The Department of Microbiology and Immunology Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education

Dr. Sanna Goyert, PH.D, Professor and Chair of Microbiology and Immunology Department. Dr. Sanna M. Goyert is Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the City University of New York The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. Previously she was an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathology at New York University School of Medicine and Directory of the Laboratory of Innate Immunity at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at North Shore-LIJ Health Systems in Manhasset, New York.  She is an internationally renowned scientist studying innate mechanisms of defense against bacterial pathogens. Dr. Goyert has published more than 100 research papers and book chapters and is a former recipient of the prestigious Stohlman Scholars award from the Leukemia Society of America. She has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the past 20 years and is currently a member of the “Surgery, Anesthesia, and Trauma” study section that reviews grants submitted to the NIH for merit. Her most notable accomplishment is the identification of a human gene known as CD14 that plays a prominent role in a disease called septic shock that kills more than 500,000 Americans annually. Dr. Goyert’s seminal work showed that mice genetically engineered to lack the CD14 gene are resistant to septic shock caused by E. coli. Dr. Goyert holds two major patents associated with her work on innate immunity that are currently licensed to several companies aiming to further the therapeutic potential of these discoveries. Dr. Goyert’s current work focuses on the host’s response to pathogens and includes studies aimed at the identification of additional genes and molecules that regulate the innate immune response by bacteria expressing specific virulence factors.
Contact Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology * Office: H-207 * Telephone: (212) 650-6880 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail: sgoyert@med.cuny.edu
Dr. Stanley Lipper M.D. Course Director Step 8, Pathology Program Co-Director, Medical Professor (CUNY), Professor Emeritus of Clinical Pathology (SUNY Stony Brook), Certified by the American Board of Pathology, Fellow of the College of American Pathologists (FCAP). Dr. Lipper is a member of the International Academy of Pathologists / ASCAP and the Arthur Purdy Stout Society of Pathologists. He is an author of over 50 publications in peer reviewed medical journals and has delivered national and international invited lectures and presentations in the field of surgical pathology. He also holds an appointment as an attending pathologist at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
Contact Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Pathology * Office: H-309 * Telephone: (212) 650-6821 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail: lipper@med.cuny.edu
Dr. Dani McBeth is Associate Dean of Student Affairs  and Associate Professor in the Department. He has been at the CUNY Medical School since 1986. He teaches major portions of the basic microbiology and bacteriology portions of the Medical Microbiology and Immunology course for both medical students and physician’s assistants students. As the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, he is currently very involved in the admissions process, in advising students on a variety of issues, in guiding students through the matching process to the final two years of medical school and what seems like a million other things.
Contact Information
Office of Student and Academic Affairs * Office: H-113  * Telephone: (212) 650-7727 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail: dmcbeth@med.cuny.edu
Dr. Viera Lima is a Course Coordinator, Clinical Microbiologist and Bioinformatician, Laboratory Supervisor,  Departmental IT Head and Webmaster to Microbiology/Immunology, AMSMIC, Pathology and Physician Assistant Program. She coordinates and teaches in Step 8 and participates in teaching and coordination of the Microbiology and Immunology Course in Physician Assistant Program at CUNY. General Jack of All Trades. Research participation latest references: Richard Coico, Elizabeth Kachur, Viera Lima, and Stanley Lipper: Guidelines for Pre-Clerkship Medical School Bioterrorism Curricula Yan Wu, S. M. Tamma, V. Lima, and Richard Coico: Facilitated Antigen Presentation by B Cells Expressing IgD when Responding T Cells Express IgD-Receptors Susan R. S. Gottesman, Viera Lima and Richard F. Coico: Expression of the Activation Marker (IgD-R) on Adult T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATLL)
Contact Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology * Office: Suite H-14 * Telephone: (212) 650-7725 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail: lima@med.cuny.edu
Dr. Linda Spatz Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is interested in understanding how anti-double stranded (anti-dsDNA) antibodies which are the hallmark of the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), arise. Her laboratory is studying the regulation of anti-dsDNA B-cells. Normally these B cells are kept from secreting transgenic anti-ds DNA antibodies by regulatory mechanisms, collectively known as B cell tolerance. When one or more of these regulatory mechanisms goes awry, a breakdown in tolerance ensues and anti-dsDNA antibodies are secreted at elevated levels. These antibodies can deposit in various organs of the body including the skin, joints, and kidney where they can induce tissue damage. Dr. Spatz’s laboratory is investigating potential genetic and environmental factors that can lead to a breakdown in anti-dsDNA B cell tolerance. Using an anti-dsDNA transgenic mouse model she is currently studying how the overexpression of a B cell survival factor known as BAFF, can lead to the loss of B cell tolerance and the secretion of transgenic anti-dsDNA antibodies. In addition, Dr. Spatz is working in collaboration with Dr. Paul Gottlieb to study the role of the Epstein Barr virus (EBV) in the etiology of SLE. They have observed that immunization of mice with a major nuclear protein of EBV known as EBNA-1 can elicit the production of pathogenic anti-dsDNA antibodies that can deposit in the kidney. Future studies are addressing the mechanism by which EBNA-1 can elicit these anti-dsDNA antibodies. Most recent publications: Chu, Y. P., D. Taylor, H-G., Yan, B. Diamond, and L. Spatz. 2002. Persistence of partially functional dsDNA binding B cells in mice transgenic for the heavy chain of an IgM anti-dsDNA antibody. Internat. Immunol. 14: 45-54. Sundar, K., P. Gottlieb, S. Jacques, R. Villars, M-E. Benito, D. Taylor and L. Spatz. 2004. Expression of the Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen-1 (EBNA-1) in the mouse can elicit the production of anti-dsDNA antibodies. J. Autoimmunity. 23; 127-140. Taylor, D.K., E. Ito, M. Thorn, K. Sundar, T. Tedder, and L. Spatz, 2006. Loss of tolerance of anti-dsDNA B cells in mice overexpressing CD19. Mol. Immunol. 11; 1776-1790. Book Chapter: Spatz, L. and B. Diamond. 2003. Tolerance and Autoimmunity (chapter). In, Immunology, A Short Course, 5th Edition. R. Coico and G. Sunshine editors. John Wiley and Sons Inc., New York, NY.
Contact Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology * Office: H-210b * Telephone: (212) 650-7703 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail: lspatz@med.cuny.edu
Dr. Paul Gottlieb’s group has established a research program that will yield insights into the Cystoviridae and viral relationships to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Dr. Gottlieb is Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Dr. Gottlieb’s research group is studying and characterizing bacteriophage f12, one of the newly identified members of the family Cystoviridae. These viruses contain a genome consisting of three segments of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Their mechanism of RNA packaging, replication and transcription is similar to that of the Reoviridae of which one member, rotavirus, is a major cause of infant gastroenteritis. To date, the cystoviruses are the only segmented dsRNA viruses that can be manipulated by recombinant genetic techniques, making them an excellent model for the study of the molecular biology of viruses of this type. The laboratory has cloned and sequenced the three genomic segments and identified the viral genes.  This analysis has better defined the evolutionary relationships among the members of this virus family.  The genes of the virus have been expressed from the cDNA copies of the genome in E. coli and the viral proteins are now being studied, in particular the viral RNA-directed RNA polymerase P2. This study contributes to the understanding of the mechanism of viral RNA packaging and replication. In a collaborative study with Dr. Spatz, the research group is investigating the role of the Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) in the etiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). This research project focuses on characterizing the anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) response in mice that express the viral Epstein Barr Nuclear Antigen-1 (EBNA-1). The expression of this antigen in animals has been achieved through the use of DNA-based vaccination of recombinant plasmids. The establishment of this in vivo model enabled us to demonstrate that the inoculated mice produced antibodies to autoantigens associated with SLE. Latest References: Kainov, D. E., Mancini, E., Grimes, J. M., Stuart, D. I.,  H., Gottlieb, P.,  Wei, H., Tuma, R., Makeyev, E. V. and  Bamford, D., (2003). Biochemical characterization, crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies on the bacteriophage f 12 packing motor. Yang, H., Gottlieb, P., Wei, H., Bamford, D., and Makeyev, E. V. (2003). Temperature requirements for the initiation of RNA-dependent RNA polymerization. Virology, in press. Gottlieb, P., Potgieter, C., Wei, H., (2002). Characterization of F12, a Bacteriophage Related to F6: Nucleotide Sequence of the Large Double-Stranded RNA (dsRNA). Virology, 295 (1): 266-271. Collaborative Study: Dr. Leonard Mindich  The Bamford Laboratory   Contact Information The Department of Microbiology and Immunology * Office: H-210a * Telephone: (212) 650-7709 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail: pgottl@med.cuny.edu
Dr. Jack Silver Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology has worked extensively in the area of HLA (human histocompatability) antigens and how they determine susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis, regulate the human immune response, and form the basis for organ and tissue graft rejection. His other areas of expertise are in T cell differentiation markers and the genetics of susceptibility to Crohn's disease, an autoimmune disease of the gastrointestinal tract. He currently works with Dr. Sanna Goyert, Chair of Micobiology and Immunology, in understanding how the innate immune response is regulated and forms the first line of defense against invading micro-organisms. Dr. Silver has trained more than 30 postdoctoral fellows and graduate students who hold academic positions at various institutions around the world, including Harvard Medical School and Georgetown University Medical Center. He is a former "Established Investigator" of the American Heart Association, and his research has been funded by a variety of organizations including the American Cancer Society, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Arthritis Foundation, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, the National Science Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health, from which he received more than 20 consecutive years of funding. He is the author of more than 150 scientific articles, reviews, and book chapters. Most recent publications: Ringheanu M, et. al. Effects of infliximab on apoptosis and reverse signaling of monocytes from healthy individuals and patients with Crohn's disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis, 10:801-810, 2004 Zhou Z, et. al. Variation at NOD2/CARD15 in Familial and Sporadic Cases of Crohn's Disease in the Ashkenazi Jewish Population. Am J Gastroenterol, 97:3095-3101, 2002 Hayakawa K et. al. Positive selection of natural autoreactive B cells. Science 285:113-6, 1999
Contact Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology  * Office: H-207 A * Telephone: (212) 650-7728 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail:  Jsilvernyu@aol.com
Dr. Carol Moore, Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Current research interests and activities are: Cellular responses to spontaneous or induced oxidative stress involve different pathways such as cell-cycle checkpoints, DNA repair and cell death. The research studies help us understand basic molecular and cellular mechanisms of these responses, including DNA repair and oxidant injury. They also have significant implications for human diseases as well as clinical cancer management. Mechanisms of action of oxidative DNA-damaging agents and cellular responses to these agents are problems of considerable medical importance. Oxygen free radical damage suffered by cells contributes heavily to aging and cancer in human, and has fatal consequences. Because of its genetic sophistication, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was chosen as the model eukaryotic organism for the research. It was also used to isolate mutants (blm) hypersensitive to oxidative damage by ionizing radiation, H2O2, and the bleomycin-phleomycin group of chemical congeners. Bleomycins damage DNAs in vivo and in vitro in ways that mimic ionizing radiation. The cloning and characterization of the BLM genes and their encoded proteins are designed to understand genetic, cellular and biochemical controls for maintaining chromosomal integrity and intact cell walls and membranes before and after insult by X-rays, bleomycin or structurally-related phleomycin.  Additional research projects include collaborative studies to understand the mechanism of the specific antifungal action of the bleomycins that we discovered, properties of a cytotoxic diffusible factor from yeast, and mechanisms of action of bleomycin and phleomycin. The genetic sophistication, molecular flexibility and availability of mutant yeast strains permit these studies and technical approaches. Human cells have also been employed for our projects involving mechanisms of action at the cellular level of ionizing radiation and bleomycins, and a long-term goal is to determine the role of the BLM genes in human cells. The validity of the yeast model is strongly established by the correlation of results between yeast and patient/human/mammalian cells.
Contact Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology * Office: H-210-e * Telephone: (212) 650-6956 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail: moore@med.cuny.edu
Vincent Bruno, Assistant to Chair
Contact Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology * Office: H-207 * Telephone: (212) 650-7729 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail:
Igor Toporovsky, MS Senior Laboratory Technician
Contact Information
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology * Telephone: (212) 650.6945 * Fax: (212) 650-7797 * E-mail: toporovsky@med.cuny.edu

	The Pathogenesis lecture and small group portion of the course is given by faculty of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Department of Pathology. Mount Sinai pathology residents and fellows also participate in the pathology laboratory section.
	Additional (Adjunct) STEP 8 faculty including pharmacology lecturers are listed in the Student Handbook.