Stuart N. Isaacs, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases)

Microbiology, Virology and Parasitology Program

Address

502 Johnson Pavilion
3610 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6073

Office tel.: 215 662-2150
Lab tel.: 215 662-7628
Fax: 215 349-5111
E-mail: isaacs@mail.med.upenn.edu

Brandeis University: BA (Chemistry/Biology), 1981.

Yale University School of Medicine: MD (Medicine), 1985.

National Institutes of Health, NIAID, LVD (Dr. Bernard Moss): Postdoctoral Research (Molecular virology ), 1988-1994.

Research Interests

• Viral 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, smallpox vaccines.

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.

Selected Publications

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 Vol. 25:1214-1224, 2007.

Viner, K.M., Girgis, N., Kwak, H., Isaacs, S.N. "B5 deficient vaccinia virus as a vaccine vector for the expression of a foreign antigen in vaccinia immune animals" Virology Vol. 36:356-63, 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 Vol. 81:8131-9, 2007.

Weaver, J.R., Shamim, M., Alexander, 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 Vol. 130:269-74, 2007.

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 Vol. 82:4205-14, 2008.

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Lab

Rotation Projects

I am not taking rotation students for the 2008-2009 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. - Research Associate