Skip to Main Content

Diane McMahon-Pratt, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Public Health
DownloadHi-Res Photo

Additional Titles

Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

About

Titles

Professor Emeritus of Public Health

Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

Biography

The research in Professor McMahon-Pratt's laboratory is concerned with the parasitic protozoan, Leishmania, which causes a spectrum of diseases known as leishmaniasis. The laboratory is interested in understanding the immune effector mechanisms in the mammalian host that are involved in the control of infection and/or pathogenesis, with the aim to developing a vaccine against leishmaniasis. The laboratory has defined target vaccine candidate molecules and is collaborating with the University of Iowa and Cambridge University in a project directed toward the development of a multi-subunit vaccine. In addition, we have collaborated with Dr. Tarek Fahmy (Yale Bioengineering) in the development of nanoparticle therapeutic treatment delivery system for leishmaniasis. In other studies, the laboratory also collaborates Drs. Al Bothwell and Eddie Chae (Immunobiology) investigating the role of DKK-1 in the regulation of the innate and T cell responses to Leishmania infection. We have long-term collaboration with scientists in Colombia. Currently, Professor McMahon-Pratt is director of NIAID R01 and Fogarty (NIH)-sponsored Programs with Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) in Colombia. These programs are focused on understanding the pathology of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia), which predominates in South America, with the objective of designing immunological approaches for treatment and control.

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Post-Doctoral Fellow
Harvard Medical School (1980)
PhD
Harvard University, Immunology (1978)
BS
University of Southern California, Chemistry (1969)

Research

Overview

The research in Professor McMahon-Pratt's laboratory is concerned with the parasitic protozoan, Leishmania, which causes a spectrum of diseases known as leishmaniasis. The laboratory is interested in understanding the immune effector mechanisms in the mammalian host that are involved in the control of infection and/or pathogenesis, with the aim to developing a vaccine and/or non-toxic treatments for infection. Towards these ends, we are collaborating with Dr. Tarek Fahmy (Yale Bioengineering) in the development of nanoparticle therapeutic treatment delivery system for leishmaniasis. In other studies, the laboratory also collaborates Drs. Al Bothwell and Eddie Chae (Immunobiology) investigating the role of DKK-1 in the regulation of the innate and T cell responses to Leishmania infection. We have long-term collaboration with scientists in Colombia. Currently, Professor McMahon-Pratt is director of NIAID R01 and Fogarty (NIH)-sponsored Programs with Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) in Colombia. These programs are focused on understanding the pathology of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia), which predominates in South America, with the objective of designing immunological approaches for treatment and control.

Currently, Professor McMahon-Pratt is director of a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-Fogarty sponsored International Program with Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) in Colombia. This program is focused on understanding the pathology and epidemiology of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Viannia), which predominates in South America.

  • Pathogenesis and virulence factors of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis; targeted towards vaccine development against L. (Viannia) infection
  • Molecular Aspects of Vector/Host-Leishmania Interaction, a collaborative Fogarty Training Program with CIDEIM and the Universidad de Los Andes and Universidad del Valle (Colombia)
  • Intervenable Host Leishmania (Viannia) Interactions, an NIH project with CIDEIM
  • Investigation of the role of DKK-1 in the regulation of the innate and T cell responses to Leishmania infection in collaboration with Drs. A. Bothwell and Chae (immunobiology)

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Biochemistry; Epidemiology; Leishmaniasis; Microbiology; Parasitology; Tropical Medicine

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Diane McMahon-Pratt's published research.

Publications

2023

2019

2017

2016

2015

2014

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    WHO/T.D.R. Review of Leishmaniasis Program

  • activity

    Served as a reviewer for grant applications to the National Science Foundation, Canadian Research Foundation, Veterans Administration and World Health Organization and US Army Research, Wellcome Trust (England)

  • activity

    Provost’s Appointments and Promotions Committee of EPH

  • activity

    Vector/Host-Parasite Interface of Leishmaniasis in Colombia

  • activity

    World LEISH 6

Get In Touch