Phillip K. Peterson

Professor

Department of Medicine, Medical School
Director, International Medical Education and Research Program

Email: peter137@umn.edu
Phone: (612) 624-9996

Education

M.D., Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1970

Research Interests

Dr. Peterson's major research interests have been in the area of host defenses and pathogenesis of central nervous system infections. Together with his research colleagues in the Center for Infectious Disease and Microbiology Translational Research, he has been investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of defense and damage of the brain caused by a variety of intracellular pathogens.

Selected Recent Publications

• Gekker G, Hu S, Wentland MP, Bidlack JM, Lokensgard JR, Peterson PK. k-Opioid receptor ligands inhibit cocaine-induced HIV-1 expression in microglial cells. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2004;309:600-606.
• Rock RB, Gekker G, Hu S, Sheng WS, Cheeran M, Lokensgard JR, Peterson PK. Microglia: Evolving concepts of their role in defense and neuropathogenesis of central nervous system infections. Clin Microbiol Rev 2004;17:942-64.
• Hu S, Sheng WS, Lokensgard JR, Peterson PK. Morphine potentiates HIV-1 gp 120-induced neuronal apoptosis. J Infect Dis. 2005;191:886-889.