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Jeffrey Cirillo, PhD

Jeffrey Cirillo
Jeffrey Cirillo, PhD

Regents' Professor, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology

Director of the Center for Airborne Pathogen Research and Imaging (CAPRI)

Contact

Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology
8447 John Sharp Parkway
Medical Research & Education Building II (MREB II), Room 3350
Bryan, TX 77807-3260
jdcirillo@tamu.edu
Phone: 979.436.0343
Fax: 979.436.9038
Center for Airborne Pathogen Research and Tuberculosis Imaging (CAPRI)
Cirillo Research Lab

Biography

 Research Interests : 

  • Respiratory infectious diseases from host and pathogen perspective.
  • Translational research developing interventions through therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostic technologies.
  • Bacterial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions at the molecular and cellular level
  • Imaging technologies at the whole animal to ultrastructural level.
  • Genomics, proteomics, epigenetics, cellular models, animal models, immunology.
  • Our laboratory is interested in the pathogenesis of lung infections particularly tuberculosis, Legionnaires' disease, COVID-19 and ESCAPE pathogens (highly drug resistant pathogens) that include Pseudomonas, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus.
  • We are examining virulence mechanisms using cellular, molecular and genetic techniques. Our primary research goal is to obtain a better understanding of the roles of the pathogen and host in disease. These studies should contribute to our understanding of host-pathogen interactions at the molecular and cellular level that can be used for development of novel technologies for prevention, treatment and diagnosis.
  • We hope that through a better understanding of the mechanisms by which these organisms cause disease we can prevent some, if not all, of these infections in the future.
cirillo-fig1.jpg  cirillo-fig2-.jpg

Education and Training

  • Pitzer College, BA, 1986
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, MS, 1989
  • Albert Einstein College of Medicine, PhD, 1992
  • Stanford University School of Medicine, Postdoctoral, 1992-1995

Representative Publications

  • A.R. DiNardo, T. Nishiguchi, S.L. Grimm, L.S. Schlesinger, E.A. Graviss, J.D. Cirillo, C. Coarfa, A.M. Mandalakas, J. Heyckendorf, S.H.E. Kaufmann, C. Lange, M.G. Netea, R. van Crevel (2021). Tuberculosis endotypes to guide stratified therapy. Med 2:1-16.
  • N. Rajil, A. Sokolov, Z. Yi, G. Adams, G. Agarwal, V. Belousov, R. Brick, K. Chapin, J.D. Cirillo, V. Deckert, S. Delfan, S. Esmaeili, A. Fernández-González, E. Fry, Z. Han, P. Hemmer, G. Kattawar, M. Kim, M. Lee, C. Lu, J. Mogford, B. Neuman, J. Pan, T. Peng, V. Poor, S. Scully, Y. Shih, S. Suckewer, A. Svidzinsky, A Verhoef, D. Wang, K. Wang, L. Yang, A. Zheltikov, S. Zhu, S. Zubairy, M. Scully (2021). A fiber optic-nanophotonic approach to the detection of antibodies and virus particles of COVID-19. Nanophotonics. 10:235-246.
  • T. Peng, X. Liu, L.G. Adams, G.S. Agarwal, B.L. Akey, J.D. Cirillo, V. Deckert, S. Delfan, E.S. Fry, Z. Han, P. Hemmer, G.W. Kattawar, M. Kim, M.-C. Lee, C.-Y. Lu, J. Mogford, R. Nessler, B. Neuman, X. Nie, J.-W. Pan, J. Pryor, N. Rajil, Y. Shih, A. Sokolov, A. Svidzinsky, D. Wang, Z. Yi, A. Zheltikov, M.O. Scully (2020). Enhancing sensitivity of lateral flow assay with application to SARS-CoV-2. Appl. Phys. Lett. 117:120601.
  • G. Kassab, V. Cheburkanov, J. Willis, M.G. Moule, C. Kurachi, V. Yakovlev, J.D. Cirillo, V.S. Bagnato (2020). Safety and delivery efficiency of a photodynamic treatment of the lungs using indocyanine green and extracorporeal near infra-red illumination. J. Biophotonics. Jul 15:e202000176.
  • C. Coarfa, K. Rajapakshe, T. Gandhi, S.L. Grimm, J. Heyckendorf, C. Lange, R. van Crevel, M. Netea, J.D. Cirillo, S.H.E. Kaufmann, A. M. Mandalakas, A.D. DiNardo (2020). Data driven identification of divergent host immune subgroups in tuberculosis. J. Immunol. 204 (1 Supp): 82.28-82.28.
  • L.M. Bogomolnaya, R. Tilvawala, J.R. Elfenbein, J.D. Cirillo, H.L. Andrews-Polymenis (2020). Linearized siderophore products secreted via MacAB efflux pump protect Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium from oxidative stress. mBio 11:e00528-20.
  • R.S. Gunasekera, T. Galbadage, C. Ayala-Orozco, D. Liu, V. García-López, B. Troutman, J.J. Tour, R. Pal, S. Krishnan, J.D. Cirillo, J.M. Tour (2020).  Molecular nanomachines can destroy tissue or kill multicellular eukaryotes. ACS Appl. Mater. Inter. 12:13657-13670.
  • M.G. Moule, J.D. Cirillo (2020). Mycobacterium tuberculosis dissemination plays a critical role in pathogenesis.  Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. 10:65.
  • A.R. DiNardo, K. Rajapakshe, T. Nishiguchi, S.L. Grimm, G. Mtetwa, Q. Dlamini, J. Kahari, S. Mahapatra, A. Kay, G. Maphalala, E. Mace, , G. Makedonas, J.D. Cirillo, M.G. Netea, R. van Crevel, C. Coarfa, A.M. Mandalakas (2020). DNA hyper-methylation during tuberculosis dampens host immune responsiveness. J. Clin. Inv. 130:3113-3123.
  • R. Bartzatt, P. Sule, T. Galbadage, J.D. Cirillo (2019). Aromatic hydrazide compounds that inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J. Adv. Med. Pharm. Sci. 21:1-11.
  • T. Galbadage, D. Liu, R. Pal, J.M. Tour, R.S. Gunasekera, J.D. Cirillo (2019). Molecular nanomachines disrupt bacterial cell wall increasing sensitivity of extensively drug resistant Klebsiella pneumonia to meropenem.  ACS Nano. 13:14377-14387. PMC6933815.
  • M.S. Durkee, J.D. Cirillo, K.C. Maitland (2019). Fluorescent modeling of in vivo optical detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Biomed. Opt. Express 10:5445-5460.
  • P. Sule, Y. Cheng, R. Tilvawala, H. Xie, T. Mustapha, H. Hassounah, A. Noormohamed, S. Kundu, E.A. Graviss, J. Rao, G.K. Walkup, Y. Kong, J.D. Cirillo (2019). Rapid tuberculosis diagnosis using reporter enzyme fluorescence (REF). J. Clin. Microbiol. 57:e01462-19.
  • J.D. Cirillo and Y. Kong (2019). Tuberculosis host-pathogen interactions. Springer, Switzerland. pp. 255.
  • L.M. Christensen, P. Sule, S.L.G. Cirillo, M. Strain, Q. Plumlee, L.G. Adams, J.D. Cirillo (2019).  Legionnaires’ disease mortality in guinea pigs involves the p45 mobile genomic element. J. Infect. Dis. 220:1700-1710. PMC6782102
  • X.Z. Fan, J. Xu, M. Files, J.D. Cirillo, J.J. Endsley, J. Zhou, M.A. Endsley (2019). Dual activity of niclosamide to suppress replication of integrated HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Beijing). Tuberculosis. S1472-9792(19)30147-7.
  • Y. Kong, J.D. Cirillo (2018).  Fluorescence imaging of mycobacterial infection in live mice using fluorescent protein-expressing strains. Methods Mol. Biol. 1790:75-85.
  • N.C. Worstell, A. Singla, P. Saenkham, T. Galbadage, P. Sule, J.D. Cirillo, H.J. Wu (2018). Hetero-multivalency of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin LecA binding to model membranes. Sci. Rep. 8:8419.
  • A.I Bordin, L.T. Gressler, E.R. Alexander, P. Sule, J.D. Cirillo, D.N. McMurray, J.F. Edwards, N.D. Cohen (2018). Guinea pig infection with the intracellular pathogen Rhodococcus equi. Vet. Microbiol. 215:18-22.
  • R.J. Smith, M.G. Moule, P. Sule, T. Smith, J.D. Cirillo, J.C. Grunlan (2017). Polyelectrolyte multilayer nanocoating dramatically reduces bacterial adhesion to polyester fabric.  ACS Biom. Sci. Eng. 3:1845-1852. PMCID: PMC5926799
  • F. Leonard, N.P. Ha, P. Sule, J.F. Alexander, D.E. Volk, G.L.R. Lokesh, X. Liu, J.D. Cirillo, D.G. Gorenstein, J. Yuan, S. Chatterjee, E.A. Graviss, B. Godin (2017). Thioaptamer targeted discoidal microparticles increase self immunity and reduce Mycobacterium tuberculosis burden in mice. J. Control. Release. 266:238-247.
  • A. Khan, L. Mann, R. Papanna, C. Singh, S. Olson, N.T. Eissa, J.D. Cirillo, G. Das, R. Hunter, C. Jagannath (2017). Mesenchymal stem cells internalize Mycobacterium tuberculosis through scavenger receptor restricting pathogen through autophagy.  Sci. Rep. 7:15010.
  • H.J. Yang, Y. Kong, Y. Cheng, H. Janagama, H. Hassounah, H. Xie, J. Rao, J.D. Cirillo (2017).  Real-time imaging of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a novel near-infrared fluorescent substrate.  J. Infect. Dis. 215:405-414. PMCID: PMC6061879.
  • F. Nooshabadi, H.J. Yang, Y. Cheng, H. Xie, J. Rao, J.D. Cirillo, K.C. Maitland (2016). Whole-animal imaging of bacterial infection using endoscopic excitation of b-lactamase (BlaC)-specific fluorogenic probe. Proc. SPIE 9715:97150H
  • Y. Kong, D. Yang, S.L.G. Cirillo, A. Akin, K. Francis, T. Maloney, J.D. Cirillo (2016). Application of fluorescent protein expressing strains to evaluation of anti-tuberculosis therapeutic efficacy in vitro and in vivo. PLoS One. 11:e0149972.
  • F. Nooshabadi, H.J. Yang, J.N. Bixler, Y. Kong, J.D. Cirillo, K.C. Maitland (2016). Intravital fluorescence excitation in whole-animal optical imaging. PLoS One. 11:e0149932.
  • R.J. Nusbaum, V.E. Calderon, M.B. Huante, P. Sutjita, K.L. Lancaster, S. Vijayakumar, R.L. Hunter, J.K. Actor, J.D. Cirillo, J. Aronson, G. Valbuena, J.J.Endsley, B. Geman, J. Lisinicchia (2016). Pulmonary tuberculosis in humanized mice infected with HIV-1. Sci. Rep. 6:21522.
  • T. Galbadage, T.F. Shepherd, S.L.G. Cirillo, T.L. Gumienny, J.D. Cirillo (2016). Caenorhabditis elegans p38 MAPK plays a key role in protection from mycobacteria. MicrobiologyOpen. mbo3.341.
  • R. Bartzatt, P. Sule, W. Kim, J.D. Cirillo (2016). Four compounds suppressing growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. J. Adv. Med. Pharm. Sci. 6:1-10.
  • S. Kim, Y. Zhou, J.D. Cirillo, A.A. Polycarpou, H. Liang (2015). Bacteria repelling on highly-ordered alumina-nanopore structures. J. Applied Phys. 117:155302. PMCID: PMC4401798.
  • M.H. Chang, K.P. Anttonen, S.L.G. Cirillo, K.P. Francis, J.D. Cirillo (2014). Real-time bioluminescence imaging of mixed mycobacterial infections. PLoS One. 9:e108341. PMCID: PMC4180448.
  • A. Khan, C.R. Singh, E. Soudani, P. Bakhru, S. Saikolappan, J.D. Cirillo, N.T. Eissa, S. Dhandayuthapani, C. Jagannath (2014). Autophagy enhances the efficacy of BCG vaccine in Autophagy, Infection and Immune Response. W.T. Jackson and M. Swanson ed. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
  • Y. Cheng, H. Xie, P. Sule, H. Hassounah, E.A. Graviss, Y. Kong, J.D. Cirillo, J. Rao (2014). Fluorogenic probes with substitutions at both the 2 and 7 positions of cephalosporin are highly BlaC-specific for rapid Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection. Angew. Chem. 53:9360-9364.
  • R. Bartzatt, P. Sule, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2014). Tuberculostatic agents suitable for treatment of tuberculosis infections of the central nervous system. Br. J. Pharm. Res. 4:1535-1551.
  • S. Vijayakumar, S. Finney, R. Nusbaum, J.D. Cirillo, O. Olaleye, J. Endsley (2013). In vitro model of mycobacteria and HIV co-infection for drug discovery. Tuberculosis. 93:S66-70.
  • H.K. Janagama, T. Sambou, J.D. Cirillo (2013). Molecular analysis of lux-like operon of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis. 93:S83-87. PMID:24388655, PMCID: PMC Journal - In process.
  • R. Bartzatt, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2013). Antibacterial agents inhibiting growth of ampicillin resistant Escherichia coli. Curr. Trend. Med. Chem. 7:27-34.
  • J.N. Bixler, Y. Kong, J.D. Cirillo, K.C. Maitland (2013). Multi-scale fluorescence imaging of bacterial infections in animal models. Proc. SPIE 8565:856537.
  • K.P. Anttonen, J.D. Cirillo (2013). Amoebae interactions with mycobacteria in Free-Living Amoebae: An Evolutionary Crib for Emerging Pathogens. G. Greub ed. Wiley-Blackwell Press, UK.
  • Y. Zheng, T. Sambou, J.D. Cirillo, M. McClelland, H. Andrews-Polymenis (2013). EAL-domain containing protein STM2215 (rtn) is a cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase that is needed during Salmonella infection. Mol. Microbiol. 89:403-419. PMID:23734719.
  • H.K. Janagama, J.D. Cirillo (2013). Hsp90 plays a role in host-bacterial interactions: Insight gained from Acanthamoeba castellanii in Moonlighting Cell Stress Proteins in Microbial Infections. B. Henderson ed. Springer, The Netherlands. Pg. 237-248.
  • R. Bartzatt, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2013). Antibacterial derivatives of ciprofloxacin to inhibit growth of necrotizing fasciitis associated penicillin resistant Escherichia coli. J. Pharmaceutics. 2013:517638.
  • Y. Zhou, A. Torres, Y. Kong, J.D. Cirillo, H. Liang (2012). Fluid-shear method to evaluate bacterial adhesion to glass surfaces. J. Applied Phys. 112:014703.
  • Y. Zheng, T. Sambou, J.D. Cirillo, M. McClelland, H. Andrews-Polymenis (2013). EAL-domain containing protein STM2215 (rtn) is a cyclic di-GMP phosphodiesterase that is needed during Salmonella infection. Mol. Microbiol. In press.
  • V.E. Calderon, G.A. Valbuena, Y. Goez-Rivillas, B.M. Judy, M.B. Huante, P. Sutjita, R.K. Johnston, D.M. Estes, R.L. Hunter, J. Actor, J.D. Cirillo, J.J. Endsley (2013). A humanized mouse model of tuberculosis. PLoS One. 8:e63331. PMCID: PMC3656943.
  • H. Xie, J. Mire, Y. Kong, M.H. Chang, H.A. Hassounah, C.N. Thornton, J.C. Sacchettini, J.D. Cirillo, J. Rao (2012). Designing BlaC-specific probes for rapid fluorescence detection of tuberculosis. Nature Chem. 4:802-809. PMID:23000993.
  • H.K. Janagama, H. Hassounah, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2011). Random inducible controlled expression (RICE) for identification of mycobacterial virulence genes. Tuberculosis. 91:S66-S68. PMCID: PMC3248965.
  • J.A. Hyde, E.H. Weening, M. Chang, J.P. Trzeciakowski, M. Hššk, J.D. Cirillo, J.T. Skare (2011). Bioluminescent imaging of Borrelia burgdorferi in vivo demonstrates fibronectin binding protein BBK32 is required for optimal colonization and dissemination in the host. Mol. Microbiol. 82:99-113. PMID: 21854463
  • L. Alibaud, Y. Rombouts, X. Trivelli, A. Burguiere, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo, J.-F. Dubremetz, Y. Guerardel, G. Lutfalla, L. Kremer (2011). A Mycobacterium marinum mutant defective for major cell wall associated lipids is highly attenuated in Dictyostelium discoideum and zebrafish embryos. Mol. Microbiol. 80:919-934. PMID:21375593
  • R. Kapoor, P.R. Eimerman, J.W. Hardy, J.D. Cirillo, C.H. Contag, A.E. Barron (2011). Efficacy of antimicrobial peptoids against Mycobacterium. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 55:3058-3062. PMCID: PMC3101442
  • Y. Kong, H. Yao, H. Ren, S. Subbian, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.C. Sacchettini, J. Rao, J.D. Cirillo (2010). Imaging tuberculosis with endogenous ?-lactamase reporter enzyme fluorescence. PNAS 107:12239-12244. PMCID: PMC2901431.
  • M. Khounlotham, S. Subbian, R. Smith III, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2009). Mycobacterium tuberculosis modulates the host response to infection through the murine EphA2 receptor. J. Infect. Dis. 199:1797-1806. PMID: 19426113
  • S.L.G. Cirillo, S. Subbian, B. Chen, T.R. Weisbrod, W.R. Jacobs, Jr., J.D. Cirillo (2009). Protection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from reactive oxygen species conferred by the mel2 locus impacts persistence and dissemination. Infect. Immun. 77:2557-2567. PMCID:ÊPMC2687327.
  • J. Lee, C. Attila, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo, T.K. Wood (2009). Indole and 7-hydroxyindole diminish Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence. Microbial Biotechnol. 2:75-90.
  • S. Tachado, M.M. Samrakandi, J.D. Cirillo (2008). Non-opsonic phagocytosis of Legionella pneumophila by macrophages is mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. PLoS One. 3:e3324. PMCID: PMC2553182
  • B. Park, S. Subbian, S.H. El-Etr, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2008). Use of gene dosage effects for a whole-genome screen to identify Mycobacterium marinum macrophage infection loci. Infect. Immun. 76:3100-3115.
  • C. Attila, A. Ueda, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo, W. Chen and T.K. Wood (2008). Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 virulence factors and poplar tree response in the rhizosphere. Microb. Biotech. 1:17-29.
  • R. Bartzatt, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2008) Determination of the molecular properties effectuating the growth inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by various small molecule hydrazides. Lett. Drug Des. Disc. 5:162-168.
  • L. Danelishvili, M. Wu, B. Stang, M. Harriff, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo, R. Bildfell, B. Arbogast, L.E. Bermudez (2007). Identification of Mycobacterium avium pathogenicity island important for macrophage and amoeba infection. PNAS 104:11038-11043.
  • S. Subbian, P.K. Mehta, S.L.G. Cirillo and J.D. Cirillo (2007). The Mycobacterium marinum mel2 locus displays similarity to bacterial bioluminescence systems and plays a role in defense against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. BMC Microbiol. 7:4.
  • S. Subbian, P.K. Mehta, L.E. Bermudez, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2007). A Mycobacterium marinum mel2 mutant is defective for growth in macrophages producing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Infect. Immun. 75:127-134.
  • R. Bartzatt, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2007). Antibacterial Activity of Dipeptide Constructs of Acetylsalicylic Acid and Nicotinic Acid. Drug Del. 14:105-109.
  • P.K. Mehta, A.K. Pandey, S. Subbian, S.H. El-Etr, S.L.G. Cirillo, M.M. Samrakandi, J.D. Cirillo (2006). Identification of Mycobacterium marinum Macrophage Infection Mutants. Microb. Pathogen. 40:139-151. PMID: 16451826
  • E. Miltner, K. Daroogheh, P.K. Mehta, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo, L.E. Bermudez (2005). Identification of Mycobacterium avium Genes That Affect Invasion of the Intestinal Epithelium. Infect. Immun. 73:4214-4221.
  • S.H. El-Etr, S. Subbian, S.L.G. Cirillo, J.D. Cirillo (2004). Identification of Two Mycobacterium marinum Loci That Affect Interactions With Macrophages. Infect. Immun. 72:6902-6913.
  • M.M. Samrakandi, C. Zhang, M. Zhang, J. Nietfeldt, G. Duhamel, M.E. Olsen, P. Iwen, S. Hinrichs, P. Fey, J.D. Cirillo, A.K. Benson (2004). Genome Reduction During Divergence of Francisella tularensis subspecies tularensis and Francisella tularensis subspecies holarctica. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 237:9-17.
  • L. Yan, R. Cerny and J.D. Cirillo (2004). Evidence that hsp90 Is Involved in the Altered Interactions of Acanthamoeba castellanii Variants with Bacteria. Eukaryot. Cell. 3:567-578.
  • L. Yan and J.D. Cirillo (2004). Infection of Murine Macrophage Cell Lines by Legionella pneumophila. FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 230:147-152.
  • D.A. Ridenour, S.L.G. Cirillo, F. Sheng, M.M. Samrakandi, J.D. Cirillo (2003). Identification of a Gene That Affects the Efficiency of Host Cell Infection by Legionella pneumophila in a Temperature-Dependent Fashion. Infect. Immun. 71:6256-6263.
  • S.L.G. Cirillo, L. Yan, M. Littman, M.M. Samrakandi, J.D. Cirillo (2002). Role of the Legionella pneumophila rtxA Gene in Amoebae. Microbiol. 148:1667-1677.
  • N.B. Harris, D.K. Zinniel, M.K. Hseih, J.D. Cirillo, R.G. Barletta (2002). Cell Sorting of Formalin-Treated Pathogenic Mycobacterium paratuberculosis Expressing GFP. Biotechniques 32:522-527.
  • M.M. Samrakandi, S.L.G. Cirillo, D.A. Ridenour, L.E. Bermudez, J.D. Cirillo (2002). Genetic and Phenotypic Differences Between Legionella pneumophila Strains. J. Clin. Microbiol. 40:1352-1362.
  • S.L.G. Cirillo, L.E. Bermudez, S.H. El-Etr, G.E. Duhamel and J.D. Cirillo (2001). The Legionella pneumophila Entry Gene rtxA is Involved in Virulence. Infect. Immun. 69:508-517.

Lab Members

Postdoctoral Research Associates:

  • Dr. Kent Koster
  • Dr. Aaron Benjamin
  • Dr. Sathish Kumar
  • Dr. Maksim Lebedev

Graduate Students:

  • Ammar Abdullah