 Richard P. Ciavarra,
Ph.D.
Professor
Lewis Hall, #3168
Office: (757) 446-5661
Email: ciavarrp@evms.edu
Teaching: Immunology, Molecular Biology,
Cell Biology
Biomedical Sciences Program Tracks:
Molecular Integrative Biosciences (MIB); Molecular and Cellular
Biology
Education
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B.S., Boston University
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M.S., American University
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Ph.D., Tufts University School of
Medicine
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Postdoctoral Training, University of Texan
Southwestern Medical School
Research
Interests
Dr. Ciavarra and his team are currently focused
on analysis of the cellular interactions required for the induction of
T-cell-mediated immune responses against infectious agents (viruses) or tumor
cells. With respect to anti-viral immunity, current studies focus on how a
rare cell type—namely plasmacytoid dendritic cells—regulate anti-viral immune
responses and how they may promote viral clearance by secreting a potent
anti-viral agent (interferon alpha).
A second area of interest in this laboratory is
the production of cellular vaccines for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Tumor cells have been modified to contain specific genes that should boost
the anti-tumor immune response. These genes can be activated within the tumor
microenvironment at distinct times during tumor progression and the
development of metastatic disease. His laboratory has developed several
animal models to assess the efficacy of these novel cellular vaccines.
Selected Publications
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R. P. Ciavarra, D. Holterman, M.
Garrett, R. R. Brown, W. F. Glass, P. F. Schellhammer, G. L. Wright, K. D.
Somers. Impact of the prostate tumor microenvironment on host infiltrating
cells and the efficacy of flt3-ligand combination immunotherapy evaluated
in a treatment model of prostate tumors. Cancer Immunol. Immunotherapy. In
press, 2003.
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R. P. Ciavarra, D. Holterman, P.
Mangiotti, N. Yousefieh, P. F. Schellhammer, G. L. Wright, K. D. Somers.
Prostate tumor microenvironment alters immune cells and prevents long-term
survival in an orthotopic mouse model following flt3-ligand/CD40-ligand
immunotherapy. In press, J. Immunother., 2003.
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Somers K. D, R. Brown, N. Yousefieh, D.
Holterman, P. Mangiotti, W. F. Glass, P. F. Schellhammer, G. L. Wright,
R. P. Ciavarra. Orthotopic treatment model for prostate cancer and
metastasis in the immunocompetent mouse: efficacy of flt3-ligand
immunotherapy. In press, International J. Cancer, 2003.
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R. P. Ciavarra, Greene AR, Horeth DR,
Buhrer K, Van Rooijen N , Tedeschi B. (2000) Antigen processing of
vesicular stomatitis virus in situ. Interdigitating dendritic cells present
viral antigens independent of marginal dendritic cells but fail to prime
CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Immunology. 101(4): 512-20.
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L. K. Hanson, J. S. Slater, Z. Karabekian, M.
R. MacDonald, H. W. Virgin IV, C. A. Biron, M. C. Ruzek, N. van Rooijen,
R. P. Ciavarra, R. M. Stenberg, and A. E. Campbell (1999)
Replication of murine cytomegalovirus in differentiated macrophages as a
determinant of viral pathogenesis. J. Virology, 73: 5970-5980.
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Ciavarra, R.P., Kathy Buhrer, Nico Van
Rooijen & Bruce Tedeschi (1997) T Cell Priming Against Vesicular
Stomatitis Virus Analyzed In Situ. Red Pulp MF But Not Marginal
Metallophilic or Marginal Zone MF are Required for Priming CD4+ and CD8+ T
Cells., J. Immunol., 158:1749-1755.
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Bruce Tedeschi and Richard P. Ciavarra
(1997) The Stress-Inducible Member (HSP68) of the 70kDa Heat Shock Protein
Family is Upregulated In Vivo in Rate Dorsal Root Ganglia Following
Axotomy. Mol. Brain Research, 45:199-206.
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Bruce Tedeschi and Richard P. Ciavarra
(1997) Differential effects of axotomy on the in vivo synthesis of the
stress-inducible and constituitive 70kDa heat shock proteins in rat dorsal
root ganglia. Mol. Brain Res. 45:199-206.
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Ciavarra, R.P., Charles Goldman,
Kuo-Kuang Wen, Bruce Tedeschi, and Frank Castora. (1994) Heat Stress
Induces HSC70/nuclear Topoisomerase I Complex Formation In Vivo: Evidence
for HSC70-Mediated, ATP-independent Reactivation In Vitro. Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci., USA, 91:1751-1755.
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Ciavarra, R.P., and Bruce Tedeschi
(1994) Role of CD4+ T Cells During Anti-Anti-Viral Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte
Response. I. Requirement for CD4+ Cells for Priming is Dependent on the
Antigen Presenting Cell In Vivo. Richard P. Ciavarra and Bruce Tedeschi.
Cell. Immunol. 157:132-143.
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Ciavarra, R.P., Duvall, W., and
Castora, F.J. (1992) Induction of thermotolerance in T Cells protects
nuclear DNA topoisomerase I from heat stress. Biochemical and Biophysical
Research Communications. 186:166-172.
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Ciavarra, R.P., and Simeone, A. (1990)
T lymphocyte stress response. II. protection of translation and DNA
synthesis against some forms of stress by prior hyperthermic stress. Cell
Immunology. 131:11-26.
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Ciavarra, R.P. (1990) T helper cells
in cytotoxic T lymphocyte development: role of L3T4-dependent
anti-independent T helper cell pathways in virus-specific and alloreactive
cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. Cellular Immunnology. 125:363-379.
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Ciavarra, R.P., Vitetta, E., Forman,
J. (1986) Growth inhibition of a B cell leukemia: evidence implicating an
anti-idiotype immune response for protective tumor immunity. Journal of
Immunology. 137:1271-1375.
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