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Faculty Bio

Arens, Max Q., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Co-Director Clinical Retrovirus Lab
Co-Director Clinical Virology Lab

Clinical Retrovirus Lab
Clinical Virology Lab
Infectious Diseases
Laboratory Medicine

Dr. Arens has been interested in many aspects of molecular and clinical virology. He has investigated the molecular and enzymatic mechanisms of adenovirus replication, determinants of neurovirulence in herpes simplex virus, various clinical diagnostic methodologies, procedures for determination of drug resistance in viruses, the potential for transmission of infectious diseases (especially HIV) through dental and medical devices and he has been active in the area of viral genotyping for drug susceptibility testing and subtype identification.

Current clinical lab emphasis continues to be on improving and expanding our test repertoire as we continue to do a broad array of testing for HIV and HCV.  Recent improvements have included conversion of HIV and HCV quantitative RNA assays to the Roche real-time TaqMan format with extraction on the automated Ampliprep instrument.  The Retrovirus Lab continues to diversify and has now begun  HBV testing.  Quantitative testing for HBV DNA is our most recent addition (also on TaqMan platform) with HBV drug resistance by LiPA still on the “to do” list.

Dr. Arens' current research projects include:

  • Development of new molecular tests for various viruses, currently mainly respiratory viruses
  • Participation in various pathogen discovery projects
  • Ongoing investigations into the pathogenicity of recently-discovered viruses such as KI, WU and human Bocavirus. 
  •  
Other projects include:
  • The development of full-service HIV and HCV clinical testing laboratories in Africa (Ghana and Eritrea) in anticipation of the need for such labs as treatments for these viral infections become more available in resource-poor countries over the next several years.  In addition, we are interested in
  • Development and testing of rapid, inexpensive diagnostic and prognostic products for use in resource-poor countries. 
  • The Retrovirus Lab also provides laboratory support for the Wash U AIDS Clinical Trials Unit and other related HIV research activities.

Arens, Max Q., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Co-Director Clinical Retrovirus Lab
Co-Director Clinical Virology Lab

Clinical Retrovirus Lab
Clinical Virology Lab
Infectious Diseases
Laboratory Medicine

Dr. Arens has been interested in many aspects of molecular and clinical virology. He has investigated the molecular and enzymatic mechanisms of adenovirus replication, determinants of neurovirulence in herpes simplex virus, various clinical diagnostic methodologies, procedures for determination of drug resistance in viruses, the potential for transmission of infectious diseases (especially HIV) through dental and medical devices and he has been active in the area of viral genotyping for drug susceptibility testing and subtype identification.

Current clinical lab emphasis continues to be on improving and expanding our test repertoire as we continue to do a broad array of testing for HIV and HCV.  Recent improvements have included conversion of HIV and HCV quantitative RNA assays to the Roche real-time TaqMan format with extraction on the automated Ampliprep instrument.  The Retrovirus Lab continues to diversify and has now begun  HBV testing.  Quantitative testing for HBV DNA is our most recent addition (also on TaqMan platform) with HBV drug resistance by LiPA still on the “to do” list.

Dr. Arens' current research projects include:

  • Development of new molecular tests for various viruses, currently mainly respiratory viruses
  • Participation in various pathogen discovery projects
  • Ongoing investigations into the pathogenicity of recently-discovered viruses such as KI, WU and human Bocavirus. 
  •  
Other projects include:
  • The development of full-service HIV and HCV clinical testing laboratories in Africa (Ghana and Eritrea) in anticipation of the need for such labs as treatments for these viral infections become more available in resource-poor countries over the next several years.  In addition, we are interested in
  • Development and testing of rapid, inexpensive diagnostic and prognostic products for use in resource-poor countries. 
  • The Retrovirus Lab also provides laboratory support for the Wash U AIDS Clinical Trials Unit and other related HIV research activities.
Education
  • B.S., Purdue University, 1967
  • Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1972
  • B.S., Purdue University, 1967
  • Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1972
Training
  • Postdoctoral training at the Institute for Molecular Virology at St. Louis University School of Medicine, 1972-78
  • Postdoctoral training at the Institute for Molecular Virology at St. Louis University School of Medicine, 1972-78
Honors
  • Editorial Board, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1997-2005
  • Councillor, Pan-American Society for Clinical Virology, 2004-2008
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Clinical Virology, 2006-present
  • Editorial Board, Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1997-2005
  • Councillor, Pan-American Society for Clinical Virology, 2004-2008
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Clinical Virology, 2006-present
Selected Publications
  1. Buller RS, Arens M, Hmiel SP, Paddock C, Sumner JW, Rikihisa Y, Unver A, Gaudreault-Keener M, Manian FA, Liddell AM, Schmulewitz N, Storch G: Ehrlichia ewingii, a newly recognized agent of human ehrlichiosis, N Engl J Med 1999; 341:148-155.

  2. Arens M: Methods for subtyping and molecular comparison of human viral genomes. Clin Microbiol Rev 1999; 12:612-626.  
     
  3. Arens, M: Clinically relevant sequence-based genotyping of HBV, HCV, CMV and HIV. J Clinical Virology 2001; 22:11-29.  
     
  4. Lurain NS, Bhorade SM, Pursell KJ, Avery RK, Yeldandi VV, Isada CM, Robert ES, Kohn DJ, Arens MQ, Garrity ER, Taege AJ, Mullen MG, Todd KM, Bremer JW, Yen-Lieberman B: Analysis and characterization of antiviral drug-resistant cytomegalovirus isolates from solid organ transplant recipients. J Infectious Diseases 2002; 186:760-768. 
     
  5. Cho S-J, Drechsler H, Burke RC, Arens MQ, Powderly W, Davidson NO: APOBEC3F and APOBEC3G mRNA levels do not correlate with HIV-1 plasma viremia or CD4+ T-cell count. J Virol 2006; 80:2069-2072.
     
  6. Nolte FS, Marshall DJ, Raspberry C, Schievelbein S, Banks GG, Storch GA, Arens MQ, Buller RS, Prudent JR: MultiCode®-PLx System for detection of respiratory viruses. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45:2779-2786.
     
  7. Sagoe KWC, Dwidar M, Lartey M, Boamah I, Agyei AA, Hayford AA, Mingle JAA, Arens MQ: Variability of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 polymerase gene from treatment naïve patients in Accra, Ghana.  J Clin Virol 2007; 40:163-167.
     
  8. Le B-M, Demertzis LM, Wu G, Tibbets RJ, Buller R, Arens MQ, Gaynor AM, Storch GA, Wang D: Clinical and epidemiologic characterization of WU polyomavirus infection in St. Louis, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13:1936-1938.
     
  9. Chavanet P, Schaller C, Levy C, Flores-Cordero J, Arens M, Piroth L, Bingen E, Portier H: Performance of a predictive rule to distinguish bacterial and viral meningitis. J Infect Dis 2007; 54:328-326.
     
  10. Arens M and Swierkosz, EM: Susceptibility Test Methods: Viruses. In: Manual of Clinical Microbiology, Ninth Edition, (Murray PR, Baron EJ, Jorgensen JH, Landry ML, & Pfaller MA, eds.), American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, 2007; pp1705-1718. 
     
  11. Buller R and Arens M,: Molecular Detection of Respiratory Viruses. In: Molecular Microbiology: Diagnostic Principles and Practice (2nd Edition) (Persing, Tenover, Hayden, Nolte, Tang and vanBelkum, eds), American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, 2009 (in press)
  1. Buller RS, Arens M, Hmiel SP, Paddock C, Sumner JW, Rikihisa Y, Unver A, Gaudreault-Keener M, Manian FA, Liddell AM, Schmulewitz N, Storch G: Ehrlichia ewingii, a newly recognized agent of human ehrlichiosis, N Engl J Med 1999; 341:148-155.

  2. Arens M: Methods for subtyping and molecular comparison of human viral genomes. Clin Microbiol Rev 1999; 12:612-626.  
     
  3. Arens, M: Clinically relevant sequence-based genotyping of HBV, HCV, CMV and HIV. J Clinical Virology 2001; 22:11-29.  
     
  4. Lurain NS, Bhorade SM, Pursell KJ, Avery RK, Yeldandi VV, Isada CM, Robert ES, Kohn DJ, Arens MQ, Garrity ER, Taege AJ, Mullen MG, Todd KM, Bremer JW, Yen-Lieberman B: Analysis and characterization of antiviral drug-resistant cytomegalovirus isolates from solid organ transplant recipients. J Infectious Diseases 2002; 186:760-768. 
     
  5. Cho S-J, Drechsler H, Burke RC, Arens MQ, Powderly W, Davidson NO: APOBEC3F and APOBEC3G mRNA levels do not correlate with HIV-1 plasma viremia or CD4+ T-cell count. J Virol 2006; 80:2069-2072.
     
  6. Nolte FS, Marshall DJ, Raspberry C, Schievelbein S, Banks GG, Storch GA, Arens MQ, Buller RS, Prudent JR: MultiCode®-PLx System for detection of respiratory viruses. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45:2779-2786.
     
  7. Sagoe KWC, Dwidar M, Lartey M, Boamah I, Agyei AA, Hayford AA, Mingle JAA, Arens MQ: Variability of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 polymerase gene from treatment naïve patients in Accra, Ghana.  J Clin Virol 2007; 40:163-167.
     
  8. Le B-M, Demertzis LM, Wu G, Tibbets RJ, Buller R, Arens MQ, Gaynor AM, Storch GA, Wang D: Clinical and epidemiologic characterization of WU polyomavirus infection in St. Louis, USA. Emerg Infect Dis 2007; 13:1936-1938.
     
  9. Chavanet P, Schaller C, Levy C, Flores-Cordero J, Arens M, Piroth L, Bingen E, Portier H: Performance of a predictive rule to distinguish bacterial and viral meningitis. J Infect Dis 2007; 54:328-326.
     
  10. Arens M and Swierkosz, EM: Susceptibility Test Methods: Viruses. In: Manual of Clinical Microbiology, Ninth Edition, (Murray PR, Baron EJ, Jorgensen JH, Landry ML, & Pfaller MA, eds.), American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, 2007; pp1705-1718. 
     
  11. Buller R and Arens M,: Molecular Detection of Respiratory Viruses. In: Molecular Microbiology: Diagnostic Principles and Practice (2nd Edition) (Persing, Tenover, Hayden, Nolte, Tang and vanBelkum, eds), American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, 2009 (in press)
 
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