Elissa Schwartz

Biography

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Research Interests

My research investigates mechanisms in virology, immunology, and infectious disease epidemiology. We use quantitative methods and computer modeling in conjunction with data in order to predict unforeseen biological mechanisms, to determine biologically important rate parameters, and to evaluate pathogenic mechanisms that are difficult to test directly. Our interdisciplinary approach aims to advance our basic understanding of disease mechanisms and to lead to new therapeutic strategies.

Currently we are examining the control of lentiviral infection, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). We use mathematical and computational models of viral dynamics with clinical and experimental data to elucidate the determinants of virus control and escape. Our long-term goal is to uncover fundamental viral or immune mechanisms and to develop effective vaccine strategies.

Education

• Visiting Assistant Professor, Mathematics, Harvey Mudd College
• Postdoc, Biomathematics and Biostatistics, UCLA
• PhD, Biomedical Sciences, Mount Sinai-NYU
• BA, Mathematics, UC Berkeley

Publications

• Hewage IM, Church KEM, Schwartz EJ. (2024) Investigating the impact of vaccine hesitancy on an emerging infectious disease: a mathematical and numerical analysis. Journal of Biological Dynamics, 18:1. Investigating the impact of vaccine hesitancy on an emerging infectious disease: a mathematical and numerical analysis.
• Tchoumi SY, Schwartz EJ, Tchuenche JM. (2024) A deterministic model of COVID-19 with differential infectivity and vaccination booster. Decision Analytics Journal, 10:100374. A deterministic model of COVID-19 with differential infectivity and vaccination booster.
• Bailes CL, Biggs KRH, Scott L, Wichman HA, Schwartz EJ. (2023) Genetic and functional basis of the reduction effect in bacteriophage ΦX174. Virology 588:109905. Genetic and functional basis of the reduction effect in bacteriophage ΦX174.
• Hull-Nye D, Meadows T, Smith? SR, Schwartz EJ. (2023) Key factors and parameter ranges for immune control of equine infectious anemia virus infection. Viruses 15:691. Key factors and parameter ranges for immune control of equine infectious anemia virus infection.
• Meadows T, Schwartz EJ. (2023) A model of virus infection with immune responses supports boosting CTL response to balance antibody response. In Computational and Mathematical Population Dynamics; Tuncer N, Martcheva M, Prosper O, Childs L, Eds.; World Scientific Publishing Europe Ltd.: London UK, 4:145-168. arxiv this publication (pdf).
• Schwartz EJ, Costris-Vas C, Smith? SR. (2021) Modelling mutation in equine infectious anemia virus infection suggests a path to viral clearance with repeated vaccination. Viruses 13(12):2450. Modelling mutation in equine infectious anemia virus infection suggests a path to viral clearance with repeated vaccination.
• Johnson SS, Jackson KC, Mietchen MS, Sbai S, Schwartz EJ, Lofgren ET. (2021) Excess risk of COVID-19 to university populations resulting from in-person sporting events. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(16):8260. Excess risk of COVID-19 to university populations resulting from in-person sporting events.
• Biggs KRH, Bailes CL, Scott L, Wichman HA, Schwartz EJ. (2021) Ecological approach to understanding superinfection inhibition in bacteriophage. Viruses 13(7):1389. Ecological approach to understanding superinfection inhibition in bacteriophage.
• Gudaz H, Ogu HA, Schwartz EJ. (2020) Long-term dynamics of the kidney disease epidemic among HIV-infected individuals. Spora 6(1):52-60. Long-term dynamics of the kidney disease epidemic among HIV-infected individuals.
• Costris-Vas C, Schwartz EJ, Smith? R. (2020) Predicting COVID-19 using past pandemics as a guide: how reliable were mathematical models then, and how reliable will they be now? Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering 17(6):7502-7518. Predicting COVID-19 using past pandemics as a guide: how reliable were mathematical models then, and how reliable will they be now?
• Hull-Nye D, Malik B, Keshavamurthy R, Schwartz EJ. (2020) Transient dynamics of the kidney disease epidemic among HIV-infected individuals. Mathematics in Applied Sciences and Engineering 1(4):371-380. Transient dynamics of the kidney disease epidemic among HIV-infected individuals.
• Cangelosi RA, Schwartz EJ, Wollkind DW. (2018) A quasi-steady-state approximation to the basic viral dynamics model with a non-cytopathic effect. Frontiers in Microbiology 9:54. A quasi-steady-state approximation to the basic viral dynamics model with a non-cytopathic effect.
• Schwartz EJ, Vaidya NK, Dorman K, Carpenter S, Mealey RH. (2018) Dynamics of lentiviral infection in vivo in the absence of adaptive host immune responses. Virology 513:108-113. Dynamics of lentiviral infection in vivo in the absence of adaptive host immune responses.
• Pawelek KA, Tobin S, Griffin C, Ochocinski D, Schwartz EJ, Del Valle S. (2017) Impact of an imperfect vaccine and altered behavior on the spread of influenza. AIMS Medical Science 4(2):217-232. Impact of an imperfect vaccine and altered behavior on the spread of influenza.
• Schwartz EJ, Biggs KRH, Bailes C, Ferolito KA, Vaidya NK. (2016) HIV dynamics with immune responses: Perspectives from mathematical modeling. Current Clinical Microbiology Reports 3:216-224. HIV dynamics with immune responses: Perspectives from mathematical modeling.
• Schwartz EJ, Choi B, Rempala GA. (2015) Estimating epidemic parameters: Application to H1N1 pandemic data. Mathematical Biosciences 270(Pt B):198-203. Estimating epidemic parameters: Application to H1N1 pandemic data.
• Allen LJS, Schwartz EJ. (2015) Free-virus and cell-to-cell transmission in models of equine infectious anemia virus. Mathematical Biosciences 270(Pt B):237-48. Free-virus and cell-to-cell transmission in models of equine infectious anemia virus.
• Schwartz EJ, Nanda S, Mealey RH. (2015) Antibody escape kinetics of EIAV infection of horses. Journal of Virology 89(13):6945-51. Antibody escape kinetics of EIAV infection of horses.
• Schwartz EJ, Morgan M, Lapin S. (2015) Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza in two settings in a small community: the workplace and the university campus. Epidemiology & Infection 143:1606-9. Pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza in two settings in a small community: the workplace and the university campus.
• Vaidya NK, Morgan M, Jones T, Miller L, Lapin S, Schwartz EJ. (2015) Modelling the epidemic spread of an H1N1 influenza outbreak in a rural university town. Epidemiology & Infection 143:1610-20. Modelling the epidemic spread of an H1N1 influenza outbreak in a rural university town.
• Schwartz EJ, Smith? RJ. (2014) Identifying the conditions under which antibodies protect against infection by equine Infectious anemia virus. Vaccines 2:397-421. Identifying the conditions under which antibodies protect against infection by equine Infectious anemia virus.
• Ciupe SM, Schwartz EJ. (2014) Understanding virus-host dynamics following EIAV infection in SCID horses. J. Theoretical Biology 343:1-8. Understanding virus-host dynamics following EIAV infection in SCID horses.
• Schwartz EJ, Yang OO, Cumberland WG, de Pillis LG. (2013) Computational model of HIV-1 escape from the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response. Canadian Applied Mathematics Quarterly 21(2):261-279. Computational model of HIV-1 escape from the cytotoxic T lymphocyte response.
• Miller L, Jones T, Morgan M, Lapin S, Schwartz EJ. (2013) Individual-based computational model used to explain 2009 pandemic H1N1 in rural campus community. J. Biological Systems 21(4):134005. Individual-based computational model used to explain 2009 pandemic H1N1 in rural campus community.
• Schwartz EJ, Pawelek KA, Harrington K, Cangelosi R, Madrid S. (2013) Immune control of equine infectious anemia virus infection by cell-mediated and humoral responses. Applied Mathematics 4:171-177. Immune control of equine infectious anemia virus infection by cell-mediated and humoral responses.
• Mushayabasa S, Bhunu CP, Schwartz EJ, Magombedze G, Tchuenche JM. (2011) Socio-economic status and HIV/AIDS dynamics: a modeling approach. World Journal of Modeling and Simulation 7(4):243-57. Socio-economic status and HIV/AIDS dynamics: a modeling approach.
• Snedecor SJ, Strutton D, Ciuryla V, Schwartz EJ, Botteman M. (2009) Transmission-dynamic model to capture the indirect effects of infant vaccination with Prevnar (7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7)) in older populations. Vaccine 27(34):4694-703. Transmission-dynamic model to capture the indirect effects of infant vaccination with Prevnar (7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7)) in older populations.
• Anton PA, Ibarrondo FJ, BoscardinWJ, Zhou Y, Schwartz EJ, Ng HL, Hausner MA, Shih R, Elliott J, Hultin PM, Hultin LE, Price C, Fuerst M, Adler A, Wong JT, Yang OO, and Jamieson BD. (2008) Differential Immunogenicity of Vaccinia and HIV-1 Components of a Recombinant Vaccine in Mucosal and Blood Compartments. Vaccine 26:4617-4623. Differential Immunogenicity of Vaccinia and HIV-1 Components of a Recombinant Vaccine in Mucosal and Blood Compartments.
• Smith RJ, Schwartz EJ. (2008) Predicting the potential impact of a cytotoxic T lymphocyte HIV vaccine: how often should you vaccinate and how strong should the vaccine be? Mathematical Biosciences 212:180-187. Predicting the potential impact of a cytotoxic T lymphocyte HIV vaccine: how often should you vaccinate and how strong should the vaccine be?
• Schwartz EJ, Bodine EN, Blower S. (2007) Effectiveness and Efficiency of Imperfect Therapeutic HSV-2 Vaccines. Human Vaccines 3(6):231-238. Effectiveness and Efficiency of Imperfect Therapeutic HSV-2 Vaccines.
• Breban R, McGowan I, Topaz C, Schwartz EJ, Anton P, Blower S. (2006) Modeling the Potential Impact of Rectal Microbicides to Reduce HIV transmission in Bathhouses. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering 3(3):459-66. Modeling the Potential Impact of Rectal Microbicides to Reduce HIV transmission in Bathhouses.
• Schwartz EJ, Szczech LA, Ross MJ, Klotman ME, Winston JA, Klotman PE. (2005) Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and the Epidemic of HIV+ End-Stage Renal Disease. Journal of American Society of Nephrology 16(8):2412-20. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and the Epidemic of HIV+ End-Stage Renal Disease.
• Schwartz EJ, Blower S. (2005) Predicting the Potential Individual- and Population-Level Effects of Imperfect Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Vaccines. Journal of Infectious Diseases 191(10):1734-46. Predicting the Potential Individual- and Population-Level Effects of Imperfect Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Vaccines.
• Blower SM, Schwartz EJ, Mills J. (2003) Forecasting the future of HIV epidemics: the impact of antiretroviral therapies and imperfect vaccines. AIDS Reviews 5(2):113-125. Forecasting the future of HIV epidemics: the impact of antiretroviral therapies and imperfect vaccines.
• Sunamoto M, Husain M, He JC, Schwartz EJ, Klotman PE. (2003) Critical Role for Nef in HIV-1-induced podocyte dedifferentiation. Kidney International 64(5):1695-1701. Critical Role for Nef in HIV-1-induced podocyte dedifferentiation.
• Schwartz EJ, Fierer DS, Neumann AU, Keller MJ, Parkas V, Klotman ME, Winston JA, Klotman PE. (2002) HIV-1 Dynamics in Hemodialysis Patients. AIDS 16(9):1301-1303. HIV-1 Dynamics in Hemodialysis Patients.
• Husain M, Gusella GL, Klotman ME, Gelman IH, Ross MD, Schwartz EJ, Cara A, Klotman PE. (2002) HIV-1 Nef induces proliferation and anchorage-independent growth in podocytes. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 13(7):1806-15. HIV-1 Nef induces proliferation and anchorage-independent growth in podocytes.
• Schwartz EJ, Neumann AU, Teixeira AV, Bruggeman LA, Rappaport J, Perelson AS, Klotman PE. (2002) Effect of Target Cell Availability on HIV-1 Production in Vitro. AIDS 16(3):341-345. Effect of Target Cell Availability on HIV-1 Production in Vitro.
• Schwartz EJ, Cara A, Snoeck H, Ross MD, Sunamoto M, Reiser J, Mundel P, Klotman PE. (2001) HIV-1 Induces Loss of Contact Inhibition in Podocytes. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 12(8):1677-84. HIV-1 Induces Loss of Contact Inhibition in Podocytes.
• Schwartz EJ, Klotman PE. (1998) Pathogenesis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Nephropathy. Seminars in Nephrology 18(4):436-445. Pathogenesis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Nephropathy.
• Rappaport J, Cho Y-Y, Hendel H, Schwartz EJ, Schachter F, Zagury J-F. (1997) 32 BP CCR-5 Gene Deletion and Resistance to Fast Progression in HIV-1 Infected Heterozygotes. The Lancet 349:922. 32 BP CCR-5 Gene Deletion and Resistance to Fast Progression in HIV-1 Infected Heterozygotes.
• Morgello S, Uson RR, Schwartz EJ, Haber RS. (1995) The Human Blood-Brain Barrier Glucose Transporter (GLUT1) is a Glucose Transporter of Gray Matter Astrocytes. Glia 14:43-54. The Human Blood-Brain Barrier Glucose Transporter (GLUT1) is a Glucose Transporter of Gray Matter Astrocytes