Klebanoff, Seymour J, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Medicine

CONTACT INFORMATION
University of Washington
Box 357185
1959 NE Pacific Street
Seattle, Washington 98195

Phone: (206) 543-7902
Fax: (206) 685-8681
E-mail: seym@u.washington.edu

LINK TO SEYMOUR KLEBANOFF'S COMMUNITY OF SCIENCE WEB PAGE

CURRENT RESEARCH

Research is directed at elucidating the mechanisms of the host defense against microbial invasion with emphasis on the mechanisms by which phagocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, macrophages) destroy pathogenic organisms. Particular attention is placed on the role of phagocyte-derived oxidants (superoxide, H2O2, hydroxyl radicals, myeloperoxidase-derived oxidants) in the toxicity to the pathogens. Although emphasis is on the phagocyte rather than the microbe, some studies deal with the destruction of special pathogens, with the role of phagocyte-derived oxidants in the control of HIV infection as a particular current interest. Studies of the effect of biological oxidants and microbial secretory products on the activation of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (which initiates viral gene transcription) and on HIV-1 viral production in macrophage and lymphocyte cell lines are ongoing. Emphasis is on the role of these agents in the heterosexual transmission of HIV-1, and on the involvement of factors released by staphylococci in the induction of gram-positive sepsis through increased cytokine production. The latter is an area of particular current interest. The same phagocyte-derived toxins, which destroy microorganisms, also can be toxic to normal tissue, and studies are underway directed at elucidating their role in the pathogenesis of disease. In general, the studies apply basic techniques of molecular and cell biology to the understanding of phagocytic cell function in health and disease with the goal of better understanding the pathogenesis of infection.

PUBLICATIONS