Michael J. Root, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor

Contact Dr. Root

233 S. 10th Street
Room 802
Philadelphia, PA 19107

(215) 503-4564

Education
M.D., Harvard Medical School, 1997
Ph.D., Harvard University, Biophysics, 1997

University Appointment
Assistant Professor
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Thomas Jefferson University

Research and Clinical Interests
A major focus of the Root laboratory is the mechanism of HIV-1 entry and its inhibition. Our research has probed the structure and function of gp41, part of the surface glycoprotein complex Env that promotes fusion of viral and cellular membranes. In collaboration with Drs. Dennis Burton and Michael Zwick at the Scripps Research Institute (California), we are attempting to develop a neutralizing antibody response to structured epitope in the C-terminal region of the gp41 ectodomain. This epitope in its α-helical conformation is the target of the engineered protein 5-Helix, which inhibits HIV-1 entry at nanomolar concentrations. Membership in the Jefferson Vaccine Center will expose me to affiliates of the Jefferson community with expertise in vaccine development whose knowledge and advice could greatly facilitate this and future research endeavors.

Publications

1. Polyvalent side chain peptide-synthetic polymer conjugates as HIV-1 entry inhibitors
2. Nucleoporin Nup50 stabilizes closed conformation of armadillo repeat 10 in importin α5
3. Design of a potent D-peptide HIV-1 entry inhibitor with a strong barrier to resistance
4. Asymmetric deactivation of HIV-1 gp41 following fusion inhibitor binding
5. Interactions of HIV-1 inhibitory peptide T20 with the gp41 N-HR coiled coil
6. Topical application of entry inhibitors as "virustats" to prevent sexual transmission of HIV infection
7. Neutralization of Botulinum neurotoxin by a human monoclonal antibody specific for the catalytic light chain
8. Hybridoma populations enriched for affinity-matured human IgGs yield high-affinity antibodies specific for botulinum neurotoxins
9. A human monoclonal antibody that binds serotype A botulinum neurotoxin
10. C34, a membrane fusion inhibitor, blocks HIV infection of Langerhans cells and viral transmission to T cells
11. Kinetic dependence to HIV-1 entry inhibition
12. HIV-1 gp41 as a target for viral entry inhibition
13. Targeting therapeutics to an exposed and conserved binding element of the HIV-1 fusion protein
14. Protein design of an HIV-1 entry inhibitor

(This list reflects the most recent 20 publications)