UW Medicine Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Directory >> Joshua T. Schiffer, MD, MSc

Faculty

Contact Information

Joshua T. Schiffer, MD, MSc

  • Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
  • University of Washington
  • Assistant Member, Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division and Clinical Research Division
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

The aim of my research program is to gain a better understanding of the quantitative features of human pathogens and immune responses. In close collaboration with several colleagues at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington, I design mathematical models that capture growth and decay kinetics of infectious organisms. My models attempt to replicate detailed empirical datasets, and in turn, are used to inform subsequent human studies and laboratory experiments.

My major focus to date is evaluation of interaction between replicating HSV-2 and host immune response in the human genital mucosa. HSV-2 is a globally important infection that is the leading cause of genital ulcers worldwide, and is also a critical risk factor for HIV acquisition and transmission. In addition, HSV can cause severe disease in persons with immunosuppression due to HIV, organ transplantation, stem cell transplantation, or other immuncompromised conditions. I have designed detailed clinical studies to capture the dynamic features of the frequent, heterogeneous shedding episodes that are a key feature of chronic HSV-2 infection in humans, and to characterize the dynamics of the HSV-specific lymphocyte response to viral replication in the genital tract. I synthesize this virologic and immunologic data into mathematical models of pathogenesis, which I continually update as our group accrues new data and new ideas. While our models and empirical data suggest extraordinarily rapid expansion of HSV-2 across the genital tract, each shedding episode is ultimately contained and significant immune pressure is evident within hours of shedding episode initiation.

Other newer projects include designing models that address curative approaches for chronic viral infection, and to classify the dynamics of bacterial species that compromise the human microbiome.


Selected Publications


Schiffer JT, Abu-Raddad L, Mark KE, et al. Frequent release of low amounts of herpes simplex virus from neurons: results of a mathematical model. Sci Transl Med. 2009;1(7),7ra16.
[ PubMed Abstract ]


Schiffer JT, Abu-Raddad L, Mark KE, et al. Mucosal host immune response predicts the severity and duration of herpes simplex virus-2 genital tract shedding episodes. PNAS. 2010; 107(44),18973-8.
[ PubMed Abstract ]


Schiffer JT, Wald A, Selke S, Corey L, Magaret A. The kinetics of mucosal herpes simplex virus-2 infection in humans: evidence for rapid viral-host interactions. J Infect Dis. 2011;204(4),554-61.
[ PubMed Abstract ]


Schiffer JT, Magaret A, Selke S, Corey L, Wald A. Detailed analysis of mucosal herpes simplex virus-2 kinetics with and without antiviral therapy. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2011;66(11), 2593-600.
[ PubMed Abstract ]


Schiffer JT, Aubert M, Weber ND, Mintzer E, Stone D, Jerome KR. Targeted DNA mutagenesis for the cure of chronic viral infections. J Virol. 2012;86(17), 8920-36.
[ PubMed Abstract ]


Schiffer JT, Swan D, Al Sallaq R, et al. Rapid localized spread and immunologic containment define Herpes simplex virus-2 reactivation in the human genital tract. Elife. 2013;2, e00288.
[ PubMed Abstract ]

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