Robert S. Fujinami

Robert S. Fujinami, PhD

Languages spoken: English

Academic Information

Departments Primary - Pathology

Robert Fujinami received his B.A. from the University of Utah through the then Honor Program in Microbiology. He completed his Ph.D. at Northwestern University and received post-doctoral training and Assistant Professorship at The Scripps Research Institute. Prior to coming to the University of Utah as Professor, he was an Associate Professor at University of California, San Diego. He was the first Harry M. Weaver Neuroscience Scholar of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an AAAS fellow, recipient of Javits Neuroscience Scholar Award (NIH), and Vice President for the International Society for NeuroVirology. He has served as a member on 5 different NIH study sections and a recipient of NIH funding for over 30 years. His lab studies preclinical models for the understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis and epilepsy (http://www.bioscience.utah.edu/faculty/molecular-biology-faculty/fujinami/fujinami.php). His University service includes Chair of the Promotion, Retention and Tenure and Tenure Faculty Review Committees in the Department of Neurology, University of Utah Biosafety Committee and SOM Faculty Appointment Review Advancement Committee. He has served as member on the University Promotions and Tenure Advisory Committee, Academic Senate Task Force on Retention Promotion Tenure Procedures, University Research Committee, IACUC, Personnel & Elections Committee, the Academic Senate (twice) and President of the Academic Senate. He is Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs for University of Utah Health.

Specialties – Neuroimmunology, Neurovirology, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy

Research Statement

Robert Fujinami received his B.A. from the University of Utah through the then Honor Program in Microbiology. He completed his Ph.D. at Northwestern University and received post-doctoral training and Assistant Professorship at The Scripps Research Institute. Prior to coming to the University of Utah as Professor, he was an Associate Professor at University of California, San Diego. He was the first Harry M. Weaver Neuroscience Scholar of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, an AAAS fellow, recipient of Javits Neuroscience Scholar Award (NIH), and Vice President for the International Society for NeuroVirology. He has served as a member on 5 different NIH study sections and a recipient of NIH funding for over 30 years. His lab studies preclinical models for the understanding and treatment of multiple sclerosis and epilepsy (http://www.bioscience.utah.edu/faculty/molecular-biology-faculty/fujinami/fujinami.php). His University service includes Chair of the Promotion, Retention and Tenure and Tenure Faculty Review Committees in the Department of Neurology, University of Utah Biosafety Committee and SOM Faculty Appointment Review Advancement Committee. He has served as member on the University Promotions and Tenure Advisory Committee, Academic Senate Task Force on Retention Promotion Tenure Procedures, University Research Committee, IACUC, Personnel & Elections Committee, the Academic Senate (twice) and President of the Academic Senate.

Specialties – Neuroimmunology, Neurovirology, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy

Education History

Undergraduate University of Utah
 BA (Hons)
Doctoral Training Northwestern University
 PhD
Postdoctoral Fellowship Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation
 Postdoctoral Fellow

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Tsunoda I, Tanaka T, Saijoh Y, Fujinami R (2007). Targeting inflammatory demyelinating lesions to sites of Wallerian degeneration. The American journal of pathology, 171(5), 1563-75.
  2. Tsunoda I, Tanaka T, Terry EJ, Fujinami R (2007). Contrasting roles for axonal degeneration in an autoimmune versus viral model of multiple sclerosis: When can axonal injury be beneficial?. The American journal of pathology, 170(1), 214-26.
  3. Tsunoda I, Libbey JE, Kuang LQ, Terry EJ, Fujinami R (2005). Massive apoptosis in lymphoid organs in animal models for primary and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. The American journal of pathology, 167(6), 1631-46.
  4. Tsunoda I, Kuang LQ, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2003). Axonal injury heralds virus-induced demyelination. The American journal of pathology, 162(4), 1259-69.
  5. Wada Y, Fujinami R (1993). Viral infection and dissemination through the olfactory pathway and the limbic system by Theiler's virus. The American journal of pathology, 143(1), 221-9.
  6. Peterson LK, Masaki T, Wheelwright SR, Tsunoda I, Fujinami R (2008). Cross-reactive myelin antibody induces renal pathology. Autoimmunity, 41(7), 526-36.
  7. Peterson LK, Tsunoda I, Fujinami R (2008). Role of CD5+ B-1 cells in EAE pathogenesis. Autoimmunity, 41(5), 353-62.
  8. Wang X, Ma Y, Yoder A, Crandall H, Zachary JF, Fujinami RS, Weis JH, Weis J (2008). T cell infiltration is associated with increased Lyme arthritis in TLR2-/- mice. FEMS immunology and medical microbiology, 52(1), 124-33.
  9. Tsunoda I, Terry EJ, Marble BJ, Lazarides E, Woods C, Fujinami R (2007). Modulation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by VLA-2 blockade. Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland), 17(1), 45-55.
  10. Tsunoda I, Kuang LQ, Theil DJ, Fujinami R (2000). Antibody association with a novel model for primary progressive multiple sclerosis: induction of relapsing-remitting and progressive forms of EAE in H2s mouse strains. Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland), 10(3), 402-18.
  11. Tsunoda I, Tolley ND, Theil DJ, Whitton JL, Kobayashi H, Fujinami R (1999). Exacerbation of viral and autoimmune animal models for multiple sclerosis by bacterial DNA. Brain pathology (Zurich, Switzerland), 9(3), 481-93.
  12. Stewart KA, Wilcox KS, Fujinami RS, White H (2010). Theiler's virus infection chronically alters seizure susceptibility. Epilepsia, 51(8), 1418-28.
  13. Kirkman NJ, Libbey JE, Wilcox KS, White HS, Fujinami R (2010). Innate but not adaptive immune responses contribute to behavioral seizures following viral infection. Epilepsia, 51(3), 454-64.
  14. Libbey JE, Kirkman NJ, Smith MC, Tanaka T, Wilcox KS, White HS, Fujinami R (2008). Seizures following picornavirus infection. Epilepsia, 49(6), 1066-74.
  15. Grist JJ, Marro BS, Skinner DD, Syage AR, Worne C, Doty DJ, Fujinami RS, Lane T (2018). Induced CNS expression of CXCL1 augments neurologic disease in a murine model of multiple sclerosis via enhanced neutrophil recruitment. European journal of immunology, 48(7), 1199-210.
  16. Peterson LK, Tsunoda I, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2008). Role of B:T cell ratio in suppression of clinical signs: a model for silent MS. Experimental and molecular pathology, 85(1), 28-39.
  17. Hanak TJ, Libbey JE, Doty DJ, Sim JT, DePaula-Silva AB, Fujinami R (2019). Positive modulation of mGluR5 attenuates seizures and reduces TNF-α+ macrophages and microglia in the brain in a murine model of virus-induced temporal lobe epilepsy. Experimental neurology, 311,, 194-204.
  18. Libbey JE, Coon HH, Kirkman NJ, Sweeten TL, Miller JN, Stevenson EK, Lainhart JE, McMahon WM, Fujinami R (2008). Are there enhanced MBP autoantibodies in autism?. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 38(2), 324-32.
  19. Kirkman NJ, Libbey JE, Sweeten TL, Coon HH, Miller JN, Stevenson EK, Lainhart JE, McMahon WM, Fujinami R (2008). How relevant are GFAP autoantibodies in autism and Tourette Syndrome?. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 38(2), 333-41.
  20. Burgess NK, Sweeten TL, McMahon WM, Fujinami R (2006). Hyperserotoninemia and altered immunity in autism. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 36(5), 697-704.
  21. Theil DJ, Libbey JE, Rodriguez F, Whitton JL, Tsunoda I, Derfuss TJ, Fujinami R (2008). Targeting myelin proteolipid protein to the MHC class I pathway by ubiquitination modulates the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Journal of neuroimmunology, 204(1-2), 92-100.
  22. Tsunoda I, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2007). TGF-beta1 suppresses T cell infiltration and VP2 puff B mutation enhances apoptosis in acute polioencephalitis induced by Theiler's virus. Journal of neuroimmunology, 190(1-2), 80-9.
  23. Tsunoda I, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2007). Sequential polymicrobial infections lead to CNS inflammatory disease: possible involvement of bystander activation in heterologous immunity. Journal of neuroimmunology, 188(1-2), 22-33.
  24. Peterson LK, Fujinami R (2007). Inflammation, demyelination, neurodegeneration and neuroprotection in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis. Journal of neuroimmunology, 184(1-2), 37-44.
  25. Peterson LK, Tsunoda I, Masaki T, Fujinami R (2007). Polyreactive myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies: Implications for systemic autoimmunity in progressive experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Journal of neuroimmunology, 183(1-2), 69-80.
  26. Libbey JE, Peterson LK, Tsunoda I, Fujinami R (2006). Monoclonal MOG-reactive autoantibody from progressive EAE has the characteristics of a natural antibody. Journal of neuroimmunology, 173(1-2), 135-45.
  27. Tsunoda I, Libbey JE, Kobayashi-Warren M, Fujinami R (2006). IFN-gamma production and astrocyte recognition by autoreactive T cells induced by Theiler's virus infection: role of viral strains and capsid proteins. Journal of neuroimmunology, 172(1-2), 85-93.
  28. Tsunoda I, Kuang LQ, Igenge IZ, Fujinami R (2005). Converting relapsing remitting to secondary progressive experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) by ultraviolet B irradiation. Journal of neuroimmunology, 160(1-2), 122-34.
  29. Theil DJ, Tsunoda I, Libbey JE, Derfuss TJ, Fujinami R (2000). Alterations in cytokine but not chemokine mRNA expression during three distinct Theiler's virus infections. Journal of neuroimmunology, 104(1), 22-30.
  30. Wang LY, Theil DJ, Whitton JL, Fujinami R (1999). Infection with a recombinant vaccinia virus encoding myelin proteolipid protein causes suppression of chronic relapsing-remitting experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Journal of neuroimmunology, 96(2), 148-57.
  31. Wang LY, Fujinami R (1997). Enhancement of EAE and induction of autoantibodies to T-cell epitopes in mice infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus encoding myelin proteolipid protein. Journal of neuroimmunology, 75(1-2), 75-83.
  32. Barnett LA, Whitton JL, Wang LY, Fujinami R (1996). Virus encoding an encephalitogenic peptide protects mice from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Journal of neuroimmunology, 64(2), 163-73.
  33. Kurtz CI, McCarron RM, Spatz M, Fujinami R (1994). Characterization of a murine central nervous system-derived cell line: infectability and presentation of viral antigen. Journal of neuroimmunology, 51(1), 35-43.
  34. Wang M, Howell JM, Libbey JE, Tainer JA, Fujinami R (2003). Manganese superoxide dismutase induction during measles virus infection. Journal of medical virology, 70(3), 470-4.
  35. Bell AF, Whitton JL, Fujinami R (1997). Antisense-mediated resistance to measles virus infection in HeLa cells. The Journal of infectious diseases, 176(1), 258-61.
  36. Tsunoda I, Kuang LQ, Tolley ND, Whitton JL, Fujinami R (1998). Enhancement of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) by DNA immunization with myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) plasmid DNA. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology, 57(8), 758-67.
  37. Tsunoda I, McCright IJ, Kuang LQ, Zurbriggen A, Fujinami R (1997). Hydrocephalus in mice infected with a Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus variant. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology, 56(12), 1302-13.
  38. Tsunoda I, Tanaka T, Fujinami R (2008). Regulatory role of CD1d in neurotropic virus infection. Journal of virology, 82(20), 10279-89.
  39. Libbey JE, Tsunoda I, Whitton JL, Fujinami R (2007). Infectious RNA isolated from the spinal cords of mice chronically infected with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Journal of virology, 81(6), 3009-11.
  40. Tsunoda I, Kuang LQ, Kobayashi-Warren M, Fujinami R (2005). Central nervous system pathology caused by autoreactive CD8+ T-cell clones following virus infection. Journal of virology, 79(23), 14640-6.
  41. Tsunoda I, Kuang LQ, Fujinami R (2002). Induction of autoreactive CD8+ cytotoxic T cells during Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection: implications for autoimmunity. Journal of virology, 76(24), 12834-44.
  42. Tsunoda I, Wada Y, Libbey JE, Cannon TS, Whitby FG, Fujinami R (2001). Prolonged gray matter disease without demyelination caused by Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus with a mutation in VP2 puff B. Journal of virology, 75(16), 7494-505.
  43. McCright IJ, Tsunoda I, Whitby FG, Fujinami R (1999). Theiler's viruses with mutations in loop I of VP1 lead to altered tropism and pathogenesis. Journal of virology, 73(4), 2814-24.
  44. Tolley ND, Tsunoda I, Fujinami R (1999). DNA vaccination against Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus leads to alterations in demyelinating disease. Journal of virology, 73(2), 993-1000.
  45. Fujinami RS, Sun X, Howell JM, Jenkin JC, Burns J (1998). Modulation of immune system function by measles virus infection: role of soluble factor and direct infection. Journal of virology, 72(12), 9421-7.
  46. Wada Y, McCright IJ, Whitby FG, Tsunoda I, Fujinami R (1998). Replacement of loop II of VP1 of the DA strain with loop II of the GDVII strain of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus alters neurovirulence, viral persistence, and demyelination. Journal of virology, 72(9), 7557-62.
  47. Kurtz CI, Sun XM, Fujinami R (1995). B-lymphocyte requirement for vaccine-mediated protection from Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced central nervous system disease. Journal of virology, 69(8), 5152-5.
  48. Wada Y, Pierce ML, Fujinami R (1994). Importance of amino acid 101 within capsid protein VP1 for modulation of Theiler's virus-induced disease. Journal of virology, 68(2), 1219-23.
  49. Zurbriggen A, Thomas C, Yamada M, Roos RP, Fujinami R (1991). Direct evidence of a role for amino acid 101 of VP-1 in central nervous system disease in Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection. Journal of virology, 65(4), 1929-37.
  50. Kurtz CI, Sun XM, Fujinami R (1995). Protection of SJL/J mice from demyelinating disease mediated by Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Microbial pathogenesis, 18(1), 11-27.
  51. Tsunoda I, Sette A, Fujinami RS, Oseroff C, Ruppert J, Dahlberg C, Southwood S, Arrhenius T, Kuang LQ, Kubo RT, Chesnut RW, Ishioka G (1999). Lipopeptide particles as the immunologically active component of CTL inducing vaccines. Vaccine, 17(7-8), 675-85.
  52. Libbey JE, Tsunoda I, Fujinami R (2002). Altered cell growth and morphology in a BHK-21 cell mutant that lacks a receptor for Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Virology, 294(1), 85-93.
  53. Sun X, Burns JB, Howell JM, Fujinami R (1998). Suppression of antigen-specific T cell proliferation by measles virus infection: role of a soluble factor in suppression. Virology, 246(1), 24-33.
  54. Bell AF, Burns JB, Fujinami R (1997). Measles virus infection of human T cells modulates cytokine generation and IL-2 receptor alpha chain expression. Virology, 232(2), 241-7.
  55. Tsunoda I, Kurtz CI, Fujinami R (1997). Apoptosis in acute and chronic central nervous system disease induced by Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Virology, 228(2), 388-93.
  56. Cusick MF, Libbey JE, Doty DJ, DePaula-Silva AB, Fujinami R (2017). The role of peripheral interleukin-6 in the development of acute seizures following virus encephalitis. Journal of neurovirology, 23(5), 696-703.
  57. Libbey JE, Coon HH, Kirkman NJ, Sweeten TL, Miller JN, Lainhart JE, McMahon WM, Fujinami R (2007). Are there altered antibody responses to measles, mumps, or rubella viruses in autism?. Journal of neurovirology, 13(3), 252-9.
  58. McCright IJ, Tsunoda I, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2002). Mutation in loop I of VP1 of Theiler's virus delays viral RNA release into cells and enhances antibody-mediated neutralization: a mechanism for the failure of persistence by the mutant virus. Journal of neurovirology, 8(2), 100-10.
  59. Theil DJ, Tsunoda I, Rodriguez F, Whitton JL, Fujinami R (2001). Viruses can silently prime for and trigger central nervous system autoimmune disease. Journal of neurovirology, 7(3), 220-7.
  60. Libbey JE, McCright IJ, Tsunoda I, Wada Y, Fujinami R (2001). Peripheral nerve protein, P0, as a potential receptor for Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Journal of neurovirology, 7(2), 97-104.
  61. Sanchez JMS, DePaula-Silva AB, Doty DJ, Truong A, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2019). Microglial cell depletion is fatal with low level picornavirus infection of the central nervous system. Journal of neurovirology, 25(3), 415-21.
  62. McCright IJ, Fujinami R (1997). Lack of correlation of Theiler's virus binding to cells with infection. Journal of neurovirology, 3 Suppl 1,, S68-70.
  63. Tsunoda I, Lane TE, Blackett J, Fujinami R (2004). Distinct roles for IP-10/CXCL10 in three animal models, Theiler's virus infection, EAE, and MHV infection, for multiple sclerosis: implication of differing roles for IP-10. Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England), 10(1), 26-34.
  64. Cusick MF, Libbey JE, Cox Gill J, Fujinami RS, Eckels D (2013). CD4+ T-cell engagement by both wild-type and variant HCV peptides modulates the conversion of viral clearing helper T cells to Tregs. Future virology, 8(7), 695-705.
  65. Brown DG, Soto R, Yandamuri S, Stone C, Dickey L, Gomes-Neto, JC, Pastuzyn ED, Bell R, Petersen C, Buhrke K, Fujinami RS, O'Connell RM, Stephens WZ, Shepherd JD, Lane TE, Round J (2019). The microbiota protects from viral-induced neurologic damage through microglia-intrinsic TLR signaling. eLife, 8,, e47117.
  66. Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2016). Complete Genome Sequence of Murine Pneumotropic Virus (Polyomaviridae) Clone pKV(37-1). Genome announcements, 4(3), e00404-e00416.
  67. Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2016). Variable Genome Sequences of the Murine Pneumotropic Virus (Polyomaviridae) Regulatory Region Isolated from an Infected Mouse Tissue Viral Suspension. Genome announcements, 4(3), e00405-e00416.
  68. Zhao P, Wang P, Dong S, Zhou Z, Cao Y, Yagita H, He X, Zheng SG, Fisher SJ, Fujinami RS, Chen (2019). Depletion of PD-1-positive cells ameliorates autoimmune disease. Nature biomedical engineering, 3(4), 292-305.

Review

  1. Vezzani A, Fujinami RS, White HS, Preux PM, Blumcke I, Sander JW, Loscher (2016). Infections, inflammation and epilepsy. Acta neuropathologica, 131(2), 211-34.
  2. Bartolini L, Libbey JE, Ravizza T, Fujinami RS, Jacobson S, Gaillard W (2019). Viral Triggers and Inflammatory Mechanisms in Pediatric Epilepsy. Molecular neurobiology, 56(3), 1897-907.
  3. Cusick MF, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2013). Multiple sclerosis: autoimmunity and viruses. Current opinion in rheumatology, 25(4), 496-501.
  4. DePaula-Silva AB, Hanak TJ, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2017). Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection of SJL/J and C57BL/6J mice: Models for multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Journal of neuroimmunology, 308, 30-42.
  5. Libbey JE, Cusick MF, Fujinami R (2014). Role of pathogens in multiple sclerosis. International reviews of immunology, 33(4), 266-83.
  6. Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2011). Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis as a testing paradigm for adjuvants and vaccines. Vaccine, 29(17), 3356-62.
  7. Cusick MF, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2012). Molecular mimicry as a mechanism of autoimmune disease. Clinical reviews in allergy & immunology, 42(1), 102-11.
  8. Libbey JE, Lane TE, Fujinami R (2014). Axonal pathology and demyelination in viral models of multiple sclerosis. Discovery medicine, 18(97), 79-89.
  9. Cusick MF, Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2014). Picornavirus infection leading to immunosuppression. Future virology, 9(5), 475-82.
  10. Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2011). Neurotropic viral infections leading to epilepsy: focus on Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Future virology, 6(11), 1339-50.
  11. Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2010). Role for antibodies in altering behavior and movement. Autism research, 3(4), 147-52.
  12. Libbey JE, Fujinami R (2021). Viral mouse models used to study multiple sclerosis: past and present. Archives of virology, 166(4), 1015-1033.

Conference Proceedings

  1. Fujinami R (2002). Molecular mimicry that primes for autoimmunity which is triggered by infection. Proceedings from the Banbury Center of Cold Spring Harbor meeting on microbiology, immunology and toxicology of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, Long Island, NY. 7 Suppl 2, S32-3.

Abstract

  1. DePaula-Silva AB, Gorbea C, Doty DJ, Libbey JE, Sanchez JMS, Cazalla D, Fujinami R (2019). "Modulation of TREM-1 activation in macrophages alters the development of acute seizures," 16th International Symposium on NeuroVirology, Atlanta, Georgia.