We study translational aspects of infections in immunocompromised patients. Laboratory studies focus on the interaction of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and the immune system in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients and HIV-infected individuals and on the interaction of CMV and HSV with HIV in the female genital tract. In HSCT recipients, we study the reconstitution of T cell immunity specific to CMV, HSV, and VZV in recipients of non-myeloablative stem cell transplantation and in stem cell transplant recipients who receive long-term valganciclovir for prevention of late CMV infection. Additional projects are aimed at determining the mechanism of CMV transmission via stem cell and blood transfusion products. Ganciclovir resistance is being studied in both stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients. Clinical studies in stem cell transplant recipients are aimed at the prevention of late CMV disease, the prevention of primary CMV infection, as well as the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of respiratory virus infections. Respiratory virus studies focus on RSV, parainfluenzaviruses and influenzaviruses, and the recently discovered human metapneumoniavirus. 

Hakki M, Riddell SR, Storek J, Carter RA, Stevens-Ayers T, Sudour P, White K, Corey L, Boeckh M. Immune reconstitution to cytomegalovirus after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: impact of host factors, drug therapy, and subclinical reactivation. Blood, in press.

Boeckh M, Leisenring W, Riddell SR, Bowden RA, Huang M, Myerson D, Stevens-Ayers T, Cunningham T, Flowers M, Corey L. Late cytomegalovirus disease and mortality in allogeneic marrow transplant recipients: importance of viral load and CMV-specific T cell immunity. Blood 101:407-14, 2003.

Nichols WG, Price TH, Gooley T, Corey L, Boeckh M. Transfusion-transmitted cytomegalovirus infection after receipt of leukoreduced blood products. Blood 101:4195-200, 2003.

Bruno B, Gooley T, Hackman RC, Davis C, Corey L, Boeckh M. Adenovirus infection in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: effect of ganciclovir and impact on survival. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 9:341-52, 2003.

Corey L, Boeckh M. Persistent fever in patients with neutropenia. New Engl J Med 346:222-4, 2002.