Michael E. Selsted, MD, PhD

Photo of Michael E. Selsted, MD, PhD
Title(s)Professor of Pathology
SchoolKeck School of Medicine of Usc
AddressHMR 2011 Zonal Ave
Health Sciences Campus
Los Angeles CA 90089-9092
Phone+1 323 442 1180
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Title(s)Seth MacFarlane Professor of Immunopathology

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Overview 

Dr. Selsted is a board certified pathologist, physician scientist, and administrator. His academic career includes appointments as Professor (1989-2009) and Chair of Pathology at UC Irvine School of Medicine (2000 - 2009) and Professor and Chair of Pathology in the Keck School of Medicine (2009 - 2024). Dr. Selsted leads a multidisciplinary research program focused on mammalian host defense, innate immunity, and inflammation. This focus led to the discovery and characterization of α-, β-, and θ-defensins, microbicidal and immunomodulatory peptides expressed in myeloid and epithelial cells of vertebrates. These investigations, continuously funded by NIH since 1986, have resulted in more than 50 US and foreign patents, as well as clinical translation of a θ-defensin for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Ongoing studies seek to elucidate the immunoregulatory mechanisms of these peptides, design and application of novel analogs, and application of θ-defensin-inspired macrocyclic peptides in models of autoimmune diseases, cancer, and infections caused by MDR bacterial and fungal pathogens.

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Research 

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Bibliographic 

Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
  1. The macrocyclic peptide rhesus theta defensin 1 activates interferon and antiviral pathways in human monocytes. J Leukoc Biol. 2025 Dec 01; 117(12). Tongaonkar P, Trinh KK, Henley JE, Sell PJ, Thakker V, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 41139211; PMCID: PMC12666533.

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  2. An ADAM10 Exosite Inhibitor Is Efficacious in an In Vivo Collagen-Induced Arthritis Model. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024 Jan 09; 17(1). Diez J, Selsted ME, Bannister TD, Minond D. PMID: 38256920; PMCID: PMC10819767.

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  3. Inhibition of miR-146a Expression and Regulation of Endotoxin Tolerance by Rhesus Theta-Defensin-1. Mediators Inflamm. 2023; 2023:8387330. Tongaonkar P, Trinh KK, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 37101596; PMCID: PMC10125762.

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  4. Preclinical Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Intravenous RTD-1. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022 03 15; 66(3):e0212521. Park AYJ, Tran DQ, Schaal JB, Wang M, Selsted ME, Beringer PM. PMID: 35041507; PMCID: PMC8923172.

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  5. A host-directed macrocyclic peptide therapeutic for MDR gram negative bacterial infections. Sci Rep. 2021 12 06; 11(1):23447. Schaal JB, Eriguchi Y, Tran DQ, Tran PA, Hawes C, Cabebe AE, Pike K, Trinh K, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 34873199; PMCID: PMC8648872.

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  6. Anti-Inflammatory Effects of RTD-1 in a Murine Model of Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung Infection: Inhibition of NF-κB, Inflammasome Gene Expression, and Pro-IL-1β Biosynthesis. Antibiotics (Basel). 2021 Aug 26; 10(9). Dughbaj MA, Jayne JG, Park AYJ, Bensman TJ, Algorri M, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME, Beringer PM. PMID: 34572625; PMCID: PMC8466744.

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  7. Host Defense Peptides as Templates for Antifungal Drug Development. J Fungi (Basel). 2020 Oct 23; 6(4). Basso V, Tran DQ, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 33113935; PMCID: PMC7711597.

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  8. RTD-1 therapeutically normalizes synovial gene signatures in rat autoimmune arthritis and suppresses proinflammatory mediators in RA synovial fibroblasts. Physiol Genomics. 2019 12 01; 51(12):657-667. Tongaonkar P, Punj V, Subramanian A, Tran DQ, Trinh KK, Schaal JB, Laragione T, Ouellette AJ, Gulko PS, Selsted ME. PMID: 31762409; PMCID: PMC6962595.

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  9. Rhesus Theta Defensin 1 Promotes Long Term Survival in Systemic Candidiasis by Host Directed Mechanisms. Sci Rep. 2019 11 15; 9(1):16905. Basso V, Tran DQ, Schaal JB, Tran P, Eriguchi Y, Ngole D, Cabebe AE, Park AY, Beringer PM, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 31729441; PMCID: PMC6858451.

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  10. Essential role of IFN-γ in T cell-associated intestinal inflammation. JCI Insight. 2018 09 20; 3(18). Eriguchi Y, Nakamura K, Yokoi Y, Sugimoto R, Takahashi S, Hashimoto D, Teshima T, Ayabe T, Selsted ME, Ouellette AJ. PMID: 30232288; PMCID: PMC6237234.

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  11. Fungicidal Potency and Mechanisms of θ-Defensins against Multidrug-Resistant Candida Species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2018 06; 62(6). Basso V, Garcia A, Tran DQ, Schaal JB, Tran P, Ngole D, Aqeel Y, Tongaonkar P, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 29610196; PMCID: PMC5971616.

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  12. Rhesus θ-Defensin-1 Attenuates Endotoxin-induced Acute Lung Injury by Inhibiting Proinflammatory Cytokines and Neutrophil Recruitment. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2018 03; 58(3):310-319. Jayne JG, Bensman TJ, Schaal JB, Park AYJ, Kimura E, Tran D, Selsted ME, Beringer PM. PMID: 28954201; PMCID: PMC5854954.

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  13. Macrocyclic θ-defensins suppress tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) shedding by inhibition of TNF-α-converting enzyme. J Biol Chem. 2018 02 23; 293(8):2725-2734. Schaal JB, Maretzky T, Tran DQ, Tran PA, Tongaonkar P, Blobel CP, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. PMID: 29317500; PMCID: PMC5827436.

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  14. Suppression and resolution of autoimmune arthritis by rhesus θ-defensin-1, an immunomodulatory macrocyclic peptide. PLoS One. 2017; 12(11):e0187868. Schaal JB, Tran DQ, Subramanian A, Patel R, Laragione T, Roberts KD, Trinh K, Tongaonkar P, Tran PA, Minond D, Fields GB, Beringer P, Ouellette AJ, Gulko PS, Selsted ME. . PMID: 29145473; PMCID: PMC5690597.

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  15. Efficacy of Rhesus Theta-Defensin-1 in Experimental Models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Lung Infection and Inflammation. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2017 08; 61(8). Bensman TJ, Jayne JG, Sun M, Kimura E, Meinert J, Wang JC, Schaal JB, Tran D, Rao AP, Akbari O, Selsted ME, Beringer PM. PMID: 28559270; PMCID: PMC5527632.

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  16. Rhesus θ-defensin-1 (RTD-1) exhibits in vitro and in vivo activity against cystic fibrosis strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2016 Jan; 71(1):181-8. Beringer PM, Bensman TJ, Ho H, Agnello M, Denovel N, Nguyen A, Wong-Beringer A, She R, Tran DQ, Moskowitz SM, Selsted ME. . PMID: 26433781; PMCID: PMC5007590.

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  17. Rhesus macaque θ-defensin RTD-1 inhibits proinflammatory cytokine secretion and gene expression by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways. J Leukoc Biol. 2015 Dec; 98(6):1061-70. Tongaonkar P, Trinh KK, Schaal JB, Tran D, Gulko PS, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 26269197; PMCID: PMC4661038.

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  18. θ-Defensin RTD-1 improves insulin action and normalizes plasma glucose and FFA levels in diet-induced obese rats. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Jul 15; 309(2):E154-60. Oh YT, Tran D, Buchanan TA, Selsted ME, Youn JH. PMID: 25991648; PMCID: PMC4504933.

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  19. Hydrophobic determinants of α-defensin bactericidal activity. Infect Immun. 2014 Jun; 82(6):2195-202. Tai KP, Le VV, Selsted ME, Ouellette AJ. PMID: 24614658; PMCID: PMC4019156.

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  20. Killing of staphylococci by θ-defensins involves membrane impairment and activation of autolytic enzymes. Antibiotics (Basel). 2014; 3(4):617-31. Wilmes M, Stockem M, Bierbaum G, Schlag M, Götz F, Tran DQ, Schaal JB, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME, Sahl HG. PMID: 25632351; PMCID: PMC4306331.

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  21. Differential Susceptibility of Bacteria to Mouse Paneth Cell α-Defensins under Anaerobic Conditions. Antibiotics (Basel). 2014; 3(4):493-508. Mastroianni JR, Lu W, Selsted ME, Ouellette AJ. PMID: 25383215; PMCID: PMC4220453.

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  22. Microbicidal effects of α- and θ-defensins against antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Innate Immun. 2015 Jan; 21(1):17-29. Tai KP, Kamdar K, Yamaki J, Le VV, Tran D, Tran P, Selsted ME, Ouellette AJ, Wong-Beringer A. PMID: 24345876; PMCID: PMC4062604.

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  23. Rhesus macaque theta defensins suppress inflammatory cytokines and enhance survival in mouse models of bacteremic sepsis. PLoS One. 2012; 7(12):e51337. Schaal JB, Tran D, Tran P, Ösapay G, Trinh K, Roberts KD, Brasky KM, Tongaonkar P, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. PMID: 23236475; PMCID: PMC3516535.

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  24. Immunology. HD6 defensin nanonets. Science. 2012 Jul 27; 337(6093):420-1. Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 22837514.

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  25. High fidelity processing and activation of the human α-defensin HNP1 precursor by neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3. PLoS One. 2012; 7(3):e32469. Tongaonkar P, Golji AE, Tran P, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. PMID: 22448222; PMCID: PMC3308943.

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  26. RTD-1mimic containing γPNA scaffold exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial activities. J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Mar 07; 134(9):4041-4. Rapireddy S, Nhon L, Meehan RE, Franks J, Stolz DB, Tran D, Selsted ME, Ly DH. PMID: 22332599; PMCID: PMC4848027.

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  27. Alternative luminal activation mechanisms for paneth cell α-defensins. J Biol Chem. 2012 Mar 30; 287(14):11205-12. Mastroianni JR, Costales JK, Zaksheske J, Selsted ME, Salzman NH, Ouellette AJ. PMID: 22334698; PMCID: PMC3322892.

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  28. Cycloquest: identification of cyclopeptides via database search of their mass spectra against genome databases. J Proteome Res. 2011 Oct 07; 10(10):4505-12. Mohimani H, Liu WT, Mylne JS, Poth AG, Colgrave ML, Tran D, Selsted ME, Dorrestein PC, Pevzner PA. PMID: 21851130; PMCID: PMC3242011.

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  29. Criterion for amino acid composition of defensins and antimicrobial peptides based on geometry of membrane destabilization. J Am Chem Soc. 2011 May 04; 133(17):6720-7. Schmidt NW, Mishra A, Lai GH, Davis M, Sanders LK, Tran D, Garcia A, Tai KP, McCray PB, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME, Wong GC. PMID: 21473577; PMCID: PMC3090259.

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  30. Rhesus macaque θ-defensin isoforms: expression, antimicrobial activities, and demonstration of a prominent role in neutrophil granule microbicidal activities. J Leukoc Biol. 2011 Feb; 89(2):283-90. Tongaonkar P, Tran P, Roberts K, Schaal J, Osapay G, Tran D, Ouellette AJ, Selsted ME. . PMID: 21084627; PMCID: PMC3024902.

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  31. Cyclic and acyclic defensins inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type-1 replication by different mechanisms. PLoS One. 2010 Mar 17; 5(3):e9737. Seidel A, Ye Y, de Armas LR, Soto M, Yarosh W, Marcsisin RA, Tran D, Selsted ME, Camerini D. PMID: 20305815; PMCID: PMC2840026.

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  32. Rhesus theta-defensin prevents death in a mouse model of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus pulmonary disease. J Virol. 2009 Nov; 83(21):11385-90. Wohlford-Lenane CL, Meyerholz DK, Perlman S, Zhou H, Tran D, Selsted ME, McCray PB. PMID: 19710146; PMCID: PMC2772759.

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  33. SDF2L1, a component of the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone complex, differentially interacts with {alpha}-, {beta}-, and {theta}-defensin propeptides. J Biol Chem. 2009 Feb 27; 284(9):5602-9. Tongaonkar P, Selsted ME. . PMID: 19109254; PMCID: PMC2645818.

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  34. The cell-penetrating peptide, Pep-1, has activity against intracellular chlamydial growth but not extracellular forms of Chlamydia trachomatis. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2009 Jan; 63(1):115-23. Park N, Yamanaka K, Tran D, Chandrangsu P, Akers JC, de Leon JC, Morrissette NS, Selsted ME, Tan M. PMID: 18957395; PMCID: PMC2721699.

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  35. Synthesis, structure, and activities of an oral mucosal alpha-defensin from rhesus macaque. J Biol Chem. 2008 Dec 19; 283(51):35869-77. Vasudevan S, Yuan J, Osapay G, Tran P, Tai K, Liang W, Kumar V, Selsted ME, Cocco MJ. PMID: 18930922; PMCID: PMC2602889.

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  36. Isolation, synthesis, and antimicrobial activities of naturally occurring theta-defensin isoforms from baboon leukocytes. Infect Immun. 2008 Dec; 76(12):5883-91. Garcia AE, Osapay G, Tran PA, Yuan J, Selsted ME. . PMID: 18852242; PMCID: PMC2583559.

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  37. Microbicidal properties and cytocidal selectivity of rhesus macaque theta defensins. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008 Mar; 52(3):944-53. Tran D, Tran P, Roberts K, Osapay G, Schaal J, Ouellette A, Selsted ME. . PMID: 18160518; PMCID: PMC2258523.

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  38. Bovine peptidoglycan recognition protein-S: antimicrobial activity, localization, secretion, and binding properties. J Immunol. 2006 Jan 15; 176(2):1154-62. Tydell CC, Yuan J, Tran P, Selsted ME. . PMID: 16394004.

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  39. Paneth cell alpha-defensins from rhesus macaque small intestine. Infect Immun. 2004 Mar; 72(3):1470-8. Tanabe H, Yuan J, Zaragoza MM, Dandekar S, Henschen-Edman A, Selsted ME, Ouellette AJ. PMID: 14977952; PMCID: PMC356057.

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  40. alpha-Defensins can have anti-HIV activity but are not CD8 cell anti-HIV factors. AIDS. 2003 Sep 26; 17(14):F23-32. Mackewicz CE, Yuan J, Tran P, Diaz L, Mack E, Selsted ME, Levy JA. PMID: 14502030.

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  41. Cryptdin 3 forms anion selective channels in cytoplasmic membranes of human embryonic kidney cells. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2002 May; 282(5):G757-65. Yue G, Merlin D, Selsted ME, Lencer WI, Madara JL, Eaton DC. PMID: 11960772.

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  42. Isolation, characterization, and antimicrobial properties of bovine oligosaccharide-binding protein. A microbicidal granule protein of eosinophils and neutrophils. J Biol Chem. 2002 May 31; 277(22):19658-64. Tydell CC, Yount N, Tran D, Yuan J, Selsted ME. . PMID: 11880375.

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  43. Homodimeric theta-defensins from rhesus macaque leukocytes: isolation, synthesis, antimicrobial activities, and bacterial binding properties of the cyclic peptides. J Biol Chem. 2002 Feb 01; 277(5):3079-84. Tran D, Tran PA, Tang YQ, Yuan J, Cole T, Selsted ME. . PMID: 11675394.

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Bar chart showing 43 publications over 23 distinct years, with a maximum of 5 publications in 2012

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YearPublications
20011
20022
20031
20041
20061
20071
20084
20091
20102
20112
20125
20131
20143
20153
20172
20184
20192
20201
20212
20221
20231
20241
20251

This graph shows the number and percent of publications by field. Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publications' journals and might not represent the specific topics of the publications. Note that an individual publication can be assigned to more than one field. As a result, the publication counts in this graph might add up to more than the number of publications the person has written. To see the data as text,

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This graph shows the number and percent of publications by field. Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publications' journals and might not represent the specific topics of the publications. Note that an individual publication can be assigned to more than one field. As a result, the publication counts in this graph might add up to more than the number of publications the person has written. To see the data as text,

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