James B. Kaper, PhD
Titles
James and Carolyn Frenkil Distinguished Dean's Professor
Chair, Department of Microbiology & Immunology
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
School Affiliation
School of Medicine
Specialties
Microbiology and Immunology
Diarrheal Disease Pathogens
About
Phone: (410) 706-7114
Email: jkaper@som.umaryland.edu
Dr. Kaper is an internationally-recognized microbiologist with specific expertise in the molecular pathogenesis of diarrheal disease pathogens, specifically Vibrio cholerae and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. He has constructed a number of live attenuated V. cholerae vaccine strains, which his long-time collaborator, Dr. Myron Levine, tested in numerous volunteer and field trials for clinical safety and efficacy. These strains included the first genetically engineered bacterial vaccine to be tested in humans (attenuated V. cholerae strain JBK70) and the first recombinant bacterial vaccine licensed for human use (attenuated V. cholerae strain CVD 103-HgR). Funded since 1982 by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Kaper’s research on the pathogenesis of enteric disease has contributed to six books, 68 book chapters, and 303 articles published in peer-reviewed journals.
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