Seth Blumberg

Title

Postdoctoral Researcher
UCLA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
RAPIDD Fellow

Education

MD/PhD, Physics, University of Michigan
BSc (Hons), Engineering and Applied Science, Caltech

Email

sblumberg@ucla.edu

Current research focus: As a Fogarty International Center RAPIDD fellow I have explored the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of zoonotic infections, with emphasis on cross-species spillover transmission and the emergence of novel human pathogens. I have had a particular interest in understanding why human monkeypox infection has risen 20-fold in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past thirty years. The surge can be partly explained by waning immunity following the cessation of smallpox vaccination. However, it also appears that there has been an increase in animal-to-human transmission. As my research has progressed, I have developed a combination of mathematical modeling and computer simulation techniques that are useful for analyzing the dynamics of other emerging infectious diseases such as measles in under-vaccinated populations and Nipah virus in Bangladesh. These statistical models provide quantitative insight regarding the strength and heterogeneity of disease transmission.

Previous research focus (PhD thesis): My doctoral thesis research involved a theoretical and experimental analysis of the mechanical disruption of protein-mediated DNA looping. Since DNA looping can affect the transcription of downstream genes, the mechanical control of looping may in turn affect gene regulation. I used a statistical mechanics model to show that physiologic sub-piconewton tension on substrate DNA can have a disruptive effect on DNA looping. I also developed a measurement scheme based on total internal reflection fluorescence monitoring of tethered DNA particles to test this theoretical predication for the prokaryote Lac operon. I also investigated DNA looping in more complex eukaryotic systems and employed increasingly sophisticated experimental techniques including implementation of automated data acquisition and microfluidic approaches.

Career goals: I am fascinated by the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of diseases. I anticipate the insights gained from quantifying these dynamics will likely lead to better outcomes for individual patients as well as improved public health strategies. As a physician scientist, I would like to act as a facilitator for helping basic scientists work on clinically applicable projects by motivating applicability of research findings and facilitating access to relevant research data. I thrive off of collaborative interactions and making connections between different fields of research. I expect a majority of my future research will consist of quantitative modeling of data obtained by collaborators. However I appreciate the insight my experimental PhD provides for connecting theoretical models with real data.

Beyond my current focus on infectious disease dynamics, I am keen to explore how ecological perspective may facilitate improved clinical guidelines. Specific areas of interest include: - Understanding how antibiotic manipulation of commensal gut microbiota may impact a patient's susceptibility to future infection or autoimmune disease.
- Learning how clinical guidelines for antibiotic use can be re-designed to optimize individual outcomes while minimizing the public health risk of emergent antibiotic resistance.
- Disentangling the tradeoff between protection against pathogen invasion versus avoidance of auto-immune disease.
- Applying lessons from infectious disease dynamics and eradication programs towards improving individually tailored cancer treatment.

Clinical motivation: I continue to derive inspiration from the opportunities I have had to practice clinical medicine. Ever since my personal battle with stage IIIB Hodgkin's disease, I have had a unique connection with patients. I identify particularly well with young patients who are adjusting to a new diagnosis that has significant lifelong consequences. I remember how my health care team helped me turn my cancer treatment into a positive learning experience and I hope to help others in the same way.

Blumberg S, Lloyd-Smith JO. (In prep) R0 and transmission heterogeneity inference for stuttering transmission chains.

Lloyd-Smith JO, Blumberg S, et al. (In prep) Quantifying the risk of human monkeypox emergence in the aftermath of smallpox eradication.

Thomassen HA, et al. (In review) Pathogen-host Associations and Predicted Range Shifts of Human Monkeypox in Response to Climate Change in Central Africa.

Fuller T, et al. (2010) Using remote sensing to map the risk of human monkeypox virus in the Congo basin. Ecohealth

Rimoin AW, et al. (2010) Major increase in human monkeypox incidence 30 years after smallpox vaccination campaigns cease in the Democratic Republic of Congo. PNAS 107:16262-16267.

Han L, Lui B, Blumberg S, et al. (2009) Calibration of Tethered Particle Motion Experiments. Mathematics of DNA Structure, Function and Interactions, eds. C.H. Benham et al. (Springer)

Han L, Garcia HG, Blumberg S, et al. (2009) Concentration and Length Dependence of DNA Looping in Transcriptional Regulation. PLoS ONE 4:e5621.

Goyal S, Lillian T, Blumberg S, et al. (2007) Intrinsic Curvature of DNA Influences Lac-R Mediated Looping. Biophys. J. 93:4342 .

Lambert MN, Vocker E, Blumberg S, et al (2006) Mg2+ Induced Compaction of Single RNA Molecules Monitored by Tethered Particle Microscopy. Biophys J. 90:3672.

Blumberg S, Pennington MW, Meiners JC (2006) Do Femtonewon Forces Affect Genetic Function? A Review. J Biol Phys. 32:73.

Blumberg S, Gajraj A, et al. (2005) The Role of Thermal Fluctuations and Mechanical Constraints in Protein-Mediated DNA Looping. Proceedings of SPIE 5841:92.

Blumberg S, Gajraj A, Pennington MW, Meiners JC. (2005) 3-D characterization of Tethered Microspheres by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy. Biophys J. 89:1272.

Blumberg S, Tkachenko A., Meiners, JC. (2005) Disruption of Protein-Mediated DNA Looping by Tension in the Substrate DNA. Biophys J. 88:1692.

Blumberg S. (2003) Surviving Cancer: A Medical Student's Perspective. Michigan Medical Journal

Lo SY, Lobo JD, Blumberg S et al (1997) Generation of Energetic He Atom Beams by a Pulsed Positive Corona Discharge. J. Appl. Phys. 81:5896