Evan Hermel, PhD

Areas of Expertise

Immunology, Molecular Biology, Medical Virology

Biography

Evan is a native New Yorker who transplanted to California as one of the founding Faculty of the College of Medicine. He teaches basic and clinical Immunology in the COM and the Masters of Science in Medical Health Sciences, as well as Medical Virology. Evan has two children, 22 and 19, and has been married to the lovely Ruthellen for 28 years and counting.

Education

• Ph.D. in Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX (Kirsten Fischer Lindahl, advisor)
• M.S. in Medical Biology/Immunology, C.W. Post College of Long Island University, Greenvale, NY
• B.A. in Biology, Hofstra Universit,y Hempstead, NY

Honors and Awards

• 2022 Graduation hooder, Ruby Gilmore and Stephany Arcuri, Class of 2022
• 2018 Graduation hooder, Amrita Mahesh, COM Class of 2018
• 2016 Graduation hooder, Michael Swiatkowski, COM Class of 2016
• 2012 Graduation hooder, Tamara Taber, COM Class of 2012
• 2010 Graduation hooder, Mary Hung, COM Class of 2010
• 2008 Faculty Speaker, Class of 2008 Graduation and Teacher of the Year award
• 2008 Graduation hooder, Michelle Lee, COM Class of 2008
• 2008 Teacher of the Year Award, Class of 2008
• 2007 Graduation hooder, Romina Shirka, COM Class of 2007
• 2001 Faculty Service Award in Clinical Education
• 2000 Best Use of Case Studies Teaching Award
• 1992 Sigma Xi Graduate Student Research Forum Award

Research

Evan's main interest has been investigating the immunogenicity of Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) as a novel vaccine candidate (collaboration with Dr. Alison McCormick, College of Pharmacy, Touro University-CA). They have found that TMV interacts with the antiviral senor TLR7 and activates signaling pathways downstream of TLR7 in human and mouse antigen presenting cell lines. His current aims are to dissect out these pathways and ascertain which antiviral cytokines are produced in response.

Recent Publications

1. E. Hermel. Caspase-12 and lupus: the curious case of the dog that didn’t bark. 2016. Inflammation & Cell Signaling. e3:1383.
2. E. Hermel. Caspase-12, rheumatoid arthritis, and the dog that didn’t bark. 2016. Immunogenetics Online Access, 1:1-3
3. T. Fuchs, J.A. Kelly, E. Simon, K. L. Sivils and E. Hermel. 2016. The anti-inflammatory CASPASE-12 gene does not influence SLE phenotype in African-Americans. Immunology Letters 173: 21–25
4. L. Marshall, M. Obaidullah, T. Fuchs, N.S. Fineberg, G. Brinkley, T.R. Mikuls, S. L. Bridges Jr. and E. Hermel. 2014. CASPASE-12 and rheumatoid arthritis in African-Americans. Immunogenetics 66:281-5
5. M. Yavari, K.D. Klapstein, W.C. Hartwig, R. Rao, and E. Hermel. 2012. Identification of the functional CASPASE-12 allele in Indian subpopulations. Int. J. Immunogenetics. 39:389-93
6. E. Hermel and K.D. Klapstein. 2011. A possible mechanism for maintenance of the deleterious allele of human CASPASE-12. Med. Hypotheses 77:803–806
7. G. Zhou, D. Wu, E. Balogh, E. Hermel and M. Gochin. 2010. Design, synthesis and evaluation of indole compounds as novel inhibitors targeting gp41. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 20:1500-1503.
8. J.E. Young, L. Gouw, S. Propp, B.L. Sopher, J. Taylor, A. Lin, E. Hermel, A. Logvinova, S.F. Chen, S. Chen, D.E. Bredesen, R. Truant, L.J. Ptacek, A.R. La Spada, and L.M. Ellerby. 2007. Proteolytic cleavage of ataxin-7 by caspase-7 modulates cellular toxicity and transcriptional dysregulation. J. Biol. Chem. 282:30150-60.
9. E. Hermel, A.J. Hart, I. Gunduz, H. Acton, C. Kim, M. Wurth, S. Uddin, C. Smith, K. Fischer Lindahl and C.J. Aldrich. 2004. Polymorphism and conservation of the genes encoding Qa1 molecules. Immunogenetics. 56:639-49.
10. J. Gafni, E. Hermel, J. Young, C.L. Wellington, R. Siman, M.R. Hayden and L.M. Ellerby. 2004. Inhibition of calpain cleavage of huntingtin reduces toxicity: accumulation of calpain/caspase fragments in the nucleus. J. Biol. Chem. 279:20211-20.
11. E. Hermel, J.Gafni, S.S. Propp, B.R. Leavitt, C.L. Wellington, J.E. Young, A.S. Hackam, A.V. Logvinova, A.L. Peel, S.F. Chen, V. Hook, R. Singaraja, S.Krajewski, P.C. Goldsmith, H.M. Ellerby, G.S. Salvesen, M.R. Hayden, D.E. Bredesen, and L.M. Ellerby. 2004. Specific caspase interactions and amplification are involved in selective neuronal vulnerability in Huntington’s disease. Cell Death Differentiation. 11:424-438.
12. R.V. Rao, A. Peel, A. Logvinova, G. del Rio, E. Hermel, T. Yokota, P.C. Goldsmith, L.M. Ellerby, H.M. Ellerby and D.E. Bredesen. 2002. Coupling endoplasmic reticulum stress to the cell death program: role of the ER chaperone GRP78. FEBS Letters 25777:1-7.

Memberships and Affiliations

• Member, American Association of Immunologists

Teaching Responsibilities

Course coordinator: Infection and Immunity (HSOC607)
Lecturer: Immunology and Microbiology lectures and TBL for 1st and 2nd year osteopathic medical students (FOM, MED600; CNS/MS, MED 604; GERD, MED642; CVRR, MED 622; HSOC607).