Hailyn Nielsen, MD, PhD

Asst. Professor

I am a physician-scientist in the UCSF Division of Rheumatology. I keep a general rheumatology clinic at the Parnassus campus where I treat patients with autoimmune diseases. Additionally, I carry out post-doctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Julie Zikherman also in the Division of Rheumatology. Broadly, my research involves using mouse models of autoimmunity to dissect molecular mechanisms of immune tolerance.

Education
Fellowship, 05/2022 - Rheumatology, University of California - San Francisco
Residency, 06/2018 - Internal Medicine, University of California - San Francisco
MD, 05/2015 - , Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine
PhD, 05/2015 - Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine
BS, 05/2005 - Microbiology, University of Iowa
Honors and Awards
  • Scientist Development Award, Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2022-2025
  • Predoctoral Fellowship, American Heart Association Midwest Affiliate, 2010-2011
Publications

  1. Brooks JF, Riggs J, Mueller JL, Mathenge R, Wholey WY, Meyer AR, Yoda ST, Vykunta VS, Nielsen HV, Cheng W, Zikherman J. Molecular basis for potent B cell responses to antigen displayed on particles of viral size. Nature immunology 2023. PMID: 37653247


  2. Hiwa R, Brooks JF, Mueller JL, Nielsen HV, Zikherman J. NR4A nuclear receptors in T and B lymphocytes: Gatekeepers of immune tolerance. 2022. PMID: 35174510


  3. Hiwa R, Nielsen HV, Mueller JL, Mandla R, Zikherman J. NR4A family members regulate T cell tolerance to preserve immune homeostasis and suppress autoimmunity. 2021. PMID: 34343134


  4. O'Brien VP, Hannan TJ, Nielsen HV, Hultgren SJ. Drug and Vaccine Development for the Treatment and Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections. Volume 4 of Issue 1. Microbiology spectrum 2016. PMID: 26999391


  5. Korte-Berwanger M, Sakinc T, Kline K, Nielsen HV, Hultgren S, Gatermann SG. Significance of the D-serine-deaminase and D-serine metabolism of Staphylococcus saprophyticus for virulence. Volume 81 of Issue 12. Infection and immunity 2013. PMID: 24082071


  6. Nielsen HV, Flores-Mireles AL, Kau AL, Kline KA, Pinkner JS, Neiers F, Normark S, Henriques-Normark B, Caparon MG, Hultgren SJ. Pilin and sortase residues critical for endocarditis- and biofilm-associated pilus biogenesis in Enterococcus faecalis. Volume 195 of Issue 19. Journal of bacteriology 2013. PMID: 23913319


  7. Watson ME, Nielsen HV, Hultgren SJ, Caparon MG. Murine vaginal colonization model for investigating asymptomatic mucosal carriage of Streptococcus pyogenes. Volume 81 of Issue 5. Infection and immunity 2013. PMID: 23460515


  8. Nielsen HV, Guiton PS, Kline KA, Port GC, Pinkner JS, Neiers F, Normark S, Henriques-Normark B, Caparon MG, Hultgren SJ. The metal ion-dependent adhesion site motif of the Enterococcus faecalis EbpA pilin mediates pilus function in catheter-associated urinary tract infection. Volume 3 of Issue 4. mBio 2012. PMID: 22829678


  9. Maddalo G, Chovanec P, Stenberg-Bruzell F, Nielsen HV, Jensen-Seaman MI, Ilag LL, Kline KA, Daley DO. A reference map of the membrane proteome of Enterococcus faecalis. Volume 11 of Issue 19. Proteomics 2011. PMID: 21800426


  10. Kline KA, Ingersoll MA, Nielsen HV, Sakinc T, Henriques-Normark B, Gatermann S, Caparon MG, Hultgren SJ. Characterization of a novel murine model of Staphylococcus saprophyticus urinary tract infection reveals roles for Ssp and SdrI in virulence. Volume 78 of Issue 5. Infection and immunity 2010. PMID: 20176795


  11. Ingersoll MA, Kline KA, Nielsen HV, Hultgren SJ. G-CSF induction early in uropathogenic Escherichia coli infection of the urinary tract modulates host immunity. Volume 10 of Issue 12. Cellular microbiology 2008. PMID: 18754853