Ana Fernandez-Sesma
- ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Microbiology
- ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Infectious Diseases
Print Profile
Education
Ph.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York
M.S., University of Salamanca
Research
Specific Clinical/Research Interests Mechanisms of evasion of immunity by dengue and influenza viruses; human immunology in viral infections. Generation of recombinant viruses.Current Students: Phoenix Bell (MS Student), Sarah Pagni (PhD Student)
Postdoctoral Fellows: Sebastian Aguirre, Ana Maestre, Kevin Maringer, Irene Ramos
Research Personnel: Dabeiba Bernal-Rubio
Past Members: Juan R. Rodriguez, PhD, Timothy Savage, MS
Summary of Research Studies:
The main focuses of study in the Fernandez-Sesma laboratory are the interactions of important human pathogens with primary human immune cells.
- Influenza virus is another important human pathogen that causes epidemics yearly in humans as well as occasional pandemics. Influenza virus has been shown by us and others to inhibit important elements of immunity such as the type I interferon (IFN) system as well as the ability of DCs to get activated. As part of our Center for research in influenza pathogenesis (CRIP) http://www.mssm.edu/research/centers/center-for-research-on-influenza-pathogenesis/, lead by Dr. Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, in the department of Microbiology at MSSM, http://www.mssm.edu/profiles/adolfo-garcia-sastre#bot, which is one of the Centers of excellence for influenza research (CEIRS) we are using recombinant influenzaviruses with specific mutations in several virulence genes, such as the NS1 and HA, among others, and analyzing the ability of different influenza viruses to interfere with different aspects of immunity in primary human systems.
Publications
Berger A, Sommer AF, Zwarg J, Hamdorf M, Welzel K, Esly N, Panitz S, Reuter A, Ramos I, Jatiani A, Mulder LC, Fernandez-Sesma A, Rutsch F, Simon V, König R, Flory E. SAMHD1-deficient CD14+ cells from individuals with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome are highly susceptible to HIV-1 infection. PLoS pathogens 2011 Dec; 7(12).
Long CB, Ramos I, Rastogi D, Manwani D, Janow G, Del Rio M, Mayers M, Herold BC, Fernandez-Sesma A, Madan RP. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to monovalent 2009 influenza A/H1N1 and seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines in high-risk children. The Journal of pediatrics 2012 Jan; 160(1).
Varga ZT, Ramos I, Hai R, Schmolke M, García-Sastre A, Fernandez-Sesma A, Palese P. The influenza virus protein PB1-F2 inhibits the induction of type I interferon at the level of the MAVS adaptor protein. PLoS pathogens 2011 Jun; 7(6).
Ramos I, Bernal-Rubio D, Durham N, Belicha-Villanueva A, Lowen AC, Steel J, Fernandez-Sesma A. Effects of receptor binding specificity of avian influenza virus on the human innate immune response. Journal of virology 2011 May; 85(9).
Ashour J, Morrison J, Laurent-Rolle M, Belicha-Villanueva A, Plumlee CR, Bernal-Rubio D, Williams KL, Harris E, Fernandez-Sesma A, Schindler C, García-Sastre A. Mouse STAT2 restricts early dengue virus replication. Cell host & microbe 2010 Nov; 8(5).
Rodriguez-Madoz JR, Belicha-Villanueva A, Bernal-Rubio D, Ashour J, Ayllon J, Fernandez-Sesma A. Inhibition of type I IFN response in human dendritic cells by dengue virus infection requires catalytically active NS2B3 complex. J. Virol 2010 Oct; 84(19): 9760-9774.
Rodriguez-Madoz JR, Bernal-Rubio D, Kaminski D, Boyd K, Fernandez-Sesma A. Dengue virus inhibits the production of type I interferon in primary human dendritic cells. J. Virol 2010 May; 84(9): 4845-4850.
Haye K, Bourmakina S, Moran TM, Garcia-Sastre A, Fernandez-Sesma A. The NS1 protein of a human influenza virus inhibits type I interferon production and the induction of antiviral responses in primary human dendritic and respiratory epithelial cells. J. Virol 2009; 83(13): 6849-6862.
Phipps-Yonas H, Seto J, Sealfon SC, Moran TM, Fernandez-Sesma A. Interferon- pretreatment of conventional and plasmacytoid human dendritic cells enhances their activation by influenza virus. PLoS Pathogens 2008 Oct 31; 4(10): e1000193.
Fernandez-Sesma A, Marukian S, Ebersole B, Kaminski D, Park MS, Yuen T, Sealfon S, Garcia-Sastre A, Moran TM. Influenza virus evades innate and adaptive immunity via the NS1 protein. J. Virol 2006; 80(13): 6295-6304.
Industry Relationships
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine often interact with pharmaceutical, device and biotechnology companies to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their relationships with such companies.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Fernandez-Sesma during 2011 and/or 2012. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Equity (Stock or stock options valued at greater than 5% ownership of a publicly traded company or equity of any value in a privately held company)
- AVIR Green Hills Biotechnology AG; Vivaldi Biosciences Inc.
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website at http://www.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
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Annenberg Building Floor 15 Room 06
1468 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10029