Marina Diioia, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Biomedical Sciences Office: A315 Main Building Lab: J105 Phone: (304) 647-6370 Fax: (304) 793-6884
Postdoctoral Research Associate University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI Field: Zoonotic Disease Vaccine Design and Development
Postdoctoral Fellow Vatrix Medical, Minneapolis, MN Field: Medical Device and SBIR Grant Development
Doctor of Philosophy University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI Field: Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Immunology Emphasis
Bachelor of Science California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA Field: Biology
I am interested in how intracellular bacterial pathogens evade the immune system and in identifying pathogenic mechanisms that can be exploited for vaccine development. I recently shifted research focus from zoonotic disease to antibiotic resistant nosocomial pathogens. Increasing antimicrobial resistance in hospital acquired infections necessitates immediate work towards better vaccination strategies. I love to involve students in my research and believe that it helps to broaden the perspective of medical students in understanding the work involved in bringing medicine from the laboratory to human use.
1. Harms, J. S., M. A. Durward, D. M. Magnani, and G. A. Splitter. 2009. Evaluation of recombinant invasive, non-pathogenic Eschericia coli as a vaccine vector against the intracellular pathogen, Brucella. J Immune Based Ther Vaccines 7:1.
2. D. M. Magnani, J. S. Harms, M. A. Durward, and G. A. Splitter. 2009. Non- dividing, but metabolically active g-irradiated Brucella are protective against virulent Brucella melitensis challenge in mice. Infect Immun 77(11):5181-9.
3. Durward, M. A., J. Harms, D. Magnani, L. Eskra, and G. A. Splitter. 2010. Discordant Brucella melitensis antigens yield cognate CD8+ T cells in vivo. Infect Immun 78(1):168-76.
4. Durward, M. A., J. S. Harms, and G. A. Splitter. 2010. Antigen specific in vivo killing assay using CFSE labeled target cells. J Vis Exp (45): 2250.
5. Durward, M. A., G. Radhakrishnan, J. Harms, C. Bareiss, D. Magnani, and G.A. Splitter. 2012. Active evasion of CTL mediated killing and low quality responding CD8+ T cells contribute to persistence of brucellosis. PLoS One 7(4):e34925.
6. J. A. Smith, M. Khan, D. Magnani, J. S. Harms, M. A. Durward, G. K. Radhakrishnan, Y. Liu, G. A. Splitter. 2013. Brucella induces an unfolded protein response via TcpB that supports intracellular replication in macrophages. PLoS Pathog 9(12):e1003785.
7. Durward-Diioia M, J. Harms, M. Khan, J. A. Smith, G. A. Splitter. 2015. CD8+ T cell exhaustion, suppressed IFN-g production, and delayed memory response induced by chronic Brucella melitensis infection. Infect Immun 83(12):4759-71.
8. J. Daggett, A. Rogers, J. Harms, G. A. Splitter, and M. Durward-Diioia. 2019. Hepatic and splenic immune response during acute vs. chronic Brucella melitensis infection using in situ microscopy. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Oct 2;73:101490. doi: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101490.
1. Splitter, G. A., J.S. Harms, E. Peterson, D. M. Magnani, M. A. Durward, G. K. Radhakrishnan, and G. Rajashekara. 2014. Studying host-pathogen interaction events in living mice visualized in real-time using biophotonic imaging. Methods Molec Bio 1197:67-85.
1. Mattmiller, Brian. “Breathing room: Technology idea will treat lung ailments.” University of Wisconsin College of Engineering Perspective Magazine Sept. 2010. Print and digital. http://perspective.engr.wisc.edu/2010/09/breathing-room/