Dr.
Thomas E. Wellems
National Institutes of Health
Area
Biological Sciences
Specialty
Microbiology and Immunology
Elected
2020
Dr. Wellems' contributions to tropical medicine and parasitology include solving the genetics of chloroquine resistance, which had developed into a malaria control catastrophe in Africa. His work to find the responsible gene led him to develop novel approaches of large general impact: mating and crossing of chloroquine-resistant and chloroquine-sensitive malaria parasites in the laboratory; transfection methods for the blood-stage parasites; and full-length physical and genetic maps of the parasite chromosomes. Working with scientists in Africa, he showed how children fail chloroquine therapy when their infections carry the drug-resistance gene. Diagnostic tests based on his discoveries are now used worldwide.
Another of Dr. Wellems’ fundamental contributions led to new insights into antigenic variation and the pathogenesis of severe malaria. He and his colleagues identified and named the var gene family encoding the variable cytoadherence molecule on Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells. He went on to show that mutant hemoglobins from evolution under malaria pressure can interfere with the var-mediated cytoadherence of infected red cells and thereby protect children from the severe clinical effects of parasite sequestrations in the microvasculature.
Dr. Wellems is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, is a former president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and has served on a number of advisory committees for foundations and public-private partnerships, including the Medicines for Malaria Venture.
Another of Dr. Wellems’ fundamental contributions led to new insights into antigenic variation and the pathogenesis of severe malaria. He and his colleagues identified and named the var gene family encoding the variable cytoadherence molecule on Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells. He went on to show that mutant hemoglobins from evolution under malaria pressure can interfere with the var-mediated cytoadherence of infected red cells and thereby protect children from the severe clinical effects of parasite sequestrations in the microvasculature.
Dr. Wellems is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, is a former president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and has served on a number of advisory committees for foundations and public-private partnerships, including the Medicines for Malaria Venture.
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