Lefteris Michailidis
PhD
Dr. Michailidis' laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive virus-host interactions, how viruses lead to human diseases, and in developing strategies to control them.
Titles and Roles
- Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Research Program
- Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics
Biography
Lefteris Michailidis, PhD, is assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Michailidis joined Emory University in 2021 and has established a multidisciplinary lab focusing on virus-host interactions in hepatitis B virus and other viruses. He is a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.
Education
Dr. Michailidis received his PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University in New York City, New York.
Research
The Michailidis research program focuses on understanding the interaction between viruses and the host using a set of biochemical, cell-based and in vivo methods. In particular, the group is interested in HBV and the development of eradication strategies that involve state-of-the-art primary hepatocyte systems and humanized liver chimeric mice. These systems expand the scope of the research beyond viral hepatitis to other liver-related diseases and fields including fatty liver disease and liver immunometabolism. In addition, they have a strong interest in antiviral mechanisms carried out by interferon-stimulated genes and other host proteins but also small molecule inhibitors in regards to mechanisms of action and resistance. In this direction their main focus has been HIV, HBV, and SARS-CoV-2. To accomplish these goals, they use medium and high-throughput genetic screens (gene overexpression and CRISPR knockout) across different cell systems and in some cases in humanized mice.