My research interests concern the interface of the pathogens, Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. ulcerans, with the immune system of human and experimental animal hosts, with my current focus being on the latter. I am interested in delineating the differences in host response at different phases of tuberculosis. For example, tuberculosis can be contained within a granuloma by a mantle of immune cells whereas the containment involved in latent infection breaks down as the caseous necrotic tissue liquefies and begins to form a cavity in the lung. Cavity formation is found in active tuberculosis and creates the conditions for efficient transmission of M. tuberculosis. By understanding the immunological mechanisms underlying containment and disease, new ways of promoting a protective immune response for treatment or prevention can be designed.

Tuberculosis, Leprosy, HIV, AIDS, Buruli Ulcer, Immunity, Animal Models

1980- Delta Omega, Public Health Honor Society

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society

1980-1 Department of Pathobiology Training Scholarship

1982- Tropical Medicine Travel Fellowship, Ethiopia

1991- Faculty Development Award

1994- Damien-Dutton Society for Leprosy Aid Advisory Board

2000- Tropical Medicine Dinner Club Advisory Board

2001- Partners Against HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia, Advisory Board

2001- Institute for Practical Research, Somaliland, Advisory Board

1: Converse PJ, Kloos H, Mulatu MS, Haile Mariam D and Haddis A. Bibliography on HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the Diaspora: The 2008 Update. Ethiop J Health Dev 2009, 23: 73-94

2: Yam KC, D’Angelo I, Kalscheuer R, Zhu H, Wang J-X, Snieckus V, Ly LH, Converse PJ, Jacobs WR Jr, Strynadka N and Eltis LD. Studies of a Ring-Cleaving Dioxygenase Illuminate the Role of Cholesterol Metabolism in the Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PLoS Pathog. 2009 Mar;5(3):e1000344. Epub 2009 Mar 20

3: Converse PJ, Karakousis PC, Klinkenberg LG, Kesavan AK, Ly LH, Allen SS, Grosset JH, Jain SK, Lamichhane G, Manabe YC, McMurray DN, Nuermberger EL, Bishai WR. The role of the dosR/dosS two-component regulatory system in Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence in three animal models. Infect Immun. 2009 Mar;77(3):1230-7.

4: Bryk R, Gold B, Venugopal A, Singh J, Samy R, Pupek K, Cao H, Popescu C, Gurney M, Hotha S, Cherian J, Rhee K, Ly L, Converse PJ, Ehrt S, Vandal O, Jiang X, Schneider J, Lin G, Nathan C. Selective killing of nonreplicating mycobacteria. Cell Host Microbe. 2008;3:137-45.

5: Abdul-Majid KB, Ly LH, Converse PJ, Geiman DE, McMurray DN, Bishai WR. Altered cellular infiltration and cytokine levels during early Mycobacterium tuberculosis sigC mutant infection are associated with late-stage disease attenuation and milder immunopathology in mice. BMC Microbiol. 2008 Sep 17;8:151.

6: Kloos H, Assefa Y, Haile Mariam D, Mulatu MS, Converse PJ. Bibliography on HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the Diaspora: the 2007 update, with an emphasis on ART scale-up. Ethiop J Health Dev 2008, 22: 71-95.

7: Jain SK, Hernandez-Abanto SM, Cheng QJ, Singh P, Ly LH, Klinkenberg LG, Morrison NE, Converse PJ, Nuermberger E, Grosset J, McMurray DN, Karakousis PC, Lamichhane G, Bishai WR. Accelerated detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis genes essential for bacterial survival in guinea pigs, compared with mice. J Infect Dis. 2007 Jun 1;195(11):1634-42. Epub 2007 Apr 23.

8. Converse, P.J. Dual Infection: The Challenge of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis in Ethiopia. North East African Studies (in press, 2004).

9. Sun R., Converse, P.J., Ko, C., Tyagi, S., Morrison, N.E., Bishai, W.R. Mycobacterium tuberculosis ECF sigma factor sigC is required for lethality in mice and for the conditional expression of a defined gene set. Molec. Micro. (in press, 2004)

10. Geiman, D.E. Kaushal, D., Ko, C., Tyagi, S., Manabe, Y.C. Schroeder, B.G., Fleischmann, R.D., Morrison, N.E., Converse, P.J., Chen, P., and Bishai, W.R. Attenuation of late-stage disease in mice infected by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutant lacking the SigF alternate sigma factor and indentification of SigF-dependent genes by microarray analysis. Infect. Immun. 72: (in press, 2004).

11. Ando, M., T. Yoshimatsu, C. Ko, P.J. Converse, and W. R. Bishai. 2003. Deletion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis sigma factor E results in delayed time to death with bacterial persistence in lungs of aerosol-infected mice. Infect. Immun.

12. Converse, P.J., T. Wuhib, M. S. Mulatu, and K. H. 2003. Bibliography on HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia and Ethiopians in the diaspora. Ethiop. J. Health Dev 17:33-85.

13. Kimura, M., P.J. Converse, J. Astemborski, J. S. Rothel, D. Vlahov, G. W. Comstock, N. M. Graham, R. E. Chaisson, and W. R. Bishai. 1999. Comparison between a whole blood interferon-gamma release assay and tuberculin skin testing for the detection of tuberculosis infection among patients at risk for tuberculosis exposure. J Infect Dis 179:1297-300.

14. Converse, P.J., A. M. Dannenberg, Jr., T. Shigenaga, D. N. McMurray, S. W. Phalen, J. L. Stanford, G. A. Rook, T. Koru-Sengul, H. Abbey, J. E. Estep, and M. L. Pitt. 1998. Pulmonary bovine-type tuberculosis in rabbits: bacillary virulence, inhaled dose effects, tuberculin sensitivity, and Mycobacterium vaccae immunotherapy. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 5:871-81.

15. Sugisaki, K., A. M. Dannenberg, Jr., Y. Abe, J. Tsuruta, W. J. Su, W. Said, L. Feng, T. Yoshimura, P.J. Converse, and P. Mounts. 1998. Nonspecific and immune-specific up-regulation of cytokines in rabbit dermal tuberculous (BCG) lesions. J Leukoc Biol 63:440-50.

16. Converse, P.J., S. L. Jones, J. Astemborski, D. Vlahov, and N. M. Graham. 1997. Comparison of a tuberculin interferon-gamma assay with the tuberculin skin test in high-risk adults: effect of human immunodeficiency virus infection. J Infect Dis 176:144-50.

17. Converse, P.J., A. M. Dannenberg, Jr., J. E. Estep, K. Sugisaki, Y. Abe, B. H. Schofield, and M. L. Pitt. 1996. Cavitary tuberculosis produced in rabbits by aerosolized virulent tubercle bacilli. Infect Immun 64:4776-87.

18. Esa, A. H., and P.J. Converse. 1996. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid blocks IL-2-independent lymphocyte proliferation and enhances responses to PPD. Scand J Immunol 43:127-33.

19. Converse, P.J., V. L. Haines, A. Wondimu, L. E. Craig, and W. M. Meyers. 1995. Infection of SCID mice with Mycobacterium leprae and control with antigen-activated "immune" human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Infect Immun 63:1047-54.

20. Kaleab, B., T. Ottenoff, P. Converse, E. Halapi, G. Tadesse, M. Rottenberg, and R. Kiessling. 1990. Mycobacterial-induced cytotoxic T cells as well as nonspecific killer cells derived from healthy individuals and leprosy patients. Eur J Immunol 20:2651-9.

21. Converse, P.J., T. E. Fehniger, A. Ehrnst, O. Strannegård, and S. Britton. 1990. Immune responses to fractionated cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens after HIV infection. Loss of cellular and humoral reactivity to antigens recognized by HIV-, CMV+ individuals. Clin Exp Immunol 82:559-66.

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