbia, MO
- Henry Kunkel Society
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
EID Pharmacology
Sergey Iordanskiy, Ph.D.
Name: Sergey Iordanskiy, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics
Faculty Rank:
Assistant Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Molecular biology of retroviruses & retroelements; Effect of radiation-induced cellular stress on virus latency, replication and cellular response; Exosomes in intercellular communication and cytopathogenesis.
Lentiviral vectors for delivery and expression of genome editing tools; Coinfection of HIV and human blood parasites.
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-0580
Department Website:
Education
B.S & M.S., Biochemistry, Moscow State University of Education, Moscow, Russia
Ph.D., Cellular Biology, Moscow State University of Education & Ivanovsky Research Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences
Postdoctoral Training, Molecular Biology of AIDS, Picower Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
Postdoctoral Training, Molecular Virology, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Ph.D., Cellular Biology, Moscow State University of Education & Ivanovsky Research Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences
Postdoctoral Training, Molecular Biology of AIDS, Picower Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY
Postdoctoral Training, Molecular Virology, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Biography
RESEARCH DESCRIPTION:
My laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms of innate immune response to radiation-induced stress and involvement of the endogenous retroviruses and retroelements in this response. Even mild radiation doses may induce prolonged or chronic inflammation that disrupts organ functions. This is an important factor of secondary radiation-related disorders, such as vascular abnormalities, neuronal damage, autoimmune diseases and radiation-related cancer. We consider molecular patterns associated with viral infections, such as viral RNAs and proteins as the essential factors that modulate and exacerbate radiation-induced inflammation.
Ongoing Projects:
Radiation-induced cellular stress and human endogenous retroviruses
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) constitute 8.3% of our genome. Most of integrated HERV genomes are silenced. However, detection of high levels of HERV-K mRNA, proteins, and even viral particles in a wide range of embryonic cells and cancers suggests that some HERVs may play an essential role in cell differentiation and cancer development. Recent studies revealed transcriptional activation of some retroviral genomes in various cancers and immune cells after exposure to radiation doses. We investigate the effect of gamma radiation on the expression of human endogenous retroviruses and their impact on inflammatory response in various types of immune cells. We found that promoters of certain HERV genomes become permanently activated after the single doses of radiation. Retroviral RNA, as well as some viral proteins, particularly Env (envelope protein), affect innate immune response and can enhance radiation-induced inflammation via the activation of critical pathways. Our ultimate goal is to elucidate the retrovirus-related mechanisms that enhance radiation-induced inflammation and indirect pathogenic effect of radiation on unexposed cells. Our long term goal is to reduce the inflammatory response to ionizing radiation using reprogramming cytokine profile of radiation-activated cells from pro- to anti-inflammatory phenotype via the modulation of expression of endogenous retroelements.
Exosomes in cytopathogenesis and intercellular communications within context of radiation-induced stress.
Initially small extracellular vesicles, exosomes, were thought to be a mechanism for discarding unwanted cellular material. However, in recent years, numerous evidence has indicated the role of exosomes in intercellular communication and the progression of various pathologies, including cancer and multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles that are present in all biological fluids and are capable of carrying RNAs and proteins which can be exchanged from cell-to-cell. Existing data indicate that exosomes and their cargo play crucial roles in communicating of radiation-induced and bystander cells with the result related to DNA damage and cell pathogenesis. We recently demonstrated multiple pathogenic effects of exosomes from the cells containing integrated retroviral genomes, such as human T lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) and HIV-1 on naïve cells. These effects were enhanced by the exposure of producing cells to ionizing radiation. Current research in our laboratory is focused on the analysis of host-cellular and viral cargo in the exosomes released from the radiation-exposed cells. We also investigate how non radiation-exposed cells respond to exosome-mediated effect of radiation in the context of radiotherapy and environmental radiation. Potential outcomes include understanding of the functions of exosome-packaged noncoding RNAs and mRNA, viral and host proteins in recipient cells and their pathogenic impact that is related to radiation. Identification of exosome-incorporated biomarkers of radiation doses is also part of this study.
Collaborative Projects
Our laboratory is involved in collaborative projects with George Washington University (Paul Brindley Lab) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Kevin Esvelt Lab). These studies are related to coinfection of HIV and human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni and S. hematobium and the use of HIV-based lentiviral vectors for delivery of gene editing tools within the context of Gene Drive strategy.
My laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms of innate immune response to radiation-induced stress and involvement of the endogenous retroviruses and retroelements in this response. Even mild radiation doses may induce prolonged or chronic inflammation that disrupts organ functions. This is an important factor of secondary radiation-related disorders, such as vascular abnormalities, neuronal damage, autoimmune diseases and radiation-related cancer. We consider molecular patterns associated with viral infections, such as viral RNAs and proteins as the essential factors that modulate and exacerbate radiation-induced inflammation.
Ongoing Projects:
Radiation-induced cellular stress and human endogenous retroviruses
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) constitute 8.3% of our genome. Most of integrated HERV genomes are silenced. However, detection of high levels of HERV-K mRNA, proteins, and even viral particles in a wide range of embryonic cells and cancers suggests that some HERVs may play an essential role in cell differentiation and cancer development. Recent studies revealed transcriptional activation of some retroviral genomes in various cancers and immune cells after exposure to radiation doses. We investigate the effect of gamma radiation on the expression of human endogenous retroviruses and their impact on inflammatory response in various types of immune cells. We found that promoters of certain HERV genomes become permanently activated after the single doses of radiation. Retroviral RNA, as well as some viral proteins, particularly Env (envelope protein), affect innate immune response and can enhance radiation-induced inflammation via the activation of critical pathways. Our ultimate goal is to elucidate the retrovirus-related mechanisms that enhance radiation-induced inflammation and indirect pathogenic effect of radiation on unexposed cells. Our long term goal is to reduce the inflammatory response to ionizing radiation using reprogramming cytokine profile of radiation-activated cells from pro- to anti-inflammatory phenotype via the modulation of expression of endogenous retroelements.
Exosomes in cytopathogenesis and intercellular communications within context of radiation-induced stress.
Initially small extracellular vesicles, exosomes, were thought to be a mechanism for discarding unwanted cellular material. However, in recent years, numerous evidence has indicated the role of exosomes in intercellular communication and the progression of various pathologies, including cancer and multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Exosomes are cell-derived vesicles that are present in all biological fluids and are capable of carrying RNAs and proteins which can be exchanged from cell-to-cell. Existing data indicate that exosomes and their cargo play crucial roles in communicating of radiation-induced and bystander cells with the result related to DNA damage and cell pathogenesis. We recently demonstrated multiple pathogenic effects of exosomes from the cells containing integrated retroviral genomes, such as human T lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) and HIV-1 on naïve cells. These effects were enhanced by the exposure of producing cells to ionizing radiation. Current research in our laboratory is focused on the analysis of host-cellular and viral cargo in the exosomes released from the radiation-exposed cells. We also investigate how non radiation-exposed cells respond to exosome-mediated effect of radiation in the context of radiotherapy and environmental radiation. Potential outcomes include understanding of the functions of exosome-packaged noncoding RNAs and mRNA, viral and host proteins in recipient cells and their pathogenic impact that is related to radiation. Identification of exosome-incorporated biomarkers of radiation doses is also part of this study.
Collaborative Projects
Our laboratory is involved in collaborative projects with George Washington University (Paul Brindley Lab) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Kevin Esvelt Lab). These studies are related to coinfection of HIV and human blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni and S. hematobium and the use of HIV-based lentiviral vectors for delivery of gene editing tools within the context of Gene Drive strategy.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Barclay RA, Schwab A, DeMarino C, Akpamagbo Y, Lepene B, Kassaye S, Iordanskiy S and F. Kashanchi. Exosomes from uninfected cells activate transcription of latent HIV-1. J Biol Chem. 2017 292(28):11682-11701; PMID: 28536264
- Akpamagbo YA, DeMarino C, Pleet ML, Schwab A, Rodriguez M, Barclay RA, Sampey G, Iordanskiy S, El-Hage N and F Kashanchi. HIV-1 Transcription Inhibitors Increase the Synthesis of Viral Non-Coding RNA that Contribute to Latency. Curr Pharm Des. 2017; 23(28):4133-4144. PMID: 28641535.
- Pleet ML, Mathiesen A, DeMarino C, Akpamagbo YA, Barclay RA, Schwab A, Iordanskiy S, Sampey GC, Lepene B, Nekhai S, Aman MJ and F Kashanchi. Ebola VP40 in Exosomes Can Cause Immune Cell Dysfunction. Front Microbiol. 2018; 9:692.. PMID: 29696006.
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
- Suttiprapa S, Rinaldi G, Tsai IJ, Mann VH, Dubrovsky L, Yan HB, Holroyd N, Huckvale T, Durrant C, Protasio AV, Pushkarsky T, Iordanskiy S, Berriman M, Bukrinsky MI and PJ Brindley, HIV-1 Integrates Widely throughout the Genome of the Human Blood Fluke Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Pathog. 2016 Oct 20;12(10):e1005931.
- Santos S, Obukhov Y, Nekhai S, Pushkarsky T, Brichacek B, Bukrinsky M and S Iordanskiy. Cellular minichromosome maintenance complex component 5 (MCM5) is incorporated into HIV-1 virions and modulates viral replication in the newly infected cells, Virology. 2016 Oct;497:11-22.
- Iordanskiy S and F Kashanchi, Potential of radiation-induced cellular stress for reactivation of latent HIV-1 and killing of infected cells. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2016 32(2):120-124.
- Sampey G, Saifuddin M, Schwab A, Barclay R, Punya S, Chung M-Y, Hakami RM, Asad Zadeh M, Lepene B, Klase ZA, El-Hage N, Young M, Iordanskiy S and F Kashanchi, Exosomes from HIV-1 infected cells stimulate production of pro-inflammatory cytokines through TAR RNA. J Biol Chem. 2016 291(3):1251-1266.
- Iordanskiy S, Van Duyne R, Sampey GC, Woodson CM, Fry K, Saifuddin M, Guo J, Wu Y, Romerio F and F Kashanchi, Therapeutic doses of irradiation activate viral transcription and induce apoptosis in HIV-1 infected cells. Virology 2015, 485:1–15.
- Guendel I, Iordanskiy S, Van Duyne R, Kehn-Hall K, Saifuddin M, Das R, Jaworski E, Sampey G, Senina S, Shultz L, Narayanan A, Chen H, Lepene B, Zeng C, and F. Kashanchi, Novel neuroprotective GSK-3β inhibitor restricts Tat-mediated HIV-1 replication. J Virol 2014, 88(2): 1189-1208
- Narayanan A, Iordanskiy S, Das R, Van Duyne R, Santos S, Jaworski E, Guendel I, Sampey G, Gerhart E, Iglesias-Ussel M, Popratiloff A, Hakami R, Kehn-Hall K, Young M, Subra C, Gilbert C, Bailey C, Romerio F and F. Kashanchi, Exosomes derived from HIV-1 infected cells contain TAR RNA. J Biol Chem. 2013 288(27): 20014-20033.
- Santos S, Obukhov Y, Nekhai S, Bukrinsky M and S Iordanskiy, Virus-producing cells determine the host protein profiles of HIV-1 virion cores. Retrovirology. 2012, 9:65.
- Iordanskiy S, Berro R, Altieri M, Kashanchi F. and M. Bukrinsky, Intracytoplasmic maturation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcription complexes determines their capacity to integrate into chromatin. Retrovirology 2006. 3: 4
- Iordanskiy S, Zhao Y, DiMarzio P, Agostini I, Dubrovsky L, and M. Bukrinsky, Heat-shock protein 70 exerts opposing effects on Vpr-dependent and Vpr-independent HIV-1 replication in macrophages. Blood. 2004. 104: 1867-1872.
Fereshteh S. Nugent, Ph.D.
Name: Fereshteh S. Nugent, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics
Title:
USU faculty
Faculty Rank:
Associate Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Synaptic plasticity, Reward Pathway, Addiction Neuorpsychiatric Disorders
Novel Anidepressants
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3243
Department Website:
Education
Ph.D., Neurophysiology, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran, 2003
Postdoctoral, Neuroscience, Brown University
Postdoctoral, Neuroscience, Brown University
Biography
Synaptic Plasticity of the Reward Pathway
Since the discovery of synaptic plasticity as the cellular correlate of learning and memory, strong overlaps between neural and cellular substrates of learning, drug addiction and stress-related disorders have been recognized. Yet it remains a major challenge to identify the neural circuits and synaptic mechanisms contributing to abnormalities in dopamine signaling induced by addictive drugs and adverse early life experiences. The major focus of my laboratory is the elucidation of synaptic mechanisms underlying reward learning, drug addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, with particular emphasis on the midbrain dopamine system originating from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its control by the lateral habenula (LHb). Research in our laboratory also explores effects of severe early life stress on synaptic transmission and plasticity of distinct VTA dopamine circuits to identify the neural circuits and molecular mechanisms contributing to abnormalities in dopamine signaling induced by adverse early life experiences. To achieve these goals, we use a combination of immunohistochemical, biochemical, epigenetic, electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. We expect that identifying novel epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and memory formation in midbrain dopamine circuits will point to new directions in pharmacotherapy for drug addiction and stress-related disorders.
Selected Publications
Authement M.E., L. L. D., Shepard R.D., Browne C.A., Lucki L., Kassis H., Nugent F.S., A role for corticotrophin releasing factor signaling in the lateral habenula and its modulation by early life stress, Science Signaling, 11(520) (2018), Featured as the cover story
Summary: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/sigtrans;11/520/eaan6480?ijkey=HdDvVlA/ZsP76&keytype=ref&siteid=sigtrans
Abstract: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sigtrans;11/520/eaan6480?ijkey=HdDvVlA/ZsP76&keytype=ref&siteid=sigtrans
Reprint: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/sigtrans;11/520/eaan6480?ijkey=HdDvVlA/ZsP76&keytype=ref&siteid=sigtrans
Full text: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sigtrans;11/520/eaan6480?ijkey=HdDvVlA/ZsP76&keytype=ref&siteid=sigtrans
Langlois, L.D. and Nugent F.S. Opiates and plasticity in ventral tegmental area, Invited Review, ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 20;8(9):1830-1838 (2017)
Authement M.E., Kodangattil J.N.,Gouty,S., Rusnak, M., Symes A.J., Cox B.M., and Nugent F.S., Histone deacetylase inhibition rescues maternal deprivation-induced GABAergic metaplasticity through restoration of AKAP signaling, Neuron, 86: 1240–1252 (2015)
Kodangattil J.N., Dacher M.A., Authement, M.E. and Nugent F.S., Spike timing-dependent plasticity at GABAergic synapses in the Ventral tegmental area. Journal of Physiology, 591.19: 4699-710 (2013)
Dacher, M. A., Gouty, S., Dash, S., Cox, B.M., and Nugent, F.S., A-kinase anchoring protein-calcineurin signaling in long-term depression of GABAergic synapses, Journal of Neuroscience, 33:2650-60 (2013)
Nugent, F.S., Penick, E.C., Kauer, J.A., Opiates block long-term potentiation of GABAergic synapses. Nature, 466: 1086-1095 (2007)
Postdoctoral Fellows: Dr. Ludovic Langlois
Graduate Students: Ryan Shepard
Lab Alumni: Dr. Matthieu Dacher (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France), Dr. Jayaraj N. Kodangattil, Dr. Haifa Kassis, Dr. Michael Authement (NIAAA) and Steven Dash
Since the discovery of synaptic plasticity as the cellular correlate of learning and memory, strong overlaps between neural and cellular substrates of learning, drug addiction and stress-related disorders have been recognized. Yet it remains a major challenge to identify the neural circuits and synaptic mechanisms contributing to abnormalities in dopamine signaling induced by addictive drugs and adverse early life experiences. The major focus of my laboratory is the elucidation of synaptic mechanisms underlying reward learning, drug addiction and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, with particular emphasis on the midbrain dopamine system originating from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its control by the lateral habenula (LHb). Research in our laboratory also explores effects of severe early life stress on synaptic transmission and plasticity of distinct VTA dopamine circuits to identify the neural circuits and molecular mechanisms contributing to abnormalities in dopamine signaling induced by adverse early life experiences. To achieve these goals, we use a combination of immunohistochemical, biochemical, epigenetic, electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. We expect that identifying novel epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and memory formation in midbrain dopamine circuits will point to new directions in pharmacotherapy for drug addiction and stress-related disorders.
Selected Publications
Authement M.E., L. L. D., Shepard R.D., Browne C.A., Lucki L., Kassis H., Nugent F.S., A role for corticotrophin releasing factor signaling in the lateral habenula and its modulation by early life stress, Science Signaling, 11(520) (2018), Featured as the cover story
Summary: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/summary/sigtrans;11/520/eaan6480?ijkey=HdDvVlA/ZsP76&keytype=ref&siteid=sigtrans
Abstract: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sigtrans;11/520/eaan6480?ijkey=HdDvVlA/ZsP76&keytype=ref&siteid=sigtrans
Reprint: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/reprint/sigtrans;11/520/eaan6480?ijkey=HdDvVlA/ZsP76&keytype=ref&siteid=sigtrans
Full text: http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/sigtrans;11/520/eaan6480?ijkey=HdDvVlA/ZsP76&keytype=ref&siteid=sigtrans
Langlois, L.D. and Nugent F.S. Opiates and plasticity in ventral tegmental area, Invited Review, ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 20;8(9):1830-1838 (2017)
Authement M.E., Kodangattil J.N.,Gouty,S., Rusnak, M., Symes A.J., Cox B.M., and Nugent F.S., Histone deacetylase inhibition rescues maternal deprivation-induced GABAergic metaplasticity through restoration of AKAP signaling, Neuron, 86: 1240–1252 (2015)
Kodangattil J.N., Dacher M.A., Authement, M.E. and Nugent F.S., Spike timing-dependent plasticity at GABAergic synapses in the Ventral tegmental area. Journal of Physiology, 591.19: 4699-710 (2013)
Dacher, M. A., Gouty, S., Dash, S., Cox, B.M., and Nugent, F.S., A-kinase anchoring protein-calcineurin signaling in long-term depression of GABAergic synapses, Journal of Neuroscience, 33:2650-60 (2013)
Nugent, F.S., Penick, E.C., Kauer, J.A., Opiates block long-term potentiation of GABAergic synapses. Nature, 466: 1086-1095 (2007)
Postdoctoral Fellows: Dr. Ludovic Langlois
Graduate Students: Ryan Shepard
Lab Alumni: Dr. Matthieu Dacher (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France), Dr. Jayaraj N. Kodangattil, Dr. Haifa Kassis, Dr. Michael Authement (NIAAA) and Steven Dash
Frank Shewmaker, Ph.D.
Name: Frank Shewmaker, Ph.D.
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Pharmacology & Molecular Therapeutics
Faculty Rank:
Assistant Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Molecular and Cell Biology Graduate Program
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3527
Education
B.S., Biochemistry, Auburn University
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Tulane University
Post-Doctoral Training, Laboratory of Biochemistry & Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Tulane University
Post-Doctoral Training, Laboratory of Biochemistry & Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Bibliography
Biosketch Link:
EID Preventive Medicine
David F Cruess, PhD
Name: David F Cruess, PhD
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics
Title:
Assistant Dean for Graduate Education
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Public Health
Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3465
Department Website:
Education
PhD , Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health
Biography
Profile
Dr. Dave Cruess currently serves as Professor of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics (PMB), with a secondary appointments as Professor of Medicine, Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Professor of Nursing in the Graduate School of Nursing. He additionally serves as the Graduate Programs Director of PMB. He also holds the administrative positions of Principal Vice Chair of PMB, Vice Chair for Biometrics, and Vice Chair for Graduate Programs. Dr. Cruess is the senior Biostatistician in the Department, and founded the Biostatistics Consulting Center for the University. He designed and taught much of the biostatistical curricula for the USU medical and graduate school.
Research
The research interests of Dr. Cruess are varied, but most deal with the application of biostatistical methods in innovative ways to biomedical problems, especially in the areas of radiology, telemedicine, dermatology, and surgery. Currently, he is involved with research that involves the evaluation of the long-term outcomes of USU medical school graduates.
Teaching
Dr. Cruess designed and teaches the core Biostatistics I course that is a required course for most graduate programs at USU. He has won the "Outstanding Educator of the Year" six times for his teaching expertise.
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Cruess is the only member of the Department to be "Certified in Public Health" by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. He has extensive expertise in the area of educational program administration, especially in accreditation issues. He has had a major role in every accreditation and re-accreditation effort of the Department, and has chaired the last two accreditation Self-studies for the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH).
Professional Activities
Dr. Cruess is a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology and was elected in the Delta Omega honorary public health society. He is also a member of the American Statistical Association, the International Biometric Society, and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research. He also serves on the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
Dr. Dave Cruess currently serves as Professor of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics (PMB), with a secondary appointments as Professor of Medicine, Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Professor of Nursing in the Graduate School of Nursing. He additionally serves as the Graduate Programs Director of PMB. He also holds the administrative positions of Principal Vice Chair of PMB, Vice Chair for Biometrics, and Vice Chair for Graduate Programs. Dr. Cruess is the senior Biostatistician in the Department, and founded the Biostatistics Consulting Center for the University. He designed and taught much of the biostatistical curricula for the USU medical and graduate school.
Research
The research interests of Dr. Cruess are varied, but most deal with the application of biostatistical methods in innovative ways to biomedical problems, especially in the areas of radiology, telemedicine, dermatology, and surgery. Currently, he is involved with research that involves the evaluation of the long-term outcomes of USU medical school graduates.
Teaching
Dr. Cruess designed and teaches the core Biostatistics I course that is a required course for most graduate programs at USU. He has won the "Outstanding Educator of the Year" six times for his teaching expertise.
Areas of Expertise
Dr. Cruess is the only member of the Department to be "Certified in Public Health" by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. He has extensive expertise in the area of educational program administration, especially in accreditation issues. He has had a major role in every accreditation and re-accreditation effort of the Department, and has chaired the last two accreditation Self-studies for the Council for Education in Public Health (CEPH).
Professional Activities
Dr. Cruess is a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology and was elected in the Delta Omega honorary public health society. He is also a member of the American Statistical Association, the International Biometric Society, and the Association for Prevention Teaching and Research. He also serves on the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
V. Ann Stewart, DVM, PhD
Name: V. Ann Stewart, DVM, PhD
USU Department of Primary Appointment:
Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics
Title:
Dr.
Faculty Rank:
Full Professor
Location:
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
Research Interests:
Medical parasitology
malaria and HIV co-infection
Email:
Office Phone:
(301) 295-3139
Education
Ph.D. Pathology, Colorado State University, 1993
Residency in Anatomic Pathology, Colorado State University, 1993
DVM NYS College of Veterinary Medicine (Cornell), 1981
B.A. Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences
Residency in Anatomic Pathology, Colorado State University, 1993
DVM NYS College of Veterinary Medicine (Cornell), 1981
B.A. Cornell University College of Arts & Sciences
Biography
I came to USUHS from a long and successful tenure at the WRAIR as a malaria vaccine developer to pursue my other interests in malaria biology. I now have a NIH R01 funded effort to characterize many aspects of the molecular epidemiology of HIV-malaria co-infection in Kenya, an extensive collaboration with the Naval Medical Research Institute to continue projects with malaria vaccine development and immunology as well as to explore ways of developing vaccines for P. vivax and P. falciparum, and a technology transfer project with PEPFAR and PMI in Nigeria, where my lab has successfully taught them the basics of malaria molecular diagnosis so that they could successfully compete for additional, sustainable funding. My collaboration with other malaria molecular epidemiologists has expanded enormously in the past two years, with exciting, as yet unpublished work on the detection of mixed falciparum malaria strains within single patients, strain evolution, and population genetics in the Congo and Kenya; working with these and other projects, including metagenomics of acute febrile illness, has expanded my interest and capabilities in deep sequencing and analytical methodologies.
Representative publications, projects, and/or deployments
- Professor, Division of Tropical Public Health, Dept. of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 2014- present
- US Army Superior Civilian Service Medal, June 2011.
- Senior scientist, Laboratory Director, Chief, Principle investigator, and Veterinary Medical Officer, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Malaria Vaccine Development, 1997-2011
- Visiting Senior Scientist, US Army Medical Research Unit, Kenya, 2007-2010
- NRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand, 1995-1997
- Veterinary Clinical Practioner, 1981-1986
Bibliography
- Miller RH, Obuya CO, Wanja EW, Ogutu B, Waitumbi J, Luckhart S, and VA Stewart. Characterization of Plasmodium ovale curtisi and P. ovale wallikeri in western Kenya utilizing a novel species-specific real-time PCR assay (2015). PLoS Negl Trop Dis 9(1): e0003469.
- Riley EM and VA Stewart (2013) Immune mechanisms in malaria: new insights in vaccine development. Nature Medicine 19(2):168-178.
- Parsons E, Otieno JA, Ong’echa JM, Nixon CE, Vulule J, Munz C, Stewart VA, and AM Moormann. Regulatory T cells in endemic Burkitt lymphoma patients are associated with poor outcomes: a prospective, longitudinal study (2016). PLoS One 11(12):e0167841.
- Parsons E, Epstein J, Sedegah M, Villasante E, and A Stewart. Decrease in circulating CD25(hi)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells following vaccination with the candidate malaria vaccine RTS,S (2016). Vaccine 34(38):4618-4625.
- Hegge SR, Hickey BW, McGrath SM, and VA Stewart. Using hematology data from malaria vaccine research trials in humans and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to guide volume limits for blood withdrawal (2016). Comparative Medicine 66(6): 474-479.
- Murphy SC, JP Shott, S Parikh, P Etter, WR Prescott, VA Stewart. (2013). Malaria Diagnostics in Clinical Trials (review). Am J Trop Med Hyg 89(5):824-839.
- Lee, E. H., C. H. Olsen, T. Koehlmoos, P. Masuoka, A. Stewart, J. W. Bennett and J. Mancuso (2017). "A cross-sectional study of malaria endemicity and health system readiness to deliver services in Kenya, Namibia and Senegal." Health Policy and Planning 32(suppl_3): iii75-iii87.
