Preston A. Marx, PhD

Emeritus Professor of Tropical Medicine, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Senior Scientist, Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center
Phone
504-871-6255
School or College
School of Medicine
Preston A. Marx, PhD

Education & Affiliations

BS, biology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
PhD, microbiology, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA
Post-doctorate, virology, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN

Biography

Dr. Marx received his BS in Biology in 1966 from the University of New Orleans and received his Ph.D in Microbiology in 1969 from the Louisiana State University Medical Center. He was a Post-Doctoal Reseach Fellowfrom 1972-1974 at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Dr. Marx was the Head of Virology and Immunology at the California Regional Primate Research Center from 1983-1990, was a Professor at the New Mexico Regional Primate Research Laboratory from 1990-1994, and was a Professor at the New York University Medical Center from 1994-1998. He joined the Tulane faculty in 1998. Dr. Marx is a career virologist with over one hundred publications in AIDS. In 1992, as Director of the New Mexico Primate Center, he oversaw the design and construction of a $10 million chimpanzee facility which included 24 outdoor areas for chimpanzees infected with HIV. Dr. Marx's main areas of research are the simian immunodeficiency virus models for AIDS pathogenesis and vaccine development. Dr. Marx's laboratory uses the SIV/macaque animal model to understand HIVmucosal transmission, pathogenesis and to test candidate vaccines. His recent studies have shown that progesterone, a female hormone, enhances SIV transmission across the vaginal epithelium. The simian origins of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in Africa are also a focus for the laboratory. Dr. Marx has identified new SIVs in West Africa that are part of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 genetic lineages. Dr. Marx has over $2 million dollars in funding for his research.

Level of Instruction:

Graduate

Research

  • Simian models for AIDS pathogenesis
  • HIV vaccines
  • Strategies for preventing HIV transmission to women

Publications

Chakrabarti LA, Lewin SR, Zhang L, Gettie A, Luckay A, Martin LN, Skulsky E, Ho DD, Cheng-Mayer C, Marx PA. (2000) Normal T cell turnover in sooty mangabeys harboring active simian immunodeficiency virus. J Virol 74: 1209-1223.

Nixon DF, Donahoe SM, Kakimoto WM, Samuel RV, Metzner KJ, Gettie A, Hanke T, Marx PA, Connor RI.(2000) SIV-specific CTL and protection against challenge in rhesus macaques immunized with a live attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus vaccine. Virology 266: 203-210.

Binley JM, Clas B, Gettie A, Vesanen M, Montefiori DC, Sawyer L, Booth J, Lewis M, Marx PA, Bonhoeffer S, Moore JP.(2000) Passive infusion of immune serum into simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaques undergoing a rapid disease course has minimal effect on plasma viremia. Virol 270: 237-249.

Donahoe SM, W.J. Moretto, Metzner KJ, Marx PA, Samuel RV, Hanke T, Connor RI, Nixon DF. (2000) Direct measurement of CD8+ T cell responses to simian immunodeficiency virus. Virol 272: 347-356.

Smith SM, Baskin GB, Marx PA. (2000) Estrogen protects against vaginal transmission of simian immunodeficiency virus. J Infect Dis 182: 708-715, 2000.

Chakrabarti LA, Lewin SR, Zhang L, Gettie A, Luckay A, Martin LN, Skulsky E, Ho DD, Cheng-Mayer C, Marx PA. (2000) Age-dependent changes in T cell homeostasis and SIV load in sooty mangabeys. J Med Primatol 29: 158-165.

View Dr. Marx's publications at his NCBI profile page.