Ekaterina (Kate) Dadachova, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Nuclear Medicine; Microbiology and Immunology
I am interested in targeted radionuclide therapy of cancer and infectious diseases. Radionuclides are radioactive atoms which emit particles capable of destroying the cells extremely efficiently. Even such simple molecule as glucose when "armed" with positron-emitting radionuclide fluorine-18 can become effective in killing cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are perfect "vehicles" for targeted delivery of radionuclides to the cancerous or microbial cells. Such therapeutic modality is called radioimmunotherapy. In collaboration with Casadevall's Lab we are developing radioimmunotherapy for infectious diseases and melanoma.
(Dadachova Lab Members from left to right: Ekaterina Revskaya, Ruth Bryan, Zewei Jiang, Ekaterina Dadachova, Robertha Howell, Andrew Schweitzer)

Marta Feldmesser, M.D. Assistant Professor, Medicine; Microbiology and Immunology; Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health
Our focus is the investigation of host-pathogen interactions in invasive aspergillosis, a fungal disease of severely immunocompromised hosts. We are developing immune-based strategies that prevent germination of spores in order to prevent disease. Other active areas of investigation include antibody engineering and development of monoclonal antibodies that prevent aflatoxin-induced disease.
(Feldmesser Lab Members from left to right: Margaret Doll, Marta Feldmesser, Xinming Li).

Bettina Fries, M.D. Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Immunology; Division of Infectious Diseases, Medicine
(Fries Lab Members from left to right: Emily Cook, Bettina Fries, Neena Jain, Avanish, Natalie, Imma, Xiaobo Wang, Abraham Guerrero.

David Goldman, M.D. Associate Professor, Pediatrics
The focus of our lab is the immune response to fungal infection infections in children. Specific projects include: 1. the role of subclinical Cryptococcus neoformans pulmonary infection and the development of asthma in urban children. 2. the host and pathogen mechanisms that contribute to increased intracranial pressure in cryptococcal meningoencephalitis and 3. the immune basis for increased susceptibility to candidiasis in premature neonates.
(Goldman Lab Members from left to right: Wangyong Zeng, David Goldman,Ya Su).

Josh Nosanchuk, M.D. Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Immunology; Division of Infectious Diseases, Medicine
Pathogenesis of fungal disease. Investigations on fungal pathogenesis focus on 1) the effect of antibody on infection with Histoplasma capsulatum, 2) the role of melanin in pathogenic fungi, and 3) effects of antifungal compounds on pathogenic fungi. The major area of study in the Nosanchuk laboratory pertains to the elucidation of the mechanisms of antibody protection in H. capsulatum
infection using monoclonal antibodies to H. capsulatum histone 2B, heat shock protein 60, and the M antigen and the role of these cell wall-associated proteins in disease pathogenesis.
(Lab Members from left to right: David Trofa, Luis Martinez, Priscila Albuquerque, Joshua Nosanchuk, Attila Gacser, Li Shi, Allan Guimaraes).

Liise-anne Pirofski M.D. Professor, Medicine; Microbiology and Immunology
(Pirofski Lab Members from left to right: Tamika Burns, Matthew Marks, Krishanthi Subramaniam, Kausik Datta, Kevin Fabrizio, Haijun Tian)

Marcio Rodrigues, Ph.D.
I am originally from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. In my laboratory, our work is focused on surface components of fungal cells with potential participation in pathogenesis. Following this idea, we have been trying to characterize at the Casadevall laboratory extracellular membranous compartments produced by C. neoformans, which are apparently associated with the synthesis of capsular polysaccharides.

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File Last Updated: Monday, July 28, 2008