Title: Sitlington Professor of Infectious Diseases
Company: Oklahoma State University
Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States
Clinton Jimmie Jones, PhD, Sitlington Professor of Infectious Diseases at Oklahoma State University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in Virology, Higher Education and Research.
Dr. Jones is a leader in virology, currently serving as the Sitlington professor of infectious diseases and regents professor at Oklahoma State University (OSU) since 2015. Working in the department of veterinary pathobiology at the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, he is recognized for his expertise in DNA viruses, leading research initiatives focused on viral pathogenesis, and mentoring graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and laboratory researchers.
Throughout his career, Dr. Jones’s work has been instrumental in advancing the understanding of herpesvirus latency and reactivation, particularly the role of stress as a trigger for viral reactivation. Over the past decade at OSU, he has also contributed to the academic community by fostering the development of future scientists and maintaining an active research program.
Before his tenure at OSU, Dr. Jones was a professor at the University of Nebraska from 1989 to 2015. During this period, he conducted pioneering studies that revealed non-neuronal cells, especially those in the tonsils, can harbor latent herpesviruses and rapidly produce virus under stress conditions. This finding challenged previous assumptions that herpesviruses reside exclusively in sensory neurons and significantly advanced the field’s understanding of viral latency. Dr. Jones’s research also identified the only viral gene expressed in latently infected neurons, paralleling similar genes in human herpesviruses. Meanwhile, his investigations into bovine herpesvirus 1 elucidated its impact on the cattle industry, demonstrating how stress-induced immunosuppression in feedlots increases susceptibility to bacterial pneumonia and highlighting both the efficacy and risks of modified live vaccines.
Dr. Jones began his academic career as an assistant professor at the University of Mississippi Medical School from 1987 to 1989, where he laid the foundation for his lifelong commitment to virology research and education.
Dr. Jones’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in biology at Bethany College, a Doctor of Philosophy in microbiology from The University of Kansas, and postdoctoral studies at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. These academic achievements provided a strong foundation for his research and teaching.
Adding to his credentials, Dr. Jones is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and maintains active membership in the American Society for Microbiology. Since the 1990s, he has consistently served on numerous study sections for both the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, participating annually as a panelist and reviewer. Furthermore, Dr. Jones has contributed extensively to the scientific literature as a reviewer for several academic and professional journals and has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Virology, the Virology Journal and Virus Research, among others.
Dr. Jones has been named to the 2025 Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists List, reflecting his significant contributions to scientific research. He credits much of his success to the exceptional individuals who have worked alongside him in his laboratory, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers themselves. Dr. Jones also acknowledges the steadfast support of his wife throughout his scientific journey.
In recognition of his professional excellence, Dr. Jones has received several prestigious awards, including an Outstanding Researcher Award from Zoetis Services LLC in 2018 and an Extraordinary Service Award from Microbiology Spectrum and the American Society for Microbiology each year from 2023 to 2025.
Dedicated to deepening scientific understanding of herpesvirus reactivation mechanisms from latency, Dr. Jones is also steadfast about exploring how latent viruses may contribute to neuroinflammation with potential long-term effects. His ongoing research aims to leverage new technologies to examine gene expression in specific cells, particularly neurons latently infected by viruses, to identify infected cells and clarify how stress triggers viral reactivation and shedding. Dr. Jones is committed to completing these critical research objectives as he continues to advance knowledge within virology while mentoring future generations of scientists.
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