The Vaccinology Track

Director

The research in my laboratory focuses on cell-mediated immunity to viruses. We utilize a genital herpes simplex virus infection of mice as a model of epithelial and neuronal viral infection. Using vaccination with attenuated strains of HSV-2 as a paradigm for an effective herpes virus vaccine, we are investigating the activation and expression of B and T cell effector function in the genital tract and peripheral nervous system against HSV-2 infection. Additionally, we are examining the differentiation and maintenance of antigen-specific memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells within the genital mucosa and sensory ganglia. We are also interested in interactions between viral pathogens and the innate immune system and how these interactions shape the adaptive immune response. For these studies we utilize single-cycle flavivirus particles to examine the role of specific pathogen pattern receptors and innate immune signal pathways in the development of innate and adaptive immune responses to West Nile Virus.

Associate Director

Our laboratory is undertaking basic research on the development of vaccines against the flavivirus diseases. This includes West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever and dengue. We undertake studies on the excellent yellow fever 17D vaccine as a model to understand the molecular basis of attenuation of this vaccine. This is of major importance as the 17D vaccine virus is being used as an attenuated backbone to generate chimeric vaccine viruses against other flavivirus diseases, including dengue and Japanese encephalitis. In addition, recombinant DNA technology and infectious clone technology/reverse genetics are being used to identify molecular determinants of virulence of yellow fever, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis viruses, with the aim of mutating these virulence determinants to develop candidate attenuated vaccine strains. We also investigate the molecular epidemiology of various flaviviruses (yellow fever, West Nile, Japanese encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis viruses).

Associate Director

Associate Director

Tick-borne hemorrhagic fever viruses belong to the families Bunyaviridae and Flavivirdae and circulate in nature in an enzootic tick-vertebrate-tick cycle. Interestingly, these viruses typically cause a severe hemorrhagic syndrome in humans but not in their vertebrate animal host. The pathogenesis of the disease is largely not understood due to sporadic nature of the outbreaks, the need of a BSL-4 environment to work with the viruses, and especially the lack of suitable animal models to study the disease. The research in my laboratory aims to understand how the viruses cause disease with special focus on the pathogenesis of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). We recently developed a new animal model that mimics human disease and we are currently trying to define what mechanisms lead to disease. This model also gives us the opportunity to study vaccines and antiviral countermeasures. Furthermore, we are also interested in investigating the molecular determinants of virulence by comparing different CCHFV strains in primary human cells. In a collaborative effort with Dr. Wikel's group, we are currently establishing an in vivo feeding assay in which Hyalomma ticks, the main vector of CCHFV, will feed on our recently described mouse model of CCHF. With this assay, we will emulate the natural infection cycle as closely as possible and it will be used to study the tick-virus-host interrelationship. We are especially interested in characterizing the cellular and molecular immunology of the tick-host interface.

Associate Director

Dr. Endsley's research is focused on mechanisms and regulation of cell mediated immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). They utilize human subjects, infected human lung tissue, and mouse and humanized mouse models of experimental tuberculosis (TB) for these studies. An important component of her work is investigations to determine how human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compromises CD8⁺ T cell and macrophage function in the host immune response to M.tb. The goal of these basic studies is to identify mechanisms whereby the CD8⁺ T cell subset can be targeted by vaccine adjuvants and/or antigens. Additionally, she has NIH funding to develop the humanized mouse as a small animal model of HIV/M.tb co-infection. Development of this model will greatly enhance capabilities to design and screen innovative prophylactics and therapeutics for TB to use in populations with HIV-compromised immune systems. Through collaborations, she has extended studies of cytotoxic lymphocytes to include natural killer cell function in infectious disease (M.tb, B. anthracis) and reproduction.

Associate Director

Richard Rupp, MD is the Director of Clinical Trials and Clinical Research and a member of the Executive Committee for the SIVS. He leads the SIVS Clinical Trials Group, and is a Principal Investigator for clinical trials, Phase I to IV, in both pediatric and adult populations. Vaccines studied have included those protecting against human cytomegalovirus, seasonal, avian and pandemic influenza, pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus, Dengue, varicella, Herpes simplex 2, and meningococcal disease.

A Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Rupp is Director of the Division of Adolescent and Behavioral Health. He received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and his MD from St. Louis University School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and his Adolescent Medicine fellowship at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas.

Dr. Rupp has worked with local schools on various health issues, including the improvement of immunization rates, for several years and is currently Medical Director of the Teen Health Center, Inc. (school-based clinics providing quality, affordable medical and mental health care for children 0-21 years of age). Along with Dr. Bridget Hawkins, Dr. Rupp originated and developed ‘VaccineSmarts’, a campaign using methods such as podcasts, videos, newspaper/magazine articles, a website, podcasts, videos, newspaper and magazine articles and a public education website  to educate the public about the importance of vaccines and the diseases they prevent. Dr. Rupp and Dr. Megan Berman currently publish 'VaccineSmarts' articles every other week in the Galveston Daily News.

Search PubMed for Dr. Rupp's publications.