Infectious Diseases

Maria Blasi, PhD

Assistant Professor in Medicine
Member of the Duke Human Vaccine Institute
Campus mail 2 Genome Court, Msrbii, Room 3077, Durham, NC 27710
Phone (919) 684-2953
Email address maria.blasi@duke.edu

Dr. Blasi completed her undergraduate and Ph.D. studies in Italy at the Sapienza University in Rome. She moved to Duke in 2012 for a postdoctoral position in Mary Klotman’s laboratory at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI). 

The Blasi laboratory has two main areas of research: 1) understanding the mechanisms and implications of viral infections in the kidney, including HIV and SARS-CoV-2 and 2) development of vaccines and therapeutics against a variety of infectious diseases. 

Dr. Blasi is also the co-director of the DHVI training mentoring program (DTMP). The DTMP is committed to providing an outstanding training environment and research experiences that will enhance trainees career and provide avenues to incorporate education, expertise, initiative and dedication to the success of the studies. 

Education and Training

  • Ph.D., La Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), 2012

Grants

Publications

Gallinaro, Alessandra, Maria Franca Pirillo, Yoann Aldon, Serena Cecchetti, Zuleika Michelini, Antonella Tinari, Martina Borghi, et al. “Persistent immunogenicity of integrase defective lentiviral vectors delivering membrane-tethered native-like HIV-1 envelope trimers.” Npj Vaccines 7, no. 1 (April 21, 2022): 44. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-022-00465-1.

PMID
35449174
Full Text

Langel, Stephanie N., Francine L. Kelly, David M. Brass, Andrew E. Nagler, Dylan Carmack, Joshua J. Tu, Tatianna Travieso, et al. “E-cigarette and food flavoring diacetyl alters airway cell morphology, inflammatory and antiviral response, and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.” Cell Death Discov 8, no. 1 (February 15, 2022): 64. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41420-022-00855-3.

PMID
35169120
Full Text

Goswami, Ria, Veronica S. Russell, Joshua J. Tu, Charlene Thomas, Philip Hughes, Francine Kelly, Stephanie N. Langel, et al. “Oral Hsp90 inhibitor SNX-5422 attenuates SARS-CoV-2 replication and dampens inflammation in airway cells.” Iscience 24, no. 12 (December 17, 2021): 103412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.103412.

PMID
34786537
Full Text

Kalejaiye, Titilola D., Rohan Bhattacharya, Morgan A. Burt, Tatianna Travieso, Arinze E. Okafor, Xingrui Mou, Maria Blasi, and Samira Musah. “BSG/CD147 and ACE2 receptors facilitate SARS-CoV-2 infection of human iPS cell-derived kidney podocytes.” Biorxiv, November 17, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.11.16.468893.

PMID
34816259
Full Text

Hughes, Kelly, Jerry Chang, Hannah Stadtler, Christina Wyatt, Mary Klotman, and Maria Blasi. “HIV-1 infection of the kidney: mechanisms and implications.” Aids 35, no. 3 (March 1, 2021): 359–67. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000002753.

PMID
33229896
Full Text

Blasi, Maria, Donatella Negri, Kevin O. Saunders, Erich J. Baker, Hannah Stadtler, Celia LaBranche, Benjamin Mildenberg, et al. “Immunogenicity, safety, and efficacy of sequential immunizations with an SIV-based IDLV expressing CH505 Envs.” Npj Vaccines 5, no. 1 (November 18, 2020): 107. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-020-00252-w.

PMID
33298954
Full Text

Stadtler, Hannah, Elizabeth Wescott, Kelly Hughes, Jerry Chang, Feng Gao, Mary Klotman, and Maria Blasi. “HIV-1 diversity and compartmentalization in urine, semen, and blood.” Medicine (Baltimore) 99, no. 46 (November 13, 2020): e23063. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000023063.

PMID
33181671
Full Text

Singh, Tulika, Sarah M. Heston, Stephanie N. Langel, Maria Blasi, Jillian H. Hurst, Genevieve G. Fouda, Matthew S. Kelly, and Sallie R. Permar. “Lessons From COVID-19 in Children: Key Hypotheses to Guide Preventative and Therapeutic Strategies.” Clin Infect Dis 71, no. 8 (November 5, 2020): 2006–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa547.

PMID
32382748
Full Text

Otero, Claire E., Stephanie N. Langel, Maria Blasi, and Sallie R. Permar. “Maternal antibody interference contributes to reduced rotavirus vaccine efficacy in developing countries.” Plos Pathog 16, no. 11 (November 2020): e1009010. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009010.

PMID
33211756
Full Text

Hughes, Kelly, Guray Akturk, Sacha Gnjatic, Benjamin Chen, Mary Klotman, and Maria Blasi. “Proliferation of HIV-infected renal epithelial cells following virus acquisition from infected macrophages.” Aids 34, no. 11 (September 1, 2020): 1581–91. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000002589.

PMID
32701578
Full Text

Pages