Infection and Immunity - Raymund R. Razonable

Overview

Our research program in Infection and Immunity is aimed at understanding host-pathogen interaction and improving the management of various infectious diseases; with our major focus on orthopedic and transplant-related infections. To achieve this goal, we have:

• Laboratory-based projects that are aimed at understanding the interaction between the human host and the invading microbe.
• Translational research projects that apply laboratory data into the clinical arena.
• Clinical projects to assess the state of clinical practice and to generate relevant questions that need further laboratory-based investigations.

The laboratory components of the program include:

• Assessing the biology of Toll-like receptors as it pertains to the pathogenesis of bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus), viral (cytomegalovirus and hepatitis C virus) and fungal pathogens.
• Using viral replication as a measure of the intensity of immune suppression.
• Assessment of pathogen-specific T cells in immunologic reconstitution following transplantation.
• Assessment of gene expression profile of patients with infected joint prosthesis.

Several ongoing projects include the assessment of the risk factors, treatment and outcomes of cytomegalovirus and other viral and fungal infections after transplantation; and of orthopedic infections. In addition to these, we have ongoing clinical trials aimed at assessing various investigations of antiviral drugs for the treatment of cytomegalovirus disease after transplantation.