A5009536962- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Malaria Research and Control
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- T-cell and B-cell Immunology
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Poxvirus research and outbreaks
- Complement system in diseases
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Microfluidic and Bio-sensing Technologies
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Immunodeficiency and Autoimmune Disorders
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Signaling Pathways in Disease
- Computational Drug Discovery Methods
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Travel-related health issues
- Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research
United States Naval Medical Research Unit SOUTH
2021-2024
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
2020-2024
Johns Hopkins University
2023
Vanderbilt University
2004-2022
Naval Medical Research Command
2021
Northwestern University
2009-2012
Recent gains in reducing the global burden of malaria are threatened by emergence Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinins. The discovery that mutations portions a P. gene encoding kelch (K13)–propeller domains major determinant has provided opportunities for monitoring such on scale.
A T-cell subset, defined as CD4(+)CD25(hi) (regulatory T-cells [Treg cells]), was recently shown to suppress activation. We demonstrate that human Treg cells isolated from healthy donors express the HIV-coreceptor CCR5 and are highly susceptible HIV infection replication. Because present in very few numbers difficult expand vitro, we genetically modified conventional generate vitro by ectopic expression of FoxP3, a transcription factor associated with reprogramming into subset....
With the approach of respiratory virus season in Northern Hemisphere, clinical microbiology and public health laboratories will need rapid diagnostic assays to distinguish severe acute syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from influenza syncytial (RSV) infections for diagnosis surveillance. In this study, performance Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV test (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) nasopharyngeal swab specimens was evaluated four centers: Johns Hopkins Medical Microbiology Laboratory,...
Nucleic acid-based diagnostic tests often require isolation and concentration of nucleic acids from biological samples. Commercial purification kits are difficult to use in low-resource settings because their cost insufficient laboratory infrastructure. Several recent approaches based on the magnetic beads offer a potential solution but remain limited small volume We have developed simple low-cost acid extraction method suitable for or large sample volumes. The uses beads, transfer pipette,...
Abstract Recombination is an evolutionary process by which many pathogens generate diversity and acquire novel functions. Although a common occurrence during coronavirus replication, detection of recombination only feasible when genetically distinct viruses contemporaneously infect the same host. Here, we identify instance SARS-CoV-2 superinfection, whereby individual was infected with two viral variants: Alpha (B.1.1.7) Epsilon (B.1.429). This superinfection first noted genome sequence...
ABSTRACT Following their assembly, herpesvirus capsids exit the nucleus by budding at inner nuclear membrane. Two highly conserved viral proteins are required for this process, pUL31 and pUL34. In report, we demonstrate that component of pseudorabies virus egress complex is a conditional capsid-binding protein unmasked in absence The interaction between was confirmed through fluorescence microscopy Western blot analysis purified intranuclear capsids. Three were tested abilities to mediate...
Herpesviruses morphogenesis occurs stepwise both temporally and spatially, beginning in the nucleus concluding with emergence of an extracellular virion. The mechanisms by which these viruses interact penetrate nuclear envelope subsequent compartments secretory pathway remain poorly defined. In this report, a conserved viral protein (VP1/2; pUL36) that directs cytoplasmic stages egress is identified to have multiple isoforms. Of these, novel truncated VP1/2 species translocates assists...
Abstract HIV infection of primary human T cells requires cell activation signals. However, how strength, duration, and quality TCR signals affect susceptibility resting to remains poorly understood. We found that the same threshold duration antigen lead optimal are required for progress beyond level reversetranscription within cells. Remarkably, sustained cytokine signaling from IL‐2 receptor following triggering was critical in establishing productive infection. While blockade pathways with...
Infection with HIV-1 perturbs homeostasis of human T cell subsets, leading to accelerated immunologic deterioration. While studying changes in CD4+ memory and naïve cells during infection, we found that a subset effector are CCR7−CD45RO−CD45RA+ (referred as TEMRA cells), was significantly increased some HIV-infected individuals. This displayed differentiated phenotype skewed Th1-type cytokine production. Despite expressing high levels CCR5, were strikingly resistant infection CCR5...
Abstract Background Plasmodium vivax represents the most geographically widespread human malaria parasite affecting civilian and military populations in endemic areas. Targeting pre-erythrocytic (PE) stage of life cycle is especially appealing for developing P. vaccines as it would prevent disease transmission. Here, naturally acquired immunity to a panel PE antigens was explored, which may facilitate vaccine development lead better understanding immunity. Methods Twelve orthologous...
The neuroinvasive property of several alpha-herpesviruses underlies an uncommon infectious process that includes the establishment life-long latent infections in sensory neurons peripheral nervous system. Several herpesvirus proteins are required for replication and dissemination within system, indicating exploiting system as a niche productive infection requires specialized set functions encoded by virus. Whether initial entry into from tissues also viral is not known. Here we show...
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a precipitous increase in the need for molecular diagnostics. Unfortunately, access to RNA extraction reagents can represent bottleneck quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR)-based methodologies, stemming from both extraordinary supply-chain stresses and global reach of virus into resource-limited settings. To provide flexible diagnostic options such environments, we report here an...
ABSTRACT Recombination is an evolutionary process by which many pathogens generate diversity and acquire novel functions. Although a common occurrence during coronavirus replication, recombination can only be detected when two genetically distinct viruses contemporaneously infect the same host. Here, we identify instance of SARS-CoV-2 superinfection, whereby individual was simultaneously infected with viral variants: Alpha (B.1.1.7) Epsilon (B.1.429). This superinfection first noted genome...
Rapid diagnostic tests based on histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) detection are the primary tools used to detect Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections. Recent conflicting reports call into question whether α-HRP2 antibodies present in human host circulation and if resulting immune complexes could interfere with HRP2 RDTs. This study sought determine prevalence of immune-complexed a low-transmission region Southern Zambia. An ELISA was quantify patient sample DBS extracts before after...
HIV develops single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), some of which lead to drug resistance mutations (DRMs) that prevent therapeutic viral suppression. Genomic sequencing enables healthcare professionals select effective combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) achieve and maintain However, technologies, are resource-intensive, limited in their availability. This report describes the first step toward a highly specific ligation-based SNP discrimination method with endpoint PCR detection, is...
New York City (NYC) was one of the hotspots monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections in United States during multi-country mpox outbreak 2022. This study used most comprehensive dataset to date investigate genomic characteristics MPXV NYC. We performed Nextclade lineage assignment, phylogenetic and mutational analyses on 1,138 specimens from 748 individuals at NYC Public Health Lab context 2,968 sequences sampled globally. assignment showed B.1.12 as a specific analysis North America clades. The...
Abstract Background Plasmodium vivax ( Pv ) represents the most geographically widespread human malaria parasite. Targeting pre-erythrocytic (PE) stage of parasite life cycle is especially appealing for vaccines as it would prevent disease and transmission. Here, we explore naturally acquired immunity to a panel PE antigens first step enable vaccine development better understand naturally-acquired immunity. Methods Humoral cellular were evaluated by ELISA ELISpot, using samples from infected...
Abstract Background Plasmodium vivax ( Pv ) represents the most geographically widespread human malaria parasite affecting civilian and military populations in endemic areas. Targeting pre-erythrocytic (PE) stage of life cycle is especially appealing for developing vaccines as it would prevent disease transmission. Here, we explore naturally acquired immunity to a panel PE antigens which may facilitate vaccine development lead better understanding immunity. Methods Twelve orthologous P....