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Laboratory of Infectious Diseases

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Robert H. Purcell, M.D.

Co-Chief, Laboratory of Infectious Diseases
Chief, Hepatitis Viruses Section

Dr. Purcell obtained a master’s degree in biochemistry from Baylor University and completed a medical degree and pediatric internship at Duke University and Hospital. His research focuses on the hepatitis viruses, with special emphasis on their molecular biology, epidemiology, and control. He is the author or co-author of more than 600 publications and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.

Description of Research Program

The Hepatitis Viruses Section conducts basic research on the hepatitis viruses and applies the knowledge gained to the control of viral hepatitis. The section has contributed to the development of licensed vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, to a candidate vaccine for hepatitis E, and to the discovery of hepatitis C and hepatitis D.

Current research efforts include the elucidation of the molecular virology of hepatitis A and the development of a live, attenuated hepatitis A vaccine; delineation of the genetic heterogeneity of hepatitis C virus; diagnosis and prevention of hepatitis E; and molecular and biological characterization of newly discovered viruses.

Major Areas of Research

  • Seroepidemiology and molecular epidemiology
  • Pathogenesis and animal models of human disease
  • Active and passive immunoprophylaxis
  • Discovery of new viruses

Photo of Research Group Members Working

Research Group Members

Patrizia Farci, Xavier Forns, Judith Graff, Rajen Koshy, Yamina Lazizi, Jae-Hwan Nam, Raffaella Romeo, Darren Schofield, Tobias Allander, Mingdong Zhang, and Yohko Shimizu

Selected Recent Publications

(View current list in PubMed.)

Emerson SU, Clemente-Casares P, Moiduddin N, Arankalle VA, Torian U, Purcell RH. Putative neutralization epitopes and broad cross-genotype neutralization of Hepatitis E virus confirmed by a quantitative cell-culture assay. J Gen Virol. 2006. 87(Pt 3): 697-704.

Payette PJ, Ma X, Weeratna RD, McCluskie MJ, Shapiro M, Engle RE, Davis HL, Purcell RH. Testing of CpG-optimized protein and DNA vaccines against the hepatitis B virus in chimpanzees for immunogenicity and protection from challenge. Intervirology. 2006. 49(3): 144-151.

Murray JM, Wieland SF, Purcell RH, Chisari FV. Dynamics of hepatitis B virus clearance in chimpanzees. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2005. 102(49): 17780-17785.

Schofield DJ, Bartosch B, Shimizu YK, Allander T, Alter HJ, Emerson SU, Cosset FL, Purcell RH. Human monoclonal antibodies that react with the E2 glycoprotein of hepatitis C virus and possess neutralizing activity. Hepatology. 2005. 42(5): 1055-1062.

Emerson SU, Arankalle VA, Purcell RH. Thermal stability of hepatitis E virus. J Infect Dis. 2005. 192(5): 930-933.

Yu MY, Bartosch B, Zhang P, Guo ZP, Renzi PM, Shen LM, Granier C, Feinstone SM, Cosset FL, Purcell RH. Neutralizing antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in immune globulins derived from anti-HCV-positive plasma. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004. 101(20): 7705-7710.

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Last Updated May 21, 2006