Stuart N. Isaacs, M.D.
Associate Professor of Medicine
Department: Medicine
Graduate Group Affiliations
Contact information
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases
319 Johnson Pavilion
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6073
Division of Infectious Diseases
319 Johnson Pavilion
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6073
Office: 215-573-7515
Fax: 215-349-5111
Lab: 215-746-8428
Fax: 215-349-5111
Lab: 215-746-8428
Email:
ISAACS@MAIL.MED.UPENN.EDU
ISAACS@MAIL.MED.UPENN.EDU
Publications
Links
Search PubMed for articles
Department of Medicine Division of Infectious Disease webpage.
Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group webpage.
Search PubMed for articles
Department of Medicine Division of Infectious Disease webpage.
Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group webpage.
Education:
B.A. (Chemistry/Biology)
Brandeis University, 1981.
M.D. (Medicine)
Yale University School of Medicine, 1985.
Permanent linkB.A. (Chemistry/Biology)
Brandeis University, 1981.
M.D. (Medicine)
Yale University School of Medicine, 1985.
Description of Research Expertise
Research InterestsViral pathogenesis and viral evasion strategies from the host immune response. Recombinant vaccinia viruses as vaccine vectors.
Counter-bioterrorism research focusing on smallpox.
Key words: Vaccinia virus, Recombinant vaccines, poxvirus , pathogenesis, smallpox, smallpox therapeutics.
Description of Research
Dr. Isaacs' laboratory focuses on using poxviruses as a model system to study viral proteins that are involved in viral pathogenesis, dissemination, and evasion of the host immune response. Poxviruses, which are used widely as a tool for research and vaccine development, express proteins that inhibit complement activation, bind IL-1, TNF, and interferons, and decrease the host inflammatory response by other mechanisms. Elucidation of these processes could lead to a safer virus vector. Furthermore, the study of these defense molecules encoded by the virus might give insights into the control of inflammation, as well as, the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. The laboratory has also been pursuing the use of vaccinia virus as a vaccine vector. They are investigating a novel way of targeting foreign antigens to the outer envelope of the vaccinia virion. Presentation of antigens in this manner may result in enhanced immunity against the foreign antigen when compared to standard vaccinia virus vectors. The lab is also involved with anti-bioterrorism research. Dr. Isaacs is the poxvirus program project leader for the Middle Atlantic Regional Center of Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. His lab is developing safer smallpox vaccines as well as therapies to treat smallpox and complications from the current smallpox.
Rotation Projects for 2006-2007
I am not taking rotation students for the 2006 - 2007 academic year
Lab personnel:
Edward Alexander - Research Specialist
Matt Cohen, B.A., - Graduate student
Brian DeHaven, B.A., - Graduate student
Natasha Girgis, B.A., - Graduate student
Jessica Weaver, Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow
Yuhong Xiao, M.D., Ph.D. - Postdoctoral Fellow
Selected Publications
Girgis, N.M., DeHaven, B.C., Fan, X, Viner, K.M., Shamim, M., Isaacs, S.N.: Cell surface expression of the vaccinia virus complement control protein is mediated by interaction with the viral A56 protein and protects infected cells from complement attack. Journal of Virology 82(9): 4205-4214, May 2008.Weaver, J.R., Shamim, M., EdAlexander, E., Davies, D.H., Felgner, P.L., Isaacs, S.N.: The identification and characterization of a monoclonal antibody to the vaccinia virus E3 protein. Virus Research 130(1-2): 269-74, Dec 2007.
Aldaz-Carroll, L., Xiao, Y., Whitbeck, J.C., Ponce de Leon, M., Lou, H., Kim, M., Yu, J., Reinherz, E.L., Isaacs, S.N., Eisenberg, R.J., Cohen, G.H.: Major neutralizing sites on vaccinia virus glycoprotein B5 are exposed differently on variola virus ortholog B6. Journal of Virology 81(15): 8131-8139, Aug 2007.
Viner KM, Girgis N, Kwak H, Isaacs SN: B5-deficient vaccinia virus as a vaccine vector for the expression of a foreign antigen in vaccinia immune animals. Virology 361(2): 356-63, May 2007.
Xiao, Y., Aldaz-Carroll, L., Ortiz, A.M., Whitbeck, J.C., Alexander, E., Lou, H., Davis, H.L., Braciale, T.J., Eisenberg, R.J., Cohen, G.H., Isaacs, S.N.: A protein-based smallpox vaccine protects mice from vaccinia and ectromelia virus challenges when given as a prime and single boost. Vaccine 25(7): 1214-1224, Jan 2007.
Empig, C. Kenner, J.R., Perret-Gentil, M., Youree, B.E., Bell, E., Chen, A., Gurwith, M., Higgins, K., Lock, M., Rice, A.D., Schriewer, J., Sinangil, F., White, E., Buller, R.M.*, Dermody, T.S.*, Isaacs, S.N.*, Moyer, R.W.*: Highly attenuated smallpox vaccine protects rabbits and mice against pathogenic orthopoxvirus challenge. Vaccine 24(17): 3686-94, Apr 2006 Notes: *co-principal investigators/senior authors.
Aldaz-Carroll, L., Whitbeck, J.C., Ponce de Leon, M., Lou, H., Hirao, L., Isaacs, S.N., Moss, B., Eisenberg, R.J., Cohen, G.H.: Epitope mapping studies define two major neutralization sites on the vaccinia virus EEV glycoprotein B5R. Journal of Virology 79(10): 6260-6271, May 2005.
Viner, K.M., and Isaacs, S.N.: Activity of vaccinia virus-neutralizing antibody in the sera of smallpox vaccinees. Microbes and Infection 7(4): 579-583, Apr 2005.
Sfyroera, G., Katragadda, M., Morikis, D., Isaacs, S.N., and Lambris, J.D.: Electrostatic modeling predicts the activities of orthopoxvirus complement control proteins. Journal of Immunology 174(4): 2143-2151, Feb 2005.
Bell, E., Shamim, M., Whitbeck, J.C., Sfyroera, G., Lambris, J.D., Isaacs, S.N.: Antibodies against the extracellular enveloped virus (EEV) B5R protein are mainly responsible for the EEV neutralizing capacity of vaccinia immune globulin (VIG). Virology 325(1): 425– 431, Aug 2004.