Microbiology Manager

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Ivan Vladimirovich Kuzmin

Address: *** ******** ** **, *******, GA, 30047

Phone: 404-***-****

E-mail: ********@******.**

Citizenship: Russia; permanent resident of the US (green card).

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EDUCATION

College/University

1993 to 1996 Omsk State Agrarian University, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Omsk, Russian Federation

Degree: Candidate of Biological Sciences (Ph. D. equivalent); Diploma: KT No 040033.

Dissertation: “Role of bats in circulation of lyssaviruses and some arboviruses in the territory of the

former Soviet Union” July 2, 1997

Major: Biological Science

Date of diploma: January 9, 1998.

1989 to 1990 Medical internship: Omsk Regional Clinical Hospital, Omsk, Russian Federation

Certificate of completion: July 1, 1990.

1983 to 1989 Omsk order of Red Banner of Labor Medical Institute named after M.I.Kalinin, Omsk,

Russian Federation.

Qualification: Physician Medical; Diploma with Excellence; PB No 587606

Major: Clinical Medicine

Date of diploma: June 30, 1989

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WORK EXPERIENCE

Associate Service Fellow (GS-12) January, 2006 – September, 2012

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Rabies Program (1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA, 30333).

Hours per week: 40

Salary per year: USD 81,487

Supervisor: Dr. Charles E. Rupprecht, e-mail: *****************@*****.***

Duties and accomplishments:

1. Surveillance of bats as reservoirs of emerging infections pathogens (in the framework of the CDC Global Disease Detection Program) in Cameroon, Nigeria, DRC, Kenya, the Republic of Georgia (2006-2012).

2. Participation in collaborative projects with the University of Pretoria (South Africa) on phylogenetic and pathogenesis studies of Lagos bat virus and on characterization of novel paramyxoviruses from African bats (2005-2007 and 2012).

3. Participation in a collaborative project with Pokrov Plant of Biopreparation (Pokrov, Russia) on the development of new oral rabies vaccine for use in Russia, carried out in the framework of Biotechnology Engagement Program (BTEP; Washington, DC) (2005-2007), resulted in licensing of a new oral rabies vaccine of CDC origin in Russia.

4. Participation in a collaborative project with the Rabies and Wildlife Zoonoses Group of the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Weibridge, UK) on antigenic cartography of lyssaviruses (2007-2009).

5. Pathogenesis experiments on lyssavirus infection in bats.

6. Phylogenetic analyses of lyssaviruses and other rhabdoviruses.

7. Methods of the complete lyssavirus genome sequencing.

8. Characterization of a new lyssavirus species, Shimony bat virus.

9. Taxonomy of lyssaviruses and other rhabdoviruses.

10. Surveillance of bats for lyssavirus circulation (antigen detection, RNA detection, virus isolation, serologic tests, gene sequencing, phylogenetic analysis).

11. Surveillance of bats for filoviruses.

12. Routine diagnosis and typing of rabies virus isolates of worldwide origin (from North and South America, Africa, Asia).

13. Glycoprotein gene sequencing of different rabies virus lineages of worldwide origin within the collaborative project with Crucell Holland, Ltd., towards evaluation of new synthetic anti-rabies monoclonal antibodies for rabies prevention (2005-2010).

14. Investigation of multiple outbreaks of bat-originating rabies viruses in carnivores occurred in Arizona and Oregon during 2001-2009, and evolutionary analysis of these viruses (2009-2011).

15. The study of evolutionary history, phylogeny, and distribution of Arctic rabies in Alaska and worldwide (2006-2007).

16. Rabies diagnosis in humans (ante- and post-mortem).

17. Phone rabies consultations and answers to queries from public health professionals, State Departments of Health, and general public.

18. Participation in the NLTN training courses on laboratory diagnosis of rabies.

19. Development of standard operational procedures and related documentation for CLIA and experimental protocol. Quality control, proficiency testing, and competency assessment for the procedures.

20. Training and mentoring of students and visitors scientists on research projects, related to rabies and other lyssaviruses.

International Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) Fellow August, 2002 - January, 2006

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Viral and Rickettsial Zoonosis Branch, Rabies Team (1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA, 30333).

Hours per week: 40

Salary per year: USD 34,200

Supervisor: Dr. Charles E. Rupprecht, e-mail: *****************@*****.***

Duties and accomplishments: The EID fellowship is a one-year program with emphasis on the practical application of technologies, methodologies and practices related to emerging infectious diseases, gaining an understanding of the health laboratory system and how it relates to infectious disease surveillance, prevention, research and control with specific emphasis on rabies. The fellowship was initially adopted as a one year program, but the work was extended for a second and third years.

Scientific accomplishments as EID Fellow at CDC include:

1. Sequencing, genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of four newly discovered non-rabies lyssaviruses; Aravan, Khujand, Irkut and West Caucasian bat virus (later recognized as new species in the Lyssavirus genus).

2. Approaches for quantitative separation of lyssavirus genotypes were re-evaluated in regard to the newly described lyssaviruses above.

3. Conducted protection studies using these novel viruses against commercially available rabies biologics, as well as cross-antigenic and neutralization relationships of these viruses to each other and to other members of the genus.

4. Immunization and production of hyper-immune sera and ascites fluid from hamsters and mice used for routine immunologic studies.

5. Conducted studies in rabies pathogenesis using Aravan, Khujand, Irkut and West Caucasian Bat Virus in bats as a relevant host species reservoir.

6. Molecular epidemiology of rabies in the former Soviet Union, some locations of southern Asia, Africa and Latin America.

7. Conducted serological surveillance for the identification of anti-lyssavirus antibodies in the sera of bats from Bangladesh, Peru, Thailand and Samoa.

8. Sequencing of non-lyssa rhabdoviruses not previously characterized: Obodhiang, Kolongo, Sanjimba, Kern Canyon, Mount Elgon, and determination of their phylogenetic relationships within the Rhabdoviridae family.

9. Assisted with other investigations as part of the Rabies Team at CDC such as the determination of antibodies to Lagos bat and Mokola viruses in the serum of South African mammals; diagnosis of rabies in the brains of raccoons and other mammals collected from different areas within the US as part of the oral rabies vaccination and surveillance campaigns; screening of human saliva for virus isolation in mice in the framework of the Asian Encephalitis Program undertaken by CDC.

10. CDC outbreak investigation: an investigation of Nipah virus outbreak in Bangladesh in 2003 and 2004. Field activity included two trips to Bangladesh. As a member of the animal investigation team, I participated in the collection of samples from bats and domestic animals for further virologic investigations at CDC.

11. Member of a training team sent to Brazil in June of 2003 included 6 day course given in Brazil in June, 2003, on field sampling of bats, primates and carnivores.

12. In April/May of 2005, I conducted laboratory training in the rabies laboratory at CDC for Russian visitor Dr. Denis Bankovsky in the framework of collaborative US-Russian project on an improvement of oral rabies vaccination in Russia, sponsored by the Biotechnology Engagement Program (Washington, DC).

Senior Researcher September, 1996 - August, 2002

Institute for Natural Foci Infection, Rabies Group, Prospekt Mira 7, Omsk, 644080, Russia.

Duties and accomplishments:

As a senior researcher in the Rabies Group, I planned, coordinated, and implemented studies in rabies investigations and research. As a regular practice within Institute, I wrote 2 to 4 year research plans which were submitted for consideration to the Director, and sent for further approval by the Scientific Council of the Institute, and finally to the Health Ministry. Once approved, I was responsible for implementing the research plans according to the initial schedule. Each year I submitted an annual report to the Health Ministry outlining progress, accomplishments and modifications of the initial plans. In addition, I was responsible for submitting a final report at the end of the term, and publication of relevant findings in scientific journals.

My direct participation resulted in the following accomplishments:

1. The development of competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent diagnostic kit for detection of anti-rabies antibodies in the sera of animals and humans.

2. Evaluation of current epidemiological situation on rabies in Western Siberia, trends of development, and assessment for the most appropriate control activity.

3. Development of electronic database on rabies in Russia.

Supervisor: Dr. Anatoly Matuschenko (Institute Director): Prospekt Mira 7, Omsk, 644080, Russia; Tel/Fax: 7(3812)65-06-33; e-mail: ******@*******.**

Field expeditions for those programs covered northern and southern parts of Western Siberia (1996-2002) and Yamal peninsula (2000).

The dissertation “Role of bats in circulation of lyssaviruses and some arboviruses in the territory of the former Soviet Union” was defended, and the degree of Candidate of Biological Sciences (Ph. D. equivalent) was issued in 1998.

In 2000, I applied for and received a 3-year grant from the Russian Foundation of Basic Research. Until the end of 2002, I acted as principal investigator and team leader of a project that studied the variability, evolution and circulation properties of rabies and non-rabies lyssaviruses in the former Soviet Union. The project included field surveillance in West Siberia (2000-2002), Tajikistan (2001) and the Black sea region (2002); as well as laboratory investigation of rabies and rabies related lyssaviruses circulating in Russia. Laboratory tests included virus isolation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, direct fluorescent antibody test, monoclonal antibody typing, determination of peripheral pathogenicity; pathogenesis experiments on an interference between rabies and tick-born encephalitis viruses in the vole model, and computer simulation of rabies epizootics in fox populations.

In 2002, I obtained a grant from Royal Society of the UK as the principal Russian investigator of the collaborative project with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency of the UK on rabies surveillance.

Associate Researcher August, 1990 - August, 1996

Institute for Natural Foci Infection, Rabies Group, Prospekt Mira 7, Omsk, 644080, Russia.

Duties and accomplishments:

Participated in a number of research and public health projects of the team, such as:

1. Rabies surveillance and recommendations for disease elimination in the Volga river region.

2. Rabies epidemiology and recommendation for improvement of the control in Altay region.

3. Development and annual distribution among public health and veterinary authorities of Siberia and the Far East the information bulletin “Rabies in Siberia and Far East”.

Supervisor: Alexandr Botvinkin; current address: Plague Control Institute of Siberia and Far East, Irkutsk, 664047, Russia; Tel. 7(3952)22-01-33; e-mail: *********@*******.**

I participated in short-term training courses in the rabies laboratory of Prof. M.A.Selimov (Polyo Institute of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow) for rabies diagnosis, cell-culture techniques, protein conjugation and preparation of concentrated purified viral antigen.

I performed experimental studies on the pathogenesis of lyssavirus infection in bats.

Field expeditions in the territory of the former Soviet Union: Volga river region (1994, 1995), southern parts of Western Siberia (1988-1996), the Far East (1991), Kyrgyzstan (1988-1992), Uzbekistan (1991), Turkmenistan (1993). Field studies included investigation of population ecology of carnivores and rodents. Samples were collected from all animals; insectivores, bats and arthropods for the presence of lyssaviruses and flaviviruses. Postgraduate studies at the Omsk State Agrarian University, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, were completed at that time (1993-1996).

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OTHER QUALFICATIONS

Languages: Speak and write fluently in Russian and English.

Memberships

Member of the Scientific Committee member of the First International Conference on Rabies in Europe (Kiev, Ukraine, 2005).

Member of the Scientific Committee of the 19 international scientific conference Rabies in the Americas (Atlanta, GA, 2008).

Member of the Rhabdoviridae Study Group working for the International Committee on the Taxonomy of Viruses (2008-current).

Job-related awards:

2010 - National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases: Honor Award Certificate for outstanding research and discovery of new lyssaviruses.

2012 - National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases: Honor Award Certificate for exemplary collaborative effort to protect travelers from rabies.

Job-related Skills

Ability to perform routine techniques used in the research and diagnosis of rabies and other lyssaviruses; basic tools for virus detection, identification, characterization, isolation, titration, adaptation and amplification; including specific design and modifications of these assays for studies in immunology, pathogenesis, pathobiology and biochemical properties of rabies.

1. Work in BSL-2 and BSL-3 environment.

2. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

3. Direct fluorescent antibody test (DFA).

4. Indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA)

5. Rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT).

6. Immunohistochemistry (IHC).

7. Cell culture maintenance (Vero, BHK, NGUK, MNA,)

8. Isolation of viruses in cell cultures (MNA, Vero, BHK).

9. Determination of virus titers in animal models and cell cultures.

10. Immunization of animals (mice, hamsters, rabbits) for the production of hyperimmune serum or ascitic fluid.

11. Virus isolation in different animal models, animal care and handling (rodents, bats, dogs).

12. Necropsy and sampling of animals (i.e. oral and fecal swabs, blood collection and serum separation, harvesting of tissues).

13. Lyophilization of lyssavirus isolates (including evaluation of the most appropriate parameters of the lyophilization regimen) and maintenance of the isolate collection.

14. Field techniques (trapping small and large mammals; netting of bats)

15. Molecular Biology:

a. Extraction and purification of nucleic acids.

b. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); hemi-nested and nested variants.

c. SMART cDNA synthesis technology.

d. Primer design.

e. Real-time PCR.

f. Molecular cloning (all components).

g. Direct sequencing.

h. Editing and alignment of sequences.

i. Phylogenetic analysis of viral genes by different methods.

16. Computer software: MS Office (including MS Access), STATISTICA for Windows, various phylogenetic programs, Adobe Photoshop, Corel Draw.

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