The focus of the Helminth Immunology Section is the study of host resistance and immune regulation in parasitic helminth infections of global importance. The ultimate goal of this work is prevention of infection and disease. Our work focuses on both the host response to helminth infection and the molecular basis for parasitism in helminths and the prototypical responses they induce.
Helminth Immunology Section 2022 Front Row (left to right) Robert Thompson, MS., Pedro Gazzinelli Guimaraes, Ph.D., Jiana Blaha, MHS, Elise O’Connell, MD, Gayatri Sanku, MPH, Top Row (left to right) Joseph Kubofick, Pablo Bara- Garcia, MS, Sasisekhar Bennuru, Ph.D., Thomas Nutman, M.D., Nina Tang. Missing from Photo – William Sears, MD, MHS, Janitzio Guzman, M.D.
Thomas Nutman, M.D.
Lab Chief, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases
Chief, Helminth Immunology Section
Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center
Education:
A.B., Brown University, Providence, RI
M.D., University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
Dr. Nutman received his A.B. from Brown University and his M.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He did an internal medicine residency at New York University (Bellevue) and postdoctoral training in the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases (LPD). He is board certified in internal medicine and allergy and immunology. He also holds a diploma/certificate in tropical medicine and...
Sasisekhar Bennuru, Ph.D.
Associate Scientist, Helminth Immunology Section
Education:
Ph.D., 2005, Anna University, India
Jiana L. Blaha, MHS
NIH/NIAID Postbac IRTA
Education:
MHS., 2021, Johns Hopkins University
B.S., 2020, American University
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Jiana research interests include infectious diseases, tropical diseases, preventive medicine, and environmental health. Under Dr. Elise O'Connell, Jiana conducts research related to invasive cestode infections, specifically neurocysticercosis. Some of her research projects include further optimizing a unique antigen detection assays for T. Solium, qPCR and antigen testing for T. Solium, and...
Pablo Efrain Bara-Garcia, M.S.
Postbaccalaureate Fellow
Education:
M.S in Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University,
B.S in Biology, The Catholic University of America
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Janitzio Guzman, M.D.
Infectious Diseases Fellow
Education:
Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency, University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, Tulsa, OK
Doctor of Medicine, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
Bachelor of Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Janitzio is a combined adult/pediatric infectious diseases fellow with an interest in the immunopathogenesis of helminthic infections. He is working in Elise O’Connell’s group to study the immune response to subarachnoid neurocysticercosis, including the role of autoantibody formation in disease. His clinical interests include parasitic infection, neglected tropical diseases, and infections...
Joseph Kubofcik, B.S.
Biologist
Education:
Bucknell University, B.S.
Elise M. O’Connell, M.D.
Chief, Clinical Parasitology Unit
Associate Research Physician
Specialty(s): Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center
Education:
M.D., Loyola University Chicago
Gayatri Sanku, MPH
GU-NIH Microbiology and Immunology, Ph.D. Candidate
Education:
Ph.D. candidate, Georgetown University
MPH Epidemiology, BS Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Chicago
William J. Sears, M.D., MHS
Infectious Disease Fellow
Education:
Med/Peds Residency, Indiana University
M.D., University of Louisville School of Medicine
MHS, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Robert Thompson, M.S.
Biologist
Education:
MS., 1995, John Hopkins University
Languages Spoken: Spanish
