Infectious Diseases

Delivering personalized gut microbiome-based risk assessment and antibiotic stewardship to combat pediatric sepsis our lab aims to reduce morbidity and mortality from bacterial infections in infants by improving diagnostics and treatment strategies. We study how antibiotics disrupt the gut microbiome and immune development, increasing sepsis risk. Using microbial sequencing, immune profiling and computational modeling we develop algorithms to predict sepsis risk and guide optimal antibiotic therapy for vulnerable pediatric populations.

Research profile

Advancing molecular diagnosis of infectious diseases our lab develops tests to detect a wide range of pathogens including all known human herpes viruses, polyoma viruses JC and BK, parvovirus B19, enteroviruses, HIV, Toxoplasma gondii, Bordetella pertussis and parapertussis, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Bartonella, Leptospira, Borrelia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae. We specialize in quantitative assays for CMV, EBV, HHV-6 and BK virus and have implemented commercial tests for HIV RNA, hepatitis C RNA, hepatitis C genotyping and hepatitis B DNA. Our work also includes detecting antiviral resistance in CMV and hepatitis B virus and identifying bacterial antibiotic resistance such as methicillin, fluoroquinolone and macrolide resistance.

Research profile

Investigating maternal-microbe dynamics our lab studies how the vaginal microbiome and maternal immune response interact to influence reproductive outcomes. Through longitudinal analysis of pregnancy samples and in vitro and in vivo models we aim to uncover mechanisms linking microbial changes and viral infections to preterm birth, ultimately identifying biomarkers for better prediction and prevention.

Research profile