Diane McMahon-Pratt, PhD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
The focus of the research in my laboratory is the genus of 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 also less toxic treatments for infection. Currently, Professor McMahon-Pratt is director of a 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, with the objectives of developing training and methods of intervention.
Extensive Research Description
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)
Coauthors
Research Interests
Biochemistry; Epidemiology; Leishmaniasis; Microbiology; Parasitology; Tropical Medicine
Selected Publications
- CD4 T cell activation by B cells in human Leishmania (Viannia) infection.Rodriguez-Pinto D, Saravia NG, McMahon-Pratt D. CD4 T cell activation by B cells in human Leishmania (Viannia) infection. BMC Infectious Diseases 2014, 14: 108. PMID: 24568275, PMCID: PMC3937821, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-14-108.
- Chronicity of dermal leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania panamensis is associated with parasite-mediated induction of chemokine gene expression.Navas A, Vargas DA, Freudzon M, McMahon-Pratt D, Saravia NG, Gómez MA. Chronicity of dermal leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania panamensis is associated with parasite-mediated induction of chemokine gene expression. Infection And Immunity 2014, 82: 2872-80. PMID: 24752514, PMCID: PMC4097649, DOI: 10.1128/IAI.01133-13.
- The immunotherapeutic role of regulatory T cells in Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis infection.Ehrlich A, Castilho TM, Goldsmith-Pestana K, Chae WJ, Bothwell AL, Sparwasser T, McMahon-Pratt D. The immunotherapeutic role of regulatory T cells in Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis infection. Journal Of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 2014, 193: 2961-70. PMID: 25098291, PMCID: PMC4170189, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1400728.
- The Abl and Arg kinases mediate distinct modes of phagocytosis and are required for maximal Leishmania infection.Wetzel DM, McMahon-Pratt D, Koleske AJ. The Abl and Arg kinases mediate distinct modes of phagocytosis and are required for maximal Leishmania infection. Molecular And Cellular Biology 2012, 32: 3176-86. PMID: 22665498, PMCID: PMC3434515, DOI: 10.1128/MCB.00086-12.
- Human macrophage response to L. (Viannia) panamensis: microarray evidence for an early inflammatory response.Ramírez C, Díaz-Toro Y, Tellez J, Castilho TM, Rojas R, Ettinger NA, Tikhonova I, Alexander ND, Valderrama L, Hager J, Wilson ME, Lin A, Zhao H, Saravia NG, McMahon-Pratt D. Human macrophage response to L. (Viannia) panamensis: microarray evidence for an early inflammatory response. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2012, 6: e1866. PMID: 23145196, PMCID: PMC3493378, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001866.
- TLR1/2 activation during heterologous prime-boost vaccination (DNA-MVA) enhances CD8+ T Cell responses providing protection against Leishmania (Viannia).Jayakumar A, Castilho TM, Park E, Goldsmith-Pestana K, Blackwell JM, McMahon-Pratt D. TLR1/2 activation during heterologous prime-boost vaccination (DNA-MVA) enhances CD8+ T Cell responses providing protection against Leishmania (Viannia). PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2011, 5: e1204. PMID: 21695103, PMCID: PMC3114751, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001204.
- Murine model of chronic L. (Viannia) panamensis infection: role of IL-13 in disease.Castilho TM, Goldsmith-Pestana K, Lozano C, Valderrama L, Saravia NG, McMahon-Pratt D. Murine model of chronic L. (Viannia) panamensis infection: role of IL-13 in disease. European Journal Of Immunology 2010, 40: 2816-29. PMID: 20827674, PMCID: PMC3289133, DOI: 10.1002/eji.201040384.
- Does the Leishmania major paradigm of pathogenesis and protection hold for New World cutaneous leishmaniases or the visceral disease?McMahon-Pratt D, Alexander J. Does the Leishmania major paradigm of pathogenesis and protection hold for New World cutaneous leishmaniases or the visceral disease? Immunological Reviews 2004, 201: 206-24. PMID: 15361243, DOI: 10.1111/j.0105-2896.2004.00190.x.
- Heterogeneity, geographic distribution, and pathogenicity of serodemes of Leishmania viannia in Colombia.Saravia NG, Weigle K, Navas C, Segura I, Valderrama L, Valencia AZ, Escorcia B, McMahon-Pratt D. Heterogeneity, geographic distribution, and pathogenicity of serodemes of Leishmania viannia in Colombia. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2002, 66: 738-44. PMID: 12224583, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2002.66.738.
- A Leishmania ortholog of macrophage migration inhibitory factor modulates host macrophage responses.Kamir D, Zierow S, Leng L, Cho Y, Diaz Y, Griffith J, McDonald C, Merk M, Mitchell RA, Trent J, Chen Y, Kwong YK, Xiong H, Vermeire J, Cappello M, McMahon-Pratt D, Walker J, Bernhagen J, Lolis E, Bucala R. A Leishmania ortholog of macrophage migration inhibitory factor modulates host macrophage responses. Journal Of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) 2008, 180: 8250-61. PMID: 18523291, PMCID: PMC2668862, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.12.8250.
- Murine visceral leishmaniasis: IgM and polyclonal B-cell activation lead to disease exacerbation.Deak E, Jayakumar A, Cho KW, Goldsmith-Pestana K, Dondji B, Lambris JD, McMahon-Pratt D. Murine visceral leishmaniasis: IgM and polyclonal B-cell activation lead to disease exacerbation. European Journal Of Immunology 2010, 40: 1355-68. PMID: 20213734, PMCID: PMC2944234, DOI: 10.1002/eji.200939455.
- Immunomodulatory nanoparticles ameliorate disease in the Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis mouse model.Siefert AL, Ehrlich A, Corral MJ, Goldsmith-Pestana K, McMahon-Pratt D, Fahmy TM. Immunomodulatory nanoparticles ameliorate disease in the Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis mouse model. Biomaterials 2016, 108: 168-76. PMID: 27636154, PMCID: PMC5049880, DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.09.004.
- Local Delivery of the Toll-Like Receptor 9 Ligand CpG Downregulates Host Immune and Inflammatory Responses, Ameliorating Established Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis Chronic Infection.Ehrlich AK, Fernández OL, Rodriguez-Pinto D, Castilho TM, Corral Caridad MJ, Goldsmith-Pestana K, Saravia NG, McMahon-Pratt D. Local Delivery of the Toll-Like Receptor 9 Ligand CpG Downregulates Host Immune and Inflammatory Responses, Ameliorating Established Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis Chronic Infection. Infection And Immunity 2017, 85 PMID: 28052994, PMCID: PMC5328479, DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00981-16.
- The Src kinases Hck, Fgr and Lyn activate Arg to facilitate IgG-mediated phagocytosis and Leishmania infection.Wetzel DM, Rhodes EL, Li S, McMahon-Pratt D, Koleske AJ. The Src kinases Hck, Fgr and Lyn activate Arg to facilitate IgG-mediated phagocytosis and Leishmania infection. Journal Of Cell Science 2016, 129: 3130-43. PMID: 27358479, PMCID: PMC5004897, DOI: 10.1242/jcs.185595.
- Targeting the HSP60/10 chaperonin systems of Trypanosoma brucei as a strategy for treating African sleeping sickness.Abdeen S, Salim N, Mammadova N, Summers CM, Goldsmith-Pestana K, McMahon-Pratt D, Schultz PG, Horwich AL, Chapman E, Johnson SM. Targeting the HSP60/10 chaperonin systems of Trypanosoma brucei as a strategy for treating African sleeping sickness. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters 2016, 26: 5247-5253. PMID: 27720295, DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.09.051.
- The Wnt Antagonist Dickkopf-1 Promotes Pathological Type 2 Cell-Mediated Inflammation.Chae WJ, Ehrlich AK, Chan PY, Teixeira AM, Henegariu O, Hao L, Shin JH, Park JH, Tang WH, Kim ST, Maher SE, Goldsmith-Pestana K, Shan P, Hwa J, Lee PJ, Krause DS, Rothlin CV, McMahon-Pratt D, Bothwell AL. The Wnt Antagonist Dickkopf-1 Promotes Pathological Type 2 Cell-Mediated Inflammation. Immunity 2016, 44: 246-58. PMID: 26872695, PMCID: PMC4758884, DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.01.008.
- Leishmania-encoded orthologs of macrophage migration inhibitory factor regulate host immunity to promote parasite persistence.Holowka T, Castilho TM, Garcia AB, Sun T, McMahon-Pratt D, Bucala R. Leishmania-encoded orthologs of macrophage migration inhibitory factor regulate host immunity to promote parasite persistence. FASEB Journal : Official Publication Of The Federation Of American Societies For Experimental Biology 2016, 30: 2249-65. PMID: 26956417, PMCID: PMC4871794, DOI: 10.1096/fj.201500189R.