PhD Pathobiology
Research Areas
We offer these research areas:
Parasites and Fungi
In addition to translational research aimed at developing new vaccines
and diagnostics, current efforts in Pathobiology laboratories include
studies of candidate drug targets, drug resistance, genomics, pathogenesis
and fundamental cell and molecular biology. Some highlights of
research in the department include:
- Completion of multiple parasite genome projects
- Genetic and biochemical validation of drug targets in trypanosomatids,
including those involved in RNA editing
- Identification of key vaccine candidate antigens in pregnancy malaria
- Proof of concept of a liver stage malaria vaccine
- Identification of novel mechanisms of protein trafficking in apicomplexa
- Discovery of novel antimalarial compounds
- Identification of resistance mechanisms in fungal pathogens
The following faculty study eukaryotic pathogens:
Patrick Duffy, MD
Jean Feagin, PhD
Michal Fried, PhD
Peter Myler, PhD
Marilyn Parsons, PhD
Pradipsinh Rathod, PhD
Steve Reed, PhD
Joseph Smith, PhD
Ken Stuart, PhD
Wesley Van Voorhis, MD, PhD
Ted White, PhD
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Bacterial Infections and Pathogenesis
Ongoing work in Pathobiology faculty laboratories includes studies of
antigenic variation in bacterial pathogens, regulation of virulence gene
expression, bacterial-host cell interactions, mechanisms of latency in
chronic bacterial infections, antimicrobial resistance, vaccine development,
drug discovery for new therapies, and molecular epidemiology of bacterial
infections. Recent highlights of this research include the following:
- Discovering antigenic variation systems in Treponema pallidum and
Mycoplasma genitalium that contribute to chronic infection
- Defining the role of penicillin binding proteins in innate host resistance
to Group B Streptococcus
- Identification of new vaccine targets for syphilis and tuberculosis
- Demonstrating a potential role of adhesion molecules and cytokines
in C. pneumoniae accelerated atherosclerosis
- Identifying chlamydial ligand/ host cell receptor interaction
- Tracking the movement of antibiotic resistance genes in the environmental
settings
- Characterization of persistence and virulence mechanisms in Mycobacteria
- Rapid strain typing and tracking of a large tuberculosis outbreak
in Seattle
The following faculty study bacterial pathogens:
LeeAnn Campbell, PhD
Gerard Cangelosi, PhD
Arturo Centurion-Lara, MD
John Hansen, PhD
Amanda Jones, PhD
Chou-chou Kuo, MD, PhD
Sheila Lukehart, PhD
Steven Reed, PhD
Marilyn Roberts, PhD
Michael Rosenfeld PhD
David Sherman, PhD
Peter Small, MD
Arnold Smith, MD
Patricia Totten, PhD
Wesley Van Voorhis, MD, PhD
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Virology
There are multiple labs pursuing research on viruses of public health
importance, including HIV-1 and HCV. Other model virus systems
are also under study in the program, including nonpathogenic retroviruses
and fish viruses. The scope of studies within the Pathobiology
program include basic research on virus -host cell interactions, analyses
of viral evolution and viral fitness, studies of the interplay between
the virus and the host immune response, and efforts to develop and evaluate
vaccine candidates. A major emphasis of research in the program
is translational and includes collaborative molecular epidemiology research. Some
highlights of recent work form faculty in the Program include:
- The discovery and characterization of host factors that are critical
for HIV and HCV replication.
- Uncovering how host restriction factors have evolved in humans and
non-human primates, including studies focused on ‘waking
viruses from the dead’.
- Finding that people who are HIV-1 infected can be re-infected by
a second HIV-1 strain from another partner.
- Studies of the molecular epidemiology of HIV-1, including studies
of correlates of infection in mother-infant transmission.
The following faculty study viral pathogens:
Michael Emerman, PhD
John Hansen, PhD
David Koelle, MD
Gael Kurath, PhD
Jaisri Lingappa, MD, PhD
Maxine Linial, PhD
Julie McElrath, MD, PhD
Julie Overbaugh, PhD
Steve Polyak, PhD
Timothy Rose, PhD
Leo Stamatatos, PhD
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Chronic Diseases
There are several labs focusing on elucidation of chronic disease processes
and the factors contributing to their development and progression including
cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and obesity. Some highlights of research
areas include:
- Cancer and disease proteomic biomarker discovery
- Signaling pathway disregulation in cancer and other diseases
- The etiology of skin diseases
- The pathophysiology and inter-relationship among obesity, diabetes,
and atherosclerosis
- How environmental factors such as respiratory infection and exposure
to pollution effect the progression of atherosclerosis
- Mechanisms by which blood vessels become calcified
The following faculty study chronic diseases:
Lee Ann Campbell, PhD
William Carter, PhD
Elizabeth Kirk, PhD
Paul Lampe, PhD
Michael Rosenfeld PhD
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