Dennis Hartigan-O'Connor, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Tupper Hall
Room 3228
Davis Campus
530-752-7358
e-mail
Dr. Hartigan-O'Connor's research focuses on development of the human immune system and interaction of that system with agents of chronic infection such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Most recently he has studied development of Th17 cells, regulatory T cells (T-regs), and antigen-presenting cells in the mucosal immune system. He is interested in the relationship between variable development of such immune cells and variable control over chronic infectious diseases. He is also fascinated by the interactions between the normal gut microflora, pathogenic organisms, and immune cells within the intestine.
For more information please visit the HOC Lab page.
An updated list of current publications: PubMed
Merriam DP, Chen C, Mendez-Lagares G, Rogers K, Michaels A, Yan J, Casaz P, Reimann K, Villenger F, Hartigan-O'Connor DJ. "Depletion of gut-resident CCR5+ cells for HIV cure strategies". AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2017; Sep 17. PMID: 28918646
Baker CA, Swainson L, Lin DL, Wong S, Hartigan-O'Connor D.J., Lifson JD, Tarantal AF, McCune JM. "Exposure to SIV in utero results in reduced viral loads and altered responsiveness to postnatal challenge". Science translational medicine. 2015; 7(300):300ra125. PMID: 26268312
Narayan NR, Méndez-Lagares G, Ardeshir A, Lu D, Van Rompay KK, Hartigan-O'Connor D.J.. "Persistent effects of early infant diet and associated microbiota on the juvenile immune system". Gut microbes. 2015; 6(4):284-9. PMID: 26177107; PMCID: PMC4615596
Ardeshir A, Narayan NR, Méndez-Lagares G, Lu D, Rauch M, Huang Y, Van Rompay KK, Lynch SV, Hartigan-O'Connor D.J.. "Breast-fed and bottle-fed infant rhesus macaques develop distinct gut microbiotas and immune systems". Science translational medicine. 2014; 6(252):252ra120. NIHMSID: NIHMS668449 PMID: 25186175; PMCID: PMC4362692
Hartigan-O'Connor D.J., Lin D, Ryan JC, Shvachko VA, Cozen ML, Segal MR, Terrault NA, Lanier LL, Manos MM, McCune JM. "Monocyte activation by interferon-α is associated with failure to achieve a sustained virologic response after treatment for hepatitis C virus infection". The Journal of infectious diseases. 2014; 209(10):1602-12. PMID: 24325966; PMCID: PMC3997582
Miller CN, Hartigan-O'Connor D.J., Lee MS, Laidlaw G, Cornelissen IP, Matloubian M, Coughlin SR, McDonald DM, McCune JM. "IL-7 production in murine lymphatic endothelial cells and induction in the setting of peripheral lymphopenia". International immunology. 2013; 25(8):471-83. PMID: 23657000; PMCID: PMC3720065
Hartigan-O'Connor D.J.. In search of an effective vaccine. HIV Specialist. 2012 December; 4:33-34.
Hartigan-O'Connor D.J., Abel K, Van Rompay KK, Kanwar B, McCune JM. "SIV replication in the infected rhesus macaque is limited by the size of the preexisting TH17 cell compartment". Science translational medicine. 2012; 4(136):136ra69. NIHMSID: NIHMS420502 PMID: 22649090; PMCID: PMC3520607
Fundamentals of HIV Medicine 2012 Edition Hartigan-O'Connor D.J., Deeks SG. 2012 ed. Young B, Hardy D, editors. Washington, D.C.: American Academy of HIV Medicine; 2012. Immunology.
Hartigan-O'Connor D.J., Hirao LA, McCune JM, Dandekar S. "Th17 cells and regulatory T cells in elite control over HIV and SIV". Current opinion in HIV and AIDS. 2011; 6(3):221-7. NIHMSID: NIHMS591356. PMID: 21399494; PMCID: PMC4079838
Hartigan-O'Connor, D.J., Jacobson, M.A., Tan, Q.X., and Sinclair, E. (2011). "Development of CMV immune recovery uveitis is associated with Th17 cell depletion and poor systemic CMV-specific T cell responses". Clin Infect Dis 52, 409-417.
Babik, J.M., Dohan, D., Monto, A., Hartigan-O'Connor, D.J., and McCune, J.M. (2011). "The human fetal immune response to hepatitis C virus exposure in utero". J Infect Dis 203, 196-206.
Hartigan-O'Connor, D.J., Abel, K., VanRompay, K.K.A., Kanwar, B., and McCune, J.M. (2011). SIV replication is restricted in macaques with large Th17 cell compartments. Submitted.
Hartigan-O'Connor, D.J., del Pozo-Balado, M., Morelli, M., and McCune, J.M. (2011). Polymorphism and allelic exclusion at the macaque IL-17 locus. In preparation.
Hartigan-O'Connor, D.J., Abel, K., and McCune, J.M. (2007). "Suppression of SIV-specific CD4+ T cells by infant but not adult macaque regulatory T cells: implications for SIV disease progression". J Exp Med 204, 2679-2692.
Hartigan-O'Connor, D.J., Poon, C., Sinclair, E., and McCune, J.M. (2006). "Human CD4+ regulatory T cells express lower levels of the IL-7 receptor alpha chain (CD127), allowing consistent identification and sorting of live cells". J Immunol Methods 319, 41-52.
