SUMMARY
My research centers around the rapid diagnosis of fungal and mycobacterial infections.
Any technology including molecular or traditional methods is of interest. We are currently working on rapid real time amplification methods to detect fungal and mycobacterial nucleic acid in clinical specimens. We have a strong interest in utilizing molecular methods to detect point mutations within genes that code for antimicrobial resistance in the mycobacteria and fungi.
Nucleic acid sequencing is being utilized for the identification of clinically important mycobacteria and fungi. Extensive databases have been developed tol allow for the identification of organisms that are difficult to identify using conventional methods.
Many of the fungal and mycobacterial infections are seen in transplant and oncology patients and our emphasis on rapid methods is directed toward this group as well as other immunosuppressed patients.