معرفی
Roles and Affiliations
Michael Wessels is a Senior Physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Boston Children’s Hospital, the John F. Enders Professor of Pediatrics, and a Professor of Medicine (Microbiology) at Harvard Medical School. He has held leadership roles, including Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Boston Children’s Hospital from 2000 to 2018. His clinical and research expertise focuses on streptococcal infections, particularly Group A and B Streptococcus, and their pathogenic mechanisms.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College
- M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine (1979)
- Residencies and fellowships at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Brigham & Women’s Hospital
Research Focus
Dr. Wessels’ research investigates molecular interactions between pathogens and hosts, with emphasis on Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus) virulence factors such as streptolysin O, NAD-glycohydrolase, and the CsrRS regulatory system. Key areas include:
- Host-pathogen signaling and immune evasion mechanisms
- Role of human antimicrobial peptides in modulating bacterial virulence
- Pathogen survival strategies in host cells (macrophages, epithelial cells)
- Neuronal signaling impacts on immune responses during infections
Articles Overview
Recent work highlights interactions between bacterial toxins and host immune pathways, including NADase’s role in inflammasome inhibition, and the dual effects of bacterial sphingolipids in colitis. Studies also explore regulatory networks like CsrRS and their environmental triggers (e.g., LL-37 peptide).
Awards and Memberships
- Member: American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, American Pediatric Society
- Fellow: Infectious Diseases Society of America, American Academy of Microbiology
Grants and Teams
Collaborations include work with Isaac Chiu on neuronal signaling in infections. His lab has contributed to vaccine development and understanding pathogen survival mechanisms in host cells.
Labs/Teams
Research conducted in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Boston Children’s Hospital, focusing on streptococcal pathogenesis, toxin biology, and host immune responses.
