Ronald B. Corley, PhD

Emeritus Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

My research focuses on the relationship between innate and adaptive immunity, and how components of the two discrete systems interact to generate long-lasting protective immune responses. One area of focus has been on the role of IgM antibodies as efficient bridges of innate and adaptive immunity. IgM antibodies serve to concentrate antigens into secondary lymphoid organs, accelerating the production of protective immune responses along with affinity matured antibodies. IgM also contributes to preventing pathogens from initially localizing into vital organs. The innate functions of IgM can be attributed, at least in part, to its ability to concentrate immune complexes in the foci of the spleen, where innate B cells in the marginal zones traffic the complexes to follicular dendritic cells, stromal elements that promote efficient germinal center formation. These functions require native organization around the marginal sinuses for efficient adjuvant effects of IgM.

The laboratory also focuses on the immune consequences of infection with highly pathogenic hemorrhagic fever viruses, including filoviruses. Patients infected with these viruses often fail to make adaptive immune responses and succumb to infection. While this is often attributed to dysfunctional innate immune responses, the nature of the defects in immune responses to these viruses is poorly understood. We are interested in in the very early immune responses to these viruses, in order to map how they affect the ability of infected animals to initiate adaptive immune responses, and identify the components of infection that lead to abnormal cytokine responses that characterize infection with these viruses.

Publications

  • Published 6/23/2022

    Feitosa-Suntheimer F, Zhu Z, Mameli E, Dayama G, Gold AS, Broos-Caldwell A, Troupin A, Rippee-Brooks M, Corley RB, Lau NC, Colpitts TM, Londoño-Renteria B. Dengue Virus-2 Infection Affects Fecundity and Elicits Specific Transcriptional Changes in the Ovaries of Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes. Front Microbiol. 2022; 13:886787. PMID: 35814655.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/9/2022

    Miorin L, Mire CE, Ranjbar S, Hume AJ, Huang J, Crossland NA, White KM, Laporte M, Kehrer T, Haridas V, Moreno E, Nambu A, Jangra S, Cupic A, Dejosez M, Abo KA, Tseng AE, Werder RB, Rathnasinghe R, Mutetwa T, Ramos I, de Aja JS, de Alba Rivas CG, Schotsaert M, Corley RB, Falvo JV, Fernandez-Sesma A, Kim C, Rossignol JF, Wilson AA, Zwaka T, Kotton DN, Mühlberger E, García-Sastre A, Goldfeld AE. The oral drug nitazoxanide restricts SARS-CoV-2 infection and attenuates disease pathogenesis in Syrian hamsters. bioRxiv. 2022 Feb 09. PMID: 35169796.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 7/5/2021

    Calisher CH, Carroll D, Colwell R, Corley RB, Daszak P, Drosten C, Enjuanes L, Farrar J, Field H, Golding J, Gorbalenya AE, Haagmans B, Hughes JM, Keusch GT, Lam SK, Lubroth J, Mackenzie JS, Madoff L, Mazet JK, Perlman SM, Poon L, Saif L, Subbarao K, Turner M. Science, not speculation, is essential to determine how SARS-CoV-2 reached humans. Lancet. 2021 07 17; 398(10296):209-211. PMID: 34237296.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/9/2021

    Yuen RR, Steiner D, Pihl RMF, Chavez E, Olson A, Smith EL, Baird LA, Korkmaz F, Urick P, Sagar M, Berrigan JL, Gummuluru S, Corley RB, Quillen K, Belkina AC, Mostoslavsky G, Rifkin IR, Kataria Y, Cappione AJ, Gao W, Lin NH, Bhadelia N, Snyder-Cappione JE. Novel ELISA Protocol Links Pre-Existing SARS-CoV-2 Reactive Antibodies With Endemic Coronavirus Immunity and Age and Reveals Improved Serologic Identification of Acute COVID-19 via Multi-Parameter Detection. Front Immunol. 2021; 12:614676. PMID: 33897682.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/19/2020

    Calisher C, Carroll D, Colwell R, Corley RB, Daszak P, Drosten C, Enjuanes L, Farrar J, Field H, Golding J, Gorbalenya A, Haagmans B, Hughes JM, Karesh WB, Keusch GT, Lam SK, Lubroth J, Mackenzie JS, Madoff L, Mazet J, Palese P, Perlman S, Poon L, Roizman B, Saif L, Subbarao K, Turner M. Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China combatting COVID-19. Lancet. 2020 03 07; 395(10226):e42-e43. PMID: 32087122.

    Read at: PubMed

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Websites

Education

  • Duke University, PhD
  • Duke University, BS

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