Moon Nahm

Nahm was born and raised in South Korea. He came to St. Louis, Missouri, United States with his family as a senior in high school. He graduated summa cum laude with a BA in physics and MD from Washington University in St. Louis.{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Leslie Gibson |date=2022-11-29 |title=50 years — and change |url=https://source.washu.edu/2022/11/50-years-and-change/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=The Source |language=en-US}}

Nahm joined the faculty at the Washington University School of Medicine in 1980, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1996 and the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2001. His research studied how the sugar coat of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) helps the bacteria evade the host immune system. The sugar coat, which is called capsule, is also the key component in pneumococcal vaccines. He discovered many new pneumococcal capsule types, demonstrating that some of the new capsule types are involved in evading the immune protections induced by pneumococcal vaccines.{{Cite journal |last1=Park |first1=In H. |last2=Moore |first2=Matthew R. |last3=Treanor |first3=John J. |last4=Pelton |first4=Stephen I. |last5=Pilishvili |first5=Tamara |last6=Beall |first6=Bernard |last7=Shelly |first7=Mark A. |last8=Mahon |first8=Barbara E. |last9=Nahm |first9=Moon H. |last10=Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Team |date=2008-12-15 |title=Differential effects of pneumococcal vaccines against serotypes 6A and 6C |journal=The Journal of Infectious Diseases |volume=198 |issue=12 |pages=1818–1822 |doi=10.1086/593339 |issn=0022-1899 |pmc=4159939 |pmid=18983249}}{{Cite journal |last1=Nahm |first1=Moon H. |last2=Lin |first2=Jisheng |last3=Finkelstein |first3=Jonathan A. |last4=Pelton |first4=Stephen I. |date=2009-02-01 |title=Increase in the prevalence of the newly discovered pneumococcal serotype 6C in the nasopharynx after introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine |journal=The Journal of Infectious Diseases |volume=199 |issue=3 |pages=320–325 |doi=10.1086/596064 |issn=0022-1899 |pmc=2743180 |pmid=19099489}}{{Cite journal |last1=Geno |first1=K. Aaron |last2=Gilbert |first2=Gwendolyn L. |last3=Song |first3=Joon Young |last4=Skovsted |first4=Ian C. |last5=Klugman |first5=Keith P. |last6=Jones |first6=Christopher |last7=Konradsen |first7=Helle B. |last8=Nahm |first8=Moon H. |date=July 2015 |title=Pneumococcal Capsules and Their Types: Past, Present, and Future |journal=Clinical Microbiology Reviews |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=871–899 |doi=10.1128/CMR.00024-15 |issn=1098-6618 |pmc=4475641 |pmid=26085553}}{{Cite journal |last1=Nahm |first1=Moon H. |last2=Yu |first2=Jigui |last3=Calix |first3=Juan J. |last4=Ganaie |first4=Feroze |date=2022 |title=Ficolin-2 Lectin Complement Pathway Mediates Capsule-Specific Innate Immunity Against Invasive Pneumococcal Disease |journal=Frontiers in Immunology |volume=13 |pages=841062 |doi=10.3389/fimmu.2022.841062 |doi-access=free |issn=1664-3224 |pmc=8996173 |pmid=35418983}} He also developed the third-generation pneumococcal Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA),{{Cite journal |last1=Yu |first1=X. |last2=Sun |first2=Y. |last3=Frasch |first3=C. |last4=Concepcion |first4=N. |last5=Nahm |first5=M. H. |date=July 1999 |title=Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide preparations may contain non-C-polysaccharide contaminants that are immunogenic |journal=Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=519–524 |doi=10.1128/CDLI.6.4.519-524.1999 |issn=1071-412X |pmc=95719 |pmid=10391854}}{{Cite journal |last1=Wernette |first1=Catherine M. |last2=Frasch |first2=Carl E. |last3=Madore |first3=Dace |last4=Carlone |first4=George |last5=Goldblatt |first5=David |last6=Plikaytis |first6=Brian |last7=Benjamin |first7=William |last8=Quataert |first8=Sally A. |last9=Hildreth |first9=Steve |last10=Sikkema |first10=Daniel J. |last11=Käyhty |first11=Helena |last12=Jonsdottir |first12=Ingileif |last13=Nahm |first13=Moon H. |date=July 2003 |title=Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for quantitation of human antibodies to pneumococcal polysaccharides |journal=Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=514–519 |doi=10.1128/cdli.10.4.514-519.2003 |issn=1071-412X |pmc=164258 |pmid=12853378}} which is referred to as WHO ELISA since its adoption by the World Health Organization for use in pneumococcal vaccine studies worldwide.{{Cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=Hyunju |last2=Lim |first2=Soo Young |last3=Kim |first3=Kyung Hyo |date=October 2017 |title=Validation of the World Health Organization Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Quantitation of Immunoglobulin G Serotype-Specific Anti-Pneumococcal Antibodies in Human Serum |journal=Journal of Korean Medical Science |volume=32 |issue=10 |pages=1581–1587 |doi=10.3346/jkms.2017.32.10.1581 |issn=1598-6357 |pmc=5592170 |pmid=28875600}} He also invented the Multiplexed Opsono-Phagocytosis Assay (MOPA), which is a high throughput assay for measuring protective function of antibodies. MOPA has facilitated the rapid development of advanced pneumococcal vaccines{{Cite journal |last1=Platt |first1=Heather L. |last2=Greenberg |first2=David |last3=Tapiero |first3=Bruce |last4=Clifford |first4=Robert A. |last5=Klein |first5=Nicola P. |last6=Hurley |first6=David C. |last7=Shekar |first7=Tulin |last8=Li |first8=Jianing |last9=Hurtado |first9=Kim |last10=Su |first10=Shu-Chih |last11=Nolan |first11=Katrina M. |last12=Acosta |first12=Camilo J. |last13=McFetridge |first13=Richard D. |last14=Bickham |first14=Kara |last15=Musey |first15=Luwy K. |date=August 2020 |title=A Phase II Trial of Safety, Tolerability and Immunogenicity of V114, a 15-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, Compared With 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Healthy Infants |journal=The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal |volume=39 |issue=8 |pages=763–770 |doi=10.1097/INF.0000000000002765 |issn=1532-0987 |pmc=7360095 |pmid=32639460}} as well as affordable pneumococcal vaccines for nations that previously lacked access due to financial constraints.

Nahm's research laboratory at UAB is now recognized as a World Health Organization's Pneumococcal Serology Reference Laboratory."Moon Nahm, M.D. and the Development of Advanced and Affordable Pneumococcal Vaccines." Association of Public & Land-grant Universities. Retrieved Jan. 6, 2025. To help nonprofit organizations and companies produce affordable pneumococcal vaccines, he has trained numerous scientists from many different countries in his laboratory and shared the detailed procedures for WHO ELISA and MOPA, available through the Bacterial Respiratory Pathogen Reference Laboratory at UAB.

In addition to pneumococcal research, he was likely the first to report the use of monoclonal antibodies as reagents for clinical diagnostic tests{{Cite journal |last1=Nahm |first1=M. H. |last2=Murray |first2=P. R. |last3=Clevinger |first3=B. L. |last4=Davie |first4=J. M. |date=October 1980 |title=Improved diagnostic accuracy using monoclonal antibody group A streptococcal carbohydrate |journal=Journal of Clinical Microbiology |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=506–508 |doi=10.1128/jcm.12.4.506-508.1980 |issn=0095-1137 |pmc=273625 |pmid=6999018}} and helped his mentors, Drs. Joseph M. Davie and Jay M. McDonald, create a hybridoma center for diagnostic reagents at Washington University in 1980. The center produced hybridomas targeting cardiac markers that revolutionized heart attack diagnosis.Rosalki SB, Roberts R, Katus HA, Giannitsis E, Ladenson JH. Cardiac biomarkers for detection of myocardial infarction: perspectives from past to present. Clin Chem 2004;50: 2205-2213. He also elucidated the molecular basis for human antibodies to Hemophilus influenzae type b capsule,{{Cite journal |last1=Scott |first1=M. G. |last2=Tarrand |first2=J. J. |last3=Crimmins |first3=D. L. |last4=McCourt |first4=D. W. |last5=Siegel |first5=N. R. |last6=Smith |first6=C. E. |last7=Nahm |first7=M. H. |date=1989-07-01 |title=Clonal characterization of the human IgG antibody repertoire to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide. II. IgG antibodies contain VH genes from a single VH family and VL genes from at least four VL families |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2499631 |journal=Journal of Immunology |volume=143 |issue=1 |pages=293–298 |doi=10.4049/jimmunol.143.1.293 |issn=0022-1767 |pmid=2499631}}{{Cite journal |last1=Scott |first1=M. G. |last2=Crimmins |first2=D. L. |last3=McCourt |first3=D. W. |last4=Zocher |first4=I. |last5=Thiebe |first5=R. |last6=Zachau |first6=H. G. |last7=Nahm |first7=M. H. |date=1989-12-15 |title=Clonal characterization of the human IgG antibody repertoire to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide. III. A single VKII gene and one of several JK genes are joined by an invariant arginine to form the most common L chain V region |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2512350 |journal=Journal of Immunology |volume=143 |issue=12 |pages=4110–4116 |doi=10.4049/jimmunol.143.12.4110 |issn=0022-1767 |pmid=2512350}} demonstrated that lymph node germinal centers are the site where both B and T lymphocytes recognizing the same antigen come together,{{Cite journal |last1=Fuller |first1=K. A. |last2=Kanagawa |first2=O. |last3=Nahm |first3=M. H. |date=1993-11-01 |title=T cells within germinal centers are specific for the immunizing antigen |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7691953 |journal=Journal of Immunology |volume=151 |issue=9 |pages=4505–4512 |doi=10.4049/jimmunol.151.9.4505 |issn=0022-1767 |pmid=7691953}} and showed the need of lymphotoxin cytokine for germinal center formation with David D. Chaplin MD PhD.{{Cite journal |last1=Matsumoto |first1=M. |last2=Mariathasan |first2=S. |last3=Nahm |first3=M. H. |last4=Baranyay |first4=F. |last5=Peschon |first5=J. J. |last6=Chaplin |first6=D. D. |date=1996-03-01 |title=Role of lymphotoxin and the type I TNF receptor in the formation of germinal centers |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8638112 |journal=Science |volume=271 |issue=5253 |pages=1289–1291 |doi=10.1126/science.271.5253.1289 |issn=0036-8075 |pmid=8638112|bibcode=1996Sci...271.1289M }}{{Cite journal |last1=Matsumoto |first1=M. |last2=Lo |first2=S. F. |last3=Carruthers |first3=C. J. |last4=Min |first4=J. |last5=Mariathasan |first5=S. |last6=Huang |first6=G. |last7=Plas |first7=D. R. |last8=Martin |first8=S. M. |last9=Geha |first9=R. S. |last10=Nahm |first10=M. H. |last11=Chaplin |first11=D. D. |date=1996-08-01 |title=Affinity maturation without germinal centres in lymphotoxin-alpha-deficient mice |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8684487 |journal=Nature |volume=382 |issue=6590 |pages=462–466 |doi=10.1038/382462a0 |issn=0028-0836 |pmid=8684487|bibcode=1996Natur.382..462M }} His research has been described in more than 300 research papers.

To meet increasing demands for the MOPA assay, Nahm founded SunFire Biotechnologies in 2019, to offer MOPA services for companies developing novel pneumococcal vaccines. Since then, SunFire has also received government funding and branched out into developing new assays such as a multiplexed serum bactericidal assay useful for evaluating vaccines against other pathogens such as Shigella bacteria.

Nahm is a Senior Member of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors.{{Cite web |title=Search for Senior Members |url=https://academyofinventors.org/search-for-senior-members/ |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=NAI |language=en-US}} He is a Fellow of the American Society of Microbiology (ASM){{Cite web |title=ASM Directory Search Results |url=https://myasm.asm.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?Site=ASM&WebKey=abbcf18d-3f11-46a6-95d7-956eed2a9cf3&type=acfellows&FromSearchControl=Yes |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=myasm.asm.org}} and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The National Institutes of Health referred to Nahm's lab at UAB as a "national treasure" in a review.{{Cite web |title=Saving lives by making pneumonia vaccine affordable |url=https://www.uab.edu/news/research/item/7690-saving-lives-by-making-pneumonia-vaccine-affordable |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=UAB News |language=en-US}} He received the UAB Presidential Achievement Award in 2017. SK Bioscience and UAB have created endowed chairs in his honor in 2020 and 2021 respectively.{{Cite web |last=Longshore |first=Jane |title=SK Bioscience Pledge Enhances Pneumonia Research - Medicine Magazine |url=https://www.uab.edu/medicine/magazine/summer-2019/sk-bioscience-pledge-enhances-pneumonia-research |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=www.uab.edu |language=en-US}} He has served on many editorial boards and was the chair of division V of ASM 2012 and councilor of ASM in 2013. He received the distinguished service award from ASM in 2012 and was a councilor of the Association of Medical Laboratory Immunologists for 2015-2019.

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• [https://www.vaccine.uab.edu/ The Bacterial Respiratory Pathogen Reference Laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham]

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Category:Washington University in St. Louis alumni

Category:American inventors

Category:21st-century American physicians

Category:American physicians of Korean descent

Category:University of Alabama at Birmingham faculty

Category:1948 births

Category:Living people