Molecular Epidemiology & Microbiology

The laboratory is dedicated to understanding the association of diabetes with respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which is a cause of at least 40% of total pneumonia infections and invasive pneumococcal disease. The research program is comprised of four major components which are as follows; i) Investigation of humoral immune response, which is critical for clearance of pneumococcal pneumonia, we are investigating the antibody response and antibody and complement mediated opsonophagocytosis of S. pneumoniae, using neutrophils from healthy donors, ii) Using human macrophage cell line (THP-1) and neutrophil cells lines (HL-60), projects are underway to understand signal transduction pathway and signaling molecules involved in impairment of bactericidal activity of neutrophils and macrophages, iii) Measurement of B cell response to pneumococcal polysaccharide pre and post vaccination, iv) Resistance in S. pneumoniae to antibacterial agents is growing at an exponential rates.  A significant proportion of pneumococcal isolates are penicillin resistant, which is the drug of choice for treating pneumonia and invasive disease.  Studies in this area are focused on alternative approaches to treatment of drug resistant pneumococci. Peptides from antibacterial human protein, lactoferrin are being used to determine their antibacterial potential.