Joseph Dillard

Joseph Dillard is a Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he conducts research on the molecular mechanisms of disease caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. He is based in the Microbial Sciences Building and leads a laboratory focused on bacterial pathogenesis and host interactions.

• Education:
• B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1987
• Ph.D., University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1994
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Northwestern University Medical School, 1994–1998

Dr. Dillard’s research primarily centers on bacterial pathogenesis, with a focus on Neisseria gonorrhoeae. His lab investigates the gonococcal genetic island and its encoded type IV secretion system, which mediates DNA secretion and influences host cell interactions. A second major research focus is the production of toxic peptidoglycan fragments, such as peptidoglycan-derived cytotoxin (PGCT), and their role in causing tissue damage during infection. His work integrates molecular microbiology, biochemistry, and immunology to understand how these mechanisms contribute to diseases like pelvic inflammatory disease and disseminated gonococcal infection.

His recent publications span topics including genetic manipulation of Neisseria, inflammatory responses in the female reproductive tract, phase variation in Gardnerella, and enzymatic mechanisms of peptidoglycan fragmentation. These studies reflect a strong trend in microbial pathogenesis, host immunity, and bacterial cell wall biology.

Scientific Awards:

• No specific awards listed in the provided texts.

Dr. Dillard has advised numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, contributing to training the next generation of microbiologists. His research is supported by federal and institutional grants, though specific funding sources are not detailed in the provided information. He maintains an active research laboratory and collaborates with other scientists in the fields of infectious diseases and immunology.

Laboratory and Research Team: Dr. Dillard leads a research group within the Microbial Sciences Building at UW–Madison, where his team employs genetic, biochemical, and cellular approaches to study Neisseria and related pathogens. The lab is equipped for molecular cloning, bacterial culture, host cell infection assays, and analysis of bacterial secretion systems.