Adjunct & Affiliated Faculty

Adjunct & Affiliated Faculty Name & Biography

Kristen K. Coleman, PhD

Dr. Kristen K. Coleman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland (UMD) School of Public Health and an Affiliate Assistant Professor at the UMD Department of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Coleman is a former Senior Research Fellow in the Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School and the Department of Medicine at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in Singapore. She earned her BA in Global Studies from the University of Toledo (UT) and her PhD in Biology (Ecology and Organismal Biology) from the Department of Environmental Sciences at UT. Her research focuses on the environmental detection, epidemiological surveillance, and transmission of emerging and zoonotic pathogens – primarily respiratory viruses such as influenza virus, adenovirus, and coronavirus. She leads the bioaerosols research team within the Public Health Aerobiology Laboratory (PHAB Lab) and has authored several key research papers on airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. She is the first UMCP faculty member to be selected as a University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) Institute for Clinical & Translational Research (ICTR) KL2 Clinical Research Scholar. 

Dr. Coleman champions a One Health approach to understanding pandemic respiratory virus transmission and has engaged in One Health infectious disease research in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. She is a former member of the Duke One Health Research team at the Duke Global Health Institute and is now a U.S.-based collaborator of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) One Health Task Force. Dr. Coleman is excited to join the Department of Veterinary Medicine and expand her One Health research efforts.

 

Youssef A. Kousa, MS, D.O., Ph.D.
Youssef A. Kousa, MS, D.O., Ph.D., is a physician-scientist specializing in prenatal and neonatal critical care neurology at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. While in clinical training at Children’s National Hospital, he directed attention to the deadly Zika virus pandemic––rapidly spreading and leading to an overwhelming number of children with brain injury in Latin America. In response, Dr. Kousa founded the Prenatal Infection and Neurodevelopmental Genetics (PING) Consortium (formerly called Zika Genetics), a collaborative scientific effort to identify how prenatal viral infections cause neurodevelopmental disabilities. Toward this goal, the team of 25 leading co-investigators and governmental partners (including CDC and NIH) assembled a population of research participants at 23 international health centers in six countries. Putting together the infrastructure to understand more about risks, Dr. Kousa also developed experimental systems and models to deeply evaluate the link between viral infection and molecular and cellular changes, brain injury, and neurodevelopmental outcomes. To advance that goal, he developed the K-Labs research program, a basic research endeavor that revolves around cell/tissue culture and pre-clinical animal, among other, model systems.

Dr. Kousa completed a combined pediatrics and child neurology residency at Children’s National Hospital and the D.O.-Ph.D. Physician Scientist Training Program at Michigan State University. Through interdisciplinary graduate and post-graduate research training, he studied human genetics, genetic engineering, developmental biology, immunology, and virology. Dr. Kousa’s 33 peer-reviewed manuscripts have an h-index of 18 and over 1,000 citations. Research accomplishments include creation of an adenovirus-based malaria vaccine, discovery of a conserved gene regulatory network in craniofacial and neural tube development, and multiple national and international invited research presentations. Awards and honors span academic, research, service and leadership roles, including the highest honors possible at Michigan State University for a graduate and medical student and an early career award.

 

Chinta M. Lamichhane , BVSc & AH, PhD

Email Address: Chintal@btech.vet; Clamichh@umd.edu

With 35 years of experience in the field of animal health and as President and Chief Scientific Officer of Biotech Laboratories, USA, LLC, I am focused on the research and development of innovative veterinary and human diagnostics. 

The late Dr. David Snyder and I also pioneered the immunoassay technology for profiling poultry health status (flock profiling system), which was introduced to the poultry industry in the 1980s. The technology is designed for rapid diagnosis, determination of vaccine efficacy, and disease epidemiological studies. It has received worldwide acceptance as a standard method for serological profiling of animal diseases. This system continues to be marketed by numerous global animal health diagnostics companies including Pfizer Animal Health/Zoetis, Inc. In addition, the OTL office of the University of Maryland has licensed several diagnostic reagents to Zoetis during his tenure with the School of Veterinary Medicine. These reagents are still part of the diagnostics kits marketed by Zoetis. 

I am also an adjunct faculty affiliated with the University of Maryland, College Park’s College of Veterinary Medicine. My academic and industry activities have led to peer-reviewed articles in veterinary medicine and trade journals.

Dr. Joan K Lunney

Email Address: joan.lunney@usda.gov

Dr, Loan K. Lunney is a Distinguished Senior Research Scientist in the Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), USDA. Dr. Lunney obtained her B.S. in Chemistry from Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA, and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. She is an internationally recognized authority on pig immunology and genomics. Her current research focuses on swine immunology, genomics, and resistance to diseases, particularly to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). She coleads the US PRRS Host Genomics Consortium which assesses the role of genetics in determining pig resistance and susceptibility to PRRS virus infection, pathology and associated growth effects. She has collaborated with Canadian scientists to determine mechanisms of fetal resistance to congenital PRRS virus infection. She is actively involved in Swine Immune Toolkit efforts developing and characterizing monoclonal antibodies reactive against swine cell subset antigens and immune proteins, the cytokines and chemokines.

Dr. Lunney is very actively involved in mentoring younger scientists, particularly women scientists. She was selected as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1998) and of the International Society for Animal Genetics (2017), received the ARS national Outreach Diversity, and Equal Opportunity Award (2014), and was inducted into the ARS Hall of Fame (2019).  In 2022 she was presented a U.S. Presidential Rank Award as a Meritorious Senior Professional; in 2023 she is the International Union of Immunological Societies Veterinary Immunology Committee’s Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist She has served on numerous grant panels, journal editorial boards and in leadership positions for animal genetic and veterinary immunology societies.

Lunney JK, Van Goor A, Walker K, Hailstock T, Franklin J, Dai C. 2021. Importance of the pig as a human biomedical model. Science Translational Medicine. 13: eabd5758. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abd5758. PMID: 34818055.

Van Goor A, Walker K, Pasternak A, Malgarin C, MacPhee DJ, Harding JCS, Lunney JK. 2020. Fetal Controlled Immune Response to PRRS virus reveals Placenta Initiates Fetal Demise while Dysregulation in Fetal Thymus is indicative of Viral Load. BMC Genomics. 21:763 doi.org/10.1186/s12864-020-07154-0.

Dong Q, Dunkelberger J, Lim K-S, Lunney JK, Tuggle CK, Rowland RRR, Dekkers JCM. 2021. Associations of natural variation in the CD163 and other candidate genes on host response of nursery pigs to PRRSV infection. J Anim Sci. 99: skab274. doi: 10. 1093/jas/skab274.

Pasternak JA, MacPhee DJ, Lunney JK, Rowland RRR, PigGen Canada, Dyck MK, Fortin F, Dekkers JCM, Plastow GS, Harding JCS. 2021. Thyroid dysfunction in feeder pigs following polymicrobial or porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-2 challenge. J An Sci. 99: skab325. doi: 10.1093/jas/skab325.

Mair KH, Crossman AJ, Wagner B, Babasyan S, Noronha L, Boyd P, Zarlenga D, Stadler M. van Dongen KA, Gerner W, Saalmueller A, Lunney JK. 2022. The Natural Cytotoxicity Receptor NKp44 (NCR2, CD336) is expressed on the majority of porcine NK cells ex vivo without stimulation. Frontiers Immunol. 13: 767530. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.767530.

Manirarora J, Walker K, Patil V, Renukaradhya G, LaBresh J, Sullivan Y, Francis O, Lunney JK. 2022. Development and characterization of new monoclonal antibodies against porcine Interleukin -17A and Interferon-gamma. Frontiers Immunol. Comparative Immunology. 13:786396. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.786396.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/people-locations/person/?person-id=3471 

link to Dr. Lunney’s Google Scholar Page

Andrew Broadbent, DVM PhD

Email Address: ajbroad@umd.edu

Dr Broadbent graduated with a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from Imperial College London, UK, in 2010, before undertaking postdoctoral research focusing on influenza viruses in the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA.  He returned to the UK in 2014 to specialize in avian virus research at the Pirbright Institute, first as a Research Fellow and then, in 2019, as a Group Leader, where he established his own independent research program on infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). He joined the University of Maryland (UMD) in 2021 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences (ANSC) to continue to grow his research team. The Broadbent lab aims to advance our understanding of the replication and pathogenesis of avian viruses, to better prevent and control diseases of significance to the poultry industry, and to public health. Current projects are focused on viruses with segmented RNA genomes, including avian influenza virus (AIV), infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), and avian reovirus (ARV). His group uses these viruses as tools to define viral replication mechanisms, model pathogenesis and reassortment, and improve the design of vaccines.

Gerardo Kaplan, PhD

Email address: gerardo.kaplan@fda.hhs.gov

Dr. Kaplan received a Doctoral Degree in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, working in variability of foot-and-mouth disease virus. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University, NYC, he studied different aspects of poliovirus (PV) biology including mapping the first IRES that conferred cap-independent translation (Pelletier et al., 1988), developing the first subgenomic replicons (Kaplan & Racaniello, 1988), showing that soluble forms of the poliovirus receptor (PVR) neutralized PV altering the viral capsid to uncoating the viral genome (Kaplan 1990), and selecting PVR neutralization-resistant mutants to understand the PV-PVR interaction (Kaplan 1990).  In the early 90s, Dr. Kaplan joined the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a tenure-track investigator.  At CBER, he discovered the hepatitis A virus (HAV) cellular receptor 1 (HAVCR1, Kaplan 1996), the first identified member of a family of molecules that modulate atopy, autoimmunity, graft-versus-host disease, viral, and cancer immune responses. He was tenured at CBER in 1998 due to his contributions to the HAV filed and regulatory work leading to the licensing of the first HAV vaccines. From 2001 to 2008, he served as the Chief of the Laboratory of Hepatitis and Related Emerging Agents at the Office of Blood Research and Review (OBRR), CBER, where he continued working in hepatitis viruses.  At OBRR, his work contributed to the identification of HAVCR family (also referred as TIM family) members as pattern recognition receptors (PRR) of phosphatidylserine, a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) expressed at the cell surface of apoptotic cells (Santiago et al., 2007; Kobayashi 2007). Dr. Kaplan’s Lab showed that the interaction of HAV with HAVCR1 on regulatory T cells (Treg) blocks the T-cell receptor, shuts off Treg function, and controls the pathogenic process of HAV (Manangeeswaran 2012). In response to the FDA need to gain expertise in bioterrorism agents, Dr. Kaplan developed a filovirus program focused on vaccines based on the viral glycoprotein (GP) and BSL2 tests to evaluate anti-GP total and neutralizing antibodies. Dr. Kaplan is currently a Principal Investigator at the Lab of Molecular Virology, OBRR, CBER-FDA and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland, and works in pathogenesis of HAV and the role of HAVCR1 in cell entry of viruses and exosomes (Costafreda 2020).

References

-Pelletier et al. Cap-independent translation of poliovirus mRNA is conferred by sequence elements within the 5' noncoding region. Mol Cell Biol. Mar 1988;8(3):1103-1112.

-Kaplan & Racaniello. Construction and characterization of poliovirus subgenomic replicons. J Virol. May 1988;62(5):1687-1696.

-Kaplan et al. Neutralization of poliovirus by cell receptors expressed in insect cells. J Virol. Oct 1990;64(10):4697-4702.

-Kaplan et al. Poliovirus mutants resistant to neutralization with soluble cell receptors. Science. Dec 14 1990;250(4987):1596-1599.

-Kaplan et al. Identification of a surface glycoprotein on African green monkey kidney cells as a receptor for hepatitis A virus. EMBO J. Aug 15 1996;15(16):4282-4296.

-Santiago et al. Structures of T cell immunoglobulin mucin protein 4 show a metal-Ion-dependent ligand binding site where phosphatidylserine binds. Immunity. 2007;27(6):941-951.

-Kobayashi et al. TIM-1 and TIM-4 glycoproteins bind phosphatidylserine and mediate uptake of apoptotic cells. Immunity. 2007;27(6):927-940.

-Manangeeswaran et al. Binding of hepatitis A virus to its cellular receptor 1 inhibits T-regulatory cell functions in humans. Gastroenterology. 2012;142(7):1516-1525 e1513.

-Costafreda et al.  Exosome mimicry by a HAVCR1-NPC1 pathway of endosomal fusion mediates hepatitis A virus infection. Nat Microbiol 2020; 5:1096-1106.

 

Dr. Shankar Mondal, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor 

Email: shankar.mondal@maryland.gov

Dr. Mondal is the Laboratory Director and Avian Pathologist at the Salisbury Animal Health Laboratory of the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), where he provides poultry diagnostic and consulting services for MDA and poultry producers, including the large Delmarva broiler industry. Prior to his arrival to MDA in 2018, he worked as poultry veterinarian for a pasture-raised organic layer company based in New York.  Dr. Mondal has a strong background in research and diagnosis of infectious diseases of poultry and collaboration with the poultry industry. After coming to the USA in 1998, he joined the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine where he initiated his research on avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and worked with extension and poultry diagnostic services. Dr. Mondal has a wealth of experience through post-doctoral works with molecular biology aspects of IBV, Marek’s disease virus, avian poxvirus, avian influenza virus, and reverse-genetic systems of equine arteritis virus. He has been an instructor in avian diseases diagnostics and production medicine at Cornell University and University of California at Davis. Dr. Mondal served as Country Team Leader of USAID/STOP AI (Avian Influenza) Bangladesh project (2009-10) and as International Consultant for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Bangladesh (2011-12). He is the author or co-author of 17 peer-reviewed research papers, and has been active in presenting his research findings at national and international meetings. 

Dr. Mondal received his PhD in Comparative Pathology in 2005 from the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. He has a DVM degree and an MS in Microbiology from Bangladesh Agricultural University. Dr. Mondal is a Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians since 2008.

Dr. Maria Salvato, Adjunct Professor

Email: msalvato@ihv.umaryland.edu

Maria Salvato, PhD is a virologist known for her studies of pathogenic RNA viruses.  She received her PhD at UC Berkeley on the molecular biology of plant viruses like Tobacco Mosaic virus, she did post-doctoral work on RNA processing and used phage in “genome walking” as envisioned by Sydney Brenner.   Since 1985, the Salvato laboratory has conducted research on arenaviruses like LCMV and Lassa fever virus.   Dr. Salvato completed the first arenavirus sequence in 1989, discovered a new viral gene product, p11 Z, showed that p11 Z was the smallest known zinc-binding RING protein and that it interacts with PML, eIF4E and serves as a viral Matrix protein.  Although most of Dr. Salvato’s research involves the arenaviruses, she has also collaborated on studies of HIV, SIV and SHIV to co-author 30 publications with Dr. C. David Pauza. In collaboration with Dr. Igor Lukashevich, her laboratory developed monkey models for viral hemorrhagic fever and tested Lassa fever vaccines in primates. When she moved from Wisconsin to Maryland in 2000, she initiated transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of mildly- and virulently-infected rhesus macaques to find biomarkers that would predict the development of hemorrhagic fever. She discovered that virulent infections suppress antiviral responses in the infected cells, resulting in greater viremia as well as greater inflammatory responses from uninfected bystander cells. In addition to bench science, Dr. Salvato has become involved in global science policy: serving on the International Committee for Taxonomy of Viruses, organizing an AAAS workshop on Technology Transfer, sitting on WHO committees for pandemic containment, and serving on an European Union-sponsored panel to promote Responsible Research and Innovation (i.e. devoted to the principles of public engagement, open access, ethical research, gender equity, inclusivity, and diversity.  As an Adjunct Professor in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Salvato will bring her broad knowledge of virology and her dedication to promoting Responsible Research and Innovation.

1. Maria Salvato (ed) 2018.  Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses, https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4939-6981-4
2. Salvato MS, Domi A, Guzmán-Cardozo C, Medina-Moreno S, Zapata JC, Hsu H, McCurley N, Basu R, Hauser M, Hellerstein M, Guirakhoo F.  2019. A Single Dose of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Expressing Lassa Virus-like Particles Protects Mice from Lethal Intra-cerebral Virus Challenge  Pathogens. 2019 Aug 28;8(3):133. doi: 10.3390/pathogens8030133.
3. Radoshitzky SR, Buchmeier MJ, Charrel RN, Clegg JCS, Gonzalez JJ, Günther S, Hepojoki J, Kuhn JH, Lukashevich IS, Romanowski V, Salvato MS, Sironi M, Stenglein MD, de la Torre JC, Ictv Report Consortium.  ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Arenaviridae.  J Gen Virol. 2019 Aug;100(8):1200-1201. doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.001280. Epub 2019 Jun 13.PMID: 31192784 
4. Colizzi et al, 2019. Structural Transformation to attain Responsible BioSciences (STARBIOS)…..Project to promote Responsible Research and Innovation. JMIR Res Protoc. 2019 Mar 7;8(3):e11745. doi: 10.2196/11745.
5. Zapata JC, Medina-Moreno S, Guzmán-Cardozo C, Salvato MS.  Improving the breadth of the host’s reponse to Lassa virus.  Pathogens. 2018 Oct 28;7(4):84. doi: 10.3390/pathogens7040084.