Research and Scholarship

Last updated August 14, 2009 by WuWil

RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP are important to the faculty and we want them to be important to the Fellow.  The faculty believes that each Infectious Diseases Fellow must have a research or other scholarly experience to be able to critically evaluate and utilize new information in their practice.  The faculty provides each Fellow with a supervised experience in clinical or laboratory research where he or she may make a useful scientific observation, present it, publish it in the biomedical literature, and thus contribute to the science of medicine.  Research will be under the guidance of an individual faculty mentor chosen by the Fellow.

Some Fellowship candidates may have a specific idea for investigation prior to the Fellowship.  Such ideas should be incorporated in an inquiry about the Fellowship, so that they can be discussed during the candidate’s interview.  For candidates who do not have a specific idea for a project, time at the beginning of the Fellowship will be available for the Fellow to learn about the research opportunities available to the Fellow.  The Fellow then will choose a faculty mentor with whom to work, and together they will develop the Fellow’s Research Project.  This faculty member will be responsible for guiding and developing the Fellow’s research.  Research experience in a basic science laboratory under the guidance of the faculty in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology is also available to the interested Fellow.

RESEARCH FACILITIES are the located laboratories of the faculty.  At Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center this includes extensive and fully equipped laboratories in the Medical School and the attached 10-story Biomedical Research Building.  The laboratories of the faculty at the Overton Brooks Veterans Administration Medical Center are recently modernized facilities and are supported by adjacent core equipment laboratories.  Both institutions have other supporting facilities nearby, which include animal care quarters and an electron microscope suite.

Current or past selected RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP by the members of the Section:

 

ROBERT L PENN, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

Current interests include new antimicrobials, HIV and literacy, HIV therapeutics, HIV epidemiology, and nosocomial infections. He also contributes several chapters to the Infectious Disease premier textbook, Mandell's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases and is co-editor of the best selling text A Practical Approach to Infectious Diseases.

Representative Publications:

  • Betts RF, S Chapman and RL Penn (Co-editors):  Reese and Betts’ A Practical Approach to Infectious Diseases, 5th Edition. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA.  2003.
  • Penn RL and RF Betts: Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (Including Tuberculosis).  In: Reese and Betts’ A Practical Approach to Infectious Diseases, 5th Edition.  Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA.  2003, pp 295-371.
  • Penn RL:  Francisella tularensis (tularemia).  In:  Douglas and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 6th Edition.  Mandell GL, JE Bennett and R Dolin (eds); Elsevier Churchill Livingston, Philadelphia, PA.  2005, pp 2674-2685.
  • Mitchell C and RL Penn:  Francisella tularensis (tularemia) as a Bioterrorist Agent.  In:  Mandell, Douglas and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 6th Edition.  Mandell GL, JE Bennett and R Dolin (eds); Elsevier Churchill Livingston, Philadelphia, PA.  2005, pp 3607-3612.
  • Hodges L and RL Penn:  Tularemia and Bioterrorism.  In:  Bioterrorism and Infectious Agents: A New Dilemma for the 21st Century.  Fong IW and K Alibek (eds); Springer, New York, 2005, pp 71-98.
  • Wolf MS, TC Davis, A Arozullah, R Penn, C Arnold, M Sugar, and CL Bennett: Relation between literacy and HIV treatment knowledge among patients on HAART regimens.  AIDS Care, 17:863-873, 2005.
  • Sarvajana S, Penn RL, Embil J, et al.: Efficacy and safety of tigecycline monotherapy compared with vancomycin plus aztreonam in patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections: Results from a phase 3, randomized, double-blind trial.  Int J Infect Dis, 9:251-261, 2005.
  • Vachharajani TJ, F Zaman, S Latif, R Penn, and KD Abreo.  Curvularia geniculata fungal peritonitis: A case report with review of literature.  International Urology and Nephrology, 37:781-784, 2005.
  • Sula DS, L Ma, C Mitchell, JW King, and RL Penn.  Atypical skin lesions in a patient with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.  Infect Med, 23:222-225, 2006.
  • Penn RL:  Francisella tularensis (tularemia).  In:  Mandell, Douglas and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th Edition.  Mandell GL, JE Bennett and R Dolin (eds); Elsevier Churchill Livingston, Philadelphia, PA., In press, 2009
  • Hodges L and RL Penn:  Francisella tularensis (tularemia) as a Bioterrorist Agent.  In:  Mandell, Douglas and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th Edition.  Mandell GL, JE Bennett and R Dolin (eds); Elsevier Churchill Livingston, Philadelphia, PA., In press, 2009
  • Betts RF, S Chapman and RL Penn (Co-editors):  Reese and Betts’ A Practical Approach to Infectious Diseases, 6th Edition. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA.  In progress.

 

JOHN W. KING, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

Past interests have included his development of a whole blood assay of neutrophil Hexose Monophosphate Shunt (HMS) activity of neutrophils, the metabolic changes that occur in the mitochondria of human cardiac myocytes derived from biopsies of patients with cardiomyopathies, a comparative study of the outcomes of using either Amikacin or Gentamicin as the sole aminoglycoside on the University’s Hospital pharmacy; and the first, and to date only, prospective State-wide study of the epidemiology and outcomes of Infective Endocarditis.

For the past 12 years, Dr. King has developed the Viral Therapeutics Clinic (VTC) which is directed to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with viral Hepatitis.  The VTC has provided patients in Louisiana treatment with investigational drugs that have been developed for the therapy of Hepatitis C prior to their availability on the market.  These have included Ribavirin and PEG-Interferon.  Current investigations include the serine protease inhibitor Boceprevir in therapy-naïve patients infected with Hepatitis C, Genotype 1 as well as in patients previously treated who failed Interferon-based therapy.

Dr. King is also a section editor for the on-line text eMedicine.

Representative Publications:

  • King, J.W. and McCall, C.E.: Simplified neutrophil hexose monophosphate shunt assay on whole blood. American Journal of Clinical Pathology. 74:88-93, 1980.
  • King, J.W., White, M.C., Hanley, H.G., Lierl, J.J. and Kennedy, F.S.: Metabolism in human endomyocardial biopsies and cardiac work. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 294:231-237, 1987.
  • King, J.W., Nguyen, V.Q., Conrad, S.A.: Results of a prospective statewide reporting system for infective endocarditis.  The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 295:517-527, 1988.
  • King, J.W., White, M.C., Todd, J.R., Conrad, S.A.: Alterations in the microbial flora and in the incidence of bacteremia in a university hospital following adoption of Amikacin as the principal aminoglycoside. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 14:908-915. 1992.
  • Matthews-Greer, J., Caldito, G.C., Adley, S.D., Willis,R., Mire, A.C., Jamison, R.J., McRae, K.L., King, J.W., Chang, W-L.: Comparison of Hepatitis C Viral Load in Patients With and Without HIV. Clinical Diagnostic and Laboratory Immunology. 8,No.4;690-694. 2001.
  • Mubashir, A.M., Berney, S.M., Wolf, R.E., Hearth-Holmes, M., Hayat, S., Mubashir, E., van der Heyde, H., Chang, W.L., King, J.W.: Prevalence of Active Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 331:No. 5; 252-256. May 2006.

JOHN R. TODD, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

His major research interest has been in the epidemiology of Hansen’s disease and its relationship to HLA types.  Dr. Todd has also been involved with investigations of adverse effects related to the use of anti-fungal drugs in patients with AIDS. More recently, he have been involved with a review of Prototheca infections.

Representative Publications:

  • Todd JR. Arigala MR. Penn RL. King JW. Possible clinically significant interaction of itraconazole plus rifampin. AIDS Patient Care & Stds. 15(10):505-10, 2001.
  • Vannemreddy PS. Fowler M. Polin RS. Todd JR. Nanda A. Glioblastoma multiforme in a case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: investigation a possible oncogenic influence of human immunodeficiency virus on glial cells. Case report and review of the literature. Journal of Neurosurgery. 92(1):161-4, 2000.
  • Gadallah MF. el-Shahawy MA. Campese VM. Todd JR. King JW. Disparate prognosis of thrombotic microangiopathy in HIV-infected patients with and without AIDS. American Journal of Nephrology. 16(5):446-50, 1996.
  • King JW. White MC. Todd JR. Conrad SA. Alterations in the microbial flora and in the incidence of bacteremia at a university hospital after adoption of amikacin as the sole formulary aminoglycoside. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 14(4):908-15, 1992
  • King JW. Taylor EM. Crow SD. White MC. Todd JR. Poe MB. Conrad SA. Gelder FB. Comparison of the immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine administered intradermally and intramuscularly. Reviews of Infectious Diseases. 12(6):1035-43, 1990
  • Todd JR. West BC. McDonald JC. Human leukocyte antigen and leprosy: study in northern Louisiana and review. Reviews of Infectious Diseases. 12(1):63-74. 1990
  • West BC. Todd JR. Lary CH. Blake LA. Fowler ME. King JW. Leprosy in six isolated residents of northern Louisiana. Time-clustered cases in an essentially nonendemic area. Archives of Internal Medicine. 148(9):1987-92, 1988.

 

RONALD G WASHBURN, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

Dr. Washburn is studying mechanisms by which human natural killer cells (NK cells) kill the opportunistic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans. It turns out that natural killer cells from survivors of cryptococcal meningitis are not able to efficiently kill the fungus. His laboratory is studying mechanisms responsible for this defect in an effort to improve treatment for cryptococcal meningitis and other chronic infections characterized by depressed natural killer activity such as tuberculosis. Candidates to explain the defect include defective NK cell membrane receptors and/or impaired release of granule contents such as perforin and granzymes. His laboratory also contributes to studies of Aspergillus pathogenesis, with a focus on the roles of fungal pigment synthesis and hydrophobic surface proteins called hydrophobins. In addition, he contributes to multicenter clinical antifungal trials on a regular basis. Other areas of interest include programmed cell death in fungi. He also contributes several chapters to the Infectious Disease premier textbook, Mandell's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases

Representative Publications:

  • Rex, J.H., Pappas, P.G., Karchmer, A.W., et al.  A randomized and blinded multicenter trial of high-dose fluconazole plus placebo vs. fluconazole plus amphotericin B as therapy of candidemia and its consequences in non-neutropenic hosts.  Clin Infect Dis; 36: 1221-8, 2003.
  • Illum, S.A., and Washburn, R.G.  Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV I) myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP):  case report and review of the literature.  Hospital Physician.  67-71, July, 2006. 
  • Wolfe, S.A., Bull, R.K., Rowland, A.M., and Washburn, R.G.  Hydrogen peroxide induces apoptotic-like fungal cell death in Cryptococcus neoformans. F-014.  106th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Orlando, FL, 2006.
  • Washburn, R.G.  Opportunistic mold infections.  In:  A.A. Brakhage and P.F. Zipfel, eds.  The Mycota VI, 2nd Edition.  Heidelberg, Germany.  Springer.  21-32, 2008.
  • Washburn, R.G.  Rat-bite fever:  Streptobacillus moniliformis and Spirillum minus.  In:  Mandell, G.L., Bennett, J.E., and Dolin, R., eds.  Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed., Philadelphia:  Elsevier, Chapter 231, in press, 2009.

 

ULYSSES WU, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

Interests include antimicrobial stewardship and appropriate use of antibiotics, general infectious diseases, FUO's and immunodeficiencies.

Representative Publications:

  • Schwartz DN, Wu US, Lyles RD, Xiang, YX, Kieszkowski P, Hota B, Weinstein RA. Lost in Translation? Reliability of Assessing Inpatient Antimicrobial Appropriateness Using Computerized Case Vignettes. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology; 2009 Feb;30(2):163-71.
  • Wu, US. The use of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy in HIV-positive individuals with rheumatic disease. Year Book of Medicine, 2009 (in press)
  • Wu, US. Detection of latent tuberculosis in immunosuppressed patients with autoimmune diseases: Performance of a Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-specific interferon-γ assay. Year Book of Medicine, 2009 (in press)

 

GUILLERMO ORLANDO PADILLA PINEDA, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

Trends in comminity-associated MRSA antimicrobial resistance over time.

 

JOHN W. SIXBEY, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

His major research interest has been the pathogenesis of Epstein-Barr virus. The notion that viruses may be responsible for initiation of disease, yet fail to persist in affected tissues, is frequently raised in the context of chronic diseases of unknown etiology. Dr. Sixbey’s laboratory is investigating EBV pathogenesis and the sporadic nature of its association with human cancers: gastric carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, leiomyosarcoma, and central nervous system lymphoma. He is testing models of EBV pathogenesis compatible with such an association of virus with tumor that include a temporal sequence of 1) cell transformation, 2) EBV infection of a pre-existing neoplasm, 3) EBV-driven tumor progression, and 4) viral redundancy and loss from infected tissue.

Representative Publications:

  • Ikuta K. Srinivas SK. Schacker T. Miyagi J. Scott RS. Sixbey JW. Points of recombination in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) strain P3HR-1-derived heterogeneous DNA as indexes to EBV DNA recombinogenic events in vivo. Journal of Virology. 82(23):11516-25.
  • Li H. Ikuta K. Sixbey JW. Tibbetts SA. A replication-defective gammaherpesvirus efficiently establishes long-term latency in macrophages but not in B cells in vivo. Journal of Virology. 82(17):8500-8.
  • Moody CA. Scott RS. Amirghahari N. Nathan CA. Young LS. Dawson CW. Sixbey JW. Modulation of the cell growth regulator mTOR by Epstein-Barr virus-encoded LMP2A. Journal of Virology. 79(9):5499-506.

 

JOHN A. VANCHIERE, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

Natural history and pathogenesis of human polyomaviruses. His laboratory seeks to understand the host and viral factors that regulate BK polyomavirus persistence, reactivation, and disease in immunocompetent and immune-compromised patients. His research is focused on persistent virus infections, especially due to polyomaviruses BK and JC which cause disease in immune compromised patients. The goal of his research is to understand how polyomaviruses are controlled in healthy, immune-competent patients. He maintains active research collaborations to study virus reactivation in nephrology and oncology patients.

Representative Publications:

  • Vanciere JA, Abudayyeh S, Copeland CM, Lu LB, Graham DY, Butel JS. Polyomavirus shedding in the stool of healthy adults. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2009 (in press).
  • Vanchiere JA. Nicome RK. Greer JM. Demmler GJ. Butel JS. Frequent detection of polyomaviruses in stool samples from hospitalized children. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 192(4):658-64, 2005.
  • Patel NC. Vanchiere JA. Unilateral shoulder swelling in a preterm neonate. Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 16(1):6, 70-71, 2005
  • Vanchiere JA. White ZS. Butel JS. Detection of BK virus and simian virus 40 in the urine of healthy children. Journal of Medical Virology. 75(3):447-54, 2005.
  • Vanchiere JA. Bellini WJ. Moyer SA. Hypermutation of the phosphoprotein and altered mRNA editing in the hamster neurotropic strain of measles virus. Virology. 207(2):555-61, 1995.
  • Hummel KB. Vanchiere JA. Bellini WJ. Restriction of fusion protein mRNA as a mechanism of measles virus persistence. Virology. 202(2):665-72, 1994
  • Rota PA. Bloom AE. Vanchiere JA. Bellini WJ. Evolution of the nucleoprotein and matrix genes of wild-type strains of measles virus isolated from recent epidemics. Virology. 198(2):724-30, 1994.

 

JOSPEH A. BOCCHINI JR., M.D.

Major Research Interests:

Dr. Bocchini developed the Clinical Virology Laboratory serving the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and the region. His major research interest is in mutant strains of Coxsackie virus and the host immune response in such infections. In addition to vaccines he has a special interest in neonatal sepsis, and the pharmacokinetics, toxicities, and interactions of antimicrobial agents in children. He is the 2008-2009 Chairperson of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

 

LISA SMITH-HODGES, M.D.

Major Research Interests:

General infectious diseases, pediatric infectious diseases and clinical teaching.

Representative Publications:

  • Hodges L and RL Penn:  Francisella tularensis (tularemia) as a Bioterrorist Agent.  In:  Mandell, Douglas and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th Edition.  Mandell GL, JE Bennett and R Dolin (eds); Elsevier Churchill Livingston, Philadelphia, PA., In press, 2009

 

JANICE M. MATTHEWS-GREER, Ph.D.

Major Research Interests:

HPV Epidemiology and Genotyping in Adolescents; Phase III Clinical Trial: BD Phoenix; Phase III Trial: Nanogen FluID; hMPV Real-Time Diagnostic Assay Development; Respiratory Virus Diagnostic Assay Development; Chlamydia & Neisseria epidemiology in Adolescents.

Representative Publications:

  • Matthews-Greer, Janice.  1996.  “Restriction Length Fragment Polymorphisms”.  In:  Wandersee, James, and Dennis Wissing, editors.  Bioinstrumentation:  Tools for Understanding Life.  2nd ed., Reston, VA:  National Association of Biology Teachers Press; p. 291-324.
  • Matthews-Greer, Janice, Gregory Sloop, Ann Springer, Kenneth McRae, Ethelyn LaHaye, and Richard Jamison.  Comparison of detection methods for Chlamydia trachomatis in specimens obtained from pediatric victims of suspected sexual abuse.  Ped. Infect. Dis. J. 18: 165-7.
  • Matthews-Greer, J.M., Gloria Calidito, Kenneth McRae, Richard Jamison, John W. King, and Wun-Ling Chang.  Comparison of Hepatitis C viral load in patients with and without HIV.  Clin. Diag. Immunol. 8: 690-694.
  • Matthews-Greer J, DeBenedetti, Tucker A, Dempsey S, Black D, Turbat-Herrera E.  A model for angiogenesis in HPV-mediated cervical dysplasia.  J Applied Res.  2:  63-73.
  • Matthews-Greer, J, Dominguez-Malagon H, Herrera GA, Dempsey S, Unger J, Vilchis JC, Turbat-Herrera E. HPV  typing for a histologically diverse group of cervical carcinomas archived in Mexico City.  Arch Pathol. 128 (5): 553-6.
  • Matthews-Greer J, Rivette D, Reyes R, Vanderloos DF, Turbat-Herrera.  Human papillomavirus detection – verification with cervical cytology.  Clin Lab Sci. 17 (1): 8-11.
  • Matthews-Greer JM, G Caldito, A deBenedetti, GA Herrera, H Dominguez-Malagon, J Chanona-Vilchis, and EA  Turbat-Herrera.  eIF4E as a marker for cervical neoplasia.  AIMM. 13 (4): 367-371.

 

STEVEN A. DAUENHAUER, Ph.D.

Major Research Interests:

He brings a serious investigative background in virology and in DNA cloning to this position.

 

 

MOHAMMED J. ALAM, M.D.

Representative Presentations:

  • Alam MJ et al. Amphotericin B in Patients with AIDS and Disseminated Histoplasmosis, Fever and LDH Response. IDSA Poster Presentation, 1995.
  • Zando IK, Alam MJ et al. Clinical and Laboratory Characterisitics of Outpatients with Disseminated Histoplasmosis. ICAAC Slide Presentation, 1995.
  • Alam MJ et al. Oral Decontamination Decreases Vetilator Associated Pneumonia in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. ICAAC Slide Presentation, 1995.
  • Alam MJ et al. Assessment of the Tuberculin Skin Test in Patients with Culture Proven Tuberculosis. Southern Medical Society Poster Presentation, 1993.
  • Alam MJ et al. Duration of Fever Following Initiation of Antibiotic Therpay in Patients with Tuberculosis. Southern Medical Society Poster Presentation, 1993.
  • King JW, Alam MJ et al. Detection of Antibody to Hepatitis C Immunoglobulin Preparations is not a Marker for Infectivity. Southern Medical Society Poster Presentation, 1992.

 

DANA FAVROT, R.N.

Major Research Interests:

Ms. Favrot works with the Viral Therapeutics Clinic (VTC) which is directed to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with viral Hepatitis.  The VTC has provided patients in Louisiana treatment with investigational drugs that have been developed for the therapy of Hepatitis C prior to their availability on the market.  These have included Ribavirin and PEG-Interferon.  Current investigations include the serine protease inhibitor Boceprevir in therapy-naïve patients infected with Hepatitis C, Genotype 1 as well as in patients previously treated who failed Interferon-based therapy.

Representative Publications:

  • Gholson CF, Sittig K, Favrot D. Chronic abdominal pain as a presentation of pancreatitis due to blunt abdominal trauma. South Med J 1994
  • Gholson CF, Grier JF, Ibach MD, Favrot D, Nall L, Sittig K, McDonald JC.  Sequential endoscopy and laparoscopic management of sickle hemoglobinopathy-associated cholelithiasis and suspected choledocholithiasis. Gastroenterology 1994; 106:A339
  • Gholson CF, Favrot D, Vickers B, Dies D, Wilder W. Delayed hemorrhage following endoscopic sphincterotomy. Am J Gastroenterology 1995; 90:1609.
  • Gholson CF, Favrot D. Needle knife papillotomy (NKP) in an academic referral practice.  Am J Gastroenterology 1995; 90:1609.
  • Gholson CF, Balart LA, Favrot DR, Dies DF, Wilder WM. Female predominance in chronic hepatitis C virus infection with normal or minimally elevated transaminases.  Hepatology 1995; 22:420A.
  • Gholson CF, Favrot D.  Needle knife papillotomy in a university referral practice: safety and efficacy of a modified technique. J Clin Gastroenterol 1996; 23:177-80.
  • Gholson CF, Morgan K, Favrot D, Gonzalez E, Taylor B, Catinis G, Balart L. A clinical-histologic study of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among patients with persistently normal aminotransferase levels.  Gastroenterology 1996; 110:A1196.
  • Gholson CF, Favrot D, Taylor B, Catinis G, Balart L. Preliminary results of interferon therapy for chromic hepatitis C infection with persistently normal aminotransferase levels.  Am J Gastroenterol 1996; 91:1947
  • Gholson CF, Favrot D, Taylor B, Catinis G, Balart L. Chromic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and persistently normal aminotransferases: a preliminary report of alfa-interferon (IFN) resistance. Hepatology 1996; 24:401A
  • Gholson CF, Morgan K, Favrot D, Catinis G, Taylor B, Gonzalez E, Balart L. Chronic hepatitis C with normal aminotransferase levels: a clinical histologic study. Am Gastroenterol 1997; 92:1788-92

 

AMANDA C. CALLOWAY, PA-C

Major Research Interests:

Ms. Calloway worsk with the Viral Therapeutics Clinic (VTC) which is directed to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with viral Hepatitis.  The VTC has provided patients in Louisiana treatment with investigational drugs that have been developed for the therapy of Hepatitis C prior to their availability on the market.  These have included Ribavirin and PEG-Interferon.  Current investigations include the serine protease inhibitor Boceprevir in therapy-naïve patients infected with Hepatitis C, Genotype 1 as well as in patients previously treated who failed Interferon-based therapy.