Einstein Experts for Media

Tuberculosis (TB)

William R. Jacobs Jr., Ph.D.

William R. Jacobs Jr., Ph.D.

Professor, Microbiology & Immunology, Einstein

Professor, Genetics, Einstein

Leo and Julia Forchheimer Chair in Microbiology & Immunology, Einstein

Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)

Infectious diseasesTuberculosis (TB)Vaccines

Molecular genetics

Dr. Jacobs is pioneering the use of molecular genetics to control tuberculosis (TB), which kills nearly two million people a year. His research is identifying the genes that make Mycobacterium  tuberculosis (MTB) - the bacteria that causes TB -  virulent, identifying new drug targets and engineering weakened strains that can be used as live vaccines. Dr. Jacobs was the first scientist to introduce foreign DNA into MTB, a technique now regularly used by TB investigators around the world. read more...

 

Steven A. Porcelli, M.D.

Steven A. Porcelli, M.D.

Professor and Chair, Microbiology & Immunology

Professor, Medicine (Rheumatology)

Murray and Evelyne Weinstock Chair in Microbiology & Immunology

Microbiology & ImmunologyT-cell immunityTuberculosis (TB)

Dr. Porcelli studies the control of acquired immunity – the type that develops when our bodies generate specific responses involving antibodies or T cells following exposure to vaccines or infection by disease-causing microbes.  In particular, he investigates how T cells – which supervise both defense against microbes and immune tolerance – control the acquired immune response. read more...