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Eileen M. Barry, PhD

Academic Title:

Professor

Primary Appointment:

Medicine

Secondary Appointment(s):

Medical and Research Technology, Microbiology and Immunology

Administrative Title:

Director of Education for the Center of Vaccine Development & Global Health

Location:

HSF-II, S363

Phone (Primary):

(410) 706-3702

Education and Training

University of Delaware, B.A., Biology, 1985

Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia, Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, 1991

Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development, 1992-1994

Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development, 1994-1996

Biosketch

Dr. Barry's research in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health focuses on the development of vaccines against enteric pathogens, including Shigella and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), that are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Target populations include children in less developed counties who suffer the largest burden as well as travelers to endemic regions and deployed military personnel. These pathogens cause infection following ingestion and our strategy is to develop live attenuated strains that are delivered via the oral route. She has constructed live attenuated vaccine candidates of Shigella that have advanced to Phase I clinical trials where they have been demonstrated to be safe and immunogenic. The attenuated bacteria are also used as live vectors for the expression and delivery of antigens from heterologous pathogens. Dr. Barry has engineered a vaccine composed of attenuated Shigella that expresses critical ETEC antigens. This multivalent vaccine is currently in Phase I clinical studies.

An additional area of research is the development of vaccines against Francisella tularensis, a pathogen of interest for bioterror countermeasure development. Vaccine candidates engineered with specific mutations and attenuation, as well as immunogenicity, are currently being evaluated.

Research/Clinical Keywords

Enteric bacterial pathogens, Shigella, pathogenic E. coli, Francisella tularensis, biodefense, diarrheal disease, intracellular pathogens, bacterial-host interactions, macrophage models, enteroid, in vitro organ culture (IVOC).

Highlighted Publications

Delaine B, Wu T, Grassel C, Shimanovich A, Pasetti M, Levine MM, Barry EM. Characterization of a multicomponent live, attenuated Shigella flexneri vaccine. Pathog Dis. 2016 Jul;74(5).

Santiago, AE, Mann BJ, Qin A, Cunningham AL, Cole LE, Vogel SN, Grassel C, Levine MM, Barry EM. Characterization of Francisella tularensis Schu S4 defined mutants as live vaccine candidates. Pathog Dis. 2015;73:ftv036.

Reed DS, Smith L, Cole KS, Santiago AE, Mann BJ, Barry EM. Live attenuated mutants of Francisella tularensis protect rabbits against aerosol challenge with a virulent type A strain. Infect Immun. 2014 May;82(5):2098-105.

Barry, EM, Pasetti MF, Sztein MB, Kotloff KL, Fasano F, Levine MM. Progress and pitfalls in Shigella vaccine research. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Apr;10(4):245-55.

Additional Publication Citations

Research Interests

Awards and Affiliations

Grants and Contracts

Lab Techniques and Equipment

Administrative and Institutional Services

International and National Service

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