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Raymond Johnson, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and of Microbial Pathogenesis
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Additional Titles

Director ID/Rheum Research Conference, Internal Medicine

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About

Titles

Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and of Microbial Pathogenesis

Director ID/Rheum Research Conference, Internal Medicine

Biography

I received my M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). My Ph.D. was from the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology on the pathogenesis of Herpes simplex virus; followed by medical residency and Infectious Diseases training was at Washington University in St. Louis where I was a Howard Hughes Research Fellow. I joined the Indiana University faculty in 2001 to work on Chlamydia pathogenesis, which remains my research focus to the present day.

Appointments

  • Infectious Diseases

    Associate Professor on Term
    Primary
  • Microbial Pathogenesis

    Associate Professor on Term
    Secondary

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Internal Medicine residency
Washington University (2015)
Infectious Diseases fellowship
Washington University (2000)
MD
University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (1992)
PhD
University of Chicago (1989)
BA
Lawrence University, Chemistry Interdisciplinary (1984)

Research

Overview

The primary goal of our laboratory is to understand protective immunity against chlamydia infections of the reproductive tract to facilitate vaccine development. That effort includes a focus on T cell interactions with infected epithelial cells because chlamydia replicates primarily in reproductive tract epithelium. We utilize T cell cloning as a research tool because unlike strategies based on flow cytometry-RNAseq, this approach provides representative T cell clones that can be used as experimental tools to understand mucosal T cell immunobiology, and do cause-and-effect pathogenesis rather than associative-biology. The payout has been the discovery of novel T cell subsets involved in the adaptive immune response to chlamydia genital tract infections and a wealth of data enabled by subset-representative T cell clones, including transcriptomic identification of differentiation and activation pathway biomarkers, and investigations of their contributions to host defense and immunopathology. We have found that IL-13 is a central player in chlamydia immunobiology, but not in the conventional Th1/Th2 narrative sense. We are currently focused chlamydia-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells polarized to coproduce IFN-γ and IL-13 that prevent immunopathology during primary C. muridarum genital tract infections, and a highly conserved biomarker that is likely the signaling scaffold for IL-13 production in this novel T cell phenotype. We also apply the mucosal immunology learned to other human diseases including systemic sclerosis.

Medical Research Interests

Chlamydia trachomatis; Infectious Disease Medicine; Scleroderma, Systemic; Trachoma

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Raymond Johnson's published research.

Publications

2024

2022

2020

2019

2018

2016

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

  • activity

    NIH/NIAID/IHD

  • honor

    Blavatnick Award

  • activity

    Yale University School of Medicine MD PhD Faculty Committee

  • activity

    NIH/NIAID: Infectious Dieases and Microbiology Fellowship Review Panel

  • activity

    Pathogens and Disease

Teaching & Mentoring

Mentoring

  • Michael Virata, MD/FACP/FIDSA

    Faculty
    2015 - Present

Clinical Care

Overview

Raymond Johnson, MD, PhD is an associate professor of medicine (Infectious Diseases) at Yale School of Medicine and a clinician at Yale Medicine. In the latter role, Dr. Johnson treats patients with complex hospital infections, such as surgical infections, diabetic foot ulcers, or fevers of unknown origin. Many of these conditions can be very complicated and require close follow-up, says Dr. Johnson. “You have to reassure the patients about the entire process, rather than simply saying, ‘Here, take this and you’ll be better.’” He follows up with patients for as long as necessary, even if it takes years.

Dr. Johnson is also a world-class researcher specializing in the herpes simplex virus and chlamydia. His expertise in molecular genetics and cell biology enables him to help people feel comfortable about the science behind their infection and the treatments that will help cure it. “I try to make sure the patient understands their condition and the range of diagnostic treatments available to them,” he says. “We review the basic biology of what’s going on. I want to make sure they are comfortable with the interaction and the care they’re receiving.”

Clinical Specialties

Infectious Diseases; Internal Medicine

Fact Sheets

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Contacts

Appointment Number

Locations

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    Are You a Patient? View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.