Pathogen Omics Interaction Team

P.O.IN.T 's current research focuses on the following streams

Stream 1: Develop models to assess the carriage, burden, and clearance of eukaryotic pathogens in humans. Using a combination of clinical studies and partnerships with clinics, we plan non-interventional longitudinal studies to perform in-depth multi omic assessment of  hosts and pathogens prior, during, and after infection resolution.

Stream 2: Study the impact of anti-infectives prophylaxis on the emergence of resistant or tolerant phenotypes. Prophylactic treatments are administering anti-infective drugs to individuals at risk of exposure to a given pathogen, and for which the benefit of prophylaxis overcomes the adverse events and associated risks. Examples include antimalarial prophylaxis in travellers visiting endemic countries or antifungal therapy in neutropenic patients at risk of severe invasive fungal infections. Using in vitro models and environmental sampling, we study the impact of anti-infective prophylaxis for the emergence of resistant (assessed by conventional methodology) and tolerant phenotypes. 

Stream 3: Assess the effectiveness of the therapeutic course of infections during pregnancy and infection resolution. Treatment and prophylaxis of infection during pregnancy is always a tradeoff between the risk and benefit for maternal and newborn health. Importantly, limiting anti-infective exposure results in health benefits for the mother and fetus. Our research will focus on the therapeutic efficacy of anti-infective drug regimens during pregnancy using in vitro, ex vivo, and clinical studies. We study surrogate markers of infection, placental dysfunction, in relation to birth outcomes.