Philip R. Johnson, M.D.
Professor, Pediatrics

Gene Therapy and Vaccines Program

Address

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
1216B Abramson Research Center
3615 Civic Center Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4318
Office tel.: 267-426-0351
Lab tel.: 267-426-0351
Fax: 267-426-0363
E-mail: johnsonphi@chop.edu

Assistant:
Chris Ringgold
ringgoldc@chop.edu
267-426-0352

Link(s)

Dr. Johnson's lab

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: BA (Chemistry), 1976.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: MD (Medicine), 1980.

Research Interests

• Vaccine development; viral vectors; gene transfer; HIV and SIV

Key words: SIV; HIV; AAV; Vaccine; Gene Transfer

Search PubMed for articles

Description of Research

My research program focuses on two major research interests. One area of my research centers on vaccine development, especially for HIV. I have more than 18 years of experience in developing viral vectors for the delivery of vaccine antigens and the use of animal models to evaluate vaccine strategies. One of the lead vaccine candidates developed by my colleagues and me is now in phase I human trials in Europe. We also continue to evaluate new strategies for HIV vaccines.

My other major research interest is the development of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) as a vector for gene therapy. My colleagues and I have made seminal contributions in this field over the last 10 years, particularly in the area of vector production. The methods invented in my laboratory are used to produce clinical grade vector now used in gene therapy trials in several centers in the United States. The laboratory continues to seek novel uses for rAAV vectors in the treatment of human and animal diseases.

Recent Publications

Haigwood NL, Montefiori DC, Sutton WF, McClure J, Watson AJ, Voss G, Hirsch VM, Richardson BA, Letvin NL, Hu SL, Johnson PR. Passive immunotherapy in simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques accelerates the development of neutralizing antibodies. J Virol. 78:5983-95, 2004.

Johnson PR, Schnepp BC, Connell MJ, Rohne D, Robinson S, Krivulka GR, Lord CI, Zinn R, Montefiori DC, Letvin NL, and Clark KR. Novel adeno-associated virus vector vaccine restricts replication of simian immunodeficiency virus in macaques. J Virol. 79:955-65, 2005.

Johnston RE, Johnson PR, Connell MJ, Montefiori DC, West A, Collier ML, Cecil C, Swanstrom R, Frelinger JA, Davis NL. Vaccination of macaques with SIV immunogens delivered by Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particle vectors followed by a mucosal challenge with SIVsmE660. Vaccine 23:4969-79, 2005.

Chen C-L, Jensen RL, Schnepp BC, Connell MJ, Shell R, Sferra TJ, Bartlett JS, Clark KR, and Johnson PR. Molecular characterization of adeno-associated viruses in children. J Virol. 79:14781-92, 2005.

Schnepp BC, Jensen RL, Chen C-L, Johnson PR, and Clark KR. Characterization of adeno-associated virus genomes isolated from human tissues. J. Virol. 2005 79: 14793-803.

Lab

A variety of projects are available.

Lab personnel:

Bruce Schnepp, Ph.D. - Research Scientist
Linda Liu, Ph.D. - Research Scientist
Ryan Jensen – Graduate Student
Mary Connell – Research Associate/Lab Manager
Scott Hoffman – Medical Student