Center for International Health Research
Dr. Jonathan Kurtis directs the Lifespan Center for International Health Research. He received his BA in geology/biology from Brown University, his PhD in molecular parasitolgy from Brown University and his MD from Brown University. He completed post-doctoral training in malaria immuno-epidemiology from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Kisumu, Kenya. Dr. Kurtis completed his residency training in clinical pathology and his fellowship training in transfusion medicine and coagulation at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Expertise/Certifications: Transfusion Medicine, Coagulation Medicine, Clinical Pathology, Malaria Pathogenesis, and Global Health
Office number: 401-444-7375
| Nixon, Christian P, Nixon, Christina E, Michelow, Ian C, Silva-Viera, Rayna A, Colantuono, Bonnie, Obeidallah, Aisha S, Jha, Ambrish, Dockery, Dominique, Raj, Dipak, Park, Sangshin, Duffy, Patrick E, Kurtis, Jonathan D. "Antibodies to PfsEGXP, an Early Gametocyte-Enriched Phosphoprotein, Predict Decreased Plasmodium falciparum Gametocyte Density in Humans." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 218, no. 11, 2018, pp. 1792-1801. |
| Fried M, Kurtis JD, Swihart B, Morrison R, Pond-Tor S, Barry A, Sidibe Y, Keita S, Mahamar A, Andemel N, Attaher O, Dembele AB, Cisse KB, Diarra BS, Kanoute MB, Narum DL, Dicko A, Duffy PE. "Antibody levels to recombinant VAR2CSA domains vary with Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia, gestational age, and gravidity, but do not predict pregnancy outcomes." Malaria journal, vol. 17, no. 1, 2018, pp. 106. |
| Fried M, Kurtis JD, Swihart B, Morrison R, Pond-Tor S, Barry A, Sidibe Y, Keita S, Mahamar A, Andemel N, Attaher O, Dembele AB, Cisse KB, Diarra BS, Kanoute MB, Narum DL, Dicko A, Duffy PE. "Antibody levels to recombinant VAR2CSA domains vary with Plasmodium falciparum parasitaemia, gestational age, and gravidity, but do not predict pregnancy outcomes." Malaria journal, vol. 17, no. 1, 2018, pp. 106. |
| Brickley EB, Kabyemela E, Kurtis JD, Fried M, Wood AM, Duffy PE. "Developing a novel risk prediction model for severe malarial anemia." Global health, epidemiology and genomics, vol. 2, 2017, pp. e14. |
| Wu HW, Fu ZQ, Lu K, Pond-Tor S, Meng R, Hong Y, Chu K, Li H, Jiz M, Liu JM, Hou M, Park S, Lin JJ, Kurtis JD. "Vaccination with recombinant paramyosin in Montanide ISA206 protects against Schistosoma japonicum infection in water buffalo." Vaccine, vol. 35, no. 26, 2017, pp. 3409-3415. |
| Brickley EB, Spottiswoode N, Kabyemela E, Morrison R, Kurtis JD, Wood AM, Drakesmith H, Fried M, Duffy PE. "Cord Blood Hepcidin: Cross-Sectional Correlates and Associations with Anemia, Malaria, and Mortality in a Tanzanian Birth Cohort Study." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 95, no. 4, 2016, pp. 817-826. |
| Olveda RM, Acosta LP, Tallo V, Baltazar PI, Lesiguez JL, Estanislao GG, Ayaso EB, Monterde DB, Ida A, Watson N, McDonald EA, Wu HW, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Efficacy and safety of praziquantel for the treatment of human schistosomiasis during pregnancy: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial." The Lancet Infectious Diseases, vol. 16, no. 2, 2016, pp. 199-208. |
| Park S, Bellinger DC, Adamo M, Bennett B, Choi NK, Baltazar PI, Ayaso EB, Monterde DB, Tallo V, Olveda RM, Acosta LP, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Mechanistic Pathways From Early Gestation Through Infancy and Neurodevelopment." Pediatrics, vol. 138, no. 6, 2016. |
| White ES, Xia M, Murray S, Dyal R, Flaherty CM, Flaherty KR, Moore BB, Cheng L, Doyle TJ, Villalba J, Dellaripa PF, Rosas IO, Kurtis JD, Martinez FJ. "Plasma Surfactant Protein-D, Matrix Metalloproteinase-7, and Osteopontin Index Distinguishes Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis from Other Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias." Am J Respir Crit Care Med, vol. 194, no. 10, 2016, pp. 1242-1251. |
| Jiz, Mario A., Wu, Haiwei, Olveda, Remigio, Jarilla, Blanca, Kurtis, Jonathan D. "Development of Paramyosin as a Vaccine Candidate for Schistosomiasis." Front. Immun., vol. 6, 2015. |
| Kropski JA, Pritchett JM, Zoz DF, Crossno PF, Markin C, Garnett ET, Degryse AL, Mitchell DB, Polosukhin VV, Rickman OB, Choi L, Cheng DS, McConaha ME, Jones BR, Gleaves LA, McMahon FB, Worrell JA, Solus JF, Ware LB, Lee JW, Massion PP, Zaynagetdinov R, White ES, Kurtis JD, Johnson JE, Groshong SD, Lancaster LH, Young LR, Steele MP, Phillips Iii JA, Cogan JD, Loyd JE, Lawson WE, Blackwell TS. "Extensive phenotyping of individuals at risk for familial interstitial pneumonia reveals clues to the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease." Am J Respir Crit Care Med, vol. 191, no. 4, 2015, pp. 417-26. |
| Raj DK, Nixon CP, Nixon CE, Dvorin JD, DiPetrillo CG, Pond-Tor S, Wu HW, Jolly G, Pischel L, Lu A, Michelow IC, Cheng L, Conteh S, McDonald EA, Absalon S, Holte SE, Friedman JF, Fried M, Duffy PE, Kurtis JD. "Antibodies to PfSEA-1 block parasite egress from RBCs and protect against malaria infection." Science, vol. 344, no. 6186, 2014, pp. 871-7. |
| Brickley, E. B., Wood, A. M., Kabyemela, E., Morrison, R., Kurtis, J. D., Fried, M., Duffy, P. E. "Fetal Origins of Malarial Disease: Cord Blood Cytokines as Risk Markers for Pediatric Severe Malarial Anemia." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 211, no. 3, 2014, pp. 436-444. |
| McDonald EA, Cheng L, Jarilla B, Sagliba MJ, Gonzal A, Amoylen AJ, Olveda R, Acosta L, Baylink D, White ES, Friedman JF, Kurtis JD. "Maternal infection with Schistosoma japonicum induces a profibrotic response in neonates." Infection and Immunity, vol. 82, no. 1, 2014, pp. 350-5. |
| McDonald EA, Pond-Tor S, Jarilla B, Sagliba MJ, Gonzal A, Amoylen AJ, Olveda R, Acosta L, Gundogan F, Ganley-Leal LM, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Schistosomiasis japonica during pregnancy is associated with elevated endotoxin levels in maternal and placental compartments." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 209, no. 3, 2014, pp. 468-72. |
| Kabyemela E, Gonçalves BP, Prevots DR, Morrison R, Harrington W, Gwamaka M, Kurtis JD, Fried M, Duffy PE. "Cytokine profiles at birth predict malaria severity during infancy." PLoS ONE, vol. 8, no. 10, 2013, pp. e77214. |
| McDonald EA, Friedman JF, Sharma S, Acosta L, Pond-Tor S, Cheng L, White ES, Kurtis JD. "Schistosoma japonicum soluble egg antigens attenuate invasion in a first trimester human placental trophoblast model." PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 7, no. 6, 2013, pp. e2253. |
| McDonald EA, Kurtis JD, Acosta L, Gundogan F, Sharma S, Pond-Tor S, Wu HW, Friedman JF. "Schistosome egg antigens elicit a proinflammatory response by trophoblast cells of the human placenta." Infection and Immunity, vol. 81, no. 3, 2013, pp. 704-12. |
| Dong S, Kurtis JD, Pond-Tor S, Kabyemela E, Duffy PE, Fried M. "CXC ligand 9 response to malaria during pregnancy is associated with low-birth-weight deliveries." Infection and Immunity, vol. 80, no. 9, 2012, pp. 3034-8. |
| Gwamaka M, Kurtis JD, Sorensen BE, Holte S, Morrison R, Mutabingwa TK, Fried M, Duffy PE. "Iron deficiency protects against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria and death in young children." Clinical Infectious Diseases, vol. 54, no. 8, 2012, pp. 1137-44. |
| Ezeamama AE, McGarvey ST, Hogan J, Lapane KL, Bellinger DC, Acosta LP, Leenstra T, Olveda RM, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Treatment for Schistosoma japonicum, reduction of intestinal parasite load, and cognitive test score improvements in school-aged children." PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 6, no. 5, 2012, pp. e1634. |
| Kurtis JD, Higashi A, Wu HW, Gundogan F, McDonald EA, Sharma S, PondTor S, Jarilla B, Sagliba MJ, Gonzal A, Olveda R, Acosta L, Friedman JF. "Maternal Schistosomiasis Japonica Is Associated with Maternal, Placental, and Fetal Inflammation." Infection and Immunity, vol. 79, no. 3, 2011, pp. 1254-1261. |
| Fabre V, Wu H, PondTor S, Coutinho H, Acosta L, Jiz M, Olveda R, Cheng L, White ES, Jarilla B, McGarvey ST, Friedman JF, Kurtis JD. "Tissue inhibitor of matrix-metalloprotease-1 predicts risk of hepatic fibrosis in human Schistosoma japonicum infection." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 203, no. 5, 2011, pp. 707-14. |
| Tu Z, Pierce RH, Kurtis J, Kuroki Y, Crispe IN, Orloff MS. "Hepatitis C virus core protein subverts the antiviral activities of human Kupffer cells." Gastroenterology, vol. 138, no. 1, 2010, pp. 305-14. |
| Cham GK, Turner L, Kurtis JD, Mutabingwa T, Fried M, Jensen AT, Lavstsen T, Hviid L, Duffy PE, Theander TG. "Hierarchical, domain type-specific acquisition of antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 in Tanzanian children." Infection and Immunity, vol. 78, no. 11, 2010, pp. 4653-9. |
| Wu HW, Qin YF, Chu K, Meng R, Liu Y, McGarvey ST, Olveda R, Acosta L, Ji MJ, Fernandez T, Friedman JF, Kurtis JD. "High prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection in water buffaloes in the Philippines assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 82, no. 4, 2010, pp. 646-52. |
| Shaw JG, Aggarwal N, Acosta LP, Jiz MA, Wu HW, Leenstra T, Coutinho HM, Olveda RM, Kurtis JD, McGarvey ST, Friedman JF. "Reduction in hookworm infection after praziquantel treatment among children and young adults in Leyte, the Philippines." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 83, no. 2, 2010, pp. 416-21. |
| Kalkunte S, Boij R, Norris W, Friedman J, Lai Z, Kurtis J, Lim KH, Padbury JF, Matthiesen L, Sharma S. "Sera from preeclampsia patients elicit symptoms of human disease in mice and provide a basis for an in vitro predictive assay." The American Journal of Pathology, vol. 177, no. 5, 2010, pp. 2387-98. |
| Xu JM, Acosta LP, Hou M, Manalo DL, Jiz M, Jarilla B, Pablo AO, Ovleda RM, Langdon G, McGarvey ST, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF, Wu HW. "Seroprevalence of cysticercosis in children and young adults living in a helminth endemic community in leyte, the Philippines." Journal of tropical medicine, vol. 2010, 2010, pp. 603174. |
| Olson CL, Acosta LP, Hochberg NS, Olveda RM, Jiz M, McGarvey ST, Kurtis JD, Bellinger DC, Friedman JF. "Anemia of inflammation is related to cognitive impairment among children in Leyte, the Philippines." PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 3, no. 10, 2009, pp. e533. |
| Jiz M, Friedman JF, Leenstra T, Jarilla B, Pablo A, Langdon G, Pond-Tor S, Wu HW, Manalo D, Olveda R, Acosta L, Kurtis JD. "Immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses to paramyosin predict resistance to reinfection with Schistosoma japonicum and are attenuated by IgG4." Infection and Immunity, vol. 77, no. 5, 2009, pp. 2051-8. |
| Cham GK, Turner L, Lusingu J, Vestergaard L, Mmbando BP, Kurtis JD, Jensen AT, Salanti A, Lavstsen T, Theander TG. "Sequential, ordered acquisition of antibodies to Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 domains." The Journal of Immunology, vol. 183, no. 5, 2009, pp. 3356-63. |
| Sweeney J, Kouttab N, Kurtis J. "Stored red blood cell supernatant facilitates thrombin generation." Transfusion, vol. 49, no. 8, 2009, pp. 1569-79. |
| Leenstra T, Kariuki SK, Kurtis JD, Oloo AJ, Kager PA, ter Kuile FO. "The effect of weekly iron and vitamin A supplementation on hemoglobin levels and iron status in adolescent schoolgirls in western Kenya." European journal of clinical nutrition, vol. 63, no. 2, 2009, pp. 173-82. |
| Friedman JF, Kurtis JD, Kabyemela ER, Fried M, Duffy PE. "The iron trap: iron, malaria and anemia at the mother-child interface." Microbes and infection / Institut Pasteur, vol. 11, no. 4, 2009, pp. 460-6. |
| Cham GK, Kurtis J, Lusingu J, Theander TG, Jensen AT, Turner L. "A semi-automated multiplex high-throughput assay for measuring IgG antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) domains in small volumes of plasma." Malaria journal, vol. 7, 2008, pp. 108. |
| Kabyemela ER, Fried M, Kurtis JD, Mutabingwa TK, Duffy PE. "Decreased susceptibility to Plasmodium falciparum infection in pregnant women with iron deficiency." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 198, no. 2, 2008, pp. 163-6. |
| Lin DD, Xu JM, Zhang YY, Liu YM, Hu F, Xu XL, Li JY, Gao ZL, Wu HW, Kurtis J, Wu GL. "Evaluation of IgG-ELISA for the diagnosis of Schistosoma japonicum in a high prevalence, low intensity endemic area of China." Acta tropica, vol. 107, no. 2, 2008, pp. 128-33. |
| Kabyemela ER, Fried M, Kurtis JD, Mutabingwa TK, Duffy PE. "Fetal responses during placental malaria modify the risk of low birth weight." Infection and Immunity, vol. 76, no. 4, 2008, pp. 1527-34. |
| Luo J, Xu J, Zhang Y, Shan H, Zhang S, Zhang M, Tu X, Ji M, Chen F, Knopf PM, Kurtis J, Wu G, Wu HW. "I-STOD: a new standardization method for analysing indirect-ELISA results of a schistosomiasis field study." Parasitology, vol. 135, no. 4, 2008, pp. 453-65. |
| Kabyemela ER, Muehlenbachs A, Fried M, Kurtis JD, Mutabingwa TK, Duffy PE. "Maternal peripheral blood level of IL-10 as a marker for inflammatory placental malaria." Malaria journal, vol. 7, 2008, pp. 26. |
| Jiz M, Wu HW, Meng R, Pond-Tor S, Reynolds M, Friedman JF, Olveda R, Acosta L, Kurtis JD. "Pilot-scale production and characterization of paramyosin, a vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis japonica." Infection and Immunity, vol. 76, no. 7, 2008, pp. 3164-9. |
| Laga A, Kurtis J, Sweeney J. "Recurrent transfusion-related acute lung injury after fresh frozen plasma in a patient with hereditary factor V deficiency." American Journal of Hematology, vol. 83, no. 8, 2008, pp. 680. |
| Ezeamama AE, McGarvey ST, Acosta LP, Zierler S, Manalo DL, Wu HW, Kurtis JD, Mor V, Olveda RM, Friedman JF. "The synergistic effect of concomitant schistosomiasis, hookworm, and trichuris infections on children's anemia burden." PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, vol. 2, no. 6, 2008, pp. e245. |
| Tu Z, Bozorgzadeh A, Pierce RH, Kurtis J, Crispe IN, Orloff MS. "TLR-dependent cross talk between human Kupffer cells and NK cells." Journal of Experimental Medicine, vol. 205, no. 1, 2008, pp. 233-44. |
| Coutinho HM, Leenstra T, Acosta LP, Olveda RM, McGarvey ST, Friedman JF, Kurtis JD. "Higher serum concentrations of DHEAS predict improved nutritional status in helminth-infected children, adolescents, and young adults in Leyte, the Philippines." Journal of Nutrition, vol. 137, no. 2, 2007, pp. 433-9. |
| Friedman JF, Mital P, Kanzaria HK, Olds GR, Kurtis JD. "Schistosomiasis and pregnancy." Trends in Parasitology, vol. 23, no. 4, 2007, pp. 159-64. |
| Coutinho HM, Acosta LP, Wu HW, McGarvey ST, Su L, Langdon GC, Jiz MA, Jarilla B, Olveda RM, Friedman JF, Kurtis JD. "Th2 cytokines are associated with persistent hepatic fibrosis in human Schistosoma japonicum infection." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 195, no. 2, 2007, pp. 288-95. |
| Friedman JE, Kurtis JD, McGarvey ST. "The dual burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases in the Asia-Pacific region: examples from the Philippines and the Samoan Islands." Medicine and health, Rhode Island, vol. 90, no. 11, 2007, pp. 346-50. |
| Coutinho HM, Acosta LP, McGarvey ST, Jarilla B, Jiz M, Pablo A, Su L, Manalo DL, Olveda RM, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Nutritional status improves after treatment of schistosoma japonicum-infected children and adolescents." Journal of Nutrition, vol. 136, no. 1, 2006, pp. 183-8. |
| Coutinho HM, Leenstra T, Acosta LP, Su L, Jarilla B, Jiz MA, Langdon GC, Olveda RM, McGarvey ST, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Pro-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein are associated with undernutrition in the context of Schistosoma japonicum infection." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 75, no. 4, 2006, pp. 720-6. |
| Wu HW, Hu XM, Wang Y, Kurtis JD, Zeng FJ, McGarvey ST, Wu GL, Zhang ZS, Hua ZC. "Protective immunity induced by phage displayed mitochondrial related peptides of Schistosoma japonicum." Acta tropica, vol. 99, no. 2-3, 2006, pp. 200-7. |
| Kurtis JD, Friedman JF, Leenstra T, Langdon GC, Wu HW, Manalo DL, Su L, Jiz M, Jarilla B, Pablo AO, McGarvey ST, Olveda RM, Acosta LP. "Pubertal development predicts resistance to infection and reinfection with Schistosoma japonicum." Clinical Infectious Diseases, vol. 42, no. 12, 2006, pp. 1692-8. |
| Leenstra T, Coutinho HM, Acosta LP, Langdon GC, Su L, Olveda RM, McGarvey ST, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Schistosoma japonicum reinfection after praziquantel treatment causes anemia associated with inflammation." Infection and Immunity, vol. 74, no. 11, 2006, pp. 6398-407. |
| Leenstra T, Acosta LP, Langdon GC, Manalo DL, Su L, Olveda RM, McGarvey ST, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Schistosomiasis japonica, anemia, and iron status in children, adolescents, and young adults in Leyte, Philippines 1." The American journal of clinical nutrition, vol. 83, no. 2, 2006, pp. 371-9. |
| Sweeney J, Kouttab N, Holme S, Kurtis J, Cheves T, Nelson E. "Storage of platelet-rich plasma-derived platelet concentrate pools in plasma and additive solution." Transfusion, vol. 46, no. 5, 2006, pp. 835-40. |
| Leenstra T, Acosta LP, Wu HW, Langdon GC, Solomon JS, Manalo DL, Su L, Jiz M, Jarilla B, Pablo AO, McGarvey ST, Olveda RM, Friedman JF, Kurtis JD. "T-helper-2 cytokine responses to Sj97 predict resistance to reinfection with Schistosoma japonicum." Infection and Immunity, vol. 74, no. 1, 2006, pp. 370-81. |
| Lipkind HS, Kurtis JD, Powrie R, Carpenter MW. "Acquired von Willebrand disease: management of labor and delivery with intravenous dexamethasone, continuous factor concentrate, and immunoglobulin infusion." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 192, no. 6, 2005, pp. 2067-70. |
| Nixon CP, Friedman J, Treanor K, Knopf PM, Duffy PE, Kurtis JD. "Antibodies to rhoptry-associated membrane antigen predict resistance to Plasmodium falciparum." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 192, no. 5, 2005, pp. 861-9. |
| Ezeamama AE, Friedman JF, Olveda RM, Acosta LP, Kurtis JD, Mor V, McGarvey ST. "Functional significance of low-intensity polyparasite helminth infections in anemia." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 192, no. 12, 2005, pp. 2160-70. |
| Ezeamama AE, Friedman JF, Acosta LP, Bellinger DC, Langdon GC, Manalo DL, Olveda RM, Kurtis JD, McGarvey ST. "Helminth infection and cognitive impairment among Filipino children." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 72, no. 5, 2005, pp. 540-8. |
| Coutinho HM, McGarvey ST, Acosta LP, Manalo DL, Langdon GC, Leenstra T, Kanzaria HK, Solomon J, Wu H, Olveda RM, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Nutritional status and serum cytokine profiles in children, adolescents, and young adults with Schistosoma japonicum-associated hepatic fibrosis, in Leyte, Philippines." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 192, no. 3, 2005, pp. 528-36. |
| Nixon CP, Friedman JF, Knopf PM, Duffy PE, Kurtis JD. "Protective human immunity as a vaccine discovery tool for falciparum malaria." Transfusion, vol. 45, no. 2 Suppl, 2005, pp. 81S-87S. |
| Friedman JF, Kanzaria HK, Acosta LP, Langdon GC, Manalo DL, Wu H, Olveda RM, McGarvey ST, Kurtis JD. "Relationship between Schistosoma japonicum and nutritional status among children and young adults in Leyte, the Philippines." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 72, no. 5, 2005, pp. 527-33. |
| Sweeney JD, Kurtis J, Starakiewicz J. "Residual risks of blood transfusion in Rhode Island." Medicine and health, Rhode Island, vol. 88, no. 7, 2005, pp. 224-5, 228-31. |
| Kanzaria HK, Acosta LP, Langdon GC, Manalo DL, Olveda RM, McGarvey ST, Kurtis JD, Friedman JF. "Schistosoma japonicum and occult blood loss in endemic villages in Leyte, the Philippines." The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, vol. 72, no. 2, 2005, pp. 115-8. |
| Solomon JS, Nixon CP, McGarvey ST, Acosta LP, Manalo D, Kurtis JD. "Expression, purification, and human antibody response to a 67 kDa vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis japonica." Protein Expression and Purification, vol. 36, no. 2, 2004, pp. 226-31. |
| Sweeney JD, Kouttab NM, Holme S, Kurtis JD, Cheves TA, Nelson EJ. "Prestorage pooled whole-blood-derived leukoreduced platelets stored for seven days, preserve acceptable quality and do not show evidence of a mixed lymphocyte reaction." Transfusion, vol. 44, no. 8, 2004, pp. 1212-9. |
| Leenstra T, Kariuki SK, Kurtis JD, Oloo AJ, Kager PA, ter Kuile FO. "Prevalence and severity of anemia and iron deficiency: cross-sectional studies in adolescent schoolgirls in western Kenya." European journal of clinical nutrition, vol. 58, no. 4, 2004, pp. 681-91. |
| Leenstra T, ter Kuile FO, Kariuki SK, Nixon CP, Oloo AJ, Kager PA, Kurtis JD. "Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels associated with decreased malaria parasite density and increased hemoglobin concentration in pubertal girls from western Kenya." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 188, no. 2, 2003, pp. 297-304. |
| Friedman JF, Kurtis JD, Mtalib R, Opollo M, Lanar DE, Duffy PE. "Malaria is related to decreased nutritional status among male adolescents and adults in the setting of intense perennial transmission." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 188, no. 3, 2003, pp. 449-57. |
| Gourley IS, Kurtis JD, Kamoun M, Amon JJ, Duffy PE. "Profound bias in interferon-gamma and interleukin-6 allele frequencies in western Kenya, where severe malarial anemia is common in children." The Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 186, no. 7, 2002, pp. 1007-12. |
| Friedman JF, Kurtis JD, McGarvey ST, Fraga AL, Silveira A, Pizziolo V, Gazzinelli G, LoVerde P, Corrêa-Oliveira R. "Comparison of self-reported and observed water contact in an S. mansoni endemic village in Brazil." Acta tropica, vol. 78, no. 3, 2001, pp. 251-9. |
| Kurtis JD, Mtalib R, Onyango FK, Duffy PE. "Human resistance to Plasmodium falciparum increases during puberty and is predicted by dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels." Infection and Immunity, vol. 69, no. 1, 2001, pp. 123-8. |
| Kurtis JD, Hollingdale MR, Luty AJ, Lanar DE, Krzych U, Duffy PE. "Pre-erythrocytic immunity to Plasmodium falciparum: the case for an LSA-1 vaccine." Trends in Parasitology, vol. 17, no. 5, 2001, pp. 219-23. |
| McGrath CM, Kurtis JD, Yu GH. "Evaluation of mild-to-moderate dysplasia on cervical-endocervical (Pap) smear: a subgroup of patients who bridge LSIL and HSIL." Diagnostic Cytopathology, vol. 23, no. 4, 2000, pp. 245-8. |
| Kurtis JD, Lanar DE, Opollo M, Duffy PE. "Interleukin-10 responses to liver-stage antigen 1 predict human resistance to Plasmodium falciparum." Infection and Immunity, vol. 67, no. 7, 1999, pp. 3424-9. |
| Santiago ML, Hafalla JC, Kurtis JD, Aligui GL, Wiest PM, Olveda RM, Olds GR, Dunne DW, Ramirez BL. "Identification of the Schistosoma japonicum 22.6-kDa antigen as a major target of the human IgE response: similarity of IgE-binding epitopes to allergen peptides." International archives of allergy and immunology, vol. 117, no. 2, 1998, pp. 94-104. |
| Kurtis JD, Koros JK, Duffy PE, Green MD. "Malaria prevention for travelers." JAMA, vol. 279, no. 13, 1998, pp. 990-1. |
| Kurtis JD, Ramirez BL, Wiest PM, Dong KL, El-Meanawy A, Petzke MM, Johnson JH, Edmison J, Maier RA Jr, Olds GR. "Identification and molecular cloning of a 67-kilodalton protein in Schistosoma japonicum homologous to a family of actin-binding proteins." Infection and Immunity, vol. 65, no. 1, 1997, pp. 344-7. |
| Ramirez BL, Kurtis JD, Wiest PM, Arias P, Aligui F, Acosta L, Peters P, Olds GR. "Paramyosin: a candidate vaccine antigen against Schistosoma japonicum." Parasite immunology, vol. 18, no. 1, 1996, pp. 49-52. |
| Becker MM, Kalinna BH, Yang W, Harrop SA, Scott JC, Waine GJ, Kurtis JD, McManus DP. "Gene cloning and complete nucleotide sequence of philippine Schistosoma japonicum paramyosin." Acta tropica, vol. 59, no. 2, 1995, pp. 143-7. |
Dr. Jonathan Kurtis applies the techniques of molecular biology, immunology and population biology to identify vaccine candidates for both malaria and schistosomiasis in east Africa and the Philippines. By analyzing the relationship between specific immune responses and naturally acquired resistance in endemic populations, Dr. Kurtis identifies and characterizes new vaccine candidates. His current interests include the modulation of protective immune responses by nutritional and developmental factors in the human host and the identification of vaccine candidates for pediatric falciparum malaria.
Jonathan Kurtis, MD, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Director of the Center for International Health Research, applies the techniques of molecular biology, immunology and population biology to identify vaccine candidates for both malaria and schistosomiasis in east Africa and the Philippines. By analyzing the relationship between specific immune responses and naturally acquired resistance in endemic populations, Dr. Kurtis identifies and characterizes new vaccine candidates.
Dr. Kurtis has led studies in Kenya beginning in 1989 with a population ecology study on the Kenyan coast. He has studied schistosomiasis immunity since 1993 and participated in field based data collection in the Philippines, China and Brazil.
In addition, Dr. Kurtis has conducted extensive, longitiudinal immuno-epidemiologic studies in a cohort of 270 individuals residing in a malaria endemic community in western Kenya as well as similar studies in schistosomaisis endemic communities in the Philippines.
More recently, using a transdisciplinary approach, Dr. Kurtis has identified a novel vaccine candidate for falciparum malaria using these epidemiologically characterized reagents. This work has recently been published in Science (http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/rapidpdf/344/6186/871?ijkey=76VJtyIwmaexo&keytype=ref&siteid=sci).
Dr. Kurtis is currently funded to: 1) identify the molecular mechanisms of morbidity in facliparum malaria (NIH), 2) identify novel vaccine candidates for schistosomiasis (NIAID), and 3) identify novel vaccine candidates for pediatric falciparum malaria (NIAID).
See CV
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | MD | Brown University |
| 1995 | PhD | Brown University |
| 1989 | BA | Brown University |
| Resident | Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, clinical pathology | 1997-2000 | Philadelphia, PA |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, malaria vaccine development and epidemiology | 1996-1997 | Kisumu, Kenya |
| Certification | American Board of Pathology, Blood banking/transfusion medicine | 2001- | |
| Medical License | Rhode Island | 2000-Present | |
| Certification | American Society for Clinical Pathology, Clinical pathology | 2000- |
| Associate Medical Director. Lifespan Academic Medical Center, 2006-Present |
| Associate Medical Director. Lifespan Academic Medical Center, 2006-Present |
| Assistant Medical Director. Lifespan Academic Medical Center, 2002-2006 |
| Assistant Medical Director. Lifespan Academic Medical Center, 2000-2006 |
