Elizabeth Ann Winzeler is an American microbiologist and geneticist. She is a professor in the Division of Host-Microbe Systems and Therapeutics of the School of Medicine at the University of California at San Diego.[1] Although she works in a variety of different disease areas, most research focuses on developing better medicines for the treatment and eradication of malaria.

Elizabeth Ann Winzeler
Born(1962-05-08)May 8, 1962
CitizenshipUSA
Education
Known forMicrobial genetics and genomics, drug design, drug resistance
Scientific career
Fieldsmicrobiology molecular biology parasitology genetics drug discovery
InstitutionsUniversity of California, San Diego
ThesisTranscriptional analysis of the Caulobacter 4.5 S RNA ffs gene and the physiological basis of an ffs mutant with a ts phenotype (1996)
Doctoral advisorLucy Shapiro
Other academic advisorsRonald W. Davis
Websitewinzeler.ucsd.edu

Early life and education

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Winzeler is the daughter of anthropologist, Robert L. Winzeler. She grew up in Reno, Nevada, and attended Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon.[2] She received her B.A. in Natural Sciences and Art in 1984.[2][3] After college, she worked as a professional programmer and systems analyst[2] for four years before moving to Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon[2] to earn a M.S. in Biophysics and Biochemistry. In 1996, she was awarded a Ph.D. from Stanford University in Developmental Biology[2] for her studies on Caulobacter crescentus with Lucy Shapiro. She stayed at Stanford for postdoctoral work with Ronald W. Davis. At Stanford she played a leading role in developing seminal post-genome analysis methods in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.[4][5]

Career

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In 1999, Winzeler was recruited by Peter G. Schultz to the newly established Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation. In 2000, she obtained a secondary position as an assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology at Scripps Research. In 2012, she moved to the University of California, San Diego where she is currently a professor in the Department of Pediatrics and director of Translational Research at the UCSD Health Sciences Center for Immunity, Infection, and Inflammation.[2] She is a member of the Division of Host Microbe Systems and Therapeutics and the Institute for Genomic Medicine.

 
Malaria parasite life cycle

Research

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While she was still at Stanford University, she began working at the interface of genetics and informatics in the new field of functional genomics.[5] After establishing her own lab, she began applying the powerful, high throughput methods that worked well in yeast to organisms that were both more medically relevant and experimentally-challenging, namely the protozoan Plasmodium parasites that cause human malaria. She showed that malaria parasites produce coordinated sets of gene messages as they progress through their complex lifecycle[6] and developed methods for studying parasite genetic variation and genome evolution especially in relationship to the emergence of drug resistance.[2][7][8] She is also known for developing phenotypic screening methods[9] as well as contributions to drug development and Open Source Drug Discovery.[10][11] Her group has developed screening methods that have led to the discovery of several new antimalarial chemotypes, two of which have been developed into clinical candidates. These include Ganaplacide (KAF156)[12] and Cipargamin (KAE609).[13][14] In addition, her lab discovered the targets of a variety of antimalarial compounds, including PfATP4,[14] and Pf1-phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase.[15] In 2017 she became director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Malaria Drug Accelerator (MALDA),[16] an international consortium that seeks to develop better treatments for malaria. She is a member of the governing board of the Tres Cantos Open Lab Foundation.

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ Tom Vasich, Scott LaFee, Niall Kavanagh (April 28, 2017). Tackling malaria worldwide. The Regents of the University of California. Accessed October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Valo, Ellisa (January 24, 2017). "Ending Malaria". Lewis and Clark College. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  3. ^ Elizabeth, Winzeler (Jan 11, 2019). "An improbable journey: Creativity helped me make the transition from art to curing malaria". J Biol Chem. 294 (2): 405–409. doi:10.1074/jbc.AW118.005229. PMC 6333892. PMID 30401750.
  4. ^ "Behind the Scenes". New Scientist. August 14, 1999. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Winzeler, EA; Shoemaker, DD; Astromoff, A; Liang, H; Anderson, K; Andre, B; Bangham, R; Benito, R; Boeke, JD; Bussey, H; Chu, AM; Connelly, C; Davis, K; Dietrich, F; Dow, SW; El Bakkoury, M; Foury, F; Friend, SH; Gentalen, E; Giaever, G; Hegemann, JH; Jones, T; Laub, M; Liao, H; Liebundguth, N; Lockhart, DJ; Lucau-Danila, A; Lussier, M; M'Rabet, N; Menard, P; Mittmann, M; Pai, C; Rebischung, C; Revuelta, JL; Riles, L; Roberts, CJ; Ross-MacDonald, P; Scherens, B; Snyder, M; Sookhai-Mahadeo, S; Storms, RK; Véronneau, S; Voet, M; Volckaert, G; Ward, TR; Wysocki, R; Yen, GS; Yu, K; Zimmermann, K; Philippsen, P; Johnston, M; Davis, RW (6 August 1999). "Functional characterization of the S. cerevisiae genome by gene deletion and parallel analysis". Science. 285 (5429): 901–6. doi:10.1126/science.285.5429.901. PMID 10436161.
  6. ^ Le Roch, K. G; Zhou, Y; Blair, P. L; Grainger, M; Moch, J. K; Haynes, J. D; de la Vega, P; Holder, A. A; Batalov, S; Carucci, D. J; Winzeler, E. A (2003). "Discovery of gene function by expression profiling of the malaria parasite life cycle". Science. 301(5639): 1503–8. Bibcode:2003Sci...301.1503L. doi:10.1126/science.1087025. PMID12893887.
  7. ^ Zhou, Y; Ramachandran, V; Kumar, K. A; Westenberger, S; Refour, P; Zhou, B; Li, F; Young, J. A; Chen, K; Plouffe, D; Henson, K; Nussenzweig, V; Carlton, J; Vinetz, J. M; Duraisingh, M. T; Winzeler, E. A (2008). "Evidence-based annotation of the malaria parasite's genome using comparative expression profiling". Public Library Of Science ONE. 3(2): e1570. Bibcode:2008PLoSO...3.1570Z. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001570. PMC2215772. PMID18270564.
  8. ^ Young, J. A; Fivelman, Q. L; Blair, P. L; de la Vega, P; Le Roch, K. G; Zhou, Y; Carucci, D. J; Baker, D. A; Winzeler, E. A (2005). "The Plasmodium falciparum sexual development transcriptome: A microarray analysis using ontology-based pattern identification" (PDF). Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology. 143(1): 67–79. doi:10.1016/j.molbiopara.2005.05.007. PMID16005087.
  9. ^ Plouffe, D. M; Wree, M; Du, A. Y; Meister, S; Li, F; Patra, K; Lubar, A; Okitsu, S. L; Flannery, E. L; Kato, N; Tanaseichuk, O; Comer, E; Zhou, B; Kuhen, K; Zhou, Y; Leroy, D; Schreiber, S. L; Scherer, C. A; Vinetz, J; Winzeler, E. A (2016). "High-Throughput Assay and Discovery of Small Molecules that Interrupt Malaria Transmission". Cell Host & Microbe. 19(1): 114–26. doi:10.1016/j.chom.2015.12.001. PMC4723716. PMID26749441.
  10. ^ Meister, S; Plouffe, DM; Kuhen, KL; Bonamy, GM; Wu, T; Barnes, SW; Bopp, SE; Borboa, R; Bright, AT; Che, J; Cohen, S; Dharia, NV; Gagaring, K; Gettayacamin, M; Gordon, P; Groessl, T; Kato, N; Lee, MC; McNamara, CW; Fidock, DA; Nagle, A; Nam, TG; Richmond, W; Roland, J; Rottmann, M; Zhou, B; Froissard, P; Glynne, RJ; Mazier, D; Sattabongkot, J; Schultz, PG; Tuntland, T; Walker, JR; Zhou, Y; Chatterjee, A; Diagana, TT; Winzeler, EA (9 December 2011). "Imaging of Plasmodium liver stages to drive next-generation antimalarial drug discovery". Science. 334 (6061): 1372–7. Bibcode:2011Sci...334.1372M. doi:10.1126/science.1211936. PMC 3473092. PMID 22096101.
  11. ^ Antonova-Koch, Y; Meister, S; Abraham, M; Luth, MR; Ottilie, S; Lukens, AK; Sakata-Kato, T; Vanaerschot, M; Owen, E; Jado, JC; Maher, SP; Calla, J; Plouffe, D; Zhong, Y; Chen, K; Chaumeau, V; Conway, AJ; McNamara, CW; Ibanez, M; Gagaring, K; Serrano, FN; Eribez, K; Taggard, CM; Cheung, AL; Lincoln, C; Ambachew, B; Rouillier, M; Siegel, D; Nosten, F; Kyle, DE; Gamo, FJ; Zhou, Y; Llinás, M; Fidock, DA; Wirth, DF; Burrows, J; Campo, B; Winzeler, EA (7 December 2018). "Open-source discovery of chemical leads for next-generation chemoprotective antimalarials". Science. 362 (6419): eaat9446. Bibcode:2018Sci...362.9446A. doi:10.1126/science.aat9446. PMC 6516198. PMID 30523084.
  12. ^ Kuhen, K. L; Chatterjee, A. K; Rottmann, M; Gagaring, K; Borboa, R; Buenviaje, J; Chen, Z; Francek, C; Wu, T; Nagle, A; Barnes, S. W; Plouffe, D; Lee, M. C; Fidock, D. A; Graumans, W; Van De Vegte-Bolmer, M; Van Gemert, G. J; Wirjanata, G; Sebayang, B; Marfurt, J; Russell, B; Suwanarusk, R; Price, R. N; Nosten, F; Tungtaeng, A; Gettayacamin, M; Sattabongkot, J; Taylor, J; Walker, J. R; et al. (2014). "KAF156 is an Antimalarial Clinical Candidate with Potential for Use in Prophylaxis, Treatment, and Prevention of Disease Transmission". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 58(9): 5060–5067. doi:10.1128/AAC.02727-13. PMC4135840. PMID24913172.
  13. ^ Yeung, BK; Zou, B; Rottmann, M; Lakshminarayana, SB; Ang, SH; Leong, SY; Tan, J; Wong, J; Keller-Maerki, S; Fischli, C; Goh, A; Schmitt, EK; Krastel, P; Francotte, E; Kuhen, K; Plouffe, D; Henson, K; Wagner, T; Winzeler, EA; Petersen, F; Brun, R; Dartois, V; Diagana, TT; Keller, TH (22 July 2010). "Spirotetrahydro beta-carbolines (spiroindolones): a new class of potent and orally efficacious compounds for the treatment of malaria". Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 53 (14): 5155–64. doi:10.1021/jm100410f. PMC 6996867. PMID 20568778.
  14. ^ a b Rottmann, M; McNamara, C; Yeung, BK; Lee, MC; Zou, B; Russell, B; Seitz, P; Plouffe, DM; Dharia, NV; Tan, J; Cohen, SB; Spencer, KR; González-Páez, GE; Lakshminarayana, SB; Goh, A; Suwanarusk, R; Jegla, T; Schmitt, EK; Beck, HP; Brun, R; Nosten, F; Renia, L; Dartois, V; Keller, TH; Fidock, DA; Winzeler, EA; Diagana, TT (3 September 2010). "Spiroindolones, a potent compound class for the treatment of malaria". Science. 329 (5996): 1175–80. Bibcode:2010Sci...329.1175R. doi:10.1126/science.1193225. PMC 3050001. PMID 20813948.
  15. ^ McNamara, CW; Lee, MC; Lim, CS; Lim, SH; Roland, J; Simon, O; Yeung, BK; Chatterjee, AK; McCormack, SL; Manary, MJ; Zeeman, AM; Dechering, KJ; Kumar, TS; Henrich, PP; Gagaring, K; Ibanez, M; Kato, N; Kuhen, KL; Fischli, C; Nagle, A; Rottmann, M; Plouffe, DM; Bursulaya, B; Meister, S; Rameh, L; Trappe, J; Haasen, D; Timmerman, M; Sauerwein, RW; Suwanarusk, R; Russell, B; Renia, L; Nosten, F; Tully, DC; Kocken, CH; Glynne, RJ; Bodenreider, C; Fidock, DA; Diagana, TT; Winzeler, EA (12 December 2013). "Targeting Plasmodium PI(4)K to eliminate malaria". Nature. 504 (7479): 248–253. Bibcode:2013Natur.504..248M. doi:10.1038/nature12782. PMC 3940870. PMID 24284631.
  16. ^ Fikes, Bradley (2017-02-18). "Gates Foundation boosts UCSD-led malaria research". San Diego Union Times. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  17. ^ Ellison Foundation. "Awards in Malaria". Ellison Foundation. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  18. ^ "Keck Foundation Announces 2004 Young Scholars in Medical Research". Philanthropy News Digest (PND). 17 September 2004. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  19. ^ Howard T. Ricketts: https://htrl-sites.uchicago.edu/page/about
  20. ^ "ASTMH - Bailey K. Ashford Medal". www.astmh.org. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  21. ^ [s.n.] (March 2, 2016). 78 Fellows Elected to the American Academy of Microbiology Archived 2016-09-11 at the Wayback Machine. Washington, D.C.: American Society of Microbiology. Accessed October 2018.
  22. ^ Medicines for Malaria Venture: https://www.mmv.org/research-development/project-year-award/mmv-project-year-award-2016
  23. ^ Alice and C. C. Wang Award: http://www.asbmb.org/awards/wang/
  24. ^ William Trager Award: http://www.astmh.org/subgroups/acmcip#trager
  25. ^ Reaching the Last Mile: https://www.reachingthelastmile.com/
  26. ^ National Academy of Medicine Elects 100 New Members: https://nam.edu/national-academy-of-medicine-elects-100-new-members-2021/
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