Director, Bacteriology Section, Division of Medical Microbiology
Associate Professor of Pathology, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Primary Appointment in Pathology; Secondary Appointment in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (SHPH)
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Department of Pathology
Division of Microbiology
Meyer B1-191
600 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287-7093
Phone: (410) 955-5077
Fax: (410) 614-8087
Email: jdick@jhmi.edu
Education and Training:
- Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine
Professional Interests:
Antibiotic discovery, antibiotic mechanisms of resistance, bacterial identification, bacterial pathogenesis.
My clinical research activities center on the application of biochemical and molecular techniques to the detection and identification of bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance mechanisms. Current projects include the use of bacterial cellular fatty acid profiles, amplification and sequencing of the 16Sr RNA gene for identification and characterization of emerging bacterial pathogens. We are also studying 'in vitro' efficacy of new/investigational antibiotics as well as mechanisms of resistance to existing agents. My basic research effort is directed towards drug discovery for the treatment of tuberculosis. This includes the identification and characterization of new molecular targets as well as design and development of new drugs for the treatment of M. tuberculosis.
Notable Accomplishments:
Developed database and methodology for bacterial cellular fatty acid identification and, currently, the use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing for bacterial identification. Test development: molecular tests for antibiotic resistance factors; mec-A, van A, van B, and van C, toxins; S. aureus enterotoxins A-E, and TSST-1, Shiga-like toxins 1 and 2; molecular assays for detection of H. pylori, M. pneumoniae, and Legionella. Patent: Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Synthesis as Antimicrobial Agents, Compound Inhibitors Mycobacteria
Major Professional Leadership:
- Past President, Maryland Branch of the American Society of Microbiology (1993)
- Fellow, Infectious Disease Society of America; Editorial Board Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology
- Reviewer for Journal Clinical Microbiology, Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, and others.
Recent Publications:
Srinivasan, A., J.D. Dick, and T.M. Perl. 2002. Vancomycin resistance in Staphylococcus species. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. (In press).
Parrish, N.M. T. Houston, P.B. Jones, C. Townsend and J.D. Dick. 2001. In vitro activity of a novel antimycobacterial compound, N-octanesulfonylacetmide and its effects on lipid and mycolic acid synthesis. Anti-microbial. Agents chemothes. 45: 1143-1150.
Dick, J.D. and N.M. Parrish. 2000. Laboratory methods in the diagnosis of infections, p. 275-289. In K. E. Nelson, C. Maters, and Graham (ed.) Infections Diseases Epidemiology. Aspen Publishers, Inc. Gaithersburg. MD.
Jones, P.B., N.M. Parrish, T.A. Houston, A.S. Stapon, N.P. Bansal, J.D. Dick and C. A. Townsend. 2000. A new class of antituberculosis agents. J. Med. Chem. 43: 3304-3314.
