Research Summary
Heat shock protein 60 kDa (hsp60) gene sequences in infectious disease diagnosis, microbial identification, phylogeny and pathogenesis: Two key observations from my laboratory led to the development of several patented diagnostic technologies: a) hsp60 genes from different organisms have both highly conserved as well as species-specific sequences; and b) universal hsp60 degenerate primers can amplify a 600-bp gene product from any microorganism of interest. These discoveries enabled us to develop novel approaches for the genotypic detection and accurate identification of fastidious and nonculturable pathogens, phylogenetic analysis of emerging pathogens, and the investigation of recombinant hsp60 peptides in the serodiagnosis and immunopathogenesis of infectious diseases.
Molecular pathogenesis and clinical spectrum of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (TSS): These studies include the clinical spectrum and epidemiology of TSS; pathogenesis and animal models of TSS: clonality and genotyping of S. aureus- structure/function analysis and genetic regulation of TSS-associated staphylococcal toxins- mechanisms and signaling pathways of microbial superantigens. These studies have led to invitations as a key-note speaker and session chairman for several International Symposia on Toxic Shock Syndrome (1987 and 1997), Gordon Research Conference on Staphylococcal Diseases (1993), the International Congress of Chemotherapy Symposium on Staphylococcal Virulence (1995) and the Canadian Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Symposium on Staphylococcal Virulence (1996), and as a member of the site-visit team to review the US Army Medical Research Program on Toxins (2002).