Joe Smith, PhD

Joe Smith, PhD

Infectious Disease Research

Academic Title: Professor

Research Center: Center for Global Infectious Disease Research

  • Biography

    Joe Smith, PhD, is a professor at the Center for Global Infectious Disease Research. He joined the center in 2002 to advance the mission to combat malaria through scientific discovery. Smith received his PhD in immunology from Washington University in St. Louis. He performed post-doctoral research in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, under the guidance of Dr. Louis H. Miller. Smith holds an affiliate faculty position in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington.

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  • Awards and Honors

    Award Name Award Description Awarded By Award Date
    New Scholar in Global Infectious Disease Ellison Medical Foundation 2001 - 2005
    New Investigator Award in Infectious Disease (declined due to requirements of a competing award) Ortho-McNeil/IDSA 2001
    New Investigator Award National Foundation for Infectious Diseases 2000
    Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Medical Scientist Fellow Awarded in recognition of superior achievement in biomedical research. 1993

  • Publications

    Manuscripts in Refereed Journals

    • Arakawa C, Gunnarsson C, Howard C, Bernabeu M, Phong K, Yang E, DeForest CA, Smith JD Zheng Y.
      Biophysical and Biomolecular Interactions of Malaria-Infected Erythrocytes in Engineered Human Capillaries
      Sci Adv., 2020 Jan 17 : 6(3)eaay7243. PMCID:PMC6968943
      https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32010773/
    • Gangnard S, Chêne A, Dechavanne S, Srivastava A, Avril M, Smith JD, Gamain B.
      VAR2CSA Binding Phenotype Has Ancient Origin and Arose Before Plasmodium falciparumCrossed to Humans: Implications in Placental Malaria Vaccine Design
      Sci Rep, 2019 Nov 18 : 9(1)16978. PMCID:PMC6861233
      https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31740695/
    • Avril M, Benjamin M, Dols MM, Smith JD.
      Interplay of Plasmodium falciparum and thrombin in brain endothelial barrier disruption.
      Sci Rep., 2019 Sep 11 : 9(1)13142 PMCID:PMC6739390
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31511575
    • Bernabeu M, Gunnarsson C, Vishnyakova M, Howard CC, Nagao RJ, Avril M, Taylor TE, Seydel KB, Zheng Y, Smith JD.
      Binding Heterogeneity of Plasmodium falciparum to Engineered 3D Brain Microvessels Is Mediated by EPCR and ICAM-1.
      MBio., 2019 May 28 : 10(3) PMCID:PMC6538777
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31138740
    • Duffy F, Bernabeu M, Babar PH, Kessler A, Wang CW, Vaz M, Chery L, Mandala WL, Rogerson SJ, Taylor TE, Seydel KB, Lavstsen T, Gomes E, Kim K, Lusingu J, Rathod PK, Aitchison JD, Smith JD.
      Meta-analysis of Plasmodium falciparum var Signatures Contributing to Severe Malaria in African Children and Indian Adults.
      MBio., 2019 Apr 30 : 10(2) PMCID:PMC6495371
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31040236
    • Kessler A, Dankwa S, Bernabeu M, Harawa V, Danziger SA, Duffy F, Kampondeni SD, Potchen MJ, Dambrauskas N, Vigdorovich V, Oliver BG, Hochman SE, Mowrey WB, MacCormick IJC, Mandala WL, Rogerson SJ, Sather DN, Aitchison JD, Taylor TE, Seydel KB, Smith JD, Kim K.
      Linking EPCR-Binding PfEMP1 to Brain Swelling in Pediatric Cerebral Malaria.
      Cell Host Microbe., 2017 Nov 8 : 22(5)601-614.e5 PMCID:PMC57883729
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29107642
    • Brazier AJ, Avril M, Bernabeu M, Benjamin M, Smith JD.
      Pathogenicity Determinants of the Human Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum Have Ancient Origins.
      mSphere., 2017 Jan 11 : 2(1) PMCID:PMC5227068
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28101534
    • Chery L, Maki JN, Mascarenhas A, Walke JT, Gawas P, Almeida A, Fernandes M, Vaz M, Ramanan R, Shirodkar D, Bernabeu M, Manoharan SK, Pereira L, Dash R, Sharma A, Shaik RB, Chakrabarti R, Babar P, White J 3rd, Mudeppa DG, Kumar S, Zuo W, Skillman KM, Kanjee U, Lim C, Shaw-Saliba K, Kumar A, Valecha N, Jindal VN, Khandeparkar A, Naik P, Amonkar S, Duraisingh MT, Tuljapurkar S, Smith JD, Dubhashi N, Pinto RG, Silveria M, Gomes E, Rathod PK.
      Demographic and clinical profiles of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax patients at a tertiary care centre in southwestern India.
      Malar J., 2016 Nov 25 : 15(1)569. PMCID:PMC5123287
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27884146
    • Gillrie MR, Renaux B, Russell-Goldman E, Avril M, Brazier AJ, Mihara K, Di Cera E, Milner DA Jr, Hollenberg MD, Smith JD, Ho M.
      Thrombin Cleavage of Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 Inhibits Cytoadherence.
      MBio., 2016 Sep 13 : 7(5) PMCID:PMC5021802
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27624125
    • Bernabeu M, Danziger SA, Avril M, Vaz M, Babar PH, Brazier AJ, Herricks T, Maki JN, Pereira L, Mascarenhas A, Gomes E, Chery L, Aitchison JD, Rathod PK, Smith JD.
      Severe adult malaria is associated with specific PfEMP1 adhesion types and high parasite biomass.
      Proc Natl Acad Sci USA., 2016 Jun 7 : 113(23)E3270-9 PMCID:PMC4988613
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27185931
    • Sampath S, Brazier AJ, Avril M, Bernabeu M, Vigdorovich V, Mascarenhas A, Gomes E, Sather DN, Esmon CT, Smith JD.
      Plasmodium falciparum adhesion domains linked to severe malaria differ in blockade of endothelial protein C receptor.
      Cell Microbiol., 2015 Dec. : 17(12)1868-82 PMCID:PMC4661071
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26118955
    • Gillrie MR, Avril M, Brazier AJ, Davis SP, Stins MF, Smith JD, Ho M.
      Diverse functional outcomes of Plasmodium falciparum ligation of EPCR: potential implications for malarial pathogenesis.
      Cell Microbiol., 2015 Dec. : 17(12)1883-99 PMCID:PMC4661070
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26119044
    • Herricks T, Avril M, Janes J, Smith JD, Rathod PK.
      Clonal variants of Plasmodium falciparum exhibit a narrow range of rolling velocities to host receptor CD36 under dynamic flow conditions.
      Eukaryot Cell., 2013 Nov. : 12(11)1490-8. PMCID:PMC3837943
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24014767
    • Sampath S, Carrico C, Janes J, Gurumoorthy S, Gibson C, Melcher M, Chitnis CE, Wang R, Schief WR, Smith JD.
      Glycan masking of Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein for probing protein binding function and vaccine development.
      PLoS Pathog., 2013 : 9(6)e1003420 PMCID:PMC3681752
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23853575
    • Turner L, Lavstsen T, Berger SS, Wang CW, Petersen JE, Avril M, Brazier AJ, Freeth J, Jespersen JS, Nielsen MA, Magistrado P, Lusingu J, Smith JD, Higgins MK, Theander TG.
      Severe malaria is associated with parasite binding to endothelial protein C receptor.
      Nature., 2013 Jun 27 : 498(7455)502-5. PMCID:PMC3870021
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23739325
    • Obiakor H, Avril M, Macdonald NJ, Srinivasan P, Reiter K, Anderson C, Holmes KL, Fried M, Duffy PE, Smith JD, Narum DL, Miller LH.
      Identification of VAR2CSA domain-specific inhibitory antibodies of the Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 using a novel flow cytometry assay.
      Clin Vaccine Immunol., 2013 March : 20(3)433-42. PMCID:PMC3592344
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23345587
    • Fried M, Avril M, Chaturvedi R, Fernandez P, Lograsso J, Narum D, Nielsen MA, Oleinikov AV, Resende M, Salanti A, Saveria T, Williamson K, Dicko A, Scherf A, Smith JD, Theander TG, Duffy PE.
      Multilaboratory approach to preclinical evaluation of vaccine immunogens for placental malaria.
      Infect Immun., 2013 Feb. : 81(2)487-95 PMCID:PMC3553800
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23208604
    • Avril M, Tripathi AK, Brazier AJ, Andisi C, Janes JH, Soma VL, Sullivan DJ Jr, Bull PC, Stins MF, Smith JD.
      A restricted subset of var genes mediates adherence of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to brain endothelial cells.
      Proc Natl Acad Sci USA., 2012 Jun 26 : 109(26)E1782-90 PMCID:PMC3387091
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22619321
    • Melcher M, Muhle RA, Henrich PP, Kraemer SM, Avril M, Vigan-Womas I, Mercereau-Puijalon O, Smith JD, Fidock DA.
      Identification of a role for the PfEMP1 semi-conserved head structure in protein trafficking to the surface of Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells.
      Cell Microbiol., 2010 Oct. : 12(10)1446-62 PMCID:PMC2939972
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20438573
    • Hommel M, Elliott SR, Soma V, Kelly G, Fowkes FJ, Chesson JM, Duffy MF, Bockhorst J, Avril M, Mueller I, Raiko A, Stanisic DI, Rogerson SJ, Smith JD, Beeson JG.
      Evaluation of the antigenic diversity of placenta-binding Plasmodium falciparum variants and the antibody repertoire among pregnant women.
      Infect Immun. , 2010 May : 78(5)1963-78 PMCID:PMC2863515
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20160014
    • Avril M, Hathaway MJ, Cartwright MM, Gose SO, Narum DL, Smith JD.
      Optimizing expression of the pregnancy malaria vaccine candidate, VAR2CSA in Pichia pastoris.
      Malar J., 2009 Jun 29 : 8143 PMCID:PMC2714522
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19563628
    • Oleinikov AV, Francis SE, Dorfman JR, Rossnagle E, Balcaitis S, Getz T, Avril M, Gose S, Smith JD, Fried M, Duffy PE.
      VAR2CSA domains expressed in Escherichia coli induce cross-reactive antibodies to native protein.
      J Infect Dis., 2008 Apr 15 : 197(8)1119-23
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18462161

    Other Publications

    • Glennon EKK, Dankwa S, Smith JD, Kaushansky A.
      Opportunities for Host-targeted Therapies for Malaria.
      Trends Parasitol., 2018 Oct. : 34(10)843-860. Review. PMCID:PMC6168423
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30122551
    • Bernabeu M, Smith JD.
      EPCR and Malaria Severity: The Center of a Perfect Storm.
      Trends Parasitol., 2017 April : 33(4)295-308. Review. PMCID:PMC5376506
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27939609
    • Smith JD
      The role of PfEMP1 adhesion domain classification in Plasmodium falciparum pathogenesis research.
      Mol Biochem Parasitol., 2014 July : 195(2)82-7. Review. PMCID:PMC4159067
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25064606
    • Smith JD, Rowe JA, Higgins MK, Lavstsen T.
      Malaria's deadly grip: cytoadhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes.
      Cell Microbiol., 2013 Dec. : 15(12)1975-83. Review. PMCID:PMC3836831
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23957661
    • Smith JD, Sack BK.
      Still seeking an effective "one-two" malaria vaccine punch.
      Mol Ther., 2012 Dec. : 20(12)2198-200 PMCID:PMC3519999
      https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23201615

  • Presentations

    Presentation Title Event Location Date
    Pathogenic Mechanisms in Cerebral Malaria 3rd Annual EPIC (Eukaryotic Pathogenesis Investigators Colloquia) Symposium Duke University, Durham, NC 2019
    3D brain microvessels for the study of cerebral malaria pathogenesis. Centre for Medical Parasitology 25-year Anniversary Symposium University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark 2018
    3D brain microvessels for the study of cerebral malaria pathogenesis. Gordon Research Conference: Biology of Host-Parasite Interactions Newport, RI 2018
    Deciphering Cerebral Malaria Pathogenesis Washington University, St. Louis, MO 2017
    Coming to grips with severe malaria: deadly binding secrets of Plasmodium falciparum. Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seminar Series Center for Infectious Disease Research, Seattle, WA 2016
    Coming to grips with var gene sequence diversity. Workshop on Plasmodium falciparum var genes Oxford University, UK 2016
    Coming to grips with severe malaria: deadly binding secrets of Plasmodium falciparum. Universite Paris Diderot, Paris, France 2016
    Cytoadhesion and severe malaria 5th Molecular Approaches to Malaria Conference Lorne, Australia 2016
    Vascular interactions of malaria parasites: Dissecting the cytoadhesion virulence determinant. Harvard-wide Vascular Biology Seminar Series Harvard University, Boston, MA 2014
    Malaria’s deadly grip: cytoadhesion of P. falciparum infected erythrocytes. Virginia Tech, Roanoke, VA 2014
    Malaria’s deadly grip: cytoadhesion of P. falciparum infected erythrocytes. NIH Twinbrook Campus, Rockville, MD 2014
    Cerebral malaria: Deadly parasite variants target endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 2014
    Cerebral malaria: Deadly parasite variants target endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). Seattle Biomed, Seattle, WA 2014
    EPCR and severe malaria ASTMH 62nd Annual Meeting Symposium: “Vascular Biology of Malaria Pathogenesis” Washington, DC 2013
    VAR2CSA as a pregnancy malaria vaccine development ASTMH 62nd Annual Meeting Symposium: “Targets and mechanisms of human immunity to malaria" Washington, DC 2013
    Cytoadhesion and severe malaria. Joint Spring Symposium of the Danish Society for Parasitology and the Danish Society for Tropical Medicine and International Health University of Copenhagen, Denmark 2013
    Binding of P. falciparum infected erythrocytes to brain endothelium. Center for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 2012
    Unraveling the Plasmodium falciparum cytoadhesion virulence determinant. Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIH Twinbrook Campus, Rockville, MD 2010
    Unraveling the Plasmodium falciparum cytoadhesion virulence determinant. Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 2009
    The evolution of Plasmodium falciparum var genes and prospects for vaccine development. Center for Medical Parasitology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark 2007
    The evolution of Plasmodium falciparum var genes and prospects for vaccine development. Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, WA 2007
    Plasmodium falciparum var genes and malaria disease: deconstructing infected erythrocyte cytoadherence. University of Georgia, Department of Infectious Disease, Athens, Georgia 2006
    Ancient origin and extensive gene mosaicism of the pregnancy malaria vaccine candidate, var2csa. Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 2005
    Plasmodium falciparum var genes and malaria disease: deconstructing cytoadherence. Nanyang Technological University, School of Biological Sciences, Singapore 2005
    Plasmodium falciparum var genes and malaria disease: deconstructing cytoadherence. Department of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute, Paris, France 2005
    New perspectives into malaria disease: Var genes, cytoadhesion, and common antigenic types. Department of Medical Parasitology, New York University, New York, NY 2005
    New perspectives into malaria disease: var genes, cytoadhesion, and common antigenic types. Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, WA 2004
    Cytoadherence and clonal antigenic variation of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Keck Center for Microbial Pathogens, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 2004
    Genome-wide binding characterizations of Plasmodium falciparum cytoadherence. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 2003
    Antigenic variation, cytoadherence, and Plasmodium falciparum malaria pathogenesis. Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 2002
    Antigenic variation, cytoadherence, and Plasmodium falciparum pathogenesis Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 2002
    Using the parasite genome to teach us about malaria binding and disease. Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 2002
    Unraveling the sticky secrets of Plasmodium falciparum sequestration. Department of Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 2001

  • Research Funding

    Grant Title Grantor Amount Award Date
    Molecular Mechanisms in Pediatric Cerebral Malaria Pathogenesis and Immunity. - R01 AI141602-01A1 (Smith/Seydel) NIH/NIAID $225,479 Annual Direct Costs Aug. 2019 - July 2023
    Malaria evolution in South Asia. - U19AI089688 (Rathod) NIH/NHLBI $20,764 Annual Direct Costs July 2017 - Mar 31, 2024
    Center for The Study of Complex Malaria in India. - U19AI089676 (Carlton) NIH/NIAID $35,891 Annual Direct Costs (Project 3 only) July 2017 - March 2024
    3D human-based microvessel bed for the study of Plasmodium Falciparum interacting with vessel wall. - R01 HL130488-01 (Smith/Zheng) NIH/NHLBI $204,242 Annual Direct Costs Sept. 2015 - May 2019
    Adhesive interactions in severe malaria. - RO1AI114766 (Smith) NIH/NIAID $302,085 Annual Direct Costs June 2015 - May 2020

Overview

Research Description

The Smith Lab studies the biology of the Plasmodium malaria parasite during the blood stage. The main research interests of the lab are to characterize parasite-host binding interactions and to better understand malaria disease mechanisms.

Research Focus Area

Global Health, Immunology, Infectious Disease, Malaria, Systems Biology