RESEARCH SUMMARY

OXIDATIVE STRESS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Oxidative stress may interfere with the stability and activity of a microbial pathogen's protein and lipid complexes critical for their membrane integrity, respiration, protein and nucleic acid synthesis, and ability to invade and multiply in our tissues. Two settings are of special interest in considering oxidative stress for control of a pathogen's virulence. One of these is in phagolysosomes in which pathogens may be subjected to an oxidative burst as part of the defensive properties of our phagocytes. A second setting is in the oxidative disinfection of our water supplies through halogens, aeration and ozone and other active forms of oxygen. Some microbes are able to evade different stages of these processes, resist inactivation and remain virulent. My interests lie in increasing our understanding of the details of oxidative stress and its mitigation by successful pathogens so that we can better protect ourselves against infectious agents transmitted through water and air supplies and contact exposure.

PUBLICATIONS