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Gerard Cangelosi , Ph. D.
Mission
The Cangelosi Lab focuses on reducing the
transmission and acquisition of infectious
diseases, through 1) better case finding made
possible by biomarker discovery and improved
diagnostic tools; 2) improved detection of
pathogens in water, food and other environmental
sources; and 3) better understanding of the
epidemiology of infectious disease acquisition.
Research
We conduct translational research relevant to
global health. Specific interests include:
1)
Improved biomarker discovery tools for
infectious disease diagnosis. We are developing novel recombinant
antibody-like “probes” to detect pathogen molecules in patient samples. In a new
NIAID-funded project entitled “Accelerated Molecular Probe Pipeline”, these
methods are being used to identify new biomarkers of infection by Entamoeba
histolytica, a significant waterborne gastrointestinal pathogen. The project
is an international collaboration with partners in the United States, Australia,
and Bangladesh.
2)
Tuberculosis diagnosis. With funding from
the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), we are partnering with
Response Biomedical, Inc. (Vancouver, Canada) to develop a new point-of-care
diagnostic test to detect biomarkers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
patient samples.
3)
Molecular epidemiology of mycobacterial
infections. Pathogens in the genus Mycobacterium cause tuberculosis,
leprosy, MAC disease (Mycobacterium avium complex), and other significant
diseases. Molecular pathogen detection methods, initially developed for
infectious disease diagnosis, are being utilized to better understand the host,
pathogen, and environmental factors involved in the acquisition of mycobacterial
disease.
4)
Molecular detection of pathogens in
environmental and clinical samples. As a method for detecting microorganisms
in samples, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is fast, sensitive, and
specific. However, its widespread use is limited in part by its inability to
distinguish viable pathogen cells from dead cells and free nucleic acid
fragments. With funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency and other
sources, we have shown that PCR tests for ribosomal RNA precursors (pre-rRNA)
can overcome this problem. We are developing pre-rRNA tests for pathogen
detection in environmental as well as clinical samples. Current targets include
Aeromonas hydrophila, MAC, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Collaborations
* Seattle-King County Department of Public Health
* EPA
* PATH
* University of Virginia
* University of Queensland, Australia
* International Centre for Diarrheal Disease
Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B)
* Foundation for
Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND)
The National Institutes of Health, US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), and the Foundation for Innovative New
Diagnostics (FIND) currently provide support for Dr. Cangelosi’s research.
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