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Michael S. Diamond, MD, PhD
Professor, Departments of Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, Pathology & Immunology
Dr. Diamond joined Washington University in 2001. He received his MD and PhD degrees from Harvard Medical School and Harvard University. He completed his post-doctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley, and his internship, residency, and fellowship in infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco. His current research focuses on the interface between viral pathogenesis and the host immune response. Three globally important human pathogens are studied, West nile encephalitis, Dengue hemorrhagic fever, and hepatitis C viruses.
Research Interests
The research in the Diamond laboratory focuses on the interface between viral pathogenesis and the host immune response. For several years, we have been primarily focused on two globally important mosquito-borne human pathogens, West Nile virus and Dengue virus. Both are single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses of the same genus (Flavivirus) that cause human disease worldwide. Recently, we have begun to study another member of the same virus family, hepatitis C, which causes chronic helatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Investigations with hepatitis C virus are aimed at generating a novel mouse model and understanding the epitope specificity of protective antibodies against this virus.
To date, studies with West Nile and Dengue viruses have focused on investigating their pathogenesis and the immune system response that controls infection. Using in vitro models of infection in primary neurons, macrophages, and dendtitic cells, we are studying the mechanisms by which West Nile virus causes direct injury to specific cell types, and how the host responds to limit viral replication. Using a mouse model we have defined critical roles fo rinterferon, antibody, complement, CD4+, and CD8+ cell in the control and eradication of West Nile virus infection. We have begun to study the structural and molecular bases of antibody-mediated protection of West Nile and Dengue virus.
Link to Medline for selected publications
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Office Location:
Washington University School of Medicine
7264 McDonnell Pediatric Reserch Building
660 S. Euclid Ave, Campus Box 8051
St. Louis, MO 63110
Telephone: (314) 362-2842
Fax: (314) 362-9230
Email: diamond@borcim.wustl.edu |
