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Joseph Vinetz

MD, FACP, FIDSA, FASTMH, BS
Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Anthropology; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health

Contact Information

Joseph Vinetz, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FASTMH, BS

Mailing Address

  • Infectious Diseases

    PO BOX 208022, TAC S169, 300 Cedar Street

    New Haven, CT 06520

    United States

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Research Summary

Dr. Vinetz's overall goal is to bring cutting edge science to enable infectious disease control and elimination, with particular focuses on malaria and leptospirosis. His laboratory takes a comprehensive approach is from laboratory bench to bedside, translating mechanistic molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology and cell biology approaches to malaria, leptospirosis and other infectious diseases. A key component of Dr. Vinetz’ research program is field work in Peru, both in the capital city of Lima and the Amazonian city of Iquitos, where he maintains state-of-the-art and field-based laboratories. He also has important collaborations in Brazil (São Paulo, Brazilian Amazon, Acrelandia, Porto Velho, Rôndonia) and Sri Lanka (Anuradhapura, Kandy, Galle).

Extensive Research Description

Current projects:

1. Malaria: We are studying the fundamental biology of malaria resilience in the Amazon. Based in our field laboratories in Iquitos, Peru (in collaboration with Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia), in Mâncio Lima, Brazil (in collaboration with Universidade de São Paulo) and in Porto Velho, Brazil (in collaboration with FioCruz and the University of Massachusetts), we characterize human populations of malaria transmission reservoirs (epidemiology); study the molecular ecology and transmission biology of human-Anopheles interactions; and investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms of non-sterilizing clinical immunity to malaria caused by P. vivax and P. falciparum.

2. Mechanisms of Plasmodium-mosquito interactions. We study the molecular basis of Plasmodium ookinete-mosquito midgut interactions, with current projects focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms by which ookinetes form secretory organelles, micronemes, and the composition of a newly discovered macromolecular complex mediating midgut invasion. We study ookinetes using animal models of malaria, rodent model P. berghei and avian model, P. gallinaceum, and of human parasites, P. vivax and P. falciparum. We also produce P. vivax sporozoites for use in fundamental experimental studies of liver stage infection including mechanisms of hypnozoite formation (the latent forms), towards new vaccine and drug interventions.

3. Leptospira and Leptospirosis. Laboratories at Yale, in Peru (Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia) and in Sri Lanka (Rajarata University of Sri Lanka) collaborate on multidisciplinary studies of Leptospira and leptospirosis, focused on clinical field studies of acute undifferentiated febrile illness to characterize epidemiological and clinical features of leptospirosis. We translate these field studies towards the development and deployment of new novel molecular and point-of-care diagnostic tests, by obtaining primary isolates of Leptospira that inform us about regionally-specific strains, and do so by carrying out genomic analysis of these isolates for molecular epidemiological studies, biochemical and immunological analysis, and vaccine development, all towards identifying new approaches to the control and elimination of leptospirosis, a bacterial zoonosis of high global impact.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Brucellosis; Leptospira; Leptospirosis; Malaria; Parasitic Diseases; Tropical Medicine; Global Health; Zoonoses; Malaria, Falciparum; Malaria, Vivax; Malaria Vaccines

Research Images

Context of hyperendemic leptospirosis in Iquitos, Peru
Leptospirosis is hyper endemic in the Peruvian Amazon, facilitated by hot, humid weather, and poverty, which bring humans and animal sources of infection into proximity.

Selected Publications

  • Acceptability of a herd immunity-focused, transmission-blocking malaria vaccine in malaria-endemic communities in the Peruvian Amazon: an exploratory study.White SE, Harvey SA, Meza G, Llanos A, Guzman M, Gamboa D, Vinetz JM. Acceptability of a herd immunity-focused, transmission-blocking malaria vaccine in malaria-endemic communities in the Peruvian Amazon: an exploratory study. Malaria Journal 2018, 17: 179. PMID: 29703192, PMCID: PMC5921293, DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2328-z.
  • Continuous Supply of Plasmodium vivax Sporozoites from Colonized Anopheles darlingi in the Peruvian Amazon.Moreno M, Tong-Rios C, Orjuela-Sanchez P, Carrasco-Escobar G, Campo B, Gamboa D, Winzeler EA, Vinetz JM. Continuous Supply of Plasmodium vivax Sporozoites from Colonized Anopheles darlingi in the Peruvian Amazon. ACS Infectious Diseases 2018, 4: 541-548. PMID: 29465219, PMCID: PMC5902790, DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00195.
  • Complete avian malaria parasite genomes reveal features associated with lineage-specific evolution in birds and mammals.Böhme U, Otto TD, Cotton JA, Steinbiss S, Sanders M, Oyola SO, Nicot A, Gandon S, Patra KP, Herd C, Bushell E, Modrzynska KK, Billker O, Vinetz JM, Rivero A, Newbold CI, Berriman M. Complete avian malaria parasite genomes reveal features associated with lineage-specific evolution in birds and mammals. Genome Research 2018, 28: 547-560. PMID: 29500236, PMCID: PMC5880244, DOI: 10.1101/gr.218123.116.
  • What Makes a Bacterial Species Pathogenic?:Comparative Genomic Analysis of the Genus Leptospira.Fouts DE, Matthias MA, Adhikarla H, Adler B, Amorim-Santos L, Berg DE, Bulach D, Buschiazzo A, Chang YF, Galloway RL, Haake DA, Haft DH, Hartskeerl R, Ko AI, Levett PN, Matsunaga J, Mechaly AE, Monk JM, Nascimento AL, Nelson KE, Palsson B, Peacock SJ, Picardeau M, Ricaldi JN, Thaipandungpanit J, Wunder EA, Yang XF, Zhang JJ, Vinetz JM. What Makes a Bacterial Species Pathogenic?:Comparative Genomic Analysis of the Genus Leptospira. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2016, 10: e0004403. PMID: 26890609, PMCID: PMC4758666, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004403.
  • Population genomics studies identify signatures of global dispersal and drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax.Hupalo DN, Luo Z, Melnikov A, Sutton PL, Rogov P, Escalante A, Vallejo AF, Herrera S, Arévalo-Herrera M, Fan Q, Wang Y, Cui L, Lucas CM, Durand S, Sanchez JF, Baldeviano GC, Lescano AG, Laman M, Barnadas C, Barry A, Mueller I, Kazura JW, Eapen A, Kanagaraj D, Valecha N, Ferreira MU, Roobsoong W, Nguitragool W, Sattabonkot J, Gamboa D, Kosek M, Vinetz JM, González-Cerón L, Birren BW, Neafsey DE, Carlton JM. Population genomics studies identify signatures of global dispersal and drug resistance in Plasmodium vivax. Nature Genetics 2016, 48: 953-8. PMID: 27348298, PMCID: PMC5347536, DOI: 10.1038/ng.3588.
  • Asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax parasitaemia in the low-transmission setting: the role for a population-based transmission-blocking vaccine for malaria elimination.Martin TCS, Vinetz JM. Asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax parasitaemia in the low-transmission setting: the role for a population-based transmission-blocking vaccine for malaria elimination. Malaria Journal 2018, 17: 89. PMID: 29466991, PMCID: PMC5822557, DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2243-3.
  • Experimental Infection of Rattus norvegicus by the Group II Intermediate Pathogen, Leptospira licerasiae.Fernandez C, Lubar AA, Vinetz JM, Matthias MA. Experimental Infection of Rattus norvegicus by the Group II Intermediate Pathogen, Leptospira licerasiae. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2018, 99: 275-280. PMID: 29943708, PMCID: PMC6090328, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0844.
  • Apical surface expression of aspartic protease Plasmepsin 4, a potential transmission-blocking target of the plasmodium ookinete.Li F, Patra KP, Yowell CA, Dame JB, Chin K, Vinetz JM. Apical surface expression of aspartic protease Plasmepsin 4, a potential transmission-blocking target of the plasmodium ookinete. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2010, 285: 8076-83. PMID: 20056606, PMCID: PMC2832958, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M109.063388.
  • Plasmodium ookinete-secreted proteins secreted through a common micronemal pathway are targets of blocking malaria transmission.Li F, Templeton TJ, Popov V, Comer JE, Tsuboi T, Torii M, Vinetz JM. Plasmodium ookinete-secreted proteins secreted through a common micronemal pathway are targets of blocking malaria transmission. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2004, 279: 26635-44. PMID: 15069061, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M401385200.
  • Chitinases of the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum, a class of enzymes necessary for parasite invasion of the mosquito midgut.Vinetz JM, Valenzuela JG, Specht CA, Aravind L, Langer RC, Ribeiro JM, Kaslow DC. Chitinases of the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium gallinaceum, a class of enzymes necessary for parasite invasion of the mosquito midgut. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2000, 275: 10331-41. PMID: 10744721, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.275.14.10331.
  • Epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Peru.Rosas-Aguirre A, Gamboa D, Manrique P, Conn JE, Moreno M, Lescano AG, Sanchez JF, Rodriguez H, Silva H, Llanos-Cuentas A, Vinetz JM. Epidemiology of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in Peru. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2016, 95: 133-144. PMID: 27799639, PMCID: PMC5201219, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0268.
  • Reactive Case Detection for Plasmodium vivax Malaria Elimination in Rural Amazonia.Fontoura PS, Finco BF, Lima NF, de Carvalho JF, Vinetz JM, Castro MC, Ferreira MU. Reactive Case Detection for Plasmodium vivax Malaria Elimination in Rural Amazonia. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2016, 10: e0005221. PMID: 27941968, PMCID: PMC5179126, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005221.
  • Utility of quantitative polymerase chain reaction in leptospirosis diagnosis: association of level of leptospiremia and clinical manifestations in Sri Lanka.Agampodi SB, Matthias MA, Moreno AC, Vinetz JM. Utility of quantitative polymerase chain reaction in leptospirosis diagnosis: association of level of leptospiremia and clinical manifestations in Sri Lanka. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication Of The Infectious Diseases Society Of America 2012, 54: 1249-55. PMID: 22354922, PMCID: PMC3404689, DOI: 10.1093/cid/cis035.
  • Clinical spectrum of pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis in a region of endemicity, with quantification of leptospiral burden.Segura ER, Ganoza CA, Campos K, Ricaldi JN, Torres S, Silva H, Céspedes MJ, Matthias MA, Swancutt MA, López Liñán R, Gotuzzo E, Guerra H, Gilman RH, Vinetz JM. Clinical spectrum of pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis in a region of endemicity, with quantification of leptospiral burden. Clinical Infectious Diseases : An Official Publication Of The Infectious Diseases Society Of America 2005, 40: 343-51. PMID: 15668855, PMCID: PMC2366057, DOI: 10.1086/427110.
  • The chitinase PfCHT1 from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum lacks proenzyme and chitin-binding domains and displays unique substrate preferences.Vinetz JM, Dave SK, Specht CA, Brameld KA, Xu B, Hayward R, Fidock DA. The chitinase PfCHT1 from the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum lacks proenzyme and chitin-binding domains and displays unique substrate preferences. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 1999, 96: 14061-6. PMID: 10570198, PMCID: PMC24190, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.24.14061.
  • Sporadic urban leptospirosis.Vinetz JM, Glass GE, Flexner CE, Mueller P, Kaslow DC. Sporadic urban leptospirosis. Annals Of Internal Medicine 1996, 125: 794-8. PMID: 8928985.
  • A Hetero-Multimeric Chitinase-Containing Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium gallinaceum Ookinete-Secreted Protein Complex Involved in Mosquito Midgut Invasion.Patra KP, Kaur H, Kolli SK, Wozniak JM, Prieto JH, Yates JR, Gonzalez DJ, Janse CJ, Vinetz JM. A Hetero-Multimeric Chitinase-Containing Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium gallinaceum Ookinete-Secreted Protein Complex Involved in Mosquito Midgut Invasion. Frontiers In Cellular And Infection Microbiology 2020, 10: 615343. PMID: 33489941, PMCID: PMC7821095, DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.615343.
  • Heterogeneity in response to serological exposure markers of recent Plasmodium vivax infections in contrasting epidemiological contexts.Rosado J, White MT, Longley RJ, Lacerda M, Monteiro W, Brewster J, Sattabongkot J, Guzman-Guzman M, Llanos-Cuentas A, Vinetz JM, Gamboa D, Mueller I. Heterogeneity in response to serological exposure markers of recent Plasmodium vivax infections in contrasting epidemiological contexts. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021, 15: e0009165. PMID: 33591976, PMCID: PMC7909627, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009165.
  • Transmission-Blocking Preventive Measures for Infectious Diseases: Altruism, Solidarity, and the Common Good.Garber L, Vinetz JM. Transmission-Blocking Preventive Measures for Infectious Diseases: Altruism, Solidarity, and the Common Good. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2021 PMID: 33705347, PMCID: PMC8103472, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1005.
  • Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis of Pathogenic Leptospira: A Way Forward for Understanding Infectious Disease Dynamics in Low/Middle-Income, Disease-Endemic Settings.Agampodi SB, Vinetz JM. Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis of Pathogenic Leptospira: A Way Forward for Understanding Infectious Disease Dynamics in Low/Middle-Income, Disease-Endemic Settings. The American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene 2021 PMID: 33755589, PMCID: PMC8103479, DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-1518.
  • PvMSP8 as a Novel Plasmodium vivax Malaria Sero-Marker for the Peruvian Amazon.Villasis E, Garro K, Rosas-Aguirre A, Rodriguez P, Rosado J, Gave A, Guzman-Guzman M, Manrique P, White M, Speybroeck N, Vinetz JM, Torres K, Gamboa D. PvMSP8 as a Novel Plasmodium vivax Malaria Sero-Marker for the Peruvian Amazon. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) 2021, 10 PMID: 33801386, PMCID: PMC7999794, DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030282.
  • An open dataset of Plasmodium falciparum genome variation in 7,000 worldwide samples.Ahouidi A, Ali M, Almagro-Garcia J, Amambua-Ngwa A, Amaratunga C, Amato R, Amenga-Etego L, Andagalu B, Anderson TJC, Andrianaranjaka V, Apinjoh T, Ariani C, Ashley EA, Auburn S, Awandare GA, Ba H, Baraka V, Barry AE, Bejon P, Bertin GI, Boni MF, Borrmann S, Bousema T, Branch O, Bull PC, Busby GBJ, Chookajorn T, Chotivanich K, Claessens A, Conway D, Craig A, D'Alessandro U, Dama S, Day NP, Denis B, Diakite M, Djimdé A, Dolecek C, Dondorp AM, Drakeley C, Drury E, Duffy P, Echeverry DF, Egwang TG, Erko B, Fairhurst RM, Faiz A, Fanello CA, Fukuda MM, Gamboa D, Ghansah A, Golassa L, Goncalves S, Hamilton WL, Harrison GLA, Hart L, Henrichs C, Hien TT, Hill CA, Hodgson A, Hubbart C, Imwong M, Ishengoma DS, Jackson SA, Jacob CG, Jeffery B, Jeffreys AE, Johnson KJ, Jyothi D, Kamaliddin C, Kamau E, Kekre M, Kluczynski K, Kochakarn T, Konaté A, Kwiatkowski DP, Kyaw MP, Lim P, Lon C, Loua KM, Maïga-Ascofaré O, Malangone C, Manske M, Marfurt J, Marsh K, Mayxay M, Miles A, Miotto O, Mobegi V, Mokuolu OA, Montgomery J, Mueller I, Newton PN, Nguyen T, Nguyen TN, Noedl H, Nosten F, Noviyanti R, Nzila A, Ochola-Oyier LI, Ocholla H, Oduro A, Omedo I, Onyamboko MA, Ouedraogo JB, Oyebola K, Pearson RD, Peshu N, Phyo AP, Plowe CV, Price RN, Pukrittayakamee S, Randrianarivelojosia M, Rayner JC, Ringwald P, Rockett KA, Rowlands K, Ruiz L, Saunders D, Shayo A, Siba P, Simpson VJ, Stalker J, Su XZ, Sutherland C, Takala-Harrison S, Tavul L, Thathy V, Tshefu A, Verra F, Vinetz J, Wellems TE, Wendler J, White NJ, Wright I, Yavo W, Ye H. An open dataset of Plasmodium falciparum genome variation in 7,000 worldwide samples. Wellcome Open Research 2021, 6: 42. PMID: 33824913, PMCID: PMC8008441.2, DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16168.2.
  • Ecology and larval population dynamics of the primary malaria vector Nyssorhynchus darlingi in a high transmission setting dominated by fish farming in western Amazonian Brazil.Rufalco-Moutinho P, Moura Kadri S, Peres Alonso D, Moreno M, Carrasco-Escobar G, Prussing C, Gamboa D, Vinetz JM, Mureb Sallum MA, Conn JE, Martins Ribolla PE. Ecology and larval population dynamics of the primary malaria vector Nyssorhynchus darlingi in a high transmission setting dominated by fish farming in western Amazonian Brazil. PloS One 2021, 16: e0246215. PMID: 33831004, PMCID: PMC8031405, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246215.
  • Integrating Parasitological and Entomological Observations to Understand Malaria Transmission in Riverine Villages in the Peruvian Amazon.Rosas-Aguirre A, Moreno M, Moreno-Gutierrez D, Llanos-Cuentas A, Saavedra M, Contreras-Mancilla J, Barboza J, Alava F, Aguirre K, Carrasco G, Prussing C, Vinetz J, Conn JE, Speybroeck N, Gamboa D. Integrating Parasitological and Entomological Observations to Understand Malaria Transmission in Riverine Villages in the Peruvian Amazon. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2021, 223: S99-S110. PMID: 33906225, PMCID: PMC8079135, DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa496.
  • Correction: 12 Novel clonal groups of Leptospira infecting humans in multiple contrasting epidemiological contexts in Sri Lanka.Jayasundara D, Senavirathna I, Warnasekara J, Gamage C, Siribaddana S, Kularatne SAM, Matthias M, Mariet JF, Picardeau M, Agampodi S, Vinetz JM. Correction: 12 Novel clonal groups of Leptospira infecting humans in multiple contrasting epidemiological contexts in Sri Lanka. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021, 15: e0009471. PMID: 34038414, PMCID: PMC8153494, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009471.
  • Improving the leptospirosis disease burden assessment by including ambulatory patients from outpatient departments: a cross-sectional study.Warnasekara J, Aberathna P, Nanayakkara G, Vinetz J, Agampodi S. Improving the leptospirosis disease burden assessment by including ambulatory patients from outpatient departments: a cross-sectional study. F1000Research 2020, 9: 1129. PMID: 34123371, PMCID: PMC8145224, DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.26202.2.
  • Optimizing the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) panel for the diagnosis of Leptospirosis in a low resource, hyper-endemic setting with varied microgeographic variation in reactivity.Jayasundara D, Gamage C, Senavirathna I, Warnasekara J, Matthias MA, Vinetz J, Agampodi S. Optimizing the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) panel for the diagnosis of Leptospirosis in a low resource, hyper-endemic setting with varied microgeographic variation in reactivity. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021, 15: e0009565. PMID: 34197457, PMCID: PMC8279374, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009565.
  • Evolutionary insights into the microneme-secreted, chitinase-containing high molecular weight protein complexes involved in Plasmodium invasion of the mosquito midgut.Kaur H, Pacheco MA, Garber L, Escalante AA, Vinetz JM. Evolutionary insights into the microneme-secreted, chitinase-containing high molecular weight protein complexes involved in Plasmodium invasion of the mosquito midgut. Infection And Immunity 2021, IAI0031421. PMID: 34606368, DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00314-21.
  • Asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon: Submicroscopic parasitemic blood infects Nyssorhynchus darlingi.Almeida GG, Costa PAC, Araujo MDS, Gomes GR, Carvalho AF, Figueiredo MM, Pereira DB, Tada MS, Medeiros JF, Soares IDS, Carvalho LH, Kano FS, Castro MC, Vinetz JM, Golenbock DT, Antonelli LRDV, Gazzinelli RT. Asymptomatic Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Brazilian Amazon: Submicroscopic parasitemic blood infects Nyssorhynchus darlingi. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 2021, 15: e0009077. PMID: 34714821, PMCID: PMC8555776, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009077.
  • Cohort profile: the Mâncio Lima cohort study of urban malaria in Amazonian Brazil.Johansen IC, Rodrigues PT, Tonini J, Vinetz J, Castro MC, Ferreira MU. Cohort profile: the Mâncio Lima cohort study of urban malaria in Amazonian Brazil. BMJ Open 2021, 11: e048073. PMID: 34789490, PMCID: PMC8727682, DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048073.
  • Clinical spectrum of endemic leptospirosis in relation to cytokine response.Dahanayaka NJ, Agampodi SB, Seneviratna I, Warnasekara J, Rajapakse R, Ranathunga K, Matthias M, Vinetz JM. Clinical spectrum of endemic leptospirosis in relation to cytokine response. PloS One 2021, 16: e0261025. PMID: 34879100, PMCID: PMC8654203, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261025.
  • SARS-CoV-2 expresses a microRNA-like small RNA able to selectively repress host genes.Pawlica P, Yario TA, White S, Wang J, Moss WN, Hui P, Vinetz JM, Steitz JA. SARS-CoV-2 expresses a microRNA-like small RNA able to selectively repress host genes. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118 PMID: 34903581, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2116668118.
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