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Faculty

Infectious Disease Immunology

David Bernstein, MD, MA
Dr. Bernstein's research program centers on vaccines, encompassing the spectrum of preclinical development and evaluation to clinical trials. His main interest is in herpes virus vaccines but he has active investigations of HPV, influenza, norovirus and rotavirus vaccines.
Rhonda Cardin, PhD
Dr. Cardin's lab focuses on understanding the virus-host interactions that are important for CMV pathogenesis and immunological control of long term latent CMV infection. CMV encodes viral homologs to host proteins (such as IL-10, TNF, chemokine receptors) that interfere with the host immune response by immune evasion or by mimicry. Understanding the advantages provided by 'hijacking' of host proteins by CMV will lead to the development of effective vaccine strategies.
Monica Chiaramonte, PhD
Dr. Chiaramonte studies the immunological mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of lung fibrosis and identifies components of both innate and adaptive immunity involved in fibrotic processes.
Claire A. Chougnet, PhD
Dr. Chougnet studies the interactions between antigen-presenting cells and T cells, with a special focus on the pathogenesis of the infection by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
George Deepe, MD
Dr. Deepe's research program involves an analysis of the protective immune response to the pathogenic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum. His lab endeavors to determine the influence of cytokines and T cell subpopulations on host control of the fungus.
Fred Finkelman, MD
Dr. Finkelman is interested in cytokine biology, including regulation of cytokine responses and cytokine roles in allergy, asthma, autoimmunity, and infectious diseases.
David Hildeman, PhD
Dr. Hildeman is studying the molecular biology of antigen-specific T cells and mechanisms involved in T cell homeostasis, immunity and autoimmunity.
Xi Jiang, PhD
Dr. Jiang's laboratory is interested in research on enteric viruses causing acute gastroenteritis in humans, particularly the human caliciviruses, including Norovirus and Sapovirus, and the human rotaviruses. His laboratory also is involved in research on the role of human milk in protection of infants from infection of these viruses.
Christopher Karp, MD
Dr. Karp's lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation and dysregulation of immune responses in infectious and autoimmune human diseases.
Simon L. Newman, PhD
Dr. Newman's research focuses on innate immunity to fungi, particularly Histoplasma capsulatum. His studies are specifically aimed toward understanding the biology and biochemistry of the interaction between Histoplasma yeasts and macrophages and dendritic cells.
Judith Rhodes, PhD
Dr. Rhodes' lab is interested in pathway in the opportunistic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus that are involved in pathogenesis of invasive aspergillosis. Current projects include the role of PKA in stress response in A. fumigatus, RhbA as a growth regulator in A. fumigatus, and RasA and RasB control early events in germination and development in A. fumigatus.
Nancy M. Sawtell, PhD
Dr. Sawtell's research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms of herpes simplex virus latency and reactivation. We have systematically developed the quantitative approaches necessary to meaningfully dissect the interplay between the virus and the host immune system in the establishment and maintenance of latency and reactivation.
Ramu Subbramanian, PhD
Dr. Subbramanian's lab focuses on immunological mechanisms underlying the generation of optimal host responses against the mutable RNA viruses, influenza and HIV. The lab also interfaces with ongoing clinical trials of novel vaccine approaches to emerging pathogens such as avian influenza. Laboratory research interests include: 1) novel influenza vaccination approaches geared toward generating optimal cross protection in the mouse model; 2) characterization of candidate avian influenza vaccine immunogenicity in humans; and 3) novel vaccine vector design and delivery modalities for mutable viral models.
Peter D. Walzer, MD
Dr. Waltzer's research interests involve the fungal opportunistic pathogen, Pneumocystis, which is a major cause of pneumonia in HIV patients and other immunocompromised hosts. His research also focuses on the immunopathogenesis of Pneumocystis infection.
Marc G. Wathelet, PhD
Dr. Wathelet's laboratory is focused on the mechanisms by which viruses evade the interferon response, an essential arm of innate immunity against viral infection. Current work involves the Ebola virus and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus.
Alison Weiss, PhD
Dr. Weiss' laboratory studies bacterial toxins (pertussis toxin, adenylate cyclase toxin, Shiga toxin, and anthrax toxin), with an emphasis on investigating vaccine efficacy and novel therapeutic approaches to counter toxin-mediated diseases.