Nadia Roan, PhD

Photo of Nadia Roan, PhD

Email Nadia
(415) 734-4883

1650 Owens St
San Francisco, CA 94107

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  • Associate Professor, School of Medicine
  • Assistant Professor

Biography

Dr. Roan has had a long-standing interest in understanding the effect of host factors on microbial pathogens of the genital mucosa. Her research as a graduate student led to new insights into the nature of the mucosal immune response directed against the most common sexually transmitted bacterium C. trachomatis. She created and characterized C. trachomatis-specific TCR transgenic and retrogenic mice, and used these mice as tools to understand the inflammatory response to C. trachomatis within the upper female reproductive tract (FRT). During her postdoctoral years, Dr. Roan continued her studies on sexually transmitted microbes, but transitioned to studying HIV-1, a viral pathogen with a devastating effect on global health. She focused on understanding the effect of semen components on HIV-1 infection. She identified and characterized amyloid fibrils made up of peptides derived from the major components of the semen coagulum. These amyloids markedly enhance HIV infection, in part by promoting the attachment of HIV-1 to their cellular targets.

Dr. Roan’s current research interest focuses on two major areas. First, she is investigating the mechanisms by which semen components such as coagulum-derived amyloids promote HIV transmission, and the effects of these components on the effectiveness of currently available anti-HIV microbicides. This understanding will help the development of a new class of “combination microbicides” that contain components targeting both HIV-1 and naturally-occurring factors that promote HIV-1 infectivity. In parallel, a high-throughput screen is currently being conducted to identify compounds that inhibit the activity of viral-enhancing factors in semen. Dr. Roan’s second line of research is to understand the physiological functions of semen amyloids and their effects on cells present in the genital mucosa. This understanding will reveal insights into the roles of these semen factors in reproduction, which can lead to novel ways to enhance fertility or to the development of a new class of contraceptives.

Awards

Displaying 1 - 40 of 40

  1. Laustsen A, Bak RO, Krapp C, Kjær L, Egedahl JH, Petersen CC, Pillai S, Tang HQ, Uldbjerg N, Porteus M, Roan NR, Nyegaard M, Denton PW, Jakobsen MR. Interferon priming is essential for human CD34+ cell-derived plasmacytoid dendritic cell maturation and function. Nat Commun. 2018 08 30; 9(1):3525. View on Pubmed
  2. Martin JW, Chen JC, Neidleman J, Tatsumi K, Hu J, Giudice LC, Greene WC, Roan NR. Potent and rapid activation of tropomyosin-receptor kinase A in endometrial stromal fibroblasts by seminal plasma. Biol Reprod. 2018 Aug 01; 99(2):336-348. View on Pubmed
  3. Röcker A, Roan NR, Yadav JK, Fändrich M, Münch J. Structure, function and antagonism of semen amyloids. Chem Commun (Camb). 2018 Jul 05; 54(55):7557-7569. View on Pubmed
  4. Müller JA, Harms M, Krüger F, Groß R, Joas S, Hayn M, Dietz AN, Lippold S, von Einem J, Schubert A, Michel M, Mayer B, Cortese M, Jang KS, Sandi-Monroy N, Deniz M, Ebner F, Vapalahti O, Otto M, Bartenschlager R, Herbeuval JP, Schmidt-Chanasit J, Roan NR, Münch J. Semen inhibits Zika virus infection of cells and tissues from the anogenital region. Nat Commun. 2018 06 07; 9(1):2207. View on Pubmed
  5. Roan NR. Resident T cells stand up to HIV. Sci Immunol. 2018 Jun 01; 3(24). View on Pubmed
  6. Trapecar M, Khan S, Roan NR, Chen TH, Telwatte S, Deswal M, Pao M, Somsouk M, Deeks SG, Hunt PW, Yukl S, Sanjabi S. An Optimized and Validated Method for Isolation and Characterization of Lymphocytes from HIV+ Human Gut Biopsies. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2017 Nov; 33(S1):S31-S39. View on Pubmed
  7. Cavrois M, Banerjee T, Mukherjee G, Raman N, Hussien R, Rodriguez BA, Vasquez J, Spitzer MH, Lazarus NH, Jones JJ, Ochsenbauer C, McCune JM, Butcher EC, Arvin AM, Sen N, Greene WC, Roan NR. Mass Cytometric Analysis of HIV Entry, Replication, and Remodeling in Tissue CD4+ T Cells. Cell Rep. 2017 07 25; 20(4):984-998. View on Pubmed
  8. Roan NR, Sandi-Monroy N, Kohgadai N, Usmani SM, Hamil KG, Neidleman J, Montano M, Ständker L, Röcker A, Cavrois M, Rosen J, Marson K, Smith JF, Pilcher CD, Gagsteiger F, Sakk O, O'Rand M, Lishko PV, Kirchhoff F, Münch J, Greene WC. Semen amyloids participate in spermatozoa selection and clearance. Elife. 2017 06 27; 6. View on Pubmed
  9. Neidleman JA, Chen JC, Kohgadai N, Müller JA, Laustsen A, Thavachelvam K, Jang KS, Stürzel CM, Jones JJ, Ochsenbauer C, Chitre A, Somsouk M, Garcia MM, Smith JF, Greenblatt RM, Münch J, Jakobsen MR, Giudice LC, Greene WC, Roan NR. Mucosal stromal fibroblasts markedly enhance HIV infection of CD4+ T cells. PLoS Pathog. 2017 02; 13(2):e1006163. View on Pubmed
  10. Camus C, Matusali G, Bourry O, Mahe D, Aubry F, Bujan L, Pasquier C, Massip P, Ravel C, Zirafi O, Munch J, Roan NR, Pineau C, Dejucq-Rainsford N. Comparison of the effect of semen from HIV-infected and uninfected men on CD4+ T-cell infection. AIDS. 2016 05 15; 30(8):1197-208. View on Pubmed
  11. LoRicco JG, Xu CS, Neidleman J, Bergkvist M, Greene WC, Roan NR, Makhatadze GI. Gallic Acid Is an Antagonist of Semen Amyloid Fibrils That Enhance HIV-1 Infection. J Biol Chem. 2016 Jul 01; 291(27):14045-55. View on Pubmed
  12. Bergman P, Roan NR, Römling U, Bevins CL, Münch J. Amyloid formation: functional friend or fearful foe? J Intern Med. 2016 Aug; 280(2):139-52. View on Pubmed
  13. Müller JA, Zirafi O, Roan NR, Lee SJ, Münch J. Evaluation of EPI-X4 as a urinary peptide biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of late acute GvHD. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2016 08; 51(8):1137-9. View on Pubmed
  14. Roan NR, Jakobsen MR. Friend or Foe: Innate Sensing of HIV in the Female Reproductive Tract. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2016 Feb; 13(1):53-63. View on Pubmed
  15. Chen JC, Roan NR. Isolation and Culture of Human Endometrial Epithelial Cells and Stromal Fibroblasts. Bio Protoc. 2015 Oct 20; 5(20). View on Pubmed
  16. Roan NR, Münch J. Improving preclinical models of HIV microbicide efficacy. Trends Microbiol. 2015 Aug; 23(8):445-7. View on Pubmed
  17. Zirafi O, Kim KA, Roan NR, Kluge SF, Müller JA, Jiang S, Mayer B, Greene WC, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Semen enhances HIV infectivity and impairs the antiviral efficacy of microbicides. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Nov 12; 6(262):262ra157. View on Pubmed
  18. French KC, Roan NR, Makhatadze GI. Structural characterization of semen coagulum-derived SEM1(86-107) amyloid fibrils that enhance HIV-1 infection. Biochemistry. 2014 May 27; 53(20):3267-77. View on Pubmed
  19. Roan NR, Liu H, Usmani SM, Neidleman J, Müller JA, Avila-Herrera A, Gawanbacht A, Zirafi O, Chu S, Dong M, Kumar ST, Smith JF, Pollard KS, Fändrich M, Kirchhoff F, Münch J, Witkowska HE, Greene WC. Liquefaction of semen generates and later degrades a conserved semenogelin peptide that enhances HIV infection. J Virol. 2014 Jul; 88(13):7221-34. View on Pubmed
  20. Roan NR, Chu S, Liu H, Neidleman J, Witkowska HE, Greene WC. Interaction of fibronectin with semen amyloids synergistically enhances HIV infection. J Infect Dis. 2014 Oct 01; 210(7):1062-6. View on Pubmed
  21. Usmani SM, Zirafi O, Müller JA, Sandi-Monroy NL, Yadav JK, Meier C, Weil T, Roan NR, Greene WC, Walther P, Nilsson KP, Hammarström P, Wetzel R, Pilcher CD, Gagsteiger F, Fändrich M, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Direct visualization of HIV-enhancing endogenous amyloid fibrils in human semen. Nat Commun. 2014 Apr 01; 5:3508. View on Pubmed
  22. Chen JC, Johnson BA, Erikson DW, Piltonen TT, Barragan F, Chu S, Kohgadai N, Irwin JC, Greene WC, Giudice LC, Roan NR. Seminal plasma induces global transcriptomic changes associated with cell migration, proliferation and viability in endometrial epithelial cells and stromal fibroblasts. Hum Reprod. 2014 Jun; 29(6):1255-70. View on Pubmed
  23. Tang Q, Roan NR, Yamamura Y. Seminal plasma and semen amyloids enhance cytomegalovirus infection in cell culture. J Virol. 2013 Dec; 87(23):12583-91. View on Pubmed
  24. Yolamanova M, Meier C, Shaytan AK, Vas V, Bertoncini CW, Arnold F, Zirafi O, Usmani SM, Müller JA, Sauter D, Goffinet C, Palesch D, Walther P, Roan NR, Geiger H, Lunov O, Simmet T, Bohne J, Schrezenmeier H, Schwarz K, Ständker L, Forssmann WG, Salvatella X, Khalatur PG, Khokhlov AR, Knowles TP, Weil T, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Peptide nanofibrils boost retroviral gene transfer and provide a rapid means for concentrating viruses. Nat Nanotechnol. 2013 Feb; 8(2):130-6. View on Pubmed
  25. Roan NR, Cavrois M, Greene WC. [Role of semen-derived amyloid fibrils as facilitators of HIV infection]. Med Sci (Paris). 2012 Apr; 28(4):358-60. View on Pubmed
  26. Roan NR, Müller JA, Liu H, Chu S, Arnold F, Stürzel CM, Walther P, Dong M, Witkowska HE, Kirchhoff F, Münch J, Greene WC. Peptides released by physiological cleavage of semen coagulum proteins form amyloids that enhance HIV infection. Cell Host Microbe. 2011 Dec 15; 10(6):541-50. View on Pubmed
  27. Arnold F, Schnell J, Zirafi O, Stürzel C, Meier C, Weil T, Ständker L, Forssmann WG, Roan NR, Greene WC, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Naturally occurring fragments from two distinct regions of the prostatic acid phosphatase form amyloidogenic enhancers of HIV infection. J Virol. 2012 Jan; 86(2):1244-9. View on Pubmed
  28. Kim KA, Yolamanova M, Zirafi O, Roan NR, Staendker L, Forssmann WG, Burgener A, Dejucq-Rainsford N, Hahn BH, Shaw GM, Greene WC, Kirchhoff F, Münch J. Semen-mediated enhancement of HIV infection is donor-dependent and correlates with the levels of SEVI. Retrovirology. 2010 Jun 23; 7:55. View on Pubmed
  29. Roan NR, Sowinski S, Münch J, Kirchhoff F, Greene WC. Aminoquinoline surfen inhibits the action of SEVI (semen-derived enhancer of viral infection). J Biol Chem. 2010 Jan 15; 285(3):1861-9. View on Pubmed
  30. Gondek DC, Roan NR, Starnbach MN. T cell responses in the absence of IFN-gamma exacerbate uterine infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. J Immunol. 2009 Jul 15; 183(2):1313-9. View on Pubmed
  31. Roan NR, Münch J, Arhel N, Mothes W, Neidleman J, Kobayashi A, Smith-McCune K, Kirchhoff F, Greene WC. The cationic properties of SEVI underlie its ability to enhance human immunodeficiency virus infection. J Virol. 2009 Jan; 83(1):73-80. View on Pubmed
  32. Starnbach MN, Roan NR. Conquering sexually transmitted diseases. Nat Rev Immunol. 2008 Apr; 8(4):313-7. View on Pubmed
  33. Grotenbreg GM, Roan NR, Guillen E, Meijers R, Wang JH, Bell GW, Starnbach MN, Ploegh HL. Discovery of CD8+ T cell epitopes in Chlamydia trachomatis infection through use of caged class I MHC tetramers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Mar 11; 105(10):3831-6. View on Pubmed
  34. Roan NR, Greene WC. A seminal finding for understanding HIV transmission. Cell. 2007 Dec 14; 131(6):1044-6. View on Pubmed
  35. Roan NR, Starnbach MN. Immune-mediated control of Chlamydia infection. Cell Microbiol. 2008 Jan; 10(1):9-19. View on Pubmed
  36. Roan NR, Starnbach MN. Antigen-specific CD8+ T cells respond to Chlamydia trachomatis in the genital mucosa. J Immunol. 2006 Dec 01; 177(11):7974-9. View on Pubmed
  37. Roan NR, Gierahn TM, Higgins DE, Starnbach MN. Monitoring the T cell response to genital tract infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Aug 08; 103(32):12069-74. View on Pubmed
  38. Balsara ZR, Roan NR, Steele LN, Starnbach MN. Developmental regulation of Chlamydia trachomatis class I accessible protein-1, a CD8+ T cell antigen. J Infect Dis. 2006 May 15; 193(10):1459-63. View on Pubmed
  39. Hess D, Liu B, Roan NR, Sternglanz R, Winston F. Spt10-dependent transcriptional activation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires both the Spt10 acetyltransferase domain and Spt21. Mol Cell Biol. 2004 Jan; 24(1):135-43. View on Pubmed
  40. D'Orazio SE, Velasquez M, Roan NR, Naveiras-Torres O, Starnbach MN. The Listeria monocytogenes lemA gene product is not required for intracellular infection or to activate fMIGWII-specific T cells. Infect Immun. 2003 Dec; 71(12):6721-7. View on Pubmed