Dickson Despommier

Dickson D. Despommier
Dickson Despommier (2014).
Born	June 5, 1940 New Orleans, Louisiana
Citizenship	American
Fields	parasitology ecology
Institutions	Columbia University Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Department of Microbiology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Alma mater	Columbia University, Medical Parasitology University of Notre Dame, Microbiology
Thesis	The in vivo and in vitro analysis of acquired resistance to Trichinella spiralis infections in mice. (1967)
Known for	Vertical Farming Medical Ecology of West Nile Virus Urban Sustainable Agricultural Initiatives Emerging Infectious Disease Ecology The Trichinella Page Medica Ecology The Vertical Farm
Influenced	Rene Dubos, Miklos Muller, Vincent Racaniello
Notable awards	American Medical Student Association National Teaching Award 2003

Dickson Despommier at Pop!Tech 2008

Dickson D. Despommier (born June 5, 1940^[1]) is an emeritus professor of microbiology and Public Health at Columbia University. From 1971-2009, he conducted research on intracellular parasitism and taught courses on parasitic diseases, medical ecology and ecology. In recent years, Despommier has received considerable media coverage for his ideas on vertical farming.^[2][3] He developed his concept of vertical farming over a 10-year period with graduate students in a medical ecology class beginning in 1999, with work continued by Ontarian eco-architects like Gordon Graff ^[4][5] from the University of Waterloo's School of Architecture.

Despommier is also co-host of three popular podcasts along with Vincent Racaniello, namely TWIV (This Week in Virology), TWIP (This Week in Parasitism) and Urban Agriculture.^[6]

Research

Despommier has research interest in the ecotone, a transition area between two biomes, as a zone of high disease transmission and also in the spread of schistosomiasis, malaria, and a variety of helminths (ascaris, hookworm, trichuris) in agricultural areas. Despommier has studied the ecology of West Nile virus with a focus on related patterns of weather.^[1][7]

Research and findings for various Trichinella spiralis topics have resulted in a large body of literature. Despommier is especially known for his research findings in this area which lead to numerous advances in our understanding of the muscle stage of the organism and how it maintains itself in the host for long periods of time in the Nurse cell/parasite complex (weeks to years in some cases).^[8]

Vertical farming

Despommier is concerned about protecting food crops from severe weather events such as floods and droughts. He has explored the feasibility of raising crops indoors in multistory buildings within the urban landscape.^[1]

In June, 2008 Despommier appeared on the "Colbert Report", where he described the concept of vertical farming to Stephen Colbert.^[9][10]

Concepts of medical ecology, a course taught by Despommier, is summarized in 18 presentations.^[11]

Books

Despommier has authored or co-authored seven books:

• Despommier, Dickson D. (1967). The in Vivo in Vitro Analysis of Acquired Resistance to Trichinella Spiralis Infections in Mice. University of Notre Dame, April.
• Despommier, Dickson D.; John W. Karapelou; ʻAbd al-Nāṣir ʻAlī Būnī (1995). Dawrat ḥayāt al-ṭaqīlīyāt. al-Hayʼah al-Qawmīyah lil-Baḥth al-ʻIlmī.
• Despommier, Dickson D. (2001-01-01). West Nile Story. Apple Trees Productions. ISBN 9780970002716.
• Despommier, Dickson (2010-10-12). The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century. Macmillan. ISBN 9780312611392.
• Despommier, Dickson D.; John W. Karapelou (2011-09-23). Parasite Life Cycles. Springer New York. ISBN 9781461283201.
• Katz, Michael; Dickson D. Despommier; Robert Gwadz (2012-02-09). Parasitic Diseases. Springer New York. ISBN 9781468403299.
• Despommier, Dickson (2013). People, Parasites, and Plowshares: Learning From Our Body's Most Terrifying Invaders. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231161947.
• D. D. Despommier, R. G. Gwadz, P. J. Hotez and C. A. Knirsch, Parasitic Diseases, fifth edition, Apple Trees Productions, 2005 (ISBN 0-9700027-7-7, out of print).

Photography

Despommier is also a photographer. He received the following photography awards:

• "First place in photography", Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, Fall 2004 – "Portals"
• "Highest award in show", Salmagundi Club, Fall 2006. – "Mocha Latte Water buffalo"

References

1. "Dickson Despommier's Profile". Eoearth.org. Retrieved 2014-08-23.
2. Venkataraman, B. (July 15, 2008). Country, the City Version: Farms in the Sky Gain New Interest. New York Times.
3. Walsh, B. (December 11, 2008). Vertical Farming. Time magazine.
4. Whyte, Murray (2008-07-27). "Is high rise farming in Toronto's future?". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
5. "Sky Farm Proposed for Downtown Toronto". TreeHugger. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
6. "Urban Agriculture". http://www.urbanag.ws/. MicrobeTV. Retrieved 2 September 2014. External link in |website= (help)
7. Despommier, Dickson (2011-09-01). West Nile Story (Second ed.). Apple Trees Productions, LLC.
8. Trichinella spiralis research publications
   • Despommier, Dickson D.; Masahiro Kajima; Bernard S. Wostmann (1967-06). "Ferritin-Conjugated Antibody Studies on the Larvae of Trichinella spiralis". The Journal of Parasitology 53 (3): 618. doi:10.2307/3276727. ISSN 0022-3395. JSTOR 3276727. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, Dickson D.; Bernard S. Wostmann (1968-10). "Diffusion chambers for inducing immunity to Trichinella spiralis in mice". Experimental Parasitology 23 (2): 228–233. doi:10.1016/0014-4894(68)90062-3. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, Dickson D.; Bernard S. Wostmann (1969-04). "Trichinella spiralis: Immune elimination in mice". Experimental Parasitology 24 (2): 243–250. doi:10.1016/0014-4894(69)90161-1. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Dennis, David T.; Dickson D. Despommier; Norma Davis (1970-10). "Infectivity of the Newborn Larva of Trichinella spiralis in the Rat". The Journal of Parasitology 56 (5): 974. doi:10.2307/3277516. ISSN 0022-3395. JSTOR 3277516. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, Dickson D. (1971-06). "Immunogenicity of the Newborn Larva of Trichinella spiralis". The Journal of Parasitology 57 (3): 531. doi:10.2307/3277908. ISSN 0022-3395. JSTOR 3277908. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, Dickson; Steven Weisbroth; Christopher Fass (1974-04). "Circulating Eosinophils and Trichinosis in the Rat: The Parasitic Stage Responsible for Induction during Infection". The Journal of Parasitology 60 (2): 280. doi:10.2307/3278465. ISSN 0022-3395. JSTOR 3278465. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, Dickson; Lorna Aron; Livia Turgeon (1975-02). "Trichinella spiralis: Growth of the intracellular (muscle) larva". Experimental Parasitology 37 (1): 108–116. doi:10.1016/0014-4894(75)90058-2. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Feldman, Alan; Herbert S. Rosenkrantz; Dickson Despommier (1975-06-01). "Guanine-Cytosine Content of DNA from the Mature Muscle Larva of Trichinella spiralis as Determined from Buoyant Density and Thermal-Helix Coil Transition Measurements". The Journal of Parasitology 61 (3): 570–571. doi:10.2307/3279355. JSTOR 3279355. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Despommier, Dickson D.; Miklós Müller (1976-10-01). "The Stichosome and Its Secretion Granules in the Mature Muscle Larva of Trichinella spiralis". The Journal of Parasitology 62 (5): 775–785. doi:10.2307/3278960. JSTOR 3278960. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Despommier, D. D.; W. C. Campbell; L. S. Blair (1977). "The in vivo and in vitro ananlysis of immunity to Trichinella spiralis in mice and rats". Parasitology 74 (01): 109–119. doi:10.1017/S0031182000047570.
   • Despommier, Dickson D.; Michael Sukhdeo; Eugene Meerovitch (1978-04). "Trichinella spiralis: Site selection by the larva during the enteral phase of infection in mice". Experimental Parasitology 44 (2): 209–215. doi:10.1016/0014-4894(78)90100-5. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Bell, R. G.; D. D. McGregor; D. D. Despommier (1979-04). "Trichinella spiralis: Mediation of the intestinal component of protective immunity in the rat by multiple, phase-specific, antiparasitic responses". Experimental Parasitology 47 (2): 140–157. doi:10.1016/0014-4894(79)90068-7. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, Dickson D.; Anthony Laccetti (1981-04). "Trichinella spiralis: Proteins and antigens isolated from a large-particle fraction derived from the muscle larva". Experimental Parasitology 51 (2): 279–295. doi:10.1016/0014-4894(81)90116-8. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, Dickson D.; Anthony Laccetti (1981-06-01). "Trichinella spiralis: Partial Characterization of Antigens Isolated by Immuno-Affinity Chromatography from the Large-Particle Fraction of the Muscle Larvae". The Journal of Parasitology 67 (3): 332–339. doi:10.2307/3280552. JSTOR 3280552. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Despommier, D.d. (1981-09-01). "Partial purification and characterization of protection-inducing antigens from the muscle larva of Trichinella spiralis by molecular sizing chromatography and preparative flatbed isoelectric focusing". Parasite Immunology 3 (3): 261–272. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3024.1981.tb00405.x. ISSN 1365-3024. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Burnham, Jeffrey C.; Dickson D. Despommier (1984-04-01). "Development of the Male Genitalia of Trichinella spiralis during the Enteral Phase of Infection in the Mouse: An SEM Study". The Journal of Parasitology 70 (2): 310–311. doi:10.2307/3281885. JSTOR 3281885. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Murrell, K. D.; D. D. Despommier (1984-09). "Immunization of swine against Trichinella spiralis". Veterinary Parasitology 15 (3–4): 263–270. doi:10.1016/0304-4017(84)90078-5. ISSN 0304-4017. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Capo, Virginia; Dickson D. Despommier; David S. Silberstein (1984-12-01). "The Site of Ecdysis of the L1 Larva of Trichinella spiralis". The Journal of Parasitology 70 (6): 992–994. doi:10.2307/3281660. JSTOR 3281660. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Silberstein, D. S.; D. D. Despommier (1985-02-22). "Effects on Trichinella spiralis of host responses to purified antigens". Science 227 (4689): 948–950. doi:10.1126/science.3969571. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 3969571. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Silberstein, David S.; Dickson D. Despommier (1985-08-01). "Immunization with Purified Antigens Protects Mice from Lethal Infection with Trichinella spiralis". The Journal of Parasitology 71 (4): 516–517. doi:10.2307/3281550. JSTOR 3281550. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Pincus, S. H.; P. V. Cammarata; M. Delima; D. Despommier (1986-04-01). "Eosinophilia in Murine Trichinellosis". The Journal of Parasitology 72 (2): 321–325. doi:10.2307/3281612. JSTOR 3281612. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Capó, Virginia; David Silberstein; Dickson D. Despommier (1986-12-01). "Immunocytolocalization of Two Protection-Inducing Antigens of Trichinella spiralis during Its Enteral Phase in Immune and Non-Immune Mice". The Journal of Parasitology 72 (6): 931–938. doi:10.2307/3281847. JSTOR 3281847. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Stewart, George L.; Dickson D. Despommier; Jeffrey Burnham; Karen M. Raines (1987-04). "Trichinella spiralis: Behavior, structure, and biochemistry of larvae following exposure to components of the host enteric environment". Experimental Parasitology 63 (2): 195–204. doi:10.1016/0014-4894(87)90162-7. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, D. D. (1990-06). "Trichinella spiralis: The worm that would be virus". Parasitology Today 6 (6): 193–196. doi:10.1016/0169-4758(90)90355-8. ISSN 0169-4758. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, Dickson D.; Allen M. Gold; Stephen W. Buck; Virginia Capo; David Silberstein (1990-07). "Trichinella spiralis: Secreted antigen of the infective L1 larva localizes to the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm of infected host cells". Experimental Parasitology 71 (1): 27–38. doi:10.1016/0014-4894(90)90005-W. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Gold, Allen M.; Dickson D. Despommier; Stephen W. Buck (1990-07). "Partial characterization of two antigens secreted by L1 larvae of Trichinella spiralis". Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 41 (2): 187–196. doi:10.1016/0166-6851(90)90181-K. ISSN 0166-6851. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Baruch, Alice M.; Dickson D. Despommier (1991-02-01). "Blood Vessels in Trichinella spiralis Infections: A Study Using Vascular Casts". The Journal of Parasitology 77 (1): 99–103. doi:10.2307/3282565. JSTOR 3282565. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Despommier, Dickson; W. Fraser Symmans; Ralph Dell (1991-04-01). "Changes in Nurse Cell Nuclei during Synchronous Infection with Trichinella spiralis". The Journal of Parasitology 77 (2): 290–295. doi:10.2307/3283099. JSTOR 3283099. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Despommier, Dickson D. (1993-08-01). "Trichinella spiralis and the Concept of Niche". The Journal of Parasitology 79 (4): 472–482. doi:10.2307/3283370. JSTOR 3283370. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Jasmer, Douglas P.; Sufang Yao; Demetris Vassilatis; Dickson Despommier; Susan M. Neary (1994-10). "Failure to detect Trichinella spiralis p43 in isolated host nuclei and in irradiated larvae of infected muscle cells which express the infected cell phenotype". Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 67 (2): 225–234. doi:10.1016/0166-6851(94)00131-6. ISSN 0166-6851. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Montgomery, J.; A. Feldman; D. D. Despommier; G. L. Stewart; E. Haehling (1995-08-01). "A Method for Isolation and Partial Purification of Trichinella spiralis Nurse Cells". The Journal of Parasitology 81 (4): 649–652. doi:10.2307/3283871. JSTOR 3283871. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Vassilatis, Demetrios K.; Ramona I. Polvere, Dickson D. Despommier, Allen M. Gold, Lex H. T. Van der Ploeg (1996-06). "Developmental expression of a 43-kDa secreted glycoprotein from Trichinella spiralis". Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology 78 (1–2): 13–23. doi:10.1016/S0166-6851(96)02595-9. ISSN 0166-6851. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Polvere, Ramona I.; Christina A. Kabbash; Virginia A. Capó; Ilan Kadan; Dickson D. Despommier (1997-07). "Trichinella spiralis:Synthesis of Type IV and Type VI Collagen during Nurse Cell Formation". Experimental Parasitology 86 (3): 191–199. doi:10.1006/expr.1997.4180. ISSN 0014-4894. Retrieved 2014-08-24. Check date values in: |date= (help)
   • Despommier, D. D. (1998-01-08). "How Does Trichinella spiralis Make Itself at Home?". Parasitology Today 14 (8): 318–323. doi:10.1016/S0169-4758(98)01287-3. ISSN 0169-4758. PMID 17040798. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
   • Capó, Virginia A.; Dickson D. Despommier; Ramona I. Polvere (1998-04-01). "Trichinella spiralis: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Is Up-Regulated within the Nurse Cell during the Early Phase of Its Formation". The Journal of Parasitology 84 (2): 209–214. doi:10.2307/3284472. JSTOR 3284472. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
9. Ferguson, DB. "Episode 4078". http://www.nofactzone.net. DB Ferguson. Retrieved 24 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)
10. Dickson Despommier and Stephen Colbert (2008). Colbert Report Episode 4078. Retrieved 2014-08-23.( Page will play audio when loaded)
11. Dickson, Despommier. "Medical Ecology". http://www.medicalecology.org. Medical Ecology.org. Retrieved 24 August 2014. External link in |website= (help)

External links

• Columbia University Bio
• Despommier Photo Art
• TWIP
• TWIV
• World Science Festival Bio