Cara Wilson, MD
Professor, Medicine-Infectious Disease

Professional Titles

• Professor of Medicine and Immunology
• Executive Vice Chair, Department of Medicine
• Clinical Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)

Recognition & Awards

• Clinical Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program (2020)
  2020 to present
• Executive Vice Chair, University of Colorado Department of Medicine (2019)
  2019 - 2020
• Chair of the NIADI's AIDS Research Advisory Committee, AIDS Research Advisory Committee (2017)
  2017 - 2019
• Vice Chair for Faculty Advancement, University of Colorado Department of Medicine (2015)
  2015 - 2018
• Selected to the NIAID/NIH Advisory Council and AIDS Research Advisory Committee, NIAID/NIH Advisory Council and AIDS Research Advisory Committee (2015)
  2015 to present
• Member of the Council of Graduate Educators, University of Colorado (2014)
  2014 to present
• Director of the Pre-K Mentoring Program, Co-Director KL2 Program (CCTSI) (2014)
  2014 - 2018
• Member of the University Scientific Ethics Committee, University of Colorado (2013)
  2013 - 2017
• Leadership for Innovative Team Science (LITeS) Program, Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) (2013)
  2013 - 2014
• Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation and McNeil Pharmaceutical Young Investigator Award in Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases Society of America (1997)
• Roche Laboratories Post-Doctoral Award in Virology, Infectious Diseases Society of America (1994)
  1994-1996
• Janet M. Glascow Memorial Award, American Medical Women's Association (1988)
• Scholarship Award - Valedictorian, University of Virginia (1988)
  Graduating Class of 1988
• Junior Selection to Alpha Omega Alpha, University of Virginia (1987)
• President of Alpha Chapter, Alpha Omega Alpha - Duke University (1987)
  1987-1988
• Summa Cum Laude, Duke University (1984)
• Nominated for Junior Marshall, Duke University (1983)
• Phi Beta Kappa, Early Selection, Duke University (1983)
• Dean's List and Class Honors, Duke University (1981)
  1981 - 1983

Research Interests

Publications

• Seymour BJ, Trent B, Allen BE, Berlinberg AJ, Tangchittsumran J, Jubair WK, Chriswell ME, Liu S, Ornelas A, Stahly A, Alexeev EE, Dowdell AS, Sneed SL, Fechtner S, Kofonow JM, Robertson CE, Dillon SM, Wilson CC, Anthony RM, Frank DN, Colgan SP, Kuhn KA. Microbiota-dependent indole production stimulates the development of collagen-induced arthritis in mice. J Clin Invest. 2023 Dec 19. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 38113112
• Jones ST, Guo K, Cooper EH, Dillon SM, Wood C, Nguyen DH, Shen G, Barrett BS, Frank DN, Kroehl M, Janoff EN, Kechris K, Wilson CC, Santiago ML. Altered Immunoglobulin Repertoire and Decreased IgA Somatic Hypermutation in the Gut during Chronic HIV-1 Infection. J Virol. 2022 Sep 14;96(17):e0097622. PubMed PMID: 35938870
• Dillon SM, Mickens KL, Thompson TA, Cooper EH, Nesladek S, Christians AJ, Castleman M, Guo K, Wood C, Frank DN, Kechris K, Santiago ML, Wilson CC. Granzyme B( ) CD4 T cells accumulate in the colon during chronic HIV-1 infection. Gut Microbes. 2022 Jan-Dec;14(1):2045852. PubMed PMID: 35258402
• Galbraith MD, Kinning KT, Sullivan KD, Araya P, Smith KP, Granrath RE, Shaw JR, Baxter R, Jordan KR, Russell S, Dzieciatkowska M, Reisz JA, Gamboni F, Cendali F, Ghosh T, Guo K, Wilson CC, Santiago ML, Monte AA, Bennett TD, Hansen KC, Hsieh EWY, D'Alessandro A, Espinosa JM. Specialized interferon action in COVID-19. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Mar 15;119(11). PubMed PMID: 35217532
• Dillon SM, Thompson TA, Christians AJ, McCarter MD, Wilson CC. Reduced immune-regulatory molecule expression on human colonic memory CD4 T cells in older adults. Immun Ageing. 2021 Feb 13;18(1):6. PubMed PMID: 33581731
• Dillon SM and Wilson CC. Gut Innate Immunity and HIV Pathogenesis. Curr. HIV/AIDS Reports (accepted for publication).
• Dillon SM, Wilson CC. Gut Innate Immunity and HIV Pathogenesis. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2021 Apr;18(2):128-138. PubMed PMID: 33687703
• Dillon SM, Thompson TA, Christians AJ, McCarter MD, Wilson CC. Reduced immune-regulatory molecule expression on human colonic memory CD4 T cells in older adults. Immun Ageing. 2021 Feb 13;18(1):6. PubMed PMID: 33581731
• Dillon SM, Abdo MH, Wilson MP, Liu J, Jankowski CM, Robertson CE, Tuncil Y, Hamaker B, Frank DN, MaWhinney S, Wilson CC, Erlandson KM. A Unique Gut Microbiome-Physical Function Axis Exists in Older People with HIV: An Exploratory Study. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2021 Jul;37(7):542-550. PubMed PMID: 33787299
• Erlandson KM, Liu J, Johnson R, Dillon S, Jankowski CM, Kroehl M, Robertson CE, Frank DN, Tuncil Y, Higgins J, Hamaker B, Wilson CC. An exercise intervention alters stool microbiota and metabolites among older, sedentary adults. Ther Adv Infect Dis. 2021 Jan-Dec;8:20499361211027067. PubMed PMID: 34262758
• Kibbie JJ, Dillon SM, Thompson TA, Purba CM, McCarter MD, Wilson CC. Butyrate directly decreases human gut lamina propria CD4 T cell function through histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition and GPR43 signaling. Immunobiology. 2021 Sep;226(5):152126. PubMed PMID: 34365090
• Erlandson KM, Wilson MP, MaWhinney S, Rapaport E, Liu J, Wilson CC, Rahkola JT, Janoff EN, Brown TT, Campbell TB, Jankowski CM. The Impact of Moderate or High-Intensity Combined Exercise on Systemic Inflammation Among Older Persons With and Without HIV. J Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 8;223(7):1161-1170. PubMed PMID: 32779711
• Canfield GS, Bock A, Mann S, Zimmer S, Somerset H, Franco-Paredes C, Wilson CC, Metter RB. A 31-year-old Micronesian Man With Shoulder Fungating Mass. Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Feb 14;70(5):973-975. PubMed PMID: 32055859
• Williams B, Ghosh M, Boucher CAB, Bushman F, Carrington-Lawrence S, Collman R, Dandekar S, Dang Q, Malaspina A, Paredes R, Wilson C, Pinto-Cardoso S, Lagenaur L, Santos J, Joy C, Landay A. A summary of the fourth annual Virology Education HIV Microbiome workshop. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2020 Jan 9. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31914785
• Dillon SM, Wilson CC. What is the collective effect of aging and HIV on the gut microbiome?. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2020 Mar;15(2):94-100. PubMed PMID: 31876548
• • Guo K, Shen G, Kibbie J, Gonzalez T, Dillon SM, Smith HA, Cooper EH, Lavender K, Hasenkrug KJ, Sutter K, Dittmer U, Kroehl M, Kechris K, Wilson CC, Santiago ML. Qualitative Differences Between the IFNa subtypes and IFNß Influence Chronic Mucosal HIV-1 Pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog. 2020 (10):e1008986. PMID: 33064743.
• Erlandson KM, Wilson MP, MaWhinney S, Rapaport E, Liu J, Wilson CC, Rahkola JT, Janoff EN, Brown TT, Campbell TB, Jankowski CM. The Impact of Moderate or High-Intensity Combined Exercise on Systemic Inflammation among Older Persons with and without HIV. J Infect Dis. 2020 Aug 11. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32779711
• Liu J, Johnson R, Dillon S, Kroehl M, Frank DN, Tuncil YE, Zhang X, Ir D, Robertson CE, Seifert S, Higgins J, Hamaker B, Wilson CC, Erlandson KM. Among older adults, age-related changes in the stool microbiome differ by HIV-1 serostatus. EBioMedicine. 2019 Jan 23. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30685386
• Williams B, Boucher C, Bushman F, Carrington-Lawrence S, Collman R, Dandekar S, Dang Q, Malaspina A, Paredes R, Wilson C, Nowak P, Klatt N, Lagenaur L, Landay A. A Summary of the Third Annual HIV Microbiome Workshop. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2018 Oct;34(10):828-834. PubMed PMID: 30105916
• Dillon SM, Guo K, Austin GL, Gianella S, Engen PA, Mutlu EA, Losurdo J, Swanson G, Chakradeo P, Keshavarzian A, Landay AL, Santiago ML, Wilson CC. A compartmentalized type I interferon response in the gut during chronic HIV-1 infection is associated with immunopathogenesis. AIDS. 2018 Jul 31;32(12):1599-1611. PubMed PMID: 29762170
• Angelidou K, Hunt PW, Landay AL, Wilson CC, Rodriguez B, Deeks SG, Bosch RJ, Lederman MM. Changes in Inflammation but Not in T-Cell Activation Precede Non-AIDS-Defining Events in a Case-Control Study of Patients on Long-term Antiretroviral Therapy. J Infect Dis. 2018 Jun 20;218(2):239-248. PubMed PMID: 29309629
• Liu J, Williams B, Frank D, Dillon SM, Wilson CC, Landay AL. Inside Out: HIV, the Gut Microbiome, and the Mucosal Immune System. J Immunol. 2017 Jan 15;198(2):605-614. PubMed PMID: 28069756
• Dillon SM, Kibbie J, Lee EJ, Guo K, Santiago ML, Austin GL, Gianella S, Landay AL, Donovan AM, Frank DN, McCarter MD, Wilson CC. Low abundance of colonic butyrate-producing bacteria in HIV infection is associated with microbial translocation and immune activation. AIDS. 2017 Feb 20;31(4):511-521. PubMed PMID: 28002063
• Dillon SM, Castleman MJ, Frank DN, Austin GL, Gianella S, Cogswell AC, Landay AL, Barker E, Wilson CC. Brief Report: Inflammatory Colonic Innate Lymphoid Cells Are Increased During Untreated HIV-1 Infection and Associated With Markers of Gut Dysbiosis and Mucosal Immune Activation. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2017 Dec 1;76(4):431-437. PubMed PMID: 28825942
• Liu J, Williams B, Frank D, Dillon SM, Wilson CC, Landay AL. Inside Out: HIV, the Gut Microbiome, and the Mucosal Immune System. J Immunol. 2017 Jan 15;198(2):605-614. PubMed PMID: 28069756
• Dillon SM, Kibbie J, Lee EJ, Guo K, Santiago ML, Austin GL, Gianella S, Landay AL, Donovan AM, Frank DN, McCARTER MD, Wilson CC. Low abundance of colonic butyrate-producing bacteria in HIV infection is associated with microbial translocation and immune activation. AIDS. 2017 Feb 20;31(4):511-521. PubMed PMID: 28002063
• Yoder AC, Guo K, Dillon SM, Phang T, Lee EJ, Harper MS, Helm K, Kappes JC, Ochsenbauer C, McCarter MD, Wilson CC, Santiago ML. The transcriptome of HIV-1 infected intestinal CD4 T cells exposed to enteric bacteria. PLoS Pathog. 2017 Feb;13(2):e1006226. PubMed PMID: 28241075
• Pandrea I, Xu C, Stock JL, Frank DN, Ma D, Policicchio BB, He T, Kristoff J, Cornell E, Haret-Richter GS, Trichel A, Ribeiro RM, Tracy R, Wilson C, Landay AL, Apetrei C. Antibiotic and Antiinflammatory Therapy Transiently Reduces Inflammation and Hypercoagulation in Acutely SIV-Infected Pigtailed Macaques. PLoS Pathog. 2016 Jan;12(1):e1005384. PubMed PMID: 26764484
• Dillon SM, Lee EJ, Donovan AM, Guo K, Harper MS, Frank DN, McCarter MD, Santiago ML, Wilson CC. Enhancement of HIV-1 infection and intestinal CD4 T cell depletion ex vivo by gut microbes altered during chronic HIV-1 infection. Retrovirology. 2016 Jan 14;13(1):5. PubMed PMID: 26762145
• Jacobson JM, Zheng L, Wilson CC, Tebas P, Matining RM, Egan MA, Eldridge J, Landay AL, Clifford DB, Luetkemeyer AF, Tiu J, Martinez AL, Janik J, Spitz TA, Hural J, McElrath J, Frahm N. The Safety and Immunogenicity of an Interleukin-12-Enhanced Multiantigen DNA Vaccine Delivered by Electroporation for the Treatment of HIV-1 Infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2016 Feb 1;71(2):163-71. PubMed PMID: 26761518
• Dillon SM, Frank DN, Wilson CC. The gut microbiome and HIV-1 pathogenesis: a two-way street. AIDS. 2016 Nov 28;30(18):2737-2751. PubMed PMID: 27755100
• Dillon SM, Lee EJ, Donovan AM, Guo K, Harper MS, Frank DN, McCarter MD, Santiago ML, Wilson CC. Enhancement of HIV-1 infection and intestinal CD4 T cell depletion ex vivo by gut microbes altered during chronic HIV-1 infection. Retrovirology. 2016 Jan 14;13:5. PubMed PMID: 26762145
• Lavender KJ, Gibbert K, Peterson KE, Van Dis E, Francois S, Woods T, Messer RJ, Gawanbacht A, Müller JA, Münch J, Phillips K, Race B, Harper MS, Guo K, Lee EJ, Trilling M, Hengel H, Piehler J, Verheyen J, Wilson CC, Santiago ML, Hasenkrug KJ, Dittmer U. Interferon Alpha Subtype-Specific Suppression of HIV-1 Infection In Vivo. J Virol. 2016 Jul 1;90(13):6001-13. PubMed PMID: 27099312
• Jacobson JM, Bosinger SE, Kang M, Belaunzaran-Zamudio P, Matining RM, Wilson CC, Flexner C, Clagett B, Plants J, Read S, Purdue L, Myers L, Boone L, Tebas P, Kumar P, Clifford D, Douek D, Silvestri G, Landay AL, Lederman MM. The Effect of Chloroquine on Immune Activation and Interferon Signatures Associated with HIV-1. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2016 Jul;32(7):636-47. PubMed PMID: 26935044
• Pandrea I, Xu C, Stock JL, Frank DN, Ma D, Policicchio BB, He T, Kristoff J, Cornell E, Haret-Richter GS, Trichel A, Ribeiro RM, Tracy R, Wilson C, Landay AL, Apetrei C. Antibiotic and Antiinflammatory Therapy Transiently Reduces Inflammation and Hypercoagulation in Acutely SIV-Infected Pigtailed Macaques. PLoS Pathog. 2016 Jan 14;12(1):e1005384. PubMed PMID: 26764484
• Jacobson JM, Zheng L, Wilson CC, Tebas P, Matining RM, Egan MA, Eldridge J, Landay AL, Clifford DB, Luetkemeyer AF, Tiu J, Martinez AL, Janik J, Spitz TA, Hural J, McElrath J, Frahm N. The Safety and Immunogenicity of an Interleukin-12-Enhanced Multiantigen DNA Vaccine Delivered by Electroporation for the Treatment of HIV-1 Infection. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2016 Feb 1;71(2):163-71. PubMed PMID: 26761518
• Dillon SM, Lee EJ, Kotter CV, Austin GL, Gianella S, Siewe B, Smith DM, Landay AL, McManus MC, Robertson CE, Frank DN, McCarter MD, Wilson CC. Gut dendritic cell activation links an altered colonic microbiome to mucosal and systemic T-cell activation in untreated HIV-1 infection. Mucosal Immunol. 2016 Jan;9(1):24-37. PubMed PMID: 25921339
• Erlandson KM, Allshouse AA, Rapaport E, Palmer BE, Wilson CC, Weinberg A, MaWhinney S, Campbell TB. Physical function impairment of older, HIV-infected adults is associated with cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin response. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 2015 Sep;31(9):905-12. PubMed PMID: 26061347
• Steele AK, Lee EJ, Vestal B, Hecht D, Dong Z, Rapaport E, Koeppe J, Campbell TB, Wilson CC. Contribution of Intestinal Barrier Damage, Microbial Translocation and HIV-1 Infection Status to an Inflammaging Signature. PLoS One. 2014;9(5):e97171. PubMed PMID: 24819230
• Tenorio AR, Zheng Y, Bosch RJ, Krishnan S, Rodriguez B, Hunt PW, Plants J, Seth A, Wilson CC, Deeks SG, Lederman MM, Landay AL. Soluble markers of inflammation and coagulation, but not T-cell activation, are predictors of non-AIDS-defining morbid events during suppressive antiretroviral treatment. J Infect Dis. 2014 May 1. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24795473
• Steele AK, Lee EJ, Manuzak JA, Dillon SM, Beckham JD, McCarter MD, Santiago ML, Wilson CC. Microbial exposure alters HIV-1-induced mucosal CD4 T cell death pathways Ex vivo. Retrovirology. 2014 Feb 4;11:14. PubMed PMID: 24495380
• Dillon SM, Lee EJ, Kotter CV, Austin GL, Dong Z, Hecht DK, Gianella S, Siewe B, Smith DM, Landay AL, Robertson CE, Frank DN, Wilson CC. An altered intestinal mucosal microbiome in HIV-1 infection is associated with mucosal and systemic immune activation and endotoxemia. Mucosal Immunol. 2014 Jan 8. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24399150
• Dillon SM, Lee EJ, Bramante JM, Barker E, Wilson CC. The natural killer cell interferon-gamma response to bacteria is diminished in untreated HIV-1 infection and defects persist despite viral suppression. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2014 Mar 1;65(3):259-67. PubMed PMID: 24091697
• Gustafson CE, Higbee D, Yeckes AR, Wilson CC, De Zoeten EF, Jedlicka P, Janoff EN. Limited expression of APRIL and its receptors prior to intestinal IgA plasma cell development during human infancy. Mucosal Immunol. 2014 May;7(3):467-77. PubMed PMID: 24045575
• Kristoff J, Haret-Richter G, Ma D, Ribeiro RM, Xu C, Cornell E, Stock JL, He T, Mobley AD, Ross S, Trichel A, Wilson C, Tracy R, Landay A, Apetrei C, Pandrea I. Early microbial translocation blockade reduces SIV-mediated inflammation and viral replication. J Clin Invest. 2014 May 16. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24837437
• Manuzak JA, Dillon SM, Lee EJ, Dong ZM, Hecht DK, Wilson CC. Increased Escherichia coli-induced interleukin-23 production by CD16 monocytes correlates with systemic immune activation in untreated HIV-1-infected individuals. J Virol. 2013 Dec;87(24):13252-62. PubMed PMID: 24067979
• Taiwo B, Matining RM, Zheng L, Lederman MM, Rinaldo CR, Kim PS, Berzins BI, Kuritzkes DR, Jennings A, Eron JJ Jr, Wilson CC. Associations of T cell activation and inflammatory biomarkers with virological response to darunavir/ritonavir plus raltegravir therapy. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2013 Aug;68(8):1857-61. PubMed PMID: 23599363
• Erlandson KM, Allshouse AA, Jankowski CM, Lee EJ, Rufner KM, Palmer BE, Wilson CC, MaWhinney S, Kohrt WM, Campbell TB. Association of functional impairment with inflammation and immune activation in HIV type 1-infected adults receiving effective antiretroviral therapy. J Infect Dis. 2013 Jul 15;208(2):249-59. PubMed PMID: 23559466
• Castleman MJ, Dillon SM, Thompson TA, Santiago ML, McCarter MD, Barker E and Wilson CC. Gut Bacteria Induce Granzyme B Expression in Human Colonic ILC3s In Vitro in an IL-15-Dependent Manner. J. Immunol. 2021; Jun 11;ji2000239. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2000239. Online ahead of print.
• • Dopkins N, Fei T, Michael S, Liotta N, Guo K, Mickens KL, Barrett BS, Bendall ML, Dillon SM, Wilson CC, Santiago ML, Nixon DF. Endogenous Retroelement Expression in the Gut Microenvironment of People Living with HIV-1 by Dr. Nicholas Dopkins. Submitted to eBioMedicine

Professional Memberships

• Association of American Medical Colleges, Member
• Society of Mucosal Immunology, Member
• American Association of Immunology, Member
• AIDS Clinical Trials Group, Member
• HIV and Aging Working Group, Member
• Society for Leukocyte Biology, Member