Victor Nizet
Encyclopedia
Victor Nizet, M.D. is a pediatric physician-scientist who is currently Professor of Pediatrics and Pharmacy at the University of California, San Diego
(UCSD) School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in La Jolla, California. He is known for research in the areas of molecular microbiology
and the innate immune system
, with a particular focus on infectious diseases caused by common Gram-positive bacterial pathogens such as Group A Streptococcus, Group B Streptococcus
and Staphylococcus aureus
.
and resistance to immunologic clearance. They also focus on the function of host phagocytic cells, such as macrophages and neutrophils, to understand the contribution of host factors such as antimicrobial peptides
, leukocyte surface receptors, signal transduction pathways, and transcription factors in defense against invasive bacterial infection. Through these complementary approaches, novel treatment strategies for infectious diseases are envisioned that involve targeted neutralization of bacterial virulence phenotypes or pharmacologic augmentation of host phagocyte function.
Various press releases and media stories recount research advances associated with the Nizet laboratory and its collaborators:
E. Mead Johnson Award
for Research in Pediatrics.
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
(UCSD) School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in La Jolla, California. He is known for research in the areas of molecular microbiology
Molecular microbiology
Molecular microbiology is the branch of microbiology devoted to the study of the molecular principles of the physiological processes involved in the life cycle of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, unicellular algae, fungi, and protozoa...
and the innate immune system
Innate immune system
The innate immune system, also known as non-specific immune system and secondary line of defence, comprises the cells and mechanisms that defend the host from infection by other organisms in a non-specific manner...
, with a particular focus on infectious diseases caused by common Gram-positive bacterial pathogens such as Group A Streptococcus, Group B Streptococcus
Group B Streptococcus
Infection with Group B Streptococcus , also known as 'Streptococcus agalactiae' and more colloquially as Strep B and group B Strep, can cause serious illness and sometimes death, especially in newborn infants, the elderly, and patients with compromised immune systems...
and Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium. It is frequently found as part of the normal skin flora on the skin and nasal passages. It is estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. S. aureus is the most common species of...
.
Research
Dr. Nizet's laboratory applies molecular genetic approaches to discover and characterize bacterial virulence factors involved in host cell injury, epithelial adherence, cellular invasion, inflammation, molecular mimicryMolecular mimicry
Molecular mimicry is defined as the theoretical possibility that sequence similarities between foreign and self-peptides are sufficient to result in the cross-activation of autoreactive T or B cells by pathogen-derived peptides...
and resistance to immunologic clearance. They also focus on the function of host phagocytic cells, such as macrophages and neutrophils, to understand the contribution of host factors such as antimicrobial peptides
Antimicrobial peptides
Antimicrobial peptides are an evolutionarily conserved component of the innate immune response and are found among all classes of life. Fundamental differences exist between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells that may represent targets for antimicrobial peptides...
, leukocyte surface receptors, signal transduction pathways, and transcription factors in defense against invasive bacterial infection. Through these complementary approaches, novel treatment strategies for infectious diseases are envisioned that involve targeted neutralization of bacterial virulence phenotypes or pharmacologic augmentation of host phagocyte function.
Various press releases and media stories recount research advances associated with the Nizet laboratory and its collaborators:
External links
E. Mead Johnson Award
E. Mead Johnson Award
The E. Mead Johnson Award, given by the Society for Pediatric Research, an affiliate of the American Pediatric Society, was established in 1939 to honor clinical and laboratory research achievements in pediatrics. Awards are funded by Mead Johnson Nutritionals, a subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb....
for Research in Pediatrics.