John D. Kriesel
( out of 21 reviews )

John D. Kriesel, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

University of Utah Hospital

Infectious Diseases, Area E
Salt Lake City
801-585-2031
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  • Dr. John Kriesel graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1980 and then cum laude from the University of Illinois in 1984. He went on to graduate from Washington University Medical School in 1988. He came to Utah that year and completed a residency in Internal Medicine in 1991, and then a fellowship in Infectious Diseases (ID) in 1994. Dr. Kriesel joined the faculty at the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1996 with a primary appointment in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He was promoted to Research Associate Professor in 2007. He is currently board certified in Infectious Diseases and has been continuously since 1994. He is also an AAHIVM certified HIV specialist.

    Dr. Kriesel's primary interests here are in translational and clinical research. He discovered a major genetic contributor to human cold sores. His research projects include novel treatments of herpes simplex virus infections, antiviral vaccines, and microbiologic triggers of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and sarcoidosis. He has recently demonstrated microbial RNA sequences that are over expressed in MS and sarcoidosis, suggesting causes to these autoimmune diseases. He has authored 49 original scientific papers and book chapters and has 3 U.S. patents.

    Dr. Kriesel's clinical responsibilities include infectious disease consultations at the VA and University Hospitals, General ID and HIV clinic at the University Hospital, and attending at the Salt Lake City STD Clinic. He participates in the education of medical students, allied health students, internal medicine residents, and infectious disease fellows.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Infectious Disease)
    National Board of Medical Examiners

    Patient Rating

    4.9 /5
    ( out of 21 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    June 30, 2025
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    The best.

    October 13, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    It took this man one visit to do what all the best doctors in my hometown couldn't, and that was just give me answers!! He made something so scary seem like something I can now understand.

    July 15, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr Kriesel, oh my gosh, he's been my friend and Dr since I was in prison. I would be very l lost without him!

    April 06, 2024
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Very personable and enjoyed chatting with him.

    December 11, 2023
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    He is most understanding to my needs

    October 08, 2023
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Dr. Kriesel is a great doctor and took very good care of me. He is very genuine and actually cares about the well being of his patients.

    July 19, 2023
    UH HOSPITALS AND CLINICS

    Thorough and knowledgeable

  • Dr. John Kriesel graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1980 and then cum laude from the University of Illinois in 1984. He went on to graduate from Washington University Medical School in 1988. He came to Utah that year and completed a residency in Internal Medicine in 1991, and then a fellowship in Infectious Diseases (ID) in 1994. Dr. Kriesel joined the faculty at the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1996 with a primary appointment in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He was promoted to Research Associate Professor in 2007. He is currently board certified in Infectious Diseases and has been continuously since 1994. He is also an AAHIVM certified HIV specialist.

    Dr. Kriesel's primary interests here are in translational and clinical research. He discovered a major genetic contributor to human cold sores. His research projects include novel treatments of herpes simplex virus infections, antiviral vaccines, and microbiologic triggers of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and sarcoidosis. He has recently demonstrated microbial RNA sequences that are over expressed in MS and sarcoidosis, suggesting causes to these autoimmune diseases. He has authored 49 original scientific papers and book chapters and has 3 U.S. patents.

    Dr. Kriesel's clinical responsibilities include infectious disease consultations at the VA and University Hospitals, General ID and HIV clinic at the University Hospital, and attending at the Salt Lake City STD Clinic. He participates in the education of medical students, allied health students, internal medicine residents, and infectious disease fellows.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Internal Medicine -Associate Professor (Clinical)
    Dermatology -Adjunct Associate Professor
    Academic Divisions Infectious Diseases
    Board Certification
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Infectious Disease)
    National Board of Medical Examiners

    Education history

    Fellowship Infectious Disease - University of Utah School of Medicine Fellow
    Residency Internal Medicine - University of Utah School of Medicine Resident
    Internship University of Utah School of Medicine Intern
    Professional Medical Medicine - Washington University M.D.
    Undergraduate Biology - University of Illinois B.S.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Jiang H, Schwertz H, Schmid DI, Jones BB, Kriesel J, Martinez ML, Weyrich AS, Zimmerman GA, Kraiss LW (2012). Different mechanisms preserve translation of programmed cell death 8 and JunB in virus-infected endothelial cells. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 32(4), 997-1004. (Read full article)
    2. Kriesel JD, Hobbs MR, Jones BB, Milash B, Nagra RM, Fischer KF (2012). Deep sequencing for the detection of virus-like sequences in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis: detection of GBV-C in human brain. PLoS One, 7(3), e31886. (Read full article)
    3. Kriesel JD, Jones BB, Matsunami N, Patel MK, St Pierre CA, Kurt-Jones EA, Finberg RW, Leppert M, Hobbs MR (2011). C21orf91 genotypes correlate with herpes simplex labialis (cold sore) frequency: description of a cold sore susceptibility gene. J Infect Dis, 204(11), 1654-62. (Read full article)
    4. Bigham AW, Buckingham KJ, Husain S, Emond MJ, Bofferding KM, Gildersleeve H, Rutherford A, Astakhova NM, Perelygin AA, Busch MP, Murray KO, Sejvar JJ, Green S, Kriesel J, Brinton MA, Bamshad M (2011). Host genetic risk factors for West Nile virus infection and disease progression. PLoS One, 6(9), e24745. (Read full article)
    5. Hobbs MR, Jones BB, Otterud BE, Leppert M, Kriesel JD (2008). Identification of a herpes simplex labialis susceptibility region on human chromosome 21. J Infect Dis, 197(3), 340-6. (Read full article)
    6. Hobbs MR, Jones BB, Otterud BE, Leppert MF, Kriesel JD (2007). Identification of a Herpes Simplex Labialis Susceptibility Region on Human Chromosome 21. J Infect Dis.

    Case Report

    1. Kriesel JD, Sutton DA, Schulman S, Fothergill AW, Rinaldi MG (2008). Persistent pulmonary infection with an azole-resistant Coccidioides species. Med Mycol, 46(6), 607-10. (Read full article)

    Abstract

    1. Kriesel JD, Jones BB, Herpin G, Grissom C (2007). Development of an Antigene Therapy for the Treatment of Herpes Keratitis [Abstract]. Annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).
    2. Jiang H, Jones BB, Kriesel J, Schmid DI, Weyrich AS, Zimmerman GA, Kraiss LW (2007). A New Pathway To Gene Expression in Human Endothelial Cells: Filamin B translation is preserved by internal ribosome entry in virally- infected Endothelial Cells [Abstract]. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Annual Conference.
    3. Kriesel JD, Jones BB, Herpin G, Grissom C (2006). Development of an Antigene Therapy for the Treatment of Herpes Keratitis. [Abstract]. Annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

    Patent

    1. John D. Kriesel, Kael Fischer, others (2018). Compositions and Methods Useful in Detecting and Treating Multiple Sclerosis and Other Demyelinating Diseases. U.S. Patent No. WO 2020/139782 A1. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
    2. Kriesel JD, Leppert MF, Spruance SL, Otterud BE, Hobbs MR, Jones BB (2005). DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS DISEASES. . U.S. Patent No. 11/102,978. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
    3. Kriesel JD, Jones BB, Grissom CB, Herpin G, Glazer PM (2005). OLIGONUCLEOTIDE COMPLEXES FOR USE AS ANTI-VIRAL THERAPEUTICS. Filed April, 2004. . U.S. Patent No. 10/830,287. Washington, D.C.:U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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