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Dyann Fergus Wirth, Ph.D.

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Biography
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPh.D.1978
University of Wisconsin , MadisonB.A.
2018
Lifetime Achievement Award
2016
Faculty Mentoring Award
2016
Fellow
2015
Joseph Augustin LePrince Medal
2010
Fellow
2004
Member
1998 - 1999
President
1995
Bailey K. Ashford Award
1985 - 1990
Award in Molecular Parasitology
1982
Award in Molecular Parasitology
2022
Alice and C.C. Wang Award in Molecular Parasitology
1978 - 1981
Fellowship
1973 - 1978
Predoctoral Fellowship
1972 - 1973
Fellow
2021
Walter Reed Medal
2019
Honorary Fellow
1972
Phi Beta Kappa
1972
B.A. with Highest Honors

Overview
Protozoan parasites remain major causes of disease in developing countries throughout the world, yet little is known about the biology or molecular biology of these organisms. The long term goal of this work is to understand basic molecular mechanisms in protozoan parasites with the goal of discovering and applying parasite specific interventions.

The approach my laboratory has taken is to develop methods for molecular genetic manipulation of protozoan parasites in order to begin functional analysis of genes important for parasite virulence, with an emphasis of mechanisms of drug resistance in parasites. Drug resistance poses a particularly difficult problem in developing countries where newer chemotherapeutic agents are often unavailable or too expensive for routine use. Drug resistance is particularly acute in malaria where resistant parasites have spread throughout the endemic world.

Recent evidence from my laboratory and from several other groups worldwide has suggested that a major mechanism of drug resistance in protozoan parasites may be through the expression of a P-glycoprotein type molecule encoded by a multi-drug resistance gene. Genes related to mammalian multi-drug resistance genes have been identified in several protozoan parasites and overexpression of these genes is associated with drug resistance. The immediate goal of the research is to test the hypothesis that these mdr-like genes are indeed the cause of drug resistance in protozoan parasites. This work has been initiated in the Leishmania parasite where my laboratory has previously developed a transfection system, and thus the role of the Leishmania enriettii mdr-like genes can be directly tested.

In parallel, my laboratory has recently developed an analogous transfection system for the malaria parasite. By analyzing these two protozoan systems in parallel, one where the molecular tools are readily available and the other in which drug resistant parasites represent a major and immediate threat to world health, I hope both to understand the mechanism of drug resistance in protozoan parasites and to use this information to develop new approaches to either preventing or reversing drug resistance in these organisms.

Executive Assistant: Haley Cronshaw, hcronshaw@hsph.harvard.edu

Research
The research activities and funding listed below are automatically derived from NIH ExPORTER and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing items. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
  1. R01AI169892 (WINZELER, ELIZABETH A) Nov 2, 2022 - Oct 31, 2027
    NIH
    Defining the resistome in P. falciparum: evolution and mechanism
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  2. R01AI143723 (MAZITSCHEK, RALPH) Apr 1, 2020 - Mar 31, 2025
    NIH
    Proline homeostasis: a novel mediator of drug tolerance in Plasmodium falciparum
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  3. R21AI117304 (WIRTH, DYANN F) Feb 17, 2016 - Jan 31, 2019
    NIH
    Defining physiological correlates of the human malaria infectious reservoir
    Role: Principal Investigator
  4. R01AI099105 (WIRTH, DYANN F) Apr 5, 2013 - Jun 30, 2022
    NIH
    Novel Genetic Mechanism of Artemisinin Resistance for Malaria
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  5. R01AI093716 (WIRTH, DYANN F) Jul 6, 2012 - Jun 30, 2021
    NIH
    Targeting the Mitochondrion of P. falciparum
    Role: Principal Investigator

Bibliographic
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Funded by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences through its Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program, grant number UL1TR002541.